UMaine Cooperative Extension Logo
October 2014
Piscataquis and Penobscot
Farming Newsletter


Practical farming information based on university research

Thank you for completing our survey!
Last month we asked you to complete a survey to help us tell our stakeholders about the value of this newsletter to your operation. We also asked for some input on topics and the frequency that we send this e-newsletter.

A sincere thank you goes to the 72 (11%) out of 634  who responded to the survey.

 

When asked about the frequency of the newsletter 87% said it was just right and 12% want more frequent issues.  Topic suggestions for future newsletters ranged from specific to general and included:  

  • How to raise animals
  • Hugelkur raised beds
  • Marketing beef cattle
  • Industrial waste products as soil amendments
  • More bee articles
  • More opportunities to connect with like minded folks, share knowledge, equip, etc.
  • Pasture management
  • Eradicate milkweed, common bedstraw and goldenrod from hay fields
  • Multi-use field management, chemical vs organic solutions by problem, optimum grasses for grazing, realistic calendar for crop rotation/planting
  • Profitability of raising garlic

Thank you again for completing the survey. 

25th Annual Maine Beef Conference

 

The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) will hold its 25th Annual Beef Conference Saturday, Dec. 6th, 2014 at the Ramada Inn, 357 Odlin Road, Bangor, from 8am-4pm. MBPA and the Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) host the conference with sponsors University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Industry sponsors include National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Maine Beef Industry Council.

Scheduled industry experts Dr. Bobbi Lorenz, beef nutritionist; Curt Pate, NCBA stockman instructor; and Darren Williams, NCBA communications director will join local speakers including Ellis Additon from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, to provide beef producers with information on improving the profitability of their operations.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Bobbi Lorenz, Beef Nutritionist / Distillers Grain Marketer with Cornhusker Energy in Nebraska will talk about the effect of pre-partum nutrition on your farm's bottom line. She will also discuss how the cow/calf producer affects the end product.  

Other speakers include Curt Pate a stockmanship instructor for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Stockmanship & Stewardship Tour who will talk about the critical role proper handling plays in increasing consumers' confidence. Note: we are trying to arrange a special session on Friday afternoon before the conference for Curt to work some cattle in a live demonstration.  

Also, Darren Williams, Senior Executive Director for NCBA Communications will speak on how to be a beef advocate and how to handle interviews on a wide variety of subjects. These three speakers will have a final panel discussion at the end of the day to talk about the beef industry, where we are today, and where we may be headed in the future.

Ellis Additon will give an update from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. A panel of producers and processors will talk about social media and its role/importance in promoting their business. Program participants will have an opportunity to share at least one thing they have done to add value to their farm. You are encouraged to bring photographs, marketing tools, building or coral layouts.

Non-member registration, including lunch, is $60 for the first farm representative and $40 for any others from that farm. Discounts are available for MGFN and MBPA association members and students. For registration details or to request a disability accommodation, contact Melissa Libby at 800.287.7170 in Maine or 207.581.2788 outside of Maine. Registration details are also available online extension.umaine.edu/livestock/beef.

 

 

Time to Winterize Equipment on the Farm

The following winter storage suggestions come from various Extension bulletins, but should never supersede the recommendations found in equipment operator's manuals. Proper storage and maintenance of equipment can help prolong the useful life and reliability of this expensive farm asset.  

Be sure to change the oil and perform regular service. Clean engine oil will reduce internal engine corrosion during storage. Clean or replace air filters, replace fuel filters, and lubricate bearings and joints to maximize the life and efficiency of your machinery. Check antifreeze for correct freezing temperature. Remember that antifreeze, like engine oil, has a lifespan. Merely adding more coolant may not be enough to fully protect your investment.

Inflate tires to recommended pressure to reduce sidewall damage. Before storing tillage implements, remove soil and apply appropriate rust preventive material, then store with soil engaging components raised or on blocks to prevent rust. Fertilizer spreaders need to also be cleaned and have rust preventer applied to prevent corrosion of the metal. Hydraulic cylinders should not be stored fully extended. If temperatures increase, hydraulic oil will be confined and high pressure may cause damage to the hydraulic system.

All planters, drills, air seeders, and combines need to be cleaned out. Be sure all grain

and plant material left in the grain tank and augers is removed. This will reduce rusting and make it less attractive to mice and other pests. It is sometimes possible to remove more than a bushel of grain even after a combine seems to be clean. Trapped grain attracts rodents, who often then make a meal of electrical wiring, leading to short circuits or other electrical problems. Reduce tension on belts to reduce stretch and increase belt life. Be sure to follow storage instructions in the operator's manual for removing seed plates and other components to relieve pressure on seals, brushes, and seed plates. This will minimize warping and misshaped air seals and seed plates. Remove soil from all furrow openers to reduce rust and improve performance next season.  

 

Balers need to have any partial bales and all plant material removed to minimize rusting. Follow the operator's manual for instructions on reducing pressure on baler belts or other components. Compressed air is a great way to clean hard to reach places and may be a better choice than water. When water is needed to clean surfaces, use only moderate pressure and mild soap.

Cleaning farm equipment with a power washer is great for removing dust and soil. Be careful, however, and avoid direct contact with seals when using high-pressure washers. Use compressed air after washing to help dry surfaces, and operate machinery for 10 to 20 minutes to help shed excess water from hard to reach places. Repaint worn surfaces with spray paint to protect from corrosion.

Proper battery storage can protect batteries from deterioration. Even a small current drain can eventually discharge batteries and cause them to freeze in cold weather. Consider removing batteries to convenient storage where they can receive a periodic charge. Clean all connections and coat terminals with a thin layer of grease to prevent corrosion.

Where possible, store equipment in a building. If a building is not available, at least cover equipment with a well secured tarp. This will always improve equipment performance and resale value.  

 Source: Utah State University Extension, Cache County click here 

 

Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) New Farm Bill Programs

USDA has just announced the sign up process for the new set of programs for major crops (corn, soybeans, barley, oats, canola, wheat, etc).  The process involves three steps for farmers/landowners who currently have a crop "base" with FSA.

 

By February 27, 2015, you first need to decide if you want to take advantage of an opportunity to update base assignments and yields. Previous participants in FSA programs should have received a notification of their current base allocations and yields in August.  Keep in mind that, in situations where the farmer rents land, it is the LAND OWNER who gets to make this decision (it is not an option.)  Also, please note that the decision about base is only whether the Land Owner wants to reallocate existing total base acres based on recent (2009-12) historical cropping patterns.  Take careful note: this is not an opportunity to change total base acres.  Also, the reallocation is based entirely on averages of recent historical production.  Thus, the Land Owner gets a choice between A) the current allocation of base pertaining to specific crops OR B) a new allocation based on recent plantings. 

 

By March 31, 2015, you need to choose among three options.  There are two programs that are triggered off the familiar county yield and price variables:  Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) vs. Price Loss Coverage (PLC).  There is also an Individual farm variation of ARC.  The tradeoffs between the two programs can be described in principle but the choices are not simple.  Also keep in mind that the choice made this year is irrevocable and will define the program that a producer can use for the life of the bill - through 2018.  Producers can change certain coverage choices annually, but only within the program elected this year. 

As a very general rule, PLC will be appealing if one is prepared to assume that prices for the next five years will be stuck in a low pattern, such as exists this year.  PLC will also be more appealing if farms are in an environment that has lower than average yield risk. 

ARC will be more appealing if prices are volatile or yield risk is greater.  ARC, for example, can offer payments when prices drop from high to medium, because it is the decrease that tends to trigger a payment.  PLC would not make a payment for "medium" range prices.  On the other hand, persistently stable low prices might not trigger an ARC payment whereas PLC would. 

 

This barely scratches the surface of the differences between the two programs.  As noted below, the FSA website points to two different sets of decision tools.  Both are worth giving a serious look; however, neither are for the faint of heart.  In addition, the Texas/MO tool begins with the assumption that the user is a farmer who can enter in pertinent information about their farm, including their FSA number.  It is harder for a non-farmer to explore that tool and just play with it.  The Illinois tool parses the choices into smaller bites and makes it a little easier to play around with the program.  Both tools deserve a serious look. Click here to use them.  

 

Crop year contracts must be completed at a later date that has yet to be specifically announce, but it will be sometime next summer.  It is at this time that specific crop year choices are made for the program the producer has chosen.  Producers who elect PLC will find that they also are eligible for a new risk management program called Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO).

 

The good news is that producers have quite a bit of time to sort this all out.  The bad news is that there is quite a bit of sorting required.

 

 
USDA Specialty Crop Block Grants Create New Economic Opportunities and Grow Markets for Local Producers

Agriculture Commissioner Walter Whitcomb announced that Maine is partnering with USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to invest $602,678.57 to support Maine Specialty Crop Producers. Maine will conduct 10 initiatives to increase the competitiveness of Maine specialty crops by enhancing and strengthening markets for specialty crops such as potatoes, wild blueberries, maple syrup, and other fruits and vegetables; investigating the health of honey bees; increasing the nutrition knowledge and consumption of specialty crops by Maine children and adults; and furthering the development of a hops industry to complement Maine's craft beer industry.

"These investments will benefit Maine farmers and consumers by funding research and marketing that is critical to the growth of Maine specialty crops," said Commissioner Whitcomb. "Selected projects will help growers make food safety enhancements, solve research needs for better pest management, make better informed decisions to increase profitability and sustainability and encourage the next generation to enter into commercial agriculture enterprises."

Since 2006, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), has awarded close to $3 million to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support the growing number of Maine specialty crop producers who are selling into local and regional markets. 

Visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp to read the 2014 project summaries and view a list of awards by location.

Why a New Animal/Plant Disease and Insect Control Lab for Maine?  

On November's ballot there will be an $8,000,000 bond referendum to support Maine agriculture, facilitate economic growth in natural resource based industries, and monitor human health threats related to ticks, mosquitoes, and bedbugs through the creation of an Animal and Plant Disease and Insect Control Laboratory administered by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

Explore the ways a new Animal/Plant Disease and Insect Control Laboratory will benefit Maine by clicking on one of these topics:  

Items of Interest

Wild Blueberry Items Wanted or for Sale
The wild blueberry web site now has a place for growers to advertise items and/or services they have for sale or want from other growers. The web address is http://umaine.edu/blueberries/wild-blueberry-equipment-wanted-or-for-sale/.
If you have an item and/or service you would like posted on our web site, please contact Phoebe Nylund at [email protected] .

Maine Hunters for the Hungry
Maine hunters can support the Hunters for the Hungry Program by donating all or part of their harvest to feed families in need. The popular program provides a means for Maine hunters, as well as hunters from other states, to donate harvested game to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and households with a medical need. For more information, to donate, or to get connected to a Hunters for the Hungry participating meat processor call toll-free, 1-888-4DEERME (1-888-433-3763). Or click here for their Facebook page.

Update Hay and Straw Directory
If you have excess or are in the position to sell hay or straw, consider using the Maine Hay and Straw Directory.  It is free to use.  More information is available online, or call Cooperative Extension 1.800.287.1426.

Farm Grants / Loans / Funding Sources
  • Northeast SARE Farmer Grants are for commercial producers who have an innovative idea they want to test using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other technique. A technical advisor--often an extension agent, crop consultant, or other service professional--must also be involved. Projects should seek results other farmers can use, and all projects must have the potential to add to our knowledge about effective sustainable practices. Application deadline is December 2nd.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will improve farm loans by expanding eligibility and increasing lending limits to help more beginning and family farmers. As part of this effort, USDA is raising the borrowing limit for the microloan program from $35,000 to $50,000, simplifying the lending processes, updating required "farming experience" to include other valuable experiences, and expanding eligible business entities to reflect changes in the way family farms are owned and operated. The changes become effective Nov. 7. Click here to find your Farm Service Agency Office
     

 

Poultry Webinars from eXtension.org

 

2014 Farm Bill Informational Meetings - Dairy sessions will be held in October throughout the state. General sessions will be held in November. For the complete schedule of sessions go to the  Maine Farm Service Agency Site here 

 

Featured Resources
Latest YouTube Video:

How to Avoid Ticks During Hunting Season Click here for video 

  

Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for seasonal information, such as: 

  •  #1030 Raw Milk Production: Guidelines for Maine Licensed Dealers click here Maine allows the sale of raw (not pasteurized) milk to the public by producers/dealers that are licensed with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. This publication is intended as a checklist for those dealers who are already licensed by the State of Maine, although it may be useful for individuals contemplating becoming licensed in the future.

New Wild Blueberry Pocket Guide Available for Maine Growers

The updated version of A Pocket Guide to IPM Scouting in Wild Blueberries 2nd Edition is now available for all Maine wild blueberry growers. This guide contains more information on the identification of new pests and native pollinators. Growers may obtain additional paper copies by contacting Phoebe Nylund at [email protected] or by phone 207.581.2892.

If you have a smart phone that can read PDF documents, you can download the pocket guide from our wild blueberry web site at http://umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/integrated-crop-management/ipm-scouting-guide-in-wild-blueberries/. This PDF version has navigational bars and hot links to make it easier to locate pests in the pocket guide and photos can be enlarged for better viewing. 

 

Grow Your Farm Skills this Fall/Winter from the Comfort of Your Home!  

The Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension offer a  menu of 12 online courses each Fall and Winter to help farmers develop their businesses. These 5- to 7-week online courses cost $200 total for up to 4 members of the same farm to attend. They are an amazing opportunity to discover new resources, build your farm plan, hear from successful farmers, and develop a support network of peers. Courses consist of a weekly real-time webinar followed by readings, discussion forums, and homework on your own time. 
Students successfully completing a course are eligible to receive a 0% interest loan of up to $10,000 through Kiva Zip!

Case Study: Development of Local Frozen Produce a local farm food distributor in Pennsylvania started a line of source identified frozen produce. This 26-page pdf is available by clicking here.  

 

Iowa State University - Ag Decision Maker Website has a wealth of information, budgets, yields, lease agreements, recordkeeping information, etc. for established and new farmers. Click here. 

Newsletter Update 

The Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Farming Newsletter (PPCFN), now received by over 620 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension for over 10 years. As of January 1, 2015, the PPCFN will be transitioning to electronic-only delivery. There will still be three ways to receive the PPCFN from your local UMaine Extension:

1) Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties Farming Newsletter remains available online for free! You can sign up to receive the newsletter through your email or view the archived issues anytime at  http://bit.ly/PPfarming If you currently do not have an email, you can get one for free from several email hosts. If you do not have a computer, community libraries have computers for you to use to access information on the Internet and to view your email.

2) Those with no email can opt to pay an annual subscription to receive the newsletters monthly for $15/year. More details on how to subscribe will be provided later this fall.  

 3) A third option is to come into the Piscataquis or Penobscot County Extension Office and pick up a free printed copy of the newsletter.

       We appreciate our readers referring others to the newsletter, and sharing it with their family and friends.

    Thank you for your continued support of the PPCFN, providing valuable agricultural information from Extension for folks in the central Maine area since 2003.

 
Events & Announcements

  • October 22, 2014, Small-Scale Livestock Care, 6 pm to 8:30 pm at the Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension Office, in Dover-Foxcroft with Donna Coffin. Livestock can be a lot of fun and a lot of work. If you have never cared for anything other than a family pet, this class will cover some of the things you need to know before you buy that pig, sheep, goat or calf.  How much space does this animal need?  What will it eat and how much do I need? What do I do with the manure?  How much time will it take? How do I know when the animal is healthy and when it is sick? How much meat, fiber, or milk can I expect? Where can I go for help? Sign up through the Penquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative at (207)564-6525 or go to https://pvaec.coursestorm.com/course/small-scale-livestock-care 
  • October 23, 2014 Recipe to Market:  Is it for Me? A half-day introductory workshop that will explore what's involved in starting a specialty food business. At the Penobscot County Extension Office 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon Cost: $15.00 Contact: Theresa Tilton, [email protected]207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
  • October 23, 2014 Climate Adaptation & Sustainability (CLAS) Conference...Building a Framework & Platform for CLAS Planning for Communities 8 am to 5 pm at the Wells Conference Center, UMaine, Orono.   
  • October 25, 2014 Great Maine Apple Day. Saturday, 10 a.m to 4 p.m., rain or shine. MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Details. 
  • October 27, 2014 Maine Farms for the Future Grant Deadline
  • November 1 - 3, 2014 MOFGA's Farmer to Farmer Conference, Point Lookout, Northport, Maine. Details.  
  • November 1, 2014 Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale, sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association at Dick Brown's facility in Richmond. FMI click here.  
  • November 4, 2014 NH Direct Marketing Conference for Agriculture and Natural Resource Businesses, Concord, NH. Registration and program can be found at: http://bit.ly/2014DirectMarketing  For more information, any special arrangements, or exhibit space, contact Nada Haddad, 603-679-5616 or [email protected] 
  • November 5 -6, 2014 Northeast Greenhouse Conference, Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA. Join other growers and retailers for the largest nationally recognized floriculture industry show in New England! The biennial Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is co-sponsored by New England Floriculture, Inc., a group of grower representatives from the Northeast, augmented by University and Cooperative Extension staff in each state who specialize in greenhouse crops and management. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn, share, and connect with industry professionals. Click here for program information.
  • November 8 & 9, 2014 Maine Harvest Festival, Cross Center, Bangor. Click here for more info.
  • November 12, 2014 Small-Scale Livestock Care, 6 pm to 8:30 pm, at the NOKOMIS High School in Newport with Donna Coffin. Livestock can be a lot of fun and a lot of work. If you have never cared for anything other than a family pet, this class will cover some of the things you need to know before you buy that pig, sheep, goat or calf.  How much space does this animal need?  What will it eat and how much do I need? What do I do with the manure?  How much time will it take? How do I know when the animal is healthy and when it is sick? How much meat , fiber, or milk can I expect? Where can I go for help? Sign up through the NOKOMIS Adult Education at (207)368-3290 or http://rsu19.maineadulted.org/ 
  • November 13, 2014 Marketing for Business Success: Digital Marketing with Cary Weston. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 40 Harlow St., Bangor. $10 per person with light meal provided. Sponsored by EMDC and UMaine Extension. RSVP 942-6389 or click here to register.  
  • November 13, 2014 USDA 2014 Farm Bill Informational Meeting - General Session. 6 pm to 8 pm, Exeter Town Hall, 1120 Stetson Rd, Exeter. FMI contact FSA at 207.990.9145.
  • November 13 - 16, 2014 Equine Affaire at Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield, MA. www.equineaffaire.com  
  • November 15, 2014 Annual Sheep and Goat Seminar hosted by UMaine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sheep Breeders Association from 9-4 at Kennebec Valley Community College, 92 Western Avenue, Fairfield. Instructors include Jim Weber, PhD, DVM; Anne Lichtenwalner, PhD, DVM, and Richard Brzozowski, PhD.  Participation fee is $35 and includes lunch as well as all materials.  FMI call 781-6099 or visit umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/sheep-goat-seminar/
  • December 6, 2014 Maine Beef Conference, Ramada Inn, Bangor. 8 am registration, program 9 am to 4 pm. Registration includes lunch. FMI click here.
  • December 11, 2014 November 13, 2014 Marketing for Business Success: Creating an Extraordinary Brand with Isla Baldwin. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 40 Harlow St., Bangor. $10 per person with light meal provided. Sponsored by EMDC and UMaine Extension. RSVP 942-6389 or click here to register. 
  • January 14, 2015 Marketing for Business Success: Pulling it All Together led by Deb Newman. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 40 Harlow St., Bangor. $10 per person with light meal provided. Sponsored by EMDC and UMaine Extension. RSVP 942-6389 or
     
Local Weather Anytime
Many farming activities are driven by the weather.  Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day.  They are willing to talk with you about rain predictions for your town.  Give them a call at 492-0180.  Or check out their online detailed maps at http://www.weather.gov/car/.
Need Pesticide credits?  Check out the Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar.  Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed.
Mission

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide.  UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Contributors

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
[email protected]

Goal

The goal of the Piscataquis & Penobscot Farming Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of crops and livestock grown in central Maine.

The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
Penobscot Office 
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME  04401  207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

Piscataquis Office 
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME  04426  207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 
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