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Piscataquis and Penobscot
Farming Newsletter
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Practical farming information based on university research
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Statement from University Officials on Passage of Bond Question 2
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"On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University of Maine System, I want to thank the voters for approving funding to build a new animal and plant disease and insect control lab for Maine," said University of Maine System Chancellor James H. Page. "The new facility will enable us to provide better public health services to Maine families as well as carry out research critical for our Maine's agricultural and other natural resourced-based industries."
"For a century the University of Maine's Cooperative Extension has been putting university research to work in homes, businesses, farms and communities across Maine," said Susan Hunter, President of the University of Maine. "Here at UMaine we are proud of this legacy of service and are grateful to everyone who cast a vote in support of our work on behalf of the people of our Maine."
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25th Annual Maine Beef Conference
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 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. Industry sponsors include Zoetis, Pineland Natural Meats, and Darlings Ford.
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.
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.
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Farm Commons is planning a series of 13 Farm Law Webinars to help beginning and established farmers with various legal concerns. You can view them live or later in the archived version. To view live you do need to register. All are scheduled for 1 pm EST. You can sign up for the live sessions or view the archived sessions at farmcommons.org/webinars
- Dec. 8 The Beginning Farmer's Introduction to Farm Law
- Dec. 9 Put Your CSA On Strong Legal Footing
- Jan. 5 Hosting Safe, Legally Secure Farm Events
- Jan. 6 Adding Value Without Adding Legal Liability to Farm Products
- Jan. 19 Farmland Leases Built to Last: Content and Legal Context
- Jan 20 Food Safety Liability and Regulations for the Farm
- Feb. 2 Sales Contracts for Farm Produce: Why and How
- Feb 3 Making Employment Law Work for Your Farm
- Feb 23 Farm Sole Proprietorships, LLCs, S Corps, and Coops: Which? Why? How?
- Feb 24 Going In-Dept With CSA Farm Law
- Mar. 2 Getting Farm Work Done Legally with Interns, Apprentices, and Volunteers
- Mar. 23 Financing a Farmland Purchase: Legal basics for traditional and non-traditional farmland purchases
- Mar. 24 Efficiently Manage Your Farm's Risks with Insurance
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Low-stress Cattle Handling Free Demonstrations
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The Maine Beef Producers Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension are sponsoring a second free low-stress cattle-handling demonstration in December. Curt Pate, National Cattlemen's Beef Association stockman instructor, will conduct the live demonstrations. The added session will be 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Rocking S Ranch, 2 Happy Trails, Fort Fairfield. The originally scheduled demonstration will be 2-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at East Ridge Stable, 405 East Ridge Road, Charleston. The demonstrations are preludes to the 25th Annual Beef Conference, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Ramada Inn, 357 Odlin Road, Bangor. Pre-registration for the handling demonstrations is required. To pre-register, or to request a disability accommodation, contact Melissa Libby, 800.287.7170 (in Maine), 207.581.2788 or melissa.libby1@maine.edu
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Workshop on Food Safety System Law
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On December. 1, at 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m. Workshop on Food Safety System Law
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a free workshop about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) at the UMaine Extension office, 24 Main St., Lisbon Falls and shared throughout the state in a number of UMaine Extension County Offices including the Penobscot County Office in Bangor.
Ben Tettlebaum, a Rhodes Fellow with the Farm and Food Initiative at the Conservation Law Foundation Maine, and Dave Colson, a farmer from Durham and director of agricultural services at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, will make presentations. Each year, about 3,000 people in the United States die and 128,000 are hospitalized due to foodborne diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FSMA, signed into law in 2011, seeks to build in prevention throughout the food safety system and requires farmers to incorporate steps to avoid food contamination.
Through Dec. 15, the FDA is accepting public comments about FSMA; computers will be available at the workshop to send suggestions. For more information, to register or request a disability accommodation, contact KymNoelle Sposato, 207.353.5550, kymnoelle.sposato@maine.edu.
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Small Scale Farm Webinars from Cornell
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Just because the snow has started falling in some areas doesn't mean farming season is over... it just means that farm planning and reflecting season has arrived. Check out these great courses coming up in January 2015 for some opportunities to hone your financial management and production knowledge from the comfort of your cozy home.
New this year! Participants who complete all requirements of one or more online courses are eligible to be endorsed for a 0% interest loan of up to $10,000 through
Kiva Zip.
Here are the next courses in the line-up: BF 102: Markets and Profits is a 6-week online course aimed at aspiring farmers still forming their farm plans. Thurs. Jan. 15 to Feb. 19 with Thursday night webinars.
BF 104: Financial Record Keeping is a 6-week course for farmers who need guidance establishing an effective system for tracking and analyzing their farm's performance. Mon. Jan 12 - Feb 15 with Monday night webinars.
BF 203: Holistic Financial Planning is for farmers with at least a few years of financial records on hand (in any form!) who want to proactively plan to be profitable. Tues. Jan 20 - Feb 24 with Tuesday night webinars.
BF 120: Vegetable Production I is a 5-week course for aspiring and start-up farmers seeking to improve their crop planning and planting skills (BF 121: Vegetable Farming II starts in late Feb. and continues with season-long care to post-harvest handling). Wed. Jan 7 - Feb 11 with Wednesday night webinars.
BF 140: Small-scale Organic Grain Production is a new 7-week course for farmers of all experience levels to explore adding a grain enterprise to their farms. Wed. Jan 14 - Feb 25 with Wednesday night webinars.
All courses consists of weekly real-time webinars followed by homework, readings, and discussions on your own time in an online setting.
Each course is $200, but multiple people from the same farm may participate without paying extra. See the course description page for more on the course learning objectives, instructors, and outline. These courses are part of the line-up of 14 online courses offered this Fall, Winter and Spring by the Cornell Small Farms Program.
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Heat Pumps in Greenhouses Preliminary results from research at the University of New Hampshire Woodman Horticulture Research Facility found that heat pumps reduced fuel oil use in two identical greenhouses from 711 gallons to 456 gallons last season with an increase in $145 in electricity with the heat pumps. For more details click here to go to Heat Pumps Show Promise for Reducing Heating Oil Consumption - UNH Agriculture Experiment Station.
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. Maine Technology Asset Fund
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) announced a workshop on Dec. 4th in Bangor for potential applicants. Details of the workshop can be found by c licking here to go to their website. MTI invests in entrepreneurs and companies engaged in developing innovative technology products, services and processes. MTI offers a variety of early-stage and mid-stage funding programs to help startup and established companies develop and commercialize innovative technologies. The MTAF is funded with state bond funds to build the research and development infrastructure and capability in Maine.
Maine Agricultural Grant RFPfor projects involving market research, market promotion, or a combination of those activities for the purpose of expanding existing markets and developing new markets for agricultural products produced in Maine; or for testing and demonstrating new technologies related to the production, storage or processing of State agricultural products. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has $450,000 available and may select multiple projects with maximum amounts of up to $50,000 per award.
Priorities for this RFP include:
- Market development for the processing of animals/livestock throughout Maine.
- Improved utilization and profitability of Maine grown grains.
- Incorporating enhancements in the market for nutrition and/or food safety.
- Focus on alternative markets or diversification.
A copy of the RFP can be obtained by contacting the Department's RFP Coordinator for this project: Jessica Nixon, Director of Market Development. Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov or mailing address: 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
2014 Farm Bill Informational Meetings - General sessions will be held in November. For the complete schedule of sessions go to the Maine Farm Service Agency Site here.
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YouTube Video:
Balsam Fir Tips - Sustainable Harvest (click here) University of Maine Cooperative Extension talks about how to properly identify and harvest Maine Balsam Fir tips.
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for seasonal information, such as:
- Conifers of Maine #7015 This reprint of Fay Hyland's classic field guide is reviewed and updated by Hyland's colleague and friend, Christopher Campbell. Hyland taught and conducted research on woody plants at UMaine for more than 60 years, and established the Fay Hyland Botanical Garden, which Campbell now directs. The guide contains detailed illustrations and descriptions of the growth habit, bark, leaves, and cones of each of the 16 native and five common introduced species of Maine conifers. Includes traditional identification key. 28 pages. © 2008 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. $7.50.
- Balsam Fir Tip Gathering #7011 The demand for balsam fir wreaths has risen over the years. This bulletin covers basic tip gathering. Includes drawings to help you identify high quality balsam fir tips and remove and stack tips effectively. 4 pages. © 1991, 2008 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy. $0.75
- Making Balsam Fir Wreaths #7012 This fact sheet includes instructions and 11 drawings to lead you through wreath construction step by step. Includes a materials list. © 1991, 2008 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy. $0.75
- Christmas Tree Marketing #7009 If you want to maximize your returns from Christmas tree culture, you need to think about a marketing plan. This Yankee Woodlot fact sheet will get you thinking about the basics. 4 pages. © 1998 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free: Download it for free or buy a copy. $0.75
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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.
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- November 25, 2014 Tendon and Ligament Damage and Treatment at 7 pm by Dr. Paula Benner sponsored by the Maine Horse Council at the Maine Farm Bureau Office, Augusta. All are welcome to attend this free session.
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December. 1, Workshop on Food Safety System Law at 6 p.m at the UMaine Extension office, 24 Main St., Lisbon Falls and 307 Maine Ave, Bangor. For more information, to register or request a disability accommodation, contact KymNoelle Sposato, 207.353.5550, kymnoelle.sposato@maine.edu
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- December 4, 2014 Low-stress Cattle Handling Demonstration 2 - 4 p.m. Rocking S Ranch, 2 Happy Trails, Fort Fairfield. Curt Pate, stockman instructor with the National Cattleman's Beef Association will conduct a live demonstration of low-stress cattle handling. This is a free program, but pre-registration is required since space is limited. To pre-register contact Melissa Libby, at 207-581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or melissa.libby1@maine.edu
- December 5, 2014 Low-stress Cattle Handling Demonstration 2 - 4 p.m. East Ridge Stables, 405 East Ridge Rd, Charleston. Curt Pate, stockman instructor with the National Cattleman's Beef Association will conduct a live demonstration of low-stress cattle handling. This is a free program, but pre-registration is required since space is limited. To pre-register contact Melissa Libby, at 207-581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or melissa.libby1@maine.edu
- 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 10, 2014 Anaplasmosis in Equines at 7 pm by Dr. Katherine Williams sponsored by the Maine Horse Council at the Maine Farm Bureau Office, Augusta. All are welcome to attend this free session. A business meeting will follow with brief update on Maine Legislation and future meeting topic plans for the organization.
- 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.
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December 15 - 17, 2014 New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH. More than 25 educational sessions and over 100 exhibitors. Click here for more information. - January 13 - 15, 2015 Maine Agricultural Trades Show, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta. Click here for more information.
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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
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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/. |
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.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
donna.coffin@maine.eduGoal
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.
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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.
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Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
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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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 Penobscot County Piscataquis County |
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