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News and events for Maine Beef Producers from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Beef Producers Association and other agricultural organizations in Maine.
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Today is a beautiful sunny day in Dover-Foxcroft above freezing! Soon the snow will be all melted and the fields will dry so grazing can start. Have your fields been as productive as you think they should be? How productive should your fields be? You can download a soils map of your fields from the Web Soil Survey (or go to the NRCS office in your county) and it will indicate the production potential of your land. You can do a soil test (boxes and forms from your UMaine Extension Office) to find out if there are any limiting nutrients that are preventing your fields from top production. Setting up multiple paddocks to rotate your livestock through your pastures can also increase the productivity of the fields. Cindy Kilgore gave us information for online BQA program. It's FREE for a short period of time, so take advantage of the offer. Next big Beef event is at the Northeast Livestock Expo were the Maine Beef Producers will be sponsoring a preconditioned feeder calf sale. Click here for the protocol.Donna |
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- Free Beef Quality Assurance opportunity from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. All cattle producers are encouraged to become certified in the BQA program to assure your customers that you know and follow best practices in cattle handling and production. Click here for more.
- Students Looking for Internship Opportunities -Kennebec Valley Community College has a call out to farms that have a potential internship opportunity for their student to contact them. Click here for more.
- NCIC Report of Regional Food System "Jobs Accelerator Action Plan for Agriculture and Food System Development" is a study of the food system players included growers, distributors, retailers, and restaurants. Click here for more.
- Cost vs Value of Vaccination Program USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System studied beef cow/calf health and management practices across the country. Click here for more.
- Bale Grazing in Maine? This new technique, when used correctly can offer both economic and environmental advantages. But farmers must be diligent in planning and monitoring this system throughout the winter. Click here for more.
Items of Interest
Featured Resources
Events & Announcements
Newsletter Subscription Information
Quick Links
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  Become BQA Certified Compliments of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and PyramidŽ 5 + PresponseŽ
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc (BIVI) is proud to partner with the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program and their efforts within the cattle industry. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is working with the BQA to provide more cattle producers and veterinarians access to their BQA Certification modules. These modules were created in partnership with Dr. Dan Thomson and a team at the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University. This team has developed online interactive modules to educate and certify producers and their staff on best practices for cattle production. There are specific modules customized for cow calf, stocker, feedlot and dairy operations.
BQA education aligns with BIVI's focus on disease prevention. Following best production practices and preventing disease are the right things to do for the animal, for those that raise and produce cattle, and for the consumer of the end product.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. is providing access to the BQA Certification, which is a $25 to $50 value per person. Customers and friends can utilize the program and gain certification at no charge from February 4-April 15, 2015 .
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 KVCC Students Looking for Internship Opportunities
It's that time of year when students are starting to plan where they will do their Agriculture Internship for the summer. If you have an internship opportunity that I could share with the Agriculture students at Kennebec Valley Community College, please contact me at efortin@kvcc.me.edu with a description of that opportunity so that we can start getting students connected to you! We're looking for students to have the opportunity to put their skills to work, while observing and learning new things! All facets of farming are appropriate: seed starting, seedling maintenance, transplanting, weed control, garden planning, greenhouse management, mechanics, irrigation, hay production, animal husbandry, record keeping, animal nutrition, equipment use and more!
Thank you!
Elizabeth Fortin, TAACCCT II Project Manager
Kennebec Valley Community College
92 Western Avenue
Fairfield, ME 04937
PH 207.453.5858
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 NCIC Report of Regional Food System
"Jobs Accelerator Action Plan for Agriculture and Food System Development" is a study of the food system players included growers, distributors, retailers, and restaurants.
Looking at the "Northern Tier" a select set of counties in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont the study focused on grass-based beef production with geospatial techniques to determine where additional grazing capacity may exist and whether it can be successfully utilized. Where is this land located? How many animals can this land support? Is it feasible to farm it?
This report answers these questions for Oxford and Franklin Counties in Maine.
Scaling up beef production in the region will require careful and strategic planning. Key factors to consider:
- Maximize usage of developed road networks for both growers and distributors to efficiently get product to larger regional markets.
- Large retailers need to be fully engaged in any new initiatives since most food is bought in large supermarkets.
- Since restaurants are more decentralized establishing an aggregator to intake, process and distribute food may overcome logistical issues.
While the report shows trends and potential pathways to move forward. The key unknown is farmer willingness to adapt to changing conditions. Creating and sustaining a food-based enterprise, will likely require cooperation with other farmers or an aggregating entity that helps move the product to market. Click here for report |
 Cost vs Value of Vaccination Program
Last month's newsletter included a link to our new Beef Herd Health Vaccination Guide. This past weekend at the Grazing Conference a producer from North Dakota talked about his operation and mentioned that they chose not to vaccinate their cattle. He stated many times that what works for him may not work for others. He has several 1,000 acres that he uses high density grazing for his cattle. Many paddocks are only grazed every other year. His cow / calf pairs stay together for 10 months and when separated the feeders may or may not be mixed with yearlings from other farms. North Dakota is a very dry region of the country, not like Maine's moist temperate climate. His young stock are not challenged by stress of early weaning, commingling of off-farm animals, moist environment, etc.
Research results published in the Bovine Practioner (2008) comparing feedlot health, nutritional performance and economic value of calves receiving health protocols (vaccinations) and those of unknown health history found that, when adjusted for days-on-feed, calves on a health protocol netted between $11 and $34 more per head than calves of unknown health protocol. Calves of unknown health history required an additional 16 days-on-feed to reach the desired back fat thickness. They also required an additional $7 per head in treatment costs for digestive and/or respiratory disease. Click here to go to published paper.
USDA Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) did a study in 2007 looking at the percentage of beef operations that vaccinate. Here is what they found. Click here for info sheet.
Percentage of Operations that Vaccinated any Beef Cattle or Calves in 2007, by Herd Size
Herd Size (Number of Beef Cows)
| 1 - 49 | 50 - 99
| 100 - 199
| 200 or More
| All Operations
| 59%
| 87%
| 96%
| 92%
| 69%
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While vaccination can be considered costly to an operation, it can also be an effective risk-management tool. Often, when a new disease is introduced into a naive unvaccinated herd, it can have devastating effects on pregnancy, calving and weaning rates, and weaning weights. Producers should work with their veterinarians to assess the true risks of disease exposure and the tolerance for risk. Based on that information, they can decide on an optimum vaccination strategy for their herd.
NAHMS also looked at mortality of cattle and calves on beef cow/calf operations and here is what they found. Click here for this info sheet.
Percentage of Beef Cattle or Calves that Died or were Born DeadHerd Size (Number of Beef Cows)Outcome
| 1 - 49
| 50 - 99
| 100 - 199
| 200 or More
| All Ops.
| Born Dead
| 2.9%
| 3.0%
| 3.2%
| 2.5%
| 2.9%
| | Born alive but died/lost before weaning | 4.0%
| 4.0%
| 3.5%
| 3.0%
| 3.5%
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Operations that lost unweaned calves, more than half of the calves less than 3 weeks old died from birth-related problems or weather-related causes. Older calves 3 weeks to weaning, more than half died from digestive (bloat, scours, enterotoxemia, acidosis, etc.) or respiratory (pneumonia, shipping fever, etc.) problems combined.
Herd management practices that can reduce death losses include: biosecurity practices to prevent the introduction and/or spread of disease agents, nutrition and preventative health programs to improve disease resistance of cattle and optimize reproductive success and reproductive management practices to enable timely assistance for dams and calves during calving season.
Click here for link to Beef Cattle Herd Health Vaccination Guide for Maine.
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 Bale Grazing in Maine?
Last week we also heard about bale grazing of beef to reduce labor and keep nutrients (manure) on the fields where the large baled hay was made. It is not a "new" concept in Maine. There are operations that practice this winter grazing method. As with any new management method it may or may not work for your situation.
A colleague in Canada has a couple of publications to help explain the process.
Bale grazing on fields is a method of providing feed to beef cattle during the winter months. With this system, livestock are allowed access to bales previously placed on a field (extensive bale grazing) or wintering site (intensive bale grazing). When properly managed, it does not compromise the health, comfort or performance of the livestock. Bale grazing can offer both economic and environmental advantages compared to traditional intensive winter feeding. Economically, bale grazing can reduce the costs for labor, machinery and fossil fuels, both in the feeding of the bales and manure handling. Environmentally, research has shown increased nitrogen capture in the soil profile compared to intensive feeding in a feedlot or corral followed by manure spreading with equipment. Proper site selection and bale density will ensure the nutrients from manure, urine and leftover material are uniformly deposited at acceptable rates to enhance forage growth and minimize environmental impacts on water quality. Beef producers will have a greater chance of success if they become familiar with the practice and issues of bale grazing before they start. - Plan the bale grazing system.
- Monitor the feed, livestock and weather conditions during bale grazing.
- Make adjustments as needed.
New and innovative bale grazing methods are evolving as producers continue to experiment.
Source: Bale Grazing, Lorne Klein, PAg, and Travis Peardon, PAg, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Agriculture Canada. Click here for Bale Grazing link.
Travis Peardon & Lorne Klein also developed an Excel spreadsheet to help producers estimate the cost of feeding livestock with bale grazing. Click here for the Bale Grazing Calculator link.
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Looking for Maine Farmers to Interview for Healthcare and Child Care Cost Impact on Farm Business Research Project. Researchers at the University of Vermont are seeking farmers in Maine to participate in brief phone interviews as part of a study on healthcare and child care. This study is looking at the ways healthcare and child care costs impact farm businesses in the Northeast and is intended to help develop policy that minimizes the challenges and maximizes the opportunities farm families face when making household-level decisions, such as healthcare and child care. Emily Stengel, a Graduate Research Assistant, will conduct phone interviews in late March. The interview will last 15-30 minutes and will cover one or both topics, whichever is appropriate for you. All names and personal information will be kept confidential. If interested in participating, please contact Emily directly at 717-669-1666 or estengel@uvm.edu.
- New Crowdfunding law that went into affect January 1, 2015 allows any business in Maine to raise money by selling a stake in their business to anyone willing to invest. Under the new law, Maine businesses can now sell debt and equity capital through Crowdfunding to anyone willing to purchase it, subject to certain restrictions.
- 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.
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Featured Resources
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Webinars: Beef Webinars Part of Michigan Extension Series
This program is part of a 20-webinar Michigan State University Extension 2015 Beginning Farmer Webinar Series. A descriptive flyer and on-line registration and payment for any or all of the webinars is available at http://events.anr.msu.edu/beginningfarmerwebinars/ A registration fee of $10 per webinar, or $100 for all 20 webinars is required. Getting started with beef feedlot management Frank Wardynski, Kable Thurlow, Kevin Gould, MSU Extension Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 7-9pm Beef prices are high and opportunities are present to allow new farmers to engage in feeding/finishing beef cattle. Several factors are critical for success, including managing cattle health, nutrition and feed costs and financial management. This session will cover management practices to keep. Website: Frost Seeding: Low Tech Wonder or Wishful Thinking? There will be a very small window for you to try this technique to seed legumes into your fields. Here is a website that includes a YouTube video on increasing your chance of success. Click here for the website. It is part of UMaine Extension's pasture management online course.
Publications:
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for beef information, such as:
- Forage Utilization for Pasture-Based Livestock Production #2204 Covers forage assessment and budgeting (including nutrient requirements for dairy, beef, sheep, goats, and horses), cool- and warm-season forages, extending the grazing season, supplemental pastures, hay and silage (mowing, harvesting, storage systems), and management tools (fence systems, watering systems, lanes and feeding pads). NRAES 185 pages, 2007. $27
- Forage Production for Pasture-Based Livestock Production #2205 Covers plant morphology (and effects on management), ecology of plant communities in forage-livestock systems; soil fertility and fertilizers; nutrient management; environmental impacts of grazing; pests, weeds, and diseases; and establishing forage stands. NARES 141 pages., 2006. $25.
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Newsletter Subscription Information
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The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 575 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension since 2011. As of January 1, 2015, the MBN will be transitioning to electronic-only delivery. There will still be three ways to receive the MBN from your local UMaine Extension:
1) Maine Beef 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.
4) Maine Beef Producers Association members who do not have an email on file will receive a printed copy of the newsletter as a benefit of their membership.
We appreciate our readers referring others to the newsletter, and sharing it with your family and friends.
Thank you for your continued support of the MBN, providing valuable agricultural information from Extension for beef producers and those interested in the beef industry in Maine since 2011.
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Maine Beef Producers Association
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 Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2014 year. Annual dues are $35. for an extra $25 you can get a year subscription to County Folks. For more information on this organization and for membership application go to http://bit.ly/19oljzu
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Events & Announcements
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- April 11, 2015 Deadline to wean calves for Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
- April 11, 2015 Cultivating Community - Healthy Soils - sponsored by the East Sangerville Grange. 10 am to 2:30 pm at the East Sangerville Grange, in Sangerville. Click here for more information. Please contact Erin Callaway at 207-343-0171 or eecallaway@gmail.com if you are planning to come so she can get a count for lunch. The program and lunch are free.
- May 2, 2015 Deadline for second dose of vaccine for Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
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May 27, 2015 Beef-not from Steers: A Challenge for the FDA, Public Health Officials, Large Animal Veterinarians, Consumers, Packers, and Beef and Dairy Producers will be held at the Woodlands Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre, PA. The cost is $70. The room reservation deadline at the Woodlands Inn and Resort is April 26. Please request the MAC Dairy rate for either single ($115 + tax) or double ($125 + tax) occupancy. For more information or to register go to: http://www.ansc.umd.edu/extension/dairy-extension/mid-atlantic-consortium
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June 20, 2015 Beef Quality Assurance Training at the Witter Farm, UMaine Orono. TBA
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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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Quick Links
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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/. |
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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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Photos unless otherwise indicated by Donna Coffin.
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