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Practical farming information based on university research
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Greetings!
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Warm weather is finally here and the grass is getting greener and taller! The pasture season has begun. Manure is being spread, fields tilled and cold tolerant crops are being planted. And a little rain has fallen. Greenhouse crops are growing faster with the warmer weather, too. Donna
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- Time to Watch for Ticks and Try to Avoid Lyme Disease. Ticks are looking for blood to complete their reproductive cycle. Some ticks can carry Lyme Disease that can cause problems in humans if not treated in a timely manner. Click here for more.
- Sweet Potato Naturally Genetically Modified. Sweet potato scientists detected a transgenic gene in our domesticated sweet potato that is not in the wild version of the crop. Click here for more.
- Organic Dairy Farmer Research and Training Program The first class will have their tuition waived through the generous support of Stonyfield ($5,500 value) Click here for more.
- Avian Influenza Still on the Move It's moving closer to New England. Be sure to check the health status of birds before you import them into Maine. Click here for more.
- Bots and Drones vs Pests of Crops Cornell held a conference (video links included) with a variety of experts to look at the practical and legal aspects of using unmanned aircraft in surveying crops. Click here for more.
- Farmers Must File Conservation Form. If you are receiving benefits "money" from FSA they need to have your certificates about your Highly Erodible and Wetland Conservation filed by June 1st. Click here for more.
Items of Interest
Featured Resources
Events & Announcements
Newsletter Subscription Information
Quick Links
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  Time to Watch for Ticks and Try to Avoid Lyme Disease
There is no one way to prevent getting Lyme disease. There are several ways to lessen the chance of getting the disease. Avoid areas where ticks live. Do not walk bare-legged in the woods, brush or tall grass. Wear light-colored clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, high socks (with pants tucked into the socks) and closed shoes. Light colors show ticks better. Apply a commercial tick or insect repellent containing the chemical DEET on clothing, shoes and socks. Do not spray repellent on your face, cuts, sunburns or rashes. Do not put it on your hands. Read the label carefully for any precautions. Do not apply high concentration products to skin, particularly that of children. These products can irritate the skin. Conduct regular tick checks. Remove any ticks promptly if discovered. Know the symptoms of Lyme disease and, if these symptoms develop and the person experiencing them has been in an area where ticks live, call a physician.
If a tick is found embedded in the skin, use the following technique to remove it. Using tweezers or a piece of tissue, grip the body of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently until the tick lets go. There are also tick scoops that make tick removal easy. After removing the tick, apply an antiseptic. Save the tick. Your doctor may want to see it. Animals can be protected from Lyme disease by using commercial insect and tick repellents. Flea collars are not as effective as powders and dips. On larger animals, use commercial insect and tick repellents made specifically for them. To learn more a ticks and tick identification go to our Tick Identification Lab site. To learn more about Lyme Disease click here.
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Sweet Potato Naturally Genetically Modified
Scientists from the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru just published the rather remarkable observation that among 291 tested accessions of cultivated sweet potato, all contain one or more transfer DNA (T-DNA) sequences. These sequences, which are shown to be expressed in a cultivated sweet potato clone ("Huachano") that was analyzed in detail, suggest that an Agrobacterium infection occurred in evolutionary times. One of the T-DNAs is apparently present in all cultivated sweet potato clones, but not in the crop's closely related wild relatives, suggesting the T-DNA provided a trait or traits that were selected for during domestication. This finding draws attention to the importance of plant-microbe interactions, and given that this crop has been eaten for millennia, it may change the paradigm governing the "unnatural" status of transgenic crops and affect the current consumer distrust of the safety of transgenic food crops.
Source: Kyndt, T. et.al. The genome of cultivated sweet potato contains Agrobacterium T-DNAs with expressed genes: An example of a naturally transgenic food crop, 2015, PNAS, vol 112, no. 18, pp. 5844-5849. Click here to access paper.
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 Organic Dairy Farmer Research and Training Program
Wolfe's Neck Farm is now accepting applications for their newly launched organic dairy farmer training program on their farm in Freeport, Maine. This is an intensive, experiential 18-month residential paid program that offers a high degree of support to help new organic dairy farmers start their own operation.
Ideal applicants will have dairy farm experience and are certain that they want to be a dairy farmer. The curriculum provides a solid background in the fundamentals needed to start and manage a dairy farm (business management, pasture and soil management, and animal health are the main areas we'll focus on). Our team of experts provides specialized support through training, securing financing, locating land, and during the first few years of operation.
Learn more: www.wolfesneckfarm.org/organic-dairy-farmer-research-training-program |
 Avian Influenza Still on the Move
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza found in poultry flocks in Indiana. UMaine Extension Veterinarian Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner asks that Maine poultry keepers to please be sure to have an assurance of AI-free status prior to importing any birds, and please check with the State of Maine site for any updates on changes in import regulations.
Dr. John Clifford, USDA Chief Veterinary Office says there are three important things that you need to know about this situation: - Our food supply is safe. Food is safe because the United States has the strongest AI surveillance system in the world. We actively look for the disease, educate the public and producers on the most appropriate practices to ensure their health and safety, as well as provide compensation to affected producers to encourage disease reporting.
- The risk to humans is low. No human infections with these viruses have been detected, and the CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry to be low.
- USDA will continue to do everything it can to support states and producers. We are coordinating closely with State officials and other Federal departments on rigorous surveillance, reporting, and control efforts. At the same time, USDA will continue to work with Congress to ensure that we are able to provide a much-needed safety net to the poultry producers who are experiencing economic hardships as a result of losses due to the disease.
Along with industry, USDA and its Federal and State partners are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks. You can learn more about the situation and USDA's response by listening to a recording of the press conference: http://www.usda.gov/documents/usda-cdc-media-call.mp3 You too can help by continuing to practice good biosecurity if you own birds. All birds owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual birds deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.
Learn more about biosecurity for backyard flocks at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/ | |
Bots and Drones vs Pests in CropsTechnology is rapidly advancing in all areas of society, including agriculture. The Northeast IPM Center at Cornell University brought together experts in engineering, agronomy, ecology, computer science, pest management, and law to pool knowledge, work together, and discuss high-tech management of pests in crops. This full-day symposium concludes with a panel discussion. Watch the videos on their website: http://neipmc.org/go/nbxGLocally there is a group called Penobscot Fun Flyers who meet to fly their unmanned aircraft for fun and recreation in Alton, ME. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PenobscotFunFlyers?fref=ts |
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 Farmers Must File Conservation Certification Form by June 1
By June 1, 2015, farmers must file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in order to become or remain eligible for premium subsidy on crop insurance policies in the 2016 reinsurance year (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016). Farmers and any affiliated persons must be in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions.
Farmers participating in USDA programs such as marketing assistance loans, farm storage facility loans, and disaster assistance may already have a certification form on file. However farmers, such as specialty crop growers who receive federal crop insurance premium support, but may not participate in other USDA programs, must now file a certification form to maintain insurance premium support.
Farmers should contact their local FSA office to verify their form is on file.
Form AD-1026 is available at local USDA service centers http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app or at the USDA's website at www.fsa.usda.gov/AD1026form
The Maine Risk Management and Crop Insurance Program website can be found at http://umaine.edu/agriculture/maine-risk-management-and-crop-insurance-education-program/.
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- Milo Farmers' Market still looking for vendors. Contact Haley Emery at emeryfarm283@gmail.com for more details.
- Farmlogs.com At a recent event Lauchlin Titus shared a new online application that combines the NRCS Websoil survey with field records and weather events. It is called Farmlogs.com The basic application is free. Later on they will have an enhanced version for folks who want to take it a step farther, but the free version should always be available. Just type in your address, click on your fields, name them, and start recording nutrient applications, yields, crops planted, etc. You get an email the day after it rains letting you know how much rain fell on your crops.
- Camelid Survey - Do you raise llamas or alpacas? Would you like more educational opportunities about how to best care for your animals and run your farm business? If so, please respond to the survey at the link below by May 31, 2015 to help University of Maine Cooperative Extension design the best training for you and your farm.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/camelid - Maine Grain and Oil Seed Newsletter The latest issue of the newsletter is available. Access it HERE. Planting season is upon us. A bit of a late start for most, so keep in mind that you should be bumping up your small grain seeding rates accordingly. The recommended increase is 1% per day after May 8. If you are using the plant population method to determine seeding rates, your upper limit for plants per acre should be 1.6 million. In this issue you will find articles on "Planting Cereals by Population," "Inspection and Certification of Grains," "Field Pea Variety Trial" report, and a note from FSA on conservation certification.
- Strawberry IPM Newsletter No. 1 for the 2015 season is available with color pictures on the Highmoor Farm website at http://extension.umaine.edu/highmoor/news-events/, where you can subscribe to weekly updates.
- Maine Hay Stocks Up from Last Year The National Agricultural Statistics Service New England Office announced that on average New England hay stocks are 14% down from last year at this time, but Maine has 44% more hay in stock than May 2014.
- 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.
- UMaine Animal Science Assistant Professor Position - focus on animal nutrition on the Orono campus. Click here for more detailed description.
- VISTA Food Sustainability Coordinator Position -
- VISTA Maine College Compact - Hunger Dialog Position available. http://www.mainecompact.org/vista-join.php And send cover letter and resume to MCC Vista Leader Jonathan Scott jon@mainecompact.org
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Featured Resources
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Webinars:
- Homegrown by Heroes - New certification label available to veteran farmers. June 3rd webinar 4 pm will talk about the certification program and food safety planning mitigating the risk. To register for the webinar click here.
- Small Farm Guide to Selecting and Purchasing Farm Equipment, June 9th at 3 pm. The goal of this webinar is to assist operators of small and beginning farms in selecting and acquiring safe and appropriate agricultural equipment that will increase their likelihood of successfully meeting personal and production goals. The presenter will discuss how to ask the right questions during the search phase of purchasing equipment and avenues for researching equipment in selecting what will best suit the needs of specific enterprises. The webinar will also discuss the many sources and formats for buying equipment, be it new or used, and key things to look for before buying that allow producers to make an informed decision. Sponsored by Agrability. To participate in this free webinar, click here to access the online registration form by Friday, June 5. Instructions for accessing the session will be sent to registrants by Monday, June 8.
Publications: The following agriculture related UMaine Extension publications are available online or can be ordered from the UMaine Extension office nearest you. You will notice that some publications are free and some have a cost recovery charge. Many publications are available for free online or may be purchased at our
- Guide to Veteran-to-Farmer Training Pilot Program Resources in Maine #2432 In 2013, the Maine State Legislature passed LD 409, a "Resolve to Establish a Veteran-to-Farmer Training Pilot Program," the purpose of which was to capture the richness of opportunities in Maine for veterans to receive comprehensive training and education on careers in the agriculture. This fact sheet will serve as a guide to training and education resources to pursue careers in the agriculture. 4 pages. © 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy.
- White Rot of Garlic and Onion #2062 Garlic and onion white rot is caused by the fungus, Sclerotium cepivorum Berk. White rot is the most important and destructive of the fungal diseases of onion and garlic. While all Allium-family plants can be infected with white rot, onion and garlic are the most susceptible. 3 pages. © 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy $0.50.
- The Pesticide Applicator Training books can now be ordered online through the Cooperative Extension Publication Catalog. Previously these had to be ordered via telephone to our Pest Management Office and customers had to mail a check to Orono, before the materials could be shipped. Now, our customers can order online and receive their training materials in less time. To find the pesticide applicator training materials in the Publication Catalog scroll down the categories listed on the left side and you you'll see the new category Pesticide Applicator Training Materials. The category is divided into three smaller categories for Commercial, Private and Agricultural Basic. *Please note the manual price changes and shipping rates. Clients now can pay with a credit card online or they can still place an order by mailing in a check to the Pest Management Office. For information about pesticide education, visit UMaine Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program or contact the UMaine Extension Pest Management Office at (800) 287-0279 (in Maine) or 207-581-3878.
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Newsletter Subscription Information
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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.
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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Events & Announcements
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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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