September 2015


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.

Greetings!
The fall sales will be here soon. Sorry to folks looking for details for the pre-conditioned feeder calf sale. I had put up the wrong site address. I have double checked the current one and it is the right link.
Position descriptions are starting to be available for a number of agriculture oriented position in UMaine Extension. A number of our staff have retired, moved or changed positions leaving some gaps in our programming efforts. Please share with anyone who may be interested in any of these positions.
For those thinking about testing their hay, I have a hay sampler at the Bangor Extension Office. Other offices have them throughout the state. Check with your local office. If they don't have one, we can try to get one to you.
Donna
What's new?
  1. Fall Pre-Conditioned Feeder Calf Sale -  You have time to pre-conditioning your calves for this sale. Sale will be Saturday, November 7th at 11 am in Richmond. Click here for more.   
  2. Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale - Friday, October 7th after the market steer auction at Fryeburg Fair. Click here for more. 
  3. National Beef Cattle Evaluation Webinars - In the comfort of your own home, you can learn from experts across the nation about advances in genetic selection in beef cattle. Click here for more. 
  4. Agriculture Positions Available in UMaine Extension -Here is a position description for the Oxford County position and advance announcement for three more positions that hopefully will be open soon. Click here for more. 
  5. National Farm Safety Week - Sept. 20 - 26 - Take the livestock safety quiz to see how you rank. Click here for more.

sale 

 Fall Pre-Conditioned Feeder Calf Sale
The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) is sponsoring a preconditioned feeder calf sale at Dick Brown's auction barn in Richmond, ME on Saturday, November 7th at 11 am.
Cow Calf producers are reminded to precondition their calves for this sale by weaning and starting the first course of shots by October 3rd.
Preconditioning reduces the incidence of respiratory disease and enteritis by increasing the immunity of the calf in preparation of the stress of weaning and shipping.  Dehornings and castrations should be healed.
Some cow calf producers consigning animals to the sale can also signed affidavits attesting that their animals have been raised under the MBPA Natural Meats program protocol of never having received hormones, antibiotics, or feeds or feed supplements containing animal-by-products. And/or producers can sign an affidavit that their animals are 100% grass (forage) fed, no grains, grain-by-products, grain crops, grain crop silages, or other prohibited feeds under the USDA grass fed guidelines have been fed.
The MBPA are expecting 75 to 100 calves weighing about 500 to 900 pounds to be sold at the November 7th sale at 11 am. If you are interested in selling animals or have questions contact Sale Manager, Pete Dusoe at 207-437-5441 or   [email protected] . Pre-conditioning protocol and forms are available at
http://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.com/Sales.html
Last month's newsletter had the wrong site. Sorry.

clubcalfBull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale at Fryeburg Fair!
The Maine Beef Producers Association is proud to announce they are taking consignments for its annual "Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale." The sale is held in conjunction with the Fryeburg Fair on Friday the 9th of October starting after the market steer auction in the Beef Show Barn.
    The MBPA started the sale in the late 80's as a way to offer quality Club Calves to 4-H kids for their projects in the following year. It was later expanded to include bulls to accommodate people looking for herd bull prospects. It was again expanded to include heifers born after September of the previous year for show heifer projects.
      These calves have followed the MBPA preconditioning requirements and are halter broke. There is a show preceding the sale where the calves are divided into weight classes and evaluated, with premiums offered by Fryeburg Fair.
     There have been a number of success stories arising from sale consignments, with champions from the various Baby Beef Show & Sales through out the state and one show heifer went on to be Grand Champion Belted Galloway at Eastern States Exposition.
     This year we are continuing a program from last year where the owner of the highest placing calf from the Club Calf Sale from the following year's Baby Beef Shows at Bangor, Presque Isle, Windsor, Oxford, and Farmington, as well as Fryeburg will be awarded a $100 savings bond
       For more information about consigning or purchasing calves in the sale, please contact:
Ed Carter, 417 Main Street, Richmond, Me 04357  [email protected]
207-737-2872 Home 207-877-1180 Cell


webinar  What: 2015 National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium's "Brown Bagger" - Advancing genetic selection in beef cattle: Improving current tools and developing new ones.

A web-based train-the-trainer session presented by the
National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium free of charge. It can be viewed and heard directly in your home or office.
When: October 7 - October 28, 2015 (Wednesdays at Noon Central Time)
The Brown Bagger 2015 is comprised of five one-hour sessions at 12:00 noon (CDT/CST) on Wednesdays starting October 7, 2015 and ending October 28, 2015. We have maximum of 200 virtual 'seats', so first come-first served
(Please note: All presentations will be recorded and made available to the public via http://www.nbcec.org/professionals/brownbag.html
If you cannot attend at least a portion of the live webinars please do not email or register for series. Please periodically check the NBCEC website for updated links to recordings.)

   

jobs Agriculture Positions Available in UMaine Extension - 

In the next few months UMaine Extension will be filling positions due to a number of vacancies throughout the state.  

Agriculture and Food Systems Professional
University of Maine Cooperative Extension invites applications for a full-time Agriculture and Food Systems Professional/Professional I to begin work December 1, 2015.  This position is located at the University of Maine Oxford County Extension Office in South Paris, Maine.  This position is responsible for implementing educational programs in support of the over 550 commercial farms in Oxford county.  This work will often be done in partnership with county based colleagues and statewide commodity (potato, dairy, vegetable) or subject specialists (water quality, pest management, food safety) within Cooperative Extension.  The professional will also respond to the needs of home gardeners and have overall responsibility for the county Master Gardener Volunteer program. Typical hiring range for this position is $40,461-$43,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. For a full job description and to apply, click here.  
The University of Maine is an EEO/AA Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Other positions - The following positions have been proposed to be filled.

Statewide Educator for Livestock and Assistant Extension Professor.  This position will address educational priorities and applied research for Maine's livestock producers in areas other than dairy.  Primarily this position will be supporting producers of beef, goat, sheep, alpaca and other species.  This position is expected to work in partnership with Extension colleagues, State Government and grower groups in developing a work plan consistent with faculty level performance.  

Agricultural Professional for Cumberland County: This position will address the educational needs of the commercial agriculture sector in southern Maine with an emphasis on Cumberland County.   This professional position will focus on educational outreach and work in partnership with Extension colleagues and others in addressing the needs of the over 700 farms in Cumberland County.  

More information about these positions will be forthcoming in the near future. 

   

safety National Farm Safety Week - Sept. 20 - 26
The 2015 theme for National Farm Safety & Health Week is "Ag Safety is not just a slogan, it's a lifestyle." There are webinars scheduled for each day of the week and will be available at www.necasag.org.

Livestock Safety - How much do you know?

1. Which action is involved in more agricultural injuries?
   a. applying pesticides
   b. handling livestock
   c. using farm shop tools
2. Animals are more content when isolated from the rest of the herd.
   True or False
3. Livestock exhibit more territorial behavior when feed is distributed in large, unpredictable patches than in smaller, predictable locations in the trough.
   True of False
To learn more about farm safety around livestock download "Safe Farm... Promoting Agricultural Health and Safety: Know your livestock and be safe" a pdf from Iowa State University.

Answers: 1-b; 2-False; 3-False
  • Beef Conference Change this year!
    The Maine Beef Producers Association is joining the Maine Veterinarians to offer two sessions on cattle health in Presque Isle (November 18th) and Waterville (November 19th) in November instead of the December Beef Conference. The format will be an evening meeting with meal followed by presentations. More details next month.
  • Update Hay and Straw Directory - Many farmers throughout the state of Maine are experiencing reduced hay yields.
    If you have excess or are in the position to sell hay or straw, consider using the Maine Hay and Straw Directory. If you are looking for hay to buy check this site.  It is free to use.  More information is available 
  • Testing Forage Quality - YouTube video from UMaine Extension discusses the nutritional importance of forage quality and recommended sampling techniques. 
  • Obsolete Pesticide Collection Each October, the Maine Board of Pesticides Control conducts a program to collect and properly dispose of banned and unusable pesticides from homeowners and farms. Preregistration is required and collections are held at four sites across the state. More information about the program may be found below. Next collection will be in October 2015, one day each in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland. Registration by September 25 is required, no drop-ins will be accepted. For more information click here.
  • Antibiotic use in livestock is one of the most discussed and misunderstood topics in agriculture today, but the newest North American Meat Institute (NAMI) Glass Walls video aims to clarify exactly how, when and why antibiotics are used in animals. The video features a virtual tour of a livestock production facility from University of Nebraska and Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center veterinarian Brad Jones, DVM. Jones explains the decision-making process regarding antibiotic use in cattle and pigs, including the diagnosis of illnesses, treatment and antibiotic use considerations and how animals are tracked from antibiotic administration to harvest.
  • University of Maine Analytical Lab and Soil Testing Serviceclick here for website -They analyze soil, plant tissue, compost, manure, irrigation water, wood ash, fertilizers, organic residuals and other materials for nutrient content, organic matter, lead and other trace elements.
Featured ResourcesFeaturedresources
Publications: 
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for beef information, such as:

Just Released!
Selling Beef in Maine #1048 There are many paths or market channels that can be used to get beef from the producer to the consumer. This publication includes a chart of the risks, benefits, and requirements of beef marketing channels. 2  pages. � 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free
or buy a color copy $0.50.

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 order a free color copy.
 

Newsletter Subscription Informationsubscription  

The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 600 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.

 

Maine Beef Producers Associationsubscription  

MBPA logo and top of brochure Join the Maine Beef Producers Association 
 
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2015 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 
Special Offer!! Join now and your dues are paid until the end of 2016!
Events & AnnouncementsEventsannouncements

 

  • September 25 - 27, 2015 Common Ground Fair, MOFGA Fairgrounds, Unity
  • October 3rd, 2015 Deadline to wean and first shots for pre-conditioned feeder calf auction on Nov. 7th
  • October 4 - 11, 2015 Fryeburg Fair
  • October 7th, 2015 On-Farm Composting to Manage Animal Diseases and Mortalities, 3:45 pm to 7 pm, Highmoor Farm, 52 US-202, Monmouth. To pre-register contact Melissa Libby at 207-581-3188 or [email protected]
  • October 9th, 2015 Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale at Fryeburg Fair FMI [email protected]
  • October 14, 2015 Maine Beef Producers Association Board Meeting 6:30 pm, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Deering Building, Augusta.
  • October 19, 2015 Farmland Access Conference, at Pineland in New Gloucester, presented by Maine Farmland Trust with partners Land for Good and American Farmland Trust.  Join us for a day-long conference on the challenges that farmers face in gaining access to farmland, as well as the tools and resources (both existing and imagined) to help improve access.
  • October 30, 2015 Piscataquis County Extension Annual MeetingCelebrating and Supporting Farming in Piscataquis County. 6 pm dinner and 7 pm program at the Congregational Church in Dover-Foxcroft. John Piotti, President and CEO of Maine Farmland Trust will be the speaker. Farm to Table Meal by Spruce Mill Farm, Dover-Foxcroft. Tickets are available for dinner at the Piscataquis Extension office. RSVP with payment of $10 by October 23rd guarantees a meal Proceeds to benefit the school gardening project. For more information contact Amanda Miles at 207.564.3301 or [email protected]
  • November 7th, 2015, MBPA Pre-conditioned Feeder Calf Sale 11 am, sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association, Dick Brown's Auction Barn, Richmond.
  • November 18, 2015 Beef Fall Health Meeting - evening - Presque Isle
  • November 19, 2015 Beef Fall Health Meeting - evening - Waterville
  • January 12 - 14, 2016 Maine Agriculture Trades Show, Augusta
  • April 2, 2016 Livestock 101 at the University of Maine Witter Center, Orono.
  • May 20 - 22, 2016 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor
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.
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.
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.
Photos unless otherwise indicated by Donna Coffin.
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