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Your Monthly News & Updates
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 Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) Program at the Trades Show On Wednesday and Thursday (January 13 & 14, 2016) of the Maine Agricultural Trades Show the BFRN have planned a number of programs for beginning farmers, as well as farmers interested in expanding or improving their current enterprises. This is a small listing of the hundreds of programs that will be offered for all farmers and want to be farmers. Many organizations have their annual meetings during the Trade Show. Go to Maine Agricultural Trades Show to view the whole program. Time
| Wednesday
Hancock Room
| Time
| Wednesday
Lincoln/Oxford Room
| 9:00 am
| Overview of FSA Programs
| 9:00 am
| Organic Certification - what it means and how to do it
| 10:00 am
| Legal Considerations Essential to Running a Farm Business
| 10:00 am
| Implementing Conservation Programs on Your Farm
| 11:00 am
| Food Safety
| 11:00 am
| Farming with Carnivores: Learn more about the Farmer Network
| Noon
| Modern Day Homemakers: Be a part of what's trending
| Noon
| Institutional Markets - Opportunities and Challenges
| 1:00 pm
| Intellectual Property
| 1:00 pm
| Tools for Managing Conflicts: Workplace, Employee and/or Family
| 2:00 pm
| Legal Structure for Your Farm
| 2:00 pm
| SNAP Access 1. Expanding Your Customer Base Through Low Income Access (2 hours)
| 3:00 pm
| Land Leasing and Purchasing
| 3:00 pm
| SNAP Access 2.
| 4:00 pm
| Employment Law for the Farm
| 4:00 pm
| So You Want to Join a Farmers' Market? Steps and Tips to Consider
| 5:00 pm
| Land is your legacy/creating a legacy through multi-generational planning
| 5:00 pm
| Beyond the Field Edge: Woodland
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Time
| Thursday
Hancock Room
| Thursday
Lincoln/Oxford Room
| Thursday
Sagadahoc Room
| 9:00 am
| How UMaine Helps Farmers & Food Processors
| Conservation Easements As a Tool for Farm Acquisition
| Farm Transition and Transfer
| 10:00 am
| Guide to Accessing USDA Grants, Loans, and other Programs for Beginning Farmers and Veterans
| Balancing Farm and Relationships
| Employment Law
| 11:00 am
| Principles of Holistic Management: The 4 Ecosystem Processes
| Unlock Your Farm's Potential: NRCS Soil Health | Legal Structure for Your Farm
| Noon
| Do It Yourself Poultry Waterers & Feeders
| FarmLink Mixer
| One-on-one Time with Lawyers and Business Advisors
| 1:00 pm
| Financing Your Farm Business: Shark Tank!
| Farmer Math
| Legal Considerations Essential to Running a Farm Business
| 2:00 pm
| Cover Crops and Soil Health
| Overview of FSA Programs
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Demonstration Area on the Main Floor of the Ag Trades Show
There are a number of interesting sessions planned throughout the Ag Trades Show that will happen on the main floor where all the vendor tables are set up. Check out the website for more detailed descriptions.
| Time | Tuesday, January 12th | | 10 am | Maine Welcomes National Homegrown by Heroes Certification to Veteran Farmers - Farmer Veteran Coalition of Maine | | 11 am | One Tomato Two Tomato Three Tomato Four - Backyard Farms and chef Cynthia Finnemore Simonds | | 2 pm | Quality Assurance & Regulations presents Farmers' Markets Frequently Asked Questions - MDACF | | 4 pm | Poultry Basics - Scott DeMoranville & Maine Poultry Connection | | | Wednesday, January 13th | | 10 am | A Profile on Pineland Farms' Beef Production - Pineland Farms Natural Meats | | Noon | Potatoes, Sourdough and Seaweed - Borealis Breads & chef Cynthia Finnemore Simonds | | 2 pm | Johnny's Selected Seeds - New Tools and Supplies | | 4 pm | Spore to Table: The Birth of a New Fishery in Maine - Seaweed Aquaculture | | 5 pm | Agricultural Development Grant Program Announcements - MDACF | | 6 pm | Somerset Auction Company - Farm Auction - Proceeds benefit Maine FFA Association | | | Thursday, January 14th | | 10 am | Livestock Barns for Small Scale Farmer - UMaine Extension | | Noon | Northeast Creamy Chicken Soup with a Kick - Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council | | 2 pm | Maine Sea Salt Caramel with Chocolatier Andy Wilbur and chef Cynthia Finnemore Simonds |
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Raspberry School
Are you interested in growing raspberries as a commercial crop? Would this crop work well on your land? Would raspberries give a bump to your bottom line?
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Raspberry School is designed to help people who are interested in raspberry production as a commercial enterprise. Basic site requirements, site preparation, plant selection, care of young plants, nutrient management, pruning, and pest management will be presented by Dr. David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Participants may receive 2 Pesticide Applicator recertification credits.
The school will be held at the Augusta Civic Center in the Arnold/Howard Rooms during the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, which runs January 12-14, so participants will have an opportunity to come early and spend some time looking at the supplies, equipment and services on exhibit that are available to help them with raspberry growing and other agricultural enterprises. Admission to the Trades Show is free.
A registration fee of $15.00 will be charged for participation in the Raspberry School and space is limited, so preregistration is strongly advised. Please register by January 8, 2016.
Recommended text: Raspberry and Blackberry Production Guide, published by the Natural Resource and Agricultural Engineering Service. Cost: $37.00 + $2.00 tax at the door (cash and checks will be accepted at the registration table; checks should be made out to "UMaine Cooperative Extension"). You may purchase the guide in advance by ordering online from the Cooperative Extension Publications Catalog.
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How would you know if your hens are laying eggs??? - Check the nests daily (but what if they are hiding the eggs?)
- Keep track of whether they are eating and drinking well (but what if they are just getting fat?) Want to learn how to make your own nipple waterer and no spill feeder? Come to the BFRN session on Thursday at noon.)
- Check the color of the wattles and legs: bright or pale? Busy layers are pale.
- Pick them up and palpate them!
- Feel the Keel: are they too skinny or too fat, or just right?
- Feel the pelvis: is there room for an egg to pass through?
- Look at the vent: is it wide enough for an egg to pass through?
Remember: Hens may lay an egg a day, so they need a special diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Use layer feeds for hens that are old enough to lay eggs. Keep nests clean: remove soil when you gather eggs daily. Be sure there is a nest for every five birds or less.
Source: University of Maine Animal Health Lab
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| Photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Menke
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Can Birds of Prey Help Reduce Crop Damage from Pest Species? Michigan State University researchers have received a grant from the National Science Foundation to try to attract more falcons to orchards. They will determine if crop damage decreases when the population of small falcons increases. American kestrels and small falcons are the most common predatory bird in the US, but their numbers have been decreasing. The birds prey on many species that cause damage to fruit crops, including grasshoppers, rodents and European starlings. Kestrels nest in holes in dead trees, meaning they are also attracted to nest boxes made of wood and placed on poles. MSU researchers are investigating whether they can attract kestrels to fruit orchards and fields by installing nest boxes. Source: Environment Life, Nov. 16, 2015, Michigan State University. |
Silvopasture Works with Landscape, Climate to Meet Farming Goals Keefe Keeley defines intent of silvopasture management. ■ Intentional combinations of trees, livestock, and forage for their mutual benefit; ■ Intensive management of land, fertility, grazing, water, and other farm features; ■ Interactive relationships among tree, livestock, and forage components; ■ Integrated function in a single management unit, including both farm and forest production as well as amenity values such as wildlife habitat, water quality, and soil conservation. To learn more about applying silvopasture techniques to your farm go to Organic Broadcaster, Midwest Organic Sustainable Education Service, Dec, 2015 |
Items of Interest
- Drone Registry to Open Dec. 21 - FAA has finally decided that drones that weigh over 9 ounces will have to complete a $5 registration by Feb. 19, 2016 or before their first flight. Go to the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Registration site for details.
- New venue to advertize livestock services - Amazon has a new category called "Home Services" and some enterprising individual has offered a "Hire a Goat Grazer" to control unwanted vegetation organically. I know a number of goat farmers out west have been renting their herds to keep power lines clean for years. It was just a matter of time before they got their services linked to Amazon.
- Pesticide Recertification Credits at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show.
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Positions Available
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UNH Assistant Professor of Animal Science-Nutrition specializing in agriculturally important, non-ruminant animals (e.g. poultry, swine) to complement existing research and teaching strengths in Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. To apply, and to view a full job description and minimum qualifications required, visit the following web site: https://jobs.usnh.edu.
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Food Hub Manager and Educator is responsible for the overall development of our Food Hub sales and distribution, while also providing core services to Cultivating Community, based in Portland, ME, has an exciting opening with our New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP). For a full job description, please go to https://www.cultivatingcommunity.org/seek-employment/.
- Shipping Christmas Wreaths and Trees - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry reminds Maine residents and businesses that plan to send trees, wreaths or other decorative plant material around the country this holiday season to save money and lost products by noting plant health requirements enforced by other states.
- New England Giftware and Specialty Food Show is looking for exhibitors for their March 19 - 21 Portland Maine Show. This is a juried show that presents the finest New England made giftware, specialty food and home furnishings for wholesale.
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Annie's is pleased to announce that they are again offering $150,000 in scholarship funds to students studying sustainable agriculture. Sustainable and organic agriculture is at the very root of everything they do. They believe healthy soils and healthy farms are the foundation for healthy foods, and we're proud to support the next generation of farmers. Undergraduate and graduate students studying at an accredited US college or university are eligible to apply. Please visit the webpage here to learn more and to download the application. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2016.
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Featured Resources Apps:
ThermalAid for Heat Detection from University of Missouri- (no not that type of heat detection) This app is a decision-making tool for users to identify, monitor and reduce heat stress in cattle to improve welfare and performance. It pulls in weather data and you can put in type of animal to identify heat stress on the whole group of animals. Individual animal stress level can be identified using respiration rate as an indicator. Available on iTunes or Google Play.
Videos:
Tools for Small Scale Crop Production YouTube Video focuses on tools and techniques for small-scale crop production. National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) Agriculture Specialist Andy Pressman discusses the importance of investing in good quality and well-designed tools, their different purposes, and how to use them to properly plant and maintain crops.
Webinars:
Raising Chickens for Meat Production
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 11:30 am EST - Free More people desire to purchase meat locally. That has resulted in increased small-scale chicken meat production farms. This webinar will discuss breed choice, housing options, feeds and feeding as well as food safety concerns related to local chicken meat production. by eXtension.org
Visit the UMaine Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for agriculture information, such as:- Plant Propagation in Maine #2410 Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants. Learn about the types of propagation, seeding, containers, temperature and light, transplanting, and everything else you need to know to successfully propagate plants. 14 pages. � 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy $2.00.
- Best Management Practices for Small Scale Poultry Producers in Maine #2220 Written for small-scale poultry producers, university specialists, extension educators, and agriculture service providers from New England and New York developed this list of Best Management Practices to assist small-scale poultry growers to provide the best care for their birds, minimize losses due to disease and predation, as well as minimizing the impact on the environment while assuring a high quality, wholesome product for their family and customers. 6 pages. � 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Download it for free or buy a color copy $0.75
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Upcoming Events
- December 17, 2015 Plant Something Program 4:30 pm to 6 pm, O'Donal's Nursery, 6 CountyRoad, Gorham. For all horticulture professionals to learn how you can participate and benefit from the $60,000+ marketing program. Sponsored by MELNA. FYI Don Sproul MngmtPlus@aol.com
- January 12 - 14, 2016 Maine Agriculture Trades Show, Augusta
- January 12, 2016 MOFGA Day at the Ag Trades Show
- January 13, 2016 Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Meeting at the Ag Trades Show download the pdf agenda.
- January 14, 2016 Raspberry School on at the Augusta Civic Center. http://umaine.edu/highmoor/blog/2015/12/02/raspberry-school-january-14-2016/.
- March 5, 2016 Aroostook Sheep Day - Presque Isle
- March 12, 2016 Camelid Conference tba
- March 19, 2016 Grazing Conference - Waterville
- April 2, 2016 Livestock 101 at the University of Maine Witter Center, Orono.
- May 20 - 22, 2016 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor
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Newsletter Subscription Information
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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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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Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
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Local Weather AnytimeMany 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/. Check out the Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar. Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
donna.coffin@maine.edu
and
Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator
richard.kersbergen@maine.edu
Goal
The goal of the Central Maine 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 Edwin Remsberg & Donna Coffin |
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Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm,
Open By-chance on Wednesday, Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
992 Waterville Road, Waldo, ME 04915-3117 Phone: 207.342.5971 or 800.287.1426 (in Maine)
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