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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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 Free - USDA Graded Feeder Cattle Demonstration at NELE before the Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
USDA Graded Feeder Cattle Demonstration by Levi Geyer, Northeast Regional Supervisor / OIC, USDA AMS Livestock Poultry and Grain Market News, New Holland, PA sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association.
This is your chance to learn how to evaluate your cattle based on USDA standards to determine value and make better management decisions. The demonstration will be followed by a discussion of "Marketing techniques, and available information to assist producers in making marketing decisions".
Saturday, May 21, 10 am demonstration. Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fair Grounds Note new time, the sale will start at noon.
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Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale Sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) is sponsoring a preconditioned feeder calf sale at the Northeast Livestock Expo on Saturday, May 21st at NOON at the Windsor Fair Grounds, just off Route 32 in Windsor www.northeastlivestockexpo.com
Cow Calf producers have taken the time to precondition their calves for this sale. Preconditioning reduces the incidence of respiratory disease, enteritis and pinkeye by increasing the immunity of the calf in preparation of the stress of weaning and shipping. Dehornings and castrations are healed.
Some cow calf producers consigning animals to the sale have 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 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. Click here for protocol, check in form and affidavit forms.
The MBPA are expecting about 100 calves weighing from 400 to 900 pounds to be sold at the May 21st sale at NOON. If you are interested in buying a few or a lot of animals or have questions contact Sale Manager, Pete Dusoe at 207-416-5441 or pbdusoe@roadrunner.comSale is scheduled for NOON on May 21st after the USDA Graded Feeder Calf Demonstration
For many years the MBPA has held two pre-conditioned feeder calf sales in the spring and fall. Here is a chart with sale results since 2013 comparing the various weight groups and other characteristics.
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a free meeting by Dr. Jim Miller, veterinarian with the Louisiana State University vet school.
Meeting will be on the Pineland campus in New Gloucester from 7-8:30 pm, on Thursday, June 23 in Room A in the Pineland Conference Center. Click here for directions.
FMI contact Gary Anderson, Animal & BioScience Specialist, 5735 Hitchner Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5735, Phone 207-581-3240.
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IDLE LAND TO PASTURE LAND
As you drive across Maine you see more and more fields that seem to be abandoned and are slowly reverting back to woodland. Beef farmers who have maxed out their land's carrying capacity but want to expand their herd could look to developing idle land into pasture. Here is a reprint of an article by Nancy Glazer, Small Farm Specialist at Cornell.
- Access: Whose is it? The first step is to find out who owns the land. Start with asking neighbors. Explain what you would like to do - graze livestock, not build a house. If that leads to a dead end, check the tax maps with the local town clerk. Once you find out who the property owner is, take them a pound of your ground beef or a dozen eggs to break the ice. What may sweeten the deal is explaining the benefits of agricultural land assessment and what that would mean to their property taxes.
- Get it all in writing Time and effort is involved in setting up a grazing system. Make sure it is spelled out who installs the fence, where electricity comes from for the fence and the water source, to name a few points. If you install items and the lease ends, make sure you spell out who gets the hard ware. Spell out what happens if the landowner dies during the duration of the lease. You probably want a lease for at least 3-5 years.
- Fence Fencing serves two purposes: to keep livestock in and keep predators out. This is no place to skimp since these animals are not in your backyard. You don't want a call in the middle of the night that your livestock are out. The least expensive way is to have the landowner pay for installation. That way the fence stays where it is if the lease is terminated. Another option would be for the cost share for fencing. Make sure you plan where the power is coming from; from a meter on the pole or the landowner. Another option is to install it yourself. Use good quality fenceposts and pay particular attention when installing corners, ends and gates.
- Forage quality This may need some work. My first recommendation would be to soil test, but it may be easier to take a sample after the pasture is brush hogged. Lime as needed, but don't try to apply more than 2 tons/acre if you are not plowing it down. Remember the benefit of this whole system is to keep costs down. Give the pasture 2 or 3 years before you decided to renovate. If fertility is really low, you may need to fertilize at recommended rates.
Livestock are a great way to improve pastures as well. New, lush growth provides a salad bar. They will eat what they like and leave the rest. You may need to clip or mow pastures to eliminate some weeds, such as goldenrod. The best time to mow for weed control, specifically goldenrod is full bloom. When weeds are controlled, sunlight will reach the ground and some of the grass seeds in the seed bank will germinate. Tap into them and give them a chance before you decide to reseed. And remember, it may take a few years to reach your optimum carrying capacity. Rotation is essential for pasture improvement. The shorter residency period the better for forage production. When livestock graze for more than a day, they will go back and graze the nice, soft regrowth. Ideally, cattle should be moved every 3 days, but that's not always practical. Move them to a new paddock as often as possible, to fit your schedule.
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Water Water is the cheapest nutrient. Your animals will need a sufficient supply of clean water. Is there a pond or spring that could be developed? Livestock can drink from a pond or creek with limited access. Will the neighbors let you run a hose? Maybe a water wagon is the best option for the location. You may need a portable tub that moves with the livestock.
- Cattle handling You will eventually need to catch those critters after a time on pasture, whether it's to move or sell the livestock or treat a sick one. Cattle need to be used to it and not frightened by it. One grazer brings his cattle through his corral every time he moves them. That may be more than necessary, but think about that. It could be a moveable or temporary facility.
There are many grazers that have implemented this system. You may want to start small and learn from the experience!
-Nancy Glazier, Small Farms Specialist, NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team, 585-315-7746, nig3@cornell.edu.
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Feeding Loose Minerals
At the recent Maine Beef Producers Association meeting there was a discussion about feeding trace minerals in loose form verses block. The trouble with feeding trace minerals in a salt block, the animals would have to lick the block for hours to get the required amount of mineral. It is a better practice to provide trace minerals in loose form. The next part of the discussion was the difficulty in getting a durable trace mineral feeder that can take the abuse by animals in the pasture. Dr. Matt Poore from North Carolina State University has a factsheet "Barrel and Tire Mineral Feeder Construction" (pdf)that is accompanied with a YouTube video to show how to fashion a mineral feeder out of a truck tire and 55 gallon plastic barrel.
There was a caution to be aware of all the sources of minerals that you are feeding your animals so you don't get toxic levels.
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Items of Interest
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Sign-ups for Open Farm Day - are due May 24th. This will be the 27th year that the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has sponsored Open Farm Day to help farmers connect with neighbors, interested visitors and tourists and teach them about how their food and fiber is produced.
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Testing Forage Quality - YouTube video from UMaine Extension discusses the nutritional importance of forage quality and recommended sampling techniques.
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- Fall Beef Educational Event - The Maine Beef Producers Association would like to hear your ideas for topics for the fall 2016 beef educational event. Please send Kevin Woltemath topics you would like to hear about.
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Featured Resources Videos:
Make a Cattle Mineral Feeder - (YouTube) Dr. Matt Poore from North Carolina State University .
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog for agriculture information, such as:
Learn how to bring neglected hay fields back into production or simply maintain the fields with desirable grasses and open space. 2 pages. © 2004 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy for $0.50.
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Upcoming Events - May 11, 2016 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting 6:30 pm at Deering Building, Maine Dept of Ag, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to get into building. 215-4968. Always open to any interested individuals. Special free program from Zinpro representatives on lameness and nutrition. Call first to be sure of meeting location due to impending remodeling activities.
- May 20 - 22, 2016 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fair Grounds, Windsor.
- May 21, 2016 USDA Graded Feeder Cattle Demonstration, NELE, 10 am. before the preconditioned feeder calf sale, Windsor.
- May 21, 2016 Spring Pre-conditioned Feeder Calf Sale sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association at NELE - Note sale time is NOON. Spring protocol here.
- May 23, 2016 What Sheep, Goat and Cattle Producers Ought to Know About Dewormers by Dr. Jim Miller, veterinarian with the LSU vet school 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Room A in the Pineland Conference Center on the Pineland campus in New Gloucester. This program is free. FMI Gary Anderson at 207-581-3240.
- June 8, 2016 May 11, 2016 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting 6:30 pm at Deering Building, Maine Dept of Ag, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to get into building. 215-4968.
- July 30, 2016 Beef Basics Workshop at Aldemere Farm, 70 Russell Ave, Rockport. A two-day training workshop for farms that have beef cattle and/or individuals who are looking for information necessary for starting a beef cattle farm. Many guest speakers will share their knowledge and expertise related to beef cattle farming. Course topics to include: Beef Fitting & Showmanship (2 day course) Show Sheep 101 Field & Forage Classes Beef Basics Topics: Basic Medical Needs for Cattle, Cattle Handling and Haltering, Cattle Selection.
- July 24, 2016 Open Farm Day
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Maine Beef Producers Association
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2016 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://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.com/forms.html
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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 650 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension since 2011. As of January 1, 2015, the MBN transitioned to electronic-only delivery. There will still be four ways to receive the MBN from 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. If you are interested in subscribing send a $15 check made out to UMaine Extension to Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension, 165 East Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.
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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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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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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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
Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator
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.
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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.
Photos by Donna Coffin unless otherwise noted.
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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 (in Maine)
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Open Mon, Thurs, Fri
8 am to 4:30 pm,
Open Appointment on Wed, Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St.
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491 (in Maine)
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Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
992 Waterville Road
Waldo, ME 04915-3117
207.342.5971 or 800.287.1426 (in Maine)
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