Your Monthly News & Updates |
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News and events for the Maine Beef Producers from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Beef Producers Association and other agricultural organizations in Maine.
Note: underlined words are linked to webpages with more information.
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The May Issue of the Maine Beef Newsletter will be the last for awhile. You will be able to get beef program information in the Maine Farm Newsletter that is sent the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the Month. If you did not receive this newsletter last week, you may want to sign up for it here. Check the 2021 Maine Farm News, click you are not a robot, then click submit.
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MBPA Spring Sale Canceled |
Due to low interest from consignors for the MBPA spring pre-conditioned feeder calf sale, the sale has been canceled. This sale usually was held during the NELE.
A reminder:
The MBPA Sales page is now open to post beef animal for sale or to be bought. The MBPA Board decided to allow anyone to post, MBPA membership is not required. Pictures are not required, but are encouraged. Check the website for details. Current MBPA members may also post feed, hay or bedding, or services.
For $100 a business may purchase a sponsor membership which will allow the business to run their logo on our "Sales Slider", at the top of the sales page, as well as being listed with other members on the member page.
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Beef Quality Assurance Training - York County |
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)
When: April 29th at noon
Where: Leary Farm, 269 Flag Pond Rd., Saco, ME
Who: Dr. Colt Knight, Asst. Professor of Extension - State Livestock Specialist hosted by York County Farm Bureau.
Register by calling (207) 815-0267
What is it?
A hands-on learning experience for southern Maine beef producers to earn certification and improve their herd management. Participants will learn principles in cattle care, stress-free handling, and health and welfare during transportation.
Who should attend?
All stakeholders in the beef industry from homesteader, farmer, transporter, processor, and anyone interested in starting their beef journey.
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The New England Galloway Group is hosting the 32nd Annual National Belted Galloway Sale once again. The 2023 sale will be held at 2 P.M. on April 22nd in Fryeburg Maine, right on the Fairgrounds! This year's sale will have many live lots and plenty of genetic opportunities such as semen and embryos.
Feel free to reach out to Ashton Caron with any questions at (207) 249-3739 or via email at beltie71@gmail.com.
Transportation and Online Bidding will be available, don't miss out!
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A team of Extension and research professionals at the University of Maine is conducting a periodic survey about farm, ranch, and aquaculture operations’ labor and compensation. The UMaine team says the study will help them provide information to agricultural operators and workers about average wages and benefits that can be used in your decision making. It will also help the team to understand labor used by operations in the region and to identify programs and policies that may benefit managers, owners, and workers in New England agriculture.
UMaine Extension’s team invites you to participate by responding to an anonymous survey. Participation involves answering questions about you and your operation online. The questionnaire can be completed on a laptop or mobile device of your choice. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes. They will be offering the chance to enter a drawing to win a $75 gift card to a farm outfitter (such as Tractor Supply) to all those who reach the end of the survey and elect to provide contact information on a separate form to enter the raffle.
You must be at least 18 years old to participate and must be involved in the management or decision-making for an agricultural enterprise such as a farm, ranch, or aquaculture production facility. Follow this link to find additional information about this project.
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Free Farm Business Advising Opportunity for Maine Farm and Food Businesses |
Thanks to grant funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission, there is an opportunity for free business consulting for Maine farm and food businesses located in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington counties. Consulting can help with profitability enhancement, generational transfer and estate planning, strategic planning, management coaching, and more. Both start-up and established businesses are eligible. Businesses can receive up to $5,000 worth of consulting services at no cost to them. Work must be completed by June 30, 2023, so act now. For more information, contact chris.laughton@farmcrediteast.com
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It’s time to sign up for 2023 Maine Open Farm Day – Read more Deadline to opt into promotions is May 1. The event happens 7/23/23 – fourth Sunday in July. |
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At UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and UC Agriculture Natural Resources Cooperative Extension, we have designed a survey aimed at cattle, sheep, or goat producers that are Certified Organic, in transition to be certified, or implementing organic practices. Our goal is to learn about: a) dewormers drugs used and the perceived efficacy, and b) integrated parasite management practices and their perceived efficacy.
Survey results will help us to identify critical areas that need additional research or extension services related to parasites management in organic production.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please contact the principal investigators (Dr. Alda Pires: pireslab@ucdavis.edu and Dr. Noelia Silva del Rio: nsilvadelrio@ucdavis.edu) or Teresa Miranda at teresa.fernandes.miranda@gmail.com
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The purpose of this study is to validate and refine a set of indicators that are relevant and feasible for ranchers to collect and monitor, and that can support ranch management, reporting to agencies and market actors, and storytelling to consumers and the public. This survey is intended for ranch and rangeland owners, operators, and employees, and is focused on understanding current approaches and challenges to ranch planning and monitoring, as well as additional needs and approaches to monitoring that could improve long-term ranch viability. The results will be used to inform the development of the final TNC Toolbox as a resource for ranchers and other actors in the supply chain.
It will take about 20 minutes to complete and at the end of the survey you can provide your contact information to be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card.
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Maine Brand Study
The University of Maine's Graduate School of Business, in partnership with MaineBiz and the Catherine Cutler Institute, is conducting research on whether the Maine brand confers a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
The survey, which is completely anonymous, will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. It features multiple-choice questions, open-ended prompts, and an opportunity to submit your favorite Maine photos. We plan to share the results in the fall of 2023.
Please click on the following link to learn more about the study and to participate in the survey.
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Novel Shallow Well Questionaire
Dr. Rachel Schattman at UMaine and collaborators at USGS are getting ready to submit a grant to support installing a new shallow well at Highmoor Farm. It's part of thier effort to test this new well design in several locations around Maine, so see how they perform under various soil and environmental conditions.
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April 10: Rotational Grazing in Silvopasture: Research Lessons from Brazil, 12:30 pm online
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April 11: Global Agritourism Network (GAN) Lauch, online
- April 13: MBPA Board Meeting. 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Contact info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com to get Zoom link.
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April 19 to 26: Start Your Maine 4-H Volunteer Journey, online
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April 20: Policy Approaches for Dual-Use and AgriSolar Practices, online
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April 22: 32nd National Belted Galloway Sale - Fryeburg
- April 27: Swine 101: Raising Pasture Pork - Falmouth
- April 29: York County Beef Quality Assurance - Saco - FMI - 207-815-0267
- May 13 & 14: Maine State 4-H Youth Conference, Windsor Fairgrounds
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May 18 – 21 Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE), Windsor Fairgrounds
- May 10, 11, 12: Maine Meat Cutting School - Orono - SOLD OUT - contact Melissa Babcock at melissa.libby1@maine.edu or 207.581.2788 or 1.800.287.7170 (in Maine) to be put on a wait list
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May 20: Maine Highland Cattle Association Pasture Walk , Bristol
- May 23 - 24: Mid-Atlantic Consortium Dairy Beef Extension Training
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July 23: Open Farm Day, MDACF
- Aug. 23 – 25 Cattlemen’s College
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The MBPA website has information about the association, the board of directors, and forms for awards, activities, and sales. Members have the opportunity to have their farm listed with a photo, description of their farm, and a link to their own farm website. You can add this information when you join or send the information and digital photo to Russ Florenz at info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com
The Maine Beef Producers Association has a Facebook page. Like and follow to get the fastest information from Maine Beef Producers Association. Facebook
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association.
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2022 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 and online payment go to http://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.com
You can join the association online and pay by credit card on a secure site or by mailing the information to Sally Caverly by either printing off the form from the website, or completing the pdf version of the form and mailing to her at 1457 River Rd., Clinton, ME. |
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Publications/ Websites:
Videos:
Grants & Loans
Equipment, supplies, etc.
Agriculture Jobs
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Jobs at UMaine Extension - there are 25 full, part-time, and temporary positions posted including Downeast Sustainable Ag, Urban Ag, Smart Ag & Forestry Positions and a post-doc PFAS Research and Outreach.
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Maine Farm Labor Link Network: Looking for farm workers or looking for farm work, this site helps connect farmers with people looking for work on farms. MDACF
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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 730 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
The 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.
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 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
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Colt Knight, Extension Specialist
Goal
The goal of the Maine Beef Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of beef grown in central Maine.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System). 11/22
Photos: Donna Coffin unless indicated otherwise.
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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
Piscataquis County Office - website
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm - Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
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