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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Maine Beef Producers Association News and Interest in Fall Sales |
September 8th Meeting
Next Maine Beef Producers Association Board Meeting will be on September 8 th. All are welcome to attend. If you are not a Board member and have an interest in attending, please contact Kevin Woltemath at kwoltemath@pfnmeats.com or phone 207-749-5602. Topics for discussion include: Fall sales and Cattlemen's College.
Calves or Cattle to Sell This Fall?
Contact Pete Dusoe (ph. 207-416-5441) if you’ll have weaned calves or yearling cattle to sell this fall and interest in consigning to an MBPA Auction. It will be discussed at the Sept. 8th meeting.
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New Grazing Publication & Videos |
Adaptive grazing is goal-oriented, focuses on stock density and not stocking rate, and is necessarily flexible. Rotations, grazing-residue
heights, rest periods, and grazing seasonality are never the same throughout the year. This grazing system uses frequent movement and adequate pasture rest for plant root-system recovery, and is highly reliant on temporary fencing (Williams, 2016)
Designing paddocks and animal movements means following some basic principles of adaptive grazing.
- Goals
- Animal Species
- Grazing Period
- Recovery Period
- Stock Density
- Animal Impact
- Adaptation & Flexibility
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Irrigation for Small-Scale Farms
There has been a 300% increase in irrigated areas from 1998 to 2018 in Maine primarily in potatoes, mixed vegetables and fruits.
Recent extreme climatic events are driving Maine farmers to invest in expanding existing irrigation systems or installing new ones. Several factors impact the decision to select or install a new system. Recently beef producers have been seeking information on irrigation of forages.
Plan to join Dr. Sumon Datta via Zoom for a brief presentation on what small-scale farmers should consider before they expand or install a new irrigation system. There will be plenty of time for him to respond to questions about your situation.
August 22 at 1 pm. FMI and to register click here or call 207.942.7396. Registration is required and those who register will get a link/password to the live session as well as a link to a recording after the live session. |
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Study finds plant-based protein not as nutritious as real meat
A new study by researchers at Ohio State University found that human cells currently do not absorb the same level of nutrients from plant-based protein as they do from meat from animals. While plant-based proteins have risen in popularity, this study shines a light on how the body reacts differently when compared to meat.
This research is probably not surprising to many in the animal science community. Previous research from the Journal of Nutrition has shown plant proteins may compromise bone health.
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Do you have enough forage this year? |
Frequently we experience very challenging years in terms of hay harvesting and corn silage production. Not only are yields down but the quality of the forage are low for the most part. Many years livestock producers will ask, “Will I have enough forage this year for my livestock?” If you need to buy hay, now is the time to buy it if you have storage space. Prices will be higher this winter.
First you need to determine how much forage you will need this year. This depends on the type of livestock you keep, number of head, age, weight, level of production, etc. Then you need to determine how much forage you have on hand. You need to know the volume of your storage and the density of the forage.
Our YouTube video Got Livestock – Need Hay features Rick Kersbergen, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Professor, who shares information for livestock owners on how to assess what they have for feed, assess how much feed they will need for the next six to seven months, and strategies to consider if they don’t have enough feed.
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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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National Beef Prices
National Monthly Grass Feb Beef Report - includes wholesale and retail (direct to consumer) prices of cuts of meat as well as small and very small producer carcass prices (wholesale $4.39/# - direct to consumer $7.22/# to $9.12/#.)
Vermont Monthly Local Beef Report - includes carcass prices as well as retail prices (direct to consumer) per cut for locally raised beef. Dressed beef carcass value for July 2022: $324.95/cwt.
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Publications:
Grants & Loans
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Rural Rehabilitation Trust Fund: The Division manages this dedicated revenue fund for purposes of providing policy and loan-making decisions of this fund. Investments of fund dollars go to providing low interest loans to farmers for purchasing land, or feeder cattle. The fund also provides capital improvement loans to agricultural fairs. For further information about the program contact us at (207) 287-3491 or email dacf@maine.gov .
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PFAS Testing Funds: Get full eligibility requirements and program details at this Webpage.
Equipment, supplies, etc.
Agriculture Jobs
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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.
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: 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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