Maine Farm News
Maine Farm News
February 20, 2021
In This Edition
ARTICLES
  • Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch: New Publication
  • Cover Crop Species Selection Tool Released for Northeast Growers
  • Northeast Cover Crop Council Annual Conference
  • Blueberry Pruning
  • "Harvesting Maine" video series to launch —  participants wanted!
  • FSMA’s Proposed Rule for Food Traceability – Comment Deadline
  • Small Bites: Good Ideas Without the Hard Work

OTHER INFO
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
  • Payments Grants and Loans
  • Information for Livestock Keepers
  • Surveys
Maine Farm News
Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch: New Publication
Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research into a range of conservation options including soil management, such as using compost, conservation tillage and cover crops; plant management, featuring crop rotation, water-conserving plants and rangeland drought mitigation; and water management strategies such as low-volume irrigation and water recycling.
Cover Crop Species Selection Tool Released for Northeast Growers
The Northeast Cover Crop Council just released the new Cover Crop Species Selection Tool. This project was a collaboration among experts throughout the region to provide region and growing zone specific data. The tool is designed to help farm decision makers find cover crops species that meet your farm conditions and goals. Find the best cover crops for your farm with the NECCC Species Selection Tool.
Northeast Cover Crop Council Annual Conference
The Fifth Annual Northeast Cover Crop Council Conference is scheduled for March 4th. The conference will include presentations from cover crop specialist and experienced farmers. This year's topics include; Interseeding Cover Crops, Improved Seeding Methods, and Innovative Farmers' System overviews. There will also be moderated topic discussion sessions to connect with other farmers and researchers about your interests with cover cropping.
Blueberry Pruning
A reminder from David Handley, UMaine Vegetable & Small Fruit Specialist: time to start pruning blueberries. Here's a short video on how to prune blueberries.
Dear Maine Agricultural Producers:
“Harvesting Maine,” a new video interview series, helps people meet Real Maine members. The series of casual video interviews launches spring 2021. It showcases farmers, growers and producers who work to make a variety of Maine agricultural products available and accessible year-round. 
If you’re a Real Maine member with first-hand experience in Maine agriculture, and you’re willing to showcase your work to help people learn why agriculture matters — consider this opportunity!
FSMA’s Proposed Rule for Food Traceability – Comment Deadline of February 22, 2021
When the Food Safety Modernization Act was originally passed in 2011, it included a direction from Congress for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose additional recordkeeping requirements to enable better traceability through the food chain.

This Proposed Rule for Food Traceability would apply to all firms that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List unless otherwise specified in one of the exemptions. You do not need to be covered by another part of FSMA to be affected by this proposed rule.

The Proposed Rule for Food Traceability is published in the federal register and is open for comment. On that site you’ll also find publicly submitted comments they’ve received so far. More info here.
Small Bites: Good Ideas Without the Hard Work
What can I do in February to bring peace of mind and lower my stress level in May, June and beyond? When the busy days of spring and summer arrive, I feel great comfort in looking at a checklist as a reminder of what tasks need to be done on a regular schedule in different areas of our farm. Developing new checklists and logs is an annual winter activity. Activity logs that track cleaning, watering and temperatures let me know that protocols have been attended to. 
I am more able to delegate details when I have a checklist to refer to before and after the task. 
Most farmers have logs for pesticide applications and animal mortality, as required by law and different certifiers. Might there be other activities and events that you would like to capture? 
Placement of Logs
For us, the key to logs seems to be placement. Having a fertilization log hanging by the hose shutoff in the greenhouse makes sense. 
Data is a Balancing Act
To have value and provide value data over time, logs be kept up, so make sure that entering into logs is part of the various job descriptions and daily expectations you communicate to your employees. Needless to say, there is such a thing as too much tracking, so make sure you don’t overtax your workplace with data collection that isn’t useful and/or necessary. 
Checklists and logs are quick and easy ways to get lots of information to and from co-workers. They can be a key management tool in improving communication in your farm business. 
Looking for ideas for what to track and where to keep your logs? Farm coaching can help you set up a plan for this season. 
Meetings - Webinars - Upcoming Events
Sessions preceded by * are eligible for Pesticide Re-certification Credits.
Resources
coronavirus image from CDC
Payments, Grants & Loans
Surveys
Information from this survey will help develop new marketing strategies that will help all Maine cut flower producers. University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE) and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) staff are assisting with this project. Survey responses will be collected until Sunday, February 21.


The information gathered from these surveys will be shared Feb. 24th
Sheep Producers Survey - NAHMS Needs Your Help

The United States Department of Agriculture National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) is seeking stakeholder input to help shape the objectives for an upcoming sheep study that will take an in-depth look at the most pressing health issues facing the sheep producers. Interested stakeholders can provide input through March 31, 2021 at this survey link. An incorrect link was included in the last newsletter.
Inquiries regarding the survey or NAHMS sheep studies may be sent to [email protected].
sweet corn ears

Researchers at the University of Rhode Island are currently distributing an online survey about fresh market sweet corn. If you grow fresh market sweet corn you are eligible to take this short 5 minute online survey. Your participation and feedback are extremely valuable to the success of this research.
 
The survey will gather information on growers bird damage levels to sweet corn and prevention methods used to deter bird damage. Take the survey here.
Information for Animal Keepers
Rats, mice, and other rodents can infest grain and livestock feed and make it un-sellable and un-usable as feed. Wildlife such as racoons, fox, and weasels can invade poultry houses and kill and maim birds. Pastured animals are subject to predation by a number of wildlife species.
UMaine Extension is sponsoring this Zoom session on February 23rd at 1 pm to 3 pm with Kathy Murray, IPM Entomologist with Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (MDACF), along with Adam Vashon, Wildlife Biologist with USDA Animal and Plant Health, Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services.
Join us for a 9 session weekly Wednesday webinar on a multitude of aspects of farming, animal husbandry and sustainable grazing.
The Granite State Graziers have partnered with regional organizations to offer a Winter Learning Series.
Starting Wednesday, February 3rd and going through March 31st, we will offer lunch time short (1-2 hour long) FREE webinars on a diverse subject matter. 
Choose one or choose them all! 
  • Feb. 24 Solar Array Grazing
  • Mar. 3 The 2020 Grazing Season, Hello 2021
  • Mar. 10 Stress Free Handling
  • Mar. 24 Soil Health Research
  • Mar. 31 Ruminant Nutrition (not even 101)
  • Apr. 7 Grass Growth and Nutrition
  • Apr. 14 Management
  • Apr. 21 How NRCS Can Help You
Artists Flock to Build a Better Wool Market
One of the best ways to save critically endangered livestock and poultry is to create a market for their products. Increasing awareness and demand for products made from heritage breed animals makes conservation economically viable for the farmers who raise them. Launched in February 2019, The Livestock Conservancy’s Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em Initiative continues to dramatically impact the financial success of rare breed shepherds by putting sheep back to work on the farm.
Livestock Nutrition Webinar Series Recordings
Edited by:
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor, [email protected]
Jason Lilley, Extension Professional, [email protected]
Rebecca Long, Extension Professional, [email protected] 
Tori Jackson, Extension Professor, [email protected]
Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

Photos by Edwin Remsberg and others.
A message to our stakeholders:
As a valued UMaine Extension stakeholder, we just wanted to let you know that most county offices have reopened following UMaine guidance and protocols to stem the spread of the coronoavirus. Each office may have different protocols in place, please call ahead before coming to the office.
Please contact UMaine Extension staff with any questions.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Penobscot County
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Piscataquis County
207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 
Donna Coffin - Voicemail 207-262-7726

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Cumberland County
(207) 781-6099 or 1-800-287-1471

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Oxford County
207.743.6329 or 1.800.287.1482

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Androscoggin / Sagadahoc Counties
207.353.5550 or 1.800.287.1458
The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).