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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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Make Sure Your Farm Counts!
NASS conducts a census of all agricultural operations every five years as well as other agricultural surveys. We need to know about all types of agricultural operations of all sizes.
The Information you provide is kept confidential by law and will not be
disclosed to any other government or private entity.
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 Maine Grass Farmers Network Annual Grazing Conference
Saturday March 18th
Kennebec Valley Community College
Alfond Campus
Hinkley
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Maine Grass Farmers Network is pleased to announce a great lineup of speakers for this year's annual grazing conference scheduled for
March 18th at the Alfond Campus of Kennebec Valley Community College.
Two nationally known speakers are presenting keynote addresses. Dr. Fred Provenza from Utah State University is a noted animal scientist and grazing behavior specialist will be the keynote speaker in the morning. Dr. Hue Karreman, author and veterinarian will be presenting the keynote address in the afternoon with his partner Suzanne Nelson.
After both keynotes, there will be concurrent sessions with a variety of speakers including Dr. tatina Stanton from Cornell discussing parasite control in sheep and goats, and UMaine's new Extension Livestock Specialist, Dr. Colt Knight.
The Maine Grass Farmers Network is supported by numerous agencies and organizations, including The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
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Calling All Beef Producers Who Direct Market Beef
A growing number of Northeastern consumers are seeking more of a connection with their food. The goal of the 'Northeast Beef Directory' is to help connect consumers with local beef markets and farmers selling beef directly to consumers while at the same time, reminding Northeast consumers of the safety, convenience and wholesomeness of beef purchased through the more traditional and mainstream channels of distribution such as a supermarket, club warehouse store or online retailers.
We are now calling for producers who sell their beef direct to consumers to join forces and be a part of the Northeast Beef Directory. Directory entries from farms or butcher shops selling beef directly to consumers are being accept
ed on this website:
http://www.nebpi.org/producer-submissions.aspx
If you have any further questions about this resource, set to launch in April 2017, please contact Christie Bro
wn, Director of Promotions for the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. (717) 250-3557
cbrown@pabeef.org
Thank you for helping BEEF get into the hands of consumers!
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Beef Industry Meeting
Feed Commodities International, LLC, in conjunction with ADM, Zoetis, Rolleston Vet Service, and the University of Maine extension service would like to invite you to:
A Vaccine and Nutrition discussion focused on Cow Calf Operations
395 Griffin Road, Bangor Maine 04401
A hot lunch will be provided
9:00 - Doors Open
9:20 - Welcome and Introductions - Pete Howe
9:30 - Keeping Cows Healthy With Better Vaccine Science - Dan Heon & Dr. Rolleston
10:45 - Using Body Condition Score As A Reproductive Management Tool - Dr. Colt Knight
11:20 - Beef Quality Assurance - Dr. Colt Knight
12:00 - Lunch Courtesy of Zoetis
1:00 - Beef Cow Nutrition - Chris Hagedorn
1:45 - Nutritional Tools To Smooth Out The Trouble Spots - Chris Hagedorn
2:15 - Feed Commodities International - Partners for Profitability, and what that means for you - Al Fortin
3:00 - Adjourn
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'Growing Maine'
S
hows
M
entorship
K
ey in
F
arming
The fourth installment in the University of Maine Cooperative Extension "Growing Maine" series of short documentaries, highlighting Maine food producers and farm families, tells the story of Dan Kaplan and his family's grass-fed beef operation, Heartstone Farm, in Charleston.
Kaplan, along with partner and farmer Tara Hesseltine and her son Logan, are relatively new to farming. They quickly learned that the expertise of other farmers could help avoid reinventing the wheel. In this video, Kaplan introduces his mentor, Fred Sherbourne, a former dairy farmer who has made a big difference to a new family farm.
The Growing Maine video series helps consumers get to know their food sources better, as farmers and producers share their behind-the-scenes perspectives on how decisions are made. For those aspiring to farm, the videos are a way to hear directly from farmers and producers about what is most important to them.
UMaine Extension helps support and grow the food-based economy statewide, and is the only entity that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, education, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated.
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The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting applications for the Calves for Kids program.
The deadline is April 1st, 2017.
Youth applying will be asked to come for an interview before the Calves for Kids committee at a later date. This program, started in 2007, has given 24 youth in the State of Maine a heifer calf.
The program gives a youth an opportunity to have a registered beef heifer to show and start a herd. The youth's obligation is to breed the heifer to a registered bull and give back to the program the first heifer calf. If they do not get a heifer calf born after a few years they are obligated to pay the MBPA $1000. Of the 24 heifers that have gone to youth so far, 10 were either donated or bought by MBPA and 14 have come back from the youth.
In 2016, two youth received heifers. Bethany Devoe received a hereford heifer and Brooke Bickford received a chi-maine.
Past Calves for Kids Program Recipients:
2016: Bethany Devoe - Hereford heifer bought by MBPA (with money from Shelby Walker) from Darcie Campbell McCarthy; Brooke Bickford - Chimaine heifer bought by MBPA (with money from Kristen Salley) from Norris Smith and Cindy Kilgore. .
2015: Colby Waters - Angus heifer from Cierra Waters; Elizabeth Phinney - percentage lowline bought by MBPA from Wiliam Fisher.
2014: Shelby Walker - Charolais heifer from Roger Flannery; Ashton Caron - Belted Galloway heifer from Morgan Allen; and Jared Kimball - Shorthorn heifer bought from Rupert Pratt with money from the sale of Alexander Clark's animal.
2013: Cierra Waters - Angus heifer from Adam Pride; and Kristen Salley - Chi-Angus heifer bought from McGee Farm with money given back by Katerine Newcombe.
2012: Matthew Carroll - Angus heifer from Tyler Stevenson
2011: Morgan Allen - Belted Galloway from Sam Newcombe; and Adam Pride - Angus heifer from Samantha Grant
2010: Alexander Clark - Hereford heifer from Sage LeBlanc; Wesley Turner - Angus heifer from Tom McKenney; and Roger Flannery - Charolais heifer from George Miller
2009: Sage LeBlanc - Angus heifer from Ben Pride; Sam Newcombe - Belted Galloway from Kayla Scheimreif; and Katherine Newcombe - Angus heifer from Mary Street and MBPA
2008: Tyler Stevenson - Angus heifer from Pineland Farms; Ronnie Sue Clark - Simmental heifer from McGee Farm; and Carrie Butterfield - Hereford heifer from Paul and Wendy Gallagher
2007: Ben Pride - Angus heifer from McGee Farm; Samantha Grant - Angus heifer from Pete Wayne; and Kayla Scheimreif - Belted Galloway from Aldemere Farm
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Items of Interest
- UMaine Extension positions: Scientific Research Assistant in Aroostook, Temporary Field Teacher in Oxford, Food System Aide in Penobscot, 4-H & Maine Families Parent Education in Knox-Lincoln Counties, 4-H in Franklin, Field Teacher at Bryant Pond, Plant Pathologist in Orono and Ornamental Horticulture Specialist in Orono.
- Supply Chain Matrix released by the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society More Maine Meat group. Identifies potential geographic and economic relationships between buyers and sellers within the red meat supply chain.
- Maine Large Animal Veterinarian Listjust released by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
- Farmers Tax Guide IRS 225 for preparing 2016 tax returns.
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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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Featured Resources
Websites:
Building Plans - North Dakota State University - These building and facility plans were developed over many years by engineers at Land Grant Universities. They provide
conceptual information that is excellent for planning purposes. Categories include: Beef, Construction, Crops, Machinery, Housing, Dairy, Sheep, Swine, Horse, Poultry and Miscellaneous. Periodic changes in the National Design Specifications for Wood Construction, changes in building materials, snow load variations and the serious impact of deviations from the plans make it imperative that professional services be utilized to tailor these plans for your situation.
Podcast:
BeefWatch Podcasts from University of Nebraska Lincoln. - subscribe to the podcasts on your I-phone or Android phone and you can listen to the regular audio broadcast. The most recent is The Critical Leg of the Journey from Replacement Heifer to Mature Cow.
Webinars:
Local Meat to Local School: Lessons Learned from Montana Beef to School Project: March 23 at noon EDT Many folks all over the nation are organizing to get local ingredients into public schools and other institutions as a way to support local farmers as well as improve the quality and healthfullness of school food. Fruits and vegetables have been the low-hanging fruit
; local meat and animal products can be much more challenging to get on school menus.
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online
Publications Catalog
for agriculture information, such as:
Selling Beef in Maine #1048
Are you a beef producer interested in learning more about the different markets available to you to sell your beef? This bulletin discusses the risks, benefits, and requirements for selling beef in Maine. 2 pages. © 2015 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Download it for free or buy a color copy $0.50.
Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook #1001
Information on cow-calf, cattle handling, and cattle feeding facilities; feed storage, processing and handling; water and waterers; manure management; farmstead planning, building construction, materials, ventilation and insulation; fences; gates and utilities. 133 pages with index, 1986. Midwest Plan Service. $20.00
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Upcoming Events
- March 8, 2017 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Marquardt Building, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to unlock the door 207-215-4968.
- March 16 & 17 Cattle AI Class at Witter Center, Orono.If interested contact Amy (Jasmine) Holbrook, Regional Genex representative for Maine at alholbrook@crinet.com207-229-9895
- March 18, 2017 Maine Grazing Conference sponsored by the Maine Grass Farmers Network, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Kennebec Valley Community College, Alfond Campus in Hinkley. Registration and conference details are available on-line click here
- March 25, 2017 Beef Quality Assurance Training for youth and adults. 9 am to 3 pm Will also cover some Pork Quality Assurance Training, Witter Center, Orono. $5 to help with lunch for those outside of the Penobscot 4-H Club. Contact Cindy Kilgore at 215-4968 to let her know you are coming.
- April 1, 2017 Beef Industry Meeting, Vaccine and Nutrition Discussion Focused on Cow Calf Operations sponsored by Feed Commodities & UMaine Extension. Spectacular Event Center, Bangor. To register for this free meeting call Patty Kennedy at 1-800-462-4929 or pkennedy@feedcommodities.com
- April 12, 2017 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Marquardt Building, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to unlock the door 207-215-4968.
- April 24 - 28, 2017 Meat Cutting School in Central Maine - If interested contact Melissa Libby at melissa.libby1@maine.edu
- April 20, 21, 22, and 23rd, 2017 27th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale and Fryeburg Youth Show on at Fryeburg Fairgrounds. Youth events going on all weekend and the sale at 1:00pm on the 23rd. Contact Scot Adams 431-3510 or email
- April 28 - 29, 2017 New England Meat Conference, Manchester, NH. They do have a call for presentations on production, processing, marketing, value add butchery and product production, or business and industry issues.
- May 10, 2017 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Marquardt Building, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to unlock the door 207-215-4968.
- May 19 - 21, 2017 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor.
- Buying Local Meat, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
- March 7 NOKOMIS HS Adult Ed, Newport - 368-3290
- March 14 Bucksport Adult Ed - 469-2129
- March 28 NPT Region III, Lincoln - 794-3004 x 211
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Maine Beef Producers Association
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2017 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
The Maine Beef Producers Association just started a new Facebook page. Like and follow to get the fastest information from Maine Beef Producers Association.
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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 700 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 Maine Beef Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of beef grown in 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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