Maine Farm News
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Maine Farm News
January 1, 2022
In This Edition
ARTICLES
  • 2022 Ag Trades Show is Virtual
  • Veterinary Forensic Pathology and One Health
  • Pesticide Credits at the ATS - you must register to get credits
  • Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program
  • 

OTHER INFO
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
  • Payments Grants and Loans
  • Information for Livestock Keepers
  • Surveys
Maine Farm News
Join Us Online January 10-14, 2022
The Maine Agricultural Trades Show Will Offer Live and Pre-Recorded Content.

Conference sessions encourage networking and help attendees learn about current agricultural, food system and natural resource management topics. The conference session page includes a list of all currently scheduled events. 

Attend live sessions - how to view, info to know
  • View list of scheduled conference sessions
  • Scroll to selected day and times, click + to expand the list 
  • Click 'join the session' to watch live from a web browser
  • Look for pre-registration, participation and/or fee requirement symbols
UMaine Extension Pre-recorded sessions
Veterinary Forensic Pathology and One Health
Piscataquis County Extension Association Annual Meeting Topic
Monday, January 10, 2022
3:00 PM via Zoom
Free!
The Piscataquis County Extension Association announces the speaker for their annual meeting on Monday, January 10, 2022, at 3 pm by Zoom. All are invited to attend this very interesting meeting on Veterinary Forensic Pathology and One Health by Nanny Wenzlow, DVM, PhD, MRCVS (forensic veterinary pathology). Register for this free session online or by calling Anette Moulton, at 207.564.3301 or in Maine at 1.800.287.1491 or email [email protected]. A link to the meeting and recording (when available) will be sent to you.

Animal welfare is very linked to human welfare. Not just the comradeship and fun that our pets bring to us, but also the opposite: sometimes abusers of animals also are abusers of other people. This presentation will explore the link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse and psychopathic human behavior. As well, it will describe the many challenges faced in the veterinary CSI world. Content of this program may not be suitable for all audiences, participant discretion is advised.

“I will make the link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse and psychopathic human behavior. I will also emphasize various challenges faced in the veterinary CSI world,” says Wenzlow.

Dr. Nanny Wenzlow is a board-certified anatomic pathologist veterinarian with a DVM degree from Belgium and residency training from Switzerland and the UK. After a few months of private diagnostic pathology service in the UK, Dr. Wenzlow joined the University of Florida initially as a clinical instructor for anatomic pathology, then pursued a Ph.D. program in molecular forensics pathology. She also completed a “one-time-created” two-year fellowship for veterinary forensic pathology and is the first certificate holder for veterinary forensic pathology in North America. Dr. Wenzlow has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal for three years and is a visiting veterinary pathologist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Anette Moulton at 207.564.3301 or 1.800.287.1491 (in Maine) or email [email protected].
several pesticide containers
Pesticide Credits at the ATS - You must register to get credits!
The 2022 Agricultural Trades Show will again be held virtually this year.
In cooperation with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Board of Pesticides Control is offering many opportunities to earn pesticide recertification credits at this year's show. Check out the schedule of recertification courses.
Attendance if free but pre-registration is required for credit. Info and links to pre-register may all be found on the BPC Credit Calendar.
white barn with red doors
Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry (DACF) has allocated approximately $20MM in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the new Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program (AIIP).
  • AIIP application period will open on January 14, 2022
  • AIIP application deadline is 11:59PM EST on February 25, 2022
The AIIP will provide critical funding for Maine farms and agricultural food processors pursuing infrastructure upgrades that will:
  1. mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19,
  2. increase capacity, enhance supply chain resilience, and address market disruptions, and
  3. drive growth within the Maine agricultural and food economy while providing more locally available foods to Mainers. 
The Department has partnered with Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) to serve as Third-Party Administrator for the program.
Sign up for updates on the program here
Register for informational webinars here:
Meetings - Webinars - Upcoming Events
Sessions preceded by ** are eligible for Pesticide Re-certification Credits.

Resources
coronavirus image from CDC
Payments, Grants & Loans
USDA Funding Announcements
Maine Specialty Crop Grants Awarded
The 2021 Specialty Crop Block Grants were announced recently to invest in innovative technologies and grow new markets for Maine’s specialty crops. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is awarding $492,039 to Blue Barn LLC, Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, Daybreak Growers Alliance, Maine Flower Collective, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Maine Potato Board, and the University of Maine for projects that will expand research and innovation and strengthen agricultural sectors in Maine.

DACF will also develop a digital library to offer lectures, workshops, and educational content for Maine specialty crop producers and develop a PSA campaign to promote the sale of Maine specialty crop fruits and vegetables across New England. Find more information about current and past SCBG projects on the DACF webpage.
Information for Animal Keepers
Winter Care of Livestock Series: Equine & Camelid
Watch for registration for the Winter Care of Equines and Winter Care of Camelid programs that will be offered virtually February 1st and 15th at noon.
Meat Goat Production and Management Home Study Course
Interested in running a meat goat operation? The Penn State Meat Goat Production and Management Home Study Course is for goat producers interested in improving their production practices and ultimately the profitability of their operation. This is a home study course with an additional offering of three optional supplemental webinars to review materials. Click here for more information.

  • Home Study Course Feb. 2, and Mar. 9, 2022
  • Optional Webinar Meetings Feb. 16, Mar. 9, & 23, 2022
boar goats
Surveys
Survey on the Cumulative Impact of Stress on Maine Farmers
My name is Izzy Ruffin, and I am currently writing a research paper for a Mediation: Premise, Practice and Policy class on the cumulative impact of stress on Maine farmers and how the impact of that stress can and should be addressed. This short anonymous survey, intended for farmers, will take no more than 5 minutes.
The results of this survey will serve as supplemental evidence to substantial research on stress and stress management in the field of agriculture and point to existing resources that are already available for free to Maine farmers through organizations like the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. With any hope, the paper will be officially published by the University of Maine in the Spring.
You can find the link to the survey here. Feel free to share it with other farmers you know. Thank you for your time!
Farmer Equity National Assessment Project Seeking Case Studies
The Farmer Equity National Assessment Project is seeking to better understand the needs and challenges of Farmers of Color and to highlight farmers' barriers, constraints, and innovations through storytelling. If you are willing, please complete a survey by December 15, 2021, to be entered on a list of farmers to potentially serve as case studies. The project will hand-select 50 farmers for the case studies, and farmers who are selected will receive a $500 stipend.
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 Per University of Maine guidelines, face coverings are required indoors for any visitor or employee who is not fully vaccinated — on University or non-University property, in University administered facilities, or non-University administered facilities.
UMaine Extension is gradually returning to normal operations. Buildings and offices may have different protocols depending on staffing and, with that, we encourage you to call ahead.
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).