ARTICLES
OTHER INFO
- Upcoming Events
- Resources
- Payments Grants and Loans
- Information for Livestock Keepers
- Surveys
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Communication and Conversation lead to Collaboration |
Please join the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association and the Retail Association of Maine on three upcoming webinars as part of the Food for Thought Forum Series.
March 15th 8:30AM - The Challenge of PFAS
Learn more about the rapidly emerging issue of PFAS contamination of Maine land and well-water. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) and Maine Department of Agriculture (ME DACF) are both spending significant time, energy and resources testing property for contamination. Join us for a deep dive into what's being done regarding identification, testing, remediation, costs, funding, traceability and the impact on food safety at the consumer and value-added levels.
Featuring presentations from Susanne Miller, Bureau Director, Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management, ME DEP and Nancy McBrady, Bureau Director Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, ME DACF.
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Make Your Land Available For Farming |
This is a free webinar series for farming and non-farming private landowners and their representatives (real estate agents, etc.) to understand your land's potential for farming, learn what goes into a good farming arrangement, and explore strategies for making any amount of land available to a farmer. When you make land available for farming you help secure a future for farming in your community. Farmers are looking for land, from a small vegetable plot to livestock or crops. Productive, sustainable uses for all or parts of your property can bring many rewards!
"As landowners, we found the virtual series to be very useful, both in attracting farmers to our land and in seeing what other landowners had to offer their tenants," shared one participant. "We are now in talks with three farmers, all of whom seem to share our vision for what we'd like to do with the property."
Register for this free, three-part webinar series on March 23, 30 and April 6, 2022 from 12:00-1:00pm. Workshop recordings will be available to all who register. Learn more and register at landforgood.org/events.
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Value-Added Producer Grant Open Now |
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) was published yesterday, March 1, 2022.
Here are just a few highlights:
- Applicants must be an Agricultural Producer
- There are two types of grants: Planning with a maximum award amount of $75,000 and Working Capital with a maximum award amount of $250,000
- There is approximately $19.75 million available in program funding.
Electronic applications that are submitted through grants.gov are due on April 25, 2022.
Ivana Hernandez Clukey | Loan Specialist
Rural Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture
967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4 | Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 990-9127
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Annual Bangor / Brewer CSA Fair |
What: Annual Bangor / Brewer CSA Fair, hosted by Bangor Greendrinks
When: Sunday, March 20, 2pm-4pm
Where: Parking lot on Harlow St. across from the Bangor Library
Why: If you market CSA shares of any kind in the greater Bangor area, this is a great opportunity to reach a lot of customers at once and generally get yourself seen. Also a good venue to mingle with farming peers in the off-season.
How: Reply to nettiefoxfarm@gmail.com or Everett at 745-7865.
There is no fee, but we ask that you donate some farm product (food, voucher, etc.) valuing approximately $20, for a raffle amongst those who purchase shares that day. Plan on bringing all your own setup stuff and arriving 30 mins early. We are still working on getting official thumbs-up from the city on the use of their parking lot, so don't plan on selling anything but shares at this point.
UMaine Extension will also have a booth with soil testing information as well as a variety of their publications.
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Wiscasset Farmers Market Looking for Vendors |
Wiscasset Farmers' Market is looking for new vendors. Specifically, the need baked goods, seafood, pork and prepared food.
The market runs from June through September on Fridays 9 a.m.- noon at the Wiscasset Town Office.
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2022 4-Part Hands-On Workshop Series - Free
This QuickBooks for Farmers workshop series, offered by Austin Associates, is an introductory course to familiarize farmers with the QuickBooks Desktop basics. This is a hands-on workshop so you need either a desktop or a laptop (either PC or Mac) available! You also need the desktop version of QuickBooks (software is included with pre-registration).
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Would you take a few minutes to give your input on the labor needs of Maine’s dairy industry, as it looks on your farm? You must be 18 years old or older to participate in this anonymous survey that will take 15 minutes or less.
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Beginning Farmer Training Needs Survey |
If you have been farming for under 10 years, UMaine Extension needs YOUR input! UMaine Cooperative Extension: Equipping New Farmers with Practical Skills and Knowledge is a newly funded project to help new and developing farmers get trained in agriculture. We are asking for your help in identifying skills and knowledge needs that you have.
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National Farmworker Jobs Program Grant |
PathStone Corporation is an organization that works to assist individuals and organizations with housing, education, healthcare, and community building in a variety of different areas. Recently, PathStone has begun handling distribution of the National Farmworker Jobs Program Grant in the State of Maine.
The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) Grant is a federally-funded, locally-distributed grant that focuses on providing funding for seasonal agriculture workers to assist them with pursuing opportunities that lead to higher-paying jobs and longer-term employment. For individuals seeking to work outside of agriculture, the NFJP can provide funding for career training, licensing, and educational opportunities. For small farms and growers, the NFJP can assist with funding for training and other opportunities to expand the skillset of employees. NFJP services are also available to dependents of individuals who qualify for services, with similar opportunities available in career training, licensing, and education.
Eligibility for the NFJP requires that individuals are considered low-income (as determined by the most recent income requirements for the State of Maine), U.S. citizens (or otherwise authorized to work in the U.S.), and that they have earned more than 51% of their income or spent more than 51% of their time working in agriculture within the past 24 months. All eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
With this grant, we aim to provide individually-based opportunities to folks who are hoping to expand their skills, education, or other abilities. The goal of the NFJP is to ensure that individuals have access to the services they need to achieve their personal goals. PathStone Maine is a small team dedicated to encouraging you and your goals. We currently have two physical offices, one in Bangor and one in Presque Isle. Come visit us or contact us for more information about how the NFJP could benefit you or someone you know!
Elizabeth Grout, Regional Administrator, egrout@pathstone.org (207) 307-6174 263 State Street, Suite 24, Bangor, ME
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Meetings - Webinars - Upcoming Events |
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Sessions preceded by ** are eligible for Pesticide Re-certification Credits.
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Fact Sheets, Websites, Videos, Etc.
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The application deadline for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry's Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program (AIIP) closed on February 25, 2022. Please note that the review is expected to take longer than initially anticipated because of the extremely high number of applications. There is not currently an estimated date for award notifications.
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USDA Funding Announcements |
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Information for Animal Keepers |
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Artificial Insemination of Cattle |
Dave Marcinkowski has been working with Amy Holbrook of Genex to schedule an Artificial Insemination class to be held at the University of Maine Witter Farm on March 31 and April 1. Exact times will be sent.
If you are interested please contact Dr. Marcinkowski to hold a slot. The cost will be $100. There may be limited space. The fee would be due at the start of the class.
If you have any questions please contact
David Marcinkowski
Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist
5735 Hitchner Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5735
Phone: 207-581-2740, Instate toll-free 1-800-287-7170
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The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Knox County, Maine.
In addition to practicing good biosecurity, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through APHIS’ toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.
APHIS urges producers to consider bringing birds indoors when possible to further prevent exposures. The Animal Health Protection Act authorizes APHIS to provide indemnity payments to producers for birds and eggs that must be depopulated during a disease response. APHIS also provides compensation for disposal activities and virus elimination activities. Additional information on biosecurity for non-commercial backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. |
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Birth Control for Rats? Don't Laugh, It's a Reality and Cities Want It (and farms too) |
ContraPest, a product that had its start in UA research, could be the answer for municipalities and farms, which have serious rodent problem on its hands. Read more about this research.
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USDA NASS First-Ever Agro-Forestry Survey |
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the first-ever National Agroforestry Survey. Data collection begins Feb. 1 and concludes April 5, 2022. |
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Commercial Elderberry Grower Survey |
You are invited to participate in a research study. The research is being conducted by Tori Lee Jackson, Extension Professor of Agriculture & Natural Resources with UMaine Cooperative Extension, and Rosalie Wilson of Rose Wilson Consulting LLC, two of the authors of the 2016 Elderberry Production Guide published by The University of Vermont.
We are reaching out to commercial elderberry producers across New England to ascertain the overall health of the elderberry industry in our region.
Please click on the link below to learn more about the study and to take the survey
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Maine Green Industry Survey |
Do you work in a Maine landscape or nursery business? If so, we need to hear from you! Help us assess the value of the green industry by completing the only survey assessing this important economic sector. Business owners and staff are all encouraged to participate. Every voice matters. If everyone responds, the green industry’s voice will carry more weight in future decisions related to funding and educational outreach. More information and review the survey
This survey is a collaborative effort between UMaine Cooperative Extension; Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; and the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association.
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Kelp and Green Crabs as Soil Amendments Survey |
The survey seeks to gather information about interest in kelp and green crabs from experienced farmers and fishers in Maine and to identify potential barriers to developing a market for their use as a soil amendment product.
More information about the study and your participation is provided at the beginning of the survey. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about the project. dbullock@bowdoin.edu or by phone 802-380-6268. |
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Penquis Beekeepers Survey |
Penquis Beekeepers is a diverse group of mostly backyard beekeepers located in central Maine. Our ever-continuing goal is to foster and promote successful beekeeping in our local communities. The purpose of this survey is to help us determine how best to accomplish that with and for our members, using various online tools for sharing information, fostering discussions, and providing education and assistance.
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USDA Ag Marketing Service
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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.
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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.
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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
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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). |
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