Despite recent rainfall, precipitation deficits continue, and the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the development of abnormal dryness along the Maine coast, and an expansion of abnormal dryness and moderate drought in the northwest of the state. For more detailed commentary visit the NOAA Drought Early Warning System update for the Northeast region.

 

Meanwhile, a somewhat active weather pattern is forecast for the next few days with a mix of sun and clouds and potential for precipitation. A humid air mass will be overhead Saturday and Sunday with low temperatures ranging approximately 50 to 60°F north to south, and highs ranging mid 60s to above 70 north and 70s to above 80°F south. A cold front is forecast to pass across the state Sunday overnight with the potential for rain and thunderstorms, followed by mild conditions through the middle of the week.  Local weather forecasts are available from weather.gov.

 

The NOAA/National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook (valid May 27^th – June 2^nd) issued May 19^th suggests above normal temperature and near normal precipitation. The 1-month outlook for June shows equal chance of above or below normal for both temperature and precipitation.

 

A new feature column from Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Climate Change Institute, Cooperative Extension University of Maine. Have any climate/weather questions related to agriculture?  Send Sean an e-mail at birkel@maine.edu

The PFAS Testing Grants Program is available to all commercial farms throughout the state. The program is administered by MFT and MOFGA to assist farmers who have concerns regarding potential PFAS contamination. The Program will pay for:

A simple application form will assess eligibility for the program and several farms will be selected upon a weekly review to participate in the program.

Get full eligibility requirements and program details here.

The Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) provides financing to help Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve the manufacturing, marketability and production of their products.

AMLF provides eligible Borrowers direct loans of up to $250,000 at a 5% fixed interest rate for capital improvements. An eligible Borrower who previously received a Maine Farms for the Future Phase I grant may request the recommendation of the Maine Farms for the Future program for a 2% fixed interest rate.

Are you in compliance with the updated (2015) Worker Protection Standards? Each year, all workers who will spend time in fields treated with pesticides must be trained under the WPS prior to entering fields for the season. Find training videos, mandatory posters, and other essential resources related to the WPS at the National Pesticide Information Center

Read the full resource here.

The Maine Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network asked Cynthia Flores, Labor–Movement founder, what movement had to do with mental health. Here’s what she said:

Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust in announcing La Beca Braiding Seeds en Español. Please share this opportunity with the Beginning Spanish Speaker Farmers in your networks across the East Regions. La Beca Braiding Seeds en Español provides beginning farmers with resources, professional development in Spanish, and mentorship in Spanish to support their livelihood on land. 

Link to the application (in Spanish): https://forms.gle/EAxscW8HTuyjMiAs6

FAQ website(in Spanish): https://nefoclandtrust.org/beca-braiding-seeds

Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust para anunciar esta oportunindad de La Beca Braiding Seeds en Español. Por favor comparta esta opportunidad con sus conocides en el este de USA. Esta beca esta dando la oportunida a agricutores que hablen español de tener acceso a recursos economicos, desarrollo profesional y mentorias para proder así ayudarles a tener un sustento digno de la tierra. 

Enlace para la aplicación: https://forms.gle/EAxscW8HTuyjMiAs6

Preguntas Frecuentes:  https://nefoclandtrust.org/beca-braiding-seeds

La fecha límite para aplicar es el 30 de Mayo! 

If you’re a farmer, you know the joy of working the land, but you probably also know how stressful it can be. From family and financial pressures, to isolation and exhaustion without days off. In fact, agricultural workers experience suicide rates that are 50% higher than the national average, and that number is rising.

On Cultivating Resilience from Cultivemos, we dive into the stories of real, independent farmers on the struggles they face every day, and how they are overcoming them—things like family farm succession, economic burdens, and rural isolation. Throughout the series, we’ll provide resources to strengthen your mental well-being during stressful and uncertain times. And we’re building a community where farmers and ranchers can support each other, because even the hardiest plants need the right conditions to grow.

Listen to Cultivating Resilience on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast streaming service. Episode 1 is streaming now.

A question on what to do a ticks on livestock lead to an email exchange with the UMaine Tick Lab.

They are currently planning on expanding their tick information as it relates to livestock and would request that livestock producers send in any ticks they find on their animals for identification. They are starting to ramp up their efforts to detect the invasive Asian longhorned tick, which can be a significant threat to livestock, so any samples they can obtain would be helpful.

So, if you find ticks on your cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, chickens, etc. consider sending them to the Tick Lab for identification. It is free. Here is information on submitting ticks.

Our colleagues at Penn State have a factsheet on Protecting Livestock Against Ticks that suggests several control strategies.

Faculty at the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center are testing – and eating – certain insects to develop alternative and sustainable food sources. Some of the insects, seven, in their lab so far, are edible on their own. Others are being converted to proteins that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants and incorporated into bars and cookies. And the bugs aren’t just for human consumption. Some of the insects are being used in animal feed, as well.

Beyond its nutritional value, the consumption of bugs is also a boost for the economy. The research team has been working with large companies and insect producers across the United States to put the products on the market. Some, such as crickets, silkworms, scorpions, meal worms, sago worm, and Junebug, are already on store shelves.