Maine Farm News
Maine Farm News
November 20, 2021
In This Edition
ARTICLES
  • Registration is Open for the 2022 Boots to Bushels Program
  • Maine Farms for the Future Program Now Accepting Phase 1 Applications
  • Cumberland/York USDA/NRCS Local Working Group Meeting Scheduled
  • FACT’s Fund-A-Farmer Grant program is now open
  • Marketing 101 for Farms
  • Winter Reading: Manage Weeds on your Farm- New SARE Publication
  • Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program Deadline is this Week
OTHER INFO
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
  • Payments Grants and Loans
  • Information for Livestock Keepers
  • Surveys
Maine Farm News
image of 4 types of squash
Registration is Open for the 2022 Boots to Bushels Program
Registration is open for the 2022 Boots to Bushels Program. In this program participants will acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully grow to produce for small-scale private or commercial fruit & vegetable production. All participants will receive classes and training on soil health, crop planning, fruit and vegetable production, integrated pest management, no-till production, harvest & storage, safe food handling, marketing/branding, farm business/economics, and tool & equipment maintenance & safety. Further instruction will be provided through monthly farm visits across Maine.

Registration is open to veterans, family members, and all beginning farmers with disabilities from November 10 -17, and open to all beginning November 18. Space is limited. Preference will be given to participants who are veterans, veteran family members, and/or farmers with a disability.
Maine Farms for the Future Program Now Accepting Phase 1 Applications
The State of Maine, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry offers grants for business plan development (Phase 1) and investment support (Phase 2) to improve "farm vitality" – defined as an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth.

Phase 1 Applications are due on December 6, 2021. Please refer to this webpage for all related materials and information.

This Program is a competitive grant program that provides selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.
The goal is to provide grants to for farm business owners to conduct research and strategic business planning on their “Ideas for Change” that might increase Farm Vitality, which is defined as, “an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth."
Cumberland/York USDA/NRCS Local Working Group Meeting Scheduled
The Cumberland and York County USDA office has scheduled the Local Working Group meeting to plan for 2022. The meeting will be held on December 1, from 9:30 to 11:45 am. This is the farm community's opportunity to make your needs heard. At this meeting, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) take needs from the community and share those at the state level, for the formation of funding priorities. Reach out to Munroe, Wayne - NRCS, Scarborough, ME <wayne.munroe@usda.gov> for more information. (207) 883-0159, ext. 3.

Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only)
+1 207-241-4929,,896594149#  United States, Portland
Phone Conference ID: 896 594 149#
FACT’s Fund-A-Farmer Grant program is now open!
The Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) has just opened its program of competitive grants to working, independent farmers located in the U.S. who raise beef cattle, bison, broiler chickens, dairy cows, ducks, geese, goats, laying hens, pigs, sheep and/or turkeys. Grants of up to $3,000 are available to farmers to improve and expand pasture for their animals, as well as those who are seeking or who already hold one of three animal welfare certifications. Application deadline: January 20, 2022.

Marketing 101 for Farms
When: Dec. 15 at Noon
Where: on Zoom
Sponsored by SCORE

Every successful farm business has a marketing plan. It may not be a formal marketing plan but it will most likely include the important elements of:
- identifying ideal customers
- how to connect with them
- differentiating your products from other similar products
- setting appropriate prices
- product promotion
Finding customers who value your products and retaining those customers is essential to a successful business. This workshop will discuss the key elements of successful marketing.

Your presenter: Chris Laughton:
Chris is the Director of Knowledge Exchange at Farm Credit East, conducting outreach to the diverse agricultural communities of the region and overseeing Farm Credit East’s customer education programs. Previously, Chris worked in his family’s greenhouse & nursery business. He has been a SCORE Mentor since 2021.
Winter Reading: Manage Weeds on your Farm- New SARE Publication
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program just released a new publication on ecological weed management principles and practices. Manage Weeds on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies provides you with in-depth information about dozens of agricultural weeds and the best ways of managing them. This is currently only available on-line with print copies coming out next spring. A great winter read for your cultivation crews!
image of two farmers in a cornfield wearing masks
Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program Deadline is this Week
USDA is currently accepting applications for the Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021. Approximately $650 million in funding is available for the PRS grants.

Small businesses (farms) and nonprofits can apply for a grant to cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures (e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE), retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training
Online/Virtual, December 1 AND 2, 2021, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

The UMaine Cooperative Extension invites you to participate in a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. If you grow fruits and vegetables and don't know if you are covered by the Produce Safety Rule, taking this class is an excellent opportunity to learn more about it. Even if you are not covered, the information you will learn will help you produce safer food. 

This upcoming class will be online using Zoom. Registration is $20 and covers mailing you the manual before the class. Registration closes on November 18.
Taking this class grants 3 pesticide credits!
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
Fall Forage Webinar Series
Nov 22, and Dec 1 11:00am-12:30pm

UNH Extension's Dairy, Livestock and Forage Crop team's forage webinar series continues next week, and there's still time to register.
While registration is required, it'sfree. Sign up and join us for either one (or both!) of these sessions:
 
Nov 22 - Forage and Cover Crop Research at UNH
Rich Smith from the NH Agricultural Experiment Station will be presenting on winter cover crops and forage response to drought. 1.5 Pesticide Applicator Credits available. Click here to register
 
December 1 - Managing Difficult Weeds in Forages
Nick Rowley and Carl Majewski will be discussing the biology of hard-to-manage forage weeds, along with current recommendations for managing them. 1.5 Pesticide Applicator Credits available. Click here to register

The national eXtension.org has posted all their past poultry care webinars for viewing. Recent webinars include:
pastured turkeys
Surveys
Shared Use Equipment Program Needs in S. Maine
Please take a moment to share your thoughts on a potential specialized equipment share program for Southern Maine Farmers. Find the Shared Use Equipment Needs and Interest survey here.
American Farm Bureau Foundation announced 'American Farm Trail,' a new agritourism app that will showcase agritourism operations and tours. Developers are looking for agritourism stops to add to the app. Farms and attractions can create their own free profile showcasing their operation, history, products, and more.
Farm Management Practices and Exposure to Microplastics Survey
You are invited to participate in an anonymous survey evaluating farm management practices and exposure to microplastics. Your contact information was obtained from the Maine Cooperative Extension farmer list. My name is Denise Cole, and I am an Ecology and Environmental Science student in the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture at the University of Maine. This survey is part of an undergraduate research project I am doing to evaluate the risk management and risk perceptions on Maine farms in relation to microplastic exposure. I am asking farmers who raise livestock and/or grow crops in Maine to complete this survey. This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You must be 18 years old to participate. If you are interested, click on the link below to learn more about the project and to complete the survey.

Edited by:
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor, donna.coffin@maine.edu
Jason Lilley, Extension Professional, jason.lilley@maine.edu
Rebecca Long, Extension Professional, rebecca.j.long@maine.edu 
Tori Jackson, Extension Professor, tori.jackson@maine.edu
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).