 |
|
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.
|
Excel can be a very powerful program that farmers can harness to record and analysis their financial and production information. Sometimes it helps to have someone walk you through some of the features of this program so you can customize it for use on your farm. UMaine Extension just hired a new person who's job is to help farmers with production and financial recordkeeping. To help us plan a hands-on class that is convenient for farmers to attend we ask your help in completing
this survey. Thanks in advance for your help.
|
|
Farm Family Survey Request
Extension and Volunteers of America Northern New England are embarking on an exciting program for 2018 to offer coaching for farm families on a variety of topics: communication, decision making, goal setting, farm transfer, and more. Please help them focus on the areas of interest to you by completing this survey by September 29th.
|
 Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
The Maine Beef Producers Association is pleased to announce the tentative sale date of Saturday, October 28th for the Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale. Preconditioning protocols need to be completed by September 23rd.
Consignment cattle fees have changed this year please contact Peter Dusoe at 416-5441 ASAP as the Deadline for consignors to get the best rates is October 14th.
Click here for protocol.
|
Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale at Fryeburg Fair!
The Maine Beef Producers Association is proud to announce they are taking consignments for its annual "Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Show & Sale." The sale is held in conjunction with the Fryeburg Fair
on Friday the 6th of October starting after the market steer auction in the Beef Show Barn.
The MBPA started the sale in the late 80's as a way to offer quality Club Calves to 4-H kids for their projects in the following year. It was later expanded to include bulls to accommodate people looking for herd bull prospects. It was again expanded to include heifers born after September of the previous year for show heifer projects.
These calves have followed the MBPA preconditioning requirements and are halter broke. There is a show preceding the sale where the calves are divided into weight classes and evaluated, with premiums offered by Fryeburg Fair.
There have been a number of success stories arising from sale consignments, with champions from the various Baby Beef Show & Sales through out the state and one show heifer went on to be Grand Champion Belted Galloway at Eastern States Exposition.
We are taking consignments for our annual Bull, Heifer and Club Calf Sale. It is a great opportunity to showcase your operation or pick up a breeding animal or club calf for next year. Early consignors are Cedar Run, the Waters family, Cooper Farms, Findview Farm and McGee Farms.
|
Beef Prices
Beef prices are starting to recover from the weather disasters this past month. Here are a couple of charts showing what prices are doing on the national feeder calf market.
|
Need Help on Production or Financial Recordkeeping?
UMaine Extension just hired Calvert Schaefer to work both one-on one and with small groups of farmers to help with their recordkeeping system. We are planning to do a Using Excel Spreadsheets program at the Penobscot Extension Office in Bangor to help folks get comfortable using Excel for both financial and production records.
We will be meeting 1-1/2 to 2 hours each time once a week for at least four sessions.
When will they be held? Please help us plan what days and times of the day work for most folks who would like to attend
by completing this survey.
Thanks for your help.
|
Items of Interest
- UMaine Extension Livestock Facebook Page! from the UMaine Extension Livestock Team - UMaine Extension's livestock programs help producers manage renewable resources, such as soil, water, nutrients, crops, buildings, equipment, and people. Like and follow this page to be the first to learn about UMaine Extension Livestock programs, events and information. Please like, share and follow!
- Fryeburg Fair Challenge - to benefit 4-H Animal Science Program.
- Livestock for Small Acreage Farmers by Texas A & M. Remember their growing conditions are different than Maine's, but the comparison of the different livestock enterprises might be interesting for those considering starting a livestock enterprise.
- Aldemere Farm & Erickson Fields - General Manager Opening. Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Rockport
- Dry Weather Affecting Grass Yields . . . Again? Crop Insurance Could Help.
- Farms for the Future - MDACF just released information about the fall 2017 round of the Farms for the Future Grant program. This year only 4 farms will be selected for this phase 1 of a two phase program.
- More fuel for the food/feed debate: new study indicates livestock production is a much smaller challenge to global food security than often reported. Mottet, et. al. Global Food Security, vol. 14, September 2017.
- Testing Forage Quality - YouTube video from UMaine Extension discusses the nutritional importance of forage quality and recommended sampling techniques.
-
|
|
|
Featured Resources
Grants & Loans:
App:
- Cattle Market Mobile by Michael Whitt for Iphone and Android. It is a free app that keeps you up to date with the market information you want and need.
- Soil Web Explore soil survey areas using an interactive Google map. View detailed information about map units and their components. This app runs in your web browser and is compatible with desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Website:
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 Cattle Herd Vaccination Guide for Maine #1031 - A herd health management plan is vital to profitable beef production. Do not wait until a disease outbreak occurs before implementing a sound herd health program. For cattle to reach their performance potential, they must be healthy. Vaccinations are an approved practice for organic producers. 5 pages. © 2014 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy. $0.75.
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
- October 5, 2017 Pasture Walk showing how the MGFN no-till drill was used to improve a pasture. 4 - 6 pm, Apple Creek Farm, 538 Millay Rod, Bowdoinham. (park at the top of the drive)
- October 6, 2017 Bull, Heifer, & Club Calf Sale at Fryeburg Fair. FMI Ed Carter, miniacres1@myfairpoint.net, 207-737-2872.
- October 14, 2017 Consignment cattle fees have changed this year for the Maine Beef Producers Association Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale. Please contact Peter Dusoe at 416-5441 ASAP as the Deadline for consignors to get the best rates is October 14th.
- October 20, 2017 Celebrate a legacy! General Manager, Ron Howard will be leaving Aldermere Farm this fall after 17 years of remarkable and immeasurable service! They would like to welcome all to the farm for a celebration of all the amazing programs Ron has created at Aldermere Farm and Erickson Preserve, from 4-7pm. Bring a dish to share and we will gather at 5:30 to tell some stories! FMI jalbury@mcht.org.
- October 22 to 24, 2017 Women in Meat Northeast, is an event designed for women whose livelihood intersects with the world of livestock such as butchers, farmers, processors, chefs, value-added producers, distributers, and service providers across all segments of the industry. Petersham, MA.
- October 28, 2017 Fall Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale at D & S Farm, Richmond. Sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association.
- November 4 - 6, 2017 Farmer to Farmer Conference, Northport, sponsored by MOFGA.
- November 11 & 12, 2017 Maine Harvest Festival, Cross Center, Bangor
- November 18, 2017 Cattlemen's College - Fall Beef Conference, all day in Orono.
- NxLevel (TM) Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, a business planning course for Maine farmers, is going to be offered at KVCC this fall/winter. 11/29, 12/13, 1/8, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21. Sponsored by MDACF, Farm Smart Business Services.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 680 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.
|
|
|
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.
______________________________________________
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.
|
Quick Links
|
|
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/.
|
|
Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
and
Colt Knight, Extension Livestock Specialist
Goal
The goal of the Maine Beef Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of beef grown in Maine.
|
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.
|
|
|
Place article copy here. Be sure to make the articles short and concise as people tend not to read much more than a couple of paragraphs. Place article copy here.
|
|
Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
|
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)
|
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
