Your Monthly News & Updates
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News and events for the Maine Beef Producers from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Maine Beef Producers Association and other agricultural organizations in Maine.
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What's New?
- Maine Beef Producers Association Annual Awards
- 2020 Scholarship from MBPA
- Calves for Kids
- MBPA Membership - Time to Renew
- MBPA Board Members
- Refresh Maine Agricultural Marketing Logo
- FSIS Labeling Guideline to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims
- Maine Winter Youth Show
- Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy - Chef Rob
- National Beef Prices
- Items of Interest *Featured Resources
- Upcoming Events *Newsletter Subscription Information
- Mission and Quick Links
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Maine Beef Producers Association Annual Awards
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James Worthley Service Award
An individual or organization recognized for their distinguished service to Maine beef producers.
Rob Dusoe – that the MBPA is able to conduct successful spring and fall feeder cattle sales is not possible without dedicated volunteers like Rob and his family. Thank you, Rob, for your energy, talent and willingness to do whatever it takes.
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Beef Producer
A farm or individual recognized for the production of consistently high-quality beef cattle marketed as feeder cattle, fed cattle, or direct-market beef.
Maple Lane Farm – Barry Higgins along with his family and staff have established a quality reputation for finishing locally-purchased feeder cattle for sale as beef from their Charleston farm store as well as providing reliable service as a custom processor.
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Youth
A person under the age of 21 recognized for their beef production and promotion accomplishments.
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Youth Award - Elizabeth Eaton – Along with taking part in the many shows and fairs closer to home and regionally to exhibit Belted Galloway cattle, Elizabeth played a significant role in the considerable fund-raising, planning and travel required for a rewarding group trip to the NAILE in Louisville, KY.
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Youth Award - Owen Brown – Recognized as a top-quality showman, Owen backs it up with enthusiasm, hard work and a keen interest in genetic and visual selection to contribute to improving and promoting his family’s Simmental herd.
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Hall of Fame
Awarded to an individual, a farm operation, or an organization honored for making a significant contribution to beef production in Maine.
Windsor Fair – Recognized for their dedication and unwavering support in bringing together both beef cattle exhibitors and beef consumers at the annual Fair as well as hosting producers for events of the Northeast Livestock Expo and the many future consumers on NELE Kid’s Day.
Tom Foster, President of Windsor Fair accepted the award.
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Seedstock Producer
A farm operation honored for their accomplishments in the breeding and marketing of purebred seedstock.
Gross Hardship Acres – Doug Gross and family of Bucksport have been breeding, exhibiting and selling top quality Simmental cattle for many years with the 3
rd
generation now involved.
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2020 SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE MAINE BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
Applications due March 15, 2020
A maximum of two $500 scholarships will be awarded each year by the MBPA.
REQUIREMENTS:
-Applicant must be a family member of or have been employed by a member of the Maine Beef Producers Association.
-Student must be a Maine resident.
-Student must provide a transcript of a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA at the time of application.
-Must submit application and required information.
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Calves for Kids
The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting
application (pdf)
for the Calves for Kids program. The deadline is April 1st, 2020.
Youth applying will be asked to come for an interview before the Calves 4 Kids committee at a later date. This program, started in 2007, has given 28 youth in the State of Maine a heifer calf.
The program gives a youth an opportunity to have a registered beef heifer to show and start a herd. The youth's obligation is to breed the heifer to a registered bull and give back to the program the first heifer calf. If they do not get a heifer calf born after a few years they are obligated to pay the MBPA $1000.
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Maine Beef Producers Association Membership - Time to Renew!
The board of directors are moving along with the development of a new website. The address will stay the same.
Members will have the opportunity to have their farm listed with a photo, description of their farm, and a link to their own farm website. To do this please include a photo, description, and the farm web address when you are renewing.
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Refreshed Maine Agricultural Marketing Logo
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced a refresh of its core agricultural marketing program logo that aligns with the Department's updated strategic vision for the branding program.
The new Real Maine logo broadly represents all aspects of Maine agriculture. Real Maine will help promote Maine-grown and produced products and the farmers and value-added processors who grow and make them.
DACF's Real Maine logo will be recognizable in farmers markets and grocery stores, at agricultural events and trade shows, throughout Maine, New England, and nationally. In addition, an updated Real Maine website will be introduced during spring 2020, along with a comprehensive promotional strategy.
WHATS NEW
Inspired by passport stamps, which travelers accumulate on adventures, the Real Maine logo is a symbol representative of how people can explore, experience and connect through the range of agricultural products that are produced in Maine.
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FSIS Labeling Guideline on Documentation Needed to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims for Label Submissions
The purpose of this compliance guideline is to outline the documentation that establishments (farms) need to submit in support of label applications for products that bear animal raising claims. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the Agency in USDA with the responsibility for ensuring that the labeling of meat and poultry products is truthful and not misleading. Labeling bearing claims referring to the way that the source animal for a meat or poultry product was raised need to be evaluated and approved by FSIS prior to use.
Key Points:
The following are examples of animal raising claims that are required to be approved by FSIS prior to use in commerce:
1. Raised Without Antibiotics
2. Organic
3. Grass Fed
4. Raised Without the Use of Hormones
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Maine Winter Youth Show
February 22, 2020
Introducing the FIRST EVER winter beef show in Maine (this hasn't been fact-checked)! Please join us at Ashland Farm in Falmouth (for Maine kids who have gone on the Big E trip, this is close to the meeting point in Windham) on February 22nd for a fun day of showing your cattle. We plan to have showmanship for kids of all ages, steer classes, and heifer classes. We are really excited to have Louann Northrup Wilson as our judge for the day.
Since this is winter in Maine, we plan to make this a no-fit show, so please bring your animals clipped, cleaned, and ready to show. Also, if you have a generator, please bring it along to ensure we have adequate power for blowers (we still want you to come if you don't own a generator...we can share).
For those coming from a distance, the facility offers a bunkhouse for an additional fee. We will also be doing a potluck lunch, so please bring something to share if you're able.
Contact info:
207-298-0543 (call or text)
heathramsdell@gmail.com
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Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy
Recipe from Chef Rob Dumas CEC
Makes 3-4 portions
Ingredients:
-Sirloin Tip Steak (can also use top round) - 2 lbs
-Large Fresh Eggs- 2
-Whole Milk- 6 cups
-Self-rising Flour or AP Flour with a tsp of Baking Powder- 2 cups
-Neutral Oil for frying- 1 cup or as needed to maintain 1/2 in depth in pan.
-Seasoned Salt (Lawry’s or Tony Chacheres)- to taste
-Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
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Slice the Sirloin tip across the grain into thin steaks no more than ½ - 3/4 inch thick. Trim all fat and tough sinew. Place steaks in between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness with a meat mallet. Whisk together eggs and 1.5 cups of milk. Season with a pinch of season salt and S&P. Place pounded steaks into egg wash. Place flour in large pan and season with S&P and seasoned salt. Take steaks from Egg wash and dredge into flour mixture. Set aside on a tray until ready to fry. Heat oil in heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat until shimmering; 325-350 degrees. Add steak to pan in batches to prevent losing too much heat. Fry until golden brown on both sides; roughly 2-3 minutes per side. Be careful not to burn the bits of batter that fall off the steak into the oil. When all steak is fried, remove all but 2 - 3 tablespoons of oil in your pan. Quickly add enough of your seasoned flour to form a roux/paste that has a peanut butter like consistency. Cook for 1 - 2 minute stirring frequently to prevent any burning. Add remaining milk in increments, stirring each addition thoroughly to gauge thickness. Cook for 5 - 8 minutes at a gentle simmer stirring frequently. Season to taste and add stock or water to thin if necessary. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice. My favorite vegetable to accompany is simmered peas with ham hocks or bacon ends. Enjoy!
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National Beef Prices
USDA Ag Marketing Service
publishes agriculture price for a number of commodities throughout the US. Here is the latest cattle dashboard graph showing the current, last year and three year average of live cattle.
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Information
- Robin Kerber, Maine’s Farm and Sea to School Coordinator is seeking farms that wish to provide (either donate or negotiate sale of) beef or other proteins to their local schools for 1 or 2 meals during March. If interested, contact Robin at 592-0820 or robin.kerber@maine.gov.
- Did you see the email about Chef Rob's beef recipes from the Maine Agriculture Trades Show?
- Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture - The Hub for Biosecurity to Protect the Herd. Farm biosecurity is the practice of preventing or greatly reducing the introduction of diseases and pests, and is a whole farm approach for assessing, prioritizing and addressing the risks to herd/flock health. Use this website as a guide and source of current information on how to make biosecurity a routine on the farm, in the backyard, and anywhere farm animals are raised.
- Wet Brewers Grains UNH Research - Salt and commercial preservatives both prevent spoilage of wet brewers grains, as indicated by yeast and mold counts, but salt has an advantage of improving dry matter and protein digestibility. Plus salt is less expense and easily available to farmers.
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association 2020 Policy Priorities - Fake Meat, Trade & Market Access, Climate Policy, Cattle Markets, & Regulatory Reform.
Grants & Loans
- The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 to purchase equipment or supplies that will support your farm business. The application process is extremely competitive and submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
- The New England Farmer Microgrant Program (NEFMP) from American Farmland Trust! NEFMP is designed to provide between $500-$5,000 to assist farmers in New England with financial barriers to land access, expanding onto new land, and farm succession planning. The goal of NEFMP is to fund farmers in two primary categories: professional services and infrastructure costs related to assuring agricultural land is in production. They will begin accepting applications March 1st and continue on a rolling basis until all funds are distributed.
- Maine Rural Rehabilitation Trust Fund - has a loan program to help beef producers purchase breeding stock or feeder cattle.
- Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) RFP - Deadline March 5th. VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.
Equipment, supplies, etc.
Agriculture Jobs
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Webinar:
Leasing Farmland, February, 13th - noon to 1 pm, sponsored by UNH
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Leasing is a great way to make use of fallow agriculture property and for a new farmer without land to get their farming career started. In this webinar, we will take a look at the importance of a lease agreement, information that should be communicated by both parties, and resources that are available for both landowners and those seeking land to lease.
Videos:
Publications:
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- February 22, 2020 Maine Winter Youth Show, check in starts at 6 am, show starts at 9 am, at Ashland Farm, 75 Babbidge Rd., Falmouth. FMI 298-0543 (call or text) heathramsdell@gmail.com
- February 23, 2020 Cultivating Your Legally Resilient Farm, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm MOFGA Common Ground Education Center, Unity. Sponsored by MOFGA and Farm Commons. FMI and to register.
- February 28, 2020 Regulatory Considerations for Swine, 6 pm to 8 pm - Franklin Witter Teaching & Research Center, Orono
- March 3,10, 17, 24, 31, 2020 So You Want to Farm in Maine 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm Androscoggin / Sagadahoc Extension Office, Lisbon Falls and by live streaming on the Internet. Setting up a business plan and information to start a farm, $50 to enroll.
- March 15, 2020 Deadline Application for Beef Scholarship
- March 19, 2020 Selling More Maine Foods, Focus on Value Added Foods, University of Southern Maine, Abromson Hall, Portland, $35 includes lunch.
- March 28, 2020 Maine Grazing Conference. KVCC Alfond Campus, Fairfield. Sponsored by Maine Grass Farmers Network and UMaine Extension.
- April 1, 2020 Deadline Application for Calves for Kids
- April 11th, 2020 Precondition Protocols should be completed for May 16th feeder calf sale.
- May 11 to 15, 2020 Meat Cutting School, Pilot Plant, Hitchner Hall, UMaine Orono.
- May 14 - 17, 2020 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fair Grounds, Windsor.
- May 16, 2020 Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale at NELE.
- July 26, 2020 Open Farm Day, Sponsored by MDACF. Agritourism opportunity for farms throughout the state.
- August 19 - 20, 2020 Maine Farm Days, Misty Meadow Farm, Clinton. Field Demonstrations, speakers, vendors, etc.
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Maine Beef Producers Association
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Join the Maine Beef Producers Association.
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2020 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 has a Facebook page. Like and follow to get the fastest information from Maine Beef Producers Association.
Facebook
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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 690 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.
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Mission
The 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.
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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/.
Need Pesticide Credits
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Colt Knight, Extension Specialist
Goal
The goal of the Maine Beef Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of beef grown in central 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: Donna Coffin unless indicated otherwise.
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Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
Piscataquis County Office -
website
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
Open By-chance on Wednesday, Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
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