Volume 7 | October 2018
Your monthly news & updates
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.
What's New?
  • 2nd Annual Cattlemen's Conference
  • Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Deadline
  • Equipment Sharing: Cost Sharing Farm Equipment
  • UMaine Extension Offers Free Recordkeeping Consults for Farmers
  • NxLevel Tilling the Soil of Opportunity Course
  • Connect with USDA
  • Items of Interest
  • Featured Resources
  • Upcoming Events
  • Newsletter Subscription Information
  • Mission and Quick Links


Cost:
  • Members, $25; Non-members, $35
  • Pre-Conference Mixer/Barbeque (Smoked Brisket), $20

The Maine Cattlemen’s College will provide up-to-date information to Maine beef cattle producers and allow Maine beef cattle producers an opportunity to meet leaders in the industry and fellow producers to share ideas and innovations. All proceeds to benefit Maine Beef Producers Association Scholarship Fund. Who should attend: Beef cattle producers and farmers interested in keeping beef animals

Friday, November 30
Pre-Conference BQA Demonstration and Mixer

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Maple Lane Farms , 224 Upper-Charleston Rd, Charleston, ME
BQA training and live low stress stockmanship demonstration

5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
30 Jones Rd, Garland, ME
Brisket Barbeque / Social mixer, to give attendees the chance to interact with other beef producers and speakers in a casual environment
handling beef cattle

Saturday, December 1
University of Maine, Orono
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.: Registration - Refreshments & Silent Auction Starts
9:00 – 9:15 a.m.: Opening Remarks & Welcome
9:15 – 10:00 a.m.: BQA Transportation Training/Certification
10:00 – 10:15 a.m.: Diagnostic Lab Update, Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.: M.B.P.A. Announcements, Kevin Woltemath
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.: Pasture and Grass-Fed Nutrition
11:15 – 11:45 a.m.: T.B.A.
11:45 a.m. – Noon: Beef Import/Export Market, Cindy Kilgore, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Noon-12:45 p.m.: Plated Lunch
12:45 -1:30 p.m.: Keynote Speaker, Dr. Dean Fish, Low Stress Cattle Handling
1:30-2:15 p.m.: Bull Genetics, TBA
2:15-2:30 p.m.: Questions
2:30 p.m.: Closing / Announce Silent Auction

For more information, contact Melissa Babcock at  melissa.libby1@maine.edu  or 207.581.2788.

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Melissa Babcock at  melissa.libby1@maine.edu  or 207.581.2788 to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 10 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however all requests will be considered.
Northeast SARE Invites Farmer Grant Applications 

Northeast SARE is now accepting applications for the 2019 cycle of the   Farmer Grant  program. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 27, 2018. Projects awards are made in late February 2019 with projects to start in the spring. Application instructions and additional resources are available at this site  at this site.
Equipment Sharing: Cost Sharing Farm Equipment

A new SARE publication dives deep into the logistics of equipment share programs, including planning for liability coverage, scheduling use, who makes the upfront investment, and so on. Download  A Guide to Sharing Farm Equipment (PDF)  here.
There are currently a few equipment loan programs here in Maine. 
. The Maine Grass Farmers’ Network  has a side-slinger manure spreader and a no-till drill available for loan to the Network’s members.
UMaine Extension Offers Free Record-Keeping Consults for Farmers
University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are continuing to provide free consults to Maine farmers through January 2019 on production and financial record-keeping.
Consults will be done by phone, email and video chat unless in-person assistance is needed.
Consults are free, confidential, and require only a participant’s time. For more information, to set up a consultation or request a reasonable accommodation, contact Calvert Schaefer at 443.340.4324,  calvert.schaefer@maine.edu .
NxLevel Tilling the Soil of Opportunity Course

Registration for  NxLevel™ Tilling the Soil of Opportunity,  a business planning course tailored for Maine farmers, is now open. 
The instructor, Jed Beach of FarmSmart Business Services, has designed this course for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - Maine Farms for the Future Program. The course is certified to provide Farm Service Agency (FSA) Borrower Training Credit.
Each session begins at 9:00 am. Classes are held at the  Kennebec Valley Community College - Farm Center  in Hinckley, Maine. Multiple farm/family members may attend.

In six sessions, you will:
  • Update your business goals - compare where you are now with where you want to be
  • Determine which crops are helping or hindering your goals
  • Evaluate existing & potential markets
  • Improve your time & people management skills
  • Create production and marketing plans that meet your goals
  • Evaluate potential financing opportunities and identify your best options
  • Write your new business plan - then make it a reality!
You can sign up for all six sessions, or register only for those sessions that are of most interest to you. You can also participate remotely via  ZOOM  for any or all sessions.
COURSE DATES: 12/12, 1/16, 1/23, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27
$275 per farm for all six sessions or $50 per session

Connect With USDA

They provide programs and services to the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who feed, fuel, and clothe this nation and the world.  
It’s true that not all wisdom resides in Washington, D.C. To make it easy to get updates, resources and important news check out USDA’s  Facebook,   Twitter , and  Instagram  accounts.

Items of Interest
Farm Drop - a new agriculture products marketing method in the Blue Hill area. Linking farmers with customers.
Masters in Beef Advocacy program by National Cattlemen's Beef Association to help beef producers communicate with customers & public about the benefits of eating beef.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently hosted a joint public meeting to discuss the potential hazards, oversight considerations, and labeling of cell cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry tissue. United States Cattlemen's Association to FSIS requesting, among other things, that FSIS prohibit products derived from livestock and manufactured using animal cell culture technology from being labeled or marketed as “beef” or “meat.” Written or electronic comments are being accepted until November 26, 2018.
Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance Deadline Nov. 15: Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) crop insurance protects grazing or haying acres against a single peril – lack of precipitation. Producers must enroll with a licensed crop insurance agent before the November 15 deadline for 2019 coverage. More information here.
Most Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry programs have moved to one 1-800 line, where calls will be forwarded to the appropriate program. The department-wide number is  1-800-367-0223 .
Firewood Scout - Maine is part of this site developed by the USDA Forest Service Wood Education & Resource Center to help residents and visitors to buy and use firewood locally, in an effort to slow the spread of invasive forest pests. You too can get your firewood business listed. Note: Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Maine.
Maine Grass Farmers Network has equipment (manure spreader and no-till drill) that members are able to use. 
Maine Hay Directory  - is available to help farmers with hay to sell and farmers looking for hay to buy. Be cautious of hay scams. 
Agrichemical and Fertilizer Suppliers in Maine  - compiled by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist.  
Shared Use Farm Equipment - Maine Farmland Trust list.
Featured Resources
Webinar:
Direct farm marketers are invited to participate in a free “lunch and learn” webinar series. “In a world where, ‘If you aren’t on the web, you aren’t,’ the webinars will help direct farm marketers learn about online marketing tools and strategies to improve the effectiveness of their marketing efforts,” says Megan Bruch Leffew, University of Tennessee. Webinars are held the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) from June 2018 – June 2019 at noon-1 p.m. Eastern. The series will cover a variety of topics related to marketing through websites, social media and email. A listing of topics and speakers and archived sessions is available on the Center for Profitable Agriculture website: ag.tennessee.edu/cpa/Pages/webinars.aspx​ .

National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium's 'Brown Bagger' educational series starting at noon (CST) on October 10th. Will include following topics: recent changes to genetic evaluation systems, novel trait development (PAP and water intake), encouraging data collection, correct breed utilization, and emerging decision support tools.  Register here.

Video:
Greg Judy's Success Making it Through Summer Drought by On Pasture. Posted the end of September 2018 showing results of managing pasture residue to 6 to 8 inches through summer. He is located in Missouri.

Publications:
Multispecies Grazing: A Primer on Diversity by ATTRA NCAT This publication discusses the principles and practices of grazing multiple species of livestock on pastures.

Visit UMaine Extension online Publications Catalog for agricultural publications such as:

  • Space Planning for Small, Multi-purpose Livestock Barns # 1021 Are you planning a new barn for your small livestock? The design of barns and other livestock facilities on small-scale farms in Maine depends on the number and types of livestock raised, grain- and feed-storage needs, and production methods used. This publication discusses state of Maine requirements, space recommendations, and more. 6 pages. © 2013 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy. $0.75.
  • Beef Housing and Equipment Handbook #1001 Information on cow-calf, cattle handling, and cattle feeding facilities; feed storage, processing and handling; water and waterers; manure management; farmstead planning, building construction, materials, ventilation and insulation; fences; gates and utilities. 133 pages with index, 1986. $20.
Upcoming Events
Maine Beef Producers Association
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association. 
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2018 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. Facebook
Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 660 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
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.
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

Need Pesticide credits?  Check out the  Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar.   Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed. 

Contributors 
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator

Colt Knight, Extension Specialist

Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator

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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Penobscot County Office
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Piscataquis County Office
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Maine Beef Producers Association
Penobscot County Office -  website  
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