February 2018
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.
What's New?   
meetingMaine Beef Producers Association Annual Awards

Presented at the Maine Beef Producers Association Annual Meeting at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show on January 10, 2018. 

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.
 
O'Donnell Farms, Hodgdon - Developed and enthusiastically enjoyed by the late Tim O'Donnell, this commercial cow/calf to yearling operation continues to produce quality feeder cattle under the ownership/management of his wife Sharon, their 2 children and families.  The farm participates in Global Animal Partnership certification and markets to Pineland Farms. 
Seed Stock Producer

A farm operation honored for their accomplishments in the breeding and marketing of purebred seedstock.
 
Dayton Place Farm, Dayton - Breeder of excellent Hereford cattle and Maine-Anjou cross calves, they're recognized for their strong support of youth programs including MBPA's Calves for Kids in 2017.    


Youth 


A person under the age of 21 recognized for their beef production and promotion accomplishments.
 
Adam Pride - Having participated previously with family members in both 4-H and Maine Dept. of ACF promotional productions, he has become an accomplished exhibitor at local, state and regional breeding, market, and showmanship competitions.   



James Worthley Service Award 


An individual or organization recognized for their distinguished service to Maine beef producers.
 
Jenn Grant - A dedicated volunteer especially in youth programs locally and at larger events, she has served as an MBPA Board member diligently coordinating the Calves for Kids program as well as representing the organization at Ag Day at the State House.    

Hall of Fame 

Awarded to an individual, a farm operation, or an organization honored for making a significant contribution to beef production in Maine.
 
Ron Howard - Along with his responsibilities as Maine Coast Heritage Trust's first General Manager of Aldermere Farm, he devoted significant time and leadership as Board member and Past President of the MBPA, the Northeast Livestock Expo, and the Belted Galloway Society. 



The new Maine Beef Association Board members are Iris Guimond and John Tibbetts.
They replace Jacob Guimond and Ed Leblanc.

TreatyPrivate Treaty Sale at NELE 
The Maine Beef Producers Association will offer a renewed opportunity for sale of breeding/replacement stock at this year's Northeast Livestock Expo May 18-20.  While we again will hold our traditional feeder cattle auction, we will also host private or pen sales of breeding cattle.  
Such a format would involve a producer personally negotiating the sale of their animals directly to buyers from a pen in a dedicated area.  Pens will be provided for a nominal fee by the MBPA. We hope that such a format would draw good quality breeding animals including young bulls, cow/calf pairs and replacement-quality heifers.
Please contact Pete Dusoe at 416-5441, pbdusoe@roadrunner.com, if you have interest in participating.  
processingMeat Processing 101 - Small Plant Economics
Often farmers say that processors are (1) too few in number, (2) too far away, and (3) too busy when producers need them. But processors will say that farmers (1) don't bring them enough business, year-round, to hire (and keep) skilled workers, (2) don't come at their scheduled time or bring fewer or different animals than planned, and (3) don't pick up finished product on time, using up valuable cooler space.
Both are right: these are big challenges.
It takes significant infrastructure to run a processing business. They need a significant, steady volume to support it. Throughput, revenue, and services offered by a processor are all interconnected: the more throughput, the more revenue. The more revenue, the more (and  more sophisticated) services a processor can provide.
To provide the level of services that many farmers are interested in for marketing high-quality  products (i.e., value-added processing, portion cutting, full-color labels) a plant needs significant throughput to justify that level of investment. Very small plants can often only provide very basic services. Specialized equipment and skilled labor are expensive and a  plant needs a significant, steady stream of livestock to afford the necessary machinery and  personnel.
The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network ( NMPAN) is a national network of people and organizations creating and supporting appropriate-scale meat processing infrastructure for niche meat markets. Small and mid-sized plants - when available at all - can lack capacity, equipment, appropriate inspection status, and the human and financial capital to upgrade or expand. To meet this need, NMPAN assists processors, producers, buyers, regulators, and others involved in this growing sector by coordinating, distributing, and developing information and resources to improve access to processing infrastructure and the long-term stability of this sector.
NMPAN estimates a very small plant needs to process over 450 beef equivalents per year to break even. Small plants need over 1,100 beef equivalents per year and regional plants need almost 9,000 beef equivalents per year to breakeven. 
Source: Crash Course: Meat Processing 101 - Small Plant Economics, A Beginners Guide to Local Meat Processing,  NMPAN 
impactImpact of Eliminating Animal Agriculture
 The impact that eliminating animal agriculture in the US would have on food production and greenhouse gas (GHG) from a USDA ARS study, concluded that while eliminating animal agriculture would result in a 23% increase in food (largely accounted for by increased corn and legumes), it would "create a food supply incapable of supporting" the nutrient requirements of the US population.  
Animal products currently account for almost half of our protein supply, a majority of our essential fatty acid requirement, and are significant sources of many micronutrients.  The assessment found that elimination of animal agriculture would reduce agricultural GHG emission by 28%.   Currently, animals account for about half of the GHG attributed to agriculture and about 3% of the total US GHG.  
The explanation as to why elimination of animals did not reduce GHG by half was that animals contribute to agriculture and society in other ways.  Animal agriculture supplied 4 million metric tons of fertilizer used in plant production, and replacing this resource with industrial fertilizer offset some of the GHG benefit.  In addition, animals consume over 40 million metric tons of byproducts generated by humans that would need to be disposed of in other ways that generate GHG.   
Based on US EPA data, all of agriculture accounts for 9% of US GHG.  Elimination of animal agriculture would be estimated to reduce total emissions by 2.6%.
Source: Azain, M, Impact of Eliminating Animal Agriculture in the US, American Society of Animal Science, Taking Stock Blog Post, January 2018. 
interestItems of Interest

resourcesFeatured Resources

Websites: 
Pasture, Rangeland and Grazing Management Resources by ATTRA - NCAT  Proper planning and management of pastures, rangeland, and grazing practice can provide opportunities to significantly improve farm profitability and concurrently reduce environmental degradation. Includes Factsheets, workbooks, tutorials, and checklists. 

APP for Smart Phones:
Mississippi State Extension developed the  MSUES Cattle Calculator  app that provides three categories of simple calculations that are very practical: Reproductive, Performance, and Management.  These are all calculations that could be done with a paper, pencil and a traditional calculator, but the app makes it faster and easier. Free for both IPhone and Android.

Webinar:
Climate Change and its Effects on Animal Agriculture
Participate in this webinar to understand the current and potential effects that climate change will have on livestock farmers across the country. The emphasis of this webinar will be placed on dairy, beef, small ruminants, and horses and the impacts that extreme heat, cold snaps, weather shifts, droughts, and excessive rain will have on the animal's health and diet. By eXtension.org 

Publications:    
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online Publications Catalog
for agriculture information, such as:
events  Upcoming Events
  • February 7, 2018 Aroostook Beef Producers Association Meeting, 6 pm at the Maine Potato Board Building. 
  • February 14, 2018 Maine Beef Producers Association Meeting, 6:30 pm Marquardt Building, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to unlock the door 207-215-4968.
  • February 25 - Advanced Business Planning with Julia Shanks, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., 30 Federal Street, Brunswick, Maine. Cost $100 with scholarships available. Sponsored by MOFGA. Information and registration. 
  • March 16, 2018 Maine Grazing Conference, NOTE CHANGE IN DAY OF THE WEEK! It will be held on Friday. Details will be posted on the Maine Grass Farmers Network website soon.
  • April 1, 2018 Calves 4 Kids application deadline.
  • April 21st, 2018 28th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale and Fryeburg Youth Show at Fryeburg Fairgounds. Youth events going on all weekend and the sale at 1:00 pm on the 21st.  Contact: Dustin James, (207) 491-5980 or info@newenglandgallowaygroup.com
  • MAY 17 - 20, 2018 Northeast Livestock Expo. Thursday is kids day! Windsor Fairgrounds. 
  • May 19, 2018 Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale, and Private Treaty Sale at NELE, Windsor Fairgrounds. 
joinmbpa 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

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subscription 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.
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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 Quick Links
weatherLocal 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?  Check out the   Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar.  Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed.
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.  

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