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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.
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 10th Annual Maine Grazing Conference
- March 19, 2016
New Location!!!
Hinckley, Maine
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Grass Farmers Network is proud to be hosting the 10
th
Annual Maine Grazing Conference on March 19
th
at the Alfond Campus of the Kennebec Valley Community College on Rt 201 in Hinckley.
This very popular conference has been a great sharing resource for livestock producers who manage their livestock using pasture and quality forages to produce high quality milk and meat products. This year will feature expert speakers from throughout the Northeast and Canada. Topics will range from Silvopasture to choosing improved forage species research. The keynote speaker will be Sarah Flack from Vermont, whose new book "The Art and Science of Grazing" will be available later in the Spring of 2016.
Other sponsors and cooperators for the conference are the Maine Beef Producers Association, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
To register and to see the whole day agenda, visit our website or call the Waldo County Extension Office at207-342-5971 or 1-800-287-1426 (in Maine).
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Calves 4 Kids... Accepting Applications
The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting applications for the Calves for Kids program.
The deadline is April 1st, 2016.
Youth applying will be asked to come for an interview before the Calves for Kids committee at a later date. This program, started in 2007, has given 20 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. Of the 20 heifers that have gone to youth so far, 11 were either donated or bought by MBPA and the other nine have come back from the youth.
In 2014, during the Spring Feeder Calf Sale at NELE, it was announced that there were two calves to be given to youth. Shelby Walker received a Charolais heifer that day from Roger Flannery. It was announced that Ashton Caron would be receiving a Belted Galloway heifer from Morgan Allen in July. At the Fall Feeder Calf Sale one more calf was given to Jared Kimball. That calf was a shorthorn that was bought from Rupert Pratt with money received from the sale of Alexander Clark's animal.
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Don't Skimp on Breeding Soundness Exams!
Producers have many opportunities to spend money during the year and feel they need to "skimp" on a few things. However, Breeding Soundness Exams (BSE) are not one of the expenses producers should cut. BSEs start with a 1) physical examination of the bulls, 2) evaluation of the reproduction system and 3) a semen quality appraisal.
As an example, a producer with 100 cows had a calf-crop of about 25% one year and wondered why. Upon further investigation, it was determined that his bulls were not as fertile and sound that year. He decided to not make the trip to the veterinarian to have a BSE performed on his bulls before turning them out to pasture with the cows. He learned a very expensive lesson that year.
The physical examination of the bulls usually starts with observing structural soundness of the bull; eyes, teeth, legs, feet, condition of the bull. If the bull passes this initial inspection, the veterinarian will then look at the scrotum, testicles, penis and conduct a rectal examination to see if the bull has any internal abnormalities. Scrotal circumference should be measured during the examination. For yearling bulls, 30 cm is the absolute minimum while mature bulls should have a scrotal circumference of greater than 34 cm. The third phase of the BSE consists of semen collection via electro-ejaculation and an evaluation of primary characteristics such as semen motility (activity), morphology (percent normal sperm cells) and overall sperm production.
Some things to consider when doing BSE tests:
- Bulls (11-13 months old) that do not pass this early test should be retested every 3 to 4 weeks. With additional time, many of these bulls will become "satisfactory breeders". However, culling should be considered for bulls that do not pass a semen exam by 16 months of age.
- Schedule the exam near the beginning of the breeding season, but still leave sufficient time for re-examination of the bulls, if needed.
- A BSE exam is like a "snapshot" in time. A bull classed as "satisfactory" does not mean he will always be an acceptable breeder since physiological changes or injury may occur even during the breeding season.
- Allocate sufficient time on the day(s) of testing. It is a time consuming procedure and should not be rushed.
- Sound feet and legs are VERY important. Trim hooves three to six weeks before you turn the bulls out.
- Body condition is just as important in bulls as it is in cows and heifers. The target body condition of bulls prior to breeding season is 6 (the ribs appear smooth across their sides.
- Observe the bulls breeding behavior. Bulls that have a low libido may be disinterested or incapable of mounting and breeding a cow.
In summary, now is the time to think about doing your BSE exams and making sure your bulls are in tip top shape before the bulls are put in the pasture for breeding. If the bull needs to gain body condition, have their hooves trimmed or other maintenance done on them, now is the time to do it.
Source: Flatt, W. R., Ag Connection, Vol.15 No.2, Feb. 2009
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FINE Producer Survey
The Farm to Institution New England (FINE) is conducting research about the regional Farm to Institution (FTI) market. The FTI market includes public and private schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, and other institutions.
They are interested in your unique perspective on marketing and selling to institutions -
please take time to fill out this survey even if you do not currently sell to institutions.
Results from this survey will help them better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the FTI market - they will know more about how and when institutional markets are valuable for farm businesses and what challenges and opportunities farmers will face in expanding or entering it. State agencies, farm associations, farmers, and nonprofit organizations will all have access to research findings to use for their business and strategic planning.
They really want to hear from you, and they know your time is valuable.
As an incentive to participate FINE is giving away five $100 gift cards. Just provide your contact information at the end of the survey to have a chance to win.
The survey should take 5 to 20 minutes to complete, depending on whether you sell to any institutions and other factors. You can access it here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FINEProducerSurvey
All responses will be kept confidential. Information will be published in summary format only and will not be traceable to any individual farm. To learn more about FINE, visit
www.farmtoinstitution.org
or contact Nessa Richman at
nessa@farmtoinstitution.org
.
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Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
VAPG provides funds for economic planning activities or eligible working capital expenses to enable viable Agricultural Producers to develop businesses that produce and market Value-Added Agricultural Products and to create marketing opportunities for such businesses. This could include, but limited to: selling cuts of meat, CSA meat sales, sausage, jerky, selling through a broker, processing facility, etc.
- There is approximately $53 million in funding available nationally for the program. Last FY there was only $30 million.
- There are two types of grants - Planning and Working Capital, with maximum award amounts of $75,000 and $250,000, respectively.
- Applications will compete nationally based on score.
- The application period could be up to three months.
- The matching requirement is 1-to-1 (50 percent of total project costs) cash or eligible in-kind contributions to be used only for eligible project purposes is required.
- The grant period can be for up to 36 months, depending on the complexity of the project.
Anyone who is considering applying to the VAPG program in FY 2016 should visit the VAPG website at:
Maine has done fairly well with this program. In FY 2014 5 projects were funded totaling just under $500,000 and in FY 2015 4 projects were funded totaling just under $250,000. Brian expects that there will be a lot of questions concerning the program, application process, forms, etc. over the next few months. He is your point of contact for VAPG in Maine and will work to answer your questions and assist you in any way.
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Items of Interest
- Tax Time - What's New with Federal Income Taxes?
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Livestock Position to be Opened UMaine Extension will be posting a job description for the statewide livestock educator housed in Orono this spring instead of waiting until later in the year. Watch for the posting at
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- Plywood on Steroids Research at UMaine. Masters degree student Nicholas Willey is evaluating the performance of cross-laminated timber (CLT) made from solid-sawn and composite lumber from trees in Maine and the northeast US. The CLT from spruce, pine and fir (SPF) lumber is from Pleasant River Lumber in Dover-Foxcroft and the laminated strand lumber (LSL) is produced by Louisiana Pacific in Houlton, ME. If the CLT made of SPF and LSL stacks up well, that could translate into new markets and increased commercial value of forests in the Northeast.
- Rural Rehabilitation Scholarships available. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) is reminding students pursuing secondary education in agriculture or a natural resource related field that scholarship grants are available through the DACF's Rural Rehabilitation Fund. The deadline for applications this year is March 1, 2016.Application can be found online here (pdf)
- Wolfe's Neck Farm has announced their February and April Vacation Camps and Summer Day Camp including the Farmward Bound Camp that includes livestock activities. Many programs fill up well in advance, so be sure to register or apply soon! To learn more click here.
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New Tool Connects Prospective Interns to Montana Farms and Ranches
Farm Link Montana is a new, free resource that connects prospective interns with Montana farms looking for an extra hand.Although each arrangement is different, farming and ranching internships typically run for the duration of the growing season, from May to October. Start dates vary, however, so get your applications in early to increase your chances of success!
- NH Weekly Market Bulletin is put out by the NH Department of Agriculture. Includes articles and some livestock auction prices.
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Testing Forage Quality - YouTube video from UMaine Extension discusses the nutritional importance of forage quality and recommended sampling techniques.
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Featured Resources
Videos:
Beef Cow Condition Score How to determine amounts of fat and muscle on beef animals before and after calving. University of Kentucky. College of Food and Environment.
Webinars:
Unit Cost of Production from University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Aaron Berger gives an overview of how to utilize Unit Cost of Production and Enterprise Analysis as tools for making management decision to improve profit. This is an archived webinar that was aired in fall of 2015.
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online
Publications Catalog
for agriculture information, such as:
- Beef Cattle Herd Health Vaccination Guide #1031 A herd health management plan is vital to profitable beef production. Don't 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.
- 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 a buy a color copy $0.50.
- Watering Systems for Livestock #7129 A consistent supply of high-quality water is vital for livestock. This fact sheet includes information on quick-move systems, pasture pumps, ram pumps, sling pumps, and solar pumps. 4 pages. © 2002, 2010 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. 5 pages. © 2002 , 2016 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy $0.75.
ATTRA - Tipsheets on Organic Livestock Production
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Upcoming Events
- February 29, 2016 Beef Meeting sponsored by Kent Nutrition Group, Auburn, 5:00-8:00 with Dinner provided. RSVP by 2/22 Jason.harris@kentww.com or call or text (207) 432-0273.Speakers and Topics: Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner PhD to speak on VFD - the new Veterinary Feed Directives that will be implemented 1/1/2017 by FDA; Phil Jacquith from Central Life Sciences, Using feed through Fly Control Products and Jason Harris from Kent Nutrition Group on New Beef products available in Maine.
- March 5, 2016 Trees in Transition: Succession Planning for Your Woodlands, 10 am to 3:30 pm Parkman Town Office. Speakers include: Jessica Leahy of the University of Maine and 1st Vice President of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM), Erica Kaufmann of the Forest Society of Maine, and Gordon Moore and Patty Cormier, District Foresters for the Maine Forest Service.Cost $40 and includes lunch. Pre-registration for this workshop is required. For more information or to register, please contact the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District at 207-564-2321 ext. 3, info@piscataquisswcd.org, 42 Engdahl Drive, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.
- March 15, 2016 Maine Dairy Seminar, Elks Club in Waterville.
- March 16-17, 2016 Northeast Pasture Consortium. Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine. 20th Annual Event connecting agricultural professionals - NRCS, Cooperative Extension, Ag. Research Service - with farmers to learn and share about pasture.
- March 19, 2016 Grazing Conference, Alfond Campus, KVCC, Hinkley
- March 23, 2016 Maine Grain Conference, Presque Isle.
- April 1, 2016 Deadline for Calves 4 Kids. Click here for more information.
- April 2, 2016 Livestock 101 at the University of Maine Witter Center, Orono. 11:45 am to 3:15 pm. Preregistration is required for this free hands-on workshop on livestock methods for small-scale livestock producers, 4-H project leaders and older 4-H youth who are just starting out or thinking about raising livestock. Sponsored by the UMaine Extension, UMaine J. Franklin Witter Teaching and Research Center, Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
- April 9, 2016 Cultivating Our Community, East Sangerville Grange
- April 16, 2016 Deadline to wean calves for Spring Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale
- May 20 - 22, 2016 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor
- May 21, 2016 Spring Pre-conditioned Feeder Calf Sale sponsored by the Maine Beef Producers Association at NELE - sale time 11 am. Spring protocol here.
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Maine Beef Producers Association
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2016 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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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 650 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
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.
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Quick Links
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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/.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator
Goal
The goal of the Central Maine Farming Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of crops and livestock grown in central Maine.
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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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Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
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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)
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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)
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