Kentucky State University staff just published an article that provides information on the costs of boiler operations based on data from farms in Kentucky. Getting accurate information on the actual costs of production on many "hobby scale" technologies has not been investigated.
This study found that when small-scale farmers utilized the management recommendations of poultry experts (Jacob, et. al. 2011) their costs were about $10 per bird. Sales of processed chickens at farmers markets were more profitable based on per pound cost of $2.60 and sales price that averaged $4.32/pound in Kentucky.
It should be noted that one farm chose not to follow recommended feeding rates and experience much lower rate of gain with birds finishing the 8 week feeding period at half the weight of birds fed the recommended level of feed.
The authors recommended that pasture broiler enterprises be managed at a high level, maintain weekly production and feed data to more accurately calculate costs, and investigate if processing birds and sales at Farmers' Markets or CSAs would be profitable for their operation.
Source: Dasgupta, S. and R. Bryant, Costs of Pastured Broiler Operations Based on Data from Small Scale Farms, Journal of Extension, Vol. 54, No. 5, Oct. 2016.

 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is providing more than $45 million to help farmers, ranchers, small businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide develop new product lines. USDA is investing in 325 projects through the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program.
Ten Maine Farms and Agri-businesses will be receiving a total of $1.36 million in this round of funding. These include: American Unagi, LLC (products from farm-raised American eels), Avena Botanicals (organic, herbal products), Noami Brutigam (organic winter greens), Jessica Laiin Gownling (artisan cheeses from goat and sheep milk), Margaret Mitchell (marinara sauce & salsa).
Penobscot McCrum, LLC (processed potato wedges), Ricker Hill Orchards (apple cider, vinegar, hard cider, fruit wine and carbonated cider), Thirty Acre Farm, LLC (sauerkraut and other fermented products from organic vegetables), Whitney Brook, LLC (organic seed potatoes and table stock potatoes), Dogpatch Farm, LLC (pork from Mulefoot Hogs).
Source: USDA Newsrelease 0232.16

Liberty Steel Fabrication of Fyffe, AL has come up with a tractor for small scale farms that applies Open Source Manufacturing (OSM) design that uses off the shelf components for their agricultural equipment to be cost-effective, simple, rugged and maintainable in the field or local shop. They start with a Universal Power Platform (UPP) which is the base structure that powers the engine, hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors and hubs. There are a number of implement attachments that can be used with the basic tractor model.
Originally designed to be produced in the US and shipped to CUBA, the manufacturers realized there are a lot of small scale farmers in the US that might be interested in their tractor which is priced at $10,000. Click on the image for a YouTube video of the OGGUN in action.

 Are you an experienced Maine farmer who wants to make more money wholesaling your products? Register for Maine Farmland Trust's Farming for Wholesale program! There are two "tracks" depending on your experience and goals. Both combine workshops with ongoing technical assistance tailored to your farm. Both have grants available for those who complete the sessions.

• November 15, 2016 Business Basics for Beginning Farmers Webinar by Farm Credit 11 am.
• November 15, 2016 Livestock Diseases and Prevention Webinar by eXtension 1 pm
• November 18, 2016 Forum on the Effect of the Trans Pacific Trade Pack on Agriculture 3 pm to 5 pm at the Sea Dog restaurant in Bangor. Sponsors include Food and Medicine, Food For Maine's Future, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and the New England Farmers Union.
• November 19 - 20 Harvest Festival, Cross Center, Bangor
• November 19th and 20th Maine Farm Bureau Annual Meeting starting at 8 am at the Black Bear Inn in Orono.  The Saturday event is open to the public and we are having really great speakers covering topics like solar for the community, estate planning, vegetable production, and a lots more! We will also be doing farm visits, hearing from Gary Keough from New England Ag. Statistics-USDA and having a nice dinner before listening to the acapella group Mainely Voices. FMI
• November 29 - Deadline to apply for the USDA Northeast SARE 2017 Farmer grant program. These grants fund projects by commercial producers who want to test innovative ideas in field trials, on-farm demonstrations or market initiatives. A technical advisor must be involved.
• December 2, 2016 2nd Annual Maine Food Network, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Wells Commons, UMaine Orono. This event will bring together people working in food-related industries and those working on food-related issues to identify where we can work together to strengthen the food system.  The event will also include information on topics such as public policy and careers in food systems. Tickets are $30 with a limited number of scholarships available. 
• December 5, 2016 Farmland Access Conference, Civic Center, Augusta, 8:30 am to 5 pm For more or information contact Erica Buswell at ebuswell@mainefarmlandtrust.org or (207) 338-6575. The Farmland Access Conference is co-sponsored by American Farmland Trust, Cooperative Development Institute, Farm Credit East, Land for Good, Legal Food Hub, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, and MOFGA.
• December 6, 2016 Kitchen Licensing Workshop, Penboscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave. (by the airport), Bangor. Brought to you by Cheryl Wixson's Kitchen, Maine Dept of Ag, Conservation and Forestry and UMaine Extension. $50 fee.
• December 7, 2016 The 2016 Potato Pest Management Conference at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center located on US Route #1 in Presque Isle. The program will begin at 9:00AM, registration will begin at 8:30 AM.  Topics at this year's conference will include  potato storage management, resistance management, soil borne diseases, aphids, Dickeya, an update from the Pesticides Control Board, as well as a research update from the University of Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. FMI contact Jim Dwyer - jimdwyer@maine.edu
• December 12, Poultry medications Webinar by eXtension 11 am- rule changes affecting small and backyard poultry flocks.
• December 13 Setting culling standards for small and backyard flocks. by eXtension  3 pm.

• January 10-12, 2017 Maine Agricultural Trades Show, Augusta Civic Center.
• March 14, 2017 Dairy Seminar
• March 18, 2017 Maine Grazing Conference, Waterville. Speakers include: Fred Provenza, Hue Karreman and Matt LaRouse.
• May 19 - 21, 2017 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor Fair Grounds. Kids Day is Friday.