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Your Monthly News & Updates
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Common predators that feed on poultry flocks include mammals, reptiles, and birds such as dogs, cats, foxes, raccoons, weasels, skunks, snakes, hawks and owls.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services will be presenting a program for small and backyard flock owners to learn how to reduce predation of their flocks on
June 30th, 2016 from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave. (by the airport), Bangor, ME.
Predator Management for Small Backyard Flocks:
A pre-recorded talk by Thomas Barnes, PhD who will discuss predator identification and how to minimize their impact in small and backyard poultry flocks. Barnes is the Kentucky state Extension wildlife specialist and a professor in the Department of Forestry at the University of Kentucky.
Predator Management from the Maine Perspective:
Adam D. Vashon, Certified Wildlife Biologist
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, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Augusta, ME will discuss prevention options as well as other legal options of predator management.
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2016 UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Field Day Tour Sustainable Ag Research at Rogers Farm
Thursday, June 30th
4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
914 Bennoch Road
Old Town
Please join us to learn about:
Small Grains - Wheat and barley variety trial/ Disease census in cereals/ Cover cropping for N management in cereals.
Potatoes - Nurse crops/ Crop circle sensors/ Mycorrhyzal fungi
Vegetables - Managing weeds with soil solarization/ HAK cultivator demonstration
Risk Management - Strategies for small production farmers
No pre-registration required - refreshments provided.
2.5 Certified Crop Advisor Credits and 1 Pesticide Credit will be offered.
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What Sheep, Goat and Cattle Producers Ought to Know About Dewormers
A free meeting on June 23rd from 7 - 8:30 pm by Dr. Jim Miller, veterinarian with the Louisiana State University vet school, at the Pineland Conference Center, Room A on the Pineland Farms campus in New Gloucester. For more information, contact Gary Anderson, UMaine Extension Specialist 207-581-3240.
Dr. Miller is a parasitologist whose research has involved sheep and goat parasites. He and his wife spend time in Maine each summer. Consider attending this workshop to meet Dr. Miller and learn more about this important topic.
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Changes in Retail Organic Price Premiums from 2004 to 2010
A recent report from the Economic Research Service found that retail-level organic price premiums were more than 20 percent of the nonorganic price for all but 1 (spinach) of the 17 products analyzed in the study. Between 2004 and 2010, most premiums fluctuated with only three products having a steady decrease in their premiums (spinach, canned beans and coffee) and only the yogurt premium steadily increased throughout the study period.
Eggs and dairy had the highest premiums in 2010, ranging from 52 percent of nonorganic price for yogurt to 82 percent for eggs. Fresh fruits and vegetables, generally recognized as the largest part of the organic market, had the widest premium price spread (ranging from 7 percent for spinach to 60 percent for salad mix.)
The share of organic product sold (of the total market) increased steadily for all products studied. Sales in 2010 were generally higher for organic products with lower premiums (e.g., spinach, granola and carrots); sales were also higher for foods frequently fed to children (such as baby food.)
The study was based on data from Nielsen's Homescan data for 2004-10. Homescan households used a barcode scanner to record all food purchase from stores, including grocery stores, supercenters, club stores, drug stores, convenience and health food stores.
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Items of Interest
- Maine Hay Directory - You can list hay that you have for sale or you can look for hay to buy. Listings are free.
- Two UMaine Extension Positions - Livestock Educator position has been re-advertised. Salary range is $58,000 - $70,000 commensurate with education and experience for this full time position housed in Orono. Also, a Maine Food and Agriculture Center Coordinator/Professional with salary range from $13,000 to $15,500 for this part time (20 hour/week) position to be housed in Orono.
- Henlight.com solar powered egg production for pasture-raised poultry farmers. Has anyone tried this new product?
- High Tunnel Pest Exclusion systems impact on natural enemies evaluated by Alabama Cooperative Extension Staff. The 50% fine mesh reduces natural enemies while the 40% and 50% knitted shade cloth allowed them in, while excluding large insect pests. Journal of NACAA vol.9, iss 1, June 2016.
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Featured Resources
Websites:
USDA Launches Resource for Farmers, Ranchers - See
www.FarmAnswers.org for a new USDA resource to help farmers and ranchers get easy to access, reliable information for technical assistance in getting their business started. Here find online courses, videos, presentations, apps, and other materials.
Videos:
How to Protect Animals from Insect-Borne Diseases - focus on horses and vaccination - YouTube Video by UMaine Extension.
Visit the UMaine Cooperative Extension online
Publications Catalog
for agriculture information, such as:
Adding a High Tunnel to Your Maine Farm: Observations from a Statewide Study #1026 In 2011, University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff visited 31 Maine farmers to talk about their high tunnel production practices, benefits, and challenges. This four-page publication is based on some of the results and observations that can help farmers effectively plan for and use high tunnels to increase profitability. 4 pages. © 2013 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download it for free or buy a color copy $1.00.
Forest Landowners Guide to Evaluating & Choosing a Natural Resource-Based Enterprise #7004 Each year, farm and forest owners start nontraditional enterprises to take advantage of renewable natural resources, such as forests, wildlife, water, and cropland. However, many endeavors fail because the landowner lacked sufficient information as well as technical, business, and marketing skills. This 102-page guide supplies the method and tools to help you make an informed decision and assess your enterprise and resource. 2004. From NRAES $19.95
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Upcoming Events
- June 22, 2016 Forestry Conservation from 1 to 3PM at Brochu Homestead, Dover-Foxcroft. Tour the Brochu's homestead in Dover-Foxroft to learn about forestry planning and programs to benefit your farm. Cosponsored by MOFGA, the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. To register and FMI: Katy Green, kgreen@mofga.org , 568-6021.
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June 23, 2016 What sheep, goat and cattle producers ought to know about dewormers by Dr. Jim Miller, veterinarian with the Louisiana State University vet school, f
rom 7-8:30 pm at the Pineland Conference Center Room A on the Pineland campus in New Gloucester. FMI Gary Anderson, UMaine Extension Specialist 207-581-3240.
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June 25-26, 2016 Off-Grid Solar PV Installation Workshop 10 am to 4 pm in Cambridge.Cost: $50 per day for full 'hands-on' participation, $25 per day for 'limited' participation. $10 'non-refundable' deposit. Contact John Burke 207-546-1639 or Carol Gardener 207-277-3191. Sponsored by Maine Solar Energy Association.
- June 30, 2016 Predator Management for the Small Backyard Poultry Flock, 6 pm to 8 pm at the Bangor Extension Office. Dr. Thomas Barnes, Kentucky State Extension will give a pre-recorded talk on predator identification and ways to minimize their impact. Adam Vashon, Certified Wildlife Biologist, USDA APHIS will discuss preventative options as well as other legal options. Online registration or Theresa Tilton at theresa.tilton@maine.edu, 207-942-7396. This is a free program.
- June 30, 2016 UMaine Sustainable Agriculture Field Day 4:30 pm to 7 pm at Rogers Farm, 914 Bennoch Rd, Old Town. No registration required. 2.5 CCA and 1 pesticide credit available. FMI contact John Jemison at 207.581.3241 or jemison@maine.edu
- July 6, 2016 Farming with Horses at Sandy Meadow Farm in Unity. 5 pm with pot luck to follow.
- July 6, 2016 Organic Blueberry Meeting, 1 pm to 3 pm hosted by Doug Van Horn in Montville. Sponsored by UMaine Extension.
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- July 20, 2016 Wild Blueberry Annual Field Day, 9 am to 4 pm at the Blueberry Hill Farm on Route 1 in Jonesboro. Sponsored by UMaine Extension.
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Newsletter Subscription Information
The Central Maine Farming Newsletter (CMFN), now received by over 775 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension for over 10 years. As of January 1, 2015, the CMFN will be transitioning to electronic-only delivery. There will still be
three
ways to receive the CMFN from your local UMaine Extension:
1) Central Maine Farming 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.
3) A third option is to come into the Piscataquis, Penobscot or Waldo County Extension Office and pick up a free printed copy of the newsletter.
We appreciate our readers referring others to the newsletter, and sharing it with their family and friends.
Thank you for your continued support of the CMFN, providing valuable agricultural information from Extension for folks in the central Maine area since 2003.
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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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Quick Links
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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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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/.
Check out the
Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar. Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
donna.coffin@maine.edu
and
Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator
richard.kersbergen@maine.edu
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. |
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
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
Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
992 Waterville Road, Waldo, ME 04915-3117 Phone: 207.342.5971 or 800.287.1426 (in Maine)
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