 |
|
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.
|
Our hearts go out to to all of the folks and livestock that recently faced devastating fires in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. To help with the fire relief efforts the National Cattlemen's Beef Association set up a Fire Relief Resources Site that includes links for those wishing to help.
|
Make Sure Your Farm Counts!
NASS conducts a census of all agricultural operations every five years as well as other agricultural surveys. We need to know about all types of agricultural operations of all sizes.
The Information you provide is kept confidential by law and will not be
disclosed to any other government or private entity.
|
Introduction to Farm Accounting with QuickBooks Pro (TM)
Thursday, May 4, 2017
9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
UMaine Cooperative Extension Penobscot County Office,
307 Maine Avenue, Bangor, Maine 04401
Venue Phone: 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
Registration Cost: Free
Preregistration is required. Class is limited to 15. Please contact Pam St. Peter at
pamela.stpeter@maine.edu or 207.933.2100 to register or request a disability accommodation.
This free workshop is for farmers who are first-time users or have less than a year's experience with QuickBooks. The presenters, QuickBooks ProAdvisors from Austin Associates, will demonstrate how to set up and use accounts, perform invoicing, deposits, and reporting using QuickBooks Pro™. Participants may bring a laptop but it is not required.
The workshop is sponsored by the UMaine Cooperative Extension Crop Insurance Education Program.
Participants will be entered in a drawing to win a QuickBooks Pro™ subscription.
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency to deliver crop insurance education in Maine.
|
UMaine Extension Meat Cutting School
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a 5-day course in professional meat cutting/processing in Gardiner, ME on April 24-28. This course includes both classroom and hands-on training. Participants will learn about: History of US meat production, consumer trends, humane handling and slaughter of livestock, meat quality, food safety, labeling, and customer service. In addition, participants will have hands-on training with beef, swine, and lamb meat cutting and sausage making. Students will tour commercial meat processing facilities. Special guest, Dr. Gregg Rentfrow will serve as the lead instructor. Doctor Rentfrow is a meat professor at the University of Kentucky, and serves as the state extension meat specialist, the University of Kentucky's meat lab director and teaches courses in meat science. Other instructors include Dr. Robson Machado, Assistant Extension Professor and Food Safety Specialist, and Dr. Colt Knight, Assistant Professor of Extension and State Livestock Specialist.
Cost: $400.00 per student. Price includes lunch each day, refreshments, a reference notebook, and supplies.
|
MBPA Spring Feeder Cattle Sale - May 20, 2017
by Kevin Woltemath, President Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producer's Association is seeking consignments for their annual Spring Feeder Cattle Sale to be held on Saturday May 20th as part of the 11th annual Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) at the Windsor Fairgrounds May 19-21.
***Attention consignors: as in recent years, a $25/hd. consignment fee will be assessed, but this year that will be the applicable fee only if payment of $25/hd. is made by April 15th. You must mail a check payable to MBPA to:
Sally Caverly, MBPA Treasurer
1457 River Road
Clinton, ME 04927
Please include number of head consigned X $25 on the memo line.
This fee is non-refundable.
After April 15th, consignments will still be accepted up to the event, but a $50/hd. sale cost will be deducted prior to settlement.
For more information, contact: Peter Dusoe, Cell: 207-416-5441 or Home: 207-473-5441 or email: pbdusoe@roadrunner.com.
|
Tractor Safety Courses in Maine
Many of you may be employing teenagers on your farm this summer or maybe even have some new employees who have never driven tractors before. For youth ages 14-16, who are not family members, they need to have taken and passed an approved tractor safety class for them to be able to operate machinery as part of their employment on a farm.
UMaine Cooperative Extension will be offering approved tractor safety classes in several counties this spring.
Currently the plan is to hold classes in Cumberland, Knox/Lincoln, Waldo, Kennebec and Oxford Counties. For more information, contact Rick Kersbergen at 207-342-5971 or
Richard.kersbergen@maine.edu
|
UMaine Extension Beef Survey - April 2017
As a new staff member Dr. Colt Knight is looking for help from Maine's beef producers. He is inviting all those interested in beef production in Maine to complete this anonymous survey.
Responses will help determine the topics of future UMaine Extension programs and projects.
Thanks in advance for your help.
|
Universal Design for Farmers, Fishermen and Loggers
Maine AgrAbility will host a free webinar on universal design - a method of designing tools, buildings and environments to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible - on April 27 from 1-2:30 p.m.
"Universal Design: Design for ease of use in the home, shop and barn" will focus on the principles of universal design, perceptions of disability, and practical applications that can help to maintain and increase independence. Presenters include occupational therapist Ketra Crosson and architect Jill Johanning, who is with Alpha One; and Maine AgrAbility staff member Ellen Gibson.
Register for the webinar
online. For more information about Maine AgrAbility and universal design, contact Lani Carlson, 207.944.1533, leilani.carlson@maine.edu. More information is also available on the
website.
Maine AgrAbility works with farmers, fishermen and loggers throughout Maine to reduce physical harm and improve workplace safety. It is a collaborative partnership between University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and Alpha One.
|
Items of Interest
- U of I study ranks which production attributes are most important to consumers when buying beef, chicken, etc. "No growth hormones" attribute was prioritized as the most important and "organic" the least important
- UMaine Extension positions: Scientific Research Assistant in Aroostook, Temporary Field Teacher in Oxford, Food System Aide in Penobscot, 4-H & Maine Families Parent Education in Knox-Lincoln Counties, 4-H in Franklin & Aroostook, Field Teacher at Bryant Pond, Plant Pathologist in Orono and Ornamental Horticulture Specialist in Orono.
- Maine Large Animal Veterinarian List released by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
- Farmers Tax Guide IRS 225 for preparing 2016 tax returns.
-
Testing Forage Quality - YouTube video from UMaine Extension discusses the nutritional importance of forage quality and recommended sampling techniques.
-
|
|
|
Featured Resources
App: GrassSnap - Nebraska Extension developed this app to assist producers in grabbing repeatable photo-monitoring data, and saving it on their smart device in an orderly fashion so it can be downloaded to the home computer to study.
Programs:
FarmWorks.com has a cloud based program that helps with recordkeeping and analysis for the farm production and business needs.
Working with Your Meat Processor - NCAT - ATTRA - Your meat processor is your partner in taking an animal from pasture to plate. Farmers who want to sell meat directly to restaurants, grocery stores, or consumers need a reliable and skilled partner: the meat processor is an essential team member and an asset to the business. This publication suggests some key ways to work effectively with a meat processor and lists resources for further information. 8-pages. January 2017. Download this factsheet for free or buy a copy for $3.00.
Pasture and Grazing Arrangements for Beef Cattle ICB0119 - Iowa State Univ. There is no standard process for establishing a pasture rental rate. This fact sheet outlines considerations for both landowners and renters when negotiating yearly or long-term grazing-land leases. 2-pages. April 2017.
Visit the UMaine Extension Cooperative Extension online
Publications Catalog
for agriculture information, such as:
-
- Controlling Smooth Bedstraw in Pastures and Hayfields #2278. The perennial smooth bedstraw is a competitive, invasive species that can significantly reduce the yields of hayfields. This publication documents the findings of recent research trials in Maine that evaluated mechanical and chemical control methods, and discusses key management strategies. 6-pages. 2008 by University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Download a copy for free or buy a color copy for $0.50.
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
- April 20, 21, 22, and 23rd, 2017 27th Annual National Belted Galloway Sale and Fryeburg Youth Show on at Fryeburg Fairgrounds. Youth events going on all weekend and the sale at 1:00pm on the 23rd. Contact Scot Adams 431-3510 or email
- April 24 - 28, 2017 Meat Cutting School in Central Maine - If interested contact Melissa Libby at melissa.libby1@maine.edu
- April 27, 2017 Universal Design for Farmers, Fishermen and Loggers Webinar, 1 - 2:30 pm
- April 28 - 29, 2017 New England Meat Conference, Manchester, NH. They do have a call for presentations on production, processing, marketing, value add butchery and product production, or business and industry issues.Online registration here.
- May 4, 2017 Introduction to Farm Accounting with QuickBooks Pro(TM). 9 am to noon Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor. This free workshop is for farmers who are first-time users or have less than a year's experience with QuickBooks. The presenters, QuickBooks ProAdvisors from Austin Associates, will demonstrate how to set up and use accounts, perform invoicing, deposits, and reporting using QuickBooks Pro™. Participants will be entered in a drawing to win a QuickBooks Pro™ subscription. Preregistration is required. Class is limited to 15. Please contact Pam St. Peter at pamela.stpeter@maine.edu or 207.933.2100 to register or request a disability accommodation.
- May 10, 2017 Maine Beef Producers Association meeting, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Marquardt Building, Augusta. Call Cindy Kilgore to unlock the door 207-215-4968.
- May 19 - 21, 2017 Northeast Livestock Expo, Windsor.
- May 20, 2017 MBPA Spring Pre-conditioned Feeder Calf Sale, Windsor Fair Grounds.
- Buying Local Meat, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
|
Maine Beef Producers Association
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2017 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.
|
|
|
|
Newsletter Subscription Information
The Maine Beef Newsletter (MBN) is now received by over 700 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.
______________________________________________
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 Links
|
|
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/.
|
|
Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
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 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.
|
|
|
Open Monday - Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
|
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)
|
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)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
