Your Monthly News & Updates
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News and events for the Maine Beef Producers from the 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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With almost 100 craft breweries in Maine, livestock producers are interested in using a by-product of this industry, wet brewer's grains (WBG) as a low-cost feed ingredient. WBG does have a number of challenges including high moisture, high transportation cost/ pound of nutrient, and high perishability (especially in warm weather.) We are wondering about the level of interest in livestock producers in a research project to look at how WBG can be made more convenient to feed out to livestock. Please take a moment and
complete this survey
. Thanks for your help.
Donna Coffin, UMaine Extension Educator
Colt Knight, UMaine Extension Specialist
Juan Romero Gomez, UMaine Researcher
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What's New?
- Omission from February Newsletter
- Annual Grazing Conference
- 2019 Scholarship from MBPA
- Got hayfields and pastures programs
- Calves 4 Kids
- National Beef Prices
- Quickbooks Sessions
- IRS waves tax penalty
- Items of Interest *Featured Resources
- Upcoming Events *Newsletter Subscription Information
- Mission and Quick Links
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Omitted in error from last month's newsletter in MBPA Awards Presented:
Hall of Fame Award
Awarded to an individual, a farm operation, or an organization honored for making a significant contribution to beef production in Maine.
Gene Lawlor, Merrill - recognized as a breeder of top-quality commercial feeder cattle, as an organizer of a successful past bull lease program, and for participation as a volunteer on local boards as well as a national animal welfare advisory committee.
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Annual Grazing Conference
March 23, 2019
Alfond campus
Lunch and snacks are provided in conference fees.
- $60 Non-member registration
- $45 MBPN (current members)
- $45 MGFN members (Your 2019 dues of $25 will be collected separately at the door by check, make out to MGFN)
- $25 Each additional person
- $25 Students, 18yrs & under
- $100 Vendor Booth
Agenda
8:30 – 9:30 Registration, trade show
9:30 – 9:45 Welcome
9:45-10:45 Morgan Hartman (Keynote)
Holistic Planned Grazing: Meeting The Triple Bottom Line On Your Farm
11 – 12 Concurrent Sessions
a. Linebreeding for Optimum Performance on YOUR Farm (Morgan Hartman)
b. Using technology in your grazing system (Colt Knight)
c. Season Extension/Climate Adaptation (Rick Kersbergen)
d. Pastured Poultry … Show Me the Money (Haden Gooch)
12 – 12:45 Lunch
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12:45-1:45 Steve Sinisi (Keynote)
Farmer in the Spotlight: Meat so good a vegetarian would eat it! a virtual tour of the pasture based livestock operation.
2 – 3 Concurrent Sessions
a. Composting Manure and Mortalities (Mark Hutchinson)
b. The Dirty Dozen – Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields (Caragh Fitzgerald)
c. Using 3D Printing to Make Grazing Tools (Bo Dennis, Stephan LaRochelle and Ben Crockett)
d. NRCS Cost Share Programs for Grazing Farms (NRCS representative)
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2019 SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE MAINE BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
Applications due March 15, 2019
A maximum of two $500 scholarships will be awarded each year by the MBPA.
REQUIREMENTS:
-Applicant must be a family member of or have been employed by a member of the Maine Beef Producers Association.
-Student must be a Maine resident.
-Student must provide a transcript of a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA at the time of application.
-Must submit application and required information.
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Are you feeding your animals good quality forages? Do you want to learn what makes a good haycrop?
This 3 hour workshop is for you!
Join Rick Kersbergen and Gary Anderson, from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension covering topics including:
- Improving pasture and hayfield yield and quality
- Production basics for hay and baleage
- Understanding forage quality and using a forage analysis
This workshop will be presented in 9 different locations across Maine, (listed below with directions). $10 per farm.
This workshop will be presented in 9 different locations across Maine. $10 per farm.
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March 25, 2019 6pm -9pm Piscataquis County
March 27, 2019 9am – 12pm Penobscot County
April 9, 2019 9am – 12pm York County
April 10, 2019 2pm – 5pm Cumberland County
April 11, 2019 9am – 12pm Franklin County
224 Main St, Farmington, ME 04938
April 15, 2019 12pm – 3pm Aroostook County
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The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting
applications (pdf)
for the Calves 4 Kids program. The deadline is April 1st, 2019.
Youth applying will be asked to come for an interview before the Calves 4 Kids committee at a later date. This program, started in 2007, has given 26 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.
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National Beef Prices
USDA Ag Marketing Service publishes agriculture price for a number of commodities throughout the US. Here is the latest cattle dashboard graph showing the current, last year and three year average of live cattle.
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Quick Books Sessions
When
Monday April 8th 6:00-8;30 PM
Wed. April 10th 6:00-8:30 PM
Monday April 15th 6:00-8:30 PM
Wed. April 17th 6:00-8:30 PM
Where
Penobscot County Cooperative Extension
307 Maine Avenue
Bangor, ME 04401
What
SCORE and UMaine Cooperative Extension are pleased to announce a FREE four-part workshop on QuickBooks Basics for Farms.
These 2 1/2 hour, 4 evening workshops will help you better understand how to activate and use the key features found in QuickBooks so you can process customer invoices & payments, record sales and sales taxes, generate reports to help you manage your business and keep your accounting records up-to-date and accurate. If you are a first time user or just need hands on help with your questions, this is the workshop for you!
Space is limited, so please register by Wednesday, April 3rd. Please note that a PC laptop will be needed.
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IRS waives estimated tax penalty for farmers, fishermen who file returns and pay tax by April 15
Notice 2019-17
announces a waiver of the addition to tax under section 6654 for underpayment of estimated income tax by qualifying farmers and fishermen for the 2018 tax year. This addition to tax is waived for any qualifying farmer or fisherman who, by the normal deadline for filing the 2018 federal income tax return (April 15, 2019 for most taxpayers), files his or her 2018 federal income tax return, attaches a specified waiver form to the return, and pays in full any tax reported on the return as payable.
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- Northeast SARE Partnership Grants fund projects that work in partnership with farmers to address issues that affect the farming community. Applications for 2019 Northeast SARE Partnership Grants are due April 23. Learn more at www.northeastsare.org/PartnershipGrant.
- Climate Change Adaptation Research for Beginning Farmers: Researchers at UMaine have a new project focused on collaborating with farmers to develop resources for better adapting to changes in weather and climate. We are currently looking for beginning farmers to participate in interviews during March-April 2019. Interested farmers should fill out this google form. Those chosen to participate will be compensated with $50 Visa gift cards for their time.
- March is Protein Month with the Maine Dept. of Education (DOE) - Harvest of the Month (HOM) program. DOE is seeking a list of farmers, producers and distributors that can provide local HOM products to schools.
- Congratulations to Amanda Beal new Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner. The general department phone number is 207-287-3200 and her email is amanda.beal@maine.gov.
- Shop Small Farms - a new small farmer cooperative LLC whose mission is to help customers find farmers and to help farmers find customers through social media is headquartered in Ludlow, ME.
- NCBA released their 2019 priorities that address: fake meat, trade and market access, dietary guidelines, and regulatory reform and implementation.
- First Argentina beef imports allowed in US since 2001 reports Drovers.
- Maine Grass Farmers Network has equipment (manure spreader and no-till drill) that members are able to use.
- Maine Hay Directory - is available to help farmers with hay to sell and farmers looking for hay to buy. Be cautious of hay scams.
- Agrichemical and Fertilizer Suppliers in Maine - compiled by David E. Yarborough, Extension Blueberry Specialist.
- Shared Use Farm Equipment - Maine Farmland Trust list.
- Jobs at UMaine Extension
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Webinar:
- Unit Cost of Production for Cow Calf - Aaron Berger gives an overview of how to utilize Unit Cost of Production (UCOP) and Enterprise Analysis as tools for making management decision to improve profit. University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Learning Modules:
- Body Condition Scoring Your Beef Cow Herd - Dr. Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Body condition scores (BCS) describe the relative fatness or body condition of a cow herd through the use of a nine-point scale. A body condition score five (BCS 5) cow is in average flesh and represents a logical target for most cow herds. A BCS 1 cow is extremely thin while a BCS 9 cow is extremely fat and obese
Videos:
- Grass-fed Beef Production Grass-fed beef production in the United States is on the rise. However, there are important management and forage quality factors that must be consider. Penn State University.
Publications:
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- Open Farm Day host farm registration is now open. Celebrating 30 years of inviting the public to learn more about farming by inviting them to the farm.
- March 15 & 16, 2019 Digging into Farm Accounting workshop in Caribou (3/15/19 from 4 pm to 7:30 pm) and Presque Isle (3/16/19 from 9 am to 5 pm) offered by Maine Farmland Trust and sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank. This is a free program, but you must pre-register. Includes dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday, and class materials.
- March 19, 2019 Maine Dairy Seminar, Elks Lodge in Waterville. Getting the most out of your feeding program. Free if registered by March 11 ($22 after that date). To register call 207-581-2788 or email melissa.libby1@maine.edu
- March 23, 2019 Grazing Farmers Conference, KVCC, Hinkley School. 9:30 am to 3 pm.
- March 25 through April 15, 2019 Got Hayfields & Pastures? workshops at 9 locations and times throughout the state. $10 per farm.
- April 1, 2019 Calves 4 Kids application deadline
- April 8, 10, 15, 17, 2019 Quickbooks for Farmers, 6 pm to 8:30 pm Penobscot Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave., Bangor. Free with registration required. Click here to register.
- April 10 - 13, 2019 Maine Meat Cutting School, 9 am to 4 pm, Maple Lane Farm, Charleston. Fee $$275 (includes meals, handouts and knife.) Instructors Dr. Gregg Renfrow, Univ. of Kentucky Meat Specialist; Dr. Colt Knight, UMaine Extension Livestock Specialist; Dr. Robson Machado, UMaine Food Science Specialist. (Sold Out).
- April 13, 2019 Last day to wean calves for Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale at NELE
- May 4, 2019 Last day to finish vaccination protocol for Feeder Calf Sale at NEL
- May 18, 2019 NELE - Preconditioned Feeder Calf Auction and Beef Pen Sale, Maine Beef Producers Association, Windsor Fair Grounds. More details to come.
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Maine Beef Producers Association
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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
The Maine Beef Producers Association has a Facebook page. Like and follow to get the fastest information from Maine Beef Producers Association.
Facebook
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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.
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Mission
The 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.
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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/.
Need Pesticide Credits
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Colt Knight, Extension Specialist
Goal
The goal of the Maine Beef Newsletter is to provide timely information on the production and marketing of beef 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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Piscataquis County Office
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Maine Beef Producers Association
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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
Piscataquis County Office -
website
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
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