Volume 8 | November 2019
Media Survey -
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office wants to make it easy and convenient for people to get the information they want quickly and through the preferred method by surveying users and potential users. You can help by completing the survey online  at http://bit.ly/UMaineSurvey
Your monthly news & updates
What's New?
  • Meat Science Series: Barbecue 101
  • Beekeeping Symposium
  • Climate Perspective & Resource Needs of Farmers
  • Deadline Approaching for Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) Program
  • Pesticide Applicator Training - Ticks and Mosquitoes, Biting Fly and Other Arthropod Vectors
  • Pesticide Applicator Training - Outdoor Ornamentals
  • Late Blight and Dickeya Training - Presque Isle
  • Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals
  • Farming for Wholesale
  • Nxlevel Farm Business Training
  • Produce Safety Courses in Maine
  • Items of Interest
  • Featured Resources
  • Upcoming Events
  • Newsletter Subscription Information
  • Mission and Quick Links
  • Local Weather Anytime - Need Pesticide Credits?
Time Change!!
November 15 @ 6:30 pm  | $40
Have you ever wanted to know the secret to real barbecue, or how to smoke like a Southern pit master? Join Chef Robert Dumas and Colt Knight for a crash course in slow smoked barbecue. During the course, participants will learn to make dry rubs and barbecue sauce from scratch in the University of Maine commercial kitchen. In addition, participants will gain hands-on experience prepping and trimming whole chickens, pork spare ribs, and pork shoulders. Don’t fret, there will be barbecue for everyone to try. Let us help you unravel the mystery to making great Southern-style smoked barbecue.
Apis mellifera

Saturday, November 16 th , 2019
10 am to 4 pm
Hampden Academy, 89 Western Avenue, Hampden, Maine. Catered lunch for those who pre-register.  Cost is $25.00 per person.  

This event will feature the following speakers:  

Ian Steppler from Manitoba, Canada has a large commercial operation that focuses on honey production and sustainable management.  He has a Youtube channel  A Canadian Beekeeper’s Blog  where he puts forth great information about managing bees in his cold weather climate.

Tucka Saville aka Tucka Bee is from Keeseville in Northern New York. She manages her own self- sustaining, treatment free operation and breeds Northern Queens (Tucka Bee, LLC.) She also works for Michael Palmer of French Hill Apiaries in Vermont and helps with his breeding program.

Jennifer Lund, Maine Apiculturist, will also be attending as a guest, but is extremely approachable and loves to talk bees.
Climate Perspectives & Resource Needs of Farmers

Researchers at the University of Maine are teaming up with colleagues at University of Vermont to develop climate resilience tools and resources specifically addressing the needs of small-medium scale and beginning farms in New England.
 
The project began this spring with a series of in-depth interviews with farmers and agricultural advisers from across both states.
 
Resource needs identified by farmers included:
· Climate impact predictions for the Northeast region
· Assistance with financial planning and grants
· Training in climate change adaptation and mitigation practices
· Information on drought resistant seed varieties
· Information on agroforestry
· Helpful data loggers, apps, and decision-support tools
 
If you would like to participate in an upcoming focus groups for this project or have any questions or comments, contact Sonja Birthisel at sonja.birthisel@maine.edu .  

Maine Climate and Agriculture  https://umaine.edu/climate-ag/.

Source: Sonja Birthisel & Lily Calderwood
Deadline Approaching for Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (PRF) program.  

This crop insurance policy protects grazing or haying acres from a single peril- lack of precipitation using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Producers must enroll with a crop insurance agent before the November 15 th  deadline for 2020 coverage. 

To learn more about PRF and to hear from a Massachusetts farmer who has used the policy, please view the following  webinar  recorded last year.  

This information is also posted on Extension's  Crop Insurance Education Program  website.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Noon – 4:45 pm at the Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Drive, Orono,

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
7:30 am – 12:15 pm
Seasons Event and Conference Center, 155 Riverside Street, Portland,

Each offers four recertification credits.
Seating is limited, The registration fee is $40. Only cash or check can be accepted at the door. Light refreshments will be served.

Topics covered include:
  • Ticks in Maine
  • Mosquito & Tick Applications: Options, Timing, Limitations, Reality,
  • Mosquitoes in Maine: What are We Dealing With? 
  • BPC Update

December 10, 2019 at Jeff’s Catering & Event Center in Brewer, from 12:00 pm to 4:45 pm, or
December 11, 2019 at Seasons Event and Conference Center in Portland, from 7:30 am to 12:15 pm.
Each offers four recertification credits.
Seating is limited, please register by November 27th. The registration fee on or before Nov. 27th is $40. The nonrefundable registration fee after Nov. 27th is $50. Only cash or check can be accepted at the door.
Light refreshments will be served.

Topics include:
  • Browntail Moth Management
  • Invasive Ornamentals: Management and Alternatives,  
  • BPC Update,  
  • The Risks of Pesticides in the Landscape,  
  • UAVs: Potential for Landscape Pest Management, 

November 19, 2019 at University of Maine at Presque Isle, Folsom Hall, 181 Main Street Presque Isle, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
$5 per person.
Do you wonder why there was no late blight in Maine in the 2019 season? Why it was recommended that no late blight protection to be applied?
Interested in  Dickeya ? Two years of field research in Maine has occurred since the November 2017 Dickeya Summit. Maine is co-leading national grant-supported research efforts on  Dickeya dianthicola and Pectobacterium parmentieri.
Come listen to the latest update from Maine and elsewhere on these pathogens.
The presentation will have limited seating owing to fire code regulations. This will be strictly enforced as a previous Dickeya presentation had more people in attendance than allowed.
MBPC and CCA credits will be available.
Northeast SARE Farmer Grant Program Now Accepting Proposals

The call for proposals and online submission system are now open for  Northeast SARE's Farmer Grant Program . Proposals are due online by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

Farmer Grants provide research funds for commercial farms to explore new ideas in almost any aspect of production, marketing and other topics that influence successful farming in the region. Application materials, including detailed instructions and supporting documents, are posted on the Northeast SARE website at  www.northeastsare.org/FarmerGrant.  

Maine Farmland Trust announced their 2020 Farming for Wholesale program. Registration is now open! Please note that the application for the 201 track of the program (for farmers currently selling to wholesale accounts and looking to scale up significantly) is  December 1.  

The registration deadline for the 101 track of the program (for experienced farmers who currently sell wholesale and want to expand and farmers who want to start selling to wholesale markets) is  December 23.
 
Scholarships and reimbursements for some costs associated with attending workshops are available.

Nxlevel Farm Business Training
Where? At the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Deering Building, located at 90 Blossom Lane off Route 9 in Augusta.
When? 9:00 AM -3:30 PM on December 18, January 8 & 29, February 12 & 26, and March 11. Lunch provided.
Remote participation available. While all six sessions will take place live in Augusta, you can participate in one or all of them remotely via any internet-linked computer. Recordings of each class will also be available to all participants.
Cost is $275 per farm. Up to 2 people from each farm can attend each class.
A la carte registration available too.  Don't want to sign up for all six sessions? You can sign up for just the ones you want to attend as well at cost of $50 per session.

Photo: Erin Roche

Rob Machado and Jason Bolton have been traveling all over Maine offering the one-day Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Act (PSA) training. Over the last two years, they have offered 11 trainings.

They know some farmers and farm staff might still need the training but have not participated.  Most farmers in Maine are not covered by the PSA rule or are at least Qualified Exempt. Nonetheless, UMaine and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) are making an effort to educate everyone that wants to be trained.

They received funding to highly subsidized the cost of the training. The cost is $25 per participant for this last training. Depending upon demand, they will likely only offer the training once a year, at a cost of around $200 per participant to cover books, certificates, food, and other expenses next year.

The last training is on Dec. 6 (snow date Dec. 13) in Belfast ( Registration link )

Photo: Remsberg

Items of Interest
Featured Resources
Videos:
PED Talks on Soil Health sponsored by Conservation Technology Information Center, Soil Health Institute, Soil Health Partnership, Soil Science Society of America, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and USDA-NRCS. Soil PEDS are aggregated soil particles
Webinar:
USDA Webinar Provides Overview of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program : which was established to create a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States.
APP:
Alabama Extension has developed a Farming Basics Mobile APP for beginning farmers that can work on IOS or android phones. It focuses on horticulture crops.
Social Media :
Farmers Under Forty - A group for young and beginning farmers to network and exchange tips for growing your farm from the ground up!

Publications:
Visit UMaine Extension online Publications Catalog for agricultural publications such as:

Upcoming Events
  • November 12, 2019 Ticks & Mosquitoes Pesticide Applicator Training, 12 - 5 pm, Black Bear Inn, 4 Godfrey Dr., Orono. Registration before 10/30 is $30, and $40 after that date. Light refreshments will be served. Approved for 4 pesticide credits
  • November 12, 2019 Winter Care of Poultry 1 pm to 3 pm, Hancock County Extension Office, Ellsworth. In this free class prospective and beginning, small-scale meat and egg producers will gain a general understanding of what it takes to have poultry. Registration required either online or by calling 581-2788.
  • November 13, 2019 Maine Grown: Building a Future on Big Ideas Focus: How can we support entrepreneurs and innovators and create a brighter future for Maine? 3:00-7:00pm. Sponsored by the Maine Community Foundation, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor. Registration is available at www.mainecf.org/summit
  • November 15, 2019 Meat Science Series: Barbecue 101, 6:30 pm, Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono. $40.
  • November 18, 2019 Farmland Access & Transfer Conference, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, Civic Center, Augusta. Sponsored by Maine Farmland Trust & Land For Good. $15
  • November 19, 2019 Late Blight and Dickeya Training 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at UMaine Presque Isle, 2 pesticide credits and 2 CCA credits. $5, you must pre-register.
  • November 21, 2019 Seafood HACCP Alliance Segment II, 7:45 am to 5 pm, Penobscot County Extension Office, Bangor. $100. Registration required.
  • November 21, 2019 Legacy Planning for Farmers, 8:30 am free breakfast, 9 am to 11 am, Governor Hill Mansion, 135 State St, Augusta. Sponsored by SCORE and MassMutual. Registration here. Includes succession planning, retirement planning and estate planning for farm owners.  
  • November 23, 24, 2019 Maine Harvest Festival, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor.
  • December 5, 2019 Kitchen Licensing Workshop, 10 am to 4 pm, Common Ground Education Center, MOFGA, Unity. $35/$50 includes lunch. With Dr. Beth Calder, UMaine Extension.
  • December 6, 2019 Pre-conference Cattle Handling Facilities, and BBQ in the Garland Area . afternoon and evening.
  • December 7, 2019 Cattlemen's College, Penobscot County Extension Office, 307 Maine Ave. (by the airport) Bangor ME. 8 am to 3 pm. How to build a cheap scale for small scale beef farms. More information later.
  • December 10, 2019 Pesticide Applicator Training - Outdoor Ornamentals (category 3A) at Jeff’s Catering & Event Center in Brewer, from 12:00 pm to 4:45 pm, $40 before November 27th.
  • December 10-12: New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, Manchester, NH.
  • December 13, 2019 MBP Hemp Meeting and Round Table, 8 am to 12:30 pm, Deering Building, Augusta, 4 pesticide credits. Program is free, but you must register. Click here for more information and to register.
  • December 18, 2019 Nxlevel Business Planning Training for Farmers, Maine Dept of Ag, Conservation and Forestry, Augusta.
  • January 14-16, 2020: State of Maine Agricultural Trades Show, Augusta, ME.
Newsletter Subscription Information

The Central Maine Farming Newsletter (CMFN), now received by over 900 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for over 15 years. On January 1, 2015 the CMFN transitioned to electronic-only delivery. There is still 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 at this website 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 by contacting your County office.
  3. A third option is to come into the Piscataquis or Penobscot County Extension Offices 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.
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.
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

Need Pesticide credits?  Check out the  Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar.   Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed. 

Edited by 
Donna Coffin, 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.

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.
Penobscot County Office
Piscataquis County Office
Penobscot County Office -  website  
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