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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What's New?
- MBPA Spring Feeder Cattle Sale Unofficial Results
- Facebook Live Feed of the Sale
- MBPA Pen Sale at NELE
- Beef Scholarships Awarded
- Women Caring for the Land: 2019 Summer Soil Health Meetings
- Tractor Safety & Operations 101 Workshop
- National Beef Prices
- GPS Cows
- Items of Interest *Featured Resources
- Upcoming Events *Newsletter Subscription Information
- Mission and Quick Links
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MBPA Spring Feeder Cattle Sale Unofficial Results
Here are the unofficial results.
Sale Averages:
Price:
All - $1.14/ #
Steers - $1.22/ #
Heifers - $1.09/ #
Grass-fed - $1.23 /#
Weight:
All - 737 #
Steers - 771 #
Heifers - 717 #
Grass-fed - 749 #
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For the first time the MBPA tried a live video feed on their Facebook page and gave potential buyers an opportunity to bid by phone while watching the sale on Facebook.
During the sale there were 1,600 views! After the sale there was a reach of over 4,100 and over 800 engagements (comments, clicks, shares, or likes.)
Also, there was talk of a fall sale - stay tuned.
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MBPA Pen Sale at NELE
The MBPA offered the opportunity to display, market, and purchase quality breeding stock in a private treaty type format again at this year's Northeast Livestock Expo (NELE) . The Pen Sale was open to young bulls, heifers and cow/calf combos to provide another sale option at NELE for beef producers.
We had a busy pen sale this year. Most of the pens were full. There were ten pens of quality breeding stock, Belted Galloway, Angus and Red Angus, including three animals from Aroostook County.
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Beef Scholarships Awarded
Scholarships presented by the Maine Beef Association for 2019.
Kristen Davis of Ellsworth will be studying at Husson University.
Audrey Varney of Turner will be studying at the University of Maine, Farmington.
July 9 College of the Atlantic - Bar Harbor
July 10 Viles Arboretum - Augusta
July 11 Hall's Christmas Tree Farm - Sangerville
8:30 am to 3 pm (Free lunch and field tour included)
Are you a female landowner who wants to learn about the best natural resources management of your farmland? Join us for a free women landowners meeting this summer, meet with female conservationists, and discuss how your local professionals from USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service can assist you with soil health and conservation planning. Any female landowner is welcome's to attend.
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Tractor Safety & Operations 101 Workshop
On Tuesday July 30th, 2019 from 5:30-8:30pm Rick Kersbergen from University of Maine Cooperative Extension will be teaming up with Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) to offer a Tractor Safety & Operations 101 Workshop. We wanted to offer the opportunity for local farmers in Piscataquis County and all adults (18+) who wish to learn the basics or have a refresher on how to safely operate farm equipment in this introduction course.
Rick will be joining PCSWCD at the Law Farm located on Lee Cemetery Rd. in Dover-Foxcroft where we will go over the basics of learning how to handle tractors and equipment safely, how to identify hazards, and how to minimize the chances of accidents. There will be no driving time but a chance to ask questions and learn the tips and safety tricks of safely operating or learning more about a tractor. Registration is required and spots are limited for this event with reservations at $20 per person.
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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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Last year Colt Knight worked with Central Queensland University in Australia to develop a new youth STEM education program called GPS Cows.The GPS Cows program was designed to increase digital literacy and understanding of precision agriculture to rural students. Students participating in this program learn about:
- Precision Livestock Management
- How GPS works
- How GPS is used in modern livestock management and research
- Scientific Method
- How to use geospatial software, spreadsheet software, and
- How to make a scientific poster
Students are then invited to the University of Maine campus for a tour, and a chance to make a GPS tracking collar. They are encouraged to design an experiment using their cattle( or borrowed cattle if they do not have access) and the GPS collar to test a hypothesis.
In the end, participants make a Poster and compete for prizes in a poster competition. They are judged on their poster presentation, content, and delivery. Last year, prizes included a silver trophy buckle, gift certificates, and more.
Up to 20 Jr. High and High School age students participate in this years GPS Cows program / science fair. If you work with youth, or know of 4-H groups that would like to participate, please contact
Colt.Knight@umaine.edu
or
Debra.Kantor@maine.edu
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- Tick Lab, within UMaine Extension’s new Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, is now officially accepting tick samples for tick-borne disease testing and now, for $15, Maine residents can have ticks tested for the causative agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis (the three most commonly reported tick-borne diseases in Maine). Please visit our newly redesigned website (ticks.umaine.edu) for information on submitting a specimen to the TickLab, as well as information on the different tick species of Maine, tick management, and personal protection. Please note that the tick submission form must now be completed online.
- Browntail Moth information from the Maine Forest Service. The primary concern is the impact on humans from the browntail moth is the result of contact with poisonous hairs found on the caterpillars. Contact of these hairs with human skin causes a rash similar to poison ivy that can be severe on some individuals.
- Maine Farms for the Future Program: Phase 1 - Business Plan Development grants and Phase 2 - Investment Support grant and low-interest rate for Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) Information and application available here. June 24 is the deadline.
- The Best BEEF Butcher Contest was a first-time event designed to celebrate the skills, knowledge and value independent butchers and meat processors bring to the overall beef supply chain sponsored by the Pennsylvania Beef Council and the Bee Checkoff's Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative . Without the passion and dedication to the craft of butchery and meat cutting, beef consumers wouldn’t have as many choices and options available to them regarding the availability of beef.
- UDSA announced aide for farmers impacted by retaliations & trade disruptions. CCC Charter Act authority will be used to implement a $1.4 billion Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP) through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to purchase surplus commodities affected by trade retaliation such as fruits, vegetables, some processed foods, beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and milk for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to food banks, schools, and other outlets serving low-income individuals.
- 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 - there are two - 4-H Professional positions, three Administrative Specialist positions and one County Eduction Assistant position posted.
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Website:
- Beef Quality Management and the Beef Checkoff just released the newest version of the BQA training manual. The manual and videos are available online. Beef Quality Assurance is a pre-harvest supply chain management concept that ensures domestic and international beef consumers enjoy ready access to a safe, wholesome and healthy beef supply.
- Maine Agricultural Fair Dates Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Podcast
- The importance of on-farm research - Our Farms, Our Future Podcast Series. Need a valid control when doing on-farm research to see if the treatment really makes a difference.
E-News
- On-Pasture is a free, weekly online magazine for graziers. Each week they publish 5 to 7 articles, translating research and experience into practices farmers and ranchers can use right away.
Publications:
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- June 15, 2019 Grass-fed beef nutrition talk focusing on daily gains. Smoked Brisket and spare ribs at noon, Colt Knight's House, Garland. Bring a chair. $10 per person. RSVP . Colt Knight
- June 14 - 16, 2019 4-H June Jamboree at Fryeburg Fair Grounds. Includes working steer tryouts for Easter States. For more information and to register click here.
- July 9, 2019 Women Caring for the Land 2019 Summer Soil Health Meetings, College of the Atlantic - Bar Harbor 8:30 am to 3 pm (Free lunch and field tour included)
- July 10, 2019 Women Caring for the Land 2019 Summer Soil Health Meetings, Viles Arboretum - Augusta 8:30 am to 3 pm (Free lunch and field tour included)
- July 11, 2019 Women Caring for the Land 2019 Summer Soil Health Meetings, Hall's Christmas Tree Farm - Sangerville 8:30 am to 3 pm (Free lunch and field tour included)
- July 20, 2019 Beef Handling and Pasture Walk at Shaw Road Farm in Dover-Foxcroft. Watch for details. Grilled hamburgers.
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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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