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.
Note: underlined words are linked to webpages with more information.
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The May Issue of the Maine Beef Newsletter will be the last for awhile. You will be able to get beef program information in the Maine Farm Newsletter that is sent the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the Month. If you did not receive this newsletter last week, you may want to sign up for it here. Check the 2021 Maine Farm News, click you are not a robot, then click submit. If you have articles or information you would like included in the Maine Farm News send an email to extension.mainefarmnews@maine.edu
Since I will be retiring June 1st, the Maine Beef Newsletter will stop being sent for now. It has been a pleasure editing this newsletter for beef producers in Maine. I appreciate all the great comments people have made about past issues. I wish everyone great health and prosperity in the future.
Donna Coffin
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May 18 - 21
Windsor Fairgrounds, Windsor, ME
Official 2023 Schedule:
Thursday, May 18th
(NO LIVESTOCK TRAILERS ADMITTED UNTIL 2 PM TODAY)
9:00am-2:00pm Kids Day Event - Events Located throughout the Grounds
Friday, May 19th
5:00pm-7:00pm: Youth Registration - Livestock Office [any youth on the grounds please register]
6:30pm: Pizza Party - Windsor Mall
Saturday, May 20th
7:30am-9:00am: Youth Registration Open - Livestock Office
7:30am-9:00am: Market Lamb Weigh In - Scale in Sheep Barn
9:00am-12:00pm: Pulling Workshops - Pulling Ring
10:00am: Youth Educational Activities - Windsor Mall
10:00am: ABGA Boer Goat Show - Prime Show Arena
1:00pm Youth Sheep Show - Sheep Barn Ring
6:30pm: Pot Luck Style Dinner - Windsor Mall
Sunday, May 21st
9:00am: Youth Beef Show - Pulling Ring
11:00am: Youth Dairy Show - Pulling Ring
10:00am: Boer Goat ABGA Sanctioned Show - Prime Show Arena
Schedule Subject to Change.
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MBPA Spring Sale Canceled |
Due to low interest from consignors for the MBPA spring pre-conditioned feeder calf sale, the sale has been canceled. This sale usually was held during the NELE.
A reminder:
The MBPA Sales page is now open to post beef animal for sale or to be bought. The MBPA Board decided to allow anyone to post, MBPA membership is not required. Pictures are not required, but are encouraged. Check the website for details. Current MBPA members may also post feed, hay or bedding, or services.
For $100 a business may purchase a sponsor membership which will allow the business to run their logo on our "Sales Slider", at the top of the sales page, as well as being listed with other members on the member page.
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Digital Plant Disease Image Submission |
If you suspect your plants have a disease, you can easily take a picture and submit it online for identification and control measures.
Dr. Alicyn Smart announced that the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab has a new feature for those wanting a plant disease ID via an image. Now, you can go to our website and visit our Digital Plant Disease Diagnostic Submission Form webpage. Here, clients and county staff can enter their contact and sample information and upload images for ID. |
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Weed Identification Options |
Weeds can reduce the productivity of crops, pastures and hayfields, but first you need to be sure which weed you are dealing with to be able to determine the best management in your situation. To get your plant identified here are some suggestions.
- Bring a sample to your local extension office with your name, contact information, where it was found and how prolific it is.
- Online submission through the Garden Ask the Expert page.
- Smart phone app: be aware at their best they are only 67% accurate. Go to your app store to download a plant id app.
- Picture This
- PlantNet
- Plant Story
- LeafSnap
- iNaturalist
- Seek
- PlantSnap
- Garden Answers
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USDA Plants and GoBotany are good sites to double check the known distribution of your identified plant.
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Free Farm Business Advising Opportunity for Maine Farm and Food Businesses |
Thanks to grant funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission, there is an opportunity for free business consulting for Maine farm and food businesses located in Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington counties. Consulting can help with profitability enhancement, generational transfer and estate planning, strategic planning, management coaching, and more. Both start-up and established businesses are eligible. Businesses can receive up to $5,000 worth of consulting services at no cost to them. Work must be completed by June 30, 2023, so act now. For more information, contact chris.laughton@farmcrediteast.com
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A team of Extension and research professionals at the University of Maine is again conducting a survey about farm, ranch, and aquaculture operations’ labor and compensation.
The UMaine team says the study will help provide information to agricultural operators and workers about average wages and benefits in Maine that can be used in decision making.
UMaine Extension’s team invites you to participate by responding to an anonymous survey. Participation involves answering questions about you and your operation online. The questionnaire can be completed on a laptop or mobile device of your choice. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes. They will be offering the chance to enter a drawing to win a $75 gift card to a farm outfitter (such as Tractor Supply) to all those who reach the end of the survey and elect to provide contact information on a separate form to enter the raffle.
You must be at least 18 years old to participate and must be involved in the management or decision-making for an agricultural enterprise such as a farm, ranch, or aquaculture production facility. Follow this link to find additional information about this project.
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Maine Brand Study
The University of Maine's Graduate School of Business, in partnership with MaineBiz and the Catherine Cutler Institute, is conducting research on whether the Maine brand confers a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Please click on the following link to learn more about the study and to participate in the survey.
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Novel Shallow Well Questionnaire
Dr. Rachel Schattman at UMaine and collaborators at USGS are getting ready to submit a grant to support installing a new shallow well at Highmoor Farm. It's part of thier effort to test this new well design in several locations around Maine, so see how they perform under various soil and environmental conditions.
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The MBPA website has information about the association, the board of directors, and forms for awards, activities, and sales. Members have the opportunity to have their farm listed with a photo, description of their farm, and a link to their own farm website. You can add this information when you join or send the information and digital photo to Russ Florenz at info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com
The Maine Beef Producers Association has a Facebook page. Like and follow to get the fastest information from Maine Beef Producers Association. Facebook
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association.
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2022 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 and online payment go to http://www.mainebeefproducersassociation.com
You can join the association online and pay by credit card on a secure site or by mailing the information to Sally Caverly by either printing off the form from the website, or completing the pdf version of the form and mailing to her at 1457 River Rd., Clinton, ME. |
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National Beef Prices
**You can bookmark these sites to review prices at any time.
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Publications/ Websites:
Videos:
Grants & Loans
Equipment, supplies, etc.
Agriculture Jobs
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Jobs at UMaine Extension - there are 33 full, part-time, and temporary positions posted including Downeast Sustainable Ag, & Livestock Position and Climate Smart Ag & Forestry Positions.
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Maine Farm Labor Link Network: Looking for farm workers or looking for farm work, this site helps connect farmers with people looking for work on farms. MDACF
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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.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System). 11/22
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
Piscataquis County Office - website
Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm - Closed Tuesday
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
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