Augusta - With as few as 10 participants, any community partner (school, employer, religious organization, community group, etc.) can organize a pop-up clinic to bring vaccinations to a site.  

"The new vaccination program is free of charge. Any organization — such as a school, workplace or house of worship — can apply online, provided that they have at least 10 people who are willing and available to be vaccinated," Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said Wednesday in this Bangor Daily News article. 

To host a clinic, please complete this application.

VaccinePopupClinics.DHHS@maine.gov.

The American Rescue Plan passed earlier this spring included $5 billion in direct aid for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers. BIPOC growers are eligible for relief, so long as they have outstanding debt on FSA loans (as of January 1, 2021). Please see more information for Debt relief for BIPOC growers for eligibility and process details.

The season is just taking off, and it's already the time to be planning for the end of the season. Do you know what cover crops are going where? What about your cover crop seed order? This is the time of year (if not earlier) to finalize what species and mixes will go where and to ensure that you have seed on hand.

If you're planning on diversifying your cover cropping plan to increase the benefits received, the Northeast Cover Crop Council's newly released Species Selector Tool is the place to start! Find information on planting dates, seeding rates, benefits and more for a wide variety of cover crop options. Reach out to your local Extension Office for cover cropping system advice too.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a new delivery method for Late Blight Information. A text message with the latest blight information from the hotline will be delivered directly to your cell phone. This is a one-year subscription from June 2021 to June 2022. Available in the US and Canada.

Sign up for the Personal Delivery of Late Blight Information here.

Due to the continued concerns regarding personal protective equipment shortages in the agricultural sector, EPA is extending the “annual fit test delay” to September 30, 2021 as part of the previously issued guidance on respiratory protection requirements for agricultural pesticide handlers.

The remainder of the June 2020 guidance remains in effect. EPA will assess the continued need for and scope of the temporary guidance on a regular basis. Read the amended guidance here. 

If you have questions please contact the Board of Pesticides Control at pesticides@maine.gov or (207) 287-2731.

For those who are not yet registered as Open Farm Day hosts, the deadline to for inclusion in Real Maine’s summer print publication passed. But, farms may still join online promotions and use the Real Maine event calendar. Open Farm Day Hosts must sign up one of two ways: update their Real Maine profile, or become a Real Maine member.

 Visitors who want to find Open Farm Day host farms can go to www.RealMaine.com

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the 2021 Pipestone Lamb and Wool Sheep for Profit School, which will be held on July 7th through 10th in Pipestone, MN. This will be the 11th course offering with 197 past participants from 24 different states and Canada completing the course.

The Sheep for Profit School is a professional management and business school for the sheep industry. The purpose of the school is to help you improve your sheep management skills; increase the profitability of your sheep operation and form relationships in your business.

Enrollment in the school is limited to create an ideal learning environment and allow for one-on-one advising. Visit our website www.pipestonesheep.com for registration information and a course schedule. For more information, contact the Pipestone Lamb and Wool Management Program, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, PO Box 250, Pipestone, MN 56164, 800-658-2330 or e-mail: melinda.lamote@mnwest.edu