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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The Maine Beef Newsletter is back after being combined with the weekly then bi-monthly Maine Farm News. Last year when the pandemic hit the information was coming fast and furious on how to deal with the virus and economic impacts. Many farmers pivoted from their usual marketing plans to try to cope with the situation. Many farmers were able to participate in a number of grant and forgivable loan programs.
Members of the Maine Beef Association requested that we get back to our regular monthly beef oriented newsletter so beef farmers can get their beef focused news.
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Maine Beef Newsletter is Back
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What's New?
- Call for Nominations for Beef Awards!
- 2021 Marketing Plans
- Winter Learning Series
- Rats and Other Vermin Control on the Farm
- Maine Cattlemen's College - all virtual
- Maine Beef Producers Association Annual Meeting
- Communication with MBPA Members
- Free RFID Tags
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- 2021 Scholarships from MBPA - April 1
- Calves for Kids - April 1
- MBPA Website & Online Membership Payment
- National Beef Prices
- Items of Interest
- Featured Resources
- Upcoming Events
- Newsletter Subscription Information
- Mission and Quick Links
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Call for Nominations for Beef Awards!
The Maine Beef Producers Association is asking for nominations for the following beef awards. When completing your nomination please make sure to include your contact information, contact information for the person you are nominating, what award you are nominating them for and why you think they are deserving of the award.
Maine Beef Producers Association Awards Criteria
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Seedstock Producer - A farm operation honored for their accomplishments in the breeding and marketing of purebred seedstock.
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Beef Producer - A farm or individual recognized for the production of consistently high quality beef cattle marketed as feeder cattle, fed cattle, or direct-market beef.
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Youth - A person under the age of 21 recognized for their beef production and promotion accomplishments.
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Service - An individual or organization recognized for their distinguished service to Maine beef producers.
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Hall of Fame - Awarded to an individual, a farm operation, or an organization honored for making a significant contribution to beef production in Maine.
Nomination deadline is March 1st Awards will be presented at the Cattlemen's College on March 20th.
Also, the Maine Beef Producers Association is looking for interested beef producers who may be interested in serving as a MBPA board member. If you are interested in serving contact info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com
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2021 Marketing Plans
The MBPA is making plans on how to assist the membership with their 2021 beef marketing opportunities.
Spring Sale:
The MBPA feels that it is again prudent to cancel our spring sale. Although we are hopeful that conditions regarding group gatherings will soon change and that we will be able to have a fall sale, we realize that calves continue to be born and finishers continue to sell their product and need replacement animals.
We want to assist in bringing sellers and buyers together. It appears that the more robust sales page as it is is not filling that need so we would like to ask producers what can the MBPA do to help. For that reason we will be sending out a survey to allow us to better understand buyers and sellers needs.
You can also join the MBPA directors as they discuss 2021 marketing plans at the next Maine Beef Producers Meeting on March 4th at 6:30 pm. Contact info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com for link |
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Join us for a 9 session weekly Wednesday webinar on a multitude of aspects of farming, animal husbandry and sustainable grazing.
The Granite State Graziers have partnered with regional organizations to offer a Winter Learning Series.
Starting Wednesday, February 3rd and going through March 31st, we will offer lunch time short (1-2 hour long) FREE webinars on a diverse subject matter.
Choose one or choose them all!
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Rats and Other Vermin Control on the Farm
Feb. 23rd 1 pm to 3 pm
Learning how to reduce wildlife losses on the farm to feed, grain, and livestock mortalities with recommended practices will help improve farm profitability.
UMaine Extension is sponsoring this Zoom session with Kathy Murray, IPM Entomologist with Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (MDACF), along with Adam Vashon, Wildlife Biologist with USDA Animal and Plant Health, Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services.
Registration is required with a $5 suggested donation (optional) for the session. Participants will receive the Zoom information after registering for a program. The session will be recorded and shared with participants following the event. If you are unable to attend the live session, please register to receive a copy of the recording and a resource list.
For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Anette Moulton at anette.moulton@maine.edu or 207.564.3301 or 1.800.287.1491 (in Maine)
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Maine Cattlemen's College - All Virtual
March 20th
Two Week Access
The Maine Cattlemen's Conference will be a little different this year says Dr. Colt Knight, UMaine Extension Livestock Specialist. All talks from speakers will be pre-recorded. Ten pre-recorded talks will be available to view on March 20th for two weeks for those who register.
Deadline is March 1st.
In addition to educational talks and silent auction, the Maine Beef Producers Association is holding a Beef Judging Contest for youth and adults. Videos of small groups of beef animals will be available and contestants will place them and give reasons for placement. Compare how you do with professional judges placements. Youth winners will receive prizes, Adults will get bragging rights.
Watch for more details.
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Maine Beef Producers Annual Meeting
April 1st by Zoom
6:30 pm
We will hold our annual meeting via Zoom during our scheduled on April 1 Board Meeting. All members of 2020 are invited. The business we need to conduct during that meeting is to elect Board members and officers. There is one open seat for the term ending in 2022 and nominations from members are now being solicited. Send nominations to info@mainebeefproducersassociation.com by March 1st.
Board Members up for reelection are Russ Florenz and Jonathan Tibbetts and they have agreed to serve another three year term.
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Communication with MBPA Members
Through membership feedback it has occurred to us that we have not been communicating our activity very well. In an attempt to do better we will be sending out our minutes to our mail list and making them available to the extension service for the Maine Beef News Letter. We will also continue Facebook posts. Thanks to membership for this suggestion. We welcome all feedback.
Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be on March 4 at 6:30.
Russ Florenz
Secretary, MBPA
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Free RFID Tags
Cattle Producers are encouraged to participate in a FREE RFID (electronic ID) ear tag program.
The USDA is temporarily offering these tags to cattle producers to encourage usage of the RFID tags which will be mandatory by January 2023. These tags are to be used in replacement breeding stock in Dairy and Beef cattle (heifers and bulls). They are not to be used in other livestock species.
What will producers need to do to participate? They will need to:
- Obtain a Premises Identification Number (Prem ID) o Visit: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ahw/animal_health/adt/index.shtml Complete form and instructions to submit electronically
- If your farm already has a Prem ID; email your ID to o Donna Flint (donna.flint@maine.gov) Instructions will be provided to register for the program
- If you already are using RFID tags, you can still participate in the program
- Dairy cattle that have the orange RFID tag (Brucellosis tag) do not need a second RFID tag
Once your forms (provided by Donna Flint) are returned, your tags will be delivered. You can mail or email the forms. Details will be provided in our conversation, and again in the paperwork. If you have any questions related to these tags, or the Animal Disease Traceability Program, email Donna Flint or call (207-557-4623). Thanks!
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2021 SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE MAINE BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
Change in Deadline - Applications due
April 1st, 2021
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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Maine Beef Producers Association Calves for Kids
Congratulations to Ava Kimball who was the recipient of the 2020 calf that was a heifer from Brook Bickford.
The Maine Beef Producers Association is once again accepting application (pdf) for the Calves for Kids program. The deadline is April 1st, 2021.
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 28 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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The MBPA website has information about the association, the board of directors, and forms for awards, activities, and sales.
You can join the association online and pay by credit card on a secure site.
There is an option to pay 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.
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
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National Beef Prices
They are in the process of updating their portal since Adobe Flash support has been discontinued. Soon they should have new links available but in the mean time producers can access the more comprehensive reports at this link.
Notice the price spike last year in May and June when the pandemic affected the processing plant output.
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Information
Grants & Loans
- Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs - 2 ($1,000) Scholarships for post-secondary education in related agriculture field. Deadline for application is April 29th. Here is the application.
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Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) RFP - Deadline March 5th. VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.
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Northeast SARE’s Partnership Grant program funds projects conducted by researchers, educators and agricultural service providers working in direct partnership with farmers to encourage design and implementation of innovative solutions to current sustainability challenges related to production, marketing and/or household and community well-being in Northeast farming and food systems, or to strengthen working partnerships between farmers and agricultural service providers to advance sustainable agriculture.
Equipment, supplies, etc.
Agriculture Jobs
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- Feb. 23, 1 pm Rats and Other Vermin Control on the Farm
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Feb 23, 1 pm Getting Even More out of Cover Crops in Dairy & Livestock Systems
- Feb. 25, 7:30 pm This Mineral Program is for You
- Mar. 1, Deadline MBPA Award Nominations & Silent Auction Gift Certificate Donations
- Mar. 4, 6:30 pm Maine Beef Producers Board Meeting
- Mar. 8 & 9 Soil Health Innovations Conference
- Mar. 15 Deadline to sign up for ARC/PLC
- Mar. 20, Cattlemen's Conference - Access to videos open for two weeks - watch for details
- Mar. 20, Virtual Cattle Judging open - youth and adult classes - watch for details
- Mar. 29, 5:30 pm So You Want to Farm in Maine series starts. Mondays & Thursdays - watch for details
- Apr. 1, Deadline MBPA Scholarship
- Apr. 1, Deadline MBPA Calves for Kids
- Apr. 1, 6:30 pm Maine Beef Producers Board Meeting and Annual Meeting
- May 6, 6:30 pm Maine Beef Producers Board Meeting
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Maine Beef Producers Association |
Join the Maine Beef Producers Association.
The Maine Beef Producers Association is accepting dues for the 2021 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
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 720 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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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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