Maine Farm News
Maine Farm News
February 6, 2021
In This Edition
ARTICLES
  • Payroll Protection Program Round 2
  • New Resource Available for Identifying Youth Appropriate Farm Tasks
  • Do you Need Workers Comp Coverage?
  • Small Bites: Good Ideas Without the Hard Work

OTHER INFO
  • Upcoming Events
  • Resources
  • Payments Grants and Loans
  • Information for Livestock Keepers
  • Surveys
Maine Farm News
Small Business Administration
Payroll Protection Program Round 2
SBA is currently accepting Second Draw PPP loan applications from participating lenders. Lender Match can help connect you with a lender. You can also view all lenders near you on a map. Contact these lenders for full details about eligibility.

You can apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan with the same general loan terms as their First Draw PPP Loan.

Second Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay for mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.

You can apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan until March 31, 2021.
New Resource Available for Identifying Youth Appropriate Farm Tasks
During the past decade, more youth have died working in agriculture than all other industries combined.Three new safety resource booklets — covering farm equipment operation, working with animals and gardening – feature guidelines that can help adults assign age- and ability-appropriate tasks to young people. Access the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety booklets here.

As the UMaine Extension Farm Safety team works to revamp the Tractor Safety course, you can sign up for our interest list to be the first to hear when course details are released.
Do you Need Workers Comp Coverage?
Agri-Services Agency recently shared a Q&A highlighting requirements of workers compensation insurance requirements for farming operations. See the full details here.

Check out this State of Maine Bulletin, An Employers Guide to Workers Compensation Insurance in Maine, to find out about what size farm businesses are exempt from needing coverage.

To get further details about Workers compensation insurance in Maine, see the State of Maine Workers Compensation Board's webpage.
Small Bites: Good Ideas Without the Hard Work
How do you implement a good idea without having the result simply feel like a lot of hard work? One way is to use an action planning tool that can break down the components of this grand vision into workable steps. Rather than pit your ideas against their reality, the action planning tool can identify who does what (and by when) in an objective way.
To get a copy of the action planning tool, reach out to the farm coaching team!
Meetings - Webinars - Upcoming Events
Sessions preceded by * are eligible for Pesticide Re-certification Credits.
Resources
coronavirus image from CDC
Fact Sheets, Videos, & Guides
Payments, Grants & Loans
Surveys
Sheep Producers - NAHMS Needs Your Help

The United States Department of Agriculture National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) is seeking stakeholder input to help shape the objectives for an upcoming sheep study that will take an in-depth look at the most pressing health issues facing the sheep producers. Interested stakeholders can provide input through March 31, 2021 at this survey link.
Stakeholder input is essential to the success of the Sheep 2023 study. NAHMS encourages all stakeholders to identify the focus and objectives they would like analyzed in this national study.
The NAHMS Sheep 2011 study results may be viewed here.
Inquiries regarding the survey or NAHMS sheep studies may be sent to NAHMS@usda.gov.
Information for Animal Keepers
Rats, mice, and other rodents can infest grain and livestock feed and make it un-sellable and un-usable as feed. Wildlife such as racoons, fox, and weasels can invade poultry houses and kill and maim birds. Pastured animals are subject to predation by a number of wildlife species.
UMaine Extension is sponsoring this Zoom session on February 23rd at 1 pm to 3 pm 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.
Granite State Grazers Winter Learning Series
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! 
Feb. 10 Equine Grazing
Feb. 17 Focus on Finishing
Feb. 24 Solar Array Grazing
Mar. 3 The 2020 Grazing Season, Hello 2021
Mar. 10 Stress Free Handling
Mar. 24 Soil Health Research
Mar. 31 Ruminant Nutrition (not even 101)
Apr. 7 Grass Growth and Nutrition
Apr. 14 Management
Apr. 21 How NRCS Can Help You
Livestock Nutrition Webinar Series
Edited by:
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor, donna.coffin@maine.edu
Jason Lilley, Extension Professional, jason.lilley@maine.edu
Rebecca Long, Extension Professional, rebecca.j.long@maine.edu 
Tori Jackson, Extension Professor, tori.jackson@maine.edu
Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

Photos by Edwin Remsberg and others.
A message to our stakeholders:
As a valued UMaine Extension stakeholder, we just wanted to let you know that most county offices have reopened following UMaine guidance and protocols to stem the spread of the coronoavirus. Each office may have different protocols in place, please call ahead before coming to the office.
Please contact UMaine Extension staff with any questions.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Penobscot County
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Piscataquis County
207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 
Donna Coffin - Voicemail 207-262-7726

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Cumberland County
(207) 781-6099 or 1-800-287-1471

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Oxford County
207.743.6329 or 1.800.287.1482

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Androscoggin / Sagadahoc Counties
207.353.5550 or 1.800.287.1458
The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).