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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Do you have animals you plan to sell this spring?
Will you be looking for animals to buy?
How can MBPA help?
Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with the MBPA Sale Survey.
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What's New?
- So You Want to Farm in Maine? Online Course
- Winter Learning Series
- 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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March 29
April 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 22
April 26 & 29 FSA Credit: one-on-one consultations
University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a seven-session online course for aspiring farmers starting March 29. The class meets from 5:30–7:30 p.m. twice per week through April 22. Individual consultations will be scheduled April 26 and April 29.
"So You Want to Farm in Maine?" is designed for those wanting to start or expand to a profitable farm operation. Topics include starting a land-based business, business planning and record-keeping, marketing and available resources. Instructors include UMaine Extension educators and guest experts. Successful course completion qualifies participants for USDA Farm Service Agency Borrower Training credit. Since 2015 FSA has provided $2.7 million in direct farm loans as a result of farmers completing this course.
The sliding-scale fee is $50–$150 per person; registration is limited to 40 participants. Register on the program webpage. The required text, “Building a Sustainable Business” by SARE, is available for free download. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Freeman, 207.353.5550; melissa.freeman@maine.edu.
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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.
Only two left!
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Maine Cattlemen's College - All Virtual
April 19th (note the date change)
Two Week Access
$5 Suggested Donation (funds go to Scholarship Fund)
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 April 19th for two weeks for those who register.
- Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler - U of KY - Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition
- Dr. Kendall Samuelson West Texas AM - The Importance of Preconditioning Calves
- Dr. Zach Macfarlane Cal Poly - The Importance of Selecting Quality Bulls
- Rick Kersbergen Maine - Making Sure You Have Enough Forage
- Chef Rob Dumas Maine -cooking demo - Grinding Beef for a High-Quality Burger
- Dr. Colt Knight Maine - Processing Yields and Processor Expectations
- Donna Coffin Maine - Selling Beef in Maine
- Dr. Juan Romero Maine - Storing Wet Brewers Grain Research Project Results
In addition to educational talks and silent auction, the Maine Beef Producers Association is holding a Beef Judging Contest for youth (18 years and younger) 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 Clubs - 1st - $75, 2nd - $50, 3rd - $25
- Youth Individual - 1st - $50, 2nd - $35, 3rd - $20
- Adults - Certificates for first three places
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Maine Beef Producers Annual Meeting
May 6th by Zoom (note the date change)
6:30 pm
We will hold our annual meeting via Zoom during our scheduled on May 6th 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 April 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 April 1st at 6:30.
Russ Florenz
Secretary, MBPA
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Free RFID Tags Still Available
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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“Harvesting Maine,” a new video interview series from MDACF that helps people meet Real Maine members. The series of casual video interviews launches spring 2021. It showcases farmers, growers and producers who work to make a variety of Maine agricultural products available and accessible year-round.
If you’re a Real Maine member with first-hand experience in Maine agriculture, and you’re willing to showcase your work to help people learn why agriculture matters — consider this opportunity!
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From Farm to Table Fare
Join Chef Robert Dumas and Dr. Colt Knight for a crash course in preparing locally sourced meat in a new video series entitled "From Farm to Table Fare." Each week, Chef Rob and Dr. Knight will highlight a different cut of meat from a local farm here in Maine. Prepare for things to get DELICIOUS!
Chef Rob brings 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation. His current work with UMaine allows him to focus on his passion for local and seasonal food while working as a resource to the state’s agricultural industries.
Since 2017, Colt W. Knight works as an Assistant Professor of Extension for the University of Maine where he serves as the State Livestock Specialist.
Their hope is that producers can share these tips and tricks with their consumers to help sell more products that might not be flying off the shelves.
Beef producers willing to donate cuts of meat to be used in preparing future videos can contact Colt Knight.
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2021 MAINE BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP
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
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
Notice the drop in production last year in May and drop in production this past week.
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Information
Grants & Loans
- Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Ag Development Grant ($50,000) deadline April 22, 2021.
- 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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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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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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