Farm Scoop — August 2013

New UMaine Extension Publications


UMaine Extension Small Grains Website & Newsletter

wheat fieldSmall grains have long played an important role in Maine agriculture, and their value is increasing with new and local markets for a greater variety of grains. You will find information on growing small grains and oilseeds for feed, food, and energy at the new UMaine Extension Grains & Oilseeds website.

The Maine Grain and Oilseed Newsletter, included on the website, provides production and research information to Maine’s grain and oilseed producers. Information includes tips on production, fertility, marketing, pest management, and more.


Are You Thinking of Employing an Intern on Your Farm?

Here are links to some guidebooks that may prove useful:


Pesticide Credits at Maine Farm Days

Maine Farm Days is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, August 21 and 22 at Misty Meadows Farm in Clinton. There will be workshops for private applicators to earn credits on both days. See the workshop schedule.


Upcoming Composting Workshops

The Maine Compost School will be offering three trainings that could be useful to your farm business: Food Waste Management Compost and Anaerobic Digestion on August 21 & 22; a Food Waste Management Tour (Coach bus with Lunch) on August 23, 2013; and the Maine Compost School on October 21- 25, 2013. For more information or to register, visit the Maine Compost School website.


Ever See a Sheep Being Milked?

A dairy sheep farm tour is planned for Saturday, August 17, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Northern Exposure Farm in Dedham (near Bangor).  The farm is located at 18 Country Lane in Dedham. This tour is sponsored by the Maine Sheep Breeders Association and the Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society. The tour is free and open to all.

baling hay


Haymaking Tips for 2013

UMaine Extension Educator Rick Kersbergen provides tips that address the current haymaking situation in his article Haymaking Weather Woes Continue.


Search for Information on eXtension

To search for topics that interest you, go to eXtension’s One Search. At One Search, you can quickly search more than 1,000 Cooperative Extension sites, including UMaine Extension. eXtension is a critical part of the Cooperative Extension System and an educational partner with 75 land-grant universities in the United States.


Farm Safety & You

Farm safety programs are being planned by UMaine Extension for this fall and winter in southern Maine. Please fill out our short online survey by August 15 to provide input about the topics that you would like to see offered for yourself, family members or your employees.


Risk Analysis, HACCP, and Creating a Culture of Food Safety

This one-day course will cover how to analyze food safety risks and food safety hazards. You will learn about HACCP plans versus risk-based plans, and how to use the best of both to create a culture of food safety at your company. The training will be offered on October 25, 2013 at the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce, 415 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME. The course fee is $125 if pre-registered (up to 5 days prior to course start) or $145 at the door. Please note that courses are capped at 25 participants and fill up quickly. Register online or call 908.907.7798.  This course is presented by Dirigo Quality Meats.