by Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, Cumberland County and Tori Jackson, Extension Educator, Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties

State Sponsors Free Pesticides Disposal

It’s not uncommon for new owners of homes or farms in Maine to discover they have inherited hazardous waste in the form of pesticides, with old chemicals such as DDT, lead arsenate, 2,4,5-T and chlordane left behind in barns, basements or garages. Maine’s Board of Pesticides Control (BPC), the Maine Department of Agriculture, and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are partnering to provide homeowners a free opportunity this fall to dispose of old pesticides that may be stockpiled on their properties. Required registration – the deadline for which is September 28, 2012 – is now open for the disposal day, which gives owners of homes, family farms or greenhouses the opportunity to safely and legally get rid of pesticides that have become caked, frozen, or otherwise unusable, including those that are banned in the state.

Due to safety and regulatory requirements, disposal “drop-ins” are not allowed and registration is necessary. The BPC will contact registrants several weeks prior to that drive to inform them of their local collection date and location. Register, get additional details or information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides online or call Henry Jennings, Director, Maine BPC, at 207-287-2731.

Insuring Specialized, Diversified, and Organic Farms

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will offer a one-hour webinar on Thursday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. EDT, to explain Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-Lite) – a unique, federally subsidized crop-insurance product that holds great promise to serve the needs of smaller, diverse, specialty crop, organic, and direct-market farmers. Farmers, crop insurance agents, agricultural lenders, and Cooperative Extension agents from states in the Northeast are especially encouraged to attend this webinar, which will be tailored to their needs. The webinar will feature regionally appropriate examples from the Northeast, and there will be ample time for attendees to ask questions about both AGR-Lite and the AGR-Lite Wizard. While most insurance products are tied to a specific crop or commodity, AGR-Lite is based on whole-farm revenue and allows farmers who grow several specialty crops, or diverse crops and livestock products, to insure their production based on their historic revenue. The webinar, “AGR-Lite – Understanding Whole-Farm Insurance for the Specialized, Diversified, and Organic Farms,” will explain how AGR-Lite works; provide a brief overview of crop-insurance limitations for specialized, diversified, and organic smaller farms, as well as demonstrate NCAT’s new AGR-Lite Wizard assessment tool. The presenter of the hour-long webinar will be NCAT Agricultural Economist Jeff Schahczenski. It is funded by the USDA Risk Management Agency.  Register for the webinar online. 

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) Applications Due October 15, 2012

USDA Rural Development has announced Value-Added Producers Grants (VAPG) for 2012. The primary objective of the VAPG program is to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain, as defined in the Program Regulation. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis.

The Maximum Grant Amounts are $100,000 for planning grants & $300,000 for working capital grants. There is a cost sharing requirement of cash or eligible in-kind matching funds equal to at least the amount of grant funds requested. Apply or get more information about this grant opportunity online.

Farm Service Agency Provides Assistance to Livestock Producers

Androscoggin-Sagadahoc and Oxford Counties USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director CED Marcia Hall, announced that special provisions will made to the FSA emergency loan program and to the Risk Management Agency (RMA) federal crop insurance program in order to provide greater flexibility for livestock producers facing forage and feed shortages as a result of drought. On August 22, 2012, Secretary Vilsack announced that modifications will be made to the emergency loan program allowing them to be made earlier in the season. Producers will no longer have to wait until the end of the production cycle to obtain a loan. This change will support producers who currently need assistance to help offset high production costs.

Vilsack also announced that a special provision will be made to the federal crop insurance program through RMA that will allow producers to hay or graze cover crops without forfeiting crop insurance eligibility on planted 2013 spring crops. This change is beneficial to livestock producers making forage and feed available this fall and winter. However, before making any plans to plant crop cover, producers should consult with their insurance agent, according to RMA.

More information regarding special provisions to the emergency loan program is available online, or contact the Androscoggin-Sagadahoc County FSA office at 207-753-9400, x2; the Oxford County FSA office at 207-743-5789, x2; or Cumberland & York Counties FSA office at 207-883-0159 x2.

Maine Fiber Resource Guide – It Could Include You!

An online directory profiling Maine’s fiber community – fiber farmers, producers, artists, craftspeople, supply shops, processing mills, spinneries, etc. – is being created by Maine Fiberarts, a statewide nonprofit organization based in Topsham. The group is cooperating with the Maine Department of Agriculture, through a FSMIP grant, to compile this comprehensive, online, consumer-oriented listing of resources. The resource list may, also, include relevant books, websites, residency programs, and annual festivals or retreats. Listings are FREE, and for more information contact Maine Fiberarts at 13 Main Street, Topsham, ME 04086, 207-721-0678.

Focus on Fiber Seminar

UMaine Extension has partnered with several associations to plan and present a day-long Focus on Fiber seminar. The seminar is scheduled 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2012, at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine. The purpose of the seminar is to equip Maine sheep, fiber goat, and camelid producers with the skills and knowledge to improve production, handling, and marketing of high quality fiber and fiber products. More information, including registration, is available online or call 1-800-287-1471.

New Guide for Starting Dairy Goat Enterprise

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) recently published a 158-page Guide to Starting a Commercial Goat Dairy. To obtain a copy of the book email UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture or call 802-656-5459.

Small Scale Farmers: Register Now for Fall, Winter and Spring Online Courses – Cornell University

Whether you are a seasoned, new, or aspiring farmer, there’s something for you in the 2012-2013 line-up of online courses presented by the Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension.  There are courses covering commercial production topics like raising veggies, berries, and poultry, and many more covering management of a successful farm, including business planning, holistic financial planning, marketing, and getting started in farming. Most courses are 6 weeks long and cost $200 each. Full course descriptions, instructor biographies, course logistics and more can be found at their Web site.

by Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, Cumberland County and Tori Jackson, Extension Educator, Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties

New England Farmland Finder Website Unveiled

The New England Farmland Finder Web site is a new online service helping farmers and landowners find each other. This farm property clearinghouse is free, simple, up-to-date, and privacy protected. It contains information and resource links to inform and support farm seekers and landowners.

The site was launched by a collaboration of New England organizations focusing on farmland access issues. The new service complements local and statewide efforts to match new farmers with available land.  The Web site is part of a region-wide, USDA-funded project on farmland access.

Landowners, farm seekers and realtors are encouraged to visit the New England Farmland Finder site  to post or search for farm properties, and to check out the resources. The site will become increasingly useful as more properties are added.  For more information contact info@newenglandfarmlandfinder.org.  The New England Farmland Finder is not involved in real estate transactions. It does not sell or rent properties or receive a commission for any transactions.

Poisonous plants in pasture

With pasture season in full swing, you might this fact sheet “Poisonous Plants in Pastures” from UNH Extension, helpful in identifying plants that could harm your grazing livestock.

New/Beginner Farmer Web Site

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has designed a Web site with new farmers in mind. Experienced farmers are encouraged to use the site too!

Troubleshooting Electric Fence Systems

Here are two Web sites that could be useful in solving an electric fencing problem. The first is on ‘Electric Fence and Fence Charger Troubleshooting’ from Hallman Fence Systems.  The second is a ‘Fence Troubleshooting Diagram’ from Kencove Fence Supplies.

 Safety for Aging Farmers

As we age, our bodies lose some strength, reaction time and resiliency. Here is a link to a fact sheet from Canada’s Farm safety Association that might help you be safer on the farm.

 Being Prepared

When was the last time you had the local fire and rescue personnel to your farm? It might be a wise move to invite the rescue squad or fire department to your farm as a way to familiarize them to your place, your equipment, power sources, storage areas, pesticides, etc.

By the way, do you have a farm first aid kit well stocked and ready? You can read more about farm safety in this factsheet from Iowa State University Cooperative Extension, and order a fully stocked kit from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.

Changing Climate

“The Heat is On, U.S. Temperature Trends” is a recently released report on our climate (including Maine). For a printed copy, please contact Colleen at 1-800-287-1471.

 Poultry Web Sites

University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Richard Brzozowski recently updated a listing of Extension-sponsored Web sites related to poultry. There’s a wealth of information at these sites. For a copy of the listing, please send an email or call 1-800-287-1471 (toll-free in Maine).

 Marketing Tips

How are sales for your farm products? Learn how to present and merchandise farm products. Small changes can make big differences. Here are two items on the topic from University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension:

• Direct Marketing of Farm Produce & Home Goods
• Creating a Winning Display for Your Farm Products

Considering Buying Clubs?

Buying clubs are a bit different than CSA’s. Extension educator Richard Brzozowski recently visited a farm in Virginia that markets  meat, eggs and produce year round through a buying club. Here are links to learn more about how CSA’s and buying clubs differ, and how to compare buying clubs with other forms of marketing.

Ever Heard of Aronia?

Aronia is a small fruit that can be grown in Maine.  More information is available online about Aronia and about an Aronia Field Day scheduled for August 16, 2012 at a Maine site.

Robotic Milkers

Extension educator Richard Brzozowski recently had the thrill of seeing robotic milkers in action on a 300-head dairy farm in northern Vermont. Each robot can handle about 75 cows. Michigan State University has made a document available titled “Challenges and Benefits of Adopting Robotic Milking on Michigan Dairy Farms”. It can be found online or requested by calling UMaine Extension at 207-780-6099 or 1-800-287-1471 (toll free in Maine).

by Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, Cumberland County and  Tori Jackson, Extension Educator, Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties

Earth Smart-“Farming for the Future”  A Maine Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction and Certification Program

Earth Smart is a Maine agricultural emissions reduction certification program developed by collaborating partners.  Its purpose is to provide a whole farm assessment and help farmers prioritize recommended practices that will reduce emissions on the farm while providing additional co-benefits. The program will recognize farmers for the implementation of good agricultural practices and will help position them to take advantage of current and future regional and national carbon offset markets.

When:  June 20, 2012  from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:  Maple Hill Farm Inn, 11 Inn Road, Hallowell, Maine

Fee: $35 payable by June 13 to Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District.  Program fee includes continental breakfast and morning break, lunch and afternoon break.

Registration:  More information and registration is available online, or contact Jane at 207-753-9400 X 400.

Operation MarketQuest

A Marketing Guide and Toolkit for Maine Farmers’ Markets Accepting Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) was developed by the Downeast Business Alliance with funding from a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant.

Provided are many lists of suggestions, ideas and planning help, as well as a CD with resources from many organizations which have sections relevant to all Farmers’ Markets accepting EBT for SNAP recipients. Also included on the CD are graphic templates for a variety of common print materials which you can customize for use in your own Market. The goal of this project is to raise awareness state-wide about the increasing numbers of Markets accepting EBT, and to provide a consistent, easy-to-recognize “brand” for Markets to use.

To request the CD contact: Sarah Joy Chaples, Down East Business Alliance, PO Box 299, 248 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605 phone 207-610-5942.

Photovoltaic Greenhouse Survey Request

Who we are: MaineAsia is a consulting firm based out of Portland, ME. We have received a grant to do research of a very promising new technology that will make greenhouse growing more affordable to growers.

The problem we’re addressing: It is difficult for Maine growers to successfully grow year-round due to the inherent challenges of low light and high-energy costs (Maine has the 12th highest electricity costs in the nation). The cost of greenhouses, heat and supplemental lighting needed for year round growing have kept many small and medium-sized growers from entering the market.

Our solution: The Photovoltaic Greenhouse is a new type of power generation system that integrates a proprietary semi-transparent thin-film photovoltaic technology into the construction of a glass greenhouse system. The result is a dual use electricity-generating greenhouse that makes use of the land below the solar panels for indoor growing, while also generating electricity into the grid at utility scale. The result is a warmer greenhouse in winter, a cooler greenhouse in summer, and a valuable source of energy income that can also be used to provide supplemental light during low light months, or to cover capital costs.

What we ask from you: We are seeking knowledgeable leaders in the agricultural and greenhouse industry to help us to understand the market potential, to provide feedback on the technical and economic model of the greenhouse and to provide feedback into various design elements that are being planned. There are two ways to help:

• Complete our online survey and be entered to win a cash drawing
• Participate in a focus group and be compensated for your time

More information: For more information please contact Amy Power or call 207-522-3934.

Limiting Agri-tourism Liability

This current legislature passed a bill (LD 16055) to limit the liability for farmers engaging in agri-tourism activities such as farming, harvest-your-own activities, or other attractions related to farming provided participants are informed about the inherent risks of these activities on a farm. See the full text of the bill here.

For purposes of this law, a notice of the inherent risks of agri-tourism activities may be satisfied either by a statement signed by the participant or a sign or signs prominently displayed at the place or places where the agri-tourism activities take place. The statement or sign must contain the following information:

“WARNING:  Under Maine law, there is no liability for injury to a participant in an agri-tourism activity conducted at this agri-tourism location if such injury results from the inherent risks of the agri-tourism activity. Inherent risks of agri-tourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment and animals, as well as the potential for injury if you act in a negligent manner. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agri-tourism activity.”

The message on the sign must be in black letters at least one inch in height and the sign or signs must be placed in a clearly visible location on or near the places where the agri-tourism professional conducts agri-tourism activities.

New National NRCS Nutrient Management Standard

NRCS announced the release of a new national NRCS Nutrient Management 590 standard and policy. Nationally there has been a lot of interest surrounding this revision. Individual states have until Jan. 1, 2013 to come into alignment with the changes. This will include the development and approval of a Phosphorous Index for Maine. There is some work to be done. Until we reach that point, we will function under our existing standard. The paragraphs below give a brief summary of the high points/changes.

 What are the major changes to the revised standard?

• The revised national standard incorporates the latest science and includes existing and emerging technologies such as precision agriculture, remote sensing, adaptive nutrient management and enhanced efficiency fertilizer products such as inhibitors, slow release fertilizers and nitrogen and phosphorus enhancement products. It establishes the conditions when nitrogen and phosphorus risk assessments are required.

• Like the 2006 national nutrient management standard, the revised standard precludes that nutrients should not be applied to frozen or snow covered ground or saturated soil. Exceptions can be granted when local water quality officials specify low risk conditions.

• Wind and water erosion must be controlled to soil loss tolerance (“T”), but exceptions can be granted when achieving “T” is not feasible and mitigating conservation practices are installed to reduce erosion and protect water quality.

• The new standard emphasizes the importance of coordinating conservation practices designed to avoid, control and trap nutrients before they leave farm fields. The standard reinforces the 4Rs approach-right amount, right source, right placement and right timing.

Source: Alice Begin, NRCS Resource Conservationist, Bangor, ME 207-990-9568 alice.begin@me.usda.nrcs.gov

Hay Makers Handbook – For a free copy, please contact 1-800-287-1471.

New Soil Test

A newly developed soil test determines microbial life levels in soil.  More information on the soil biology test is available online.

by Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, Cumberland County and Tori Jackson, Extension Educator, Androscoggin & Sagadahoc Counties

 Maine Hay School Webinar Series

A five-session webinar series, the Maine Hay School, began on March 1, 2012. This series of one-hour webinars is designed to instruct beginner and experienced hay producers in Maine about selecting, growing, making, storing, and marketing the best quality hays or other preserved forages possible at a profit. All of these webinars will be recorded and free for the viewing.

Links to the next sessions of the Maine Hay School are as follows:

Maine Hay School Webinar – Part 2 – March 8th, 7-8 PM

Maine Hay School Webinar – Part 3 – March 15th, 7-8 PM

Maine Hay School Webinar – Part 4 – March 22nd, 7-8 PM

Maine Hay School Webinar – Part 5 – March 29th, 7-8 PM

To participate, simply enter the webinar as a ‘guest’.

Beginning Farmer Series Scheduled

Interested in starting a farm? Getting information at the outset can put you on the road to success by saving you time, money, and energy. University of Maine Cooperative Extension will offer a 5-session Beginning Farmer Series in Waldo starting March 13, 2012. Classes will be held on Thursdays from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. UMaine Extension Educators Rick Kersbergen and Caragh Fitzgerald will collaborate with farmers and other experts from around the region to present this series. Novice farmers will be given the tools to evaluate and choose enterprises, develop a business plan, and market their products. Cost is $60 per farm and includes course books and other program materials. Registration ends March 7. For more information, contact Caragh Fitzgerald or call (207) 622-7546 (toll free 1-800-287-1481 in Maine), TDD 1-800-287-8957.

Maine Grass Farmers Network 8th Annual Grazing Conference

The Maine Beef Producers Association and Maine Grass Farmers Network present the 8th Annual Grazing Conference on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 8:00am – 4:00pm at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, ME. Topics will include KVCC’s New Role in Agricultural Education, Managed Grazing Systems, Forage Species Selection and Management, Marketing Your Farm Products, Finishing Cattle on Grass, Pork Cutting Demonstration and more. More information, including registration, is available online.

Egg Producer School

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is partnering with the Maine Poultry Growers Association in presenting a day-long Egg Producer School. The school is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine. The cost to participate in this practical school is $25.00 per person. This fee includes lunch and reference materials. This day-long school is designed for individuals who have (or plan to have) a small-scale or mid-size egg production enterprise. The instructors for the school are University of Connecticut Extension Poultry Specialist, Dr. Michael Darre and UMaine Extension Educator, Richard Brzozowski. Participants will be equipped with information and skills to assist them in reaching & managing a profitable egg enterprise. For more information contact UMaine Extension at 207-781-6099 or  1-800-287-1471 (toll-free in Maine) or email Colleen Hoyt.

Sheep Shearing Schools

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has partnered with the Maine Sheep Breeders Association to offer three sheep shearing schools Spring 2012. The first school is a blade shearing school using non-electric hand shears and will feature blade shearer Kevin Ford. The school is scheduled Friday, March 30, at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester, ME, starting at 8:00 AM. Enrollment is limited to eight students. The fee is $80 per student. Spectators are welcome. The other two sheep shearing schools are beginner level schools and will feature teams of instructors. These day-long schools will be held Saturday, April 21 in Windham, ME, and Saturday, April 28 in Littleton, ME. Enrollment is limited to 22 students per school, and each costs $35 per person. For more information or to register, please contact UMaine Extension at 207-781-6099 or 1-800-287-1471 (toll-free in Maine).

Focus Group for Maine Land Use Futures Research

Michelle Johnson, Ph.D. student in Ecology and Environmental Science, and Research Fellow for the Sustainability Solutions Initiative, would like to invite you to participate in a University of Maine-led focus group related to agricultural land use in the Casco Bay/Lower Androscoggin Watershed region. The purpose of this focus group is to identify key factors that determine what makes parcels in the region suitable or unsuitable for agriculture. The outcomes of the agriculture focus group will be combined with information from other land use focus groups (forestry, development, ecosystem conservation) the team will hold. The information will then be presented in a map-based format to identify potential future conflicts and compatibilities of the various land uses.

The focus group will be held between March 26 – April 6, and will run 3 hours (morning or afternoon) with refreshments available. The location will be either USM’s Portland campus or the UMaine Extension office in Falmouth. Those with experience in agricultural activities in the Casco Bay and Lower Androscoggin Watersheds are being invited to participate. The group will participate in discussion about suitability of key factors for agriculture, with a goal of creating a list of the factors and identifying the relative importance of each factor. If you are a farmer interested in participating, please contact Michelle Johnson or call 207-852-1181.

Dairy Producers Reminded of MILC Program

The Maine Farm Service Agency would like to remind dairy producers of some important program eligibility requirements for payment under the Milk Income Loss Contract program (MILC). FSA Androscoggin/Sagadahoc County Executive Director Marcia Hall says dairy prices may authorize potential MILC payments, but all dairy producers need to be aware of the program requirements should those conditions arise.

Dairy operators currently enrolled in MILC, need to notify the local county office if there have been any changes to their dairy operation. If a payment rate is announced, dairy producers enrolled in the MILC program will need to provide the local county office with documentation showing the eligible milk production and commercial milk marketing for the months with a MILC payment rate in effect.

MILC program participants are also required to comply with FSA’s Adjusted Gross Income requirements each fiscal year. This certification, on a CCC-931, must be completed prior to a payment being disbursed. New dairies that have not previously participated in the MILC program will need to fill out the CCC-580, Milk Income Loss Contract. For more information contact: Marcia Hall or call 207/753-9400 ext. 2.

Starting from Scratch with a Smart Phone, Mobile Device or Computer? We can help!

If you want to learn how to use a smart phone, iPad, laptop or other mobile device for your farm business, contact Tori at 1-800-287-1458 or Dick at 1-800-287-1471 at UMaine Extension. A smart phone or computer might make sense for you in more efficient communications, marketing, management and making business decisions. It is never too late to start using such devices.

Do You Have an Email Address?

Getting this newsletter and other announcements from UMaine Extension and other agricultural groups is quicker and less expensive via email address. If you have an email address and would like to be added to our mailing list, please send a request to Dana Rickman. Thank you.