The St. John Valley Times previewed the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s upcoming 4-H Sheep and Fiber Festival May 11 in Presque Isle.
The St. John Valley Times previewed the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s open house May 6 at its new location on the University of Maine at Fort Kent campus.
Maine Grain and Oilseed Newsletter is a new free, online newsletter from UMaine Extension, providing production and research information to Maine’s grain and oilseed producers. Information includes tips on production, fertility, marketing, pest management, and more. Also available as an e-mail-based newsletter. For subscription information, contact Andrew Plant at aplant@maine.edu or (207) 532-6548, or view the April issue online.
Image Description: field of flowering canola
So You Want to Farm in Maine is a farm business course for people who want to start a profitable farm or expand their farm hobby into a profitable business. This course will be offered in eight (8) evening webinars, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., starting Thursday, March 7. Classes will be held on the Internet, live and with an archived version that will be available shortly after the live session.
Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, record keeping, market research, and much more. The webinar is free. Course texts can be purchased from the UMaine Extension Publications Store.
Image Description: small red barn
Andrew Plant, University of Maine Cooperative Extension assistant professor and educator for agriculture, was interviewed for a story in the Bangor Daily News about the continuance of a federally funded project undertaken by the University of Maine at Fort Kent, University of Maine at Presque Isle, UMaine Cooperative Extension and local farmers in Aroostook County to gauge farmer interest in large-scale, grass-based biomass production as a possible biofuel for heating purposes in the St. John Valley. Mainebiz carried a version of the story.
Contact: George Manlove, 207.581.3756
WAGM8 “Eats, Treats and Sweets” video highlights the UMaine Extension 4-H Food Booth at this year’s Northern Maine Fair in Aroostook County. All profits from the Food Booth go to support local UMaine Extension 4-H youth clubs and programs.
Andrew Plant, a University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator, was interviewed for a Bangor Daily News story about the effects of rising fuel prices on Maine farms. Plant said Maine has a lot of forest capacity and unused agricultural land which could be producing anything from grasses for heating to biogas to anaerobic digesters for methane recovery.
So You Want to Farm in Maine is a farm business course for those already farming who would like to brush-up their business skills, or those thinking about becoming farmers. This course will be offered in five evening meetings, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., starting Tuesday, March 20. Classes will be held in two locations: the UMaine Extension Penobscot County office in Bangor and the UMaine Extension Aroostook County office in Presque Isle.
Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, recordkeeping, market research, and much more. Cost is $50.00 per farm with a limited number of partial scholarships available. Sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Risk Management Agency.
Last year 63 people attended this program and all who attended felt more confident in their ability to create a viable farm business. Ninety-four percent said they would recommend others to attend.
“Before this workshop I felt I would succeed in farming, but through trial and error, now I feel I will succeed based on my new knowledge of farming.” — Participant
For more information contact Donna Coffin at 1-800-287-1491 (in Maine) or Andrew Plant 1-800-287-1469 (in Maine) or visit the website. To pre-register contact Theresa Tilton at 207-942-7396 or 1-800-287-1485 (in Maine) or e-mail theresa.tilton@maine.edu.
Image Description: barn
Blade Shearing School with expert blade shearer, Kevin Ford
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, New Gloucester, Maine
Fee: $80/person
Participation limited to 8 individuals. Spectators are welcome.
Blade shearing is the shearing of sheep with hand shears (no electricity). This hands-on, 2-day school will equip participants with skills and knowledge to shear sheep and in the proper use and care of hand shears. Shears are provided for the school and will be available for purchase.
Sheep Shearing School, Beginner Level
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Fee: $35/person
Windham, Maine (Cumberland County)
Participation limited to 22 individuals.
Sheep Shearing School, Beginner Level
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Fee: $35/person
Littleton, Maine (Aroostook County)
Participation limited to 22 individuals.
The conventional sheep shearing schools are taught by a team of experienced, Maine-based sheep shearers. Participants will learn how to catch, handle, and maneuver sheep for shearing, shear efficiently with electric shears, shear on a table as a option, and the proper trimming of hooves, handling of wool, and caring of equipment.
These three shearing schools are sponsored by the Maine Sheep Breeders Association and University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
For more information, contact UMaine Extension at 1-800-287-1471 (207-781-6099) or e-mail colleen.hoyt@maine.edu.
Image Description: man and youth shear a sheep
Maine Extension Homemakers Council (MEHC) President Barbara Hathaway calls all Maine Extension Homemakers to attend the MEHC Fall Meeting, hosted by Aroostook County Extension Homemakers on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. Registration deadlines are September 14.
A bus to the meeting is being scheduled with pick-up points at Lewiston Turnpike Exit, Augusta Sears, Bangor Park & Ride, and in Waterville at the Governor’s Restaurant.
For more information, contact Jackie Conant at jackiec@oxfordnetworks.net.
A banquet and entertainment will take place Friday evening.
The MEHC meeting will be held Saturday at the Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Event Center. Each County group is asked to bring Train the Trainer ideas and names for the 50+ certificates of volunteerism.
Two tours are planned for Saturday: Tours to the Presque Isle School Farm and the Amish Community will leave the Hampton Inn at 2:30 p.m. on September 23.
All members are encouraged to attend and join in the fun.