The Maine Public Broadcasting Network spoke with Rick Kersbergen, University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator on sustainable dairy and forage systems, about the return of small farms. Despite the decline of the family farm over the years, Kersbergen says interest in farming is at a record high in Maine.
Anne Lichtenwalner, assistant professor and extension veterinarian at the University of Maine, spoke with the publication Bovine Veterinarian about the National Mastitis Council’s upcoming regional meeting in Portland, Maine. Lichtenwalner is also the 2013 NMC regional chairwoman.
The National Mastitis Council (NMC) will host its upcoming regional meeting July 23-24, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Portland, Maine.
Along with networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities, this two-day conference will consist of educational seminars in addition to specialized, interactive short courses. Individuals will be able to select specific topics of interest to them.
“This year’s regional meeting is shaping up to be a fun-filled educational event, with a little something for everyone,” says Anne Lichtenwalner, the 2013 NMC regional program chair and extension veterinarian with the University of Maine. “Portland Maine is a great place for excellent food, sight-seeing and outdoor activities. It is home to both biotechnology and agriculture, and we plan to integrate all of the above into this summer’s meeting.”
Professionals with a vested interest in high quality milk production including, but not limited to, milk quality specialists, veterinarians, milk plant field staff, dairy suppliers, dairy producers, university researchers, extension specialists and students are encouraged to attend.
To learn more about the NMC regional meeting contact the NMC office by e-mail at nmc@nmconline.org or phone 608.848.4615. Registration for the courses is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.
NMC is a not-for-profit professional organization devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. NMC promotes research and provides information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality and milk safety. Founded in 1961, NMC now has close to 1,500 members in more than 40 countries throughout the world. For more information follow NMC on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/NationalMastitisCouncil, Twitter at www.twitter.com/QualityMilk, on LinkedIn by searching for National Mastitis Council, or visit www.NMConline.org.
The U.S. poultry flock is as healthy today as it has ever been, Dr. John Glisson said, and biosecurity measures are a big contributing factor to the health of domestic birds. Glisson, director of research programs for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, delivered that message to a group of reporters at the Chicken Media Summit on April 19.
Glisson told the group, who during the previous day toured Sanderson Farms facilities, that they may have noticed they did not tour a breeder farm. That was not because the staff at Sanderson Farms didn’t want the media to see the facilities, but because they had to protect the birds from any disease that may enter.
“The biosecurity is so strict on those breeder farms, that you can’t take a group of people in there,” said Glisson. “There’s too much disease risk. When you’re talking about biosecurity, the No. 1 thing we’re trying to control is people. Most of the diseases that come onto a chicken farm walk onto that farm on two feet. People are the source of contamination for most things.”
Glisson added that other major sources of contamination are rodents, insects, and other birds. That is why so many poultry birds are in contained environments.
“We used to grow a lot of turkeys outdoors in this country,” said Glisson. “Every year, there would be multiple flocks that would get infected with avian influenza.”
It was common in those types of farms for a flock of migrating birds to fly over and be attracted to the wide open feeders and drinkers.
“They’d land in the middle of it and start living with turkeys. A few days later, they have influenza. What you saw with the style of housing … they are contained because of all the things we’re trying to keep out.”
Glisson also explained to the members of the media present that unlike the human medical profession, which focuses largely on treating illnesses after they have already occurred, the veterinary profession is totally focused on disease prevention.
The Chicken Media Summit was sponsored by the National Chicken Council and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
Soil quality in pasture-based systems is the theme of the Ninth Annual Maine Grazing Conference for meat producers, scheduled 8:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m., March 23 at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield.
Co-sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the conference will include soil enhancement ideas, nationally known speakers and a meat competition.
The keynote speaker is soil-quality expert Ray Archuleta from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Technology Center in North Carolina. Archuleta will discuss “Improving Soil Health by Mimicking Nature.”
Cole Ward of Vermont, known as the “Gourmet Butcher,” will demonstrate cutting and processing a side of beef during the conference. Ward has worked throughout the country preparing meat props for CBS studios and national TV commercials, and specialty meat cuts for Hollywood celebrities. Other conference presentations include forage species selection options with UMaine Extension Professor Richard Kersbergen; U.S. Department of Agriculture program opportunities; and a producer spotlight featuring Steve Sinisi from Old Crow Ranch in Durham, Maine. Sinisi will describe his pastured poultry and pork operation.
Other grazing conference co-sponsors include the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association; NRCS; Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; and Maine Beef Producers Association.
Participants are invited to bring a locally grown pork, lamb or goat chop, or beef rib eye, to the conference to be judged by a panel of experts.
Registration information is available by contacting the University of Maine Cooperative Extension office in Waldo County, 207.342.5971, or by visiting the Maine Grass Farmers Network website. For more information or to request disability accommodations, call 207.342.5917 or 800.287.1426 instate, at least 14 days before the conference.
A Portland Press Herald blog on large animal veterinarians in Maine included a question-and-answer interview with University of Maine Cooperative Extension Veterinarian Anne Lichtenwalner, director of the UMaine Animal Health Laboratory and assistant professor of animal and veterinary sciences, about the dwindling numbers of large animal veterinarians in the state.
An article in the Bangor Daily News about the rising cost of milk production in Maine cited information from a University of Maine Cooperative Extension report that estimated the average cost to produce 100 pounds of milk is about $30, which is considered high according to Julie-Marie Bickford, executive director of the Maine Dairy Industry, who was interviewed for the report.
The Maine Beef Producers Association, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are sponsoring a free session to help people considering getting into raising beef learn about management needs from other beef farmers, veterinarians, Department of Agriculture and UMaine Extension staff.
Starting a Small Herd of Beef will be held Wednesday, January 9th from 1 pm to 3 pm in the Washington Room at the Augusta Civic Center. Topics to be covered include: Management through the year; Handling & facilities; Veterinary & health concerns; and a Farmer panel of established farmers who will discuss how they grew their operation and what they would do differently if they were starting over.
The Maine Beef Producers Association Business Meeting will follow from 3 pm to 4 pm in the Washington Room at the Augusta Civic Center. To view the rest of the 2013 Maine Agricultural Trades Show program go to http://bit.ly/W5Gr3P.
Statewide photo contest will highlight the finest poultry coops
In recognition and celebration of the growing popularity of poultry raising, the Maine Poultry Growers Association and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension are sponsoring the first Maine Poultry Coop Contest.
The purpose of the contest is to showcase the many and varied coop designs used by Maine poultry keepers and enthusiasts. Poultry owners are invited to enter a photo and description of their coops by Dec. 31, 2012.
The Maine Poultry Growers Association will award prizes of $200, $100, $50 to the top three entries, respectively. Fourth and fifth place winners will receive a subscription to Backyard Poultry magazine.
All entrants must be Maine residents. Entries must include at least one coop photo (not more than three photos) and a completed entry form. Entry forms and photos may be submitted online, in person or mailed to: Poultry Coop Contest, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 75 Clearwater Drive, Falmouth, Maine 04105
Coops may be seasonal, year-round, stationary or mobile. They may be multipurpose and need not be original designs.
A team of judges will evaluate each entry based on specific criteria, including design, purpose, space, construction materials, safety, cost and unique features. Winning entries will be announced at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show Jan. 9, 2013 at the Augusta Civic Center. Entrants need not be present to win.
More information and the entry form are available by contacting Andrea Herr, 207.781.6099 or 1.800.287.1471 (toll free in Maine only).
Contact: Andrea Herr, 207.781.6099
The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) will hold its twenty-third Annual Beef Conference titled “Becoming a More Successful Marketer” on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bangor, Maine with registration open at 8:00 am and program starting at 9:00 am.
This year, MBPA has joined forces with the Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) to host the conference with sponsors University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Industry sponsors include Cargill Animal Nutrition, makers of Nutrena & Agway Feeds; Cold Spring Ranch; Pineland Farms and the Maine Beef Industry Council.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Jim Ochterski, Cornell Extension marketing specialist. Other speakers include Walter Whitcomb, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Dr. Henrettia Beaufait, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Regulations Division; and Gabe Clark, beef producer, Cold Spring Ranch.
Non-member registration, including lunch is $60 for the first person from the farm and $40 for all others from that farm. Discounts for MGFN and MBPA association members are available, as well as a student rate. For registration information, contact Melissa Libby at 1-800-287-7170 in Maine or 207-581-2788 outside of Maine. Agenda and registration details are available on the UMaine Extension Beef website (http://extension.umaine.edu/livestock/beef/ ).
UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. Any person with a disability who needs accommodations for this program should contact Melissa Libby at 1-800-287-7170 (TDD 1-800-287-8957 in Maine) to discuss their needs at least seven days in advance.
