Maine Grass Farmers Network Announces Pasture Walks
Contact: Richard Kersbergen, 207-342-5971, richardk@umext.maine.edu
ORONO–The Maine Grass Farmers Network, with support form the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, has organized a series of pasture walks designed to help new and experienced farmers learn about profitable grazing in Maine.
The first pasture walk is on May 23 from 2-4 p.m. at Longmeadows Farm in Benton, with Xandy Brown as the host. This walk will feature Dr. Beth McEvoy, who will teach participants various techniques for dehorning and castrating calves, including the use of lidocaine in dehorning. McEvoy, a veterinarian with the Foxcroft Veterinary Services, will also discuss appropriate vaccination techniques. If there is time Brown will lead a walk to see one or both of his new pasture watering systems. Longmeadows Farm is the yellow farm at 184 Unity Road (Route 139) in Benton.
On June 22 from 2-4 p.m., in Pownal, the pasture walk will focus on installing high-tensile fencing and pasture planning. Tir na nOg Farm, a small family farm with Scottish highland cattle, free-range poultry and pastured pigs–all managed with minimal start-up resources and no barn., will host this walk. Participants can learn from the farmers and master fence-builder Bob McGann as he plans pasture expansions on varied terrain. Site preparation, pasture configuration, and fencing types and materials will be discussed. Participants may also examine a frost-free field-hydrant system and explore creative, low-budget solutions for beginning farmers.
On August 10 from 3-5 p.m., Stan Maynard will host a session in Woodland in Aroostook County. He will show his grazing system for his herd of Scottish highland cattle. After calving in May he expects to have about 90 head of cattle, which graze on nine paddocks at the home farm and on two other nearby farms. A few years ago he reseeded an area with a mix of orchard grass, timothy, birdsfoot trefoil, and California white clover, and he’s looking forward to seeing how well it came through the winter.