Maine Grass Farmers Network Annual Conference and Pasture Walks Scheduled
The Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) had seven Farm Table Talks this winter. Each meeting included lots of good discussion about what folks were doing on their farms, and everyone gained good ideas to try this season. We also participated in the Maine Agricultural Trades Show, where Ken Spaulding spoke on using Boer goats to revitalize pasture, and Rick Kersbergen, Paula Roberts and Diane Schivera discussed the rationale for grass-fed livestock. The MGFN also had a table at Ag Day in the State House, where we educated legislators about why pastured livestock are vital to Maine. We mailed our first newsletter, and our Web site (www.umaine.edu/umext/mgfn/) is running.Grazing Conference Speakers Will Focus on Animal Behavior and Marketing
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) will host the 2nd Annual Grazing Conference of the Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) on August 27th at MOFGA's Common Ground Education Center in the town of Unity.
The conference will feature Temple Grandin, an internationally recognized authority and pioneer in the field of animal behavior. Dr. Grandin's keynote presentation will focus on the grazing behavior of livestock. She will also participate in an animal handling session during the conference. Ridge Shinn, well known regionally as a specialist in the production and marketing of grass-fed livestock, will be the second keynote presenter. Ridge will describe the European style of livestock marketing, and offer a session on beef genetics for grazing.
In addition to the keynote presentations a series of concurrent sessions will be held on topics including: horses on pasture; Katahdin sheep and parasite resistance; economics and dairy ration management on pasture; forages and pasture improvement; pastured poultry and a panel discussion on direct marketing.
The Maine Grass Farmers Network is a project of Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE), and is coordinated by farmers, and representatives of MOFGA, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension offices, and the Maine Department of Agriculture.
Registration for the conference is $20 per farm and $10 per person for lunch. There will also be a trade show and equipment display. A conference brochure, which includes the full schedule, registration information and travel directions, is available by contacting Sonia Antunes at santunes@umext.maine.edu or by calling 207-342-5971.
The schedule is:
9 a.m.-- Registration
9:30 to 10:30 Keynote -- Temple Grandin -- Livestock Grazing Behavior
10:30 to 11 Break
11 to 12:30 Morning Sessions
Livestock Handling Facilities for Small Farms--Dee Potter
Horses on Pasture -- Donna Lamb
Dairy Ration Management on Pasture -- Rick Kersbergen
Katahdin Sheep and Parasite Resistance -- Dick Brzozowski
12:30 to 1:30 Lunch
1:30 to 2:30 Keynote -- Ridge Shinn--European Style Marketing
2:30 to 3:00 Break
3:00 to 4:30 Afternoon Sessions
Forages and Pasture Improvement -- Rick Kersbergen and Chris Reberg-Horton
Pastured Poultry -- Dick Brzozowski
Beef and Dairy Genetics for Grazing -- Ridge Shinn
Panel Discussion on Direct Marketing -- John O'Donnell, Ken Spaulding, Wendy Reinemann and others
This summer The MGFN will also hold pasture walks throughout the state.
The schedule is:
June 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Steve Hobart, Blanchard. Stream powered water pump and grazing buffalo and deer. 997-3922
June 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Mike Russell and Cooperative Extension Educator Donna Lamb, Atkinson. Pasturing Horses. 564-3080.
June 15, 6 to 8 p.m. Cheryl Denz and Cooperative Extension Educator Dee Potter. Portable and Temporary Fencing Systems. 785-3118.
June 17, 10 to 12 a.m. Henry Hardy, Farmington. Rotations and Alternative Species Planting. 778-6446. Co-sponsored by Maine Organic Milk Producers.
June 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Aldemere Farm with Clint Giustra from the Maine Department of Agriculture. Handling Systems.
June 27, 6 to 8 p.m. Dennis Wilk, Industry. Rotational Grazing Old and New Pastures. 778-0154.
July 6, 10 to12 a.m. King Hill Farm, Penobscot. Integrated Farming and Pasture Systems. 326-9701.
July 10, 2 to 5 p.m. Crystal Springs Farm, Brunswick. Sheep and Goat FAMACHA Workshop
On Sunday, July 10, sheep and goat farmers can learn about and use one of the most important breakthroughs in livestock management in many years at a FAMACHA workshop. The materials and technique of FAMACHA allow livestock producers to determine the level of clinical infection of the internal parasite, the barber pole worm, the number-one health problem for grazing sheep in the United States and in the world. Materials and a technique developed by workers in South Africa and tested by U.S. scientists are now available for use in the United States. They allow producers to determine the level (or absence) of infection in sheep and goats of the barber pole worm; over time, to identify animals that are most prone or resistant to infection in order to begin breeding a resistant flock; and to identify animals that need to be wormed, saving money and limiting the use of chemicals.
This workshop will take place on July 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Crystal Springs Community Farm in Brunswick. Led by Professor Tom Settlemire from Bowdoinham, it will feature a discussion session and a hands-on learning session. The cost is $30 per farm for materials, training and refreshments. Registration is required by July 1. Send a check made out to MOFGA to MOFGA, PO Box 170, Unity, ME 04988; contact Diane Schivera at 568-4142 for additional information.
July 18, 6 to 8 p.m. Izzy McKay and Rick Thompson, Stantial Brook Farm, Brooks. Reclaiming Worn Out Pastures, and Multispecies. 722-3430.
July 19, 10 to 12 a.m. Jeff Bragg, Sydney. Pasture Layout and Crossing the Road. 547-3814. Cosponsored by Maine Organic Milk Producers.
July 23 to 24. Border Collie Training Clinic:
Denise Leonard of Tanstaafl Farm will conduct a border collie training clinic on Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24, 2005, starting at 8:00 a.m. at Nanney Kennedy's Meadowcroft farm on Hopkins Rd, off Route 17, in Washington, Maine. This will be a training clinic for all levels of dogs. Training areas are available for newly started, intermediate and advanced level dogs. Each person will work his / her dog at least twice each day with the instructor. Comments and feedback will be given to the entire group as each dog works. All participants should benefit both by working their own dog and by watching techniques used on other dogs. Denise Leonard is an excellent handler, trainer and teacher. The number of dogs will be limited to provide more instructor time for each dog.
Fees for participants (dog and handler) are $85 per day or $150 for both days. Observers (one person-no dog) pay $40 per day. Camping is available at the farm; at a campground 3 miles up the road at Damariscotta Lake Park; and several B & Bs are in the area. Coffee, muffins and donuts will be available both mornings. Please bring a lunch or plan to order out. On Saturday evening a potluck will be hosted around 7:00 p.m. Hamburgers, buns and some dessert will be provided. Please bring a dish to share (refrigeration is available on site). The organizers hope to have some appropriate (or inappropriate...) Scottish entertainment!
Denise Leonard has had a small flock of sheep for approximately 40 years, having started with them as a 4-H project. She currently raises Border Leicester crosses and Katahdin crosses for both meat and wool. She had been training border collies for 30 years, using them on the farm and competing in sheep dog trials throughout the Northeast. She is currently successfully running two home bred and trained dogs at the open level and another in the novice classes at the ranch level. She gives herding lessons at her farm in western Massachusetts and has experience in starting and training a number of different styles of working dogs.
For more information, please contact Nanney Kennedy at queen@getwool.com; 207-845-2587.
July 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doaks, Clements and Roberts, Monroe and Swanville. Watering Systems and Nose Pumps. 338-1265.
July 28, 6 to 8 p.m. Jim Jaeger, Vienna Farm, Gorham. Pasturing Horses. 839-4495.
August 9, 6 to 8 p.m. Margesons Farm, Westmanland. Backgrounding Beef and Grazing Grains. 896-3081.
August 10, 6 to 8 p.m. David Craven, Bucks Harbor. Multispecies, Stock Dogs and more. 255-4224.
August 17, 6 to 8 p.m. Fred Sherburne, Dexter. Watering Systems. 924-3057
August 27, 9:30 to 4:00 Maine Grass Farmers Network Annual Conference. See above.
September 14, 6 to 8 p.m. John O'Donnell's, Monmouth. Managing Water and Wildlife Areas in the Pasture, and Marketing Grassfed Beef. 933-3052.