Cooperative Extension: Agriculture

Farm Scoop – June 2020

Small Bites are short, informational articles with practical ideas about stress reduction, improved communication, and family well-being. They are written by coaches from UMaine Extension’s Farm Coaching team. Farm Coaches are available at no cost to work remotely with farmers and farm families.

Meaningful, relaxed, non-business oriented connection in times of stress is so important for long term business and relationship stability. It can feel impossible to prioritize connection with your partner or children when things are so stressful on the farm and in the world. Just plowing through the “To Do” list can seem like the biggest and best stress reliever. And for some people it is, but not for everyone. Some people have higher needs for connection than others and no matter what your role in the farm business and family, look out for and speak up for your and other people’s needs. If you are a decision maker and leader on the farm, have you asked about people’s needs? Are your family’s and your employee’s needs on par with your own? Small moments of connection can go a long way toward easing family, relationship or business stress (if you work with your kids or partner). Connection looks different for everyone but usually involves slowing down and paying attention. It doesn’t have to be a ½ hour walk everyday. It can be a ½ minute slowed down hug or reaching out to put your arm around your partner’s shoulders while walking to the greenhouse. It can mean making the person at the desk a cup of tea or putting a chocolate bar in the front seat of the delivery van. It can be asking the question “is there anything you need?” Connection takes a bit of effort but mostly it takes thoughtfulness and willingness to do a small thing. Connection makes everyone feel a bit better.

Need ideas for how to connect with your family and farm team? Want to talk to someone if you’re feeling stuck? Reach out to the Farm Coaches at UMaine Extension. No topic is too small.

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant announcement

NRCS-Maine is announcing the availability of a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Information on USDA-NRCS-ME-CIG-20-NOFO0001014 may be found at this link on Grants.gov.

Applications are accepted from eligible entities for projects carried out in the state of Maine. A total of up to $300,000 is available for the MaineCIG competition in FY 2020. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies. Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2020 is $75,000.

APPLICATIONS DUE DATE: Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern on June 30, 2020.

SUBMISSIONS: Applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to tony.jenkins@usda.gov. Submissions must be received by the time and date due. Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered. The agency will rely on system generated date and time receipt documentation for submission made both via Grants.gov and e-mail to determine whether applications meet the submission deadline. Click here for more on how to submit an application.

Considerations for greenhouse lighting with LEDs

The UNH Cooperative Extension Landscape and Greenhouse Team will host a free webinar on “Lighting approaches to maximize profit (LAMP): considerations for greenhouse lighting with LEDs” from 7-8 p.m. June 29. The guest speaker will be the Neil Mattson, Associate professor and greenhouse extension specialist, Cornell University

Supplemental lighting is often needed for on-time production of high-quality crops. But it can also be expensive. Determining the return on investment of supplemental lighting can be complicated, because it depends on how the lights are used, the cost of electricity, crop responses to the supplemental light, and the value of the crop. Enter project LAMP, recently funded from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative. Neil will discuss tools for how to determine how many lights (LED or HPS) are needed, what the capital and operating expenses are, and how to control those lights to optimize growth and quality of vegetables and ornamentals. Neil will end the webinar presenting project results showing effects of specialty lighting applications (such as far-red light, and adjusting red:blue ratio).

Webinar is free; registration is required.

Information on registration requests are on the https://extension.unh.edu/events/webinar-lighting-approaches-maximize-profit-lamp-considerations-greenhouse-lighting-leds

Small Bites – Practical Tips for Farm Resiliency – Navigating Disaster

Small Bites are short, informational articles with practical ideas about stress reduction, improved communication, and family well-being. They are written by coaches from UMaine Extension’s Farm Coaching team. Farm Coaches are available at no cost to work remotely with farmers and farm families.

COVID-19 was described recently by Scott Carlson of Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG) as “similar to being hit by a natural disaster.” Or even “an earthquake and then a tsunami.” COVID-19 will take many lives. The news of the day becomes another event to add to the stresses. All of us will be affected personally in one or a multitude of ways and in ways that may not wreck crops or equipment but may affect markets, community relationships, processing, and distribution chains. Most disasters mean a long recovery period for farmers – not 2 months but disaster experts say that it is more like 2 years. So we are in this for the long haul. FLAG just published this excellent guide for farmers to use when navigating the various agencies and programs offering COVID-19 assistance. Stay well out there and look out for the wellness of those around you.

Farm coaches can meet with you to talk about all the decisions and changes happening on your farm – learn more about farm coaching.