Farm Scoop – November 2020
Small Bites – How Cross Training can Benefit the Efficiency of the Farm
Authored by Coach Polly Shyka
Small Bites are short, informational articles with practical ideas about stress reduction, improved communication, and farm 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 teams.
Cross training is not just for fitness buffs. On the farm, cross-training is a good management practice that can increase efficiencies and help with coverage in times of need. Cross-training members of your team so that more than one person holds the know-how for a particular task is just plain smart.
On a friend’s livestock farm, the whole crew, farmers included, switched jobs — for a week!! The milkers took the deliveries, the egg-washers fed pigs, the hay-makers fed the calves. (I wonder what the cows thought!) Having to do a job start to finish is a great way to learn a job, so this grand switcheroo was actually a great cross-training event.
It is good to have multiple people prepared to do each job. Some farms have very detailed and complete Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). These step by step instructions, often with photos, get the critical steps, variables and quality considerations on any crop or task on paper. In thinking about what a grand switcheroo on your farm might look like, what would others need to know? How would you communicate that? Is that information captured elsewhere or could you include it in your existing SOPs? Or do you need to create new SOPs to capture all the crops and tasks?
COVID-19 has made a lot of farmers consider contingency planning. Hedging against illness or injury or absence, cross-training employees is one option you might consider to make your farm more resilient.
Want help to identify areas where cross-training might help your farm? Schedule an appointment with a farm coach today!
6th Annual Farmland Access & Transfer Conference
Monday, November 16th- Wednesday, November 18th from 1-5PM
Virtual Conference
REGISTER HERE
As the largest conference in New England that focuses solely on the issues of farmland access, tenure and transfer, this has become a critical convening for participants across the region.
Farmers, landowners and farm advocates across New England will learn and share ideas of the pivotal role farmers and farmland play in shaping the future of our regional food system. Hosted by MFT and Land For Good, we are happy to expand the opportunity for more people to attend by taking the conference online this year!
To acknowledge the history of injustice and violence that has shaped access to land and our food system—and its ongoing legacy—this year’s conference aims to feature a wider range of diverse voices and perspectives on farmland access in our region. Through this conference and beyond, these organizations are committed to dialogue and awareness raising about inequities and injustices related to farmland access; to critically examine our roles and biases in perpetuating inequities, and to strive for more just and inclusive paths forward around farmland access and tenure.
When you register, you’ll have access to pre-recorded webinars that you can watch on your own time, live interactive sessions via zoom (which will also be recorded and available to conference registrants), and links to accompanying resources. Registration is available on a sliding scale.
Dairy Markets: The 2020 Impact and Bracing for 2021
2020 saw dramatic price swings in dairy markets due to COVID-19’s global impact on foodservice markets. What have we learned from this? What will 2021 bring? While the precise answers are still unknown, we are sure to see volatility. Are you ready? Please Join Crop Growers, LLP for a timely discussion led by Dr. Marin Bozic of the University of Minnesota along with Farm Credit East business consultant Gregg McConnell and AgChoice business consultant Mike Hosterman.
This event will cover:
- 2020 Impact, Rebuilding in 2021 – Dr. Bozic will explore the post-election market impact, the year ahead and decision support tools to assist dairy producers.
- Volatility – Farm Credit business consultants will share insights as you prepare for the new year.
- Ask the Experts – Have your questions answered.
Dairy producers of all sizes and service providers who support them are invited to join one of the following two webinars, which will cover similar information:
- Join Farm Credit East and Yankee Farm Credit [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com] on Tuesday, December 1, 12 noon – 1:15pm EST
- Join AgChoice Farm Credit [nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com] on Thursday, December 3, 12 noon – 1:15pm EST
CFAP2 Meeting Recording
Last week UMass Extension collaborated with Farm Bureau and FSA to hold a virtual meeting on CFAP2. They also provided some information on some risk management programs that have close deadlines. Excellent information – please share with interested parties.
ALL producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to find out if they are eligible and to enroll. Deadline is December 11.
For the meeting recording link and passcode, go to the UVM Ag Risk website. It’s on the top of the “News and Events” section.
Produce Safety Grower Training
December 11 AND 18, 2020 (Two consecutive Friday mornings.)
Online/Virtual Sessions
Dec 11, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Dec 18, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Registration closes on November 29
How to register
Cost: $20/attendee
To register contact Theresa Tilton:
- By email: theresa.tilton@maine.edu
- By Phone: 207-942-7396
- or Register Online.
2. Farmers can also request an “On-Farm Readiness Review” from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, sort of a “practice inspection” for educational purposes. To request an On-Farm Readiness Review, contact Leah Cook by phone: (207)764-2100 or email: leah.cook@maine.gov. She and her team can also help you determine whether your farm is fully covered by the rules or eligible for exemptions.
3. Do you have any Produce Safety questions that you would normally want us to come to visit your farm to answer, but would rather we didn’t visit the farm due to the pandemic? Would you like a version of the On-Farm Readiness Review in a virtual format? We can do that! Contact Chris Howard at UMaine Extension, christina.howard@maine.edu, for more information.