Is Endophyte a Concern for Maine Livestock Producers? This spring a few beef producers contacted UMaine Extension concerned that Endophyte infected fescue or perennial ryegrass may be adversely affecting their pregnant cattle. In other states Endophyte (fungus) infected pastures can cause abortions and/or poor weight gains in cattle and other livestock that graze these grasses. […]
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Family Farms By Donald E. Hoenig, VMD I’ve been on a one-man crusade lately to abolish the term “industrial” or “factory” farm from the lexicon. I have a sinking feeling that it’ll be an exercise in futility, but I will persevere. Families own the vast majority of farms in Maine (and in America) and they […]
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Don’t Forget to Vaccinate Your Horse (and Protect Yourself) By Donald E. Hoenig, VMD Over Labor Day weekend in 2009, we had a horse head, on ice, in a garbage can in our garage for four days. As you might imagine, my lovely wife, Lynn, was not too thrilled but over the 36 years that […]
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Farm & Homestead Day – June 14 Farm & Homestead Day, a free event, offers hands-on and interactive sessions on farming and homesteading skills. It will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Common Ground Education Center on Crosby Brook Road in Unity. More information can be […]
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That’s No Yolk By Donald E. Hoenig, VMD A couple weeks ago, my oldest daughter who lives on Cape Cod with her husband and our 18-month-old grandson, asked me if eggs needed to be refrigerated and it gave me the idea for my next blog. Did you know that the State of Maine is the […]
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Just the Facts, Ma’am By Donald E. Hoenig, VMD Whenever I’m asked to talk about raw milk to a group of farmers or consumers in Maine, I always show a picture of two of my kids from about 30 years ago. They’re smiling, looking out the side window and door of our 1974 Volkswagen bus, […]
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University of Maine Cooperative Extension offers FREE Hayfield, Pasture Management Workshops Rick Kersbergen, UMaine Extension educator in Waldo County, will lead the “Got Hayfields?” workshops, which focus on how to best manage hayfields and pastures to produce high-quality feed for livestock. Topics include weed control, managing soil fertility, hay and pasture renovation techniques, grazing management and […]
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UMaine Extension offers Hayfield, Pasture Management Workshops University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering free workshops on hayfield and pasture management this spring around the state. Rick Kersbergen, UMaine Extension educator in Waldo County, will lead the “Got Hayfields?” workshops, which focus on how to best manage hayfields and pastures to produce high-quality feed for livestock. […]
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New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference Dates: December 17–19 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. sessions, plus evening events Location: Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St., Manchester, NH Cost: $105 for the first member of farm or business; $75 each additional member. Includes more than 25 educational sessions over 3 days, covering major vegetable, berry and […]
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The MOFGA Farmer to Farmer Conference Join with other farmers, University of Maine faculty and UMaine Extension educators, and other agricultural professionals to share information and farming experiences on November 2 – 4, 2013. Full details, including registration and scholarship application forms, are available on the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) website. For […]
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