{"id":10327,"date":"2019-05-10T15:23:29","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T19:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agriculture\/?p=10327"},"modified":"2019-05-30T13:58:04","modified_gmt":"2019-05-30T17:58:04","slug":"farm-scoop-may-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/agriculture\/2019\/05\/10\/farm-scoop-may-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Farm Scoop – May 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

USDA presents Summer Soil Health Meetings for female landowners<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Free meetings scheduled July 9-11, 2019, in Central Maine<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

BANGOR (May 29, 2019) \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>With nearly half of our nation\u2019s farmland currently owned or co-owned by women, their input in the resource conservation process is vital!<\/p>\n

Women who own or manage farmland in Maine are invited to participate in\u00a0free discussions<\/strong>\u00a0focused on soil health the week of\u00a0July 9-11, 2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 These programs \u2013 sponsored by the\u00a0USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)<\/strong>and\u00a0Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 are titled\u00a0Women Caring for the Land<\/em>, and will be held in three locations in Central Maine.<\/p>\n

Women Caring for the Land<\/em>\u00a0is facilitated by women conservationists, and offers a peer-to-peer, informal discussion format to allow women landowners to talk about their farm management goals. The Summer Soil Health Meeting Schedule is:<\/p>\n

July 9 \u2013 Bar Harbor<\/strong>: College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden St., Turrets Building.
\nJuly 10 \u2013 Augusta<\/strong>: Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St.
\nJuly 11 \u2013 Sangerville<\/strong>: Hall\u2019s Christmas Tree Farm, 816 Douty Hill Rd.<\/p>\n

Interactive activities and discussion will focus on how local professionals can assist landowners with soil health and conservation planning for their operation. Free lunch is provided.\u00a0 During an afternoon field tour, participants will travel to a nearby farm to observe simple soil tests and interesting management practices.<\/p>\n

Pre-registration is required and space is limited! If you are interested in attending one of the sessions, visit\u00a0wfan.org\/maine-2019<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0or contact Carol Schutte at (641) 430-2540 or\u00a0carol@wfan.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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PUBLIC NOTICE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

RFP#201904076<\/strong><\/b>:\u00a0Maine Farms for the Future Program: Phase 1 – Business Plan Development grants and Phase 2 – Investment Support grant and low-interest rate for Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF)<\/u><\/strong><\/b><\/h3>\n

The State of Maine, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, is required to offer grants for business plan development (Phase 1) and investment support (Phase 2) as authorized in the Maine Farms for the Future Program (Title7, MRS Chapter 10-B).<\/p>\n

For the current 2019 application, and beyond, the RFP, current applications, and Question & Answer Summary and all revisions\/amendments related to this RFP can be obtained at the following website:\u00a0https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dafs\/bbm\/procurementservices\/vendors\/grants<\/a><\/p>\n

Refer to the appropriate application for information pertaining to Pre-Application Conference location, time and date, if applicable.<\/p>\n

Applications must be submitted to the State of Maine Division of Procurement Services, via e-mail, to the following email address:\u00a0Proposals@maine.gov<\/a>. Application submissions must be received no later than 4:00 pm, local time, on\u00a0Monday, June 24th, 2019<\/strong><\/b>, when they will be opened. Future applications may be submitted per the semi-annual submission deadlines. Applications will be opened at the Burton M. Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street – 4th Floor, Augusta, Maine. Applications not submitted to the Division of Procurement Services\u2019 aforementioned email address will not be considered for contract award.<\/p>\n

Also see:<\/p>\n