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Gary Anderson<\/a>,\u00a0Animal & BioScience Specialist Pasture Walk at\u00a0Wolfe’s\u00a0Neck\u00a0Farm<\/a><\/strong> Maine Farm Days 2016 <\/a>Pesticide Credit Workshops –\u00a0<\/strong>1 credit awarded per workshop<\/strong><\/p>\n Wednesday, August 24, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. 11:10 a.m.\u00a0to 12:10 p.m. 1:00 to 2:00\u00a0p.m. 2:10 to 3:10\u00a0p.m. Thursday, August 25, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n 10:00 to 11:00\u00a0a.m. 11:10 a.m.\u00a0to 12:10\u00a0p.m. 1:00 to 2:00\u00a0p.m. 2:10 to 3:10\u00a0p.m. Maine State Holstein Show<\/strong><\/a> Many areas of the state are suffering from a prolonged drought or sever dry conditions. While corn planting and first cutting of hay\/haylage were timely and provided some excellent quality feed, the continued dry spell has significantly impacted the growth and yield of second and third cutting haylage.<\/p>\n To add to the situation, drought stressed crops such as corn tend to accumulate nitrates in the lower portion of the stalk, so if the drought situation continues, producers may want to \u201cchop high\u201d to reduce the potential for nitrate toxicity.<\/p>\n For organic producers who rely on pasture, the situation has caused some of them to limit grazing so as not to severely damage pastures. These farms are also digging into what would normally be their winter supply of stored hay and haylage.<\/p>\n Doing a feed inventory will be critical to make some decisions heading into the winter. Knowing what you need and making adjustments in the fall is much easier than trying to find and purchased feed for your herd in March and April next year. If you need help doing some of these calculations and estimates, please contact one of us so we can help you determine what you have and what you need.<\/p>\n Gary Anderson<\/a>, 207.581.3240 Now is the time to plan for your cover crop strategy for the fall, especially if you are going to use winter rye. You should have your seed source located and plans in place for seeding as quickly as possible after the corn harvest.<\/p>\n Additionally, now is the time to plan for no-till forage rotations. Killing old sod in the fall provides the best opportunity for a successful transition into no-till corn. I saw many fields this year where producers tried to kill sod in May with poor resulting corn stands. Killing the sod in the fall is not only more effective, but also requires less herbicide! Some of the best corn I have seed this year came from fields that where sod was killed in the fall.<\/p>\n Remember to soil test and lime fields where necessary when transitioning from sod to no-till corn.<\/a><\/p>\n The USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the application deadline date for two of its principal conservation programs – the\u00a0Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)\u00a0and the\u00a0Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA). \u00a0The Fiscal Year 2017 application deadline for EQIP and AMA is Aug. 19, 2016.<\/p>\n Agricultural producers and foresters are encouraged to sign up now for EQIP, which provides financial and technical assistance to address varying natural resource priorities. The Fiscal Year 2017 funding consideration application deadline for most EQIP fund pool categories will be Aug. 19, 2016. \u00a0This does not include the EQIP National Water Quality Initiative and Conservation Innovation Grants.<\/p>\n \u201cThese programs are completely voluntary and support agricultural production and environmental quality in Maine,\u201d said NRCS-Maine State Conservationist Juan Hernandez. \u201cThe deadline is approaching quickly, so we encourage you to contact one of our specialists at your local USDA Service Center as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n EQIP categories that are included in the Aug. 19 signup deadline, in addition to the \u201cgeneral\u201d local pool categories (such as animal waste, cropland, forestry, seasonal high tunnels, pasture, and wildlife) are: \u00a0Beginning Farmer; Socially Disadvantaged; Tribal Projects; Water Conservation\/Irrigation; Aquatic Organism Passage Projects; Conservation Activity Plans; On-Farm Energy and Organic.<\/p>\n Agricultural producers are also encouraged to sign up now for the AMA program, which has a Fiscal Year 2017 application deadline for funding consideration in statewide funding pools of Aug. 19, 2016. \u00a0AMA assists agricultural producers to manage risk and voluntarily address issues such as water management and water quality. For 2017, NRCS will continue to offer an opportunity for funding High Tunnel Systems through AMA.<\/p>\n There is a continuous, year-round sign-up for these two programs, but applications submitted by the deadline mentioned above will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2017. \u00a0Proposals submitted after that date will be held for the next period of funding consideration.<\/p>\n For more information on EQIP and AMA, please contact your local NRCS Service Center. \u00a0Service Center locations and contact information can be found on the Maine NRCS website<\/a>, along with more information about the programs and services NRCS provides.<\/p>\n USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.<\/a><\/p>\n With the hot, humid weather we have been having in July and will continue to have through August and much of September, there is the potential for increased somatic cell counts.\u00a0 With the hot, humid weather, blood vessels are dilated to increase surface area and an attempt to get rid of excess heat.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, one of the areas affected is the teat end.\u00a0 This results in the teat canal potentially being more open than in cooler times of the year so the use of a barrier teat dip is recommended. Make sure that you are using nonreturn teat dippers and use only enough dip for milking.\u00a0 Wash teat dippers and use multiple sets of dippers that you rotate each day. \u00a0Here is a list of reminders for this time of year (important at all times, but very important now!).<\/p>\n Remember\u00a0… Clean and Dry, Clean and Dry, Clean and Dry<\/p>\n Fall seeded oats (August seeding…meaning NOW!) can provide some significant boosts to your forage supply going into the winter.\u00a0 Seeded now, oats will grow rapidly into the fall, and when a frost coincides with the boot stage of the plant, the oats can accumulate significant amounts of sugar and a very digestible forage crop.<\/p>\n Several types of oats are available, and forage type oats have become popular.\u00a0 Forage oats should be seeded in early August for best results. If you are seeding later in the August, regular grain type oats may be more appropriate and perhaps a little less expensive.<\/p>\n Seeding oats for a fall forage supply does have some risks. The crop does accumulate nitrates, so the continued dry weather not only may impact germination, but also the quality of the crop. Oats can produce a significant amount of forage with relatively high moisture content, so trying to wilt and dry the crop for good fermentation in a silo or baleage may be difficult in October when this crop would normally be harvested.<\/p>\n Seeding oats\u00a0for forage in late summer or fall\u00a0is also a great way to transition into a no-till corn\u00a0rotation as in the spring, you will have a nice seedbed ready to plant into without having to plow and harrow.<\/a><\/p>\n Welcome to Dr. Juan Romero who has recently joined the Animal and Veterinary Sciences faculty in the School of Food and Agriculture. Dr. Romero is originally from Lima, Per\u00fa. He received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Universidad Agraria La Molina, Per\u00fa, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Animal Science and Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Florida. Following his Ph.D. he conducted postdoctoral research at North Carolina State University.<\/p>\n Dr. Romero\u2019s research aims to expand the understanding of the factors that affect silage and hay quality through the development of novel additives that will improve the forage digestibility and the profitability of livestock producers. Specifically, his program focuses on the use of enzymes to solve specific issues in silage production and the development of additives to enhance the stability of stored forages. Dr. Romero has pioneered the use of advanced protein technologies to compare commercially-available enzyme products, identifying for the first time some of the important enzymes involved in improving fiber digestibility. He has also use microbiological sequencing to assess bacterial communities in silage and the rumen.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Rick Kersbergen<\/a>, Sustainable Dairy And Forage Systems
\n<\/em>David Marcinkowski<\/a>, Dairy Specialist<\/em><\/p>\nSave the Dates<\/h3>\n
\nThursday, August 11, 2016<\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/strong>Wednesday – Thursday, August 24 – 25, 2016
\nMisty Meadows Farm, Clinton, ME<\/p>\n
\nComparing pests, soils, and yield in no-till and conventional till corn<\/strong> with John Jemison, Professor, Soil and Water Quality, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\nUsing summer annuals besides corn silage for weed management and feed on the dairy farm<\/strong> with Rick Kersbergen, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\nChoosing and managing cover crops in corn silage systems\u2014herbicide concerns, species selection, and planting methods <\/strong>with Lauchlin Titus, Agronomist, AgMatters (part of NRCS Soil Health series<\/p>\n
\nSpotted wing Drosophila<\/em>\u2014a new pest for horticultural crops<\/strong> with Tori Jackson – Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\nInsect identification exercise<\/strong> with Clay Kirby, Entomologist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\nTicks and mosquitoes: Information for personal protection<\/strong> with Griffin Dill, IPM Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/p>\n
\nWhen Fluffy can\u2019t keep up: Preventing and controlling rodents on the farm<\/strong> with Kathy Murray, Entomologist, Maine Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation<\/p>\n
\nInvasive forest pests\u2014Slowing the spread<\/strong> with Charlene Donahue, Forest Entomologist, Maine Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation<\/p>\n
\nAugust 29, 2016 at the Windsor Fair<\/p>\n
\nDrought Impact on Forages<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>Corn silage crops are also suffering with dry locations showing curling, just as the plant needs water for good pollination and ear development. Not only will yields be low, the quality of the crop will be diminished due to a lower percentage of kernels in the crop.<\/p>\n
\nRick Kersbergen<\/a>, 207.342.5971
\nDave Marcinkowski<\/a>, 207.581.2740<\/p>\n
\nPlan Now for Cover Crops and Transition to No-till Corn<\/h3>\n
\nEQIP and AMA Conservation Programs Sign Up Deadline Set for August 19<\/h3>\n
\nMilk Quality Management Reminders<\/h3>\n
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\nFall Oats — Something to Consider to Help with Forage Supplies<\/h3>\n
\nWelcome Dr. Juan Romero to the AVS Faculty
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