72nd Maine Agricultural Trades Show

2013 Program Schedule

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 4

Maine Food Strategy 4

Maine Milk Commission 4

Maine Cheese Guild 5

Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company 5

USDA Farm Service Agency 5

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association 6

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association 7

Knowledge Transfer Alliance /Maine Department of Agriculture 8

Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society 9

Maine Board of Pesticides Control Recertification Sessions 9

Heart of Maine RC&D 10

Farm Energy Partners 11

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - Nutrient Management Program 12

Maine Aquaculture Association 13

Maine Christmas Tree Association 13

Revision Energy 14

Windependence/Community Energy Partners and Greater Portland Council of Governments 15

Commissioner’s Luncheon (Prepaid ticket holders only) 15

Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Legislative Reception 15

Wednesday January 9, 2013 16

Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund Annual Meeting Breakfast 16

Maine Vegetable and Small Fruit Growers Association 16

Maine State Pomological Society 18

Maine Food Strategy 18

Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company 19

Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) 19

Knowledge Transfer Alliance /Maine Department of Agriculture 21

Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine 22

Maine Poultry Growers Association 24

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry - Nutrient Management Program 24

Cooperative Extension/Board of Pesticides Control Exam Training for Private and Agricultural Basic Pesticide Applicator Licensing Exams 25

Maine Board of Pesticides Control Recertification Sessions 25

Maine Aquaculture Association 26

Maine State Florists’ and Growers’ Association 27

Maine Angus Association 28

Maine Highland Cattle Association 28

Maine Beef Producers 28

Maine Beef Industry Council 29

Maine Grass Farmers Network 29

Maine Sheep Breeders Association 30

Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board 30

Revision Energy 31

Windependence/Community Energy Partners and Greater Portland Council of Governments 31

Maine Pie Contest – 5pm to 8pm 32

Thursday, January 10, 2013 33

Maine Maple Producers Association 33

Maine Board of Pesticides Control Recertification Sessions 33

University Of Maine Cooperative Extension Grape Workshop 34

Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company 35

Beginning Farmer Resource Network (BFRN) 35

Knowledge Transfer Alliance /Maine Department of Agriculture 36

Fedco Trees Annual Business Meeting 37

Maine Aquaculture Association 37

CROPP/Organic Valley Grain Growing Workshop 38

Maine Farm Bureau Horse Council 38

Windependence/Community Energy Partners and Greater Portland Council of Governments 39

Maine Agricultural Trade Show

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Schedule of Events

Maine Food Strategy

Food producers are some of our most important economic and community assets. How can Maine work together to increase opportunities in this sector? For the past six months, a team convened by the USM Muskie School has been laying the foundation for a statewide effort to engage farmers, fishermen, food processors, distributors, policymakers, educators and consumers in creating strategies to strengthen our food system. Come hear about core and emerging issues we've identified through dozens of interviews and a review of hundreds of reports and assessments, and learn how you can help inform this work as it moves forward.
Contact: Tanya Swain 592-4369 Barbi Ives USM, Portland 228-8594
Room: Androscoggin
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
9-10am / Introducing the Maine Food Strategy Initiative / An overview of core and emerging issues in Ag and an Introduction to the Maine Food Strategy Initiative.

Maine Milk Commission

Special meeting of the Milk Commission
Contact: Tim Drake, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 287-7521
Room: Kennebec
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
10-11am / Special meeting of the MMC / tba
11-12noon / Special meeting of the MMC / tba

Maine Cheese Guild

Information for the public about cheese making in Maine and how to get licensed to sell cheese, plus information about the Guild and a Guild business meeting
Contact: Eric Rector 554 Dickey Hill Rd., Monroe, 04951 (207) 323-2664

Room: Waldo
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
10-11am / Maine Cheese Guild Meeting / Maine Cheese Guild members / Information on cheese making in Maine
11-12noon / Maine Cheese Guild Meeting / Maine Cheese Guild members / Information on cheese making in Maine

Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company

A group of Maine dairy farmers—dropped by their national milk company—launch their own milk company in a bid to save their farms. Committed to paying a sustainable price for their milk, the company offers hope for the future of small farming. But faced with slow sales and mounting bills, can the farmers hang together long enough for the gamble to pay off?
BETTING THE FARM follows three farmers and their families through the tumultuous first two years of MOO Milk. The film gives audiences a rare glimpse at the real lives of American farmers at a crossroads.
Contact: David Bright 4 Gabriel Drive Suite 1, Augusta ME 04330 207-234-4224
Room: Androscoggin
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
12-1:30 / Betting the Farm / Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company / 84-minute documentary Film about the formation of MOOMilk
3-4:30pm / Betting the Farm / Maine’s Own Organic Milk Company / 84-minute documentary Film about the formation of MOOMilk

USDA Farm Service Agency

Maine Farm Service Agency employees will provide information workshops and hands on assistance to beginning and existing farmers and ranchers, on program participation, loans and available resources for participation in USDA programs.
Contact: Ken Gustin 967 Illinois Ave Bangor, ME 207 990-9144
Room: Somerset
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
9-10am / FSA Program Opportunities and Resources for Beginner Farmers and Ranchers / FSA will provide program and loan information tailored to benefit beginner farmers and ranchers.
10-11am / Continued
11-12noon
1-2pm / USDA Forum: Hispanic and Women Farmer and Rancher Claims Process / An opportunity for interested parties to obtain materials for the Hispanic and Women Farmer and Rancher Claims Process
2-3pm / FSA: Farmer and Rancher Program and Loan Resources / FSA program and loan resources for all farmers and ranchers will be discussed.
3-4pm / Continued
4-5pm

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

MOFGA offers a full-day of programming for producers covering all aspects of production, management and marketing.
Contact: Abby Sadauckas PO Box 170 Unity ME 04988 568-4142
Room: Cumberland
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
9-10am / Organic Certification Information Session / MOFGA Certification Services Director, Mary Yurlina / If you market and sell products as ORGANIC, chances are good you need to need to be certified by a USDA-accredited certifier to comply with USDA regulations. MOFGA Certification Services Staff will provide an overview of organic production practices, including processing. Information on how to become certified organic will also be presented. Organic product labels collected from stores will be available for demonstration and discussion.
10-11am / Adventures in Marketing / MOFGA Organic Marketing Coordinator Melissa White Pillsbury / A chance to sit down with your peers and discuss what worked this year, what didn’t, and share ideas and ask questions as you refine your marketing plan for 2013.
11-12 / Farming and Ergonomics / AgrAbility Specialist, Goodwill Workforce Solutions, Ellen Gibson
3-4pm / Organic Sheep and Goat Production Producers Roundtable / Organic Producers, MOFGA Organic Transitions Coordinator, Katy Green and Organic Livestock Specialist, Diane Schivera / Join us for a session with Certified Organic producers to learn about organic certification, opportunities to transition to organic with NRCS and join in a discussion about how MOFGA’s technical services can help you with production challenges.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association

MOFGA offers a full-day of programming for producers covering all aspects of production, management and marketing.
Contact: Abby Sadauckas PO Box 170 Unity ME 04988 568-4142
Room: Piscataquis/Sagadahoc
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
9-10am / Apples at Home / David Buchanan, Organic Orchardist, CJ Walke
10-11am / Crop Rotation
(approved for 1 pesticide recertification credit) / MOFGA Organic Crop Specialist, Eric Sideman and MOFGA Agricultural Services Director, Dave Colson / One of the challenges faced by new farmers or those transitioning older land into organic production is setting up crop rotations and using cover crops effectively. Yet, incorporating these soil health-building practices is essential to successful organic farming in the long-term. Join MOFGA's Agricultural Services Staff for a presentation on strategies for bringing old land into production and creating a crop rotation that cycles cropland out of vegetable production and into green manures.
11-12 noon / Farm Labor: What you Need to Know / Lisa Turner, Laughing Stock Farm / Farm labor management is a crucial but undervalued part of any intensive agricultural operation, and a potential stumbling block for successfully increasing your scale. Lisa has 15 years of experience managing all sorts of farm labor, from employees to apprentices. She’ll take a broad view of the many important issues involved in being a boss and a mentor - from legal, tax, and insurance considerations to effective recruitment strategies; to interpersonal relationships and communication. There will also be plenty of time for discussion.
1:30pm – 3:00 pm *Special Timing / MOFGA Annual Meeting / MOFGA Organic Crop Specialist, Eric Sideman / Hear from MOFGA Staff, Board Members and Committee Chairs regarding the organization’s activities and accomplishments over the past year. Elect MOFGA’s Board of Directors for the coming year and network with members.
3-4 pm / Season Recap
(approved for 1 pesticide recertification credit) / MOFGA Organic Crop Specialist, Eric Sideman / Winters are not as cold as they used to be. Springs are wetter than they once were.Summers are drier than in the past. Whatever the reason, 2012 sure had some serious pest problems. Come see pictures and discuss preparation and possible solutions for next season

Knowledge Transfer Alliance /Maine Department of Agriculture

Farm business management presentations in Hancock Room along with “Salad Bar” walk-in assistance on farm business management in the Knox Room next door. Note that the schedule specified below is for the presentations in the Hancock Room. The Knox Room is for walk-in assistance and the programming will be farmer needs driven. This is the 3rd year of a joint collaboration between the Maine Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine’s Knowledge Transfer Alliance.
Contact: John Harker, Aaron K. Hoshide and Anthony Davis ME Dept. Ag. 206 Winslow Hall Orono, ME 04469
287-7620 659-4808 458-2640

Room: Hancock
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
10-11am / Capital Investment: A Good Idea? / Sarah Morehead
University of Maine / When is it a good idea to buy that tractor?
11-12 / Quickbooks & Record Keeping / George Richardson & Becky Adams
Austin Associates / Overview and general introductory session on using Quickbooks.
3-4pm / Fundamentals of Financial Statements: Creation & Use / Anthony Davis
University of Maine / Background on creating financial statements & the importance of good record keeping.
4-5pm / Build your Farm’s Budget / Anthony Davis
University of Maine / Create and evaluate your farm’s budget in Excel.

Maine Sustainable Agriculture Society

The Local Food Movement in Maine continues to grow and provide opportunities for Maine producers, processors and distributors. Maine’s meat industry stands poised to benefit from this continued growth. Come find out what are the opportunities for Maine’s livestock producers and processors – within Maine and across the Northeast. Learn how some producers and processors are already leading the way with innovative production, marketing and processing arrangements.
Contact: Andrew C. Files, Executive Director P.O. Box 2565, Bangor, ME 04402-2565 207.843.7581
Room: Kennebec
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
1:45 – 2:00 / More Maine Meat / Rick Kersbergen, UMCE Educator and MESAS Board Member / Rick will provide an introduction to today’s program and to MESAS’s More Maine Meat Project
2:00 – 2:30 / More Maine Meat / John Nicholson, Meat Coordinator, Whole Foods Market / John will share his ideas about how producers and processors in Maine might be able to grow their operations to access a larger meat markets
2:45 – 3:15 / More Maine Meat / Chelsea Bardot Lewis, Senior Agricultural Development Coordinator, VT Agency of Agriculture / Chelsea will discuss on-going meat industry development initiatives throughout the Northeast, including the meat processing task force. She will share examples of how Vermont has worked with stakeholders across the meat value chain.
3:30 – 4:30 / More Maine Meat / TBD / A panel of producers and processors will react to John’s and Chelsea’s presentations and share their perspectives of potential growth in Maine’s meat industry

Maine Board of Pesticides Control Recertification Sessions

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION/BOARD OF PESTICIDES CONTROL PESTICIDES APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control will present multiple training sessions. Licensed pesticide applicators and dealers may attend sessions to earn credits towards recertification. One credit will be allowed for each hour of attendance.
Contact: Gary Fish 28 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333 287-7545
Room: Arnold/Howard/Fort Western
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
9:30 – 10:30 am / Bt. Corn Update and Weed Control in Forage Crops / John Jemison and Rick Kersbergen, UMCE
10:45 – 11:45 am / Board of Pesticides Control Update / Gary Fish, BPC
2:00 - 4:00 pm / Talking About Pesticides with Customers and Neighbors / Vincent Covello, Center for Risk Communication, Columbia University

Heart of Maine RC&D

“We Can Feed Maine.” Four Maine farmers present details of their operations (poultry, beef, hoop house vegetables, organic row crops) complete with economic analysis and numbers of consumers served. From their figures and based on Maine’s total population, we begin to create a picture of how many acres, farmers, head of cattle, tons of produce, etc., it will take to make Maine food independent.
Contact: Paula Day, 1423 Broadway Suite 2, Bangor ME 207-696-8377
Room: Waldo
Tuesday / Program title / Speaker name & title / Short session description
1:30 – 2:15 / “We Can Feed Maine” / John O’Donnell, Farmer, O’Donnell Farm, Monmouth / Subject: Pasture Fed Beef – Healthier Consumers, Livestock & Profits
2:15 – 3:00 / “ “ “ “ / Meg Scott, Farm Marketing Manager, Nature’s Circle Farm, New Limerick / Subject: Organic Row Crops from Aroostook – Large Scale Sustainable
3:00 – 3:45 / “ “ “ “ / Bob Neal, Farmer, The Turkey Farm, New Sharon / Subject: Free Range Turkey Production
3:45 - 4:30 / “ “ “ “ / Bob Burr, Farmer, Blue Ribbon Farm, Mercer / Subject: Bringing in the Green - 4 Season Hoop House Production

Farm Energy Partners