As requested in the after course discussion of So You Want to Farm in Maine, here is a newsletter with brief notices about upcoming events that may be of interest to farming entrepreneurs. For more information call you local County Extension Office: Piscataquis: 1-800-287-1491, Penobscot: 1-800-287-1485, Waldo: 1-800-287-1426. Somerset: 1-800-287-1495.

Computerized Financial Recordkeeping for Farmers:

Farmers interested in learning how to use the Quicken Financial Recordkeeping program and those interested in learning how to use the internet and world wide web in their farming operation are invited to attend this free program on Monday evenings March 25, April 1 and 8 from 7 to 9 pm at the Adult Leaning Center computer lab (this is the old Mayo Street School) in Dover-Foxcroft. Dave Marcinkowski, Extension Dairy Specialist and Donna Lamb, Extension Educator will be the presenters. Sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Piscataquis County Office, Court House Complex, Dover-Foxcroft Please call Donna Lamb for more information and to preregister. Space is limited! 564-3301 or (in Maine) 1-800-287-1491 email: dlamb@umext.maine.edu

The Piscataquis County Extension Office is sponsoring a Pesticide Recertification Training program for Thursday night March 28th from 7 to 9 pm at the Piscataquis County Extension Office in Dover-Foxcroft. Topics include: Weed Management and Armyworm Update for Forage Crops by Rick Kersbergen, Waldo County Extension Educator and Integrated Pest management for Nuisance Flies in Livestock facilities by Kathy Murray, Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. Private Pesticide Applicators can receive two hours of recertification credit by attending this meeting. All interested people are invited to attend. Please call Donna Lamb, Extension Educator at 564-3301 or 1-800-287-1491 or email dlamb@umext.maine.edu to let us know you are planning to come.

Wednesday, April 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Home garden vegetables can be grown abundantly in Piscataquis County with proper care. Many who have grown vegetables for the excellent fresh flavor or as a hobby now find home gardening profitable with today’s high food costs. Success or failure of home vegetable production can depend on many things, but some major reasons for failure are inadequate site or soil preparation, insufficient care during the season and unchecked attack by garden pests. Donna Lamb, Extension Educator for Piscataquis County Cooperative Extension will present a one evening program on Successful Vegetable Gardening. Topics that will be covered include: site selection, garden layout, soil fertility, garden care throughout the season and pest management. The slide program will also have hand-out materials available to program participants.

Application and registration required. 2/22 Application deadline; 4/27 Orientation session; Interviews begin the week of March 4. Classes begin March 13 and run every Wednesday from 9:30-3:30 until June 12. Sponsored by Women, Work and Community. For more information, call Wendy Rose: 621-3436 or 1-800-442-2092.

Maine Ag Day at the Legislature – State House Hall of Flags Augusta – 8:00AM – 3:00 PM FREE!

Agricultural Development Grant Program - The ADG program is a competitive grant program, solicited twice a year, which funds market research, market promotion and new technology projects. These grants are given to projects that will help a number of businesses, rather than support individual businesses. For further information about the grant program, applications, or current projects, contact John Harker at 287-7620 or email John.Harker@state.me.us.

The Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources is requesting proposals for the year 2002 for Market Research, Market Promotion and New Technology Demonstration grants provided by the Agricultural Development Grant Program. The matching, competitive grant program is meant to encourage innovative efforts by farmers, aquaculturists and food processors to expand their markets, promote their products and test new innovative equipment and processes.

No one grant can exceed $30,000. Grant applications for promotion of State agricultural products must be matched one for one, while grant applications for market research or new technology demonstration has a 25% matching requirement.

Seven (7) copies of an application must be delivered to John Harker, Program Manager, Agricultural Development Grant Program, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 by 5 pm, Friday, March 15th, 2002. No faxed or email applications will be accepted, nor will applications postmarked by 5 pm March 15th, 2002 be accepted.

Tips for Managing Employees – You can pick up a mumber of tips for managing agricultural employees at the following website: www.agjobsusa.com

edited by Kathy Hopkins

Back to Maine New Farms Home Page

Putting knowledge to work with the people of Maine

A Member of the University of Maine System
Last Modified: 03/02/06
These pages are currently being maintained from the
Piscataquis County Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to Donna Lamb, Extension Educator

COUNTY OFFICES | PROGRAMS | RESOURCES | PUBLICATIONS | WHAT'S NEWS | UMCE HOMEPAGE | UMAINE

Information in this web site is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this web site. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

If you are a person with a disability and will need any accommodations to participate in a UMCE program, please contact your county office to discuss your needs.