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.

This is the topic of a one-day conference for small farmers and the agricultural service providers to be held on Thursday, March 21(snow date March 22). The conference will be at the MOFGA site in Unity and be from 9:00 to 3:30 PM. The conference is free because of funding from the New England Small Farm Institute and is a partnership of UMCE, NRCS, MOFGA, and WAgN. Registration information will be available in January.

Maine Grazing Home Study Course is a seven lesson course that will be mailed to livestock producers to study at their convenience. The lessons cover planning your grazing system, Pasture Plant Selection, Fencing Systems, Weed Management, Grazier's Arithmetic, Managing Rotational Grazing and Watering Systems. The first lesson will be mailed with payment of course fee, subsequent lessons will be mailed when the quiz is returned. A certificate of completion will be mailed out to all participants who complete all the lesson quizzes. The course costs $20 and will be starting in early 2002. To sign up contact the Livestock Team, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 5735 Hitchner Hall, Orono, ME 04463-5735. Phone 207-581-2788 or in Maine 1-800-287-7170. email garya@umext.maine.edu.

The Agricultural Trades Show will be held at the Augusta Civic Center Tuesday, January 8- Thursday, January 10, 2002. For more information or a schedule of events, call your local extension office or go to the web site: http://www.getrealmaine.com/fairs/atstues.html

This packet offers a wealth of information for new and practicing farmers. Produced by farmers Mike Ghia and Bruce Clement in collaboration with Extension Small Ruminant Dairy Specialist Carol Delaney, the packet contains articles on raising sheep, milking practices, and value-added products like cheese, wool and soap; a Pennsylvania State University Extension publication entitled, "Milking Sheep Production"; sheep dairy budgets; record-keeping resources; recommended equipment and resources; breeding information; and the UVM Small Ruminant Dairy Newsletter. Free to Vermont residents; $5.00 per copy out-of-state to cover shipping/handling/copying.

March 28 & 29, 2002 Cheesemaking Workshop: British Cheeses Cornish by Peter Dixon, NH Suzanne Lupien, 603-542-8635 April 12 & 13 Home Dairying Workshop by Suzanne Lupien; Cornish, NH Suzanne Lupien,

603-542-8635 April 18 & 19 Cheesemaking Workshop: Blue Cheeses by Peter Dixon Cornish, NH Suzanne Lupien, 603-542-8635 May 16 & 17 Cheesemaking Workshop: Mediterranean Cheeses from Cow, Goat & Sheep by Peter Dixon; Cornish, NH Suzanne Lupien, 603-542-8635

They are in Cornish NH which is about 10 or so miles south of Hanover NH (Dartmouth College) on Route 120, accessible from interstate 89 or 90, across the Connecticut River from Windsor VT. For more information, contact 603-542-8635.

New York Cheese Making Workshops:

Farmstead Cheese Making Workshop: A Hands-On Program for farmers and others intending to develop an artisanal cheesemaking business Taught by Vermont cheesemaker and dairy foods consultant Peter Dixon Mon.-Wed., Jan. 7-9, 2002 Sullivan County Community College Loch Sheldrake, NY (near Liberty, NY Sponsored by the Regional Farm; Food Project and the Sullivan County Agricultural Economic Development Program. Early registration is suggested as the workshop will be limited to about 12 to allow for a hands-on experience and individual attention For more information (including a brochure), contact Tracy Frisch, Regional Farm; Food Project, (518) 427-6537 or 426-9331; farmfood@capital.net, or Rick Bishop, Sullivan County Agricultural Economic Development Program, (845) 794-3000 x3537; reb@health.co.sullivan.ny.us This workshop is designed for farmers who intend to develop an artisanal cheesemaking business (or who have already started such an enterprise and wish to strengthen their skills and undertstanding of cheesemaking). Workshop participants will gain experience in the practical aspects of making several varieties of cheese that may have good marketability as farm-produced specialty cheeses; These include soft fresh, soft-ripened, and hard aged cheeses, including brined cheeses and/or cheeses with eyes; Instruction on starter cultures and aging cheeses will also be provided; The workshop will also include a session on setting up a farmstead cheese plant and the economics of small-scale cheesemaking. The three-day workshop will run from 9 AM to 4 PM; Lunches and course notes will be provided; The workshop fee is $150 - 225.

If you are looking for information on the best methods for producing high quality grade A syrup check out the following web page: http://www.umaine.edu/umext/maplesyrupproduction/

Cooperative Extension also has a revised publication, "How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup" Bulletin #7036 available at your county extension office.

The New England Fruit Meetings will be held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in Sturbridge, MA on January 9-10, 2002. There is a $20.00 per day registration fee payable at the door. Pre-registration is not required. Workshops include: orchard site preparation, severe weather situations, strategies to increase the fruit size of apples, orchard nutrient management, benefits and costs of insect control and more. To make hotel reservations call 1-800-582-3232 before December 30, 2001.

Healthy Farms Healthy Communities Our Link to a Sustainable Future February 8 and 9, 2002

The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA