Mainely Ag May 2013

! Established for farming interests statewide, 5 issues a year, always FREE!
2013 National
Media Champ
Ag Ag A
An independent farm journal
Vol 5 No 2, 2013
Spud farms strong as planting starts

Printed with recycled newsprint, Soy based inks
Annual harvest award, 2013
Sixty-five percent of the Maine crop is

sold for processing, 20 percent is sold as seed potatoes, primarily to East Coast producers, and the remaining crop is sold as fresh/tablestock potatoes. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) works with Maine potato farmers by certifying seed potatoes, inspecting and evaluating fresh market and processed potatoes and certifying them according to state and federal regulations. As of September 2012, a total of 11,444 acres of seed potatoes, managed by 121 growers, was certified. The most common varieties were FritoLay propagated varieties, Russet Burbanks and Atlantics, according to ACF's Animal and Plant Health Division. "Maine has approximately 380 potato farmers, and although the majority of family-owned potato operations are in Aroostook County, commercially, potatoes are grown statewide," says Walter Whitcomb, Maine ACF Commissioner. "They are Maine's largest agricultural crop and a huge economic boost to rural Maine." Growers planted a total of 59,000 acres of potatoes in 2012. The potato industry employs 2,650 people directly and 2,400 indirectly. Maine PotaBoard Executive Director Don Flannery has reported the 2012 crop was expected to be within the 12-year average of 290 hundredweight per acre. Final statewide sales totals won't be known until planting and all seed and table stock is out of storage. A short wait for dryer planting now allows for equipment repairs.
The Maine Potato Board has announced the selection of the 2013 Young Farmer of the Year Shawn Doyen of Willard C. Doyen & Sons Farm. Doyen lives in Mapleton with his wife Christi and their two children, Taylor, 7 and Charles, 3. Growing up on the family farm sparked an early agricultural interest for Shawn Doyen. He started assisting in daily farm chores at age 11. "I would always help out after school and I remember really enjoying it", said Doyen. His first taste of tractor work got him thinking about joining the family fter spending his industry. However, after
Farmers of the year

youth in Mapleton, Doyen decided on college rather than jumping right into business at the farm. At the University of Maine at Orono he broadened his horizons with courses distant from the world of farming. "I actually majored in Political Science. It does relate to life on the farm. I think it's important to understand how the government works and to know how government decisions affect farmers. Taking classes that weren't agriculture related really helped me become more well-rounded. That's helpful to anything you do in life." Doyen believes that farming is essential
IRVING IRV RVING V NG

Publishers Note: Alternative fuels and new transportation methods are changing Maines industries dramatically. New electric sources are also in the news. Irving Energys Manager Darren Gillis stands before a new compressed natural gas truck, among others, that are now contracted to serve Maine and New Brunswicks McCains Foods Ltd potato processing industry facilities.
Irving Oil announced recently that it has signed an agreement with McCain Foods, making it Irving Oils newest natural gas industrial customer, and the first in New Brunswick to ship compressed natural gas (CNG) by overland trucks. We are extremely pleased to be working with McCain Foods, said Darren Gillis, General Manager of Irving Energy. The availability of natural gas for industrial customers in the Maritimes and Maine means good news for these companies as well as for our regions economy. Jean-Pierre Rajotte, Vice President, Manufacturing, North America of McCain Foods (Canada), said, The switch to natural gas will help our plants remain competitive with other regions. In New Brunswick, the high cost of energy makes it difficult to compete with plants in other regions, which have access to lower-cost energy alternatives. This will help level the playing field. In addition, natural gas is a cleaner fuel, so it will help reduce our environmental footprint. Large customers such as manufacturing facilities, hospitals, and universities require large quantities of energy to sustain operations. Irving Oils entrance into the delivered natural gas business provides energy alternatives for these major customers. Industries along the proposed natural gas pipeline to be built soon from Richmond to Madison have now joined numerous towns and cities of the region to convert to natural gas service by pipeline with recent contracts signed in late April. Sappi Paper of Hinckley and Huhtamaki Inc of Fairfield agreed to covert to gas furnished by Summit Natural Gas. Summit is competing with a Central Maine Power gas division that also wants to provide piped in gas to parts of the Kennebec Valley. The Summit project will serve 17 communities along an 88 mile corridor by polyethylene pipeline. The CMP plan will enter Augusta by steel piping along Rt. 17 from Windsor to reach Mainehos General hospital nearing completion off I95 serving a smaller customer base of about 7500 businesses, public buildings and some homes for about a $50 million total investment. Summit Utilities Inc has a planned investment of $350 million in pipeline to usher in an estimated 435 construction jobs, according to their news releases. Summit hopes to service as many as 15,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers by its third year of operation of a 5 year regional conversion to provide less expensive heating, cooking and industrial / residential fuels. This will ultimately reduce fuel costs, be better for the environment, and ensure a long-term stability for the Kennebec Valley households and businesses. In past months, homes and businesses of this area have already converted from oil to liquefied natural gas (LNG) by truck, but the switch with the arrival of natural gas by pipeline is the best way to go.
Cranes loaded many empty boxes on truck and rail chassis at Merrills Marine Terminal recently from the first ship call arrival by Eimskip - the Icelandic shipping firm now firmly established here. Pan Am Rail and private trucking firms have moved empty dry boxes to unspecified US locations for loading and eventual return to Portland and return Atlantic ocean reshipment. The boxes reached the International Marine Terminal from Europe and Iceland. Intermodal rail cars came into the Rigby Rail Yard the previous week, according to train spotters. At the announcement of the Portland Eimskip call, Pan Am President David Fink said spring or summer would see new construction of a track extension to the IMT. MDOT rail administrator Nate Moulton reports recently all replaced track ties to the propane facility are now complete.
Publisher: 965-2332, Lincoln office 794-2973
: magriculture@aol.com
2 SPRING PLANTING ISSUE Mainely Agriculture 2013
Windsor Fairgrounds
Northeast Livestock Expo

TH THANK YOU to all participants, vendors, sponsors, p pa volunteers and attendees vo who supported NELE in wh 2012 - please join us for the 20 2013 Expo May 17, 18 and 20 19! 19 The Maine Beef Producers, the Maine Sheep Breeders Association and the Boer Goat Breeders of Maine have again joined together to present beef cattle, sheep, boer goats, rabbits, equine and alpaca for shows, youth events and auctions. Volunteer Today! Volunteers are welcome for tasks before, during, and after the weekend's events. If you are interested, please contact Jess Strout at: jess.strout@gmail.com or call (207) 399-9268. A colorful HMMWV or Hummer that is usually parked at Shawn Murrays Campus Service Center in Orono was on its way to a local parade on the day of our taking the above picture. The Down East Emergency Medicine Institute (DEEMI) vehicle was rebuilt from several units a few years ago by the Loring Air Base retrofit facility and is a 1984 vintage ground ambulance refabricated from war damaged equipment sent home from Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of many rescue vehicles that are both ground and air rescue equiment, copters and aircraft available for use in saving lives during emergency use in Maine. A UH-1H Helicopter is housed at a DEEMI hanger at Bangor International Airport. The organization has a Piper PA-31 Panther fixed wing plane, another HMMWV, a land rover and 4WD trucks, snowmobiles, ATVs for ground search use. Two Hummers are stored at the Orono garage. Members of the search and rescue teams are eMembers of the search and rescue teams are SAR/Fire and EMS certified volunteers and several MDs and other licensed medical personnel are called upon for support when a call for assistance comes in to supplement local, county and state agencies working difficult activities. It is in standby annually for the recent Kenduskeag river race and for the Machais river race and in helping out when plane crashes occur, lost people searches are taken, lost fishermen, etc. need is requested in assisting Maines emergency management authority and all county and local municipalities keep DEEMI on the roll-o-deck when needed. For more information: DEEMI, PO Box 268 Orono 04473 Tel. 207-866-2109 email: cencom@juno.com.
Annual Multi-Species
May 17, 18, 19
The Northeast Livestock Expo brings in some very interesting displays and participants. In this photo from a few years ago, an excellent milking demo was part of teaching agriculture to those attending the expo by watching fresh milk come straight from the cow, and simply explains our everpresent need for local production of food.
ain
e Be
od
ucers Ass
Sales * Youth Activities * Market Lambs Educational Programs * Commercial Trades IBGA Boer Goat Show * Rabbit Show Fiber Arts Area: Including Alpaca, Sheep & Pygora Goats
www.northeastlivestockexpo.org
This events publicity sponsored by:
oc
MAINE Cooperative Extension
THE UNIVERSITY OF
UNITY - Grace Keown of/

Dixmonts design for the annual Common Ground Fair Poster was selected recently and we asked the artist to give this newspaper a run down about her work, the poster and MOFGAs fundrasing poster sales. I've created art in some form or media all my life and have explored many techniques including pastel, watercolor, scratchboard, acrylic, oil, pen & ink, printmaking, rug - hooking and stenciling. photography, jewelry-making, The entry I submitted for the 2013 poster contest was almost the design that wasn't. I was trying to capture the look of an oxen team at work, when they're watching their handler and seeming to ask, ok, now what? It finally came together after about a half-dozen preliminary sketches. I also wanted to convey the absolute enormity and strength, but also gentleness, of these animals in an iconic way. I'm a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a BA in Studio Art and Art History. My work has been exhibited in shows around Maine. I'm also the winner of the 2008 and 2013 MOFGA Common Ground Country Fair poster contests, and the 2010 US Toboggan Nationals 20th Anniversary Poster. I live with my family on a farmstead in Dixmont where we support and practice sustainable local agriculture. I am finishing up a writing and illustrating my first children's book and hope to publish it in 2013.
Auctioneer Jeffrey Tilton
Phone: (866) 279-9775 Fax: (207) 285-7324 maplelanefarms@yahoo.com
Pr
West Gardiner Beef

Trucking Available * Auction all types
Custom and State Inspected Slaughtering
Get your copy of Pastures of Plenty, A new book on the joy of grazing & grass farming in New England.
Order your copy by sending a check for $20 (includes shipping) payable to: John E Carroll, Dept. Of Natural Resources University of New Hampshire Durham, NH 03824
724-3378 724-7006
152 Rockland Rd., Washington 845-2480
Maple Lane Farms

224 Charleston Road Charleston 04422-3110
Linscotts Feeds
FCI
Fact # 1: Adjusted Wean Wt.: a calfs weight adjusted to a standard 205 days.
Mainely Agriculture SPRING PLANTING ISSUE 3
University Extension tell us that although spring has arrived, weather is still in transition and temperatures may be too cold to sow most seeds outside. Hence, starting seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season offers advantages. When sowing inside, the gardener's goal is to provide the best environmental conditions for successful seed germination and seedling growth. Once the seed is planted, it is essential that germination proceed consis-
Ideal Soil Temps for Vegetable Germination

Vegetable Min(F) Opt. Range (F) Optimum (F) (F)
tently and without interruption. One of the aspects that induces the seeds to germinate is the soil temperature, which should be held constant (68 to 72F). The desired constant temperature can be achieved through heating mats placed under germmination and seedling growth. Once the seed is planted, it is essential that germination proceed consistently and without interruption. One of the aspects that induces the seeds to germinate is the soil temperature, which should be held constant (68 to 72F). The desired constant temperature can be achieved through heating mats placed under germination containers or on the top of the refrigerator to Max provide bottom heat. The optimal germination temperature for any seed is usually printed on the seed packet and is a useful guide for gardeners. But remember, if the soil is too cool, germination is delayed, resulting in seed damage and uneven or inadequate seedling emergence. When the soil is too warm, it will dry easily, and as a result we will need water them daily to promote germination. Seeds and seedlings are very sensitive to drying out and excessive water. Try to keep the soil slightly moist, but not wet. Excess water will encourage damping-off, a deadly fungal disease. Different crops require different minimum temperatures to germinate. Also, the time to germinate will increase with decreased temperatures. For example, lettuce can germinate at a soil temperature of 35F, but it will take 50-days. On the other hand, at 50F the lettuce seed can germinate in 7-days and at 77F lettuce will germinate in just 2-days. See the table below that shows the minimum, optimum and maximum of soil temperatures to promote germination.
Maine
A News G
can use
USDA urges farmers prepare for more drought even with new rains
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) reports: with the prospect of a continuation of one of the worst droughts in nearly 50 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers and ranchers that some of the programs they offer may help to mitigate effects of the drought. Last month, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new sign-up for the Conserve Reserve Program (CRP) beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. The CRP has been protecting the nation's natural resources through voluntary participation for the past 27 years, and has provided significant environmental benefits to rural communities and the nation as a result. Secretary Vilsack pointed out, "Last year, during one of the worst droughts in generations, the CRP proved vital in protecting our most environmentally sensitive lands from erosion. Emergency haying and grazing on CRP lands also supplied critical feed and forage for livestock producers due to the drought." Currently, about 27 million acres are enrolled in CRP. USDA Sec Tom Vilsack Recent spring rains have lessened the fear of as great a drought this year but a drought map available on the internet indicates continued stunting of cropping again this summer is possible as a full break in weather is unexpected and not likely.
Bean Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Corn Cucumber Eggplant Lettuce Onion Parsley Pepper Pumpkin Radish Spinach Squash Tomato Turnip Melon
60 40 40 40 40 50 60 60 35 35 40 60 60 40 35 60 50 40 60
60-85 45-95 45-85 45-85 60-70 60-95 60-95 75-95 40-80 50-95 50-85 65-95 70-90 45-90 45-75 70-95 70-95 60-105 70-95
80 85 80 80 70 95 95 95 75 75 85 90 85 70 95 85 85 85 95
95 100 95 100 105 105 95 85 85 95 90 95 100 95 85 100 95 105 105
umkeag Ridge in Grand Falls reversing last Novembers decision by the Department of Environmental Protection to deny a permit for a 42-megawatt wind farm. This allows Quantum Utility Generation to move forward when DEP publishes its permit. DEP had rejected a previous application, saying the turbines would compromise views from Saponac Pond concluding turbines would spoil views from 97 percent of the pond. In its appeal of the decision, The popularity of a degree in agriculture has been growing steadily. Dr. Michael Quantum and landowner, Penobscot Forest LLC contendCompton, director of the School of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Plat- ed the value DEP placed on scenic character was arbitrary teville says from 2006 to 2011, enrollment in colleges of agriculture rose about 20 as the mountain is an already developed landscape. percent to around 145,000 students nationwide. The school of Ag at U.W. Platteville is now at approximately 800 students, double the size it was in 1995. Compton says job increases in agriculture are happening due to rising U.S. farm income which Environmental regulators met with citizens results in agribusiness growth, and adds while the number of graduates in agriculture in March regarding a proposed 18-turbine wind farm here. will continue to increase it will still fall short of what The Maines Department of Environmental Protection the industry needs. During 2010 to 2015, the United saw the hearing. DEPs first public hearing on this States economy will generate over 54,000 openings project held at the Airline Community School offered per year for graduates with a baccalaureate in agri"First Winds" plan that wants to begin construction culture related programs, says Compton. He says this year on a turbine farm at Schoppe Ridge to inwhile there is increasing interest in animal science clude 512-foot turbines and two 344-foot meteorologand agribusiness studies, that soil and crop sciences, ical towers. Power would flow from the facility to a is arguably the area with the greatest opportunity for substation in Eastbrook. A second meeting will be jobs. scheduled for later this summer, place and time TBA. A recent vote by Maines Board of Environmental Protection gives a Texas-based company the go-ahead to develop a 14-turbine wind farm atop Passad-
Team Sheep Shearing
ACORDAUTO.COM
Rte. 197 Main Str. RICHMOND
Acordauto@roadrunner.com
with Edie Kirshner & Wally Sinclair with 965-2332 wally.sinclair@aol.com wally.sinclair@aol.com Or Or 322-4601 Edie Kirshner Kirshner Penquis-Highlands Area Farm & Agra Business Directory
Farm Equipment
New & Used Parts
Loaders & Accessories 3 Point Hitch Implements Tractor Tires & More
Auto Parts
Med Services
DOVER GUILFORD MILO

AUTO
Mayo Regional RegionalHospital Hospital

Need a doctor?
MILO
Call 564-4342 for our free referral service

Inpatient, outpatient, 24 hour emergency care 897 W Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft
Taxidermy
Located 8.2 miles west of I-95 Exit 197
Northland
Quality Work at Reasonable Prices 280 Alton Tannery Rd., Alton ME 04468
Tattoos, Signs (PSLUH7DWWRR&R

Tattoos
Vinyl
Foxcroft Veterinary Services, PA

Jeffery D Kelly, DVM Ronald C Miles Jr., DVM Matthew Rolleston, DVM Dennis A Ruksznis, DVM
PO Box 418 Dover-Foxcroft
Vet Services
Taxidermy
Jrdnorfax@aol.com
Signs
for any
- 110 Church Str. Dexter We also sell tobacco pipes
(207)394-2031
720-6031
USE
Fact # 2: Afterbirth: the placenta & membranes expelled with fetus at birth.
You can fix You can fix all theall worlds probthe worlds problems lems in a garden." -Geoff Lawton, Teacher -Geoff Lan, TeacherWe worry the next generWe worry that that the next generation ation will be watered down from their outstanding Wallace Sinclair , editor & founder ph 965-2332 parent, and indeed, each successive generation Editorial offices in Lincoln & Brownville away from that individual dilutes the genetics by another half. - Barbara Webb, Shepherd PO Box 632 Brownville 04414
Ag
-Politico-
Wants a sense of community

To the editor: In the short time since the demise of the proposed propane tank for Searsport, we are hearing about planned prosperity. Yet, the battle cry is being raised to begin a fight against the long planned and proposed dredging of the port of Searsport. The same group that fought industrial growth at Mack Point now takes up arms to fight the maintenance and improvement of the second largest port in Maine. This facility produces a major source of income for dock workers. It is the port of entry for fuels we all use and for materials important to industries across the state. It is often the export facility for products we sell to other areas both foreign and domestic. The same opponents in the recent opposition to growth on Mack Point have been working to keep any possible industrial expansion off the island for many years now. How does that equate to building a peaceful, prosperous community? Preserving the island continues to be a great contribution by many dedicated volunteers. However, an agreement was reached that not only preserves this sanctity for all to enjoy but also allows for growth when necessary for the economic health of Searsport, Waldo County and beyond. That agreement needs to be honored and not subverted by lengthy delaying tactics that further break down communities and delay prosperity. If we do not grow we die. Searsport cannot be allowed to lag behind in its ability to serve ocean going commerce. Fighting the long planned and much needed dredging project is fighting the very life line of commerce and prosperity for our area. It is not building community!
Wants a statewide Comprehensive Plan

To the editor: Maine farmers have good reason to be concerned about investors interests as regards the proposed E-W highway. Since Maine may become the breadbasket of the East Coast, E/W Corridor proponents claim its infrastructure may serve our (and the Nations) needs. As a private enterprise, Mainers are quite uncomfortable with this Corridor having one owner possess/control the rights-of-way in three dimensions across Maine: E/W 220 miles; N/S 500+feet; and up to the heavens/down to the core of the Earth for perpetuity. As Mainers understand this projects full potential and long-term impact on Maines resources, many concerns persist. Beyond our essential concerns for rights-of-way, water quality/control, soil stability, and farmland, theres additional concern for a traditional sense of community, air quality, woodlots, wildlife habitat, endangered/protected species, tourism, hunting, population/demographic changes, sound/light, public health, as a target for terrorism, etc. Before this project is railroaded through, Mainers could encourage more viable Maine-based, American, and International businesses to showcase their best technological, eco-friendly, and socially-responsible practices in serving our needs. At least, incorporate its infrastructure within a statewide comprehensive plan involving many Maine interests and most importantly, the genuine consensus of all Mainers after theyve been fully informed of its scope and long-term impact. May such projects serve the best interests of symbiotic sustainability, naturally respecting Maines farms, nature, identity, values, visitors, citizens, and culture. - Parkinson Pino, Dover-Foxcroft
Continued N. I. M. B. Y.
A letter writer opposite, with others, dreams there are reasons beyond a simple construction project - the E-W highway - that something larger than solving a major transport riddle the Maine economy has suffered from for 55+ years. Early transport in Maine - rivers - saw roads constructed as rivers flow, north south. Geography left out a major east west flowing river in Maine to help mirror such a modern road building need and this project answers that flow of future transport necessity, this century, on a road cut from intelligent environmental review to the US east coasts deepest ocean port, Eastport, from Sherbrooke, PQ to bolster a larger regional economy. Jobs, dear readers, is this reality, as much as agriculture should become more local in our stores at farm stands, as transport serves a better forestry and conservation base, expands a more active growing aquaculture, and might cut welfare dependence with a so-few-jobs-status-quo. This describes known commodities and real social realities that are all at stake. The economy of Maine - a paper plantation at best - with hindsight, has, nonetheless, one of Americas great resources, but forest products alone is not our only economic option. Ask a log hauler what it costs per hour, today as I write, to ship wood. Look at $70 an hour minimum at 60 mph and put that into a calculator for costing estimate and then question why you should pay so much for food in a grocery store in comparison? In 1970 I wrote a three part series for the Bangor Daily News on one man who wanted an end to log drives, entomologist Howard Trotsky. The courage of that man simply ended the log drives in time but damn few major road improvements to our transport network can be cited and rerouted with the end of log drives, not forgetting the recent completion of Penobscot River Narrows bridge at Prospect/Verona - a job well done, a Cianbro effort providing safety for the old and construction of the new bridges, as all should know. So continued patching of our failing road bed deteriorations, statewide, is not enough and no one questions that. Yet, funds for roads are scant as budgets dry up and you pay $60 an hour labor to fix your vehicles running rough roads. Far off the subject from road opposition - a scare tactic at heart - officials at Cianbro have said repeatedly that there will be no pipeline constructed or easement granted for tar sands or other petroleum pipes to run along side a new highway. Those who say that this is fact kept secret are not staying on subject and convolute clearer understanding inserting such mistuth into Cianbros public statements. How can one with a straight face mouth off a secret they are not privy, as pure fact? Yet, pipe fitters will tell you that all existing pipe lines in Maine and the nation are already part of the acceptable environmentally permitted landscape and most are still needed. All are old, all need replacement. Where is a chicken little outcry against that? Fixing the same, fosters jobs and less environmental stress and worry misplaced and couched elsewhere. Repairs and replacement of pipelines in place must be made to existing pipes on and above ground as is the Alaska pipeline - an appropriate example - approaches technologys old age, some 40+ years needs replacing. Also, as I write, two companies are building new natural gas pipelines in Kennebec County, one is laying pipe at 1000 feet per day on new easements. Where is the public objection with that savings logic? Pipe line, pipe dream? ThThis is not to say compressed gas, fuel oil, hazmat, and a multitude of other oversized objects would not be moved over this new 21st century highway as road law, insurance and such would apply to safety on all regulated roads, private and public & rail. A notion that cell towers, wind mills, underground optical fiber line installations might be sold and/or constructed at optimal short line portions along a right of way to reach substations after the highway is built was addressed in part by CEO Peter Vigue at the recent Commissioners forum when he alluded to the spaghetti that is the present north south electric power grid. He said we do not know what communication infrastructure tech needs will be in 10 years at the time the highway is completed or how that would be engineered. Real estate buying and selling will find sellers wanting to divest what is needed for the new road bed as land investment is simple investment and a good investment, historically. The same land will remain on municipal and state tax rolls as a private property tax payer, unlike a publically funded road project no longer taxed. This h T This highway project will likely cost far more than the estimated $2 billion to build, as - if anything - the not in my back yard mentality has already raised the purchase price two fold since 2007 when first injected into a public debate. This is, in part, what not-in-myback-yard thinking has done as opponents now plan eventual court cases and foment mistrust to obfuscate truth. We have moved to consummate self serving narcissism since the 80s and some of us now seem to want to thwart any progressive project with applied self serving reverse loathing. It is as if what resides within those so against this project is a mindset that threatens all business investment by any example. Sad and true.AEditorial landed gentryContributors approach by such This is straight forward landed gentry interference to catch up and isolate future progress as many activists against the same, still dream of a national park no majority wants and this road is south of that pipe dream. True Mainers against the road who take mistruth before facts, are misled. The pending feasibility study will be open to the public to digest, as will all road project planning at the Agriculture permitting stages. No matter if the road is built or not, it is Established Summerpublication 2008 now time for the feasibility study to get started and exor- An all volunteer agriculture cise a conclusion, for all to consider. PO Box 632 Brownville 04414 965-2332 H 794-2973 O 279-0029 C (when on)
Betwixt Maine and New Hampshire rail issues.
GUEST EDITORIAL: A HATCHET JOB

By Chop Hardenburgh
Atlantic Northeast Rails & Ports
A last the state of New Hampshire has made public the agreement with Pan Am Railroad to operate the state owned part of the Hillsboro Branch now operated by MBRX. The details do nothing to erase the impression that the department was fixated on removing Peter Leishman's operation from the line, and installing Pan Am, the only other bidder. Foremost, one must ask the question, why was MBRX eliminated right from the beginning as 'non-responsive'? NHDOT's Review Committee should provide the Governor and Council, which reviewed the contract on 1 May, with explanation. If the Review Committee found some parts of the MBRX proposal missing, why did it not ask for further information? As each member of that committee knew, MBRX has operated on the line since 1992, and the only shipper on the line, Granite State, is completely satisfied. Indeed, due to MBRX filings with the state since1992, the Department already knew that MBRX completely satisfied the 'Content of Proposals' requirement. To eliminate MBRX on some failure to dot an i or cross a t is to engage in sophistry with no intent to serve the citizens of the state, but rather some other master. The Committee may claim that any bidder who does not satisfy the criteria should be disqualified. Under that rubric, Pan Am too should have been disqualified. The RFP (Request for Proposal), section IV.A, asks the Committee to review each proposal's 'indication of its ability to provide freight service to the existing shipper on the line, Granite State Concrete.' Pan Am cannot have met that requirement, as none of its officials ever talked to Granite State about its needs. No railroad can claim to be able to provide freight service to any customer without knowing its needs for service. In another way, the department has put the needs of the mystery master above that of its citizens. The Agreement provides nearly two years for Pan Am RR to reach agreement with Granite State. What will happen in the meantime without an agreement? Commissioner Chris Clement does not say, but one can envision three negative outcomes:
Fabienne PROST Bonnie McCREADY Bill SAWTELL Peter COWAN Dana MORSE David DESCHENE Chop HARDENBURGH Walter BOOMSA
The department should have required Pan Am to reach agreement with Granite State before signing the operating agreement. Why didn't the department do that? Because, one suspects, it already knows that Granite State will not deal with Pan Am. That railroad's vagaries in barring MBRX at a whim, from the hours of operation fiasco to the 'banned for life' edict caused significant economic damage to Granite State. Granite State has reported it will not deal with such an unreliable partner. Pan Am has major fish to fry on its lines (and all agree it is doing a much better job), from the need to keep crude moving, to starting up the direct on-dock service in Portland, to enabling its customer Global to receive ethanol in Revere. Why has it expended so much energy, administrative attention, and legal fees on the effort to get rid of one tiny railroad, Leishman's MBRX? While its officials will not talk, one suspects that it is embarrassed by Leishman's showing that the line is viable after Pan Am abandoned it. And its vindictiveness knows no limit. The G&C should not approve this contract until it is fully satisfied (a) that all behaviour by both NHDOT and the Attorney General was above board, and (b) the Agreement is in the best interests of the state as shown by a signed service contract between Pan Am and Granite State.
wally.sinclair@aol.com
BONNIES NATURE
Maine Grange News

Our activities each quarter
with Bonnie McCREADY
With the summer due in July, please check out the work assembled for you and Grange members if you are into computers and have a great summer, all who till the soil. We have heard by postal mail other Grange bits in the past to add to your column space for events planned and held. Please take opportunity to use newsprint when offered.
, celebrated Guilford Community Night. The public invited to attend this celebration with a community potluck supper at 6 PM. The 7 PM program included recognition of several long time Valley Grange members and a special tribute to and WABIfor their community support.
Maines dynamic duo, Ken and Jane Brooks, will play vintage folk, bluegrass, gospel and classic county at 7 p.m. on at the Wayside Theatre, Route 23, 851 North Dexter Rd. Doors open at 6 p.m. Desserts and beverages. Door prize, pie auction, 50/50. Admission is $10. Contact Chester Bekier 924-5711, Joe Kennedy 277-3733,
WaysideGrange@yahoo.com for more information
Posted: 10 Apr 2013 03:07 AM
We e have all heard the expressionweaseling pressionweaseling your ur way out of something. This expression may come from the fact that weasels have a very flexible spine and can easily maneuver in tight spots. Which really comes in handy since weasels are known to be thieves. For those of you who already guessed The Weasel will be our topic of the day. The weasel by far does not have the most glamorous history, they are considered vermin by most farmers, and hunters have long hunted weasels for their coat. Reaching the age of maturity at 4 to 8 months a female weasel
called a Doe or a Jill can have 2 to 10 kits or kittens. The Kits are weaned and catching prey of their own by two months old. These small carnivores live on a diet of frog, rabbit, rat, and bird, and dwell near rocks slides and stream banks. Weasels are very powerful for their size. A silent hunter able to creep up on it's prey, when they get close enough a weasel will pounce on it's prey and usually deliver the death bite to it's neck. These brave little hunters can take down prey that is much bigger then they are, a weasel will even attack a human if they get between them and their
prey. Weasels also Wea have the a ability to change their th coat with the season, in colder climates a weasel's brown or tan coat turns white. Weasels have been introduced to many areas as a natural form of pest control and can be found all over the globe except for in Antarctica and Australia. So the next time you hear the expression weaseling your way out of something. Remember weasels are known for being quick and clever.
Bonnie McCREADY is a printer at Globe Printing Co., Lincoln.
Bee Whisperers Diary
You can also check us on Starting new honeybee hives in the spring makes you feel like winter is finally over. Im starting up 4 new hives this spring. Two, just started from 3 lb packages brought up from Georgia. This is www.beewhisperer.us the way most people get started. A three pound package contains about 12,000 bees plus one queen bee and cost about $100. These are usualPenobscot County Beekeep- ly started sometime in mid April to ers Association will meet on the last early May. Within a few days of inThursday evening of each month at troducing the bees to their new 7pm at the Bangor Extension office home the queen will be laying eggs. of the University of Maines Co-op- It takes 21 days for those eggs to erative Extension service, at 307 hatch into adult bees. From then on Maine Avenue, Bangor. (across the the population will grow rapidly, street from the National Guard of- typically to about 60,000 or more by fices) If you keep bees, would like to the end of June. Two new hives for me will be keep bees or would just like to meet started as nucleus colonies or nucs. and learn about beekeeping
Author Installing 3# pkg. Bees
Column continued to page 12
has been changed to We will open and then work the first 3 Degrees. Then, well break for a luncheon, (provided by the hosts), and then the Fourth Degree and close the Grange. Once again, if you can help, please let Rolf know at Bette Horning, with Richmond located Enterprise Grange spoke to focus our recent National Day of Prayer Ecumenical Service giving explanations of Flora, Ceres, and Pomona. How Flora represent flowers, Ceres represents cereal and grains, and Pomona represents the Pomegranates and pom-deterres, other fruits and veggies. Since Grange is not a church or religious organization and is non-partisan, it is a good place to have an Ecumenical National Day of Prayer Service respecting the fact that some may pray differently than others. We included an explanation of how Muslims, Jews and Christians all have their roots in the same God going back to Abraham. We had a Native American Prayer and a prayer for children that was from Islam and Jewish Prayers and St. Ambrose church had a well written piece about the persecution that Christians are feeling all over the world. Boy Scout Troop #610 did a wonderful job of presenting the flag, leading the Pledge and then three of them read prayers for families, local governments and our National Government. Special music was provided by CJ Roy and St. Ambrose Choir members.
On the RFD with MainelyAgs

By Jack Strout
It was a warm day in late spring, the sun was

bright and birds were loud. On a day like this I hit the A & P for Buds and ease in the canoe past the muck downtown, given a bit of decent ice breakage / passage and go up the Sebec. But not today, maybe, here I am once again cleaning up after that raccoon. Usually he pokes around my trash and calls it a day. I could tell by the racket he was making last night that he wasn't happy about my new trash can. But this; this was revenge. What I didn't know from that all the racket was him ransacking the outside corner of the camp where what tools I have are placed about. I stood there holding the geezely mass of fishing line with one clear thought. Tonights the rifle. Im going coon hunting. So, no Sebec. No quiet walk downtown, no lifting up the canoe from where it is stored near the Dillon House. The morning air brisk but bearable, I broke wind and headed out the door hunkered down clutching my traps and in my 100% wool top to toe and then some, walked to Mee-oh-Milo. Catch ya. Next Issue..
Catch ya next issue.
- Mainely Agriculture M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T It is our volunteer mission to support and encourage a vibrant and thriving return to family farming / foresty / fishery along with building a more healthy farm infrastructure, a sustainable and wider regional economy based upon agricultural traditions handed down for centuries. Such agrarianism is indeed a culture at the same time it is an economy. We foster and support such a local agriculturally based economy, state wide, north, south, east, west.
Katahdin Iron Works and Gulf Hagas

By Bill Sawtell
On sale now at: The General Store & More, Brownville Jct.; Tradewinds, Milo; Robinsons, Monson; Indian Hill & Corner Shop, Greenville; Rockin P Sporting Lodge, Sebec
207-848-2795
Chain Link Fence PVC Fence Wood Fence Steel / Wood Guard Rails Electric Gate Openers & Access Control Iron & Aluminum Ornamental Fences Industrial & Commercial Woven Wire Fence Visit us at: www.newcombfence.com
Pen-Bay Tractor Co..

1707 Bangor Rd. Clinton 649-6199 Daniel 426-8594 Clyde
Call us before you buy
and from the author: 965-3971
..
.. .
PO Box 206 - Carmel, ME
207-848-2903
Antiques & Collectibles

Carmel, Maine Rte 2 (814 Main Rd)
Antique Mall
PO Box 99 22 Horseback Rd. Burnham Always Buying & Consigning Consignment Sales Every Sunday * Estate Sales 1800 254-2214 h-b@uniets.net 207 948-2214 www.houstonbrooks.com
ROLLER RINK
43 North Rd. (Rt 100) Detroit
Tel. 207 848-7699 Open Daily 10-5
Open 7 days 10-5 * Handicap accessible 487-5565
A large multi-dealer shop

s
RollerRinkAntique.com
News & Ads For Next Issue Must Be in By May 25
Ags - A Page In Time

Road sign Entering Stetson
MAg Farm HISTORY(S) ( )
Pictured below was Alphonso S. Rand of Stetson and his oxen Mt. Kaatahdin and Granger at the Town of Etna a railroad station in 1904, ready for anothher trip to a fair or exhibition. Rand d transported the oxen by rail as they y grew so large. The Etna station was as seven miles from their home in Stetson n - Cream Brook Farm - which they allways walked, and the walk took about ut three hours, one way. Alphonso and his son Clyde, bred and raised the giant oxen in the early 1900s from a pure Holstein and Durham cross. The oxen eventually became known as, "The World's Largest Oxen", weighing a combined 9800 lbs. In 1904 they were about 2/3 fully grown and Rand began showing them at fairs all over the Northeast. This photo is from the Stetson Historical Society and a photo of the pair full grown, hangs at the Stetson town office. The other photo is from the Maine glass plate collection stored at Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport. Named for things large, Rand chose Mount Katahdin for one local large object and the national Grange as fitting for the other with Granger listed at 4800 and Katahdin at 5,000 pounds. Katahdin passed on before Granger at 11 from a burst bladder and Granger was put down at 17. Rand had Katahdin mounted by a taxidermist and until a barn fire took the effigy. Clyde displayed the mount at local fairs and parades until 1934 following Mr Rands passing in 1910. When alive, the pair were viewed by 50,000 people at Madison Square Garden, NYC and it was there the bark-
From F a description d i i b by Wi William H. Bunting:
Story summary fffrom numerous h historic sources:
Franklin Farm & Agra Business

Feed store Feed store
by the publisher er praised them as the worlds largest oxen. Legend has it that several years Le Legend has it that several years after birth Mr Rand decided to hang on to the pair and while they were fed free choice and by daily chores, he knew he must exercise them. His idea to place water up an 8 foot rise of 4 stone steps up into the barn each day likely developed their leg muscles along with farm work and the walks to and from the train station during fair season. In the end, they became too big to work the fields of the farm and as always , were special pets for the farm family, neighbors and the reputation of the town of Stetson and for promotion of the Grange. The father and son showed the pair all over the northeast for five years to the acclaim of fair associations and attendees. As cameras became more common, pictures were taken of the critters by anyone with an appreciation for the success of Rands care and feeding skills.
FEED, HARDWARE, TOOL RENTAL
Farmington Farmers Union

244 Front St., Farmington 778-4520 (store) 778-5674 (rental)
Whitewater Farm Market

M -F 8-7 Sat 8-5 All Natural Meats & Native Produce Organic & natural Livestock Feed Hay, Straw, Shavings, Pet Food Russ Dodge, Jr.
207 778-4748
US Rt. 2 New Sharon, ME
farmersunion!@gwi.net
Regional, Statewide Farm & Ag Directory

Fencing Equipment
Eastern Penobscot Farm & Ag Bus Services

Contractor Supply
Bangor Truck Equipment

FENCE CO. 938-2530
The Professional Fence People
Commercial * Residential * Viny l * Aluminum Chain Link * Temporary Rental * Wood * Gates
34 Perry Road * Bangor
Main St. Palmyra 1 888 891-4564
990-3757 fx 990-1125 Toll Free 1 877990-3757

w w w .bangortruckequipment.com
John F ahey-Wayne Nason-Dave Therrien
Natural Living Center

BANGOR
Natural Foods
adafence@yahoo.com
CONSTRUCTION * CONCRETE * FORESTRY * INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES Ph 262-0040 Fx 262-0027 Cell 745-8534 431 Odlin Rd., Bangor
800 933-4229 990-2646

Auction
209 LONGVIEW DRIVE (COR. STILLWATER AVE.)
Tractors
Welding
Tractors
Kramers Inc.
Agricultural Tractors
A rctic Cat A riens Gravely Houle Husqvarna Stihl New Idea New Holland 2400 W River Rd., Sidney
- Machine ShopShop & Portable :
- Tractor Sales -
TRADING POST
827-7032 Gilman Falls & 1681 Bennoch Rd Intersection 1/2 mi from I-95 Exit #197
OLD TOWN
Fishing, Guns
Tel & Fax 285-3022
547-3345
647 Bradford Rd. Charleston 04422
OLD TOWN 827-1903

www.brucestractorsales.net
TYM
We buy used guns
David & Sandy Hanson, Owners
Trucking Available * Auction all types
Auctioneer Jeffrey Tilton Lic.# AR 1163
Fact #3 On horses: A horse (other than gelding) is a colt or filly through age 3.
Young farmers of the year

Continued from page 1
to the fabric of Maine history and culture. He sees the agricultural industry as a vital piece of our collective identity - part of what makes us Mainers. For Doyen, farming is particularly rooted in tradition. "My grandfather Willard started out, followed by my father, Ross, and my uncles, Keith and Bill. It's always been a Maine tradition and it should continue to be." However, while both tradition and family involvement are key, he also believes that technology has an important part to play. "We have to embrace technology. We can't ignore it. For example, GPS tools are now playing a role in our operations and making things more accurate and easier to keep track of. New farming technology can really increase productivity." It's obvious from speaking with Shawn that he is not only an advocate for farming as a livelihood, but as a lifestyle. He is committed to ensuring the sustainability and future of Maine potato farming and he is doing his part to accomplish just that. Doyen has been a member of the Maine Potato Board for 5 years as of this March and is currently serving as the Vice President. He is also on the Board of Selectmen in Mapleton. In his free time, Doyen enjoys hunting, a good game of golf, or spending time with his wife and young children. Overall, it is clear from his committee involvements to his outright passion for his craft that Shawn Doyen is an asset to both his community and trade. Don Flannery, Executive Director of the Maine Potato Board, expressed his enthusiasm for this year's "young farmer" honoree. "Shawn represents the blend of traditional values, superior work ethic, and forward thinking that the Maine potato farming industry thrives upon. His commitment to excellence speaks volumes about his character and his dedication to the future of the Maine potato industry. Shawn's involvement in his community as well as the industry exemplifies the qualities of the Young Farmer of the Year and we are proud to honor him with this title."
The criteria for honoring a grower as the Young Farmer of the Year includes:
x x x x x x Forty years of age or younger Have outstanding farming practice Show growth and advancements in their farming operations Leadership within the industry Involvement with Maine Potato Board activities Willingness to explore new methods, technologies, and advancements in the potato industry Participation in the local community, church and other civic groups
with Dana Morse Springtime me e on on the the Sea Sea Farm. F
Springtime on the Sea Farm.
The change of seasons is the old dance watched by farmers everywher everywhere; when to plant, when to harvest, when to go to market, and when to rest. Most of us think of these rhythms in terms of our traditional farming activities, and picture the harrow and planter in the spring, and images of baskets brimming over with tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce when the late summer and fall come.
Less familiar are the images of those who work in Maine and elsewhere to farm in our oceans - our aquaculturists - yet, they are not that different from farmers on land. The ebb and flood of the tide is the daily rhythm that sets much of the activity, but this is smoothed out over time to make room for the change in seasons. Warming and cooling waters, ice-in and ice-out, blooms in the plankton, levels of sunlight, and spawning seasons for our shellfish and seaweeds are all things that our sea farmers have their eyes on, and more.
So, with Spring upon us, whats happening along our coast on our sea farms, and what things might be new this time around Heres a springtime round-up of some of the activities that growers are up to at this time of year, and whats to come.
This time of year is a nonstop, hectic, breakneck-pace season for commercial shellfish hatcheries (Maine has two). As may recall, bivalve shellfish such as oysters are filter feeders, meaning that they take their food by straining it from the water, and much of that food consists of tiny, free-floating plants, known as phytoplankton. Hatchery operators have to raise all this food in specialized tanks, and they then feed it to the parent stock in high amounts, which allows the broodstock to fatten up and ripen or get ready to spawn. Once spawning happens and the eggs develop in to their swimming larval stages, its a constant effort to keep them fed, keep the tanks and
For Sale:
Forever Farm? Farm?

The context of this photo may seem at odds with a concept of a Forever Farm however such easemented plots need to be resettled and managed by new farmers and such farms will come up for sale after another farmer has moved on. Over a hundred Maine farms have been protected with Forever Farm agricultural easements. These easements prevent subdivision and nonfarm development, but provide flexibility to enable the land to be actively farmed. Agricultural easements are voluntary restrictions that farm owners place on their property because they want to ensure that their farmland remains as farmland forever. In Maine, most easements are held by either Maine Farmland Trust or by other local or regional land trusts. Protecting farmland is critical for the future of farming in Maine. After years of decline, Maine agriculture is growing and poised to grow more. Setting aside land that will not transition to nonfarm uses is the goal of Maine Farmland Trust.
Continued to page 13
Katti Simpson
Independent Dental Hygienist
RockinPSportingLodge.com
Cambridge General Store (207) 277-4434

7 Main Street
Dexter & Fran Shepard

Signs, banners Clothing, hats Decals & more
359 Lincolns Mills Rd. Corinna 04928
RockinP Sporting Lodge & Cabins - Milo Rd, Sebec Email: jpoole@RockinPSportingLodge.com
Cambridge 04923 Telefax: (207)277-4433

Welding
291 No Street Calais 454-0083

ph &
Tim James, President
278-2609 H 251-9178 C
diversityfarm@hotmail.com www.alpacanation.com/diversityfarm.asp
cabinfeverembroidery@gmail.com
www.cabinfeverembroidery.com
Annual Spring pig Savings Dont miss this opportunity! soon!
500 piglets coming
Call now to fatten your summer pigl et for the freezer!
- Sold on the hoof at 50-55 lbs. -
Printing Thornton Bros., Inc. Globe Printing Co.

125 Main St., Lincoln
794-8600 rob@thorntonbros.com
Automobile
No. Penobscot Farm & Agra Bus. Directory

39 A Main St.
Aroostook Farm & Agra Bus. Directory

Leather harness Wool buyer
- Briggs & Little Woolen Mills Ltd.
Canadas oldest producing woolen mill
Harvey, New Brunswick, CN E6K 1J8
Lincoln
794-2973
phone & fax Also: Lincoln office for: Agriculture
Agricultural A g r i c u lt u r a l & I Industrial ndustrial nd dustrial ia l
North Country Harness Shop
A Winning Deal
Winn Equipment & Parts

POB 147
Cell ell ll l2 290-1917(1918) 90-1 90 -191 -1 191 917( 7( (19 1918 18) 18 )
MENS BELTS - CUSTOM REPAIRS SHOEING SUPPLIES AND MORE 757-7053 US RT 2 SMYRNA
506 366-5438 Fax (3034)

1.800 561 YARN (9276)
Two Billion migrant worker bees!

Mid May will see the start of the blueberry bloom and Maines 450 commercial blueberry growers will be recruiting lots of help with pollination. Honeybees from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and even as far away as California will be trucked in to pollinate the crop. University of Maine Entomologist Frank Drummond says, Maine is now bringing in over 70,000 colonies each spring. Maine ranks second only to California in terms of the number of honeybee colonies brought into the state. Beekeepers find that honeybees do not really thrive on blueberries. The bees tongues are only just long enough to reach the nectar deep in the blossom. The recommended number of hives to pollinate blueberries is 4 hives per acre. Too few hives and the crop will not be fully pollinated, too many and the bees will starve! Unlike apples for instance which stand in orchards carpeted with dandelions, blueberry pollination offers little additional forage and is hard on the bees as they struggle sometimes, despite all their work, to gather enough nectar and pollen to keep raising young bees. To keep the strength of the colony up on blueberries beekeepers may need to feed the bees with pollen patties and sugar syrup. From mid May to mid June about 2 billion bees will be working the blueberry fields. Blueberry growers have to pay more and more for bees as commercial beekeepers have had to deal with extraordinary losses of bees due to colony collapse disorder or CCD. In the last few years losses have been about one third of all overwintered colonies but this past winter has seen losses of more than 50%. As a result, prices have risen sharply and now stand at $140 for strong hives, less for weaker ones. Its a far cry from the nineteen forties when commercial beekeeping was in its infancy. Harold Swan, founder of Swans Honey, is known as the grandfather of Maine beekeeping. In those days Id get $6 a hive and my bees would have the place to themselves, there was no competition! Dave Yarborough, blueberry industry specialist at the University of Maine says the data over the last 25 years shows a strong correlation between the number of honeybee colonies and the blueberry yield. In the mid 80s 25,000 honeybee colonies were used rising to 70,000 colonies now. With little change in the acreage of blueberries at a steady 65,000 acres, the yield has grown from 42 million pounds to 91 million pounds last year.
Bees problem, our problems

is looking at parasitic mites found in some hives or bees as one cause to CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder). The symptom of CCD is this: adult worker bees within a short week up and leave the hive never to return. Any eggs left to hatch, the Queen and newly hatched bees will soon die without worker bees serving the hive. Usually within a week all are gone and the remainders are dead. With the U Maine professor of insect ecology Frank Drummond is part of a large regional study of native bees, which are necessary and critical players in fruit and berry crop pollination in the Maine and the Northeast. The four-state research project comes at a time when wild honey bee populations have all but disappeared and commercial honey bee populations are shrinking because of parasites, pesticides and landscapes that are insufficient to provide wild flower food resources such as pollen and nectar for the bees and their young, which can mean starvation of each years bees. Fruit and berry growers face increasing costs to rent beehives for crop pollination, when more native, wild bees could be relied upon, Drummond says. During the next five years, the collaborative project will construct a detailed assessment of the role of native bees in pollination of low-bush blueberries in Maine, Massachusetts cranberries, squash in Connecticut and apples in New York. In addition, ecological factors that enhance bee conservation will be another focus of the research, says Drummond, the principal investigator of the research being done is with bees in our blueberry fields. The project will be among the most extensive of its kind in the U.S. Hive rental is one of the biggest costs for fruit growers. The project
The crux is this: malnutrition, viruses or bacteria in the bees or inside the hives with some possible insecticide residue needs checking. A Piscataquis hive holder suggests keepers are part of the problem with sloth in maintaining, cleaning, destroying old hives and/or constructing or using new hives with new swarms to keep mites out by reinfecting the landscape with spoiled colonies.
costs for fruit growers. The project will determine ways to reduce dependence on commercial bees by relying more on native bees. Native bees have been here since the melting of the glaciers and are a natural and permanent aspect of the landscape, but they are poorly understood, Drummond says. With the uncertainty and loss of honey bees, the likelihood rises for continued price increases. Some growers already rely upon native bees but also supplement this natural pollination force with commercial bees. Some growers, however, are unaware of the true value of native bees. Drummond says researchers will provide insight into how to enhance environments for sustainable wild populations, along with recommendations on pesticide use or avoidance by growers to protect wild and commercial honey bees, and bumble bees, which also assist in crop pollination. Sustainable environments can include landscaping modifications and management practices on farms and fields. Faculty researchers, with the assistance of UMaine graduate and undergraduate students, will conduct interviews and surveys this season to assess grower knowledge and perceptions that may influence the grower communitys likelihood to adopt measures that will enhance pollination services, according to Drummond. By better understanding pollinator communities in each crop system, characterizing levels of pollination deficits across sites, crops and regions, and understanding how landscape and farm-scale factors can influence pollinator diversity,
researchers can then assemble an outreach plan, a pollination toolbox, and grower workshops to enable growers to determine whether a pollination deficit exists, and if so, what to do about it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing funding for the project, to be matched by several Northeastern states and grower organizations. This involves UMaine and four other institutions: University of Massachusetts - the lead coordinator - Cornell, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, and the University of Tennessee, which will maintain a research-based native bee website through extension, and a national network of Cooperative Extension groups. In addition to Drummond, other University of Maine study participants include Cindy Loftin, a spatial and landscape ecologist; Alison Dibble, a botanist and pollination ecologist; David Yarborough, a UMaine Extension professor and blueberry specialist; Aaron Hoshide, an economist; and Samuel Hanes, an anthropologist. In addition, Drummond says five graduate students and dozens of undergraduate research assistants at UMaine will be hired throughout the five-year project.
Waldo Area
Compost
Farm & Ag Bus Directory

Feed, Hdwe Tractors
MACs
Pick Your Own - Organic c Certified Certifi fied fi d

207.567.3393 dstapleskox@gmail.com
302 Old County Road, Stockton Springs, ME 04981
New England Organics

73 Reynolds Rd., Unity ph 207 948-3071 fx 207 948-5139
earthlife
Hardware & Feed

FEEDS - full line of animal feeds
Ingraham Equipment
Rte 139 Unity 207 948-3800
OF MAINE
782-1005 783-8451
We fix water
ph
CERTIFIED WATER TREATMENT
fx 1 866 218-2836
SUMMER EXTRA Adv DEADLINE Pushed ahead to July 7
WE BUY
353-JUNK
s
Affordable 1-on-1 Sewing Lessons ss Large Selection household & estate furniture We buy and sell furniture
DONT FORGET OUR HUGE INVENTORY OF QUALITY USED FURNITURE!

Beds - Couches Dressers Mattresses - Dishes & all household items
If you dont see what you are looking for, ASK! We have lots more in storage!!! Custom Made. We Make Everything!
5 Starks Road New Sharon, Me 1.888.446.3532 OR 297-778-0665
Feta cheese Lamb-Meat Cell# 322-5248 48 Augusta Rd (Rt 3) Belmont, ME Susan Littlefield
Come see us for all your truck needs.

We have it all! If we dont have it we will find it for you. 980 Pond Rd., Wales 04289 alexcapplace@aol.com ph 207 933-2498 fx 207 933-2493
WATER WELLS GEOTHERMAL SERVICES PUMP SALES & SERVICE

www.mcleodwaterwells.com
HERMON
207-848-5520
An ancient crossing technique

- By Barbara Webb As I suspect many of us do, I am often planning my fall breeding even while I am still drying off spring lambs. Some lambs are so promising right from the get-go, just keep on improving, and how can we resist planning fall breedings for those lambs? I certainly cant ! My breeding assignments
may change over the summer as I see how the different lambs are growing out, but I am always thinking and planning for fall. Likewise, as we see how an individual performs over the years, our breeding plan for that animal will change as we learn more about their genetics. We know a great deal more about an animals breeding potential at four years certainly, than we do at four months. Yet, if we have a ewe with great fertility and mothering for example, but who is weak in fleece, we experiment with which rams will best improve fleece on her lambs. Or if we have a ram who throws beautiful, meaty offspring, but whose mother has too many singles, we breed him to ewes with better than average fertility and watch to see how his daughters do at lambing when it is their turn. Each time we make a cross and see results, we learn a little bit more about the potential of that animal, and how best to use it. But what do we do when we have a truly outstanding animal that seems better than all the potential mates? A ram who throws beautiful stocky lambs, is a good father of daughters, AND has a rich and lustrous fleece? Or the ewe who has proven herself to be a dependable producer of fat, sassy twins, clips a silky fleece, and also stands to be milked? Who do we breed them to? Are we starting to feel that no matter WHO we assign them to; that we are breeding them down? We worry that the next generation will be watered down from their outstanding parent, and indeed, each successive generation away from that individual dilutes the genetics by another half. Lambs are 50% of their mother, but then the grand-lambs are only 25% of their grandmother, and their lambs are only 12.5% of our now great-grandmother, and soon it seems, that wonderful package of genetics is dissipated. This is when we should look at line breeding, in order to fix a collection of traits firmly within your flock genetics, rather than let it get lost over time. Line breeding is a breeding tool used all during human history, and with all livestock species, hunting dogs, beef cattle, milking goats, whoever, and it is a tool that you should consider using this fall. When I talked breeding with an old family friend, I asked him for advice about my ewe Solee. She was six at the time, and was really showing herself to be the star of the flock. Twins every year, always born without assistance, face forward, fat and sassy, and never a problem at lambing or any other time of the year. Her daughters were showing her breeding as well, following the mothers footsteps, and I decided I needed to stockpile her lambs toward the eventual day when Solee would have to retire. The previous fall, Solee had been bred to Lars, and given me her best set of twins to date. Big and brawny, full of chest, with long, deep torsos, and calm, easy tempers, they were clearly a successful breeding!
www.onesteelusa.com
Top Prices * State Certified Weights Courteous Service * Prompt Payment All Types of Scrap Metal
My dilemma was; should I breed Solee to Lars again since these lambs were so outstanding? Or should I breed her to a new ram so I could spread Solees genes around the flock? When Dean asked me to list the pros and cons of each breeding choice, my friend asked if I had ever tried breeding her offspring with each other.
No, it would be line-breeding Dean said, as long as they were only half-siblings, and he gave me the reference to a wonderful book entitled The Basis of Line breeding, A Practical Guide with Illustrations by J.H. Lents, published 1991, by PAW Publishing out of Allen, KS. (If you would like to track down a copy, the Library of Congress number is 91-90167.) A Hereford breeder, Lents had been breeding cattle for 20 years at the time of the books publication. According to Lents, the fundamental cross in a line breeding program is of a half brother to a half sister. The shared parent is the outstanding individual of course, and the other two parents should be unrelated to each other. Call our star flock member A. Remembering that each lamb is of each parent, her half-sibling offspring would all be 50% A, and 50% of the unrelated sires; well call them B and C. So we can describe the offspring as AB and AC. If you breed these two half siblings, the lambs each get of their genes from each of their parents, and doing the algebra, we see that the lambs from that linebred cross are of (AB) plus of (AC), coming to ABAC. Adding up the fractions, you will see that the lambs are only each of the less desirable sires B and C, but are still at of our very desirable A. And when you breed those lambs to another A line out of unrelated sire D, they come up to be A,1/8B,1/8C,D; and they will still be at 50% of A. And that is the beauty of line breeding. By starting with half-siblings, out of otherwise unrelated lines, we can breed forward endlessly, and still stay at 50% of our desirable ewe A. This notion graduates further when each ram is outstanding, as you create many half-siblings within each generation, but as you can see from our ewe "A" example, line breeding from your ewe standard is the first pivot. This is where the adage the ram is half the flock falls into place in practice. The key per ewe would be to breed her to a different ram each year, and to hang on to the half siblings. You will be able to start line-breeding in year two, breeding her new lambs to equally well selected yearling half-sibs. Then in year three, you have her newest lambs, her yearlings and two year-olds, PLUS the lambs who are the results of last years line breeding, all at that magical 50% of A. Note that if we breed back a generation, for instance ram AB back to A, we have then crossed over into inbreeding, resulting in an animal that is 75% A and 25% B. Anytime the percentage of any one animal goes over 50%, you are inbreeding; by definition, line breeding will never take you higher than 50%. While arguably still a potential tool for improvement, inbreeding is more dangerous genetically and will not be discussed here. Book author Lent had spent his twenty years prior to the date of publication, line breeding on one outstanding Hereford line, and at publication was still going strong. He was still producing outstanding individuals, and had no intention to deviate from his breeding plan. With all those years into the program, and many generations away from the original bull, he was still working carefully with outside lines, and by planning his half-sibling crosses, he was able to maintain the influence of that one, outstanding bull, discovered all those years ago. Lent points out that as important to the method as is the half-sibling breeding base, is the willingness to select among the offspring and to cull any unsatisfactory individuals. Of course any breeding method depends on the quality of your cull
string line. All breeding by design is to fix a desirable set of genetic traits from the outstanding individual(s), and indeed it does so very efficiently, but it also can fix some undesirable, recessive traits as well. If for example, our ewe A is carrying a recessive gene for weak hocks, then in certain half-sibling crosses, two copies of the recessive gene come together and express this trait, i.e. the poor hocks - this offspring has to be culled of course, and if possible, both of the generational half sib parents since they clearly carry this recessive gene, but only cull if they are spared from this breeding program and are considered grade animals (meat choices). Make use of running a string of meat critters, always! At a bare minimum, the negative traited lamb should be culled and that particular unsuccessful breeding not be repeated, yet those parents removed (unpaired) from the program as soon as other good half-siblings are collected have some productive value, meat wise. By culling such offspring and half sib parents expressing undesirable traits, culling as such those parents as soon as you can spare them, it is possible to eventually, remove this recessive gene or any other from the entire A line. There are two key points here; the first, that as line breeding tends to fix desirable traits, it can also bring out undesirable traits, making a strict culling policy a necessary feature of a better farming method. Line breeding can result in more culls than our usual outcross system, at least in the beginning of the program, but on the flipside, can also produce more consistent awesome results down the line. The second key point is that with time, you will be able to remove those hidden, undesirable traits, at the same time that you fix a uniform set of the desirable genetic traits you first recognized in your A individual. So as you start making your fall breeding plans, consider line breeding. If you have an outstanding ewe or ram and/or other species, plan to start saving half siblings from that individual, with the express purpose of line breeding. If you are fortunate enough to have already saved some half-siblings, try a few half-sibling crosses at estrus. If you are uncomfortable with the idea, or unsure, start small and make only a few crosses this year, and remember that you can always eat or castrate mistakes. When those ABC lambs, calves, kids arrive in spring, dont forget to hang on to them for your herd! Chances are, they will be very nice looking animals, and you may be under some heavy pressure to sell them. Also, breed your A animal to someone new each year, and adding to those offspring your first generation sibling crosses, you will quickly collect a number of "A" animals with which to continue your breeding program. If you are short on half-siblings, you can also work with a half aunt to nephew, or half cousins, or half second cousins, even the half great aunt to great nephew. The number of generations down is not as important as that half, sideways relationship. While not being quite as effective as the standard half-sibling cross, these crosses are still based on a half relationship, and will still work towards fixing the desired set of genetic traits. The end of my story is that I compromised and bred Solee to Lars again that fall; that first set of twins were really, really nice, and I was excited about getting more of the same. Then I switched Solee to a different ram each year after that, for another 6 working years! I finally had to put Solee down when she was 14 years old, but I still have a wonderful collection of half-sisters, nephews, cousins, and linebred grandbabies and great-grands, and each breeding season I plan at least a few Solee-line crosses. Now when I look out in the field, I see her wonderful line, still going strong and still producing outstanding individuals; certainly a wonderful legacy from my treasured ewe.
onesteel 1 recycling recycling
ROLL OFF CONTAINER SERVICE

Complete Bailing Service & Freon Recovery for Municipal Light Iron Mobile Car Crushing Pulp Loader Service Available for Large Lots
Waite General Store

796-2330
Weigh station Game inspection, licensing Beer, deer, moose & turkey Get in the book !
622-2071 465-2212 985-4892 947-3710
Willow St Ayer St Rte. 1 Outer Broadway Limestone St AUGUSTA OAKLAND ARUNDEL BANGOR CARIBOU
492-1182
Fax 796-5664. Hours: M-F 8 to 4
Copper Augusta Road, Washington Aluminum 975-2817 Batteries M-F 7-5; Sat. 7-Noon Cars Drive on scales Brass
Kennebec Metal Recyclers

14 Brown Street * Skowhegan 207 474-6988
Mon-Fri 8-4
kennebecmetals@yahoo.com
Sporting Goods, fishing licenses Groceries, beer, soda, milk Postal service, UPS & Fed Ex Gift shop, Arts & Crafts
.Cars .Trucks .Appliances
$ REWARD $ .
. Brass . Aluminum
Copper
848-8240 Near Bangor on Rte 2, Carmel 04419 746-5436 - East Millinocket 04430 idealrecycling.net
IDEAL RECYCLING INC.
Attend Maine fairs all summer, watch schedules & our news about all fairs, 2013!
Visit your sponsors
HAMMOND
TRACTOR
Fairfield 453-7131 Union 785-4464 Auburn 782-8921
Wash and groom at
Summer PAPER news:

Fryeburg Fair, 2012

Sin
COMPANY
70 19
ce
474-2591 800-378-5413
M-F 8-5, S 8-1
257 Waterville Rd., Skowhegan
www.whittemoreandsons.com
Outdoor Power Equipment
HITTEMORE & SONS
Farmers Markets Fair pictures & blurbs on youth Fairs not visited last year newsphotos MAINE FARM DAYS CLINTON Wed & Thurs August 21-22 TEAM PENNING CHARLESTON Now through Oct 20 MAINE OPEN FARM DAY JULY 21 Spend Sunday at a farm! FYI:
Jessica.L.Nixon@maine.gov
Discount Foam & Insulation Outlet

Union 785-4411 ph 785-4414 fx
Located next to
OR
A celebration of Fiber Art; demonstrations of spinning, shearing and vendors selling fiber items; fiber animals exhibited, animal demonstrations and animals for sale. Hot fair featuring livestock, crafts, midway and state entertainment. Old xhibit halls, livestock, midway, drag racing, pulling LOCAL vendors, entertainment and livestock. Old MacDonald's Barn of animals to touch, stage talent, & livestock exhibits Family country fair. Midway, animal pulling events, childrens games. A family fair with midway, animal exhibits, crafts, exhibits, flower show. Family fair, lots of rides and exhibits, tractor pulling, demo derby. A traditional old agricultural fair with midway, animal s, crafts and animal pulling. Agricultural exhibits, pulling events,
, crafts, midway and harness racing. .
Visit your ur s ur sponsors ponsors
All types of steel sales * Roll offs * Dumpsters * Truck/farm Equip. * Custom Painting No job too large or too small
Tom Hargrove
1980 Heald Highway
Union 207 513-0606

REPAIR, PERFORMANCE SOUND & STYLING
onesteel 1 recycling
Bangor 207 217-6515 www.gaftek.com
FAIRFIELD ANTIQUES MALL
FCI Commodities
International
Feed
1101East Dixfield 1101 US Rt 2
R.S.Osgood&Sons
rsosgood@roadrunner.com
Top Prices * State Certified Weights Oldest state Agricultural fair featuring a huge midway, animal exhibits, Courteous Service * Prompt Payment crafts, commercial exhibits, flower show, animal pull events and harness racing. All Types of Scrap Metal Fair famous for the annual State of Maine Wild Blueberry Festival, midway, Harness www.onesteelusa.com Racing, crafts, pull events, Augusta Oakland Arundel Working refurbished milking parlor, home made ice cream, agricultural exhibits, crafts, midway, animal pull events. Bangor Caribou
Outstanding exhibits, 4-H, livestock exhibit, flower show, animal pull events, midway. A progressive fair with extensive agricultural, art/crafts exhibits, midway, animal pull events, harness racing and mechanical pulling. Great country fair, midway, exhibits, non-pari-mutuel racing, animal pull events, entertainment.
645-4934 800 287-4934 www.rsosgood.com
PO Box 115 Detroit 800 462-4929 207 487-2296 207 487-2238
and
#382 Rte 201- Fairfield

2.5 miles No of 95, Exit 133
Hardware
RESTAURANT & BAKERY
453-4100
The Largest Antiques Mall in Maine
8:30-5, 7 days a week
y y y y
Lawn & Garden Fencing Supplies Animal Health Equine
238-9209 GRAINS 888-396-9994 www.lymansfarmstore.com
Stage show, animal pulling, antique autos, midway, livestock exhibits. Free Admission, Free Parking, Stage Shows, Animal and Mechanical Pulling, Midway, Demo Derby, Livestock and Exhibit Hall. Family atmosphere, midway, animal pull events, mechanical pulling event, exhibits, stage entertainment. Country fair with midway, agricultural exhibits, livestock, animal pull events. Historical museum. Livestock shows, animal pull events, midway, crafts, exhibits, and a new harness track. Midway, Exhibit Hall, Animal Pull Events, Crafts, Livestock exhibits, mechanical Pulling. Midway, exhibit halls, livestock, animal pull events, harness racing, demo derby. A celebration of rural life, demonstrations, Maine-Organic produced foods and crafts as well as livestock exhibits. Large exhibit halls, midway and livestock exhibits. Animal pull events and harness racing. Maine's largest agricultural fair. Exhibit halls, harness racing & livestock shows. A day on the common. Small with craft displays, exhibits, entertainment and petting animals.
for breakfast lunch
Hardwoods, Inc.
122 River Rd., PO Box 337
Lumbra
Milo, ME 04463
Foxcroft Veterinary Services, PA

Jeffery D Kelly, DVM Ronald C Miles Jr., DVM Matthew Rolleston, DVM Dennis A Ruksznis, DVM
WKTJ
778-3400
rickdavis@gmail.com
Big Hits 99.3
Clearwater Communications 121 Broadway - Farmington Rick Davis
- Penobscot County Commissioners recent forum BANGOR - Basic Road Construction underemployed of the 16 Maines. In
101 was again evident at the more relaxed setting of Penobscot County Courthouse April 2, 2013 when MAINE Construction firm, Cianbros CEO Peter Vigue, again led comments from the public for stakeholding investors to weigh when ready to pivot - a stronger Maine, east, west, north and south. At all previous public meetings Vigue has tried to encapsulate the notion that no true east west road will be a straight line when he chided, If the town of Garland does not want the road through Garland, so be it. Just what valley easements Maine and investors would purchase south or north of rumored areas of middle Maine to needle itself through such territory staying clear of the Piscataquis headwaters is still outstanding Vigue said, and only speculation for armchair cartographers, otherwise. The Piscataquis represents difficult river crossing in regard to protected areas, flood control, fishing resources, hunting and all that the great north woods of Maine represent to state citizens. Yet, both Piscataquis and Washington Counties are the states poorest, river direction this is the only east west native peoples original road unsuitable for anything but trout and canoes. At other public meetings in Washington, Franklin, Somerset Counties, less contentiousness was present from the opposition. Six Maine counties have stakes in this home grown effort to bring Maine and the Maritimes closer together as the region, time, history and circumstance once previously allowed in wartime and now, a local employee owned entity seeks common sense to shift business to Eastport and Searsport by rail and highway.
Cianbro Corporation:
by Wally Sinclair
Peter Vigue, with handshake to Garland's Thomas Farms spokesman at the Commissioners forum said the road concept had no eye on part of his land holdings and if the "...town of Garland, did not want any part of the road crossing through Garland, so be it."
- is his hard sell. Doubting Thomas v Letting George do it the real quandry; publically built v private. A very difficult road to explain and the costs - a worry of environmental, commerce, industry, and At the Foxcroft Academy gymnasium two provinces and one state, all . meeting of last year the sunny day was cloudy in the building. This Road Con- An impatient questioner wanted Vigue to go to cept is a departure from normal road the map and spot from point to point just building when compared to national in- where all will go. Perhaps in the interest of terstates that national defense ushered in time and taking further questions he took anas necessity for better transportation in other commentator. All news reports indicates will be a ten year shawl to knit across the the 1950s and seemed easier for the public this center of middle Maine and when set to go to accept when commerce and travel before the public in permitting stages, investmeant broader business for most small, ments will be subject to state agencies, public medium and large businesses shifting hearings. Road and bridges (2 major rivers) a from rail to same day, next day highway, three-year engineering / construction phase next week shipping necessities. Just why After lining up financial resources in the next some members of the public disbelieve nine months to a year, design and right-of-way American business can finance building it acquisition phase, expected to take another
have been selected by Organic Valley Cooperative for the Gold Quality Recognition Award for milk quality - for the second year in a row, for Maine. To achieve the Gold Award for milk quality, recipients needed an average somatic cell count of less than 100,000, a standard plate count average below 20,000, a preliminary incubation count averaging less than 30,000 and a laboratory pasteurized count average below 100.
The Smiths website photo
Monroe, Thorndike, (207)568-5028 www.mbhpc.net
Sec. Kathy x
Sec. Kim Cheney, Mars Hill, (207)429-8092 www.pineandspurs.com Status: Approved /Type: Two Status: Approved /Type: Two Judge / Zone 7 . Skowhegan State Fairgrounds. 33 Constitution Avenue. Stalls: Deb Newcombe 207-446-9910. debn1@aol.com. Judges: Sandy Curl, Patricia A Smith / Mgr. Cindy Kovach Daytime Phone: 413-3866823. buckskins97@yahoo.com / Sec. Audra Perlman 18 Christian Hill Rd Swanzey NH 03446 3100 Daytime Phone: 603-8522877. cashnjewels@yahoo.com. www.nephc.com
x x x x x x x x x x
owned by Sarah and Garin Smith, producing a diverse array of products. The farm is primarily a dairy farm milking 45 cows from Jerseys, Holsteins, Linebacks, and three years and construction, three more years. Brown Swiss. They sell at four farmers' markets including the twice weekly Skowhegan Farmers' Market, the Farmers' Market at Mill Park in Augusta, the Waterville Farmers' - Maine Quarter Horse Association Market, and the Orono Farmers' Mar Skowhegan ket. They also sell non-certified pasSkowhegan tured broiler chickens, which are Hollis moved onto fresh grass twice each day. Skowhegan A diversified certified organic famAndover ily run farm, the family offers highest Cumberland quality raw milk in glass bottles, a Hollis variety of beef cuts, seasonal vegetaAndover bles, pastured broiler chickens, and Hollis eggs from seasonally pastured hens. Andover They are the only Maine organic farm Skowhegan to win in Maine this year. FYI; Hollis grasslandorganicfarm.com 41 GrassSkowhegan land Lane, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 Call (207) 474-6864.
is America's largest cooperative of organic farm ers with a leading organic brand. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,834 farmers in 35 states and three Canadian provinces, and achieved $860 million in 2012 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The regional model has milk produced, bottled and distributed where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table thereby supports local economies. For further information and to learn about Organic Valley's 25 years of sustainable agriculture as it celebrates its anniversary in 2013, Visit organicvalley.coop
Somerset Area Farm & Agra Business Directory
Somerset Auction Co.

Auction every Monday at 10am Miscellaneous, Cattle,
Poultry, Pork, Sheep
Rt. 201 Fairfield 207-649-0347
Auctions
Construction
PO Box 567 Skowhegan
Butcher
Grocer
Athens Corner Store
8 Main Street Mon-Sat 4-9 Sun 5-9
474-6471
Sand, Loam, Gravel Snow Plowing Septic Systems
Owner: Glen B. Laney
Luces- Private Meats Label

Processing for Farmers
USDA Inspected
Smokehouse
No Anson 366 Emden Pond Rd

www.mainefarmsbrand.com
Pizza/Fresh Sandwiches Roadies Chicken Groceries Beer/Wine - Alligator Ice - New England Coffee Irving Gas/Diesel/Off Road Diesel Oil Oregon Chainsaw Supply Seasonal Hunting/Fishing Megabucks-Powerball-Instant Tickets
Hydraulics
CH
Pellet Heating
Linkletter & Sons, Inc.
Radiators
Sironens Radiator Service
Quick Stop
16 E Front St. Skowhegan 858-0981
Office 654-2237 Cell 858-5010 Pellet Delivery Fax 654-3250 PO Box 135 Athens 04912
Tel. 474-2460 Fax 474-2487

25 Merithew Drive, Skowhegan Rt. 201 No. Waterville Rd.
Complete radiator/ cooling system services. Fuel tanks, AC, aluminum repair, commerical & industrial.
Laneys Pit Stop
Bee Whisperer
NEWS
Ag
Installing the Queen
there! Within a fairly short time however, a democratic decision is made and even faster than they appeared they are off to their new home! Now if this swarm is moving into a hollow tree somewhere not many folks have a problem with this. Sometimes however, the scout bees have found a loose soffit board or a gap in the siding of someones home and to the horror of the homeowner they watch as a cloud of tens of thousands of bees settle on their house and proceed to march in and explore! .
These are usually available in late May and June. When you buy a nuc you are buying bees, a queen and several combs of bee larvae called brood. They cost between $125 and $150. It is roughly the same strength colony as what a good package of bees will be at after about 4-5 weeks. Of course most years I start many more new colonies when I get called to collect swarms in May and June. Swarms occur in many established hives that have successfully survived the winter and are building up populations very quickly. Even newly established hives can swarm if they grow exceptionally well. A colony tends to swarm when there is a very strong nectar producing bloom nearby (this is called a honeyflow). The bees are bringing in nectar and storing honey fast and they start to fill the brood nest where the queen is laying eggs. If the brood nest gets crowded with too much honey and the queen is running out of space to lay eggs the colony jumps into swarming mode. Then they start to make about 10 to 20 special large queen cells where fertilized eggs are fed a special rich diet of royal jelly. This causes the egg, which under normal conditions would become a sterile worker bee, to grow especially fast and large developing into a fertile queen bee. Before these new queens hatch (which only takes 16 days) the reigning queen bee will leave the hive along with about half the population of worker bees. The swarm in flight is usually heard before it is seen such is the roar that anywhere between 10,000 and 40,000 bees can make! They usually settle on a tree branch or other structure and rest for a few hours or even days while scout bees seek a new permanent location to make the new hive. Meanwhile the first young queen bee to hatch in the parent hive will seek out and sting her sister queens to death! The swarm cluster can be the size of a softball or bigger than a basketball, and while this may look menacing the bees are actually very gentle as they have no hive to defend. This is the chance for the beekeeper such as myself to capture the swarm assuming the little critters have decided to settle somewhere accessible. As my luck tends to have it, swarms in my yard tend to settle as high up the tallest tree they can find. Im sure they are laughing at me as I try everything I can to shake them from their lofty position to somewhere I can reach them with a bucket at the end of a long pole! Its so refreshing to get a call as I did one time from the Bangor International Airport fire department. They asked me to come to collect a swarm which had settled only a few feet from the ground on a bush right in front of the fire station. Then its just a matter of either snipping off the branch or shaking the bees into a box and taking them back to the bee yard to get re-housed. There is only a limited time for the beekeeper to catch the swarm as scout bees are quickly coming back to the swarm cluster with news of possible new sites to set-up home. The scout will enthusiastically convey the directions to the new location by way of the bees waggle dance and dozens of its sisters will go check the site out for themselves. If they like it they too come back and entice many more to go see. The swarm may have to decide between several possible locations with some bees dancing go here and some bees dancing go
Going to Expo? xpo?
Helping to move rail and port traffic through New York, New England, the Maritimes & eastern Quebec.
Newsletter Summary, Editor: Chalmers Chop HARDENBURGH
EASTPORT:
CONTAINERS, CHIPS , said Ex Director Chris Gardner, after attending a cruise ship conclave in Miami mid-March. Timberland is actively marketing the chips it will export from Eastport; they have met the financial responsibilities of their lease, he said.
Read back issues

online
Moo Milk Pigs in Maine State Fairs
Next issue:
www. scribd. com

Click: newspapers Click: Wallace Sinclair
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a house panel there seems to be enough antibiotic resistance evidence for the Food and Drug Administration to take action to control overuse of antibiotics in food animals. "The FDA is propagating some rules and guidelines in this area and we have been working with them to establish those rules," Vilsack said. "We have jointly gone out and educated producers on what they are, or are not, requiring at FDA.
At press time, The Brownfield Newsletter reported Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow said she expects the new farm bill write up will be ready sometime in May in order to echo Majority Leader Harry Reids chide to the Senate, last week in April to act on the farm bill and water resources by the end of May to clear enough floor time for consideration of comprehensive immigration reform. Sources: Associated Press, Brownfield News & The
Across from Thornton Bros.
www.mainegraniteking.com
The Maine Agency of Farm Family Insurance e have an agent near you. W
Tom Foster Dan Foster John Heller
659 Church Hill Rd. Augusta
Miller Associates
636 US Rt 1 Box 7 Scarborough
Andy Daigle
400 M ain Street M adawaska
207.510-6301 Todd Walker

MS#24 126 Western Ave. Augusta
207.726-4348 Randy Lincoln

24 North Street Houlton
207.622-4646 Ron Kofstad

26 Rice Street Presque Isle
207.532-2016 Eric Hart

20 M ain Street Livermore Falls
207.764-5645 Mike Fitzpatrick

309 M ain Street Brewer
207.737-4200 Jane Nelson

913 M ain Street Vassalboro
207.597-2500 Patrick McLaughlin MichealHealey

PO Box 32 Alfred
207.989-8880 Greg Warren

60 M ain Street Bucksport
207.680-2520
207.490-0918 800.333-0918
www.farmfamily.com
Farmer Fact #4 On horses: A horse at age 4, he or she is a stallion or mare.
Resources, Logging , Recreation , Woods, Fields, Water & Commerce

Springtime on the Sea Farm.
its a constant effort to keep them fed, keep the tanks and water clean, and to grade and thin . In an ingenious development, hatchery operators put out tiny chips of oyster shell for the larvae to cement themselves to, as they go through their metamorphosis from free-swimming form to the non-moving stage that we are more used to. The chips are only as big as a single larva, about a half a millimeter, and in specialized floating trays set into the tanks, the larvae crawl around looking for something to attach to. When they find a nice piece of shell chip, they cement themselves on, and thats the end of their career in motility. Once the oysters are settled, they are a lot easier for the hatchery staff to take care of, and will soon be shipped to shellfish growers throughout the state and the whole East Coast. Given that each dropper can be 45 feet long or more, and that there can be 400 droppers on a single raft, there can be 3 miles of rope under a single raft, and those lines can grow upwards of 60,000 pounds of mussels! When harvesting, farmers will haul in a whole line of mussels or several lines at a time, and then they will clean them, grade them for size, and do a quality check. Any mussels too small for market will be set back out on the lines so they can keep growing, and sometimes the farmers will find sets of mussel seed on the lines too, providing stock for the next crop. Maine has one longline producer, where long loops of mussel ropes are suspended from a horizontal longline. This is a highly productive and efficient way to produce mussels, but also requires some specialized equipment. This time of year, farmers have to stay very committed to the farm so that sea ducks dont eat the crop (mussel rafts are protected by netting), and its an every-day affair. Bottom-seeding is the third way that growers produce mussels in Maine, and it too is a time-intensive affair this time of year, to protect the crop, keep the harvest moving along, and getting ready for the time when the next crop needs to be gathered from the wild. Regardless of method, Maine mussel farmers are busy with harvests and marketing, making sure boats and other equipment are up to speed and in good working condition, and in getting ready for the seed collection season just around the corner.
News of farming, fishing, forestry and minerals.
The true wealth of Maine
Larvel Oysters
Maine Oysters on a shovel
As for the oyster growers themselves, this is a time of year for working on equipment, and getting the farm ready for the growing season. The new crop of oyster seed (oyster spat) are usually delivered in late May or into June, and these are about 1.5 or 2mm long. For now, growers will be looking at the oysters theyve raised from last year; perhaps taking them from cages where they spent the winter, and getting ready to put them out to start growing. When the water temperature reaches about 40 degrees Farenheit, its time to get the oysters out from over wintering and spread out into growing cages. Did you know that oysters can survive for weeks or months out of water? They can. Some growers still use a system called moist air storage to over winter the oysters that are too small to put on bottom or bring to market. The oysters are kept in containers in a cooler, or even a pit in the ground, and the oysters go into a kind of hibernation when below about 40 degrees, and as long as they are kept still and moist, theyll do quite nicely. In a few weeks, farmers will get their oyster seed from the hatcheries, and most of these will go into a piece of equipment called an upweller; upwellers help young shellfish grow very quickly, and to get to a size where they can be more easily handled, and put in cages out on the farm. Put all this activity on top of early-season harvesting too, and youll see that Spring is a busy time for oyster farmers. Mussel farmers this time of year are most often in a harvesting mode: its still a little too soon to set out lines to catch sets of wild mussels for seed stock. Maine has three types of mussel aquaculture operations, as well as a wild-harvest industry. Farming efforts have traditionally used floating rafts, longlines or bottom culture techniques to deliver a quality product to market. Mussel rafts are typically 40 square, and two to four of them are strung in a room, moored in protected locations. Rafts have beams of steel for strength, and crossbeams of wood, to hang the dropper lines, where the mussels are grown.
Its just about harvesting season for kelp farmers in Maine! Sugar kelp is a wintertime crop, and plants that were seeded at just a few millimeters in November are now several feet long. Plants will be taken from their farm longlines and brought into the processing house: some will be cut into noodles, some will be sent out fresh as a delicious accompaniment to all kinds of fish. Those in the wild-harvest sector will be busy collecting drying the plants; there are companies in Maine with well over 30 years experience, and a wonderful array of products from our sea plants. Much of the work taking place in shellfish farms in Maine right now is the result of cooperative work between researchers and growers. These sorts of collaborations continue to this day, and are an important part of smart development for the industry, with both producers and scientists lending their expertise. are two of the species that are in development presently, as new crops for growers to produce. More on razor clams later on, but for now fishermen, shellfish growers and scientists are cautiously optimistic about our chances with sea scallops. In a pilot project funded by Maine Sea Grant and with several collaborators in industry and the Maine Dept. of Marine Resources, scallops are being grown on a trial basis on several sites around the state. At this point, growth has been well beyond expectations, and the test crop looks beautiful. So, stay tuned for more as this project moves along, but it just goes to show that for farmers and fishermen everywhere, spring is a busy season, and that the never-ending cycle of invention, testing, refinement and improvement is in full swing on sea farms in the state of Maine.
By Dana MORSE, Extension Agent Maine Sea Grant College and UMCE at Walpole Darling Maine Center www.seagrant.umaine.edu Skype: MaineHardCider
Saw Milling Tattoos T Shirts, etc.
News & Ads For Next Issue Must Be in By June 25
Western Penobscot Farm & AgriBusiness Services Directory

Roofing Steel
- Mid Maine Metal CUSTOM CUT 8 COLOR CHOICE TRIMS & ACCESSORIES - FAST PREP Roofing and Siding Supply
Yoders Sawmill
Cedar is our Specialty
We Deliver 278-3539 info@yodersawmill.com
16 Bolstridge Rd. Corinna
Hemlock - Pine - Cedar Shavings
967 Mooshead Trail - Rt. 7 No. Newport www.midmainemetal.com
278-2520
368-5560 Newport Tues - Sat, Sun. by appt. bbstattooco@myfairpoint.net
Coming events, news, classifieds, etc.

New CSA garden started at Sherburne Farm, Fossas General Store plans opening
Maine Harness Racing Schedule

- May at 5pm; at 5pm; at 6pm at 6pm at 7pm at 2pm; at 1pm
Mud season 2013

in (TSC) partnership with thru May 19, is part of a nationwide in-store fundraiser to benefit state and local 4-H programming in each of the communities where a store is located. Funds raised through this promotion help improve our 4-H programs and allow us to offer more programs for youth in Maine, says Lisa Phelps, 4-H Program Administrator. (In the third year of the 4-H Paper Clover
at 4pm at 1:05; at 4pm at 1:05; at 12:05; at 4pm
at 1pm; at 3pm
- September at 1pm at 6pm; at 5pm

farm on the ground effort by Sherburne Farm and other individuals has already begun planting high ground next to the manure pile, Sherburne Farms Ripley Road in Dexter. located at local grocer near the Corinna town line speaks to those wanting fresh veggies. indicates it will be offering local food produced within a 35-mile radius of Dexter and is counting on wholesale buying of fresh produce, food products, crafts for a year round store front on Main St. They hope to offer as wide a variety of local goods as available, certified organic or not, including:
- June at 5pm; at 6pm at 5pm; at 6pm at 4pm at 1:05pm; at 4pm; at 2pm; at 4
at 4pm; at 1:05pm at 3pm; at 1:30pm at 2pm at 1:30pm; at 3pm; at 7pm; at 1:30pm
- July at 5pm; at 6pm; at 5pm; at 6pm at 4pm; at 1:05pm; at 6pm; at 2pm
- October at 1:30pm at 5pm; at 6pm at 12:05pm
4 p.m., Goranson Farm, 250 River Rd. South Dresden. View the farm's reduced tillage techniques and learn how to improve your soil Products health. wanted. Contact person: Ernest Rollins 717-7057 ewrollins@ymail.com , or Judy Craig 924-3067 judy@DexterFarmProject.com. The Annual Wool Pool of the Maine Sheep Breeders Association is scheduled for Sat., June 1, from 8 -1:00 pm at the at the Fairgrounds, Windsor. Producers will be paid 55/pound for wool. Buyer of the Wool Pool will be Bartlett Yarns of Harmony. MSBA will be accepting clean, well skirted wool only. Wool MUST be dry. All bags will be opened and inspected. Shepherds checking stored wool at home should keep moisture at bay.
pull out neck wool that is heavily contaminated
- Augustat 6pm at 4pm; at 1:05pm; at 5pm; at 1pm; rain date at 1pm;
- November at 6pm; at 5pm; at 12:05pm
Rte 11A 2 222 Charleston Rd. Charleston, ar rlest ME 04422

ME INSPD & PSD EST 6
- December at 12:05pm
Web site - MaplelanefarmsMaine.com
Email - maplelanefarms@yahoo.com
Maine Harness Racing Schedule is sponsored by:

Horses Clothing Jewelry
North of the 45th Parallel
at the cost of $5/bag.
Slaughter S aug te / Processing ocess g / Custom o Custo Meat eat Cutting Cutt g Processing Game Animals / Hay & Feed Sales
243 Knights Pond Road from MSBA members and

non-members.
855 667-8225
Toll free
(207)384-5554
Mon-Wed 8:00am-5:00pm Thur-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm Sat 8:30am-5:00pm Sun 9:00am-1:00pm
The Higgins Family

Family Farm since 1941
will be accepted.
www.northerntack.com
4 Davis Rd., Alexander
Horse Supply
Feed and supply store, offering grains, supplements, hay and livestock supplies. Additionally, we have pet feed and supplies.
Are you looking at me? Im the Smallest Advert here, must be doing something right?, Eh? Buy me.
Cut to your specs. / vacuum sealed / frozen
We sell all natural beef & pork

- Roasting Pigs available -
Katahdin Trail Saddlery Perko Supply, Inc Rt 7 North, 522 Moosehead

Trail Newport
Open 9-5 M-F Sat 9-3 SHOP ON LINE !
1326 Exeter Rd., Exeter
Sanding, Refinishing & Installation
Let us proces your Beef, Sheep, Goat, Pork & Game Animals
Piglets have arrived!
Sign ups / pick ups at:
Lane 285-3591, Dover 500 to be sold! 50-55 # Ave. Maple Tractor Supply 564-6590, $90 ea. with $5. Coupon Millinocket Tractor Supply 723-6582, Good at Maple Lane Bangor Tractor Supply 947-9604 & Ellsworth Feed 667-4751
Like us on
www.KatahdinTrailSaddlery.com
Tel 297 368-5599 1 800 798-8907
379-2900 1 800 453-3337 Maines largest supplier of Poulin Grain & Pet Food
Mid Maine Greenhouse Growers Association list

, 207 New Rd., Penobscot 326-4978
173 Atwood Hill, New Portland 628-4251
97 Madawaska Rd., Palmyra 341-1711
keepsondancing@yahoo.com
239 Central St., Bucksport 469-3295 grannysbloomers@live.com 29 Main St., Franklin 565-3851
Box 9 Parsonfield 6258709 joannsflwrs@roadrunner.com

527 Jackson Rd., Monroe 525-4577 Sabattus 375-4486 info@jillsonfarm.com
81 Puddledock Rd., Manchester 622-5965 www.longfellowsgreenhouses.com

103 Park St., Farmingdale 582-7701 jillcline8@gmail.com 316 Back St., Hebron 577-1612 cindy@meadowridgeperennials.com 464 West Shore Rd., Westport Island 882-4214
rollingacresfarm7@myfairpoint.net
225 Monroe Rd., Monroe 525-6621
sarey@midmaine.com
,
So Paris 743-6301 Caribou 498-2296 noyesflowr@myfairpoint.net
roundyfarm@myfairpoint.net
27 Organic Farm Rd., Pittsfield 487-5057 tom@snakeroot.net 1664 Union St., Bangor 942-1394 spraguesnurs@gwi.net 438 Exeter Rd, Corinna (105 Barrows Pt. Rd., Newport
peachtree35@roadrunner.com , 1779 HammondSt., Hermon 848-5453 www.greencareplants.com

Box 159 Jonesboro 434-6611
npme173@hotmail.com
Caribou 492-4241 dandp@mfs.net

Damariscotta
micromaniea@gmail.com
124 Bangor Rd., Ellsworth 667-7333
341-0191 caddy@gwi.net
109 Orrington 989-7546 wswl_fm@yahoo.com 90 Coldbrook Rd., Hermon 848-5363 bwitherly@roadrunner.com Bangor 941-9898 348 Betts Rd., Orrington
563-5009 pinkham5@roadrunner.com Farmington 778-3566 800-564-3566

Falmouth
1362 Medford Ctr. Road. Medford 735-5005 hannahtodd7@yahooo.com 45 Stevens Rd., Augusta 622-3927 davsue@usadatanet.net 876 Stillwater Ave., Bangor 049-6326 www.blueseal.com/dealer.BSF_Bangor 1640 Broadway, So Portland 454-3983
, 50 W. Gray Rd., Gray 657-5442 bcorey@griffinmail.com 14 Kelley Rd., Glenburn 884-8884 ggardens2004@aol.com
Box 3038 Brewer greenhse@agrotech.com 1779 Hammond St., Bangor greenc@gwi.net 396 Bridge Rd., Parkman 876-2944 greenhse@agrotech.com 39 Hanson Rd., Scarborough 883-5750
www.newlandnursery.com
316 Back St., Hebron 577-1612 cindy@meadowridgeperennials.com 464 West Shore Rd., Westport Island 882-4214
781-3860, 800-244-3860
Dexter 924-
micromaniea@gmail.com
124 Bangor Rd., Ellsworth 667-7333
7102, 877-742-5119
Fairfield 453-6036
825-3438 sherallen348@aol.com
www.newlandnursery.com
6 Country Rd., Gorham 839-4362
www.broadwaygardensgreenhouse.com
518 Graytown Rd., Sedgwick 326-9311 clairedgray@aol.com
wwwodonalsnurseries.com , 45 Maxell Settlement Rd. Orient 448-7266 bunkyz@mfx.net
, 4 Cedar Lane, Meddybemps 454-3983 cjmccoubrey@gmail.com

268 Bald Mt Rd., Dedham 843-7496 ckadgds@aol.com 72 Karn Rd., Livermore Falls 897-5909 chretienri@roadrunner.com 1294 Aroostook Ave., Wallagrass 834-6584
hff@maine.rr.com
Maine Florist Association

Gorham 8393321
Boothbay Harbor 638-2400 brgh@gwi.net New Limerick 532-2794 tscalnan@pioneerwireless.net Houlton 532-3520, 800-287-6737
Surry 667-6751 / 4730 Sweden 647-8419 Casco 655-5459
101 Elm Street Hatfield, MA 01038 O- (800) 452-3294 C- (978) 580-816 BettencourtL@HelenaChemical.com 30 Middle Rd., Fairfield 453-6601 hilltopfarms@roadrunner.com 310 Commercial St., Rockport 236-3023 96 Lincoln Rd., Enfield
Some MFA members are listed within Mid Maine Greenhouse Assoc and not duplicated within this listing. Some MFA Growers may not grow vegetables. - Editors Note
732-3907 pelletierienrena@gmail.com
299 River Rd., Lewiston 783-8777
corrieau@fairpoint.net
346 Williams Rd., Newport 368-4828 connelly.paulou@gmail.com
rogerpin@roadrunner.com
529 Mountfort Rd., NoYarmouth 829-5004,
chadwickflorist@yahoo.com
Rockland 594-8008 New Gloucester
www.hobokengardens.com
, 1204 Main Rd., Bradford countryjct@gmail.com

1452 New Sweden Rd., Woodland 492-4162
ww.plainviewfarm.com
334 Enfield Rd., Lincoln 794-8306 bwporter@myfairpoint.net Box 581 Holden 313 rebel Hill Rd., Clifton
897-926-3776
Morrill 342-5677 bdutton@fairpoint.net
kbondeson@maine.rr.com
218 Old Town Rd., Hudson 327-4674 kellis@ellisnursery.com
843-0653
267 Littlefield Rd., Newburgh 234-2115
843-6916 juliebeckford@gmail.com
264 Main Rd., Eddington 843-7462 drimm@roadrunner.com 26 Randolph St., Portland 797-0066 urisbara@maine.rr.com
E Millinocket
447-447-3027
Kennebunk 9852995 eileen.harmon@vishay.com Scar\aScarborough 883-5494 Bowdoin 842-7020 fourduckpond@gmail.com
Open yearround Saturdays 8:30-12:30pm

@
, 262 Horseback Rd., Burnham 948-3240 www.entwoodbonsai.com 337 E Main Yarmouth 571 Rt 1, Scarborough 396-5301 www.estabrooksonline.com/colorspot
2106 Essex St., Bangor
www.iriscreekgreenhouse.com
880 Lege Hill Rd., E. Corinth
884-8888 kouskyfarm@yahoo.com
Box 6 Wesfield 425-
5361 bkinney1@maine.rr.com
Robins Flower Cemetery Rd, Wilton Pot

Garden Center & Nursery
55
947-8836 mgzuck@hotmail.com , 55 Quaker Lane, Vassalboro 923-3836 www.fieldstongardens.com

440 Stickney Hill Rd, Brownville 965-8399 296 Main Rd., Hampden 444-0755
387 Webster Rd., Farmington 778-5937 garden@robinsflowerpot.com
Belfast3338-2050
55 Cemetery Rd, Wilton
www.forestsedgegarden.com , Rt 222, Stetson 296-3443 www.fossfarm.com
563 Johnson Mill Rd., Orrington

ledgewood123@msn.com
Rockwall Gardens 523 Sebec Shore Rd., Guilford 564-3627

rockwallgardens@gmail.com
Added Sponsorship of the 4th annual MFA florist and Central Maine Greenhouse Associations Listings provided by:
Bwarts Plants
Rt 7 Dexter
Where everyday is a good day to play in the dirt

Bwartsplants@hotmail.com
- Penning
2013
Schedule Agriculture
p8
MM g
g
Ag History p 6
2013 National 2013 National
Media Champ Media Champ
saddle now !
Compete or watch in the bleachers at
cc
Get in the
Agriculture
Vol 5 No 2, 2013
Established for farming interests statewide, 5 times a year, always FREE!
Maple Lane Farms! All summmer!

May
Annual Spring Spring Annual Piglet Sale!
50-55 lb. Ave. @ $90 $9 ea. ea. Duroc - Landrace ra ace Cross C Durocc- Landrace c a d ace Cross Cro C Cr -
Sold on the he hoof ho -
500 piglets -
mCMPTA Team Penning Events 9 ammmmm RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammm mmmmmmm9mamammmmmmm June All Day Rodeo RSNC Sanctioned CMPTA Team Penning Events 9 ammm RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 am mCMPTA Team Penning Events 9 am Saturday Night RodeoRSNC Sanctioned RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 am So mmmmmmmmmm9mamammmmmmm July m RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammm MPTA Saturday Night RodeoRSNC Sanctioned RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammm Events mmmmmmm9mamammmmmmm August ( m CMPTA Team Penning Events 9 ammmmm Saturday Night RodeoRSNC Sanctioned ock Stabl RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammm Events mCMPTA Team Penning Events mm( at Skowhegan Fair ) mCMPTA mCMPTA Team Penning Events 9 am mmmmm( at Windsor Fair ) mCMPTA mm
Soils soon ready
Sign ups / pick p ups at -
Includes $5. $5 Coupon Coupon Coupon towards tow * Includes s $5. $5 5. . Coupon Cou oupo upo pon towards pon tow to processing in ng at at Maple Maple Lane La sing at Maple Maple Lane La processing
September mmTeam Penning Events 9 ammmmm s Arena, mCMPTA Team Penning Events 9 am mmmmm( at Farmington Fair ) mCMPTmm All Day Rodeo RSNC Sanctioned mCMPTA Team Penning Events 9 ammmmm RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm October mmmm RSNC Sanctioned Sorting 9 ammmmmmm (Shamrock Stables Arena, W. Gardiner)mmmm mRanch Sortingmmm (Shamrock Stables Arena, W. Gardiner)
Schedule subject to change
US Postal / Advertiser drops Circulations : 303
Press run this issue - 12,000
Maple Lane Dover-Foxcroft Millinocket Bangor & Ellsworth
285-3591, 564-6590, 723-6582, 947-9604, Feeds 667-4751
Schedule hedule subjec subject bj to changem
Ave. Circulation 2012 Electronic & Print: 18,000 Av
Agriculture
Maple Lane Farms
AROOSTOOK COUNTY - Equipment dealers from Houlton to Fort Kent have shipped in planters, harrows and assorted other parts and inventory to meet the needs of farmers now queuing up both to repair on hand equipment and order new implements. Potatoes, broccoli, corn, barley, oats, soy beans, dry beans, row crop vegetables and more make up the annual planting routines. Downeast, beekeepers are setting up hives with blueberry crop farmers and cranberry holding farmers already active. The infrastructure to farming in Maine extends all over the state to make sure home gardeners and professionals have what they need to produce food for the table and to preserve items for winter consumption. Farm stands will be active with locally grown greens shortly after fiddleheads are past season and consumers move about to buy locally and to buy fresh.
Agriculture - Your FREE FARMING QUARTERLY NEWSPAPER & SUMMER EXTRA ! Agric Agricu
224 Charleston Rd., Charleston (866) 279-9775
Open 7-5 M-F maplelanefarms@yahoo.com fax # 207 285-7324
FREE-From plants to plate

Mainely Ag May 2013

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mainely Ag May 2013

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

! Established for farming interests statewide, 5 issues a year, always FREE!

An independent farm journal

Spud farms strong as planting starts

Annual harvest award, 2013

Sixty-five percent of the Maine crop is

Farmers of the year

IRVING IRV RVING V NG

Publisher: 965-2332, Lincoln office 794-2973

2 SPRING PLANTING ISSUE Mainely Agriculture 2013

Northeast Livestock Expo

May 17, 18, 19

MAINE Cooperative Extension

UNITY - Grace Keown of/

Auctioneer Jeffrey Tilton

Phone: (866) 279-9775 Fax: (207) 285-7324 maplelanefarms@yahoo.com

West Gardiner Beef

Custom and State Inspected Slaughtering

Maple Lane Farms

Mainely Agriculture SPRING PLANTING ISSUE 3

Ideal Soil Temps for Vegetable Germination

95 100 95 100 105 105 95 85 85 95 90 95 100 95 85 100 95 105 105

Team Sheep Shearing

DOVER GUILFORD MILO

Mayo Regional RegionalHospital Hospital

Call 564-4342 for our free referral service

Tattoos, Signs (PSLUH7DWWRR&R

Foxcroft Veterinary Services, PA

- 110 Church Str. Dexter We also sell tobacco pipes

4 SPRING PLANTING ISSUE Mainely Agriculture 2013

Wants a sense of community

Wants a statewide Comprehensive Plan

Betwixt Maine and New Hampshire rail issues.

GUEST EDITORIAL: A HATCHET JOB

Atlantic Northeast Rails & Ports

Maine Grange News

with Bonnie McCREADY

Bee Whisperers Diary

Mainely Agriculture SPRING PLANTING ISSUE 5

Author Installing 3# pkg. Bees

Column continued to page 12

On the RFD with MainelyAgs

It was a warm day in late spring, the sun was

Katahdin Iron Works and Gulf Hagas

Pen-Bay Tractor Co..

and from the author: 965-3971

PO Box 206 - Carmel, ME

Antiques & Collectibles

43 North Rd. (Rt 100) Detroit

Tel. 207 848-7699 Open Daily 10-5

Open 7 days 10-5 * Handicap accessible 487-5565

A large multi-dealer shop

News & Ads For Next Issue Must Be in By May 25

6 SPRING PLANTING ISSUE Mainely Agriculture 2013

Ags - A Page In Time

MAg Farm HISTORY(S) ( )

From F a description d i i b by Wi William H. Bunting:

Story summary fffrom numerous h historic sources:

Franklin Farm & Agra Business

FEED, HARDWARE, TOOL RENTAL

Farmington Farmers Union

Whitewater Farm Market

US Rt. 2 New Sharon, ME

Regional, Statewide Farm & Ag Directory

Eastern Penobscot Farm & Ag Bus Services

Tattoos, Signs (PSLUH7DWWRR&R