As president of a national seed growers organization suing Monsanto, the filing of a new antiGMO case against the corporate giant was reentered July 5 in Wash- ington DC to argue that natural seed farmers cannot control contamination of organic cropping by genetically modified seed from GMO farms locating within airborne reach of heritage farming activities whilst such farming also does more than threaten the saving of unpolluted seeds. Monsanto has begun suing small farmers armed with a recent court sponsored trade infringement decision that organic farms practice patent infringement within wind borne pollina- tion of Monsanto cropping. Such patent infringement double speak for farming organically near genetically modified farms violates the rights of other farmers to farm the way they wish. “Yet, Monsanto is unwilling to control GMO pollution and they refuse to sign a binding covenant not-to-sue family farmers for patent infringe- ment should Monsanto seed contaminate organic crops,” Gerritson is quoted. Such transgenic seed with DNA modified implanted organisms engineered by man, easily pollute virgin heirloom, organic or conventional seed. Their new court brief says organic Vol 4 No 4, 2012 Fall Harvest cc Jim Gerritson A new poster, created by a vocational student, is now printed to get out the word for the ban on out-of-state fire- wood. A “bugmobile” graphic by Kalyn Van Valkenburgh, class of 2012 at Erskine Academy and Capital Area Technical Cen- ter in Augusta, created a strong reminder that imported firewood can carry invasive in- sects, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), into Maine. Continued to page 9 Governor slows EW Road Speed At the urging of - co sponsor of the $300,000 state funded DOT road study for a proposed East West road - now in an election fight with another co-signer of the same bill, asked the Governor to postpone the start of this study until after the No- vember election. One day later, Governor Paul LePage, a proponent of the same road concept, agreed . Rep. Herbert Clark, run- ning against Thomas whilst supporting Continued to page 6 Ɣ Potatoes - Excellent Ɣ Blueberries - Excellent Ɣ Lobster - Tremendous Ɣ Milk Production - High Ɣ Strawberries - Modest Ɣ Apples - Expect Good Ɣ Beef - Processings Up Ɣ Hay/Straw - Tremendous Potatoes - Blueberries - Lobster - Milk Production - Strawberries - Apples/Grains - Beef/Pork - Hay/Straw - Excellent Excellent Tremendous Higher on chop Modest crop Expected Good Processing Up Tremendous AUGUSTA - The jury is out on Maine’s oats,corn and barley but talk says all look good in this year where the rest of the nation saw 35+ states in a record drought to rival the dust bowl days of the 1930s. Too much water here delayed some Agri- cultural production and hurt in- frastructure and leads some to think water is a new crop, long term. Our woods forest industry shows a good supply at mill yards with a dry harvest season. Continued to page 9 Publisher: 965-2332, Lincoln office 794-2973 : [email protected]Organic Seed and Trade Growers Assoc. Leaf Peeper Projections: Highlands Central Southern Sept 15 Oct 17 Oct 1- 17 best Oct 10-17 best Oct 5 -21 best Aroostook Continued to page 7 BUY IT WHERE YOU BURN IT Potato farmers of the year, 2012 The Maine Potato Board is pleased to announce the the Rudy Parent family of Ham- lin. Rudy, his wife Dinah, his son Jamie, and his brother Bill farm acres in the St. John Valley. Jamie is the 7th generation to work this land. Although Rudy is retired, with Jamie being the primary grower, no one can live on a busy, successful farm and not be involved in at least the weekly or monthly activity, if not daily activity. Rudy started farming right out of Van Buren High School in 1970, and he purchased the farm from his father Gerard in 1986. Rudy and Dinah raised four children on the farm: Jamie, their oldest son; Nick, who also works on the farm; and two daughters, Heather and Mi- chelle. All have grown up working in some capacity on the farm, learning a great work ethic. Lucky for grandparents Rudy and Dinah, their daughters live in the County also, so there is opportunity for maintaining closeness with their six grandchildren and soon to be seven . Typical of a large Franco family, the Parent family is tightly bonded and share as many holidays and special oc- casions as possible. Jamie studied automo- tive mechanics at North Maine Community College and sought other career opportuni- ties before joining his dad on the farm. He wanted to try some other things, but his heart was always in farming, and chose to come back on the farm and carry on as the next Continued to page 15 ! Established for farming interests statewide, 5 issues a year, always FREE ! An independent farm journal M Ag Printed with recycled newsprint, Soy based inks Printed with recycled newsprint, Soy based inks Nov 6 VOTE 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Monsanto issue complicated
Transcript
As president of anational seed growers organizationsuing Monsanto, the filing of a newantiGMO case against the corporategiant was reentered July 5 in Wash-ington DC to argue that natural seedfarmers cannot control contamination
of organic cropping by genetically modified seed fromGMO farms locating within airborne reach of heritagefarming activities whilst such farming also does morethan threaten the saving of unpolluted seeds. Monsantohas begun suing small farmers armed with a recent courtsponsored trade infringement decision that organic farmspractice patent infringement within wind borne pollina-tion of Monsanto cropping. Such patent infringementdouble speak for farming organically near geneticallymodified farms violates the rights of other farmers tofarm the way they wish. “Yet, Monsanto is unwilling tocontrol GMO pollution and they refuse to sign a bindingcovenant not-to-sue family farmers for patent infringe-ment should Monsanto seed contaminate organic crops,”Gerritson is quoted. Such transgenic seed with DNAmodified implanted organisms engineered by man, easilypollute virgin heirloom, organic or conventional seed.
Their new court brief says organic
Vol 4 No 4, 2012 Fall Harvest
cc
Jim Gerritson
A new poster, created by avocational student, is now printed to get outthe word for the ban on out-of-state fire-wood. A “bugmobile” graphic by KalynVan Valkenburgh, class of 2012 at ErskineAcademy and Capital Area Technical Cen-ter in Augusta, created a strong reminder thatimported firewood can carry invasive in-sects, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB)and the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), intoMaine. Continued to page 9
Governor slowsEW Road Speed
At the urging of- co sponsor of the
$300,000 state funded DOT road study fora proposed East West road - now in anelection fight with another co-signer of thesame bill, asked the Governor to postponethe start of this study until after the No-vember election. One day later, GovernorPaul LePage, a proponent of the same roadconcept, agreed . Rep. Herbert Clark, run-ning against Thomas whilst supporting
Continued to page 6
Potatoes - Excellent
Blueberries - Excellent
Lobster - Tremendous
Milk Production - High
Strawberries - Modest
Apples - Expect Good
Beef - Processings Up
Hay/Straw - Tremendous
Potatoes -
Blueberries -
Lobster -
Milk Production -
Strawberries -
Apples/Grains -
Beef/Pork -
Hay/Straw -
Excellent
Excellent
Tremendous
Higher on chop
Modest crop
Expected Good
Processing Up
Tremendous
AUGUSTA - The jury is out onMaine’s oats,corn and barley buttalk says all look good in thisyear where the rest of the nationsaw 35+ states in a recorddrought to rival the dust bowldays of the 1930s. Too muchwater here delayed some Agri-cultural production and hurt in-frastructure and leads some tothink water is a new crop, longterm. Our woods forest industryshows a good supply at millyards with a dry harvest season.
the Rudy Parent family of Ham-lin. Rudy, his wife Dinah, his son Jamie,and his brother Bill farm acres in the St.John Valley. Jamie is the 7th generation towork this land. Although Rudy is retired,with Jamie being the primary grower, no onecan live on a busy, successful farm and notbe involved in at least the weekly or monthlyactivity, if not daily activity. Rudy startedfarming right out of Van Buren High Schoolin 1970, and he purchased the farm from hisfather Gerard in 1986. Rudy and Dinahraised four children on the farm: Jamie, theiroldest son; Nick, who also works on thefarm; and two daughters, Heather and Mi-
chelle. All have grown up working in somecapacity on the farm, learning a great workethic. Lucky for grandparents Rudy andDinah, their daughters live in the Countyalso, so there is opportunity for maintainingcloseness with their six grandchildren andsoon to be seven . Typical of a large Francofamily, the Parent family is tightly bondedand share as many holidays and special oc-casions as possible. Jamie studied automo-tive mechanics at North Maine CommunityCollege and sought other career opportuni-ties before joining his dad on the farm. Hewanted to try some other things, but his heartwas always in farming, and chose to comeback on the farm and carry on as the nextgeneration of Parents on this land, • saidContinued to page 15
!Established for farming interests statewide, 5 issues a year, always FREE!
An independent farm journalMAg
Printed with recycled newsprint, Soy based inksPrinted with recycled newsprint, Soy based inks
Nov 6 VOTE444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444
Monsanto issue complicated
His long-term popularity puts him among the elite bulls in the history of AcceleratedGenetics. He has been among the top five milk bulls of the breed worldwide since his firstrelease. Breeders have used and been impressed with the high production that Marion deliversto their genetics. He recently passed 900,000 units of semen sold, putting him second amongunits produced by a bull for Accelerated Genetics. His popularity has made him a householdword in the dairy breeding industry. He has over 24,000 daughters on test and his influence willbe passed on through them as well as his sons.
He is quite a bit younger than Marion, so he has not had the chance to influence thebreed or Accelerated Genetics as much. Mystic though is a vital bull in the AcceleratedGenetics lineup and is quite popular for his ability to sire high producing and long lastingdaughters. To date, Mystic has made just over 100,000 units of semen which is not as impres-sive as Marion, but still a good number. His overall influence at Accelerated Genetics is awork in progress.
It is rare to have one farm providetwo top bulls to the same AI com-pany.
has provided two outstandingbulls that will help all the customers of
improve theproducing and profit capabilities oftheir herds
2 HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012 P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Several generations ofthis farm family in central Mainehave seen an evolution of the geneticsof dairy cows beyond what their an-cestors must have dreamed possible.As these two huge bulls attest, there isno question it takes fewer cows todayto double or triple the output of milkthat farmers of previous times strug-gled with to gain anything near thenumbers of hundred weight fluid gal-lons shipped, annually.“Veazland Marion” “Veazland Mystic”
Farmers’ Pledge:
No ArtificialGrowth
Hormone Used
Veazland Farms, birth place of breed’s best bulls…
Farm Fact #2: Clone: Plants, animals produced from single parent genetically identical.
CORINNA - This year marks 60 years Veazland Farms has been held by theVeazie family who, with 760 animals retained and milked - more than at any timein the past - the dairy will be constructing an additional barn (50x150) next year.
This growth, for brothers Rick and Rob, goes back to some excellent bloodlinesdeveloped and started by Kenneth and Virginia Veazie in 1952. The Veazlandbloodline is well known throughout the U.S. With recent bulls sold to geneticcompanies in Ohio and bought by 3-4 other companies like Accelerated Geneticsin just the past 3 years, business is good. Remarkably, operating at capacity forthe existing buildings, the employment numbers here at the farm is limited to 4 fulltime milkers and two part-time feeders helping the Veazie brothers keep contentedcows, 7 days a week. A nephew is also fully involved in day to day operations andis likely to become the fourth generation family farmer to take Veazland throughthis century. Fodder for so many animals is a day to day concern and as with mostMaine dairies who escaped the dreaded drought out west this year, ample storesare already put away. (See shaded box for those figures.) Cutting chop is ongoingfrom June to November and the greater Veazie farm family repeats a history ofthree sisters and two brothers and a nephew who make dairying a science and avery good business, with an excellent reputation. A Maine farming success.
A new chapter of beekeep-ers is being formed in theAndroscoggin County area.An informal group for the
purposeof ex-changinginforma-tion,
helping one another, andgenerating enthusiasm forthe art and science of bee-keeping. FYI contactCharles Armstrong [email protected] A chapter is forming inAroostook for beekeepers in“the county.” Contact Me-linda King for more infor-mation: [email protected] A chapter is now formedcalledthe Sacopee ValleyBeekeepers Club. They areplanning to take turns host-ing at member homes, whichright now includes Cornish,Limington and West Bald-win. Contact is Barbi Ives,
The American So-ciety of Civil Engi-neers most recentsurvey of the infra-structure of Mainelisted Maine as hav-ing: 36% of itsbridges structural-ly deficient or func-tionally obsoletewith 29% of ourroads having pave-ment in poor or me-diocre conditionand vehicle travelon our roads hasincreased by 27%since 1990. All fac-tors that suggesttransport needs inMaine are alreadylimiting futuregrowth in the econ-omy and detractfrom industrial in-vestment in Maineoverall, for theforseeable future.
An apparent suc-cess of constructionof a new east westroad would slowdown that declineof our infrastruc-ture, its proponentscontend and whilesome of this logicfalls on deaf ears,they continue tokeep the fire stokedthinking it will hap-pen, with persever-ance, a completedstudy and eventualpublic acceptance.
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Meetings around the state in Portland, Augusta, Calais, Dover, Dexter,and elsewhere have increased contentiousness in regard to the proposed east westhighway by supporters vs. nonsupporters’ voiced opinions, letters to editors and atpublic forums. Despite clarifications by state officials and promoter Peter Vigueof Cianbro Corporation obvious unfounded gossip about where, how and if, theroad will be built, a continued repetition of unknowns confounds a better under-standing of the project as envisioned. With this in mind the Governor has alsodelayed the start of the MDOT feasibily study for the same until after the Novem-ber election at Sen. Doug Thomas’ urging in August. His opponent in the race haschanged a former support for a road study to an opposing view calling for a repealof the vote to conduct a feasibility study, if elected.
use eminent domain to purchase land for the roadbed.
cross the Piscataquis River or enter built-up village areas in Piscataquis County andother villages along the route from Calais to Coburn Gore.
additionally construct utility lines, pipelines, telecommunication lines etc. or moveunsafe materials alongside the 4 lane highway within other constructions as other profitminded additional notions.
enter protected land areas, preserves or affect water resource regions.
t cross any water resource protected areas other than 2 sets of bridges needed over theKennebec and the Penobscot Rivers to complete the project.
determine the exact route of the project, only thedollars and cents logic to the same as is the study focus.
use public money to build or maintain the highway as it is a privately fundedproject from inception.
if the feasibility study - due to be complete in January - makes little senseeconomically for payback of some $2 billion estimated construction costs from any businesscost analysis.
if land purchase contracts cannot simply accomplish the 220 mile corridorneed in an economically viable logic, regards revenue for adequate payback and roadmaintenance over many years.
of a greater regional economy when all data points to theopposite fact and will serve to bolster, not destroy transportation needs with expandedrecreational transportation. Rather, “ (this) will enhance and improve the economy in thestate,” claims Vigue in many public statements.
be operated outside of current state and federal laws regarding jurisdiction andenforcement of transport and other applicable law regarding import export, customs, roadlimitations and any other rule of transport or environmental law by the state and nation.
Story by the publisher
These are details statednumerous times by State Sen.Doug Thomas and road promoterPeter Vigue, Cianbro CEO at allvarious public meetings. Taken atface value, the exact roadbed isnot feasible to reveal at this pointwhen contracts to buy reasonableland as the crow flies between theknown points is sealed and readyfor public exposure. The fact thatthe public is antsy about justwhere the road will be located islikely tempered by real estate con-
cerns that is disingenuous for realconcern for cultural impact or en-vironmental concerns upon theoverall economy of the region(s)affected by the project’s footprint.Rather, such complaint followsmob logic more than an open lis-tening, or natural concern forMaine’s progress over transporta-tion decay, statewide. Time hasshown many Mainers havedreamed an east west road existedbut finding a place to put it re-mains a stumbling point.
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 3
The Senate Agriculture Committee heard arguments for andagainst setting uniform standards for the treatment of egg-laying hens and egg labeling. A bill based on a compromisebetween the United Egg Producers (UEP), which represents90 percent of the industry by volume, and the Humane Soci-ety of the United States has provisions to include phasing inlarger cages for hens over the next 18 years. The bill wouldalso regulate the labeling of egg cartons to give consumersmore information about the hens that produced their eggs.Farmers in favor of the bill described it as vital to the futurestability of the industry, while witnesses opposed to themeasure said it would force many smaller egg farmers toleave the business. Sheep, beef and pork producers are con-cerned this will set a precedent that will ultimately affectthem.
Forest Rangers from the Maine Forest Servicereceived a prestigious video award for the clip entitled, “De-
fensible Space : It could save yourhome from a wildfire.”
is the premier honor foroutstanding local, regional, and ca-ble TV commercials and programs,the finest film and video produc-tions, or groundbreaking web com-
mercials, and programs. While these awards are not airedover TV networks and only given to companies or agenciesthat provide the same to state and local governments for instate broadcast and cable viewing each year, the award pro-gram gets thousands of entries from small television sta-tions, production companies and interactive agencies. The33rd Annual Telly Awards received more than 12,000 entriesfrom all 50 states and five continents. The Maine entry,funded by a fire prevention and safety grant from FEMA,features testimony from a camp owner in northern Maine -Chuck Johnston - who lost his 95-year-old camp to a wildfirein 2010. The video has been distributed to hundreds of firedepartments, homeowners and communities throughoutMaine and will be scheduled for future viewing with firedepartments and civic meetings if requested through theMaine Forest Service, FMI Contact: Kent Nelson,
Maine video wins national award
Located 8.2 miles west of I-95 Exit 197
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Voters heard reasons by Old Town Fuel and FiberCompany as to why they should be allowed to increase acarbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide emission license review hereAugust 14. While some among those attending voiced oppo-sition, DEP agreed to the change in license.
Farm Fact #3: Cultivar: Contraction of . Non-Latin form in quotes “arthritis herb”.
work, when road kill isfound that a raven canopen on it's own, a ra-ven will call out makingenough noise to alert awolf or a coyote tocome and open the ani-mal up so both can eat.Though the raven be-lieves in team work noone said they were fair.
Ravens are known tosteal, young ravens areattracted to small shinyobjects a habit that theyeventually out grow,but all ravens steal food,a raven will steal foodfrom other ravenscache. They even stealeggs from unguardednests. Though a little
naughty the commonraven is a unique andcaptivating bird towatch. So next time yousee one having a snackon the side of the roadremember you arewatching the most high-ly talked about bird atwork.
Fall HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012
4
Wallace Sinclair, founder ph 965-2332Editorial offices in Lincoln & Brownville
We accept if you give
name, town, phone&/or email /250 words
or less appreciated.
Fabienne Prost Emily Adams Bonnie McCready Bill Sawtell Dana Morse Gordon Moore David Deschene Jack Strouty y
PO Box 632 Brownville 04414
- Established Summer 2008 -
Editorial Contributors
It is our volunteer mission to support and encourage a vibrant and thrivingreturn to family farming / foresty / fishery along with building a more healthy farminfrastructure, a sustainable and wider regional economy based upon agricultural tradi-tions handed down for centuries. Such agrarianism is indeed a culture at the same timeit is an economy. We foster and support such a local agriculturally based economy, statewide, north, south, east, west.
Sports teams havebeen named after them.Poems and songs havebeen written aboutthem. Paintings havefeatured them. If youhaven't guessed bynow, my topic is thecommon Raven. TheRaven is the largestmember of the crowfamily, 30 inches inlength with a wingspanof 40 to 59 inches. TheRaven is cloaked in allblack spiked shinyfeathers that sound likerustling silk when thewind blows throughthem. The common ra-ven can live 20 to 23years in the wild,young ravens flock to-gether till they choosea mate. It is interestingto note that the ravenmates for life. Ravenscan live off a varied di-et of fruit, berries, andcarrion. The raven ca-pable of performingbreathtaking aerialfeats solo or with apartner. The raven isranked the smartest ofall birds, this high levelof intelligence makesthe raven very playful.Ravens are able to for-mulate and carry outpranks on animals andhumans, and excel atproblem solving. Theyalso believe in team
It was a cool morning, as I rummaged though all piles on table tops andbasically all level surfaces in my cabin looking for a box of rounds for theRemington. I backed into my end table knocking all loose paper work tothe floor. Pushing the new mound out of the way with my foot, I sawthe envelope with the government stamp. My summons to testify for theRiver Rat who had decided to fight his speeding ticket. The sight of thedate issued, brought back memories of that day. It was a dark day the ratfinally stopped ranting about his boots and leaving the sound of thewindshield wipers to break the stony silence, the rat drove on. A singleminded goal of getting home now. The rage from the events of the dayfueling his gas peddle. When we hydroplaned on the last turn I venturedto ask him to slow down. The Rat gave me a look that made hurtlingdown the freeway seem safer than asking again. I was clinging the sidesof my seat when the cab was illuminated by the flashing blue lights. Therat snorted. Threw the truck into second and pulled over. Turning to mehe looked me dead in the eye and said “No matter how this plays out weweren't speeding. Got it!” I was scared. Coming back to the day at hand,that memory fresh, I then realized I missed his day in court to testify.
"To argue with a person whohas renounced the use of
reason is like administeringmedicine to the dead".
-Thomas Paine
Two candidates for the same rural Senate seat in Maine were pivotal to the sponsorshipof the now controversial proposed east west highway feasibility study. One, the incumbent,Doug Thomas of Ripley and his opponent, this election, Rep. Herb Clark of Millinocketwere (from across the aisle) co sponsors of the line item funding for an independentfeasibility study for a supposed highway plan across Maine to be complete in early spring.
We should thank the two candidates for offering the discussion that is the east westhighway debate but we cannot fathom the change of mind of the Millinocket Democrat whonow speaks with a voter changed mind about his original vote in favor of a feasibility study.We wonder if the final east west road plan were altered to a more northern leg beforeheading west and incorporated the famed “Golden Road” if he would be so reluctant nowand be against this notion? It is just a thought but, we think Rep. Clark would favor thatover another, even though some of the same environmental criticisms seemingly wouldremain. Just what is an environmentally better, economically feasible path and reachesconstituent approval, politically speaking, for a generally accepted as needed road? A newroad to run parallel to the former CP rail line? Many Mainers for many years have dreamedof an east west road in past decades. It should be done. It won’t get done if land ownersrecently questioned about selling, refuse to sell for this purpose, and that doesn’t need voterapproval, a constitutional amendment against any use of eminent domain, or any furthercontroversy. Lacking a new east west path that is bought and sold, it can’t get done. Largewoodland tract owners do not ask the general public for permission to open up woods roadsthe size of the Golden Road and more than 50% of the proposed roadbed being looked atfor the new highway started out and continue to operate as major log hauling roads.Environmental impact is already present and can be studied right now with such roads.Road construction is not high tech but it can be. Such a new road on interstate levelconstruction, may not exactly be as the crow flies. It may not be a one-plan-addresses-all-concerns. It may not be what is on the drawing boards of private construction firms norwhat is on the shelves of the Maine Department of Transportation files along with necessaryimprovements to such roads as Routes 6, 7, 16, 27, 15, 201, 150, 11, 2, etc. that largely willbecome necessary improved feeders to both I 95 and the final new road. All suchimprovements are needed and will finally translate that there is no way taxpayers willescape such overdue road improvements, as it is simply is a question of when, not if. Fornow, only the landowners who wish to sell will indicate flexibility towards that notion andall others will not have any veto if the pieces fit, meet feasibility and land tract salesagreements can reach the closing stages, and all this is years from now in a final form.
Electing Mitt Romney president with his choice for vice president Paul Ryan, is a slap inthe face to the middle class and further erodes the nation’s economy when they eachpropose 40 % - so many cutbacks - of all medical, infrastructure, line item and socialprograms in favor of little or no new taxation for upper income Americans. Attempting tosell voucher purchase of medical care for seniors that is now free is double speak inOrwellian language. The notion of “privatizing” insurance couches words that the privateinsurance companies will have the best interests of our citizens in mind. Cutting taxes foreveryone does not balance a budget, George W tried that and created 8 years of decline.Austerity has been necessary in the Obama first term -left with a mess- by the lastRepublican that tied hands overspending. It is a further slap in the face for any leader to sayit has been the Democrats that have failed to pass a budget for three years of this Obamaadministration when obstructionism has been the inaction of all members of Congress, no
The sellers of land will say where & if, east west
matter which side ofthe aisle they votefrom. Tea party notwithout much of theblame.
This president wasleft with a mess thatis not fully cleanedup and should be re-elected to finish thejob as janitor in chief.
Re-elect the janitor in chief
Réélire Barack Obama ?
Bien sûr ! Quelle question ! La question ne se pose même pas, au vu de votre candidat républicain.Choisir un candidat démocrate, ou un candidat populiste, choisir un candidat anti raciste, ardentdéfendeur des droits et des libertés, ou un candidat raciste, qui rassemble dans son parti les plusextrémistes des américains, choisir un candidat intelligent, qui s’est élevé à la place où il est par la forcede l’esprit, ou un candidat élu par la force de l’argent, la question ne se pose pas. C’est comme devoirchoisir entre la liberté ou la prison, l’avenir ou le passé, les lumières ou l’obscurantisme.
Quelle régression serait-ce si demain, l’Amérique, le beau pays de la liberté mettait un personnagecomme Mitt Romney à sa tête !
En ces temps troublés, où les nationalismes ne demandent qu’à ressurgir ici et là, où l’Autre, l’Etrangerest facilement stigmatisé, il est important d’avoir au pouvoir des gens intelligents, capables, et paci-fistes.
To reelect Barack Obama ?Of course! What a question! The question does not even arise, when you see your Republicancandidate. To choose a Democrat, or a populist candidate? To choose an anti-racialistcandidate, ardent defender of Rights and Freedoms, or a racialist candidate who gatherswithin his Tea party chums the most extremist American people? To choose a candidate whobecame President by the power of his Mind, or a candidate elected by the power of Money?The question should not arise. It's like having to choose between Freedom or Imprisonment,Future or Past, Lights or Obscurantism.What a regression it would be if tomorrow the USA, the beautiful country of Freedomchooses Mitt Romney for her President !In these troubled times, where nationalisms are just waiting to resurface here and there, wherethe Other, the Foreigner is easily stigmatized, it is important to have at power, a smart,capable and pacifist like Barack Obama.
Farm Fact #4: GAP: Good Ag Practices, sustainable from safe cropping methods not depleting soils.
withBonnie McCready
will meet at East EddingtonGrange on Sat , Sept 22 to confer the 5th Degree.Paid supper, ($4) at 6pm and meeting at 7pm
will be holding apublic soup, chili and chowder supper on Sat.,Sept. 22 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Willow GrangeHall, 71 Washington Rd., Rt. 126, Jefferson.Adults, $7; children 5-11 yrs. old, $4; under 5, free.
is having a degree day onFri., Sept. 28, at 5pm. The 1st and 2nd degrees willbe conferred, light lunch served, followed by the3rd and 4th. All are welcome! FMI call Karen778-5845.
You may recall an early story report-ing that an Installation Team was being formed inthe Bangor area. Rolf Staples Sr of Bangor Grangenow announces:
A new Grange has been organizedin Montville recently. Iam excited about the en-thusiasm of the 20 plusmembers who havejoined. In speaking tothem, they have somegreat ideas and muchhope. Let’s learn from
them and welcome them to our fraternal family.
We are trying to initiate new ideas and projects formembership building. Many Granges have welcomedthe idea of working together, with other organizationsand other Granges. Our Pomona granges have been en-couraged to help the Subordinates. Building member-ship does not have to be a difficult task. While keepingmembership is our biggest concern, we must look withinto prepare ourselves to receive and keep the new mem-bers. Every granger affects membership.
Co-Membership Director.
Hello Everyone! Maine State Session is Oct.25-27 so may this reminder warn delegates stop bythe Community Service table to sign and pick upyour Grange’s Community Service Books.
We will also be raffling off baskets with allproceeds to benefit the Barbara Bush Children’sHospital. Please be sure to stop by our tables topurchase your tickets. Please also make sure tocome by our tables to pick up all your informationon different Community Service Organizations inyour area.Hope to see you then.
Send news to those who do not attend regularlyor give them a call to let them know you are think-ing of them. Ask them for advice and ideas, espe-cially those who can no longer attend. They arestill grangers and still have much to offer. Membership chair contact tel. 215-3064.
will confer the 5th degreeon Thursday, Oct 11 at Chesterville Grange #20.Potluck supper at 6:15, meeting at 7:30. Call MavisLane 645-4628 or Karen Locke 778-5845.
in Freedom will have an Apple Fest on Oct 13from 4-6:30. Price $8.00. Menu will be homemadebaked beans, hot dogs, homemade brown bread,chop suey, apple muffins,apple crisp,apples andcoffee as well as apple cider. Lois Zezima Tel 3823315
US Rt. 2 New Sharon, ME
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The first honey is being harvest-ed from the clover “honeyflow”and hives are being prepared forthe upcoming goldenrod flow.The honeyflow is when nectar isflowing into the hives from theblooming of one flower species oranother. This year in Hampden, theclover did not seem to produceuntil the last week or two of July.Everything seemed to be set upjust right for a great flow but thepersistent dry spell dried up thenectar too. Now all eyes turn tothe goldenrod! In a good year astrong hive might yield up to 200lbs of surplus honey. More typi-cally, my hives make a 60-80 lbs
surplus over and above the 100 lbsor so I normally leave them to sur-vive the winter. This year I am going to scale upa trial I did with my friend andmentor Harold Swan of Swan’sBee Supplies in Brewer. Last fallhe gave me a “nuc” to overwinter.A nuc, or nucleus colony, is nor-mally associated with startingnew hives up in the spring. It is avery small hive with only five
frames (honeycombs) with aqueen. This hive overwinteredwith relatively few bees and onlyused about 25 lbs of honey plus alittle sugar and a feeding patty Iadded in February. Ironically, outof the 9 hives I attempted to over-winter it came through the bestand used one quarter of the honey!This ability of a small hive tooverwinter successfully tallieswith some other observations Ihave been making regarding feralor wild hives. I am called upon to
remove from homes and otherbuildings. In some cases thesehives have apparently lived suc-cessfully for many years withoutbeing treated for mites or othercommon bee ailments plaguingthe industry. “Domestic” hivestypically would last little morethan a couple of years withouttreatment. One thing I have noticed is thatthese “wild” hives are rarely any-thing like as big as a domestic,managed hive in size. As a resultof cramped quarters this inevita-bly results in these small hivesbecoming overcrowded andswarming once or maybe twiceper year. Of course each time thehive swarms and the old queenleaves the colony along with halfof the workforce it results in aspell of a couple of weeks duringwhich the hive has little or nobrood (young bee larvae). If thereare no young bee larvae there is aninterruption in the life cycle of beemites which feed on the larvaeresulting in a mite populationdrop. Is this how they are surviv-ing? Perhaps Mother Nature istrying to tell us something abouthow to deal with some of theproblems the industry faces with-out chemical treatments. The oth-er line of investigation I amfollowing to grow my bees withlittle or no chemical treatment isselective breeding. Now as a biol-ogist, I am the first to admit thatmy methodology is not flawless,as I am letting the queen beesmate with drones (male bees) inthe wild not using artificial insem-ination. However, there aren’t toomany other bee hives near my beeyards so the odds are in my favor.For the last few years my beeshave all been either purchasedfrom a company in Texas (BeeWeaver Apiaries) who have beenbreeding a mite resistant strain ofbee, or they have been from bees Ihave been relocating from homesand buildings. If these bees that
have been surviving in the wildwith no chemical treatments havea genetic predisposition to be re-sistant to mites and other ailmentsthen hopefully these traits will bepassed on, at least in part, to mybee population who are them-selves somewhat mite resistant.So far it looks good as I have notseen a mite problem now for twoyears!
Maine Grange NewsOur activities each quarter
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Edie Kirshner ofStockton Springs was hired to doa shearing demonstration atHoulton Fair this year. Her ath-
letics are obvious in these photosas the amount of bending overthat is necessary to clear all woolis always difficult for most peo-ple. Edie is a university studentat UMaine Orono studying pre-veterinary courses. She first
learned how to shear watchingher father and brothers and fromwhat she was taught by familyover the years, her modified tech-nique allows a slight 24 year oldwoman to handle large animalssuch as the 200 pound range RAManimal shown here. Dissimilar tosome men shearers, her tech-nique keeps the animal whollyoff balance in a lay down positionwhile Edie’s feet and lower legsmonitor the movements of theanimal to anticipate contradicto-ry adjustments to a smooth shear.This allows a person of lesserweight to control and pace a dailyoutput of pounds of wool shearedper day.
Honey capped comb
Bee Whisperer’s Diary
Feral bee rescue
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 5
FCI
Farm Fact #2: Beta-Carotine: Plants having intense color, the greater the pecursor of Vitamin A.
Whitewater Farm Market
6 HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012
State officials, newsmedia and members of the publichave new interest in a uniquetechnology now producing elec-tricity in a rural area of Maine thathas more cows than people. Asystem that converts cow manureand food waste - anaerobic diges-tion - into heat and electricity.This sustainable electricity is,“….far better than windmills asregards electric production,” AgCommissioner Walter Whitcombtold somemonths ago. Maine's environ-mental, economic and agricultur-al development officials visited
in June to viewthe process. Stonyvale Farm hasformed a new company, called
to run theoperation that has excess heat tobe used to heat the farm's build-ings and produces enough elec-tricity to supply the power needsof homes that it sells to theBangor Hydro grid.
This fifth-generation, family-owned dairy farm, and ExeterAgri-Energy, the subsidiary has
livestock and produces a lotof waste. The waste is piped totwo big digestion vessels where itis mixed with food waste. Biogasgiven off by the mixture fuels a
horsepower engine that pro-duces about million Btu of heatper hour — enough to replacegallons of heating oil per day. The total construction cost ofthe system was $ million, re-ports Travis Fogler, StonyvaleFarm’s CEO and dairy operationsmanager and grants helped payfor about half of the constructiontotal. The walls of the structuresare feet tall and measure feetin diameter with rubber roofs thatare inflated by the biogas createdinside the domes.
There is some dry matter solidwaste left over and it is used asbedding for the cows.
Anerobic digestion, new energy technology
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the former E-W road project as cosigning study propo-nent has now changed his mind at voter critique, as hechallenges Thomas for the District 27 seat. Both he andThomas are getting ear bending negative feedback withthis road study issue and Thomas called the governor tocease the study at least until after the election. Also inreaction to his constituents, Thomas likewise wants toexplore a Maine constitutional amendment that wouldlimit how the state can act when it comes to eminentdomain practices - the root to much of the critique withthe east west question - even though a private road con-cept overrules any ability to use eminent domain at theoutset. His election opponent now wants to take hiscosigning vote back and would work to repeal the enact-ed legislation to even study an east west road if he takesthe Thomas seat after November.
In recent years the state itself was reminded about howeminent domain runs afoul of both a single landownerand the general public with the taking of a popular restau-rant at the start of the reconstruction of the new NarrowsObservatory Bridge between Fort Knox and Verona toserve Bucksport and Downeast. State Senate PresidentDennis Raye of Perry reminded Mainely Agriculture,“As it turned out, MDOT didn’t need that restaurant landand should have given it back to the former owner. It wasnever truly in the way of the bridge construction. In thecase of the East West highway - the region I serve -Calais, Eastport in particular, really needs this road and Iam very much in favor of this project and as such, it cannever use eminent domain to buy the road bed land in thefirst place, if built privately, nor will it (Cianbro) ask thestate to use eminent domain to complete it.”
In forestry and farming, hundreds of miles of roads,start out as private roads and in the case of counties, socalled county roads ostensibly started out with or withoutgreat public sentiment for or against such road buildingand not all became major burdens on taxpayers for com-
pletion but remain part of a network that offers recre-ation, fire protection, public freedom of travel and evac-uation safety yet, some MDOT cases in the past, eminentdomain took land to better serve a project and ostensiblythere are road issues that need compromise. Whenbuilding I 95, a Bowdoinham farmer needed a way tograze animals on (his) both sides of the highway. Theresult was a fenced tunnel to and from, so livestockaccess was accommodated. The Cianbro/Vigue roaddesign calls for wildlife fenced bridges for wild animalpassage in known migration routes, such as those type ofstructures built in Canada. Likewise, some historyshows land not taken by the state later creates bottlenecks and have contributed to fatal accidents. With theEW road, it seems likely the state will stand clear of everfiring up eminent domain by Senator Thomas’ own com-ments and news releases; the Governor’s recent yes tothe Thomas request; and Ted Talbot, spokesman forMDOT says thus far, the evaluation of the new proposaland past proposals historically are related and, “…wewant transparency.” “We thought it was a good idea. Inever expected to step in a hornet’s nest like this.” TheGovernor told the press, “Right now, we need todecide where we want to put an east-west highway, isit feasible, and what would the costs be.”
Senator Thomas has served on the state transportationcommittee for eight years and while he still supports the roadproject in theory, he too, does not want eminent domain to beused if it comes to pass. Likewise, private industry spokesmanPeter Vigue of Cianbro has stated the same promise that emi-nent domain is not in any planning while he and road engineerstry to work out a proposed right of way that can be purchasedfree and clear and be the least disruptive route for small towns,be environmentally sensitive, have the least bridge constructionneed, height of land road grade feasible consideration that allroads must consider for road safety, and that such progress inthis effort is ongoing. The reason the road study remains both aprivate and a public study (unpublished) is to see just where thelandowners are who will be part of the effort to sell land to seeif transport needs can fit the suitable corridor puzzle and whenready, present the same to the public for comment and likelyfurther environmental science review.
Governor slows road speed on east west study
Farm Fact # 6: Flavonoid: Color producing antioxidents of citrus, fruits, boroccoli, onions, teas, wine & tomatoes.
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Farm Fact # 7: Ghee: Pure butter oil without lactose and other milk solids.
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The 2012 Tree Farmerof the year’s farm was the site ofan open house September 8 for afield day offered by the SmallWoodland Owners Associationof Maine.
Ernest and Alberta Angevinewere given this distinction at theAg Trade Show in Augusta inJanuary. The Angevines havebeen stewards of their 189 acres,
as well asactive par-ticipants inthe localSWOAMchapter, andoverallSWOAMand TreeFarm sup-
porters for many years.Much of the management workthroughout the years has beendone by Ernest. He started a prun-ing rotation in the 1950’s and todate over 3,000 stems have beenpruned. Most of the logging wasdone by Ernest until the late1990’s. Local loggers were hired afew times for the bigger jobs.There is a well-established trailsystem as well as wildlife-friend-ly practices, thanks to the assis-tance from the Oxford CountyNRCS office and the Wildlife In-centives Program.The land has been open to thepublic for all types of recreation,fishing and hunting, and manypeople have viewed the An-gevine’s ongoing managementprogram and benefited from it.Their daughter Judy Coolidge, aretired second grade teacher, de-veloped an annual EnvironmentalDay on the property for all secondgraders in the district that is stillgoing strong 23 years later.
We accept FARM news,Business news, itemsof reader interest by
Selected as the 2011 New England Green Pastures Dairy Award win-ner for Maine, the Hardy Farm of Farmington saw Henry and TheresaHardy and daughter Marjorie accept the award from Caldwell Jack-son, former Assoc. Commissioner for Maine at The Big E, last Sep-tember. The new 2012 state awards to be made in mid September, thisyear to the Goldtop Farm of Knox.
is given every year to an outstanding dairy farm from each ofthe New England states. Celebrating over nine decades, The Big E isthe region's largest fair, with an outstanding lineup of agriculturalcompetitions, exhibits and entertainment for all ages. The Fair contin-ues through October 2 in West Springfield, Mass. For more informa-tion on The Big E, visit www.TheBigE.com was theMaine Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder in 2009, Horizon OrganicsHOPE family farm of the year 2011 and was featured on the HorizonOrganic milk carton. Also viewed inadds to their recent honors. A family run Ayrshire dairy farm, theyshipped their first load of organic milk in October of 2003 and havebeen shipping to Horizon ever since. In recent years the followingMaine farms were honored: 2009 Triple D Farm, John Donald Family,New Sharon; Barbettom Farm, The Quint Family 2010, Hodgdon; 2011Hardy Farm, Farmington; and for 2012 Goldtop Farm, owned by theIngraham Family, Knox.
Their new court brief says organicfarmers deserve protection underthe Declaratory Judgement Actpointing to errors in earlier judge-ments that warrant reversal statingthat no company should be allowedto violate the property rights of oth-er farmers and their livelihoodsthrough the use of patent infringe-ment designed to control and pro-tect corporate agriculture, a flawedseed technology and corporateprofit ideal vs other farming activi-ties in close proximity.
Sid and Rainie Stutz-man were named cooperators of the year by theCounty Soil and Water Conservation Associa-tion (PCSWCD) recently. A luncheontour/field day was held at the vegetable farm toshow visitors the agricultural management thecouple brings to traditional row crop farmingand their new high tunnel aspect of growingfood with conservation standards. They workfull time, grow potatoes, assorted vegetables,fruits that are sold wholesale and retail from thelocal farm stand and farm store.
The land has been farmed since the 20th centu-ry when Lithuanian immigrant John Millerbought the parcel and raised nine children herebefore his wife died. Through correspondencehe wanted a partner and found Mary Stutzmanof Louisana. Her late husband, the father toOtto, Sid’s father, became Miller’s second wifeand upon Otto’s death, Sidney’s mother soonsold the parcel to Sid. The land has now been inthe Stutzman family three generations with Sidand Rainie owning and operating the same 28years. They have two grown sons; the eldestson and his wife will be the fourth generation toown and operate the farm in future.-
Maine WoodsProducts Asso-ciation
wasannounced inlate August.
ofVassalboro, is the winner of the
fromMWPA. The award will be pre-sented at a banquet in Vassal-boro in October.
Monsato vs small farms
D.H. Buxton, unorthodox Abbot Cure-All inventor A house fire in fall 1971 took the orig-
inal home of David Horace Buxton, a man who got tidilyrich on a secret formula patent medicine drink sold nation-wide in the early 1800s. Patent medicine not a real medicine.
Starting out in the mercantile business he operated storesin the late 1800s and early 1900s until his death in 1941; Bux-ton knew what his customers wanted. He formed the BuxtonMedicine Company early on from his store front in Abbotand manufactured the concoction therein. His custom wag-on pictured here was used to deliver the largely alcoholicbase products to other druggists all over Maine and onto railsiding for shipping. Buxton’s Rheumatic Cure, first made in1898 soon to be distributed nation-wide, sold particularlywell during prohibition.
According to Buxton store records, said Ralph Titcomb,(d)the product grew in sales reaching a peak of about $500weekly at its peak in the 1930s. Buxton’s original store, later
Article by the publisher
grew to become Titcomb’s Store,showed log books noting a decline inthe 1940s due to the government’s in-creased restrictions on patent medi-cines. Even as late as the 1970s RalphTitcomb would get an occasional mailorder for the Cure-All product and hehad to respond that he could not fill thesame, sending the money back. Tit-comb showed me a few bottles, emptyand full and remarked at how valuablethey had become as antiques and cus-tomers pestered him to sell the sameyear after year. It was the fire of theBuxton homestead that focused Ralphon his notion I would like to knowabout the patent medicine. As a drug-gist, Buxton was also a sufferer ofrheumatism. Seeking relief, he testedand tried many formulas for a cure-all,finally coming up with the right one
held the office of town treasurer, StateRepresentative, Justice of the Peace,postmaster and town clerk over a span of40 years and was also the owner managerof the Abbot Hotel. The original Buxtonstore burned in 1906. Titcomb’s Buxtonstore records were acquired by his father,Frank. Prior to his death and with failinghealth Buxton turned much of his busi-ness over to his daughter, Hope, who wasassisted by Joseph Morse, office manag-er and Mrs Hattie Moore. Mrs Buxtondied in 1947 and Hope Buxton died in 1948
Mr and Mrs Buxton remained propri-etors of the Abbot Hotel until it burnedin 1934. Until she died, Hope was post-master operating out of the general store.
A descendant of Anthony Buxton, aQuaker,was the first Buxton to enterAmerica and landed at Plymouth colony.All traces of this line of Buxtons gone,the Medicine Company is no more, onlythe medicine wagon pictured above sur-vives and is on view at the Shelburn,Vermont Museum.
Titcomb’s Store building still survivesand is a very fine modern specialty giftshop along the Moosehead Lake Trailand the building is much improved andrenovated.
unmarried endingthe sales of Cure-Allwhilst running thegeneral store thatlater became Tit-combs. Accordingto the records at Tit-combs, D.H. Buxtonstarted his first store20 days before his
14th birthday and op-erated it for 70 years.
to appeal to all. Fromthis, his wife, Carrie Bradman Buxton and daughter HopeBuxton helped him bottle and ship sold orders coming to thestore by postal order. At the time of the writing of this articlein 1972, Flobert Morse of Abbot told newspa-per he had lived to tell about the medicine first-hand, he said“It was good stuff for a cold.” Morse operated a barber shopfor many years opposite Titcomb’s Store and reported,“Many men going into the woods for a few weeks would stopand buy a whole case of Cure-All during prohibition.”
Buxton had other interests besides those of this business and
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Farm Fact # 8 Gluten: Proteins found in wheat endosperm, kneading bonds and provides bread with chewiness.
states thenew poster,which now ap-pears at state andlocal parks,campgroundsand boat ramps.“Buy It WhereYou Burn It.” The young artistVan Valkenburgh plans to attendParsons-The New School of De-sign this fall and major in fashiondesign; she said she was enthusi-astic about being able to designthis poster for the Maine ForestService. “Instead of making artthat’s just going to sit there, I’mmade art that has a purpose.”
Public support for the firewoodban, enacted by the state Legisla-ture in April 2010, has been verystrong, according to Dave Stru-ble, Maine state entomologist.Public awareness of the invasive-insect issue so far has helped tokeep EAB and ALB out of thestate. The new poster “refreshesthe message and catches people’seye,” Struble said. Charlene Do-
nahue, MFS forest entomologist,worked with Van Valkenburghafter she was recommended forthe project by her instructor,graphic arts teacher Paul Salois.“She immediately got it,” Dona-hue said. “I was impressed withher professionalism when we satdown together.”
Brainstorming about the project,Van Valkenburgh said she want-ed to create “an image that wasfunny, weird and quirky.” Sheworked over a two-week period,making at least 20 thumbnailsketches and drawing the entireposter three times. “I wantedsomething that would make peo-ple happy … I wanted somethinga little comical and a little jocularthat would poke fun,” she said.
The bugmobile “was the imagethat immediately popped into hermind, and I loved it,” Donahuesaid. “Once she did the drawing,that’s what we went with.” Dona-hue described the experience ofworking with Van Valkenburghas “very positive” and “I woulddo it again,” she said. “It’s a wayfor them to get experience and toperform an important public ser-vice.”
A midwestern goat producer has calculatedthe effect of the drought on production costsfor dairy goats. This is that analysis :
70 tons of grain on 145 goats to getaround 400,000 lbs. of milk, (10 lb average).Going on 3 lbs of grain their whole lactationwith a cost increase of $50 more a ton, it wouldtake $1.00 cwt. increase to cover costs.
6 lb. of hay per day, per head. Forevery $25 increase a ton in hay, producers needan additional $1.00 cwt. for milk. If goats areaveraging 5 lbs a day on each milker, doublethe price increase needed to maintain statusquo.
Our goat producer concludes : Something hasto be done to get such information to goatfarmers and to cheese processing entities. Noway is a goat producer going to make it, unlessa price increase for milk happens. This infor-mation is a draft of what he sees now for hisfarm numbers with this drought.farm numbers with thiis
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Richmond, Maine
Farm Fact # 9: Aril: Appendage to seed to developed as an outgrowth of stalk.
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 9MAg pix
LEWISTON - Early summer rains held up first crop haying over most of Maine but a dry July paid dividends toanyone with a baler generating tons of hay statewide. While other states suffered under extended drought, NewEngland cropping looks good for most crops. Mid August rains brought in second crop weather and corn burst intogreat shape with many households feasting on good corn and an abundance of lobster which made for a pleasantAugust at meal time. Pumpkin and squash are now on farmer’s markets tables throughout the state. For those withhay wishing to sell the same to out of state farmers affected by drought, contact: Virginia Manuel, State Director, 967 IllinoisAvenue Suite 4 Bangor 04401-2767 Voice: (207) 990-9160
Androscoggin near flood stage in June
Van Valkenburgh
Cont.from pg 1
The nation’s drought compared to dustbowl days
Livestock costs will rise as fodder costsincrease
Continued livestock sell off, delays profitsfrom new replacement animals retained,those being sold at a year of age and light-er weights bring in prices dropped by $200to $400 each
Corn, silage, distiller’s grains as feeds addto overhead, processing for nation’s meatcounters, home consumers
Drought factors into corn and soy marketslow bushel price levels prompting cropinsurance payoffs, increased premiums ifclaim is made and possible audits of farmtaxes
Recent past of partial drought in somestates to 35+ states record drought of 2012bodes ill for potential future years of con-tinued drought and need for drought resis-tant cropping such as sorghum andalternative cropping for feeds and ethanolproduction
Agriculture Departments in all states pre-dict 1.5 less billion pounds of red meatproduction nationally
Meat prices in stores to increase prompt-ing some buyers to raise animals forslaughter, home use
for your freezer plansRed meat forecast
MERRYMEETING BAY - The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing theRichmond-Dresden bridge over the Kennebec River starting in 2013. The new bridgeapproach road will pass through the historic site of Fort Richmond, the first of allKennebec River forts that was constructed in 1721 and decommissioned in 1755. Alsopart of this site history is the remnants of the Park family homestead that was presentbetween 1755 and 1830. Preliminary archaeological testing by the Maine HistoricPreservation Commission (MHPC) revealed intact structure foundations, palisadetrenches and fort period artifacts, as well as typical refuse deposits from the Parksoccupation. Data recovery excavations by MHPC have been ongoing all spring andsummer and will continue as long as possible into the fall.. Volunteers are needed toassist with field work consisting of excavation and soil sifting at the site and with artifactprocessing in Richmond and later at the Fort Western Museum in Augusta. To volun-teer please contact Kathy Bridge at 207 725-8432 or email [email protected]. Therewere two types of palisades in the early construction, one which resembles the presentday Fort Western enclosure and the other a stronger upright post structure.
Kennebec bridge prompts archaeology dig
Despite severe drought that has afflicted much of the nation's farm belt. USDA forecasts net farm income will rise 3.7percent this year to $122.2 billion, the highest level since 1973 on an inflation-adjusted basis. Conditions stretchingacross the Midwest and Great Plains expect corn growers to have their lowest-yielding crop since 1995. The result ofdeclines in supply -- and widespread use of government-backed crop insurance, which pays farmers for cropsdamaged by drought is driving a forecast 6.7 percent increase in crop revenues from a year ago. But those factors aren'tbenefiting all farmers. USDA forecasts show livestock and poultry producers are struggling with rising feed costswithout the same price rise, while dairy farms face both higher costs and a decline in milk prices. The USDA alsoexpects a rise of $8.4 billion, or 39 percent, in other farm income, driven overwhelmingly by increased farm-insurance
overwhelmingly by increased farm-insurance payouts. A majority of corn and soybean farm-ers carry crop insurance, the federal safety net for growers. The complete report is available at
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B At the end of this year’s elverruns up Maine rivers and streams some li-cense holders and numerous poachers wenthome with thousands of dollars in a typicalharvest that likely averaged some 50 to 100pounds of the glass eels each at prices ap-proaching $2,600 a pound. The Passamaquod-dy Tribe with power to issue licenses added236 licenses to the state figures for 643 totalthat some $16 million dollars in sales for thetwo month season resulted. Last year the
price was less than $900 a pound reaching al-most $8 million in sales bumped up this seasonto an estimateed $40 million meeting theshortages of seedstock for farm raised adulteels in Europe and Asia now resupplied. Thisamounts to about $63,ooo each for each li-cense and about 17-20,000 total pounds thisseason. Last year’s known harvest was 8500pounds. Adult American eels are the parentsto these infants coming to Maine from theSargasso sea. Science has learned that adult
eels from the many coastal states create thesame but two states, Maine and South Caroli-na favored by law and ecolgy get the youngeels regardless of where the adults habitateand it is here where they migrate and arecaught or not. The uncaught likely are root
cause to a continued migration here nonethe-less. When fully grown in aquaculture ponds,the adult eel is used both for sushi and otherrecipes that those around tables in Europe andAsia relish and covet. Maine, likewise, is thechoice for the elver to start a long or short lifeand people here look to them to help pay somebills and now growing this new aquaculture.
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Farm Fact #10: Carpel: Fundamental female organ of flower with an ovary, some mulltiple fused as in berrys.
Thistruism has finally gotten a lotof attention in recent years,and is responsible in largepart for revealing the gap thatexists between consumersand those who produce foodin this country. While still notavailable to everyone, farmstands, farm tours and farm-ers markets are playing a bigrole in this resurgence, andproviding a way for people totalk with the farmer that pro-
duced the corn or tomatoesthat they have for a summer-time supper.
But, what about the mussels,kelp salad, or the traditionalsalmon-and-peas from July
4th, which came from seafarmers? How can consumersget to know a farm when it’snot on the land, and the farm-ers are in boats all day long?And how can consumersidentify locally grown sea-food?
As with all food sourcing,consumers need to ask theperson behind the counter,“Where did this product comefrom? Who grew it?” If theperson behind the counterdoesn’t know, ask if there’ssomeone there who does.
While it’s been a general rulethat smaller stores are usuallythe ones that carry local prod-uct, even larger food storesare getting into the act as well,realizing that customers careabout the source of the food.You can often see this reflect-ed in the signs in the seafoodcooler, or other displays thatmake the connection morevisible to the buyer. Mainesea farmers have been suc-cessful in getting their prod-ucts into the local markets -after all, it pays to reduceshipping costs and to buildsupport locally - and there areplenty of places along thecoast and inland where youcan find Maine-grown sea-food.
Also, most sea farmers try tohave their products sold withthe company name attached,so that consumers will have
that knowledge of who grewit, such as: “Hurricane Island
Oysters”, or “Big Bay Mus-sels” (both fictitious names).When you know the name ofthe company, it’s easier tofind them on the web or to getin touch directly, to learnmore.
There are several groupsaround the state that deal withaquaculture in one form oranother, and they can be veryhelpful to consumers whowant to know more aboutfarming practices, products,markets, and regulation. Theprofessionals who work inthese groups are interestednot only in assisting with asustainable and economicallyviable aquaculture industry,but they want to support con-sumers who understandwhere their food comes from,and how it’s grown. Whilenot an exhaustive list, I cansuggest a few below, includ-ing my own organizations:
All of these groups have peo-ple who are knowledgeable,and who are ready and willingto talk shop.
Lastly, and best:There’s nothing like
talking to the person who ac-tually grew what’s on yourplate. Salmon, kelp, clams,oysters, mussels - they are allgrown in Maine by peoplewho take pride in their work,and who are passionate abouttheir products, and the watersin which their crops weregrown. Now, while they arealso busy people (farmers, af-ter all), and getting two hun-dred calls a day frominterested customers is proba-bly too much to expect, mostfarmers are very pleased totalk with the consumers oftheir products, and many arehappy to show you around.Websites, people at the fishcounter, folks in the organiza-tions above, and things likepromotional literature are allways to find out whom to talkto, and then it’s a matter of aphone call, an email, or a per-sonal visit.
ve peo-
duced the corn or tomatoes
that knowledge of who grewit, such as: “Hurricane Island
Oysters”, or “Big Bay Mus-sels” (both fictitious names).When you know the name of
All of these groups havple who are knowledand who are ready and to talk shop.
Lastly, and best:
that knowledge of who grew All of these groups havGet to know your local (sea) farmer !
Dana MorseExtension AssociateMaine Sea Grant College and UMCE at WalpoleDarling Marine Center(207) 563.3146 x205Fax (207) 563.3119www.seagrant.umaine.eduwww.umext.maine.eduSkype: MaineHardCider
The author of this article, DanaMorse is a member of the Univer-sity of Maine Extension Team(MET). MET is a collaboration ofthe Maine Sea Grant and the Uni-versity of Maine Cooperative Ex-tension. Its members live andwork along the coast, providingeducational and applied researchprograms to citizens in develop-ment, ecosystem health, fisheriesand with aquaculture.
New England OrganicsMaine’s all natural
soils/fertilizer producerUNITY - There is a longlist of soils additives,livestock bedding, com-post, soils building prod-ucts made every day herein central Maine at theHawk Ridge Compost
Facility in Unity Plantation. A Casella Company, the notion thatsociety lives in a loop environment and everything is connected, is acontinuous practice when products are prepared here. Compost,mulch and even soils are products. Poultry manure mixes, alternativedairy and beef bedding, liming agents, Earthlife ™ compost, super-humus, nutri-mulch, Super-Peat and Gro-Max. Superhumus is ablend of forest organic matter, decomposed bark, leaf matter and isapproved for use by the Maine Organic Farmers’ and Gardeners’Association. There are products unique to the nursery and landscapeindustry for soil building qualities. Farmers use some products in-stead of oil based fertilizers
Various types of sawdust and other fibers awaiting compost mixing
for fields and NEO productsfor cattle bedding. Gravel pitoperations use NEO productsfor reclamation of pits no lon-ger in use. NEO has officesin Unity 287-9947, Ft Fairfield416-5776 and at Hawk Ridge948-3071.
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2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 11
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Farm Fact # 11 Tannin: Natural compound in fruits, tea, chocolate, in skins of grapes, astringent in taste.
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Eastern Penobscot
During a downturn in local paper manufac-ture a few years back, the port authority tookadvantage of a study it had made into alterna-tive services it could provide other shippersthereby later to create a bulk loading transitsystem that could be used to load thousandsof metric tons of other materials. In effect theboard of directors said to themselves, what isit that we can do best and the bulk loadingfacility resulted. To do this, the port authorityexcavated a not so small hill upon its land tocreate a large flat storage area and overheadtram to move such materials into the holds ofships quickly and efficiently. Shown on thispage as the flat black hot top area in the colorphotograph with the air view of the bulk load-ing tram. This approach, along with specialrelationships with customers like DOMTARPulp & Paper, Grieg Star Shipping, ORPC,First Wind & GE Energy, STG and the greaterEastport Community, the Port of Eastport is agenuine success. Given the chance to com-pete, most observers believe that the Port ofEastport will continue to be competitive. If
an east west road is built, the port will alsobenefit.
The Eastport Port Authority presides overharbor operations at the Breakwater Facilitylocated in the downtown district of the city.This harbor offers a good example of a work-ing waterfront, a home to the area's fishingfleet and many pleasure crafts. The port of-fers year-round, seasonal and transient slips.It can accommodate larger vessels in excessof several hundred feet. Being literally on thefront street of the downtown area, close to theshops and restaurants, the harbor is a verypopular destination for boating enthusiasts.The harbor has an equipment maintenanceshop, the Eastport Port Authority office, USCustoms, and Coast Station are located justoff the pier with the only full service marinefuel depot on Passamaquoddy Bay, Thedowntown Fish Pier berths the Port's two tug-boats, Ahoskie and Pleon, on the North side,
As the eastern-most port in theUnited States,
has theclosest port to allEuropean markets.In these times ofincreased petro-leum shippingcosts it is no won-der it is therebyviewed as one ofthe fastest growingcargo ports in all of New England and as a natural port following the lay of the land, is thedeepest port facility available along the US east coast, never needing a dredging. ExecutiveDirector of the Port Authority Christopher Gardner is first to list off the port’s positives. Facilityexpansions in the nineties has been followed by investments to better serve cruise ship andrecreational boating industries at the Eastport Harbor Breakwater Terminal. The Estes Headcargo facility is an integral component of a growing transportation infrastructure. Coupled withhaving the Federal Marine Terminals classification (FMT) and the able assistance of the North-eastern Longshoremen's Association #1 (NELA#1) as partners, the port operations demonstratea very competitive stevedore service, reducing wait times and load times to keep costs low,compared to other US ports. The recent designation as a livestock import-export facility hasbolstered Maine as a pivot point to future movement of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and the liketo overseas markets and for American farmers looking for specialty livestock bloodlines. Whilea small part of the more lucrative shipping needs of Maine and others, this livestock portdesignation makes Eastport the best bet for year round shipment of animals over other US portsof the past south of Baltimore and New York.
Al Day, FMT Manager (L) and Director Chris Gardiner at Estes Head port, recently.
Bulk loading tram and new loading area, livestock containers upper right with available warehouse storage.Jim Lowe airplane photo.
TYMwww.brucestractorsales.net
Eastport Port Authority, holding key to Maine’s import export future12 HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012
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and has slips for transientboats on the South side. Ap-proach depths to the Breakwa-ter are over 100 feet and themean low water depth is 42feet. The Breakwater is alsoused by the aquaculture indus-try, commercial fishermen,and recreational boaters andfishermen within close prox-imity to all of Eastport's offer-ings.
Estes Head Cargo Terminalcan accommodate a ship of 900feet in Berth A and one up to550 feet in Berth B. Berth B isalso an excellent berth forbarges. EHCT's 43 acre sitehas several open storage areas,three 20,000 square foot, drive-thru warehouses, and one43,000 square foot warehouse.The operations are easily su-pervised from the Federal Ma-rine Terminals' office locatedjust above the Estes Head pier.Approach depths to this pier
are also well in excess of 100feet and the mean low waterdepth is 64 feet. Breakwaterand Estes Head Ports are thetop facilities to ship product orberth vessels in Maine.
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Sexing Technologies is a company that existsto ship livestock out of the US or import, when the callwarrants. Based in Navasota, Texas the company began
shipping out of Eastporttwo years ago followingnecessary efforts by theMaine Congressional del-egation, the Eastport PortAuthority and state and lo-
cal public officials to get the local port certified by the stateand federal departments of agriculture for livestock importexport. The effort was well suited to Maine as the climateoffers year round possibility to ship animals within ambientweather temperatures ideal for shortened two week trips toEurope making shipping an easy slide for containerizedlivestock. Cowboys ride with the animals and feed andwater the critters in the plumbed and feeder - housed steelboxes. The company’s proprietorship design of the contain-ers disallows our publishing a photo of the same but sufficeit to say the holds have hay and grain storage and beddingsupplies located above the animals with a walk way andgates to assist, feed and water, attend to the animals when intransit and shipping records thus far indicate that over 40,000head have arrived in places like Turkey and Russian portsready to calve offspring and are thereby doubling the totalnumber of animals shipped since the project began in Maine.An isolation facility in southern Mainewas established to house and check allanimals before they are allowed to beshipped and local and state veterinarianscheck and inspect all animals’ containerby container before any are allowed exitfrom Eastport. This makes the animalsall the more valuable to buyers overseasas they buy these genetics for the purpose of improvingmany herds’ agricultural production, worldwide.
Home tolivestockshipping Logic has it the receding of
a mile thick ice sheet some15,000 years ago acrossmuch of coastal Maine leftthousands of strewn rockand hard pan bereft ofvegetation. What soilsthat were left were and stillare, more acidic than anyfound elsewhere in Mainebut, are perfect for the well
adapted network of vines called rhizomes that now riddle thecracks and thin topsoil of much of the tidal abutting land areaof the state producing Maine’s famous ground-huggingplant, the low bush blueberry. A hardy plant that flourishedfor the native Americans and the whites who followed, tomake it the prized delicious small fruit - and is the officialberry of the State of Maine. The barrens of coastal Maine areoften depicted in photography and paintings, especially whenharvest time approaches and the crimson of plants against abackdrop of autumn leaves kicks in a family tradition that hasthose with full time jobs taking vacations to help othersgather berries with hand held rakes is an important part of alarge agriculture in Maine that is high on the totem of totalrevenue for state farming. Even migrant workers are neces-sary to bring in the crop that still uses antique designed handrakes. After a summer of days of blistering heat like our Julyand early August weather this year coupled with the ebb andflow of coastal fog rolling in and covering the barrens, eachnight, the berries flourish and are abundant in a perfectenvironment short growing season. These rich berries - sincefound to be - highest in health value with antioxidants, fatfree compounds, vitamins, polymers to cleanse human bacte-ria, surpass all other foods in total value to the human diet.
Farm Fact # 12: Hybridiation: Crossing parent plants of differing genetic backgrounds within same genus.
Lexi Merrifield, Mer-rifield Farm, Gorham watering one of hersteers on a hot July day.
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Lllama Love byKayla Phillipsof Harmonywith SebastianLlama.
Theseyoung peoplewere part of thesheep show thisyear. Here Cay-lee Boyd andbrother Chaseof Blaine (L-R)hold Romneyswith Lana Mc-Curry of Pr-esque Isle.
ENTRANCE Curtis Fox of Mon-
mouth displayed his “Hot Air Engine”a coal or wood fired 1880 well waterpump, generating some noise andmany questions.
Judy Miller and family of Rivercroftfarm, Starks brought in pure bred Shire horses to the fair.This is a young filly nursing on the mare.
14 HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012
TOPSHAM - Amber Ferris ofPeru displayed her yearlingsteer at Topsham Fair. She at-tends Dirigo Middle School inDurham.
ENTRANCE
2012 Summer fairs, family fun
Mark Tolman ofLincoln brought in these finework horses pulling granite.
generation of Parents on this land, saidRudy, speaking of his son. The Parentfamily grows 600 acres of potatoes and600 acres of grain. The potato crop isprimarily for processing, and Rudy wasselected again as a McCain Top TenGrower in 2011. When asked histhoughts looking back on his years infarming in the Valley, Rudy reflectedon three primary changes. First, there isthe mechanization of the industry frompicking potatoes with a hand crew andmoving potatoes in barrels to the equip-
ment farmers use today. We could not handle the size of our cropstoday with barrels loaded on a truck. It’s incredible we’ve gone fromten row sprayers to 36 row sprayers and Jamie’s latest implementationof a six row planter. When you consider the size and capability ofwindrowers and harvesters and computerized ventilated storages withthe ability to keep potatoes for ten months...my grandfather wouldshake his head in disbelief, he said. My father Gerard is 87 years old,and he and his generation have seen the most changes in their lifetime.And today’s technology changes everything. All those systems thatare available to growers today, whether in the farm office or out inthefield, help us maintain our quality potato industry. It really makesa difference for growers. Best piece of advice Rudy has for youngerfolks in the industry? Don’t be afraid to change you have to keep upwith the times! Although growing potatoes has been more than a
full-time job for Rudy over the years, he has also been a key figure inhis home town area. Rudy has been first selectman in Hamlin for 27years, has been a member of St. Joseph’s Parish Council for more than25 years, and now serves on the finance committee of the re-structuredparishes in their home region. An on-going regional tradition is anannual harvest mass in early September, when parishioners gather topray for a safe and successful harvest. The mass annually rotatesbetween Hamlin, Van Buren and Cyr Plantation. When it’s Hamlin’syear, the mass is held in the Parent’s potato house. Usually 50 to 75people attend the evening mass, followed by refreshments and social-izing. We always look forward to our year for hosting the mass,• saidDinah, sharing photos and memories of a meaningful tradition in theirparish. All our family shares in these times and memories. Andaccording to Rudy, a strong faith and family is key to living a produc-tive, meaningful and quality life as stewards of the soil. A familyoperation can better withstand the good times and the bad. Thatsupport from the family and for one another makes it possible.
Agricultural and forestproducers have an opportunity tosubmit applications for fundingthrough five conservation initiatives,announced Juan Hernandez, StateConservationist for the USDA Natu-ral Resources Conservation Service.Applications are being accepted forthe On-Farm Energy, Organic, Sea-sonal High Tunnel, Irrigation andForestry initiatives for Fiscal Year2013.
NRCS accepts applications for finan-cial assistance on a continuous basisthroughout the year; however, appli-cations received for these initiativesby the December 21, 2012 deadlinewill be considered for funding in Fis-cal Year 2013.
NRCSand producers develop AgriculturalEnergy Management Plans (AgEMP)or farm energy audits that assess en-ergy consumption on an operation.NRCS then uses audit data to developenergy conservation recommenda-tions. Each AgEMP has a landscapecomponent that assesses equipmentand farming processes and a farmheadquarters component that assess-es power usage and efficiencies inlivestock buildings, grain handlingoperations, and similar facilities tosupport the farm operation.
NRCS helps cer-tified organic growers and producersworking to achieve organic certifica-
NRCS helps producers plan and im-plement high tunnels -- steel-framed,polyethylene-covered structures thatextend growing seasons in an envi-ronmentally safe manner. High tun-nel benefits include better plant andsoil quality, fewer nutrients and pesti-cides in the environment, and betterair quality due to fewer vehicles be-ing needed to transport crops.
For lands withan irrigation history of at least 2 out ofthe last 5 years, technical and finan-cial assistance is available to growersfor irrigation-related practices suchas irrigation water managementplans, irrigation sprinkler or micro-irrigation systems, and alternative ir-rigation water sources.
Funding is available toassist Maine forest landowners withforest land planning and managementof their private forests to improvewildlife habitat, forest health and pro-ductivity, and water quality. Throughsound planning and management, pri-vate landowners can help keep forestsas forests. Eligible conservationpractices through this initiative in-clude, but are not limited to, foreststand improvement, early succession-al habitat development and manage-ment, tree/shrub site preparation andestablishment, upland wildlife habitatmanagement, brush management,stream crossings, riparian forest buf-fers, fish passage, forest trails andlandings, conservation cover, accessroads, wetland restoration, and wet-land wildlife habitat management. For more information go towww.me.nrcs.usda.gov or contactyour nearest USDA service center inyour county area.
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 15More fairs in pictures NEWS
Farm family of the yearContinued from page 1
FCIGlobe Printing Co.39 A Main St.
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Also: Lincoln office for: Agriculture
Diana O’Brian ofWindham helped hold an Ay-shire milk cow for Baker BrookFarm while waiting to show her.
Farm Fact # 15 Pectin: Long strands of sugar molecules found in citrus, essential for jams, jellies.
at the LionsClub Fair by Agricultur-al Commissioner WalterWhitcomb. This is thesixth annual Dairy Prin-cess competition put to-gether by the MaineDairy Industry.
Alicia Baileyof Knox com-peted in barrelracing in Litch-field having alot of fun. Hereshe is trotting atthe exit gate.
Chain Saw wood Carver at Harmony Fair.
Box 191 Parsons Road, Suite 1Presque Isle, Maine 04769Telephone: (207) 768-3181Fax: (207) 768-3182
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Farm Fact #16: Staple food: Wheat products, bread, rice, yams and other tubers, potatoes.
Pine Tree State Foundation Scholarship Awards 2012
has a 96.84grade point average, has been a mem-ber of Gorham High School's Nation-al Honor Society for two years and amember of Key Club, Student Coun-cil, Model United Nations, FrenchClub, Yearbook, Lacrosse, and Ten-nis. Aryn has been a 4-H Member foreight years and has completed proj-ects in gardening, photography, foodsand nutrition. She serves as Presidentof the All-Star Dairy Club as well asPresident of the Maine and New Eng-land chapters of the National JuniorHolstein Association. Additionally,she is involved in the CumberlandCounty Interclub Junior Leader'sgroup. In 2010 Aryn was chosen toattend National 4-H Conference, Citi-zenship Washington Focus, and Na-tional 4-H Congress. She captainedthe Maine 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl team,and was named High Overall SeniorCompetitor in both 2010 and 2011 statecompetitions. The Maine team alsocompeted at the National level inLouisville, Kentucky. Her 4-H list ofawards is lengthy and includes manyhonors with her cattle and showman-ship skills. such as Junior ChampionHolstein and Grand Champion Jerseyat Fryeburg Fair for 2011. Aryn alsoearned the title of 2011-2012 MaineDairy Princess.
Her community service activitiesinclude visiting an assisted living fa-cility, Ossipee Fairgrounds clean-up,and participating in the AmericanCancer Society's Relay for Life. Herfuture plans are to attend either Bow-doin or Colby College and pursue ateaching career and she was presenteda 4-H Scholarship for $1000.
Well rounded, commit-ted, active and positiveare just a few adjectivesto describe
Having startedher 4-H career at the ageof five raising racingpigs for the CumberlandCounty Swiners Club,who knew where her 4-H career would take her.As a third generation 4-H’er, one could argue itingrained in her up-bringing or just in hergenes. At just threeweeks old she attendedher first fair, and as theysay, the rest is history.Having belonged tothree 4-H clubs, she heldvarious leadership posi-tion that included presi-dent, vice president,secretary, and treasurer.She has received numer-ous county and stateawards such as the Da-vid E. Rawnsley Out-standing 4-H memberaward and attended tripssuch as CitizenshipWashington Focus andNational 4-H Congress.While her experience isimpressive, the sense ofcommunity and helpingothers is what most rep-resents this young lady.For the past nine yearsshe has volunteered hertime visiting the elderlyas well as serving din-ners at a local soupkitchen. She has donenumerous work with theAmerican Cancer Soci-ety and local blooddrives in her hometown.She has also served as amentor to younger 4-Her’s in several differ-ent clubs. While 4-Hmight have been some-thing passed down, itcertainly is somethingshe has made her own.Quoting from her 4-Hstory –“Without 4-H Iwould not be the leader,the hard worker, or thehuman being that I amtoday. I would not bethe Brittany Moon thatpeople know.” BrittanyMoon was presentedwith a $1,000. Maine 4-HFoundation Scholarship.
andhas been in4-H for 9years. Hevisited theUnion Fair atage 8 andshortly there-after becamea 4-H mem-ber himselfin the LuckyShepherds 4-H and showing Suffolk Sheep. He has also, par-ticipated in market lambs and steers, fitting andshowmanship, public speaking, skill-a-thons,quiz bowls, and has attended Tanglewood 4-HCamp. He has served as President of his club for4 years and Vice President for 3 years. Kyle hastaught Sheep Clinics, conducted sheep races andjudged the Pixie Show at the Union Fair. Heattended the 2009 National Junior Suffolk SheepShow in Laramie, Wyoming and is a board mem-ber of the United Junior Suffolk Sheep Associa-tion. At Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro,Kyle has been a member of the National HonorSociety for two years, participated in baseball,track and field, and cross-country. He was amember of the 2011 State Championship Cross-Country team and won All-Academic honors inCross Country. His community service includes helping get theUnion Fair grounds ready for the fair, includingpainting, building, cleaning the exhibit hall,cleaning pig pens, and setting up pens and bed-ding. Kyle's future plans are to attend MichiganState University and major in Animal Science,perhaps for a career in genetics or veterinary re-search. Kyle Baubonis was presented with a 4-HScholarship for $1000.
While most 17 year olds struggle to filla page on their college application,
can fill such pages andmore with her accomplishments.Having grown up on her family’sdairy farm it was only natural that shegravitated towards a large animalproject at the start of her 4-H career.In her eleven years in 4-H, she hasparticipated in several working steer,beef, dairy and poultry projects. Sheshowed these animals, perfecting hercraft at the local, state and nationallevel with numerous accolades toshow for it. But as the 4-H mottostates, “to make the best better,” her
career didn’t just end there. While re-developing her leadership skills, Hil-lary became active in her communityand her 4-H clubs, which includedholding various titles such as flagbearer, scrap booker, secretary, andpresident. She helped her communityby raising money for various causes,visiting and caring for the elderly, tu-toring local students, making quiltsfor the children’s hospitals and more.Some of her recent community ser-vice endeavors are helping raise mon-ey for Project Heat and the SpecialOlympics. Most recently she wasawarded the Prudential ‘Spirit of
Community’ President’s ServiceAward. She was chosen from the topten percent of applicants in Maine forher outstanding community service.She not only works to make herselfbetter, but her peers and communityas well. She maintained her busy 4-H andcommunity service career while at-tending school, and graduated in thetop ten of her senior class. She hopesto carry that on to a career as a nursepractitioner attending the Universityof Maine at Fort Kent this coming fallmajoring in nursing and was present-ed the Maine 4-H Foundation $1,000.
finished her senior year at Nokomis RegionalHigh School and lives on the family farm in Corinna. As amember of 4-H she has shown cows and been a member of thePenobscot Livestock Club as well as the All Star 4-H Dairy Clubin Cumberland County. Sarrah has been on the state judgingteam and Quiz Bowl, competing in New England and at theNorth American international Livestock Expo in LouisvilleKentucky in 2010.
In addition to these 4-H activities Sarrah is an active volunteer inher community and school. She is a member of the marchingband and the Latin Club. She has performed well in school allwhile being very engaged in her farm work. Indeed, Sarah'steachers attribute her "positive work ethic" to her being a "farmkid". Sarrah's commitment to her family and the future of theirfarm are very noteworthy. Sarah has discovered what she herselfdescribes as a passion for farming and is excited about being ableto do this for the rest of her life. However, she recognizes theneed for skills which is why we are excited for her to be majoringin marketing and business management, bringing an additionalskill set into the running of her family farm.
The annual town wide celebration to promote the major agri-culture commodity of Aroostook County was held in July and the following younggirls won in their respective pageant categories.
Delaney Alward,Mapleton,Little Miss QueenDaughter of Wendy Maple & David Alward
Lydia Patterson,Presque IsleJr Miss Potato QueenDaughter of Ariana Patterson & Mike Sullivan
Hannah Guerrette, MapletonTeen Miss Maine Potato QueenDaughter of Kim Michaud & Gary Guerrette
Ashley Martin,Van Buren,Maine Potato QueenDaughter of Michele & Terry Martin (d)
Over 55 girls in age rang-es from 9-18 participated in
the pageant in this, the 65th
celebration of the PotatoBlossom Festival thatdraws people from all overeastern Canada and north-ern Maine.
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 17
Each year,the MDP committee ofthe Clinton Lions Cluband Maine Dairy Industryselects and chooses girlsfrom all over Maine tocompete and win the hon-or to serve as Maine’sDairy Princess for the new year’s many Agricultural events. The three division win-ners (L-R) Collegiate: Sarah Simpson, 18, Corinna; Junior: Emma Mehuren, 12,Searsmont with Senior: Elida Mehuren, 15, Searsmont, the Maine Dairy Princess. Seeour Ag Trade Show issue in December for more news and color pictures about thisevent and all contestants.
Farm Fact #17 Tuber: Underground storage organ like potatoes, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, important foods.
Some 3 years in the mak-ing, the official open house for the new grainmilling facility here in the former SomersetCounty Jail was held September 8 to a largegroup of attendees. Mill owners AmberLamke and Michael Scholz with miller JulieZavage led small groups of the publicthrough three floors of machinery and sacksof grain answering questions and outliningthe various functions of each piece of equip-ment, some coming to the site newly in-stalled from as far away as Austria and onepiece of equipment was fabricated locally byArt Haines of Applied Robotics of Norridge-
wock. The complexity of processing flourfrom grain seed and chaff has been some-thing the mill owners have studied in recentyears founding “The Kneading Conference”an annual event held at Skowhegan Fairbringing in national and internationallyknown experts for paying attendees to learnthe many crafts within the craft of milling.
The mill - now up and running - will producesome of its first products to be on sale atCommon Ground Fair in Unity Sept. 21-23from raw grain shipped in from AroostookCounty recently. The mill hopes to have its
18 HARVEST Issue
This newspaper has begun getting subscriptions from known Amish and wel-comes this readership - from the start - we have tried to place an occasional reference tosuch habitation in our midst as fact thatamong the many creeds, homelands andtypes of people who emigrated to live inAmerica, none stands out larger from therest in this country than do the variousorders of Amish groups now here. InMaine, we learn, there are several typesof Amish among us. Not counting theMennonites and other non-violent peo-ples we hazard a guess some 3-4 ordersof Amish live in Maine at this time. Weencourage Amish farm based news andcrafts related items such as barn raisingnotices, or business projects for futurenews.
Regarding the Amish, more, arelikely on the way here, as the economy for our ‘English’ people is not the same as forthose who live amidst another time from other places, and lifestyle within an otherwisepasse design at a likely less expensive, non indulgent and a focused manner of living.This also follows that as populations of Amish in other states continues to grow and landis less available there, and is much more available here, more Amish and Mennonitepeople will come. Especially young Amish, marriage minded Amish, from all overAmerica - as both a practical matter and new blood line concern for young peopleschooled in the plain life, looking for fresh air and a better, more secure family ofdiversity within a separate but distinct gathering and community and orders. Perhaps nobetter real estate sales locally than this, most would agree, for any local tax base in Mainesmall towns as property tax debts are usually always covered.
For the unknowing, a prima on the Amish goes far beyond the tourist guideline,that no Amish will ever be on our Internet “facebook”, shunning all photography beyondallowing pictures of wagons, houses, equipment and such. The Amish are far deeper thanthat common misunderstanding. For example, beyond the history of the Anabaptists anda life of a knowing adult acceptance, or belief in Christ on their terms, there is a growingcultural quandary among them that has each Amish culture guard against the use ofequipment that could disrupt and take influence over the plain life, merging themselvesinto the fast life of their neighbors, nonbelievers, and thereby, most likely is an issue to beexamined, discussed. To them, tools should not detract from a culture that teachessimplicity, humility, equality, as this is far more important than simple speed gained fromany technology that will have a greater influence over a culture that divides labor and byexample, promotes community partnership. While the craft of barn building has equiva-lent modern electric tools to do the same work in our society, it is far more important thatthe education of their young reinforces a seasoned knowledge of such craftsmanship putinto practice from the ground up and with hand tools. Tools, thereby provide a metaphorfor the way to live a life. It is a difficult argument to fault from any viewpoint but, to theAmish it is culturally more important than any technology that becomes practical in theirfuture will not change their past. Said simply, tools simply define a plain life and a godlycraftsmanship, a culture. When, as a shepherd you are not unlike the sheep you protect,you understand that the pastoral is intertwined with living larger upon the land andlooking very much an equal part of the land.
That is how to belong to the land and fully inhabit the land, equally. The shepherd isno different than the sheep.
Living larger as the shepherd and the sheepThe Amish in MainePRESQUE ISLE - We stop to taketime to chat with Amish and Menno-nite people when ever time allows.Our conversation with Joe Zook ofMaple Grove Farm, Ft Fairfieldrecently showed us that the types ofvegetables grown, jams, jellies, craftsand other items offered for sale arewell made and worth the stop. HereJoe is shown not far from an electrictransfer station on the Ft Fairfieldroad east of Presque Isle selling freshvegetables. His farm uses this crossroads location for his homestead salesoften, to help with monthly needs ofa young family. It is apparent thatcanning is not a lost art at home asmany varieties of jams, pickles, beansand such were for sale. - MainelyAgriculture photos
Mainely Agriculture
Free Pesticides Disposal The state pesticide control arm of the De-
partment of Agriculture with the Department of Environ-mental Protection want to help farmers and homeownerswho inherit unknown substances stored on their propertyget rid of it but landowners must register with the state by
to learn how to do so, freely. DDT, lead arsenate,2,4,5-T and chlordane left behind in barns, basements orgarages are good examples of what the state wants todispose of. To register, get additional details or learn im-portant information about the temporary storage andtransportation of obsolete pesticides, go to
or call , MaineBoard of Pesticides Control, executive director, at .
Farm Fact #18: Living Large: Slang: living beyond means or within means, richly.
first products in storesby October. Encourag-ing organic productionof all grains or fromfarmers transitioning tocertification to be thequality control goal forthe company they havenamed, Maine Grainsthat is buying oats andwheat at present.
\\
CentralMaine Sheep Breeders Associa-tion will hold its annual WoolPool at Piscataquis Valley Fair-grounds rain or shine, SaturdayOctober 27. Any sheep farmer isinvited to bring dry wool. Ascale will weigh all, and all woolmust be repacked in proper bagsnot arriving so. This year’s buy-er is Briggs and Little of HarveyStation, NB. The price beats lastyear’s buyer and trucking is do-nated by one of the members.Any questions call Kim Morrisat or email
IF&W Regional Wildlife Biologist SWOAM
Without question one of the most commonquestions we receive into our regional officefrom landowners is “What can I do to improvewildlife habitat conditions on my property?”The answer runs the gamut of options -- highmaintenance food plots to attract and holddeer, constructing wildlife ponds for fire pro-tection and wildlife enhancement, and build-ing bird house for cavity nesting species. Perhaps the simplest and most effectiveeffort a landowner can undertake to improvehabitat conditions is to identify and properlyrelease, prune and fertilize the apple trees thatare to be discovered hidden amongst the re-generating forest. There was time when appletrees were the equivalent of a retirement planto be utilized and passed to the next genera-tion. Searching a property for these historicrelics and bringing them back to prominenceallows a landowner to really discover hisproperty, get exercise and greatly improveconditions for wildlife. Generally, apple trees are found in previ-ously open areas such as old clearings andedges, because apple trees grow best in full
sunlight. As the forest matures around them, theyare crowded and shaded and loose their vigorand ability to fruit. As the apple tree grows, itsinternal branches compete for space and sun-light, which also limits fruiting. The best wayto improve productivity of apple trees is toprovide direct sunlight. By removing the sur-rounding trees and shrubs that compete fornutrients, water, space and sunlight, vigor andfruiting ability are greatly enhanced. This “release” of the tree from the sur-rounding vegetation is the key. Remove anytrees that are growing into the tree and alladjacent shrubs and trees growing within thedrip line of the tree’s canopy. Direct sunlightis critical for restoration. This may requireremoval of larger overstory trees that areshading the apple tree. Safety should be a toppriority, especially if using a chain saw. Proper pruning is important to tree healthand fruiting. Pruning should be completed inlate winter -- late February to early April,while the tree is still dormant. Pruning is alittle tricky and should be done according toestablished guidelines. When cutting abranch, look for the “branch collar,” a ring oftissue at the base of the branch. Cuts should bemade at the branch collar, not flush with themain stem. This collar is needed for properhealing of the cut. Remove all the diseased and dead branch-es and limbs from the apple tree. Removelimbs to open up the tree canopy, allowingmore sunlight into the tree. Don’t remove toomany limbs at once; it’s better to stagger larg-er pruning jobs over a few seasons. Remove
branches that cross or rub against each other,as well as drooping and low-hanging branch-es. Select for strong branches with widecrotch angles to the main stem. Limbs withnarrow crotch angles are weak. and frequentlybreak. Remove upright growing shoots asthey seldom fruit well. Try to work with the shape of the existingtree rather than try and shape it a certain way.After a good release and prune job, a healthydose of fertilizer is recommended. Fertilizerspikes or stakes which release nutrients slow-ly can be hammered into the ground under thecanopy edge at the cardinal directions aroundthe tree. If there is only one thing a person could doon their property to improve the habitat condi-tions for wildlife, the effort to identify andproperly release, prune and fertilize the appletrees is hand downs the top priority. It has theadded benefit of really getting to know one’sproperty -- and the exercise that results is abonus.
The Maine Agency ofFarm Family Insurance
We have an agent near you.
www.farmfamily.com
Tom FosterDan FosterJohn Heller659 Church Hill Rd.Augusta207.622-4646
Ron Kofstad26 Rice StreetPresque Isle207.764-5645
Mike Fitzpatrick309 Main StreetBrewer207.989-8880
Greg Warren60 Main StreetBucksport
Miller Associates636 US Rt 1 Box 7Scarborough207.510-6301
Todd WalkerMS#24126 Western Ave.Augusta207.737-4200
Jane Nelson913 Main StreetVassalboro207.680-2520
Andy Daigle400 Main StreetMadawaska207.726-4348
Randy Lincoln24 North StreetHoulton207.532-2016
Eric Hart20 Main StreetLivermore Falls207.597-2500
Farm fact # 19: Tillage: Working soil for crop preparation, plowing discing, rolling.
Restoring apple trees pays dividends
Agricultural &
Industrial
Cell 290-1917(1918)Winn Equipment & Parts
POB 147
OUT ON A LIMBRollins RidgeFirst Wind power line
rural view above theLincoln Lakes region
obtained it’s $98million financing for its 60 Megawatt (MW) RollinsWind project from Key Bank National Association(KeyBank) and Norddeutsche Landesbank Gi-rozentrale (Nord/LB) who served as the joint leadarrangers for financing the $81 million non-re-course construction loan with a $17 million letter ofcredit for the Rollins project. In addition to thefinancing, JPM Capital Corporation executed a taxequity financing agreement with a subsidiary ofFirst Wind. Now that the project is into commercialoperation, JPM Capital has provided long-termcapital to manage payback of the constructionloans. The Rollins Ridge project is nearing its firstyear of producing electricity and employs a smallgroup of individuals locally to manage and servicethe system. First Wind additionally covered the costof a new town garage for Lincoln valued at over$500,000. Electric production for the Emera/BangorHydro gridlines and increased tax bases for thosetowns involved in the territory it crosses has beenthe result. A secondary offset to the footprint of thesystem is a new road for forest fire protection.
MAg pix
News of farming, fishing, forestry and minerals. The true wealth of Maine
174 Auburn Road, Turner greenwood-
orchard.com 225-3764
CA Anti-VirusWeb Design & Hosting
23 A Spring Street Dexter924-0190
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Cedar is our SpecialtyHemlock - Pine - Cedar Shavings
Publicmeetings will soon be scheduledin affected Maine towns wherethe US Postal Services desires tocut hours for window services orfully close post offices in a costcutting move resulting from a 30percent decline of the use of thepost office in recent years. Aneed to go before Congress afterthe election again to meet quarter-ly retirement benefit paymentscould affect all future post officeservices permanently. Under therecent postal reform bill, down-sizing the numbers of the postalworkforce will be matched bynew ideas for revenue streamssuch as offering printing andscanning services, selling licens-es and even farming out servicesto community businesses to pro-vide selected postal services andadditional projects such as merg-ing offices near each other. Therecent idea to close the sectionalcenter at Hampden is now tableduntil 2014. Some forward think-ing rural village post offices thatare contracted by the USPS andlocated inside general stores have
I
pivoted already and many now offerUPS and FedEx services makingthem more secure, long term, to sur-vive and flourish. If offering UPS,
FedEx and USPS at rural stores’works, perhaps the same conductedinside regular post offices would bol-ster all shipping needs if so arrangedlogistically at larger, former previ-ously USPS facilities. Mention ofstationery sales at post offices hasbeen floated also.
20 HARVEST Issue Mainely Agriculture 2012
363 Durgintown Road, South Hiramappleacresfarm.com 625-4777
Farm Fact #20: Spice: Comes from rhizomes, roots, bark, flowers, fruit to add aroma, flavor.
Hardware& Feed
MAC’s
Waldo Area
IngrahamEquipmentCor. Jct. Rts 137 & 2203Knox Ridge South Knox
Exceptional Products forExceptional Results.
CHASE TOYS, INC.41 7 Thorndike Rd.
Unity , ME 04988 207-948-57 29
435 Chain Saw* Features: X-Torq engine SmartStart & LowVibe* Air Injectionremoves up to97% of debris before it entersthe filter* 41 cc. 2.2 hp, 9.3 lbs withoutBar & chain, 16”bar
Action PistolShooting CompetitionBig Pine Gun ClubGuilford 564-0721
All shooters, publicInvited! Families!
152 Rockland Rd., Washington845-2480
The Aroostook MedicalCenter is 100 years old this year and to cele-brate, Northeast Packaging Company with
Cavendish Pro-duce created a Po-tato Bag Contestto come up with adesign for a com-memorative fivepound potato sackthat will be print-ed in time for theharvest of twoacres of russets onland donated byCavendish. Plansare for hospitalemployees to har-vest the field byhand in the tradi-tional way at thisdesignated Cen-
tennial Potato Plot this October. The winnerof the TAMC Centennial Potato Bag DesignContest. is Robb Johnston of Presque Isle whomade good use of the iconic potato barrels andin-ground potato house. Robb’s design waschosen during the TAMC Spuddy Recoveryevent prior to the start of the Potato BlossomParade. Robb’s design will remain on displayat AR Gould Hospital in the Main entrancethrough August and can also be viewed byvisiting the TAMC website at tamc.org.
History noted agriculturally
right to use pesticides,but with that right comesthe responsibility toabide by the law and no-tify neighbors who ask.”For details on Maine’s pes-ticide notification law, acopy of the poster for dis-play, or to learn more aboutthe proper use of pesticides
FallField Day: September 27from 9:00 am to 1:00 pmat Sebago Lake StatePark, Casco
FallField Day: October 4 atLake George,Skowhegan from 8:00am to 1:00 pm
Fall FieldDay: October 11 from8:30 to 1:00 at UMO,Orono
FallField Day: October 11 atMonticello Fish andGame Club. ContactAngie Wotton at (207)532-2087
The International Eco-Peace Community's
at Wells Com-mons, University ofMaine, Orono takesplace November 3.
DickBrown's facility in Rich-mond. Preconditioningprotocol available at theMaine Beef ProducersAssociation website orcontact Pete Dusoe at
A mildwinter and an extremelywet spring may havegiven bugs, blights, andweeds a leg up this year.When these rise to thelevel of pests and be-come a problem -- to ourhomes, our gardens, ourfarms, and ourselves --there are various ways ofcombating them, includ-ing pulling, pruning, andsquishing, as well as us-ing pesticides. Whenpesticides are used inMaine, the Board of Pes-ticides Control wantspeople to know “… it’syour responsibility toask your neighbor first,”said John Jemison,board chair.“ Everyonehas the right to use pesti-cides, but with that right
to Sat-Mon-
Common Ground Educa-tion Center. This hands-onworkshop will demonstratehow to get the most fromslaughter to sausage. Alltechniques of humaneslaughter, carcass prepara-tion, breakdown of compo-nents, and sanitary freshand preservative process-ing. All equipment will beprovided. Participants arewelcome to bring ownknives on days two andthree if they would preferworking with those. Luncheach day will include a vari-ety of fresh pork cuts. Octo-ber 6th (slaughter) andOctober 7th (butcher): $125per person Monday, Octo-ber 8th (further processing):$75 per person All ThreeDays: $200 per. Register forWaitlist, MOFGA willcontact you as soon as pos-sible to let you know oncea space opens. Wait ListFee $50 Questions? callMOFGA at 207-568-4142
Celebrate the history,flavor and tradition
of Maine ApplesAdmission $4
$2 MOFGA & PomologicalSociety Members
Vermont Sheep andWool Festival -Tunbridge, Vt
New York Sheep andWool Festival -Rhinebeck, NY
New England FiberFestival - Springfield,
MA
Linscott’s Feeds
move tospawning grounds in fallRanger Matt LaRochewrites, and that spawn-ing makes fish fickle buthis favorite fall flys arethe Hornberg and MickyFinn. Finish your Sep-tember in fall foliage andwith fishing fun.
Photo of Drew Wolfertz courtesy Vickie Wolfertz
Hay & Straw
Sample Classified Box Advert $50 year, 5 issues: Or $10. each
Enjoy natural meats with incomparable quality fromMaple Lane Farms. Our aging process begins on-siteat our state-of-the-art meat processing facility wherewe age our meats for 2 weeks and then use vacuumpackaging to ensure freshness. We specialize in pro-viding you with the highest quality of meat. With hardwork and dedication for more than 60 years, our fami-ly-owned farm has provided top-quality naturally-raised meats, as well as custom processing of domesticand game meats, with guaranteed satisfaction.
Taste the Difference in Our Natural MeatsCharleston, Maine • Call us at (866) 279-9775
Hay & Silage Available Include:Timothy Hay™ • Round & Square Bales
2012 Mainely Agriculture HARVEST Issue 23
The two generations of the Higgins familycurrently managing this diverse farm in central Maine added alarger freezer this year to accommodate not only more freezerspace need but to enable organized loading and unloading pro-cessed meat of wide variety and thereby speeding customers ontheir way after picking up freezer orders.
Large walk-in freezer added at MLF
Maple Lane Farms
Farm Fact #23: Crop Rotation:Varying crops to diminish same soil nutrients depletion, green ‘manure’.
2011-2012 Farm Production Facts
Penning facility to the rear of meat plant and new large additional freezer
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