Maine Weather and Climate Update

The NWS Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day outlook probability maps for April 20–26 show above normal temperature and below normal precipitation. Looking further out, the three-month seasonal outlook for April–June (issued March 16) leans toward above normal temperature and equal chance of above or below normal precipitation.

Spring dryness: The Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard (Northeast DEWS) shows most streamflow and groundwater gauges reporting normal conditions statewide, except for some areas in the coastal climate division where snow has melted and recent precipitation deficits have caused increasing dryness.  Likewise, 30-day and 60-day precipitation totals show deficits statewide, and the current 10-day forecast shows only minor precipitation amounts early to mid next week. Northeast DEWS has issued a special spring update highlighting increasing fire hazard, low humidity, and streamflow deficits. The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry also released fire safety tips given the developing dry spring conditions.

Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Climate Change Institute, Cooperative Extension University of Maine. For climate/weather questions related to agriculture, send Sean e-mail at birkel@maine.edu

Recipe to Market

April 18th, 9 am to noon, Online

The program will introduce aspiring home-based food entrepreneurs to business basics, the specialty food industry and product development, licensing and regulations, and food safety. Products that may be discussed include canned shelf-stable products — like jams, jellies, preserves, baked goods, condiments, salsas, sauces or dessert sauces — fermented foods, dry mixes, candies and confections.

 The fee for the workshop is $35; registration is required. Financial assistance is available. The workshop will be recorded for registered participants and available for a limited time. Register and find more details on the event registration page. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Melissa Libby Babcock, melissa.libby1@maine.edu; 207.581.2788 or 800.287.0274 (Maine only).

More Swine 101 Sessions Added

More sessions of this popular seminar have been added and a meal will be provided at no cost (smoked pork!). Funded by the Maine Grazing Behavior Lab

Join Dr. Colt W. Knight, UMaine Extension State Livestock Specialist, for a 2-hour primer on raising pastured pork. Topics include: breed selection, basic reproductive information, swine nutrition, fencing, housing, meat yield, and more.

Register here

Wednesday, April 26, 2023. 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Location: UMaine Extension Somerset County, 7 County Dr., Skowhegan, Maine
• Contact: Emily Collins at emily.collins3@maine.edu or call 207.474.9622

Thursday, April 27, 2023. 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Location: UMaine Extension Cumberland County, 75 Clearwater Drive, Suite 104, Falmouth, Maine
• Contact: Ali Mediate at alexandra.mediate@maine.edu or call 207-781-6099 Opt 2 -> Opt 1

Free farm succession planning assistance in Maine!

No-cost succession planning assistance is now available to Maine farmers. Reach out to initiate a no-cost consultation to take advantage of free succession planning assistance with this available funding by May 31.

Land For Good provides guidance to farmers, landowners and communities amid the challenges of farmland access, tenure, and transfer. They have helped hundreds of farmers find innovative solutions that keep their farms in farming, whether or not they have an identified successor. With this no-cost assistance for Maine farmers, they can help farmers provide a meaningful legacy and address the financial, legal and business challenges involved in transferring a farm to a next generation family member or unrelated successor.

Agritourism Course

Maine farms offering agritourism as part of their business will have a chance to complete a coaching and training program to expand their business goals. The program will begin the inaugural pilot course in May 2023. 

Interested farms must complete an application before being chosen to partake in the approximately year-long course.

Read more about the program on the DACF agritourism webpage

Fiddlehead Food Safety

With fiddlehead season quickly approaching, we are launching our Fiddlehead Food Safety Campaign to provide consumers with our UMaine Extension educational resources on safely preparing and preserving fiddleheads. We hope you will join our efforts to simply post the attached QR Code with your fiddleheads displayed for sale.

Numerous foodborne illnesses have resulted from consuming undercooked or raw fiddleheads and we hope you will help us to share this information at the point of purchase with consumers to keep them safe when consuming this uniquely Maine food. More information on fiddlehead food safety available here.

Still time for your farm to be counted!

The Census of Agriculture allows producers to tell the story of U.S. agriculture and it’s not too late to respond. Since data collection began last fall, over a million ag census recipients across the country have returned their questionnaires, but many have yet to respond. USDA will continue to collect completed 2022 ag census forms through the spring to ensure all producers have the chance the be represented in widely used census data. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.

Census data inform decisions about policy, farm and conservation programs, infrastructure and rural development, research, education, and more. If you are a producer who has already submitted your 2022 Census of Agriculture, you may disregard any additional ag census letters and forms.

COVID-19 Relief Funds for Farmworkers

Were you a farmworker at any point between February 2020 and now? MOFGA is helping connect farmworkers to one-time payments of $600 from the USDA for farmworkers and food processing workers that worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note this funding is just for farmworkers, not owners/operators of farms. Visit this link for more information and to apply. It is simple and confidential to apply. For support with applying, contact BoDennis at bdennis@mofga.org. 

Help collect data on farmworker compensation

You are invited to participate in a research project on the labor and compensation practices of agricultural operations in New England being conducted by a team of Extension and research professionals at the University of Maine. This project will provide agricultural operators and workers with timely information about market conditions.

Deadline April 15. https://bit.ly/2023AgLaborSurvey

Those who reach the end of the survey will be taken to a separate form where you may enter a drawing to win a $75 gift card to a farm outfitter (such as Tractor Supply).

Master Food Preserver Training Accepting Applications

Do you enjoy the art and science of food preservation? Would you like to develop expertise in food preservation? Consider becoming a UMaine Extension Master Food Preserver volunteer.

Applications for the training now available and due May 5, 2023 by 4:30 p.m. The 10 part hands-on kitchen labs will be held Tuesdays, 5:30pm-8:30pm starting June 13th until September 5th. The course covers food preservation techniques including canning, drying, freezing, fermenting, and winter storage as well as important food safety information. 

Upon successful completion of the program, Master Food Preservers serve as volunteers and resources in the community to provide the public with research-based information from UMaine Extension and USDA. For more information visit the program page.