5/1/12

Preconditioned Feeder Calf Sale

Grass has started to grow and backyard beef producers looking for beef calves to turn out on pasture this spring have an opportunity to buy healthy calves. The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) is sponsoring a preconditioned feeder calf sale at the Northeast Livestock Expo on Saturday, May 19^th at 11 am at the Windsor Fair Grounds, just off Route 32 in Windsor  www.northeastlivestockexpo.com .

Cow Calf producers have taken the time to precondition their calves for this sale. Preconditioning reduces the incidence of respiratory disease, enteritis and pinkeye by increasing the immunity of the calf in preparation of the stress of weaning and shipping.  Dehornings and castrations are healed. “This is a great opportunity to purchase high quality calves for your summer pasture,” says Dick Brown MBPA Director and auctioneer for the sale.  

Some cow calf producers consigning animals to the sale have also signed affidavits attesting that their animals have been raised under the MBPA Natural Meats program protocol of never having received hormones, antibiotics, or feeds or feed supplements containing animal-by-products. And/or their animals are 100% grass (forage) fed, no grains, grain-by-products, grain crops, grain crop silages, or other prohibited feeds under the USDA grass fed guidelines have been fed.

The MBPA are expecting about 100 calves weighing from 400 to 900 pounds to be sold at the May 19^th sale at 11 am. If you are interested in buying a few or a lot of animals or have questions contact Sale Manager, Pete Dusoe at 207-948-3233, 207-416-5441 or pbdusoe@uninets.net or Bob Dusoe at 207-322-5609.

4/30/12

Final Applications for NRCS Organic Initiative due June 1

Bangor, ME – April 26, 2012 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for the agency’s Organic Initiative.  Applications for the final ranking period of 2012 are due at NRCS offices by close of business on June 1, 2012. 

Funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS helps certified organic growers and producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation practices for organic production.  Practices will help the selected applicants meet many requirements of their USDA Organic System Plans and stay in compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program.    “Financial and technical assistance is available for certified organic producers, those who want to make the transition to organic production, and producers who sell less than $5,000 in organic products annually,” said Hernandez.

NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis throughout the year.  However, applications received by June 1, 2012 will be considered for funding in 2012. Applications received after this date will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2013.

For more information go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov or contact your nearest USDA Service Center, listed online at http://offices.usda.gov or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department.

4/26/12

Maine NRCS Announces Funding Opportunity for Innovation Grants

Bangor, ME, April 26, 2012 – Juan Hernandez, State Conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has announced that up to $250,000 is available in grants for new technology or approaches through Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG).  NRCS is seeking grant applications from Maine farmers; landowners; State, tribal, and local government entities; and non-governmental organizations to help solve Maine’s natural resource challenges.  The deadline for submitting proposals is May 31, 2012.

CIG, a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.  The program enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation’s most pressing natural resource concerns.  CIG will benefit agricultural producers by providing more options for environmental enhancement and compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. 

Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process.  Typically, successful projects will support innovative on-the-ground conservation using methods such as pilot projects and/or field demonstrations.  NRCS will consider proposals addressing Nutrient Management, Energy Conservation, Soil Health, and Wildlife.   

The grants of up to $75,000 for a project require a 50 percent non-federal match.  Projects may be single or multi-year, not to exceed three years.  Eligible projects must involve at least one agricultural producer who is eligible for the EQIP program.

Applications must be received at the NRCS Maine Headquarters by 4:00 p.m. EST on May 31, 2012.  Additional information and the Announcement of Program Funding can be found on the web at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov or at http://grants.gov.

3/12/12

Please click here to view the Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report for NRCS in Maine

3/9/12

Applications for Two Major Conservation Initiatives due March 30

Bangor, ME – March 9, 2012 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for the Organic Initiative or the On-Farm Energy Initiative.  Applications for the second ranking period of 2012 are due at the NRCS offices by close of business on March 30, 2012.  Both initiatives are funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and offer technical and financial assistance.

Through the Organic Initiative NRCS helps certified organic growers and producers working to achieve organic certification install conservation practices for organic production.  “Practices will help the selected applicants meet many requirements of their USDA Organic System Plans and stay in compliance with USDA’s National Organic Program,” said Hernandez.

Through the On-Farm Energy Initiative, NRCS and producers develop Agricultural Energy Management Plans (gEMP) or farm energy audits that assess energy consumption on an operation. NRCS then uses audit data to develop energy conservation recommendations. Each AgEMP has a landscape component that assesses equipment and farming processes and a farm headquarters component that assesses power usage and efficiencies in livestock buildings, grain handling operations, and similar facilities to support the farm operation.

This is the second of three application deadlines for these two initiatives.  If funding permits, the third and final deadline for 2012 will be June 1, 2012. 

For more information go to www.me.nrcs.usda.gov or contact your nearest USDA Service Center, listed online at http://offices.usda.gov or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department.   

USUSDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

1/27/12

USDA initiative offers assistance with forest land planning span> Applications for the New England-New York Forestry Initiative will be accepted through April 6, 2012 for current funding

Bangor, ME – January 26, 2012 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced that federal funding is available to assist Maine forest landowners with forest land planning and management under the New England-New York Forestry Initiative.  Funding is being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.  Maine is one of seven states participating in this special initiative.

“The main goal of this effort is to promote exemplary stewardship among private landowners by assisting them in conservation planning and management of their private forests to improve wildlife habitat, forest health and productivity, and water quality.” Hernandez said. “Besides providing economic benefits, forests are home to diverse communities of fish and wildlife. Through sound planning and management, our goal is to help private landowners keep forests as forests.”

Eligible conservation practices through this initiative include, but are not limited to, forest stand improvement, early successional habitat development and management, tree/shrub site preparation and establishment, upland wildlife habitat management, brush management, stream crossings, riparian forest buffers, fish passage, forest trails and landings, conservation cover, access roads, wetland restoration, and wetland wildlife habitat management.

Forest land owners who would like assistance are encouraged to call or visit their local USDA Service Center by April 6, 2012 to submit an application and complete the necessary paperwork to establish their eligibility. USDA Service Centers are listed online at offices.usda.gov, or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department. More information is available on the Maine NRCS website at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.   

For more information about this initiative and other NRCS programs visit www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

1/18/12

NRCS Funding Available to Restore Maine Wetlands

Bangor, ME  – January 18, 2012 - The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine has funding available to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), announced NRCS State Conservationist Juan Hernandez.  Applications are accepted year round.  However, applications received by March 30, 2012 will be considered for funding in 2012.  Applications received after this date will be considered for funding in Fiscal Year 2013.

“The Wetlands Reserve Program has been around since the mid 1990’s”, said Hernandez.  “It has become a cost-effective and ecologically successful voluntary wetlands restoration program.  The WRP is a great opportunity for many landowners, particularly farmers, who may have land that is poorly drained and difficult to cultivate, landowners  who are looking to cut back on farming but don’t want to sell the land, or those landowners interested in establishing and protecting prime wildlife habitat.”

WRP provides financial incentives to help farmers restore farmland, including pastures, which were once wetlands to create fully-functioning wetlands again.  The benefits from selling an easement on the wetland may help farmers shift their field configurations, allowing them to put more resources toward increasing productivity in other areas of the farm.  To enroll in WRP, lands that are classified as wetland, or were formerly wetland and are kept mowed or cultivated for agricultural purposes, and forest lands where the wetland hydrology has been altered significantly, are eligible.  The program offers three enrollment options:  (1) A permanent easement in which NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value and restoration costs; (2) A 30-year easement (for Tribal lands only) in which NRCS pays up to 75 percent of the easement value and restoration costs; and (3) Restoration Cost-Share Agreement to restore or enhance the wetland functions and values without placing an easement on the enrolled acres – NRCS pays up to 75 percent of the restoration costs and annual payments cannot exceed $50,000 per year.   The landowner maintains ownership of the land, access to the land, and responsibility for taxes.  Public access IS NOT required on WRP land.

Interested landowners should visit their local NRCS office located at the USDA Service Center to determine eligibility.   USDA Service Centers are listed online at http://offices.usda.gov, or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department.  Additional information on the Wetland Reserve Program is available at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

1/13/12

USDA Extends Conservation Stewardship Program Sign-Up to January 27

Bangor, ME – January 13, 2012 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced that the cut-off date for the current Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to January 27, 2012. Producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship are eligible for CSP payments. 

“We want to make sure that people who want to be considered for CSP during this first ranking period have the time they need to complete their applications,” Hernandez said. “CSP is a very popular program and I encourage interested producers to apply at their local NRCS office as soon as they can.”

Administered by NRCS, CSP provides many conservation benefits including improved water and soil quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and conservation activities that address the effects of climate change.

Producers are encouraged to apply for CSP throughout the year to be considered for current and future application ranking periods. Those who apply by January 27, 2012, may be eligible for current available funding. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland and nonindustrial forestland.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if CSP is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contracts obligations and potential payments. It is available from local NRCS offices and at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp.

1/9/12