Category: Agriculture

Agricultural Committee and information

Fact Sheet for Beginning Farmers

University of Maine Cooperative Extension has released a new fact sheet to support individuals who are starting farm enterprises, an effort that often comes with a steep learning curve.

Bulletin #1215, Avoiding Common Mistakes of Beginning Farmers outlines the challenges often faced by new farmers and offers research-based guidance to help growers and producers reduce risk and build a strong foundation for long-term farm success. Topics include developing a business plan, assessing land and soil resources, evaluating equipment needs, establishing recordkeeping systems and identifying markets. The fact sheet is intended for aspiring and early-career farmers seeking practical information to inform decision-making during the startup phase of farm operations. The publication is available free of charge on the Cooperative Extension Publications webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Nicholas Rowley at 207.778.4650 or nicholas.rowley@maine.edu.

Mill Stream Grange Visits School

Kindergartners Start Farming

Recently, Mill Stream Grange members Jill Sampson, Lisa Goucher, and Paula Hanley visited teacher Melanie Hall’s kindergarten class at Mt. Vernon Elementary School to share information about the Grange and farming.  Each child was given a new book titled “Farming” by Gail Gibbons, a coloring book on farming, and animal stickers. Jill read “Farming” to the students, then Lisa and Paula helped each of them to plant sunflower seeds, which were placed on the windowsill in the sun.  

Mt Vernon Kinders had fun learning
Jill reads to future farmers.
Jill reads to future farmers
The farmers’ tools and future crops

Farming by Gail Gibbons is a popular nonfiction children’s book that uses clear, colorful illustrations and diagrams to explain the year-round work on a farm, from planting and harvesting crops to caring for animals and dealing with seasonal changes. An updated edition includes new safety equipment and procedures, making it an engaging and educational resource for young readers (ages 4-8) about agriculture, tractors, and where food comes from. It is available from Amazon.

What’s not to love about Jill’s apron? “Romaine Calm and Carrot On.”

Sagadahoc Pomona News

By Marilyn Stinson

Sagadahoc Pomona held their May meeting at Topsham Grange where Lecturer Sharon had an interesting program for her agriculture report. What do elephants and fireflies have in common? They are both “keystones” for our environment. We learned how to help reduce the light pollution that is harming our ecosystem.

Marilyn has been saying that she would rather Enterprise Grange (in Richmond) get a red or white ribbon for the exhibits they earn at the fair than a blue one, because there is no competition. Well, we also learned that Merriconeag (in Harpswell) is having secret meetings to come up with the best exhibit with the Poultry Theme that MAAF has given all Granges to use.

Ta Da!! A friendly challenge is accepted. It will be fun to see how the different Granges in our state respond to the second year of the Maine Fair Association directing our common theme.

Monmouth Fair is the first and has to be set up before June 24th, which is our meeting date. Pittston is second in July, then Windsor, Topsham, and Litchfield for the fairs in our area.

Sagadahoc will have a Memorial program and Elections on June 24th, no meeting in July, and our picnic at James Mitchell Park on the ocean in Harpswell on August 29th. See you then!

Maine Senior FarmShare Program

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Maine Senior FarmShare Program (MSFP) will soon begin enrolling participants for the 2026 season. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Maine Senior FarmShare Program, which has helped connect older adults with fresh Maine-grown produce, cut herbs, and honey while supporting local farms across the state.

Enrollment for the 2026 season will open on June 1, 2026.

Interested older adults may complete an online application on the MSFP website. This application includes a menu that lists farms by county, so they can select the farm they would like to enroll with in MSFP. An applicant can choose a farm in any county, regardless of where they live. Applicants will receive immediate email notification indicating whether they are eligible or ineligible.

New England Fairs Memo

The Maine State Veterinarian’s office is sharing an important memo about animal health rules for the 2026 New England fair and show season. Please review the New England Fairs Memo (PDF).

This memo explains new guidance related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and how it may affect animal exhibitions this year.

Key points include:

  • Some poultry and waterfowl shows may be delayed, limited, or canceled.
  • Cattle from states with HPAI cases should not attend New England fairs.
  • Strong biosecurity practices are expected for all animals.
  • Rules for Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (OCVIs) for the 2026 season.

For more information about animal health at fairs and events, visit the Animal Health program’s Fair Information webpage. 

View from the Farm – May, 2026

Photo of Quill's Endians

Webmaster’s note: The format of this column includes all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! Phil writes this month’s column.

The Soft Start

Since early April, when the frost departed from the soil in the pastures, we have been privy to the scene that unfolds every spring. From 1/4″ clover leaves, cute as a kitten to a grass farmer, to the stout orchardgrass, bullying its way to the heavens, the season never yet disappoints.  But the greens.  They change every day just ever so.  Under gray skies, the glow seems otherworldly.  Sunny skies seem to make smiling green, bright and toothy as it blows gently in a breeze and receives its soundtrack from the newly arrived frenzy of birds.  

The trees are starting to play along as well.  The multitude of reds and yellows adding to the drama of yet another unfolding.  They just frame the scene as the mist and clouds roll by, adding the promise of summer to the dreariness.  Underneath the coming canopy they are all business, soaking up all the moisture they can bear to miraculously turn it into foliage. 

The soft start.  It is frustrating to us as we wait.  Know that we might be the only ones waiting in nature.  The rest are off to the races while we enjoy the view.

Heather and Phil Retberg and their three children run Quill’s End Farm, a 105-acre property in Penobscot that they bought in 2004. They use rotational grazing on their fifteen open acres and are renovating thirty more acres from woods to pasture to increase grazing for their pigs, grass-fed cattle, lambs, laying hens, and goats. Quill’s Endians are members of Halcyon Grange and publish a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in the area, and generously permit us to share some of their columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.

Dairy Goat School at Evening Star Grange

Submitted by Wendy Carr

June 14, 2026 at 11 am
Evening Star Grange
31 Old Union Road
Washington, ME

For more information, contact fullmooncreamery@gmail.com

Spring Fire Safety Tips

From an e-newsletter published by Maine Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.

The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Forest Protection Division urges caution and preparedness for spring wildfire season. Maine has already experienced 115 wildfires that have burned about 75 acres thus far in 2026.

Despite the recent rain, spring weather conditions are extremely conducive to wildfires. Most spring wildfires occur in April and May and the most common cause is escaped embers from burning debris or dead vegetation. Other leading causes include unattended campfires, equipment malfunction and inappropriately discarded cigarettes. About 90% of all fires are caused by people and are preventable.

Maine residents and visitors are encouraged to check with their town hall, local fire service or the Maine Forest Service before burning. Those wishing to burn may also visit the state’s portal for open burning permits.

Other critical steps to preventing wildfires include being mindful of weather conditions, particularly higher wind days, and using only easily-controlled locations for burning. Allow woodstove and fireplace ashes to cool before disposing of them in a tightly covered metal container, which should be kept at least 10 feet away from the home and any other buildings. Never empty the ashes directly into a trash can. Most importantly, never use flammable gas-propellants.

View from the Farm – April, 2026

Webmaster’s note: The format of this column includes all of the Quill’s Endians participating at various times and in various ways! Phil writes this month’s column.

Practice Resurrection

Last fall, as the drought lasted and lasted, we started to bale feed in our neighbor’s field.  Bale feeding can improve soil and the stand of forage in a hurry.  By rolling out round bales and placing an electric fence just so, the cows waste little of the hay and manure the ground below them in an even manner.  What is left behind is a thin compost pile that feeds the communities of bacteria, insects, and microbes as they break down the hay and excrement left behind from the cattle’s slow move through the field.  Organic matter increases, minerals are made bioavailable, and the seed bank, including the new seed from the hay, is stimulated.  Time does the rest. 

If our previous experience with bale feeding holds, the field will become a lot more useful as not only feed, but also a carbon sink and soil creator.  Wendell Berry wrote “practice resurrection”.  On a very small scale, we can help it along and benefit the ecosystem while we benefit the cows by letting them live out their design as ruminants.
 

As this spring has progressed, this particular field, which is sandy-soiled and sloping, has been able to bear traffic with no damage.  So, we resumed our incomplete march to Back Ridge Road, and will be able to treat the whole field to bale feeding.  It is a pleasure to see the cows outdoors taking nutrients uphill that require no shoveling, no composting, and no spreading to do the thing.

Here is to cows pooping where they ought!

Heather and Phil Retberg and their three children run Quill’s End Farm, a 105-acre property in Penobscot that they bought in 2004. They use rotational grazing on their fifteen open acres and are renovating thirty more acres from woods to pasture to increase grazing for their pigs, grass-fed cattle, lambs, laying hens, and goats. Quill’s Endians are members of Halcyon Grange and publish a newsletter for their farm’s buying club of farmers in the area, and generously permit us to share some of their columns with Grangers. Visit the Quill’s End Farm Facebook Page for more information.

Black Bears Are Waking Up!

Reprinted from an e-newsletter by District 4 Senator Stacey Guerin

With spring upon us, Maine’s black bears are beginning to wake up and look for food after emerging from their winter dens. While denning, black bears enter a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism and respiration, breathing only once per 15 to 45 seconds and dropping their heart rate to 8-21 beats per minute. Even with a lowered metabolic rate, bears still lose significant body fat.

Once spring comes and bears emerge from their dens, they are working to regulate their bodily functions slowly until normal activity ensues. Bears will seek out limited springtime foods such as insects, grasses, sedges, leftover hard mast from the fall, and other early spring vegetation. While natural foods are limited, bears may take the risk and wander into backyards in search of easily accessible food. It is especially important to be proactive about securing and removing backyard attractants this time of year to prevent conflicts with black bears.

To prevent black bears from wandering into your yard, there are some easy steps to take:
• Remove birdfeeders between April 1 and November 1 and rake up unused bird seed from the ground;
• Store garbage cans in a building or within an electric fence enclosure;
• Clean grills thoroughly after use and store them inside;
• Store livestock and pet food inside;
• Keep livestock in buildings at night and maintain effective fencing for livestock.

To learn more about living with black bears, check out the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s website.

Share this news!

Subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website