Free KTA Belfast Business Managment Workshops

Posted on February 25, 2011March 15, 2011 by President

The Knowledge Transfer Alliance, an offshoot of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, will put on a free day of business management workshops in Belfast at the Hutchinson Center.

No Sign-up Needed: just show up for the sessions you’re interested in. The computer room will be available in a “Salad Bar” mode — just bring your questions (specific or general) and someone will try to help you.

Topics for this day of workshops devoted to helping Maine agricultural businesses grow include:

–Quickbooks Introduction, and Specific Topics
–Building Your Budget and Record Keeping in Excel
–Setting Your Vision and Sticking To It
–Marketing Tips, including Using Internet Marketing and Social Networking

Download a PDF Document here with the full schedule of workshops.

Dairy Farm Requirements — An Overview

Posted on February 9, 2011February 21, 2011 by President

Rembrant painting of Moses holding the Commandments Below is a link to a PDF document outlining the basics for setting up a small scale dairy operation and then getting your Maine Dairy Processors license to allow you to sell your products. It was put together by the Maine Micro-Dairy Cooperative which, sadly, is no longer an on-going operation

In addition to the basic regulations, it’s also important to be on top of all the sanitation needs for a small scale milking dairy, something that the Guild and/or the University of Maine Cooperative Extension can help you with. Join the Guild, attend our meetings, and together we can make great cheese together!

From the introduction:

The purpose of this document is to provide a basic overview of the requirements and standards that must be met for the production and sale of milk and dairy products in the state of Maine. It is not intended to replace nor supersede the official Department of Agriculture publication (Chapter 329: Rules Governing Maine Milk and Milk Products) from which it is derived, nor should it seem to take precedence over the judgment and advice of the State Dairy Inspectors who oversee the regulatory compliance of each producer and processor. It should be used as a guide only, in combination with on-site consultation and Department of Agriculture recommendations.

MMDC Summary of Dairy Farm Regs as of May 8, 2007

Processing Plant Requirements – an Overview

Posted on February 9, 2011February 21, 2011 by President

Below is a link to a PDF document outlining the basics for setting up a creamery and then getting your Maine Dairy Processors license to allow you to sell your products. It was put together by the Maine Micro-Dairy Cooperative which, sadly, is no longer an on-going operation

In addition to the basic regulations, it’s also important to be on top of all the sanitation needs for a dairy processor, something that the Guild and/or the University of Maine Cooperative Extension can help you with. Join the Guild, attend our meetings, and together we can make great cheese together!

From the introduction:

The purpose of this document is to provide a basic overview of the requirements and standards that must be met for the production and sale of milk and dairy products in the state of Maine. It is not intended to replace nor supersede the official Department of Agriculture publication (Chapter 329: Rules Governing Maine Milk and Milk Products) from which it is derived, nor should it seem to take precedence over the judgment and advice of the State Dairy Inspectors who oversee the regulatory compliance of each producer and processor. It should be used as a guide only, in combination with on-site consultation and Department of Agriculture recommendations.

MMDC Summary of Dairy Processing Regs as of May 8, 2007