Knowledge Transfer at Ag Trade Show 2010

The Knowledge Transfer Alliance (KTA) at the University of Maine would be highly interested in collaborating with the Maine Cheese Guild (MCG) to provide specialized expertise in business management, marketing, and personal finance and insurance to farmers and market gardeners.

Throughout the entire three days of the Ag Trade Show, KTA in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture will have a stand-alone room where we will be running related workshops and hands-on training on 15 laptops for farmers with specific questions related to topics such as Excel, E-Mail, Internet Marketing, Web Surveys, Quickbooks, Farm Management, etc.

Using the Comments tools, please indicate whether there are specific topics MCG members would like KTA to present at 1) the Ag Trade show and 2) other MCG meetings during the year that would be a good fit.
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Cheese HAACP Training Offered in VT

The Vermont Cheese Council will hold a two day Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training for cheesemakers and cheesemaking operations.

Dates: Wednesdays, October 6 and 13, 2010
Time: 9:30am-4pm
Location: Provisions International, 42 North Main Street in White River Junction
Cost: $100 ($50/day)
To register: email Rachel Fritz Schaal or call 866.261.8595

Participants will:
Develop a HACCP plan from milk though packaged cheese
Conduct a hazard analysis
Identify Critical Control Points (CCPs) and set critical limits
Monitor CCPs and establish appropriate corrective actions
Validate your CCPs and verify your HACCP plan
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Sheep & Goat Reproduction Seminar

This message is to announce the the Sheep & Goat Reproduction Seminar planned for October 23 and 24 in Fairfield and New Sharon. The seminar will feature Tennessee Small Ruminant Specialist, Dr. An Peischel and UMaine Animal Science Professor, Dr. James Weber. The Saturday session will feature the science of reproduction. The Sunday session will feature artificial insemination of goats (Sunday session limited to 14 people).

A mailing was recently sent to all sheep and goat producers in Maine regarding the seminar. However, feel free to pass this message onto interested parties (farmers and 4-H types) in your realm.

Here is the link to the seminar.