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ORONO — University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering two opportunities for livestock owners to get updates on forage resources and crop insurance starting at 10 a.m and again at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9.
“Got Livestock, Need Hay?” features UMaine Extension professor Rick Kersbergen sharing information for livestock owners on assessing how much feed is needed and if enough is on hand, and strategies if a shortage seems likely. Extension crop insurance education program manager Chris Howard will share information specific to livestock producers.
The webinar is free; registration is required. Register on the event webpage. The session will be recorded for later viewing. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Donna Coffin, 207.262.7726; donna.coffin@maine.edu.
Also, many livestock and equine owners in Maine buy all of their hay and forage needs for winter. While this year’s growing season started out well, forage growth was reduced due to low rainfall in most of the state, especially for second and third hay cuttings.
According to Kersbergen, now is the time for livestock owners to assess what they have for feed, the number of animals they will be feeding, and what they will need for the next six to seven months. Kersbergen advises against waiting until winter to source forage in the midst of a shortage.
UMaine Extension maintains a regularly updated interactive hay directory to help locate forage sources. Additional resources include how to determine the amount of forage needed and how to test the quality of forage.
