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Celebrate Maine Maple Sunday with Sawyer's Maple Farm & Maine Forest Service
District Forester Jim Ferrante from the Maine Forest Service will give tours of the woods, tree identification, a history of maple syrup and the overall process of making syrup today.
February 24, 2022
MOOSE RIVER - Celebrate Maine Maple Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM Saturday, March 26 with Sawyer’s Maple Farm.
There will be tours of the entire maple syrup process, starting from the trees in their 7000 tap maple orchard and all the way to their evaporator and finished product. They will be boiling syrup if they have sap and will have lots of maple treats and goodies for sale.
This year, District Forester Jim Ferrante from the Maine Forest Service will give tours of the woods, tree identification, a history of maple syrup and the overall process of making syrup today. Jim will do tours at 10 AM and 2 PM, with more tours possible.
There will be syrup samples, possibly hot off the evaporator if they are boiling. They will be serving hot maple coffee and hot chocolate. Maple syrup, cotton candy, granola, candy, cream, coffee, popcorn, bbq sauces, sugar, maple spice rubs and much more will be available for purchase.
Directions to Sawyer’s Maple Farm: Stay North on Rt 201 until you get to the Heald Pond Road. Watch for signs at the intersection. The farm is 2 miles in the Heald Pond Road on the right hand side. Dress warmly and wear boots for tours in the woods.
If you plan to attend, please send District Forester Jim Ferrante an email at jim.ferrante@maine.gov or give him a call at 207-441-4308.
pc Patrick Tomasso, @impatrickt on Unsplash
APPLY NOW FOR INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ASSISTANCE
Woodland owners with 10-10,000 acres can apply to have a trained professional walk your property and prepare an Invasive Plant Control Plan. The Maine Forest Service will reimburse up to half the cost of approved Invasive Plant Control Plans.
02/28/22 UPDATE
Financial assistance now available to complete invasive plant control plans AND to implement existing, approved plans.
For implementation program (treatment) information and application, CLICK HERE.
For planning assistance information and application, CLICK HERE.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEDACF/bulletins/30aaf70
Woods Wise Wire - February 15, 2022
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry sent this bulletin at 02/15/2022 08:09 AM EST
Attention woodland owners with 10-10,000 acres:
Invasive plants choke out native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, and harm wildlife habitat in your woods!
You can apply to have a trained professional walk your property and prepare an Invasive Plant Control Plan. The Maine Forest Service will reimburse up to half the cost of approved Invasive Plant Control Plans.
Once you have an approved Plan, you may apply to receive free invasive plant treatment done by a contractor
Applications for Plans are due March 18, 2022. Contact Jack Hernandez at 287-8430 or John.D.Hernandez@maine.gov for eligibility requirements and a list of trained professionals who can prepare a plan for your property. Plan applications must be approved before work begins on the Plan.
Attention foresters and other natural resource professionals:
Woodland owners need help identifying invasive plants in their woods and figuring out what to do about them
This program offers financial incentives to landowners to have Invasive Plant Control Plans written by a trained professional. This means YOU!
The free Invasive Plant Academy (May 2022) will train and certify you to participate in the program and prepare Invasive Plant Control Plans for your clients; contact Jan Santerre at Jan.Santerre@maine.gov or 287-4987 to apply
The End of An Era on the Somerset SWCD Board
After 21 years Alan Haberstock has stepped down as a Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board Supervisor.
SKOWHEGAN - After 21 years Alan Haberstock has stepped down as a Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board Supervisor. We are certain he would have stayed on for longer if he hadn’t recently moved out of Somerset County. It is a requirement that District Board Supervisors are required to be residents of the county where the SWCD is located.
“Alan has been a steady source of knowledge, know-how and optimism for the work of our district. He has shepherded the onboarding of many supervisors ensuring the positive and cooperative culture of our board,” said Ann Mefferd, chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. “It has been a pleasure to serve with him. His work and service are appreciated and will be remembered.”
It truly is an end of an era as Alan represents the last Supervisor whose tenure encompassed more than one District Executive Director. In fact, his years on the Board allowed him to oversee three different Executive Directors and a multitude of changes in District work activities, partnerships, and assistance provided to Somerset County citizens. He used his expertise as a natural resources professional and manager as well his personal experience as a landowner and connected member of the community to provide comprehensive leadership to his role as a Board Supervisor.
Throughout the years Alan has been focused on ensuring resiliency and adaptability in District programs and staff. Additionally, he has been steadfast in assisting new Supervisors to learn the role of the Board and provide a solid history of past District efforts, challenges, and opportunities.
Alan’s presence on the Board will be greatly missed. We thank him for his 21 years of service and wish him the best!
Local Working Group to Determine Somerset County Natural Resource Priorities
The public is encouraged to participate in a virtual meeting of the Somerset County Local Working Group at 1:30 PM Tuesday, Dec. 21 hosted by the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District.
photo: the yellow foliage of invasive Asiatic bittersweet dominates many a treeline in Skowhegan. jbrockway photo
SKOWHEGAN - The public is encouraged to participate in a virtual meeting of the Somerset County Local Working Group at 1:30 PM Tuesday, Dec. 21 hosted by the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District.
To register for the meeting please contact joseph.dembeck@me.nacdnet.net.
The Local Working Group is composed of those individuals interested in agriculture, private forests, wetlands and wildlife within Somerset County. The group provides information, assistance and recommendations to the District Conservationist of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on local natural resource priorities and criteria for matters relating to the implementation and technical aspects of conservation programs funded under the USDA Farm Bill. Topics of discussion will include: agricultural waste, forestry, pasture and cropland. Other issues and areas of concern may be discussed as well.
If you have questions, please contact the Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District at (207) 474-8323 x 4.
Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities. Persons with disabilities are requested to inform the District in advance for services they require. Contact Joseph Dembeck at (207) 474-8323.
Ag Allies Partnership Featured in Local Media
Our continuing partnership with Kennebec Estuary Land Trust to bring Ag Allies grassland bird conservation assistance to landowners, has been reported in many local news outlets.
Our continuing partnership with Kennebec Estuary Land Trust to bring Ag Allies grassland bird conservation assistance to landowners, has been reported in many local news outlets, including the Press Herald and Boothbay Register. We’re pleased to continue these efforts with funding assistance provided by Cornell Ornithology Lab.
https://www.pressherald.com/2021/09/23/local-land-trust-forms-partnership-to-protect-birds/
District Supervisor Election
PUBLIC NOTICE
July 29, 2021
Somerset County
Soil & Water Conservation District
DISTRICT SUPERVISOR ELECTION
Persons desiring to run for the office of District Supervisor for the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District should contact the District office at 70 East Madison Road, Skowhegan ME 04976, telephone (207) 474-8323, to obtain nomination papers. Nomination papers must be received at the District office no later than October 4, 2021. Persons wishing to vote in the election of District Supervisor must contact the District to receive a ballot.
Persons who desire to run for office of Supervisor must be a resident registered voter residing within the boundaries of the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District. All registered voters within the boundaries of the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District are eligible to vote. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the District.
Grassland Management Walk July 7 in South Thomaston
Learn how to manage habitat for grassland birds such as this male bobolink in South Thomaston on July 7th at 9 AM.
Managing Grasslands for Success – providing habitat for grassland birds
SOUTH THOMASTON - Grab your binoculars and come take a walk through a beautiful bobolink habitat.
Join the Georges River Land Trust and Ag Allies program for a free Grassland Management Walk from 9 to 11 AM Wednesday, July 7. (Rain Date: Thursday July 8, same time) at the Riverview Hayfields Preserve in South Thomaston.
The workshop will cover practices for improving and managing grasslands for bird habitat, forage production and even pollinators! If you are interested in revitalizing an old field to improve grassland habitat, this workshop is the place to get advice on starting that process. We will also discuss the life history of our steeply declining grassland bird species and conservation practices that can be implemented to help them. The most exciting part is that the timing of this workshop will allow participants to view grassland bird nesting behaviors and the first flights of fledgling bobolinks and Savannah sparrows.
The Georges River Land Trust is excited to join with Ag Allies to highlight the importance of our beautiful grasslands for their bird habitat values, agricultural importance as well as their bucolic qualities.
To register, call Georges River Land Trust at 207-594-5166 or email annette@grlt.org with this in the subject line: Grasslands Workshop.
Since 2016, Ag Allies, hosted by Somerset County SWCD, has worked with land trusts and landowners statewide to increase the nesting success of grassland birds using incentive payments, technical assistance and education. The program empowers landowners to make sustainable, bird-friendly management changes on their land and improve the chance for nesting success of grassland birds in Maine.
The Georges River Land Trust’s mission is to conserve the ecosystems and traditional heritage of the Georges River watershed region through permanent land protection, stewardship, education, and outdoor experiences. GRLT is a network of conservation easements, trails, and preserves protecting more than 4,000 acres with 60+ miles of public trails. It is an equal opportunity provider. For more information about the work of the Georges River Land Trust, please visit www.georgesriver.org.
photo credit: Laura Suomi-Lecker, male bobolink at GRLT’s Riverview Bobolink Fields.
Originally published by UMaine News, June 25, 2021
New partnership balances bird habitat with farming at UMaine
We are pleased to welcome University of Maine’s J. Franklin Witter Teaching and Research Center to the 2021 participant roster for Ag Allies. Thirteen acres managed for livestock forage will be left uncut until after bobolinks and other grassland nesting birds have completed their nesting season.
Learn more: https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2021/06/25/new-partnership-balances-bird-habitat-with-farming-at-umaine/
Office Closure Extended Through May 31
For the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed through the end of May.
SKOWHEGAN – Following guidance from the state and for the protection of our staff, their families, our USDA co-workers, and the public, Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Office will be closed until at least Monday, June 1. During this time period staff will be teleworking from home and can be reached as follows:
Email – info@somersetswcd.org
Phone – 207-474-8323 x 4 (leave message and your call will be returned within 48 hours)
To directly email staff members:
Joe Dembeck – Executive Director – jdembecksc15@gmail.com
Laura Suomi-Lecker – Technical Director – laura.lecker@me.nacdnet.net
Jennifer Brockway – Outreach Coordinator – somersetswcd.outreach@gmail.com
Please note, postal mail can still be sent to 70 East Madison Rd, Skowhegan, ME 04976. Mail will be received and processed during the office closure, including any Trout Sale orders.
Plan to stay connected with us via email, District website (www.somersetswcd.org), Facebook and Instagram.
Somerset County Landowners Eligible for Invasive Plants Technical Assistance
Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has partnered with the Maine Natural Areas Program on a new initiative to identify and support the management of invasive plants on working lands.
SKOWHEGAN - Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has partnered with the Maine Natural Areas Program on a new initiative to identify and support the management of invasive plants on working lands.
Through the project, District staff are available to work in partnership with eligible landowners to:
Identify invasive plant species that are the highest priority for removal on working lands,
Leverage cost-share funding opportunities to support the management of invasive species, and
Implement targeted invasive species control projects on participating properties.
These services are provided to at no cost to participating landowners.
An invasive plant is defined as a plant species that is not native to the Maine ecosystem, whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. In Somerset County, some of the more common invasive plants include shrubby honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry and Asiatic bittersweet. These and a host of others have significant impacts on the health and productivity of forests and agricultural lands.
“For 2020 we are looking for volunteer landowners that would like to have their property surveyed for invasive terrestrial plants, known locations mapped, and a management plan developed to provide a course of action in addressing any identified concerns,” says Joe Dembeck, Somerset SWCD executive director.
In 2019 Somerset County SWCD worked with five landowners in Somerset County to identify and prioritize invasive plant concerns. The District is now recruiting 10 properties for the 2020 program. Somerset County landowners who want to better understand the extent and impacts of invasive plants on their properties should contact Dembeck at 207-474-8323 x 4 or by email, jdembecksc15@gmail.com.