Focus of forum: What opportunities exist to produce and market grains and other ingredients needed in the wine, beer and other distillery industries in Maine? What resources are available to growers and small business through USDA, Maine Department of Ag, Heart of Maine RC&D, Maine Department of Economic & Community Development, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., and the Maine Grain Alliance?

Soil health, grain nutrition and yields- an experiment in planting density……………………Mark Fulford
- Grain yield, 2010 lab analysis on warthog, hard winter wheat
- 2010 growing season and grain production in Maine in general……Ellen Mallory

Resources for farms and small businesses:
-Grain Storage and FSA Conservation Loan Program- FSA
-Maine Farms for the Future Program and Tilling the Soil Business Planning-HOM RC&D
-Rural Development: RBEG; RBOG;
-NRCS- conservation programs
-CEI loan programs

Lunch: delicious pizza, made with Harakiel Farm's 2010 hard winter wheat, baked in the wood-fired oven on premises.

Distillers and Micro Breweries……………Univ. of Maine Food Science Dept; Atlantic Brewing Co; Oak Pond Brewery
-Are there opportunities for locally grown ingredients to be used in Maine's beverage industry? Is there need for more market venues? If so, what type of market? What works?
-Is there need for Maine grown grains, hops or other ingredients and if so, what are the criteria for quality, varieties, market price and volumes? What are the challenges or barriers?

2:00 Group discussion, question and answer session and map of next steps: where do we go from here?

Please pre-register for this forum by contacting Heart of Maine RC&D coordinator: susan.watson@me.usda.gov , 207 947-6622 x 137
For info about ME Alternative Agriculture Association: call 207-696-8377 maaa@hciwireless.net on the web at: www.mainealternativeag.org. Lunch is $5.00 donation that can be paid at the door, we just need to know how many will be eating, so please call or email to pre-register, thanks and hope to see you there!