PERMACULTURE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY  . . . NORTHERN PULP’S DRAFT INDUSTRIAL APPROVAL POSTED  . . . CHICKEN FARMERS REACH NEW QUOTA AGREEMENT . . . INFORMATION SESSION ON CHANGES MADE TO N.S. ENVIRONMENT’S WATERCOURSE ALTERATION PERMITTING PROCESS . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

PERMACULTURE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
Source: ACORN
2015 Permaculture Design Course at Motheroak Permaculture in Hants County, Nova Scotia. This will be offered as an eight week work/trade internship program (no fees/no stipend), integrating Pc studies and design projects with our farm and intensive organic market garden work. Learn by doing. Max five people so apply early. Firm commitments only please. (read more)

NORTHERN PULP’S DRAFT INDUSTRIAL APPROVAL POSTED
Source: NS Dept of Environment
The Department of Environment has posted a draft of the industrial approval being developed for Northern Pulp. The mill’s existing approval expires on Jan. 30. The draft includes tighter limits with reductions focusing on three key areas – air emissions, water usage, and wastewater effluent. The results, once implemented by the company, would put Northern Pulp in line with other mills in North America. Written comments on the draft industrial approval will be accepted until Jan. 5. (read more)

CHICKEN FARMERS REACH NEW QUOTA AGREEMENT
Source: FCC
Six years of intense negotiations have ended in the signing of a new national chicken quota allocation agreement. All provinces will get a slight increase, but Alberta and Ontario may receive a bit more based on population growth. Alberta withdrew from the old agreement in protest at the start of 2014, but was the first to sign the new deal. “I think everyone was reluctant to give up anything in terms of future growth,” says Dave Janzen, chair of the Chicken Farmers of Canada. “So, we ended up being stuck in this rut where everyone was just allowed to grow on a historical basis.” (read more)

INFORMATION SESSION ON CHANGES MADE TO N.S. ENVIRONMENT’S WATERCOURSE ALTERATION PERMITTING PROCESS
Source: NSEF
Did you know there have been changes to N.S. Environment’s watercourse alterations process that could have an impact on your farm? Effective October 1, 2014, the submission requirements for some watercourse alterations changed from applications for approval to notifications. Watercourse alterations refer to activities that alter the bed or bank of a fresh water body, such as installing a crossing. Activities that do not alter the bed or bank of a watercourse will not require any submission to Nova Scotia Environment. An information session on these changes is being hosted by the NSFA on Friday December 5, 10am -12pm at 60 Research Drive, Perennia Innovation Park, Bible Hill. (read more)

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

AG MARKETS DIVERGED RATHER WIDELY MONDAY
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/news/markets/ag-markets-diverged-rather-widely-monday

WHO DETERMINES THE VALUE OF CARBON CREDITS?
http://westernfarmpress.com/blog/who-determines-value-carbon-credits

THE FRENCH DELICACY MADE OF 25 LAYERS OF PIG INTESTINES
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30229697

THE STATE OF THE BIRDS 2014 REPORT
http://www.stateofthebirds.org/newsroom/2014%20SotB_FINAL.pdf