LABOR MARKET INFORMATION RESEARCH SURVEY . . . YOUNG COLDBROOK-AREA CONTEST WINNER CHOOSES TO DONATE PRIZE TO FAMILY IN NEED . . . REAL FOOD FOR OUR READERS . . . WOMEN BUTCHERS ARE SLICING THROUGH THE MEAT WORLD’S GLASS CEILING . . . FARMERS FROM MAN. AND P.E.I. NAMED CANADA’S OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMERS FOR ’14 . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

LABOR MARKET INFORMATION RESEARCH SURVEY
Source: ThinkFarm
In a Canadian Federation of Agriculture report, labor issues are identified as the number one priority facing the Canadian agriculture industry today. Your help is needed to determine how much farm work is done by family members and how much is done by employees. What work is done by domestic and or foreign workers? Is there a growing reliance on hiring employees to support farm operations? What labor challenges are facing producers today? (read more)

YOUNG COLDBROOK-AREA CONTEST WINNER CHOOSES TO DONATE PRIZE TO FAMILY IN NEED
Source: Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia
The Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia has wrapped up voting for its second annual “What does your perfect Christmas tree look like?” art contest. Over 450 entries were received from elementary school students across the province. For the second year in a row, the grand prize winner has been full of Christmas spirit. (read more)

REAL FOOD FOR OUR READERS
Source: AtlanticFarmer.com
For the next couple of weeks, we will offer recipes that we come across as we glean the best for our readers. Try them, share them, enjoy them!

Christmas brownies

1oz brandy
3½oz dried cranberries
10½oz dark chocolate, broken into chunks
7oz butter
4 free-range eggs
10½oz light brown sugar
7oz plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
3½oz pecans, roughly chopped
icing sugar, to serve

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12x8in tin with baking parchment.
Gently heat the brandy then add the cranberries and leave to soak while you prepare the brownie mix. Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir gently until smooth then set aside to cool slightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk the chocolate and butter mix into the eggs then gently fold in the flour, mixed spice, pecans, cranberries and brandy until fully incorporated.
Pour into the prepared tin, smooth the surface then bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the brownie is firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then place on a wire rack until cooled completely. Once cool, cut into squares and dust the tops with icing sugar.

WOMEN BUTCHERS ARE SLICING THROUGH THE MEAT WORLD’S GLASS CEILING
Source: NPR
Kari Underly is slicing through half a hog as if it were as soft as an avocado ... until she hits a bone. “So what I'm doing now is ‘taking out the femur bone,” she explains to a roomful of about 30 women watching as she carves the animal. “The ham is a little bit of a drag, if you will, ‘cause we have to make money, and not everybody wants a big ham.” Underly is a fit, 46-year-old master butcher from Chicago. Her father and grandmothers were butchers. She put herself through college cutting meat. These days, she encourages other women to enter the business. (read more)

FARMERS FROM MAN. AND P.E.I. NAMED CANADA’S OUTSTANDING YOUNG FARMERS FOR ’14
Source: FCC Myron and Jill Krahn of Carman, Man. and Andrew and Heidi Lawless of Kinkora, P.E.I. received the title at the OYF National Event held this past weekend in Quebec City. The Lawless’ run a fourth-generation 3,600 acre farm together with Andrew’s parents in the heart of P.E.I.’s potato growing area. Andrew grew his first 60 acres of potatoes in 2002. Andrew and Heidi formed a partnership with his parents and by 2007 had acquired contracts for 12 million pounds of potatoes. Working with neighbors, they formed R&L Farms, the first joint venture potato farm in P.E.I. They have three children – Vance (7), Max (5) and Maeve (2). (read more)