TOP COURT WON’T HEAR ONTARIO RAW MILK FARMER’S APPEAL . . . CANOLA AND BEES – A SWEET RELATIONSHIP . . . CETA CLOSURE CLOSE . . . UPCOMING EVENTS . . . PEI FEDERATION OFFICE CLOSED TODAY . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

TOP COURT WON’T HEAR ONTARIO RAW MILK FARMER’S APPEAL
Source: The Chronicle Herald
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from an Ontario farmer who has long championed the right to sell and drink unpasteurized milk. Earlier this year, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a 2011 conviction against Michael Schmidt that saw him fined $9,150 under provincial health-protection laws. In its ruling, the court said Schmidt’s “cow-share” scheme — in which consumers supposedly bought an ownership interest in a dairy cow — was little more than a way to circumvent public-health rules.

CANOLA AND BEES – A SWEET RELATIONSHIP
Source: Alberta Ag and Rural Development
Canola is the main crop for honey production in Western Canada. Wherever you find canola, you’ll find honeybees. “Bees tend to do very well on canola. The crop has profuse blooms and nutritious pollen high in protein as well as fat, and with all the amino acids bees need to complete their lifecycle,” says Shelley Hoover, an apiculture research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Bees can produce quite a good honey crop off of canola.” (read more)

CETA CLOSURE CLOSE
Source: FCC
Canada's economic trade agreement with the European Union appears to be entering the final stages, with the announcement Tuesday that negotiators have concluded a text of the agreement. The final wording comes after months of negotiation and disagreements over a wide range of issues that included investor protection from lawsuits as well as dairy quotas. (read more)

UPCOMING EVENTS
Source: NSFA
Following is a list of the upcoming Agricultural events: Meet Your Farmer at the Mall, August 22 & 23; Council of Leaders Meeting, September 17; Open Farm Day, September 21; NSFA Annual Meeting, November 27 & 28. (read more)

PEI FEDERATION OFFICE CLOSED TODAY
Source: PEIFA
Just a reminder that the Federation office will be closed Friday, August 15 for the Gold Cup and Saucer holiday. Thanks! (read more)