CHEESEMAKER GETS $50,000 LOAN FROM ACOA…WEBINAR WILL OFFER TIPS ON TALKING ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITH CONSUMERS . . .VERTICILLIUM WILT MAKES JUMP TO CANADIAN CANOLA . . . UN AGENCY DECLARES 2015 THE YEAR OF SOILS . . .  OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

CHEESEMAKER GETS $50,000 LOAN FROM ACOA
Source: The Chronicle Herald
An Annapolis Valley cheese maker is getting a $50,000 loan from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to help expand its warehouse. Holmestead Cheese Sales Inc., based in Aylesford, specializes in making feta. The 30-year-old company supplies major retailers across Canada, including Sobeys, Loblaws, and Walmart. Co-founder Susan Tziolas said Tuesday the cheese operation is expanding by adding an extension to a warehouse built in 2011. (read more)

WEBINAR WILL OFFER TIPS ON TALKING ABOUT AGRICULTURE WITH CONSUMERS
Source: Island Farmer
How to talk to consumers about agriculture and food will be the theme of a webinar to be held January 21 as part of the “Agriculture More Than Ever” series. The session, to be held from 2:30-4 pm Atlantic time will give those in the industry some tips, tools and insights to help guide conversations with consumers. Kelly Daynard, Communications Manager for Farm & Food Care, will give an abbreviated version of the day long “Speak Up “team training course that has been taken by hundreds of farmers across Canada over the last 10 years. (read more)

VERTICILLIUM WILT MAKES JUMP TO CANADIAN CANOLA
Source: FCC
A Manitoba canola field has been confirmed as the first in North America with Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease well known to northern Europe’s canola and vegetable growers. With no seed treatments or foliar fungicides yet registered against it — and with no resistant canola varieties available — the disease, if here to stay, may put added pressure on growers to seed canola more sparingly in rotations. (read more)

UN AGENCY DECLARES 2015 THE YEAR OF SOILS
Source: Troy Media
Each year, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) makes a point to celebrate one aspect of agriculture. Last year was the year of the family farm, which was a sound decision. In developing countries, the acknowledgement of the importance of family enterprises in agriculture was welcome news, as it depends largely on family-owned operations to ensure food security in many parts of the world. (read more)