PORK PRODUCERS COMMIT LEVY FUNDS TO INCREASE SWINE HEALTH COLLABORATION  . . . BEEF OUTLOOK: CANADA’S BEEF INDUSTRY STRENGTHENS . . . THE SOIL SESSIONS – WITH THE RODALE INSTITUTE . . . INVEST A WEEK-END, LEARN ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JUMP START AGRI-BUSINESS!  . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

PORK PRODUCERS COMMIT LEVY FUNDS TO INCREASE SWINE HEALTH COLLABORATION
Source: Canadian Meat Business
Canadian pork producers continue to make swine health a priority by committing producer levies to fund a national animal health initiative. The focus for the national animal health initiative will be to bring key players together to collaborate on efforts across Canada that limit the spread of viruses like PEDv, increase communication and monitor surveillance activities. (read more)

BEEF OUTLOOK: CANADA’S BEEF INDUSTRY STRENGTHENS
Source: FCC
Cattle prices reached record highs in 2014. Brian Perillat, manager at Canfax, takes a look at the year past and the year ahead. (read more)

THE SOIL SESSIONS – WITH THE RODALE INSTITUTE
Source: ACORN
Kick-off 2015, the UN International Year of the Soils, by attending The Soil Sessions on the Island! Prince Edward Island’s Certified Organic Producers’ Co-op and ACORN have teamed up to provide two full days of workshops with farmer, author and 30-year researcher Jeff Moyer, as well as Rodale Institute’s lead scientist Dr. Kristine Nichols. January 12 and 13, 2015, Charlottetown, P.E.I. (read more)

INVEST A WEEK-END, LEARN ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JUMP START AGRI-BUSINESS!
Source: NSFA
Do you have an idea that may solve a problem for farmers or food consumers? Have you been chewing on a possible business opportunity that could grow your operation? Or, maybe you simply have skills you want to apply to help advance innovative ideas for the local agri-food industry? The Agricultural Sandbox (www.dal.ca/cultiv8) is excited to be partnering with the Norman Newman Centre of Dalhousie University to re-offer Startup Weekend on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. The event will take place Friday, January 16 to Sunday, January 18, 2015 at the MacRae library. (read more)