WHY SOME STATES WANT TO LEGALIZE RAW MILK SALES . . . “THE END OF WINTER” WOODLOT FIELD DAY AND SUGAR BUSH TOUR . . . WEBSTER RELEASES DETAILS OF FARM FINANCING PROGRAM . . . ACCELERATED RELEASE POTATO SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED . . . ALBERTA MAD COW CASE SHOWS THE SYSTEM WORKS . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

WHY SOME STATES WANT TO LEGALIZE RAW MILK SALES
Source: NPR
The federal government banned the sale of raw milk across state lines nearly three decades ago because it poses a threat to public health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association all strongly advise people not to drink it. But individual states still control raw milk sales within their borders. And despite the health warnings, some Midwestern states have recently proposed legalizing raw milk sales in order to impose strict regulations on the risky – and growing – market. (read more)

“THE END OF WINTER” WOODLOT FIELD DAY AND SUGAR BUSH TOUR
Source: FNSWO
Nova Scotia forest landowners are invited to attend a Woodlot Management field day, Saturday March 7 at Pat and Janet O’Toole’s woodlot in Carroll’s Corner, Halifax County. This free event is part of a new “mentorship” program that aims to create opportunities for family forest owners to learn from each other, and give experienced owners a chance to share their knowledge. The mentorship program is a partnership between the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners, the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, and the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association, and is funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. Each event aims to enhance the information provided in NSDNR’s Woodlot Management Home Study Series. (read more)

WEBSTER RELEASES DETAILS OF FARM FINANCING PROGRAM
Source: Island Farmer
The farmland financing program will help attract new entrants to the industry and allow young farmers to expand their operations, Agriculture and Forestry Minister George Webster recently told members of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture. Promised in the 2013 Speech from the Throne, the program will be administered by Finance P.E.I. The agriculture minister noted the program is based on a recommendation from the federation. The new program offers two streams and applicants can only apply under one scenario. The new entrants stream provides five-year term loans to P.E.I. farms, up to 90 percent to 100 percent of purchase price of farmland. (read more)

ACCELERATED RELEASE POTATO SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED
Source: FCC
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada revealed 16 new selections of potatoes last week. Dr. Benoit Bizimungu, a potato breeder with AAFC, says he and his research team at the Potato Research Centre in Fredericton, N.B., work to improve productivity, disease resistance, and yield with less inputs of existing varieties. “We have several high-yielding selections with the potential to replace varieties on the market that require a lot of inputs,” Bizimungu says. While yield and productivity are priorities, another is to open new markets. This led to two pigmented selections this year – one pink fleshed and one purple. “A segment of consumers want a healthier product,” Bizimungu says. “The darker, more pigmented, the healthier they are.” (read more)

ALBERTA MAD COW CASE SHOWS THE SYSTEM WORKS
Source: AtlanticFarmer.com
According to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition, the discovery of a case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as Mad cow disease, in a cow in Northern Alberta on February 11, is unfortunate but not unexpected and demonstrates the effectiveness of Canada’s National BSE Surveillance Program (read more)

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

BURLINGTON CO., NEW JERSEY, HORSE TESTS POSITIVE FOR EHV-1
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35375/burlington-co-new-jersey-horse-tests-positive-for-ehv-1

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT PANEL & ROUND-TABLE – FEBRUARY 26
http://www.farmsafetyns.ca

RESEEDING FORAGE STANDS
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/agnw23315

REGISTRATION FOR AG.CONNECT 2015 IS NOW OPEN!
http://www.agri-futures.ns.ca/ag-connect-2015/