SNOW DAMAGE REPORT … LAKEVILLE FAMILY MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT AFTER DEVASTATING CANCER DIAGNOSIS… SWN RESOURCES GRANTED EXPLORATION LICENCE EXTENSION DESPITE MORATORIUM … FUTURE OF ANTIBIOTICS GROWS IN HORSE MANURE… TWO AGRICULTURAL WEBINARS SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK … OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

SNOW DAMAGE REPORT
Source: NSFA There have been steady and recurring hits of winter weather that are affecting farmers in various ways since the end of January and the Federation of Agriculture has been hearing many reports of damage caused by the snow, wind, and ice. Greenhouse Nova Scotia has compiled a scan of damage in their industry and we would like to do the same for the industry as a whole. There have been discussions with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and without an accurate scan of the industry, we cannot stress to government the extensive damage suffered by farmers. You may have already contacted us, but please contact us again to report if you have had damage related to the recent winter weather; details of the structural damage, loss of livestock, cost estimation of the loss, and if the loss was insurable or not. Once the list is compiled, we will get to work, advocating on behalf of farmers. (read more)

LAKEVILLE FAMILY MAKING EVERY MOMENT COUNT AFTER DEVASTATING CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Source: Kings County News
It’s the simple things that matter most to David Ells as he turns his attention to staying in his home for as long as possible following a devastating diagnosis. “We’re just going to focus on our family and spending as much time with the family as possible,” said Ells. The 37-year-old, who is married with two young daughters, is battling cholangiocarcinoma. He’s been poked, prodded, and operated on, but doctors have concluded the cancer, which grows in bile ducts, is untreatable in its progressed state. (read more)

SWN RESOURCES GRANTED EXPLORATION LICENCE EXTENSION DESPITE MORATORIUM
Source: CBC.ca
The Gallant government has given SWN Resources a one-year extension on its exploration licence, despite a moratorium on shale gas development in New Brunswick. Energy Minister Donald Arseneault refuses to predict if the fracking moratorium will ever be lifted. SWN has already told the provincial government it plans to shift its resources elsewhere because of the moratorium bill, which hasn’t passed yet. But Energy Minister Donald Arseneault says he’s willing to extend the company's exploration licence as long as it realizes five conditions must be met before the moratorium is lifted. (read more)

FUTURE OF ANTIBIOTICS GROWS IN HORSE MANURE
Source: The Globe & Mail
European biologists have discovered a bacteria-killing compound in common mushrooms that grow in horse dung. Unusually for an antibiotic, copsin is a protein; but laboratory trials showed it to have the same effect on bacteria as traditional antibiotics. (read more)

TWO AGRICULTURAL WEBINARS SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK
Source: Island Farmer
Farm Management Canada will be coordinating two upcoming webinars. On March 24 at 1 pm Atlantic Dairy farmers of Canada will present a session entitled “The proAction initiative – a game changer for dairy farmers?” The next day, Owen Roberts will lead a session as part of the Agriculture More Than Ever series entitled “Agvocacy through better Blogging.” (read more)