FALMOUTH FIRE DESTROYS BARN, HORSES PERISH . . . TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT FROM MICHELIN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOAN PROGRAM . . . MIGHTY FARMING MICROBES: COMPANIES HARNESS BACTERIA TO GIVE CROPS A BOOST . . . WEBINAR: FARMLAND INVESTMENTS AND WATER RIGHTS . . . MAKE HAY WITH A SCYTHE: FREE HANDMOWING WEEKEND JULY 4 – 5 . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

FALMOUTH FIRE DESTROYS BARN, HORSES PERISH
Source: CBC.ca
A barn fire near Falmouth, N.S. this morning claimed the lives of a number of horses, and the horse community in Nova Scotia is coming together to support the owner of the stable. The blaze destroyed a barn at Crosby Stables, owned by Kevin Crosby who is a well-known breeder in the equestrian community. Heavy black smoke could soon be seen from as far away as Windsor and Highway 101. Windsor Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Lavers said it was a difficult fire to knock down. “We're deep into Falmouth. No hydrants.” Lavers confirmed many horses were in the barn and that some of them didn’t make it out. (read more)

TWO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT FROM MICHELIN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY LOAN PROGRAM
Source: Truro Daily News
TruLeaf/GoodLeaf and Forever Memories Equestrian, both based in Bible Hill, are recipients of loans through the partners of Bergengren Credit Union, Northern Opportunities for Business Limited (NOBL), Guysborough CBDC, and Michelin Development. The loans were announced on Monday and the businesses are two of 18 small businesses in total from Antigonish, Colchester, and Pictou counties to receive loans through the program. (read more)

MIGHTY FARMING MICROBES: COMPANIES HARNESS BACTERIA TO GIVE CROPS A BOOST
Source: NPR
What if farmers, instead of picking up some agricultural chemicals at their local dealer, picked up a load of agricultural microbes instead? It's something to contemplate, because some big names in the pesticide business – like Bayer and Monsanto – are putting money behind attempts to turn soil microbes into tools that farmers can use to give their crops a boost. (read more)

WEBINAR: FARMLAND INVESTMENTS AND WATER RIGHTS
Source: International Institute for Sustainable Development
A new IISD report, Farmland Investments and Water: the legal regimes at stake, examines the relationship between the international legal regimes governing water rights and investment in farmland, and the implications for several key African water basins. IISD hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 17, at 3pm (Central European Time) (read more)

MAKE HAY WITH A SCYTHE: FREE HANDMOWING WEEKEND JULY 4 – 5
Source: Harrison Lewis Centre
Join Maritime champion handmowers Peter and Helene Redden for a weekend sponsored by Rural Delivery magazine learning and perfecting how to mow grass with a scythe. Whether it’s to make hay for small livestock or to clean up your lawn, yard, field, or ditch, imagine being able to hear what’s going on around you (and smell the flowers and fresh air instead of gas fumes) as you mow. Come to the Harrison Lewis Centre in Sandy Bay, N.S., next door to Thomas Raddall Provincial Park, the weekend of July 4 and 5 to learn and share knowledge using and maintaining scythes, as well as other implements for harvesting hay and grain. Bring your own scythe if you have one. We have at least two school scythes. With the generous support of Rural Delivery we are able to offer free instruction, and accommodation (meals, a bunk, or tent site) for $60 and some help preparing and cleaning up after meals. (Musicians bring your voices and instruments for evenings around the campfire.)
HLC@eastlink.ca