SPRUCE TREES ARE SURPRISINGLY DELICIOUS … N.S. OPEN FARM DAY … GOAL OF COMPOST STUDY TO INCREASE SOIL PRODUCTION … PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION COMMISSION NAMES NEW BOARD … RESEARCH SHOWS PROMISE FOR PROSPECT VARIETY IN REDUCING NITRATE LEVELS …OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

SPRUCE TREES ARE SURPRISINGLY DELICIOUS
CBC.ca
Most people don't walk through the woods for a bite to eat, but as Greg Osowski says they're tastier than many people may think. It's important to first identify that you're looking at a spruce and not a fir tree. (read more)

N.S. OPEN FARM DAY
Source: NSFA Last week to register! Every year, NSFA asks Nova Scotia farms to open their gates to the general public. This year, Open Farm Day will take place on September 20. We welcome all new and returning farm participants.
nsfa-fane.ca/openfarmday.

GOAL OF COMPOST STUDY TO INCREASE SOIL PRODUCTION
Source: FCC
Soil health is being blamed for lagging potato yields in New Brunswick compared to yields in other North American potato production regions, but researchers are working hard to change that. Bernie Zebarth, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says according to the Potato Growers of America, the average potato yield throughout North America increased an average of five hundredweight per acre per year over the past 50 years. “For New Brunswick, the industry looked at crop insurance data and, in the last 20 years, tuber yields have pretty well remained the same,” Zebarth says. (read more)

PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION COMMISSION NAMES NEW BOARD
Source: N.S. Dept of Agriculture
The Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission has a new board focused on accountability and long-term sustainability for the facility. The new board members were announced June 26 by Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. “I am very happy that we have a new board with experienced business and agricultural leaders who can grow the success of events, generate more income to reinvest in the facility and ensure the exhibition is on a stable path going forward,” said Mr. Colwell. “They are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on building a bright future for this important provincial institution.” (read more)

RESEARCH SHOWS PROMISE FOR PROSPECT VARIETY IN REDUCING NITRATE LEVELS
Source: Island Farmer
As he listened to research on the impact of nitrates in groundwater during a recent field trip to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Farm in Harrington, Ryan Barrett said he was struck by two things. The research coordinator and communications officer for the PEI Potato Board joined members of the Canadian Water Network in touring some of the projects underway at the farm looking at ways to reduce the nitrate footprint – particularly in areas where there is extensive potato production. The national network is involved with some of the projects, along with scientists and researchers from Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada, and a number of universities. (read more)