LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM . . . ON-FARM PLANT BREEDING ON P.E.I. – FIELD VISIT . . . N.Z., U.S. DAIRY FARMERS CALL ON CANADA TO OPEN ITS MARKET AMID DEADLOCKED TRADE TALKS . . . WHY HOWE SOUND CHOSE PULP OVER PAPER . . . THE REAL DIRT ON FARMING “SPEAK UP” . . . UNDERSTANDING THE DRIVERS OF FARMLAND VALUES . . .OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Source: NSFA
After many months of working closely with provincial and federal government partners, the new Lowbush Blueberry Development Program was announced at the WBPANS Field Day, July 18 at Millen Farms. This program has two distinct components: Lowbush Blueberry Levelling and Improvement for Field Productivity; and Lowbush Blueberry Expansion. The application deadline for this program is August 18. (read more)

ON-FARM PLANT BREEDING ON P.E.I. – FIELD VISIT
Source: ACORN
ACORN/Bauta Family Initiative on Canadian Seed Security presents a Plant Breeding Field Visit: On-Farm Plant Breeding in Kensington, P.E.I. from 9am-11:30am. On farm plant breeding is advancing the development of brand new, grown-in-Canada varieties that are well suited for organic production and adapted to our local climate. (read more)

N.Z., U.S. DAIRY FARMERS CALL ON CANADA TO OPEN ITS MARKET AMID DEADLOCKED TRADE TALKS
Source: CBC.ca
New Zealand dairy farmers have a message for their Canadian counterparts, who worry that a Pacific trade deal will put them at the mercy of world markets and devastate their industry: It’s not so bad. But heavily protected Canadian farmers have reason for skepticism. (read more)

WHY HOWE SOUND CHOSE PULP OVER PAPER
Source: Pulp and Paper Canada
When announcing the permanent closure of the paper and TMP operations at the Howe Sound mill Paper Excellence explained that the company had gone through an extensive product review process and concluded the company’s future does not lie with paper products. (read more)

THE REAL DIRT ON FARMING “SPEAK UP”
Source: NSFA
The Real Dirt on Farming “Speak Up” day-long session will provide training for farmers on how to address sensitive topics with consumers. Two day-long sessions will be held – one session in Kentville on August 18 and a second session in Bible Hill on August 19. Each session will cover information contained in the Real Dirt on Farming, a publication produced by the national Farm and Food Care Foundation.
mmaclean@nsfa-fane.ca

UNDERSTANDING THE DRIVERS OF FARMLAND VALUES
Source: FCC
FCC ag economics has released a report on Canadian farmland. The objective is twofold: Understanding the drivers of farmland values, and providing an outlook of the possible patterns for 2015. Farmland values are driven by three main components: interest rates, farm crop receipts, and a momentum effect. Low interest rates support a strong demand for farmland. (read more)