POINT TUPPER PAPER MILL ENJOYS NSP COST SHELTER . . . A MUSCLE DRUG FOR PIGS COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS . . . GLOBAL WARMING INCREASES 'FOOD SHOCKS' THREAT . . . ORGANIC IS BOOMING – AND THE PUSH IS ON TO GET MORE GROWERS . . . BOOK LAUNCHED ON HISTORY OF FARM EQUIPMENT DEALERS . . .  
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

PRESS RELEASE-----
SOS: RIVER JOHN, Nova Scotia
Join our A PICKET-NIC!
There will be a PICKET-NIC on Sunday, August 23rd from 1-3 on the school grounds of River John Consolidated School.
Despite the closure of their school, the community of River John remains positive, creative and determined to stand with and for rural communities across the province who are faced with the erosion of social justice and lack of provincial government support for the flourishing of rural communities and local initiatives.
After working two years to develop an educationally compelling "Hub" school model they hoped to pilot, a plan praised and supported by professionals within the province and beyond, there was a tie vote by elected school board to reconsider the school’s closure. One board member was missing. A tie meant defeat.
Members of the River John Support our School secured a meeting with Premier MacNeil and Minister of Education on July 23rd. They were referred back to the Chignecto Central Regional School Board and encouraged to lobby for an emergency meeting which was rejected by the Board.
The SOS has evolved into a larger group : River Johnners Unite for Rural Communities.
As tax payers this community believes they should have access to basic services. As engaged Nova Scotians, this community stepped up for their children and community in good faith. Community members volunteered, worked, created, innovated with a plan that, given the right support, would benefit all children and families along the North Shore of Nova Scotia.
The community asked for a new way forward to support delivery of education to seventy children in a rural community. They garnered support and resources for a sustainable and resilient way forward.
They worked and asked for help "now" and received an answer of "never."
They broke the status quo.
The community of River John continues to hope for a child-centred solution so their youngest can be educated within community and are currently exploring all options.
As a result of school closure, there is no longer a place in River John for the preschool or a recreation centre for seniors or the youth in their community.
This never was and is still not only about River John and one "typical" small school closure. This was a historic opportunity to create a true Hub model from grassroots upwards.
Everyone supporting children, small schools, community, rural life, local initiatives and political fairness are welcome to attend the Picket-nic.
People are encouraged to bring a picnic, blankets, friends, their peaceable creative spirits and picket signs on August 23rd. Music makers welcome.
www.riverjohnsos.com
face book: River Johnners Unite for Rural Communities
David Allen allandsr@live.ca
Sheree Fitch 902-351-3285

POINT TUPPER PAPER MILL ENJOYS NSP COST SHELTER
Source: The Chronicle Herald
Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s largest customer, Port Hawkesbury Paper LP, is being shielded from mounting fuel costs falling on other ratepayers. While Port Hawkesbury Paper is billed primarily for cheaper thermal power, the rest of us pay for the boutique stuff coming from small-scale renewable energy projects. The utility made this clear in a document filed Monday with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to support an increase in the base cost of fuel for 2016. (read more)

A MUSCLE DRUG FOR PIGS COMES OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Source: NPR In the coming months, a few shoppers will encounter a new and unfamiliar phrase when looking at packages of pork: “Produced without the use of ractopamine.” It’s the brainchild of David Maren, founder of Tendergrass Farms, which sells pork products from pigs raised the “all-natural” way, on pasture. (read more)

GLOBAL WARMING INCREASES 'FOOD SHOCKS' THREAT
Source: BBC
Climate change is increasing the risk of severe ”food shocks” where crops fail and prices of staples rise rapidly around the world. Researchers say extreme weather events that impact food production could be happening in seven years out of ten by the end of this century.
The authors argue that an over reliance on global trade may make these production shocks worse. (read more)

ORGANIC IS BOOMING – AND THE PUSH IS ON TO GET MORE GROWERS
Source: Alberta Farmer Express
Steven Snider was just 16 years old when he realized conventional farming wasn’t for him. “I was spraying a wild oat herbicide on a field, and I got drift poisoning,” said the Edberg area farmer and owner of Little Red Hen Mills. “For three days, I was sick as a dog. That kind of changed my mind. I thought, if that’s doing that to me, why am I using it?” That incident triggered the start of a nearly 30-year career in organic farming for Snider, who grows certified organic wheat, barley, oats, and rye for milling. “Where we started and where we are today is an incredible journey,” said Snider. (read more)

BOOK LAUNCHED ON HISTORY OF FARM EQUIPMENT DEALERS
Source: West Prince Graphic
Thanks to a newly printed book on the history of farm equipment dealers, released by the West Prince Tired Iron Antique Club, enthusiasts can find themselves with some new reading material. Research and writing on the topic began in December 2014 with a completion date of June, said Debbie Horne who was hired to do the work. Weldon Rennie, Claude Dorgan, and Gordon Ramsay, of the Tired Iron Club, headed the project, after concerns that the history was being lost, she said. (read more)

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

CANADIAN'S VEGETABLES-ONLY RESTAURANT A HIT IN NEW YORK
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canadian-s-vegetables-only-restaurant-a-hit-in-new-york-1.3190137

U.S. FARMER INCOMES, CROPLAND VALUES PROJECTED TO FALL MORE
http://www.producer.com/daily/u-s-farmer-incomes-cropland-values-projected-to-fall-more/

TIPS TO HELP CATTLE COPE WITH SUMMERTIME HEAT STRESS
http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/2015/08/13/tips-to-help-cattle-cope-with-summertime-heat-stress/?module=popular&pgtype=article&i=

NB POWER SMOKESTACKS STILL STANDING AFTER DEMOLITION ATTEMPT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-smokestacks-still-standing-after-demolition-attempt-1.3192975