THE NOVA SCOTIA ANGUS ASSOCIATION

THE NOVA SCOTIA ANGUS ASSOCIATION will meet on Sunday November 24, 2 to 4 pm at the Sobey's Community room at 68 Robie Street, Truro (former Fundy Mall location). The association is legally required to hold the Provincial Meeting prior to the Maritime Association meeting (the latter taking place on December 1 this year). There will be a wrap up report from the June Field Day and routine business, including discussion of support for 4-H in 2014. This year the Maritimes are to take nominations for Maritime Director to the Canadian Angus Board of Directors; Jim Colodey's term will be completed in 2014. The Maritimes have been represented by P.E.I. for the last 12 years; anyone interested in throwing their hat in the ring, it must go through the provincial meeting before being presented at the Maritime meeting. It would be appreciated if you could please let Betty Lou Scott know if you plan to attend. windcrest.farm@ns.sympatico.ca Hope to see many of you on the 24. You can attend our meeting and do some Christmas shopping while in Truro in one trip!!!!

NOVA SCOTIA INVITES COMMENTS ON HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

Source: N.S. Dept of Energy

(Op-ed piece from Energy Minister Andrew Younger)

Nova Scotians have heard a lot of information about hydraulic fracturing. Here in Nova Scotia, you will soon be invited to have your say about this process.  I understand people are concerned about their drinking water, their... (read more)

HARVESTING OUR POTENTIAL

Source: ThinkFarm

Join the Nova Scotia Young Farmers Forum for their semi-annual meeting on Friday, November 29 from 1 to 4:30 pm at the Best Western Glengarry in Truro, following the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture Annual Meeting... (read more)

MILK MAKER CONTEST ANNOUNCED

Source: Canadian Forage & Grassland Association  

The Ontario Forage Council (OFC), with the support of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA), is pleased to introduce the First Annual "Milk Maker" Forage Competition to be showcased at the Canadian Dairy XPO in February 2014. Contest deadline, Dec. 13, 2013. Be the First... (read more)

CAN A FISH FARM BE ORGANIC? THAT’S UP FOR DEBATE

Source: NPR

This year, Americans are expected to buy more than $30 billion worth of organic grains, produce, coffee, wine, and meats. Some producers of farmed fish want the chance to get a cut of those profits, and retailers, who can charge a premium price for organic farmed fish, are with them. But an organic label for aquaculture is not coming easy... (read more)

DECISION AWAITED ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED INSECT TRIAL

Source: BBC

A UK biotechnology company has applied for permission to carry out the first field trial in Europe of a genetically modified insect. If it receives approval, the company, Oxitec, will carry out a small-scale test of GM olive flies in Spain. The aim is to combat this olive crop pest by releasing male flies that have a "female-killing gene." If the... (read more)

NSFA ANNUAL MEETING IS NEXT WEEK!

Source: NSFA
Join us November 28 & 29, 2013 at the Best Western Glengarry, Truro, NS. Highlights include: David Phillips, Senior Climatologist, Environment Canada, "What's Up With Our Weather?;" Barry Wilson, Columnist, The Western Producer "The Agricultural Landscape: Freeways, Potholes and Red Flags;" Peter Hackett, Executive... (read more)

NEW APPROACH FOR BSE SURVEILLANCE

Source: Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

Various industry organizations across the prairies have been involved in a collaborative and integrated approach to BSE surveillance. Albert Kamps, a director with Alberta Milk, talks about this approach and how it benefits the entire cattle industry... (read more)

PETITION CALLS FOR LESS RED TAPE

Source: Chronicle Herald

A Kings County woman wants the province to reduce red tape and provide more support for small farmers who want to sell meat, poultry, eggs, and produce directly to consumers. “Many people have expressed their frustrations to me with difficulties in buying, selling, and raising specific niche products,"... (read more)

FRUIT BATS HARBOR MORE DEADLY VIRUSES

Source: BBC

Bats harbor more deadly viruses than was previously thought, scientists say. Researchers have found that henipaviruses, which spread to other animals and humans, and a disease that is similar to rabies are widespread in a species of fruit bat found in Africa. The team says this poses a potential risk to human...(read more)

MARKETING NETWORKING SESSION

Source: ThinkFarm

There will be a session for interested producers, processors, and agribusiness to examine the challenge of developing, accessing, and delivering to potential markets outside the region. This networking session will give entrepreneurs in Annapolis and Digby Counties the opportunity to explore their challenges... (read more)

NFU IN N.B. ASKS PROVINCE TO SUPPORT WILD BLUEBERRY CO-OP

Source: NFU

The National Farmers Union (NFU) in N.B. believes that a recently announced land swap on the Acadian Peninsula is a bad idea. On October 31 the province announced it would grant 15,712 acres to Oxford Frozen Foods, a multinational company with head offices in Oxford, N.S., for future blueberry cultivation, in exchange... (read more)

Typhoon wreaks havoc on agriculture with over a million farmers affected

Source: BBC News

Over one million farmers in the Philippines have been impacted by Typhoon Haiyan according to the UN. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says that hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice have been destroyed. Coconut plantations which are a big earner of foreign currency were said to... (read more)

HELP CREATE CANADA’S LEADING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

Source: Earth Day Canada

Earth Day Canada needs your help. To solve the environmental issues we face, we need “all hands on deck.” And to bring these many diverse voices to the table, we want to create a program that speaks to the needs of young Canadians from all perspectives. We continually review and improve our own programming, but... (read more)

PUBLIC ASKED TO REPORT SIGHTINGS OF DAY-FLYING BATS DURING THE WINTER

Source: NBDNR

The public is being asked to help in reporting possible cases of a fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, that is severely depleting populations of bats across eastern North America, including New Brunswick. The Department of Natural Resources is working with the New Brunswick Museum to track the spread of the... (read more)

SCIENTISTS TRYING TO ELIMINATE SUNBURNED POTATOES

Source: Island Farmer

Why does too much sun turn a potato green? Bourlaye Fofana said the answer is due to compounds known as glycoalkaloids. Fofana, who is a scientist at the Crop and Livestock Research Centre in Harrington, is part of a national project by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada trying to, in effect, breed out the toxins. “This is a topic... (read more)

RITZ ANNOUNCES PROPOSED CHANGES TO PLANT BREEDERS RIGHTS ACT

Source: Agriculture Canada

Canada intends to sign onto an international convention to give increased variety protection to plant breeders, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the Canadian Seed Trade Association's semi-annual meeting in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Ritz said the government plans to sign on to the International... (read more)

MUIR GETS NOD FOR FARM CREDIT POST

Source: The Chronicle Herald

Former Nova Scotia Tory cabinet minister Jamie Muir has been appointed to the board of directors of Farm Credit Canada. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz made the announcement last week. The appointment is for a three year term. Muir is one of two people added to the board of Ottawa’s agricultural lending... (read more)

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY IN ATLANTIC CANADA

Source: The New Brunswick Environmental Network 

The New Brunswick Environmental Network is excited to welcome Dr. David Suzuki to Moncton on November 25, at the Capitol Theatre. Share in an evening of insight and exploration on climate change and energy in Atlantic Canada with David Suzuki. During the dynamic multi-media program, Dr. Suzuki will be joined... (read more)

NEW CASE LAUNCH: FRACKING, DRILLING, AND WATER USE IN B.C.

Source: ecojustice

Many of you have called and written to ask when we might launch a fracking case. And for good reason: With protests in New Brunswick and Newfoundland’s moratorium making headlines across the country, fracking is in the hot seat. Well, we’re about that make that seat a little hotter. Today we filed a lawsuit with... (read more)