PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION EXAMS CHANGES FOR 2014

Source: NSFA
For 2014 there will be a slight change to the way the pesticide certification exams are delivered. Payment of the certification fee will be required to write the exam... (read more)

CANADA THREATENS COURT FIGHT IN DISPUTE OVER U.S. FOOD LABELLING

Source: The Canadian Press
Canada’s agriculture minister says he’s hoping to avoid an all-out trade war with the United States over food labelling. But Gerry Ritz warns that, if there is a war, he’s prepared to fight it... (read more)

FRACKING EXPLORATION SITES NAMED IN LANCASHIRE

Source: BBC
Cuadrilla, one of the energy firms hoping to exploit the UK’s shale gas resources, has announced two new exploration sites in Lancashire. The company says it intends to apply for planning permission to drill and frack at two sites at Roseacre Wood and Little Plumpton near Blackpool... (read more)

UP TO A BILLION BIRDS DIE ANNUALLY IN THE U.S. CRASHING INTO WINDOWS

Source: Gawker.com  
A new report finds that between 365 and 988 million birds die annually from crashing into windows in the United States alone. That’s 10 percent of the bird population of the entire country, according to the  Washington Post... (read more)

“ORGANIC FARM SCHOOL” NOW ACCEPTING 2014 APPLICATIONS

Source: ACORN
The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN)'s Grow A Farmer Apprenticeship Program is now accepting applications for the 2014 season... (read more)

STILL ROOM IN FOOD SAFETY AND PRESERVATION FOR DIRECT MARKETERS WORKSHOPS

Source: ThinkFarm
Increase your awareness of food safety principles for producing foods sold directly to Nova Scotian consumers. Back by popular demand a, this course is designed to provide small and medium scale value-added food marketers with knowledge of food safety principles... (read more)

WORRIED ABOUT FRACKING? LET THE NS REVIEW OF FRACKING KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Source: Ecology Action Centre
NOFRAC is encouraging all Nova Scotians to let the Nova Scotia Review of Hydraulic Fracturing know your opinion about fracking and shale gas development in Nova Scotia.(The EAC is founder of NOFRAC, the Nova Scotia Fracking Resource and Action Coalition, and we currently chair the steering committee of this coalition.)... (read more)

FORESTRY PLAN MUCH NEEDED FOR NEW BRUNSWICK

Source: Unifor the union
As the largest forestry union in Atlantic Canada, Unifor says that the soon to be announced forestry plan for the province of New Brunswick could mean a boost to the local economy, forestry sector and decent jobs for New Brunswickers... (read more)

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WIREWORM INFORMATION DAY

Source: P.E.I. ADAPT Council
Damage to agricultural crops by wireworms has become a hot button issue in Prince Edward Island in the last few years. Farmers across a variety of crops are experiencing a range of damage, ranging from poor crop establishment in cereal and oilseed crops to significant damage to potatoes, carrots and other horticultural crops... (read more)

INCREASING BEE POPULATIONS AND BLUEBERRY YIELDS

Source: Farm Focus
Syngenta Canada Inc. and Dalhousie University, together with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, are partnering on an innovative research project to increase bee populations and blueberry yields in the Maritime Provinces... (read more)

DON’T DAMN FORESTRY TOO QUICKLY

Source: The Chronicle Herald
Nova Scotians who criticize efforts to develop the province’s forestry sector may be too hasty in their assessment. Businesses involved in forestry do not employ the same number of people as they once did, but a study by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council think-tank in Halifax seems to indicate forest-related industries still play... (read more)

REGISTRATION FOR CROP STORAGE WORKSHOP WITH CHRIS CALLAHAN

Source: ACORN
The University of Vermont extension specialist will be touring the Maritimes during the week of Feb. 24-28, giving a day-long workshop in Fredericton (24), Dieppe (25), Charlottetown (26), Truro (27) and Wolfville (28)... (read more)

NO BIGGER PIECE OF BOWATER LAND FOR NORTHERN PULP

Source: AtlanticFarmer.com
Nova Scotia’s government has declined a Northern Pulp request to harvest an additional 500,000 green metric tonnes of fiber from Crown land.  However, it will honor the previous NDP government’s commitment of 125,000 green tonnes per year to Northern Pulp for harvest on the former Bowater lands. There is no written commitment that the 125,000 green tonnes must come from the former Bowater land, but the expectation is that it will. The deal between the NDP government and Northern Pulp was made just after the province obtained the land as part of  the $150 million buyout, and shortly before the much-touted public consultations on how the land should be used. 

HEMLOCK REGROWTH OFFSETS EFFECT OF INVASIVE PEST

Source: NSWOOA
Reforestation and succession have offset the negative impacts of the hemlock woolly adelgid at the regional scale... (read more)

SCIENCE-BASED DECISIONS – IN WHOSE INTEREST?

Source: rabble.ca 
Governments and farm organizations tell us over and over again that decisions made on our farms and by government regulatory agencies must be “science-based.” Entwined with this adherence to “science-based” decision making is a demand that we accept that science is absolute and unbiased… (read more)

WIREWORM INFORMATION DAY

Source: P.E.I. ADAPT Council
Damage to agricultural crops by wireworms has become a hot button issue in Prince Edward Island in the last few years. Farmers across a variety of crops are experiencing a range of damage, ranging from poor crop establishment in cereal and oilseed crops to significant damage to potatoes, carrots, and other horticultural crops... (read more)

FRACKING WASTE WATER DISPOSAL TO BE DISCUSSED

Test results from treated fracking waste water in Debert and plans to clean up two Kennetcook waste-water holding ponds will be discussed at public meetings this week. Environment Minister Randy Delorey will host the meetings Wednesday at the Noel legion hall and Thursday at the Best Western Plus Glengarry in Truro... (read more)

2014-15 INNOVATION PROGRAMMING LAUNCHED

Source: ThinkFarm
Programs and Business Risk Management is pleased to announce that we are now accepting proposals with applications for the following Innovation programs for the 2014-15 program year: Research Acceleration, Farm Innovation, Agri-Products Innovation and Commercialization... (read more)

DDT: PESTICIDE LINKED TO ALZHEIMER’S

Source: BBC
A study, published in JAMA Neurology, showed patients with Alzheimer’s had four times the levels of DDT lingering in the body than healthy people. Some countries still use the pesticide to control malaria. Alzheimer’s Research UK said more evidence was needed to prove DDT had a role in dementia... (read more)