UNIFOR CHOOSES RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS TO LEAD NEGOTIATIONS

Source: digitaljournal.com 
Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the forestry sector, kicked off preparations for the 2014 pulp and paper pattern bargaining in Eastern Canada at its Industry Bargaining Conference this week in Montreal. “This round of bargaining is about making progress for workers after the recession that battered the forestry and the entire manufacturing sector,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.  “The industry has returned to profitability – we'll be asking employers to acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions of workers during the crisis, including helping to take some companies out of CCAA protection.” (read more) 

THE NEW THREAT FROM SHALE

Source: The globe and Mail
The nighttime satellite photos are a handy reference guide to man’s creeping takeover of the planet. Densely packed southern England is a blanket of white light. Ditto the stretch between Washington, D.C., and Boston. In effect, one big city... (read more)

OneNS REPORT LAUNCH

Source: The Nova Scotia Commission on Building Our New Economy
The Nova Scotia Commission on Building Our New Economy invites you to join us as we deliver to Nova Scotians a challenging message on the future of our province. Wednesday, February 12, 2014,  9:30 – 10:30am, Harbourside Gallery, Pier 21, Halifax... (read more)

BIOSECURITY REMAINS KEY IN PED FIGHT

Source: FCC
Cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea continue to spread in Ontario. As of early on Friday, Feb. 7, there are nine Ontario farms affected by PED. The ministry of agriculture and food continues to urge farmers to pay extraordinary attention to biosecurity, the best defense against the disease... (read more)

GRASS-FED BEEF REGIONAL MEETINGS

Source: NSFA
Guest speaker Allen Williams is a sixth generation family farmer and holds BS, MS degrees in Agriculture from Clemson University and a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. He spent 15 years in academia in research, teaching, and extension and has worked with more than 3,500 farmers and ranchers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and South America... (read more)

SAP DISCOVERY COULD TURN SYRUP-MAKING UPSIDE DOWN

Source: NPR
Last year researchers at the University of Vermont announced something that could change the way we think about Vermont – or at least how it produces its famous maple syrup. The time-honored method calls for inserting a tap near the bottom of a tall, mature maple tree. At the end of February, the tree thaws, and voila: Sap starts flowing out the spigot at the bottom... (read more)

HEALTH REVIEW OF PESTICIDES APPROVED

Source: The Chronicle Herald
Environmentalists are declaring victory after the federal government announced it would launch a health review of 23 pesticides, including a popular weed killer. The decision comes after the groups filed lawsuits claiming the law obliges the government to review any product that has been banned in major countries... (read more)

BEEF PRICES SET RECORDS IN QUEBEC

Source: FCC
t’s been a few difficult years, but beef cattle prices have been steadily increasing since May 2013 and recently reached $227 per cwt. Beef industry specialists attribute the high prices to several factors, including surplus capacity at slaughterhouses. As a result, slaughterhouses have increased monetary incentives to producers... (read more)

RETREAT for Women

Source: Unbridled Leadership
“Pick Up The Reins”
Explore your own potential. Take charge of your own energy. Become acquainted with “Mindfullness,” facilitated by a guest speaker. Increase awareness of self and others. Look into yourself in a safe and supportive and calm environment. Discover your energy with Experiential Learning facilitated by a horse. Identify your own personal Communication Preferences, Strengths and Limitations. When: Saturday February 15, 2014 Where: Sumac Farms, Chance Harbour . Register: by February 7 (read more)

RAW MILK OR PASTEURIZED? ONTARIO’S TOP COURT TO DECIDE

Source: Huffington Post
A dairy farmer determined to defend his right to provide raw milk urged Ontario's top court Wednesday to recognize that laws around pasteurization were outdated, unjust and infringed on basic freedoms. Michael Schmidt made his stand during a hearing before Ontario's Court of Appeal... (read more)

FARM LOAN BOARD SEIZES EXHIBITION’S ASSETS, PROPERTIES

 Source: Truro Daily News
The Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board has taken possession of the properties and assets of the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition. The board made the move Wednesday after calling the outstanding loan it is owed by the exhibition commission, which has a combined loan balance of about $422,000 which includes arrears of more than $170,000... (read more)

THE FIRST MODULE OF THE MODERN BEEKEEPER IS FAST APPROACHING

Source: ThinkFarm 
“The Busyness of Bees” will be held on Saturday and Sunday March 1 and 2, 2014 at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill... (read more)

CANADIAN ORGANIC STANDARDS REVIEW

Source: OrganicPEI 
The Review of the COS is underway and it is exhaustive: all sections of the organic standards have to be revised. The review exercise will take two years, and the objective is to publish the fully revised standard in 2015... (read more) 

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)