$18M PROJECT TO TACKLE “IMMINENT” SPRUCE BUDWORM OUTBREAK

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Source: CBC NB
New Brunswick’s forest industry will get help from an $18 million federal initiative to tackle what experts describe as an imminent outbreak of spruce budworm in the province. The Spruce Budworm Early Intervention, introduced in the 2014 federal budget last week, will have $18 million put aside to develop and implement the program over the next four years. (read more)

FARMS GETTING BIGGER AS FARMERS GETTING OLDER, STATSCAN SAYS

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Source: The Globe and Mail
A report released by Statistics Canada shows the number of farms in Canada is dropping, while their size is growing along with the age of the people running them. The agency, which looked at the makeup of the industry based on data from the 2011 agricultural census, says there were 205,730 farms in 2011 – a decline of more than 74,000 since 1991. (read more)

BEE COLONY COLLAPSE VIRUSES SPREADING TO BUMBLEBEES

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Source: LA Times
Infectious diseases linked to the colony collapse of honeybees appear to be spreading among wild bumblebees that pollinate crops worldwide, dealing a potential double blow to agriculture, according to a new study. Studies at 26 sites in England found that 1 in 5 bees suffered from deformed wing virus, which can ground and eventually kill the insects, according to a report published online Wednesday in the journal Nature. (read more)

CANADIAN SOFTWOOD LUMBER PRODUCTION UP 5.4 PERCENT TO NOVEMBER

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Source: Pulp and Paper Canada
Canadian sawmills produced 22.726 bbf of softwood lumber in the 11 months of 2013 – an increase of 5.4 percent year-over-year from 21.569 bbf. Sawmills in British Columbia produced 11.821 bbf of the total – up 3.1 percent from 11.469 bbf a year earlier, while sawmills east of the Rockies accounted for 10.904 bbf, up 8.0 percent from the prior year (10.101 bbf). (read more)

EQUINE PROGRAM PUTS HORSE AS HEALER AND TEACHER

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Source: FCC
A Saskatchewan farm family has developed a equine learning program targeting alternative learners, at-risk youth and others. And they're seeing results. Gayle Cartier and her husband Daryl found that horses can play a leading role in rehabilitating substance abusing youth, while providing real-life skills for everyone from at-risk youth to corporate executives. For the last 10 years, the Cartiers have developed, produced and tested their equine assisted learning program at their Prince Albert, Sask. farm. (read more)

ATOCTLI MAGAZINE

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Source: NSFA
AtocTli is a bilingual (English-Spanish) magazine that provides communication strategies, intercultural information, resources and advice to farmers and migrant farm workers on how to communicate more effectively and efficiently. The magazine discusses safety, mutual relations, and general wellbeing for migrant workers on Canadian farms. It is an excellent resource for farmers hiring migrant workers and for those migrant workers working on our local farms. (read more)

FCC FORUMS, MONCTON NB

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Source: FCC
Don’t miss out on FCC Forums – our biggest event of the year! We select celebrities and industry experts to share stories of success and insights to help manage your business. FCC Forums are a great opportunity to learn, get re-energized and network, and share ideas with business owners and operators just like you. Moncton, N.B., March 7, 2014. (read more)

TWO COUNTRIES, ONE FOREST NORTHERN APPALACHIANS/ACADIAN ECOREGION CONSERVATION ATLAS

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Source: Conservation Biology Institute
Two Countries, One Forest (2C1Forest) and WCS Canada are pleased to announce that the Northern Appalachians /Acadian Ecoregion Conservation Atlas is moving to Data Basin. The Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion Conservation Planning Atlas was launched in 2007 to provide transboundary environmental information to land owners, land managers, landuse planners, researchers, land trusts, conservation and community groups in the region to support sustainable landuse and conservation planning. (read more)

TAX TIME ON THE FARM WORKSHOP

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Source: ThinkFarm
Are you new to the business of farming and looking for more information on how to file your farm taxes? ThinkFarm has invited experienced accountant Sonny MacDougall, CA, from MGM & Associates, to provide advice on tax-related topics such as reporting farm income, claiming expenses, calculating depreciation, claiming and charging HST, calculating payroll deductions, enrolling in AgriInvest and AgriStability, and more! (read more)

WEBSITE PROVIDES PED UPDATES

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Source: FCC
Ontario Pork has developed a PED website to help producers stay on top of the porcine epidemic diarrhea situation. The site provides links to crisis updates, the latest news, resources and transcripts of telephone town halls, which offer producers an opportunity to call in for a status update on the current PED situation, and actions being taken by the Ontario pork industry. The next telephone town hall is scheduled to take place Feb. 18 between noon and 1pm EST. (read more)

MANAGING ENERGY, NUTRIENTS, AND PESTS IN ORGANIC FIELD CROPS

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Source: CRC Press
The use of organic management practices in field cropping continues to rise globally, and these methods have proven to be a viable way to produce food with reduced resource use and environmental damage. “Managing Energy, Nutrients, and Pests in Organic Field Crops” challenges the popular misconception that organic systems are weak at managing energy, nutrients, and pests and shows how innovative farm designs can enhance organic performance. (read more)

AVC TO HOST COMMUNITY WORKSHOP

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Source: Island Farmer
The Atlantic Veterinary College will host a community workshop entitled “Care of the Geriatric Pet” on Wednesday, March 5, in Lecture Theatre A, from 7 to 8:30 pm.

With advances in veterinary medicine, proper nutrition, and increased awareness of pet owners, pets are living longer, healthier lives. How do owners prepare for and provide the best care during their pet’s senior years? At what age is a pet considered senior? (read more)

THE FRACKING MONSTER IS NEAR

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Source: Nofrac
Why would we consider fracking up Nova Scotia’s countryside? We need more economic activity and job opportunities? Yes, we would get that in the short term, but what about the immediate and long term costs? REMEMBER: ONCE WE START TO FRACK, WE CAN’T GO BACK. Talk about this with your friends and family. This is a serious issue that could haunt us for a long time... (read more)

GENETICALLY MODIFIED POTATOES “RESIST LATE BLIGHT”

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Source: BBC
British scientists have developed genetically modified potatoes that are resistant to the vegetable’s biggest threat. A three-year trial has shown that these potatoes can thrive despite being exposed to late onset blight. That disease has plagued farmers for generations and triggered the Irish potato famine in the 1840s... (read more)

MULCH AND FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ORGANIC PRODUCTION OF HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRY

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Source: Organic Friends E-Zine 
A systems trial was established in Oct. 2006 to evaluate management practices for organic production of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). The practices included: flat and raised planting beds; feather meal and fish emulsion fertilizer; sawdust mulch, compost topped with sawdust mulch (compost + sawdust), or weed mat; and two cultivars, Duke and Liberty... (read more)