Aug 26, 2014
/FARMER OF THE YEAR NAMED DURING PORT ELGIN EXHIBITION . . . NATIONAL DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR CAPITAL . . . ROTHSAY RENDERING PLANT TO DEAL WITH “EXCESSIVE ODOURS” . . . CATTLE OUTLOOK: NO SUMMER SLUMP . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
ARMER OF THE YEAR NAMED DURING PORT ELGIN EXHIBITION
Source: SackvilleTribunePost.com
A local potato producer has been named Farmer of the Year during the Port Elgin Exhibition, which was held last week at the exhibition grounds in Port Elgin. Owners of Timber River Eco Farms, Pirmin Kummer, along with his wife Katrine and two of their three sons, Finnegan and Benjamin, accepted the award during the official opening of the exhibition last Thursday evening. (read more)
NATIONAL DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP PLANNED FOR CAPITAL
Source: Island Farmer
It feels like the big show has just ended at Red Shores Charlottetown, but in less than a week, another show will take centre stage. The National Driving Championship, presented by Standardbred Canada, P.E.I. Harness Racing Industry Association, P.E.I. 2014 inc., and Red Shores, goes on August 26, with eight drivers from around Canada representing their respective regions. (read more)
ROTHSAY RENDERING PLANT TO DEAL WITH “EXCESSIVE ODORS”
Source: Truro Daily News
Excessive odors emanating from the Rothsay rendering facility have prompted a directive from the province for submission of an action plan to deal with the issue. The directive from the Department of Environment, (DOE), issued July 15, calls for an investigation by the plant to determine “the cause of the generation of the excessive odours being produced by the facility.” (read more)
CATTLE OUTLOOK: NO SUMMER SLUMP
Source: AGWeb.com
This summer’s record cattle prices have been made possible by record consumer prices. Retail prices for choice beef were record high during July for the sixth consecutive month. The average grocery store price for a pound of choice beef in July was $5.951 (US). That was up 3.4 cents from the month before and 62 cents higher than a year ago. The average price for a pound of fresh beef, regardless of grade, was a record $5.559 during July. That was 5.1 cents higher than the previous record, which was set the month before. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
CALIFORNIA QUAKE MEANS BIG DAMAGE FOR NAPA VALLEY WINERIES
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/08/25/343110579/california-quake-means-big-damage-for-napa-valley-wineries
GREENLAND ICE LOSS DOUBLES FROM LATE 2000S
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28852980
INTERSAW/BIOMASS EXPO SEMINAR SCHEDULE
http://www.InterSawScie.ca
CULTURE, BRANDING, AND YOUR BOTTOM LINE
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/publications/fcc-express/fcc-express-archives/20140822.html?utm_source=Subscribe+to+FCC+Email&utm_campaign=917c03c120-8_22_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecca3657d7-917c03c120-18200761#story6
Aug 25, 2014
/APPLE INDUSTRY GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM . . . IMPORTANT MEETING ON FOREST INDUSTRY . . . URBAN AREAS ARE HIVES FOR WILD BEES . . . DR. OETKER BUYS MCCAIN PIZZA . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
APPLE INDUSTRY GROWTH AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAM
Source: NSFA
The Apple Industry Growth and Efficiency Program (AIGEP) is a partnership between Government of Nova Scotia and apple growers that will encourage innovation through orchard renewal. This program will help apple growers with their initial capital investment to plant their orchards with new, higher value varieties that will help the industry to innovate, grow and be more profitable. (read more)
IMPORTANT MEETING ON FOREST INDUSTRY
Source: NSWOOA
The Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association invites you to attend a public meeting on the future of the forest and communities, 7pm to 9pm, Aug. 27, at the Pictou County Wellness Centre. (read more)
URBAN AREAS ARE HIVES FOR WILD BEES
Source: BBC
A study has found a “considerable richness” of wild bee species in most types of urban habitats. French researchers recorded almost a third of the nation’s 900 species of wild bees living in towns and cities. (read more)
DR. OETKER BUYS MCCAIN PIZZA
Source: OntarioFArmer.com
Dr. Oetker has bought the frozen pizza business from McCain Foods. No financial terms were disclosed. Dr. Oetker built a new plant in London, Ont., to serve the North American market. McCain is selling its brands, including Ellio’s in the United States, and a two-year license to use the McCain brand name in Canada. It is also getting McCain production facilities at Grand Falls, New Brunswick. McCain said pizza represents a small portion of its North American business and the move will allow it to focus on other areas. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
CANADIAN OLYMPIAN BELINDA TRUSSELL CHOSEN AS CET FLAG BEARER FOR OPENING CEREMONIES AT ALLTECH FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES 2014
http://www.normandy2014.com
NEW SEEDER ATTRACTS ATTENTION WITH INNOVATION
http://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/publications/fcc-express/fcc-express-archives/20140822.html?utm_source=Subscribe+to+FCC+Email&utm_campaign=917c03c120-8_22_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecca3657d7-917c03c120-18200761#story2
RALPH LOGLISCI TELLS THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE FDA’S SYMBOLIC STEPS TO LIMIT LIVESTOCK ANTIBIOTICS
http://politicsoftheplate.com/
RESEARCHER WITH INTEREST IN FEED VALUE OF WOODY PLANTS IS ASI SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
http://www.sheepusa.org/NewsMedia_SheepIndustryNews_PastIssues_2014_August2014_ResearcherWithInterestInFeedValueOfWoodyPlantsIsAsiScholarshipWinner
Aug 22, 2014
/ON FARM COMPOSTING RESCHEDULED . . . TURBINE TURNING AGAIN AT HISTORIC MILL . . . COMPANY PLANS PELLET PLANT FOR MIRAMICHI . . . CAN QUINOA TAKE ROOT ON THE “ROOF OF THE WORLD”? . . . MICHIGAN PAPER MILL ESTABLISHES ON-SITE PCC PLANT . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
ON FARM COMPOSTING RESCHEDULED
Source: NSFA The On Farm Composting Course that was previously advertised has been rescheduled for September 17 & 18, 2014. The course is being put on by Dal AC. (read more)
TURBINE TURNING AGAIN AT HISTORIC MILL
Source: The Chronicle Herald
A water-powered turbine has been fully restored to working condition just this week at one of western Nova Scotia’s few remaining riverside sawmills. The Bangor Sawmill Museum opened in 2001 when the unique but dormant water-powered turbine was repaired. But extreme flooding in 2010 damaged the turbine again. The Bangor Development Commission, a volunteer board of 12 directors, has worked for years to restore the sawmill to its former glory. (read more)
COMPANY PLANS PELLET PLANT FOR MIRAMICHI
Source: SunFM
If everything goes according to plan, a new pellet plant will be up in running in Miramichi by late 2016 or early 2017. At an announcement this week at the Rodd Miramichi River, Premier David Alward announced that the government has secured 378,000 cubic meters of wood to supply a new plant that would be built by Northern Energy Solutions. (read more)
CAN QUINOA TAKE ROOT ON THE 'ROOF OF THE WORLD?
Source: NPR
For thousands of years, quinoa barely budged from its home in the Andes. Other crops – corn, potatoes, rice, wheat, and sorghum – traveled and colonized the world. But quinoa stayed home. All of a sudden, quinoa is a trendy, jet-setting “superfood.” And as we’ve reported, some American farmers are trying to cash in on its new-found popularity. (read more)
MICHIGAN PAPER MILL ESTABLISHES ON-SITE PCC PLANT
Source: Daily News
Omya and NewPage kicked off operations at the precipitated calcium carbonate plant located at the NewPage Escanaba, Mich., paper mill site with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 14. The Escanaba mill previously purchased PCC from another supplier. With the PCC plant on-site, the mill saves on transportation costs. The lime needed for the PCC manufacturing process is purchased from suppliers located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
VITAMIN D TIED TO ALZHEIMER’S RISK
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/vitamin-d-tied-to-alzheimers-risk/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=health&_r=0
CALIFORNIA DROUGHT HAS WILD SALMON COMPETING WITH ALMONDS FOR WATER
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/21/342167846/california-drought-has-wild-salmon-competing-with-almonds-for-water
GLOBAL WARMING SLOWDOWN “COULD LAST ANOTHER DECADE”
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28870988
CANADA’S WHEAT, CANOLA PRODUCTION DIP BELOW EXPECTATIONS
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/canadas-wheat-canola-production-dip-below-expectations/article20149557/
Aug 21, 2014
/SHEEP SHEARING DEMONSTRATION, BOOK LAUNCH . . . HORSE VIRUS FOUND IN SDG . . . WHAT ARE THE DIRTY DOZEN AND THE CLEAN FIFTEEN . . . SFI TO BRING TOGETHER GLOBAL FORESTRY AND BRAND LEADERS IN MONTREAL . . . URBAN FARMS BUILD RESILIENCE WITHIN SINGAPORE'S FRAGILE FOOD SYSTEM . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
SHEEP SHEARING DEMONSTRATION, BOOK LAUNCH
Source: NSFA Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell will attend a sheep shearing demonstration and participate in the launch of Explore Farming in Nova Scotia as part of the Meet Your Farmer at the Mall events on Friday, Aug. 22, at Micmac Mall. The sheep shearing demonstration will take place at 1 pm. The book launch will take place at 1:30 pm in The Bay Courtyard. Mr. Colwell will be joined by farmer Ruth Mathewson, Suzanne Blatt, entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Kim Stokdijk, representative of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. (read more)
HORSE VIRUS FOUND IN SDG
Source: Standard-Freeholder.com
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has reported that a horse in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry has tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV). The virus is normally found in wild birds, but through transmission of infected mosquitoes, the virus can spread to horses and humans. (read more)
WHAT ARE THE DIRTY DOZEN AND THE CLEAN FIFTEEN
Source: David Suzuki Foundation
The dirty dozen and the clean 15 refer respectively to the fruits and vegetables that are the most and least contaminated by pesticide use, according to the Environmental Working Group. Pesticides are toxic by design! Different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including hormone disruption, cancer and brain toxicity. But for most people, switching to organic produce is a gradual process. Because organic foods tend to be more expensive than their counterparts, making informed choices in the produce aisle helps minimize pesticide consumption while keeping the budget in check! (read more)
SFI TO BRING TOGETHER GLOBAL FORESTRY AND BRAND LEADERS IN MONTREAL
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc. (SFI®) will bring together stakeholders across a broad spectrum – from landowners to brand owners – to discuss and determine actions related to forests at the SFI Annual Conference. This year’s event will be held September 16-18 in Montreal, and will address green building, advancements in forestry research, and other emerging forest issues that help shape North America’s future forests. (read more)
URBAN FARMS BUILD RESILIENCE WITHIN SINGAPORE'S FRAGILE FOOD SYSTEM
At a local FairPrice Supermarket in central Singapore, you’ll find baby carrots grown in Bakersfield, California — the same ones for sale at my local grocery store in Washington, D.C. Such well-traveled vegetables aren’t unusual in the tiny island state, which imports more than 90 percent of its food from some 35 countries. Singapore may be one of the most affluent countries in the world, but it depends heavily on others for basic foodstuffs. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
ANTARCTIC HIDES EXTREME ECOSYSTEM
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28853387
MCCAIN FOODS SELLS NORTH AMERICAN FROZEN PIZZA BUSINESS TO DR. OETKER
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mccain-foods-sells-north-american-frozen-pizza-business-to-dr-oetker/article20132791/
EUROPEAN ETHANOL PRICES RECOVER FROM FOUR-MONTH LOW
http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2014/08/20/european-ethanol-prices-recover-from-four-month-low/
SUN MAY BE SETTING ON SOLAR CITY
http://halifaxchronicle.can.newsmemory.com/?token=ZcmDwrOQ8lt3MfzHVETfcg%3d%3d
Aug 20, 2014
/ON FARM COMPOSTING RESCHEDULED . . .SAYUR MANIS: DELICIOUS, BUT DEADLY, GREENS FROM BORNEO . . .CANOLA GROWERS TURN TO MORE PROFITABLE HEMP . . .PELLET PLANT FEASIBILITY STUDY LAUNCHED IN THE MIRAMICHI . . .OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
ON FARM COMPOSTING RESCHEDULED Source: NSFA The On Farm Composting Course that was previously advertised has been rescheduled for September 17 and 18, 2014. http://www.nsfa-fane.ca/
SAYUR MANIS: DELICIOUS, BUT DEADLY, GREENS FROM BORNEO
Source: NPR
Sayur manis has all the traits of a “superfood.” It’s packed with protein, antioxidants, and other nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E, and a compound called lutein, a key pigment in human retinas. It’s easy to grow, at least in the tropics. It’s the kind of thing health-food nuts would put in smoothies. But sayur manis smoothies are a bad idea; though it can be eaten raw, doing so in even moderately large quantities has proven deadly. Sayur manis is hardly alone in this; the same chemicals with health benefits might also do damage. Despite years of research, scientists still don’t understand the toxicity mechanism. (read more)
CANOLA GROWERS TURN TO MORE PROFITABLE HEMP
Source: The Globe & Mail
Jim Rogers admits it: He’s not sure how this experiment of his will work out. Rogers is a lifelong farmer – a wheat-and-canola kind of guy. But he is dabbling in something new. He sowed hemp in some fields this year, hoping to cash in on a growing slice of Canada’s agriculture industry. Mr. Rogers did the math before he put seeds in the ground and figures his hemp crops could be worth much more than traditional crops. At today’s strong prices, experts say farmers can earn twice as much growing hemp as they can growing canola. (read more)
PELLET PLANT FEASIBILITY STUDY LAUNCHED IN THE MIRAMICHI
Source: NBDNR
The provincial government’s forestry plan has stimulated a $400,000 private investment from Northern Energy Solutions to examine the potential of constructing a pellet plant in the Miramichi region. The company has received a letter of intent from the Department of Natural Resources stating that if the project is feasible, the company will receive 378,000 cubic meters of softwood from forestry Region 3 (Nepisiguit-Miramichi). (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
WORM GRUNTING: THE AGE-OLD TRADITION OF CHARMING WORMS OUT OF THE GROUND
http://modernfarmer.com/category/plants-and-animals/
P.E.I. WELCOMES OPENING OF DEEP ROOTS DISTILLERY
http://www.gov.pe.ca/agriculture/index.php3?number=news&newsnumber=9761&dept=&lang=E
STUDY: US PEDV COULD BE LINKED WITH ANIMAL FEED
http://www.pigprogress.net/Health-Diseases/Research/2014/8/Study-US-PEDv-could-be-linked-with-animal-feed-1578336W/
CME LIVE, FEEDER CATTLE FUTURES UP FOR A THIRD STRAIGHT DAY
http://www.producer.com/daily/cme-live-feeder-cattle-futures-up-for-a-third-straight-day/
INDUSTRY CONSIDERS 2014 APPLE ESTIMATES
http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Industry-considers-2014-apple-estimates-271877721.html
Aug 19, 2014
/HOW TO GET TO THE FACTS IN MIRACLE PRODUCT CLAIMS . . . DSM TO INVEST, GROW IN NOVA SCOTIA . . . GET A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WITH THIS 10-YEAR OUTLOOK . . . CAVENDISH REPEATS CALL FOR END OF MORATORIUM AFTER MCCAIN CLOSURE . . . FARM PRODUCTION EXPENSES CLIMB 8.6 PERCENT IN CALIFORNIA . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
HOW TO GET TO THE FACTS IN MIRACLE PRODUCT CLAIMS
Source: AB Agriculture and Rural Development
An Alberta Agriculture specialist says that producers should be wary of unproven claims of fertilizer performance. “Even before the federal government changed the rules for registration of fertilizer products, there were plenty of fertilizer products with lofty claims of improved yield,” says Harry Brook, crop specialist, Ag-Info Centre, Stettler. “Since the regulations have changed, fertilizers merely have to be proven safe, not even effective, and there are a multitude of new fertilizer products with a wide variety of claims. How do you know which ones are true and which are not? (read more)
DSM TO INVEST, GROW IN NOVA SCOTIA
Source: Nova Scotia Business Inc
DSM Nutritional Products, part of Royal DSM NV, a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing essential nutritional ingredients for health markets, announced Aug. 18 it is investing at least $30 million in new capital in its Mulgrave facility. “DSM evaluated multiple locations across the Americas for an expansion within our nutritional products division,” said Stephan Tanda, managing board member of DSM, responsible for its nutrition business group. “With NSBI’s support, along with Nova Scotia’s talented and educated workforce and leading universities in the research and development of marine sciences, Nova Scotia was the right choice for this investment.” (read more)
GET A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WITH THIS 10-YEAR OUTLOOK
Source: FCC
Plan strategically as FCC Chief Ag Economist J.P. Gervais shares a 10-year outlook from the OECD-FAO for the world ag economy. (read more)
CAVENDISH REPEATS CALL FOR END OF MORATORIUM AFTER MCCAIN CLOSURE
Source: The Island Farmer
The biggest potato processor in the province is using the closure of its major rival as an opportunity to restate its case for an end to the 2002 moratorium on deep water wells. McCain Food announced plans to close its lone Island plant in Borden-Carleton at the end of October, leaving 121 people out of work. The company blames declining demand for French fries on the part of North American consumers, increased efficiency at its other plants through Canada and a strong Canadian dollar for the closure. (read more)
FARM PRODUCTION EXPENSES CLIMB 8.6 PERCENT IN CALIFORNIA
Source: Western Farm Press
California’s total farm production expenditures totaled $36.6 billion in 2013, up 8.6 percent from the 2012 revised estimate of $33.7 billion. At 10 percent, California had the largest percentage of the 2013 U.S. total expenditures. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
FARM SAFETY NOVA SCOTIA LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
http://www.farmsafetyns.ca
HUMAN COMBINE PULL FOR CFGB ON CTV NEWS
http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=414267&fb_action_ids=10204610095321233&fb_action_types=og.recommends
GERMANY SAYS “NEIN!” TO CHLORINE CHICKENS FROM THE U.S.
http://modernfarmer.com/2014/08/chlorine-chickens/
GASPEREAU SCHOOL SAYS THANKS TO LONGSPELL FARM
http://grapevinepublishing.ca/2832/gaspereau-school-says-thanks-to-longspell-farm
Aug 18, 2014
/NSFA STAFF WELCOMES MAXINE TO THE TEAM!. . . DIFFERENTIATE WITH TRACEABILITY. . . VALUE ADDING THROUGH LACTO-FERMENTATION . . . EEE CONFIRMED IN EASTERN ONTARIO HORSE . . . FARM PROFILE – PEI JUICE WORKS LTD. . . .OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
NSFA STAFF WELCOMES MAXINE TO THE TEAM!
Source: NSFA The Federation of Agriculture is pleased to welcome Maxine MacLean to the staff as our new Communications and Research Coordinator. Maxine just started and is already fully engaged in planning for Open Farm Day, Picnic by the Sea, and the Meet Your Farmer at the Mall coming up next weekend. (read more)
DIFFERENTIATE WITH TRACEABILITY
Source; FCC
Traceability could set Ontario beef apart from its counterparts in other provinces and earn it a premium from safety-conscious consumers, says a new report. The report from Oakville-based Value Chain Management International is based on a fact-finding mission carried out earlier this year in Australia by VCMI and the Beef Farmers of Ontario. The mission was designed to look at lessons Ontario could learn from Australia’s National Livestock Information System. (read more)
VALUE ADDING THROUGH LACTO-FERMENTATION
Source: ThinkFarm
Looking for a way to add value to your harvest and extend your market season? World renowned fermentation guru Sandor Katz will be holding a series of workshops in Nova Scotia from August 24 – August 28. Seats at most venues are limited; registration fees vary. (read more)
EEE CONFIRMED IN EASTERN ONTARIO HORSE
Source: The Horse.com
An advisory from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) indicates that the agency received notification Aug. 9 that a horse residing in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry, Ontario, Canada, tested positive for Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). (read more)
FARM PROFILE – PEI JUICE WORKS LTD.
Source: PEI FA
PEI Juice Works Ltd. is an Island owned and operated juice production facility in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island. Juice Works produces three flavors of 100 percent blueberry juice, which is processed by an ancient European method originally developed by the Mennonites.(read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
SEEING THE FOREST AND THE TREES
http://www.dal.ca/news/2014/08/12/seeing-the-forest-and-the-trees.html
BAT POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST WIPED OUT
http://www.atlanticfarmfocus.ca/Agriculture/2014-08-13/article-3833688/Bat-populations-throughout-the-northeast-wiped-out/1
STREAMLINED PROCESS ANNOUNCED TO LEASE CROWN LAND FOR PRODUCING BLUEBERRIES
http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/10/news/news_release.2014.08.1012.html
ORGANIC FARMING STRATEGIES USEFUL FOR CONTROLLING PARASITES
http://www.grainews.ca/2014/08/12/organic-farming-strategies-useful-for-controlling-parasites/
Aug 15, 2014
/TOP COURT WON’T HEAR ONTARIO RAW MILK FARMER’S APPEAL . . . CANOLA AND BEES – A SWEET RELATIONSHIP . . . CETA CLOSURE CLOSE . . . UPCOMING EVENTS . . . PEI FEDERATION OFFICE CLOSED TODAY . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
TOP COURT WON’T HEAR ONTARIO RAW MILK FARMER’S APPEAL
Source: The Chronicle Herald
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from an Ontario farmer who has long championed the right to sell and drink unpasteurized milk. Earlier this year, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a 2011 conviction against Michael Schmidt that saw him fined $9,150 under provincial health-protection laws. In its ruling, the court said Schmidt’s “cow-share” scheme — in which consumers supposedly bought an ownership interest in a dairy cow — was little more than a way to circumvent public-health rules.
CANOLA AND BEES – A SWEET RELATIONSHIP
Source: Alberta Ag and Rural Development
Canola is the main crop for honey production in Western Canada. Wherever you find canola, you’ll find honeybees. “Bees tend to do very well on canola. The crop has profuse blooms and nutritious pollen high in protein as well as fat, and with all the amino acids bees need to complete their lifecycle,” says Shelley Hoover, an apiculture research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Bees can produce quite a good honey crop off of canola.” (read more)
CETA CLOSURE CLOSE
Source: FCC
Canada's economic trade agreement with the European Union appears to be entering the final stages, with the announcement Tuesday that negotiators have concluded a text of the agreement. The final wording comes after months of negotiation and disagreements over a wide range of issues that included investor protection from lawsuits as well as dairy quotas. (read more)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Source: NSFA
Following is a list of the upcoming Agricultural events: Meet Your Farmer at the Mall, August 22 & 23; Council of Leaders Meeting, September 17; Open Farm Day, September 21; NSFA Annual Meeting, November 27 & 28. (read more)
PEI FEDERATION OFFICE CLOSED TODAY
Source: PEIFA
Just a reminder that the Federation office will be closed Friday, August 15 for the Gold Cup and Saucer holiday. Thanks! (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
EVONIK OPENS SUPPORT CENTRE IN VIRGINIA FOR TISSUE MAKERS
http://www.pulpandpapercanada.com/news/evonik-opens-support-centre-in-virginia-for-tissue-makers/1003207454/438qvsM3oyW6x08yM2vx/?ref=enews_PP&utm_source=PP&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PP-EN08132014
U.N. FOOD BODY SAYS GAZA FARMS DEVASTATED BY FIGHTING
http://www.grainews.ca/daily/u-n-food-body-says-gaza-farms-devastated-by-fighting
WILL U.S. DAIRY SECTOR PURSUE “PROVEN” BUTTER EXPORT MARKET?
http://www.dairyreporter.com/Commodities/Will-US-dairy-sector-pursue-proven-butter-export-market
THE PERFECT STORM
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/The-perfect-storm-271304471.html
Aug 14, 2014
/SEEING THE FOREST AND THE TREES . . . NEW 50% LOCAL FOOD CLUB TO LAUNCH . . . HAY GRID FEEDERS CAN REDUCE HORSES' INTAKE . . . FORTRESS PAPER’S Q2 LOSS MOSTLY DUE TO DISSOLVING PULP . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
SEEING THE FOREST AND THE TREES
Source: Dal News
From urban trees to boreal forests, Dalhousie researchers are exploring our many connections to and uses for green space, from feeding our souls to fuelling our economies…. Robert France, in the Faculty of Agriculture’s Department of Environmental Science, is finishing a 10-year multidisciplinary project on the boreal forest, the world’s largest intact forest ecosystem which spans 10 countries. Dr. France hopes to better understand the impacts of clear cuts on lakes. (read more)
NEW 50% LOCAL FOOD CLUB TO LAUNCH
Source: Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia Cooperative
For the month of September, many Nova Scotians will have something new on
their table: a 50 percent local diet. The goal of the 50% Local Food Club, a joint initiative of local food advocates and organizations province-wide, is to increase purchasing and consumption of locally grown food in our province – and everyone will reap the benefits. (read more)
FORTRESS PAPER’S Q2 LOSS MOSTLY DUE TO DISSOLVING PULP
Source: Pulp& Paper Canada
Fortress Paper Ltd. reported a 2014 second quarter EBITDA loss of $6.0 million. The dissolving pulp segment generated EBITDA loss of $4.2 million while the security paper products segment generated EBITDA loss of $0.4 million. Corporate costs contributed $1.4 million to EBITDA loss. (read more)
HAY GRID FEEDERS CAN REDUCE HORSES' INTAKE
Source: thehorse.com
How can we lengthen meal time while reducing calorie intake in obese horses? It might seem like a daunting task, but University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) researchers think they’ve found a solution: a hay grid feeder.
(read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
TOMATO UPGRADE COMES WITH PURPLE HUE
http://www.producer.com/2014/08/tomato-upgrade-comes-with-purple-hue/
STEERS AND HEIFERS CONTINUED TO SELL AT STEADY PRICES
http://www.ontariofarmer.com/sitepages/?aid=9083&cn=QUICK%20LINKS&an=Steers%20and%20heifers%20continued%20to%20sell%20at%20steady%20prices
EPA RESTRICTS USE OF METHOMYL INSECTICIDE
http://www.thegrower.com/news/EPA-restricts-use-of-methomyl-insecticide-270791961.html
AQUAPONICS THE FUTURE OF FOOD FOR N.B. STARTUP
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1228715-entrevestor-aquaponics-the-future-of-food-for-nb-startup
Aug 13, 2014
/ORGANIC SCIENCE CLUSTER II . . . PICTOU-NORTH COLCHESTER SHEEP FUN DAY . . . UNLOCKING FRANCE’S SECRETS TO SAFER RAW MILK CHEESE . . . GENETICALLY MODIFIED FLIES “COULD SAVE CROPS” . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
ORGANIC SCIENCE CLUSTER II
Source: OACC is pleased to announce the official launch of Canada’s Organic Science Cluster II. With support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Growing Forward 2 (GF2) program and more than 65 industry partners, the Organic Science Cluster II spans the country and will continue to strengthen the science behind organic agriculture in Canada.
The announcement of Organic Science Cluster II took place today on Dalhousie University's Agricultural Campus in Truro, N.S. From left to right: Tim Livingstone, Organic Federation of Canada; Scott Armstrong, MP for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley; Dr. Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University; The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Dr. Andy Hammermeister, OACC Director, Dalhousie University. (read more)
PICTOU-NORTH COLCHESTER SHEEP FUN DAY
Source: Northumberland Sheep Producers’ Association
The Northumberland Sheep Producers’ Association is hosting its Annual Sheep Fun Day on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at the Pictou-North Colchester Exhibition Grounds. Sheep must be on the exhibition grounds by noon with classes beginning at 1pm and ending near 4 pm. A potluck supper for participants, show donors, and Northumberland Sheep Producers’ Association members will follow in the show tent. (read more)
UNLOCKING FRANCE’S SECRETS TO SAFER RAW MILK CHEESE
Source: NPR
In the English-speaking world, our approach to making cheese for most of the last 60 years has been like a Texas gunslinger’s: kill bacteria, ask questions later. If it’s not pasteurized, it’s dangerous, the thinking goes. But in France, raw milk cheese is a very big deal, long considered safe and revered for its flavor. The country cultivates its 350-plus cheeses – many of which are made with raw milk – like children, claiming that the bacteria in the raw milk impart unique characteristics – grassy, metallic, buttery, and so on. (read more)
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FLIES “COULD SAVE CROPS”
Source: BBC
A type of genetically engineered fly which eventually kills itself off could be an effective method of pest control, according to new research. These male mutant flies have a lethal gene which interrupts female development. They were trialled in a greenhouse resulting in “population collapse.” If released into the wild, they could prevent damage to crops in a way that is cheap, and environmentally friendly, according to the researchers. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
PROTEIN SMALL SCALE FIELD DAY
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/cotl22575
COLIC RISK RATER
http://equineguelph.ca/Tools/colic_risk_rater.php?utm_source=Enews_Aug_2014&utm_campaign=Aug+2014+Enews&utm_medium=email
HOW TO RETAIN THE APPLE CROP
http://www.goodfruit.com/how-to-retain-the-crop/
DAIRY PRODUCTS HIGH IN SATURATED FATS MAY PROTECT AGAINST DIABETES
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/05/say-fatty-cheese-dairy-products-high-in-saturated-fats-may-protect-against-diabetes/
Aug 12, 2014
/RELIEF PROGRAM LENDS A HAND . . . CANADA BEEF IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CFL . . . FLOCK DISPERSAL SALE . . . RESEARCH NOW CENTERED ON BEST WAYS TO GROW BUCKWHEAT . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
RELIEF PROGRAM LENDS A HAND
Source: FCC
A farmer replacement pilot program – the first in Canada – is being well used by Quebec dairy farmers. The Centre d'innovation sociale en agriculture started the system in Victoriaville, Que. CISA worked with Victoriaville Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel to offer 34 farmers in the region the opportunity to take a day off when they need it. College students do the work as farmer replacements. (read more)
CANADA BEEF IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CFL
Source: Farm Focus
The Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders usually sell out every home game. A sea of green that can swell to 33,427 fills Mosaic Stadium in Regina. And that's good news for cattlemen. Canada Beef Inc. has signed a three-year partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL) that will see one farmer/rancher family recognized at a CFL home game for their contribution to the provincial beef industry. (read more)
FLOCK DISPERSAL SALE
Source: Atlantic Beef & Sheep
The Lonesome Oak Farm will be selling off a 320 ewe flock located in River John, N.S. The flock is divided into three lambing groups. Genetic are primarily Bluefaced Leicester derived from the 1970 importation, and Romanov genetics from the herd of the late Ralph Downey. Johnny Nielsen and Sarah Turner, River John, N.S., 902-351-3454.
RESEARCH NOW CENTERED ON BEST WAYS TO GROW BUCKWHEAT
Source: Island Farmer
Buckwheat is a crop on the rise in Canada’s million acre farm. While the crop has commercial value, most Island farmers are using it, along with mustard, in an effort to control one of the most destructive pests ever to strike Island fields – wireworm. The larvae of the click beetle have taken root in a big way in the country’s largest potato producing province. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
PRE-HARVEST DISEASE SCOUTING
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/cotl22521
EQUINE STUDIES
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/az-degrees/equine-studies-9652126.html
OPTIMAL RISK AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT WITH HIGH CATTLE PRICES
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Optimal-risk-and-production-management-with-high-cattle-prices-270795511.html
YUKON'S MOREL MUSHROOM HARVEST WORTH ABOUT $4M
http://www.freshplaza.com/article/124956/Yukons-morel-mushroom-harvest-worth-about-4M
Aug 11, 2014
/RUSSIA FOOD BAN OFFERS BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR BRAZIL . . . DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR CFIA CONSULTATIONS . . . FORAGE AND LIVESTOCK RESEARCH ON THE FARM . . . MARITIME BEE TOUR 2014 . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
RUSSIA FOOD BAN OFFERS BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR BRAZIL
Russia’s ban on many western food products presents a massive opportunity for meat and grain exports from agricultural powerhouse Brazil and a smaller one for its Latin American neighbors. Around 90 new meat plants in Brazil were immediately approved to export beef, chicken, and pork to Russia and the South American nation is already working to increase its exports of corn and soybeans sales to Russian buyers, Brazil’s secretary of agricultural policy, Seneri Paludo, said on Thursday. (read more)
DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR CFIA CONSULTATIONS
Source: CFIA
A reminder that the deadline to submit comments to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding several current consultations is at the end of this month. The following documents have a comment deadline of August 29, 2014: A New Regulatory Framework for Federal Food Inspection: Overview of Proposed Regulations, Use of Private Certification to Inform Regulatory-Based Oversight, Incorporation by Reference, and Foreign Food safety Systems Recognition: Proposed Framework. (read more)
FORAGE AND LIVESTOCK RESEARCH ON THE FARM
Source: Maritime Beef Test Station
The Maritime Beef Council in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) invite you to a tour of AAFC Nappan Research Farm, and the Maritime Beef Test Station. Tuesday August 12, 2014 from 11 am to 3:30 pm, rain or shine. (read more)
MARITIME BEE TOUR 2014 “BEE KEEPER CHALLENGES”
Source: NSbeekeepers.ca
The New Brunswick Beekeepers’ Association would like to invite everyone to attend the Maritime Bee Tour. This event will be held in Moncton, N.B., August 15-16, 2014. Activities will be headquartered at Crandall University, Moncton, N.B. for the reception, banquet, and accommodations. On day 2 a tour bus will travel to Boyd Hicks apiary, Golden Acres Farm, Killams Mills where education stations will provide the formal learning component of the event with two experts in the field of apiculture. The tour will also stop at Heritage Wrought Iron, hosts Paul and Anita Fontaine. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
PEI ORGANIC HARVEST MEAL
http://organicpei.com/ongoing-projects/organic-harvest-meal/
ARSON SUSPECTED IN FIRE THAT RAZED WINDGATE FARM
http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1228522-arson-suspected-in-fire-that-razed-windsor-junction-farmhouse
CANADA RANKS 9 OUT OF 16 COUNTRIES IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY
http://www.treehugger.com/energy-efficiency/us-ranks-13-out-16-energy-efficiency-germany-1.html
ONTARIO EYES COST OF RUSSIAN BAN ON FOOD CANADA PRODUCES
http://betterfarming.com/online-news/ontario-eyes-cost-russian-ban-food-canada-produces-56435
Aug 8, 2014
/WAVES OF CHANGE . . . REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CASA CONFERENCE . . . MCCAIN TO CLOSE PEI FRENCH FRY PLANT . . . FORESTERS NOW MONITORING TREE POPULATIONS FROM SPACE . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
WAVES OF CHANGE
Source: Food Secure Canada
Hundreds of food leaders from across Canada will converge in Halifax November 13-16, 2014 for Waves of Change: Sustainable Food for All, Food Secure Canada’s eighth National Assembly. Farmers, fishermen, dietitians, policy makers, activists, entrepreneurs, community organizers, indigenous leaders, students, academics, and more will create three jam-packed days of programming, networking opportunities, and learning sessions. This is the first time the FSC Assembly has been held in Atlantic Canada… (read more)
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CASA CONFERENCE
Source: NSFA
The 20th annual Canadian Agricultural Safety Association national farm safety conference and AGM is fast- approaching, coming up from October 7 to 9, 2014. To celebrate CASA's 20th anniversary, we're heading to the nation's capital in Ottawa, Ontario, at the Lord Elgin Hotel. (read more)
MCCAIN TO CLOSE PEI FRENCH FRY PLANT
Source: The Globe & Mail
McCain Foods Ltd. is blaming a shift in the market for French fries and the stronger Canadian dollar for its decision to close a plant in Prince Edward Island. When the plant in Borden-Carleton shuts down at the end of October, 121 jobs will be lost. (read more)
FORESTERS NOW MONITORING TREE POPULATIONS FROM SPACE
Source: Scientific American
One traditional tool of a forester, an angle gauge, determines which trees must be measured in a sample of forest. Holding the gauge at arm’s length, a forester will spin 360 degrees in the middle of a sampling spot and examine each tree visible through the notched hole in the gauge… (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
SPRAY PROGRAM ALLOWS GROWERS TO FEND OFF COMBINATION OF VIRUSES http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1225824-spray-program-allows-growers-to-fend-off-combination-of-viruses
MISSOURI CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PITS FARMER AGAINST FARMER
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/08/06/338127707/missouri-s-right-to-farm-amendment-pits-farmer-against-farmer
BOLIVIAN GOLDEN BAT REVEALED AS “NEW SPECIES”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/28583377
PROBIOTICS REDUCE SHEDDING OF PATHOGENIC E. COLI IN CATTLE
http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/4004/probiotics-reduce-shedding-of-pathogenic-e-coli-in-cattle
Aug 7, 2014
/CANADIAN PORK FEARED TARGETED IN RUSSIAN TRADE RETALIATION . . . WILD POLLINATOR HABITAT ENHANCEMENT WORKSHOP . . . FARMERS HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HAULING FARM PRODUCTS . . . BIOMASS POWER PLANT AT PRINCE ALBERT PULP INDEFINITELY CLOSED . . . hOTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
CANADIAN PORK FEARED TARGETED IN RUSSIAN TRADE RETALIATION
Canada’s pork industry is bracing for a major blow after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country will ban the import of agricultural products from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia. The announcement Wednesday did not list specific products that will be covered by the ban, but Russian media reports said a list is expected by Thursday and would likely include meat and dairy products. (read more)
WILD POLLINATOR HABITAT ENHANCEMENT WORKSHOP
Blueberry and apple producers, and others interested in the success of wild bees, gain insight on the importance of Wild Bees to fruit production, their economic benefits and biology, nest requirements as well as strategies for managing blueberry fields and orchards for wild bees. Delivered in P.E.I., September 29 and 30, 2014. Apply by September 2! (read more)
FARMERS HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HAULING FARM PRODUCTS
Source: Agricultural Alliance of N.B.
A change to the Motor Vehicle Act will allow farmers to use their farm-plated vehicles to transport other farmers’ products. Previously a farmer could only haul his or her own products. The regulation change came about as a result of discussions between the Agricultural Alliance of N.B. and an interdepartmental working group on reducing costs and red tape for farmers. (read more)
BIOMASS POWER PLANT AT PRINCE ALBERT PULP INDEFINITELY CLOSED
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
The biomass-to-energy operation at the Prince Albert Pulp mill in Saskatchewan has been indefinitely shut down, according to the local newspaper, the Prince Albert Herald. The pulp mill and wood energy plant are owned by Paper Excellence. The biomass burning facility has been providing about 10 MW of electrical energy to the provincial grid while the pulp mill is being readied to re-open, but local officials have been told it is too expensive to operate the biomass-to-energy facility without waste wood from the pulp mill. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
EQUINE GUELPH HOSTING EQUINE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE TRAINING
http://www.equineguelph.ca/news/index.php?content=415&utm_source=Enews_Aug_2014&utm_campaign=Aug+2014+Enews&utm_medium=email
PROJECT PROTEIN
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/cotl22556
ON-FARM COMPOSTING RESCHEDULED
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/agriculture/extended-learning/programs-courses/advanced-agricultural-skills/on-farm-composting.html
MANAGEMENT MOMENT: THE VALUE OF MACHINERY COSTS
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/production/management-moment-the-value-of-machinery-costs.html
Aug 6, 2014
/FOOD UPSKILLING DAY . . . FPANS SUPPORTS NORTHERN PULP . . . HORSES’ MOBILE EARS ARE COMMUNICATION TOOL . . . CHANGES TO THE DOE LICENSE FOR SOME AREAS OF N.S. . . . RESEARCH TARGETS CHICKEN VACCINES . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
FOOD UPSKILLING DAY– DO YOU HAVE A SKILL TO SHARE?
Source: ACORN
Do you have a food or garden based skill to share? Whether your passion is to grow, cook, preserve, ferment, store, dehydrate, save seeds, keep bees, raise chickens, we want to hear from you! Transition Bay St. Margaret’s has teamed up with the Ecology Action Centre to host a day of food-based “up-skilling.” On September 20 at the Shambhala School (9am-5pm), they will be hosting a variety of workshops and activities for people to build and share their food and garden skills. (read more)
FPANS SUPPORTS NORTHERN PULP
Source: AtlanticFarmer.com
Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia has issued a statement urging Nova Scotians to be patient with Northern Pulp as it works toward installing new emission-reducing technology. Some of the equipment required for reducing emissions is not expected to arrive in Pictou until next year. The group said that residents concerned about the pollution levels shouldn’t rush to the easy solution of shutting down the mill. FPANS says forestry is a vital industry in the province and is the backbone of the rural economy and losing another pulp mill would be devastating to all parts of the forestry sector and the provincial economy. The statement pointed put that 70 percent of the forest industry workforce is based in rural areas and that forestry pumps $11 million a week into the provincial economy. Forestry generates $140 million in taxes and $1 billion in international exports each year.
HORSES’ MOBILE EARS ARE COMMUNICATION TOOL
Source: BBC
Very mobile ears help many animals direct their attention to the rustle of a possible predator. But a study in horses suggests they also pay close attention to the direction another’s ears are pointing in order to work out what they are thinking. Researchers from the University of Sussex say these swivelling ears have become a useful communication tool. (read more)
CHANGES TO THE DOE LICENSE FOR SOME AREAS OF N.S.
Source: NSFA
The Nova Scotia government opened the process to apply for Doe Hunting License for the 2014 season. For the past several months, the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture has been working with Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture to work on ways to address wildlife damage to crops and changes to the bag limit and antlerless deer were part of a whole series of solutions offered by our Wildlife Committee. (read more)
RESEARCH TARGETS CHICKEN VACCINES
Source: FCC
The Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan received federal funding to help in studying bird health. The $275,000 in funds accessed via AgriInnovation of Growing Forward 2, will focus on new variants and transmission of the avian reovirus in broiler chickens. The organization will also evaluate vaccines for inclusion body hepatitis in field trials. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
HOW TO MANAGE A WATER WELL
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/agnw22526
ECONOMIC CASE FOR RESTORING COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/report/2014/04/09/87386/the-economic-case-for-restoring-coastal-ecosystems
FOOD INDUSTRY LOBBYING SPIKES AMID GMO FIGHT-REPORT
http://www.grainews.ca/category/news/
SHOULD WE RETURN THE NUTRIENTS IN OUR PEE BACK TO THE FARM?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/07/31/336564120/should-we-return-the-nutrients-in-our-pee-back-to-the-farm
Aug 5, 2014
/TRURO TO CELEBRATE FARMERS’ MARKET WEEK . . . BEE LOSSES DECLINE . . . TWO MORE WEEKS OF EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION FOR THE 2014 BEGINNER FARMER SYMPOSIUM! . . . NATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION FUND . . . SUPPORTING “ZERO WASTE” IN NOVA SCOTIA . . . THE GIFT OF GRAFT: NEW YORK ARTIST'S TREE TO GROW 40 KINDS OF FRUIT . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
TRURO TO CELEBRATE FARMERS’ MARKET WEEK
Source: NSFA
The third annual Farmers’ Market Week takes place Aug. 2 to 9 with various activities lined up at markets across the province, including the Truro Farmers' Market. “It's just an opportunity to celebrate everything about the markets,” said Jamie Alcorn, Truro Farmers’ Market manager. “They’re a great venue in a town. Nova Scotia actually has the most markets per capita in the country.” Celebrating local farmers and craftspeople fit in with the theme of the week, said Alcorn, who added supporting the local economy and developing partnerships within the community are also highlights of the weeklong event. (read more)
BEE LOSSES DECLINE
Source: FCC
A greater percentage of bees survived last winter in Alberta, Manitoba, and most of the rest of Canada than a year ago. “Overall, beekeepers reported that 18.5 percent of Alberta bees died during the 2013-14 winter,” says Alberta's apiculturist Medhat Nasr. A year ago, beekeepers reported that 23.8 percent of Alberta bees died during the winter season. Alberta Agriculture surveyed a group of commercial beekeepers who operate over 90 percent of honey bee colonies in the province. Seventy-six percent responded. (read more)
TWO MORE WEEKS OF EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION FOR THE 2014 BEGINNER FARMER SYMPOSIUM!
Source: ACORN
Space is filling up folks! Have you registered yet for ACORN’s 3rd Beginner Farmer Symposium & Mixer? Don't miss this special day, celebrating the future of organic agriculture in Atlantic Canada! With a nearly sold-out trade-show, full list of speakers, delicious meal preparations and more, we’re sure this year is going to bring another wonderful day of sharing and bridging new connections among new and long-standing members of the farming community in Atlantic Canada. (read more)
NATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION FUND
Source: Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic Region
If your organization is interested in wetlands you may be interested in the details about the National Wetland Conservation Fund. The deadline for submission of proposals for this current fiscal year is August 29, 2014. We hope to have funding approvals in place to allow for projects to be funded for the period of October 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015. (read more)
SUPPORTING “ZERO WASTE” IN NOVA SCOTIA
Source: Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar)
It is not often we get the chance to rally in support of a government proposal on environmental and sustainability issues. But we’re reaching out to you because what seemed like certain approval may be in jeopardy. The Nova Scotia Department of Environment (NS DOE) has a consultation process on waste resource issues that is about to conclude. Its aim is to gauge public support for finally going further towards Zero Waste – the direction citizens advocated for, and the government agreed with, in the mid-1990s.They're proposing to add various materials to those prohibited for disposal through landfill or incineration, to clarify the definition of incineration to include new variations, as well as other common-sense improvements. These changes would once again make Nova Scotia an environmental leader in Canada and the world. (read more)
THE GIFT OF GRAFT: NEW YORK ARTIST'S TREE TO GROW 40 KINDS OF FRUIT
It sounds like something out of Dr. Seuss, but artist Sam Van Aken is developing a tree that blooms in pink, fuchsia, purple, and red in the spring – and that is capable of bearing 40 different kinds of fruit. No, it’s not genetic engineering. Van Aken, an associate professor in Syracuse University’s art department, used an age-old technique called grafting to attach branches from 40 different kinds of stone fruit onto a single tree. It’s called the “Tree of 40 Fruit.” (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
“VOCIFEROUS MINORITY” COWING FRACKING PANEL
http://halifaxchronicle.can.newsmemory.com/?token=lLt7ZDvQ7YflukXJZGXcZw%3d%3d
LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT CENTRE OPENS IN SUSSEX
http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/10/news/news_release.2014.07.0973.html
CANADA ANNOUNCES PHASE-OUT OF ANTIBIOTIC USE IN LIVESTOCK
http://us6.campaignarchive1.com/?u=9df69494bf5c64187f76e8ecb&id=f55c46031b&e=e58eafd9ac
EXPERTS STUDY MICROBES’ PESTICIDE ELIMINATING SKILLS
http://www.producer.com/section/news/
Aug 1, 2014
/NOVA SCOTIA LUMBER COMPANY RECEIVES LOAN GUARANTEE . . . CASCADES TO CLOSE KRAFT PAPER OPERATIONS IN EAST ANGUS . . . NOVA SCOTIA APPOINTS NEW MANAGER FOR PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION IN TRURO . . . RARE LICHEN IN NEED OF RECOVERY . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
NOVA SCOTIA LUMBER COMPANY RECEIVES LOAN GUARANTEE
Source: Nova Scotia Business Inc.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) has authorized a $1.5 million loan guarantee to assist Ledwidge Lumber in establishing a new private-sector line of credit. Douglas Ledwidge, president of Ledwidge Lumber, said they have grown their family business over 70 years. (read more)
CASCADES TO CLOSE KRAFT PAPER OPERATIONS IN EAST ANGUS
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
Cascades is withdrawing from the kraft paper sector and closing its kraft paper manufacturing activities at the East Angus, Que., plant because of unfavourable market conditions and the failure of discussions with a potential buyer. Close to 175 employees will be affected by the closure, which will come into effect by October 3, 2014. The coated boxboard plant in East Angus is not affected by this announcement. (read more)
NOVA SCOTIA APPOINTS NEW MANAGER FOR PROVINCIAL EXHIBITION IN TRURO
Source: CP
Nova Scotia has appointed a new general manager for the Provincial Exhibition grounds and harness racing track in Truro. Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell says Stephen Pottie will start his job immediately. Pottie has led operations of a number of facilities in the province, including Exhibition Park, the East Hants Sportplex, and most recently the CFB Halifax Curling Club. (read more)
RARE LICHEN IN NEED OF RECOVERY
Source: Farm Focus
It was only in 2006 that the presence of a rare lichen was first detected in Newfoundland and Labrador. Less than a decade later, biologists are trying to find a way to protect the small population that remains. Vole ears lichen is a large and leafy variety of lichen found on trees. It has a felty and grayish-brown upper surface that turns gray-green when it becomes moist. Lichen are composite organisms typically formed by a fungus and either green alga or a bacteria. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
P.E.I. FOREST INVESTMENT PROGRAM
http://www.gov.pe.ca/forestry/index.php3?number=1051621
WILDFIRES AND OTHER BURNS PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE, PROFESSOR FINDS
http://phys.org/news/2014-07-wildfires-bigger-role-climate-professor.html
INDUSTRY LOBBYING BOILS OVER IN BID TO BLOCK LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/the_anti-label_lobby/
DISTINGUISHED ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORIAN TO SPEAK AT UPEI
http://news.upei.ca/media/2014/07/30/distinguished-environmental-historian-speak-upei
July 31, 2014
/NEW FOOD BOX PROJECT BRIDGES FAMILIES & FARMERS . . . ASK AN EXPERT: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH MARIO DUMAS . . . ALBERTA MISSION TO TURKEY IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES IN LIVESTOCK GENETICS AND TECHNOLOGIES . . . NORTHERN PULP CONCEDES EMISSIONS ON RISE . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
NEW FOOD BOX PROJECT BRIDGES FAMILIES & FARMERS
Source: Ecology Action Centre
The Cumberland County Cost-Share CSA is a pilot project which aims to connect low-income families with healthy and affordable locally produced food. A partnership of the Ecology Action Centre (EAC), the YMCA of Cumberland, and GoodLake Farm, the Cost-share CSA project is the first of its kind in Cumberland County. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a system through which customers sign up for a share in the farm and in exchange receive a weekly food box throughout the growing season. (read more)
ASK AN EXPERT: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITH MARIO DUMAS
Source: FCC
What’s the full potential of your farm? Can your operation be more efficient? Are you getting the most from your cash flow? Learn three ratios that will help you answer these questions and improve your decision-making. (read more)
ALBERTA MISSION TO TURKEY IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES IN LIVESTOCK GENETICS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Source: ARD
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) recently led a mission to Turkey as a follow-up from an exploratory visit to the market in October 2013, where they identified significant opportunities for Alberta in the areas of sheep and goat genetics, live cattle and cattle genetics, pulses, pet food and agriculture focused post-secondary education and training. The Alberta delegation included OC Flock Management, a Bowden based company specializing in small ruminants’ reproductive technologies and genetics, ITS Global, a traceability solution provider to the cattle industry globally, and Champion Pet Food, an Alberta-based exporter of biologically appropriate pet food made with locally sourced natural ingredients. (read more)
NORTHERN PULP CONCEDES EMISSIONS ON RISE
Source: The Chronicle Herald
Northern Pulp admits that emissions from the Pictou County mill have increased over recent months – an issue that’s got locals fuming. “Until recently the precipitator met all regulatory limits but its efficiency has deteriorated more rapidly than initially expected,” David MacKenzie, a spokesman for the mill, said Wednesday. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY OF 15N-LABELLED SHEEP MANURE AND MINERAL FERTILISER APPLIED TO MICROPLOTS IN LONG-TERM ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL CROPPING SYSTEMS
http://orgprints.org/26369/
MPS: GOVERNMENT MUST ACCEPT BAN ON BEE-HARMING PESTICIDES
http://www.thecropsite.com/news/16521/mps-government-must-accept-ban-on-beeharming-pesticides
ALLIANCE GIVING VOICE TO NORTHERN FARMERS
http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Regional-News/Temiskaming-and-Region/2014/07/Alliance-giving-voice-to-Northern-farmers.aspx
THE LATEST PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR TREE FRUIT AND GRAPE GROWERS
http://www.goodfruit.com/pruning-tips/
July 30, 2014
/BRIGHT LIGHT SHINES ON POWER PROBLEM . . . CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE A BEEF WITH BEEF . . . DAIRY INDUSTRY LEVERAGES PROACTION INITIATIVE . . . ON-FARM COMPOSTING . . . WANT TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT? CHOOSE MACKEREL OVER SHRIMP . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...
BRIGHT LIGHT SHINES ON POWER PROBLEM
Source: The Chronicle Herald
When Danielle Fong was taking her PhD in plasma physics at Princeton University at the age of 17, she wasn’t driven to be the best – she was driven by an urgency to solve the world’s energy problem. Though she missed her mother’s cooking back home in Dartmouth, “My mom makes the best omelettes,”Fong focused on her mission to make green energy a practical reality for everyone. (read more)
CLIMATE SCIENTISTS HAVE A BEEF WITH BEEF
Source: LA Times
If you want to slow climate change, white meat may be the right meat, according to two studies that tally the environmental effect of the beef industry. Raising cattle in the U.S. requires 28 times as much land and 11 times as much irrigation water, and pumps at least five times as much planet-warming gases into Earth’s atmosphere than producing the equivalent calories of dairy products, poultry, pork, or eggs, according to a study published online Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (read more)
DAIRY INDUSTRY LEVERAGES PROACTION INITIATIVE
Source: FCC
The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) presented a new five-year strategic plan for marketing and nutrition investment at its annual general meeting in Fredericton last week. The plan, which takes into consideration opportunities and threats to dairy products, will focus on three areas: dairy farmer and industry image with consumers; the health and wellness benefits of dairy products; developing strategic product marketing partnerships. (read more)
ON-FARM COMPOSTING
Source: Dal Faculty of Agriculture
Extended Learning at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus is pleased to offer a composting course for agricultural producers who are looking for waste management techniques for their operations. Through a combination of speaker-led sessions and hands-on activities, this practical training course will enable participants to safely manage waste on the farm. The course has been designed to showcase best practices in waste management (deadstock or other organic waste). (read more)
WANT TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT? CHOOSE MACKEREL OVER SHRIMP
Source: NPR
Small fatty fish like mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies are high in omega-3s, vitamin D, and low on the food chain. Those shining attributes have earned them plenty of nods from doctors and environmentalists alike, as we’ve reported. They’re not among the most popular seafoods in the U.S., though, partly because of their fishy taste. (read more)
OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
GRAIN BIN RESCUE COURSE
http://peifa.ca/grain-bin-rescue-course/
FOOD INDUSTRY LOBBYING SPIKES AMID GMO FIGHT
http://www.grainews.ca/daily/food-industry-lobbying-spikes-amid-gmo-fight-reportWS
FRESH FRUIT INFLATION TO SLOW IN 2015
http://www.thegrower.com/news/Fresh-fruit-inflation-to-slow-in-2015-268956621.html
HISTORY OF RED AND WHITE HOLSTEINS CHRONICLED IN BOOK
http://www.agrinews.com/news/minnesota_news/history-of-red-and-white-holsteins-chronicled-in-book/article_4460263f-d757-5df2-bc27-68143bce0a96.html
