Welcome to the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture's Electronic Newsletter.  Our goal is to provide information to members in a timely and efficient manner.  Please pass this information along to other Industry Stakeholders.           

A new fundraiser put on in some Nova Scotia schools is connecting children and their families with healthy sustainable foods, provided by local farmers.

Instead of selling chocolate bars or other sweet treats, students taking part in the Nourish Your Roots fundraiser are selling boxes full of fresh, seasonal produce.

"We sold almost 160 boxes and our school has 130 students," says Brendon MacGillivary, principal at Oldfield Consolidated Elementary in Enfield, N.S.

The fresh food fundraiser is a growing idea, with the six pilot sites raising $8,000 and another $16,000 is going to the farmers behind the boxes.

"I think, just by the sounds and the faces of the children when we were just dropping boxes off, they were just so excited about their farm boxes," says farmer Patricia Bishop.

The Nourish Your Roots program is also a lesson in nutrition.

"Unfortunately, today, most kids think food comes from a grocery store," says Margo Riebe-Butt, executive director of Nourish Nova Scotia. "We really need to take a step back, listen to grandma's lessons, and learn where food comes from."

"I think the times are changing and lots of people are getting interested in healthy eating and understanding where our food comes from," says school nutritionist Jill White.

Mom Kristin Grzesik bought two boxes and sold 20 after posting it online.

"I had to actually hand it off to another mother because I was worried I was selling too many," says Grzesik.

This may be the first year for the project, but it's likely not the last. Nourish Nova Scotia wants to expand it to include more farms and schools.
To view the video click here...

Careful Review Underway of TPP Agreement for Canada's Farmers

OTTAWA, October 5, 2015 - With the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations earlier today, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is carefully reviewing the details of the deal to better understand the varied outcomes for Canadian farmers.

The CFA and its members have remained steadfast in their position regarding the importance for Canada to be an active participant in this monumental trade agreement in order to ensure Canadian farmers have the market certainty they need and deserve going into the future.

For a number of export-oriented farmers, such as beef and pork producers, the deal will result in equal access to TPP markets in particular Japan, Vietnam and Malaysia, placing Canadian producers on equal footing with their American and Australian counterparts. For others, such as sugar beet producers, the deal fell short in securing the increased market access necessary into the United States to allow sugar beet growers to move confidently ahead in the future with their domestic production.
To read more click here...

Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps Now Available

The Department of Natural Resources has introduced a Human Wildlife Conflict Stamp for deer and bear. The stamp is to be used where lethal removal is necessary to adequately address wildlife damage, primarily in agriculture situations. It has been developed to better enable and encourage engagement of hunters to assist farmers in removing overabundant problem deer and bears. These stamps will be very limited and only issued after investigation and approval by DNR and where other non-lethal methods have proven unsuccessful.

Additional information is available (as FAQ's) online at: http://novascotia.ca/natr/hunt/FAQs_RE_Reg_Changes.pdf

proAction Producer Education Sessions

 

DFNS is hosting proAction Producer Education Sessions for you to learn more about the program, specifically the Animal Care and Livestock Traceability requirements.  proAction will be mandatory for all Nova Scotia dairy farms, with validation on these two new elements being included in CQM validations starting in the fall of 2017.    Be sure to come out and hear about proAction from our Atlantic Coordinators.  A schedule of the sessions is shown below.

 

October 19           1:00-3:30 pm               Fire Hall, Lawrencetown October 20           1:00-3:30 pm               Super 8 Motel, Windsor October 20           1:00-3:30 pm               Inverary Inn, Baddeck October 21           10:00 am-12:00           Claymore Inn, Antigonish October 21           1:30-3:30 pm               Holiday Inn, Stellarton October 21           1:00-3:30 pm               St. Bridget's Hall, Shubenacadie October 22           1:00-3:30 pm               Glengarry Hotel, Truro October 23           10:00 am-12:00           Nova Forest Office, Wentworth

Atlantic Agriculture Hall of Fame2015 Induction Ceremony

October 15th, 1pm
Alumni Theatre, Cumming Hall
Dalhousie Agricultural Campus

2015 Inductees: 

Dale Dewar - Prince Edward Island 

Richard (Dick) Huggard - Nova Scotia 

Stephen Moffett - New Brunswick 

Mervin Wiseman - Newfoundland and Labrador

RSVP to Jenna Forsyth at 902.893.6721 or [email protected]

Colchester "Feed Dating" Event,

Monday, November 2nd, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Truro Farmers' Market, Truro

 

Are you a local farmer or food processor interested in selling your food products to restaurants? Maybe you should try Feed Dating! This event will connect farms to restaurants. Trade information, stories, needs and sales pitches. Maybe we'll find a match!

Speakers will address what chefs/restaurant owners are looking for, how they buy and what successful food suppliers can do to tap into this market.

Following a short break featuring local food prepared by a local chef, producers and buyers will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one in a speed-dating format.

Don't pass up this opportunity to learn more about accessing this direct marketing channel, and in meeting your potential buyers.

 

For more information, or to register, contact:

Jillian Garland

902-893-6575 or [email protected]

Integrated Pest Management - Farmers

On Campus, Bible Hill NS

**Next Offering - Tuesday,  October 27, 2015**

This training session for farmers focuses on pesticide safety practices, pesticide performance and the effect of water quality, developing an IPM strategy, new products and technologies.

Eligible course participants will be awarded five re-certification points in the Nova Scotia Pesticide Re-certification Program.

For more information or to apply click here

Pesticide Applicator's Certification

This course is delivered at the Agricultural Campus, in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia

**Next Offering - November 3-6, 2015**

This four-day course is excellent preparation if you are writing the Pesticide Applicator's Examination. You will learn the basic principles and practices of safe use, handling and storage of pesticides.

Information is presented about the ground application of pesticides but does not include aerial spraying.

Teaching methods include classroom lectures and problem solving exercises and you will write the Pesticide Applicator's Examination on the last day of the course.

For more information or to apply click here

FNSWO Best Management Practices Course to be held

Friday, October 16 - Stewiacke, N.S.

The Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners is organizing a Forestry Safety Society Best Management Practices course in Stewiacke on Friday, October 16, 2015 8:30am-4.30 pm.

  This is an excellent opportunity for landowners and contractors to receive up to date information about forest management rules, regulations, guidelines and tips. Training includes topics such as protecting wildlife habitat and watercourses during harvesting and road building, designing harvests to meet landowner objectives, choosing silviculture systems to encourage natural regeneration, safe handling and storage of fuels etc.

Provincial Best Management Practices are developed by a volunteer group of contractors, industry, landowners and environmental representatives, and is coordinated by the Nova Forest Alliance. This certificated training will delivered by Tom Berry of the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodland Owners.

The cost will be $20.00 for the day and includes lunch (there is no charge if you are a member of the FNSWO/MTRI FSC certification group). There will be a Stewiacke classroom session in the morning and a field session in nearby Carroll's corner after lunch.

  If you are interested in registering or need more information give John MacDougall a call at the FNSWO office at 902-639-2041 or email [email protected]