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.           

Collaboration Meeting with TIR and NSFA

This week representatives of the NSFA Transportation Committee met with staff of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and the Office of Registrar for Motor Vehicles to discuss a couple issues relating to agricultural transportation.  The first item of discussion was non-expiry plates on Agriculture Equipment; this meaning beyond tractors for items of self-propelled machinery like wheel loaders, tele-handlers, etc.  As it stands now in the definitions and the registry of motor vehicles; these pieces of equipment are not recognized as farm equipment and therefore may or may not receive a non-expiry plate when the farmer is attempting the registration process.  It was identified during the meeting that perhaps an interpretive note could clarify the definition of farm tractor to include this self-propelled equipment for agriculture purposes.   Government representatives agreed to investigate options.  Another main topic for discussion was moving of farm equipment by licensed farm equipment dealers.  It is recognized that farm equipment dealers need to transport not only new implements, but also those needing repair to and from the farm business and dealership.  The NSFA Transportation Committee proposed that licensed farm equipment dealers follow the same regulations for bona fide farmers for the purpose of moving farm equipment.  The Government agreed to review and make enquiries into the process for such an exemption for licensed farm equipment dealers.  Representatives felt that it was a beneficial meeting with some solid action items to move forward.

Wineries are being invited to apply for funding to grow more grapes as the provincial government invests up to $1 million in expansion.

Premier Stephen McNeil, and Kings South MLA Keith Irving, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell, joined members of the Nova Scotia Wine Development Board to announce the Vineyard Development and Expansion program today, Dec. 8, at Avondale Sky Winery in Newport Landing, Hants Co.

"Nova Scotia's wine sector is a growing industry with huge potential and we want to help our growers and producers meet the demand for Nova Scotia's high-quality wines," said Premier McNeil. "The value of the wine industry will increase with more grapes available and that's important to our rural communities because it secures jobs and creates economic spinoffs."

To read the full release click here...

The 2014 AgriStability and AgriInvest final filing deadline is December 31, 2015

 

AgriStability is delivered in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon by the federal government. The AgriStability information in this advisory refers to details for these provinces only. For more information about AgriStability call Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada toll-free at 1-866-367-8506 or visit the AgriStability web site at www.agr.gc.ca/agristability.

 

If you are in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, or Prince Edward Island, AgriStability is delivered provincially. For information about AgriStability in your province, please visit your respective provincial administration using the links above.

 

AgriInvest is delivered by the federal government in all provinces except Quebec. For more information about AgriInvest call Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada toll-free at 1-866-367-8506 or visit the AgriInvest website at   www.agr.gc.ca/agriinvest .

Reaching out to our Farm Community to Support Syrian Refugee Families

NSFA and LP Consulting have joined together to rally the Agricultural Community to come together  to help with the worst humanitarian crisis of our time and support Syrian Refugee families find a safe place to live and raise their families. Over 12 million Syrians have fled their homes and have died in their efforts to find a safe place for their families. We welcomed over 37,000 Hungarians in 1956, 60,000 Vietnamese in 1970's and many others seeking refuge from war torn countries over the past decades. We are again heeding the call to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada in the next couple of months. We as an Agricultural Community can join other NS Communities in generously helping to save these families.

Under the Private Sponsorship Refugee Program, it costs $25,000 to sponsor a family of 4 through Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS).  There is no commitment beyond the first year nor is there any requirement to provide resources such as placing the family, finding them housing, etc when making a monetary donation.    

LP Consulting has kindly started the program by contributing $10,000 towards this worthy cause. With this donation, plus donations from others in the agriculture community there is now $14,000 to put towards the $25,000 to sponsor a family.  The Federation staff will provide the administrative support to collect the donations and submit the funds to ISANS.   Please contact Maxine at the Federation office to make arrangements for your donations. Tax receipts can be provided upon request for those making contributions. To receive a tax receipt for the 2015 tax year, donations must be submitted by December 23, 2015, and to receive a tax receipt for the 2016 tax year, donations must be submitted by January 31, 2016.  Please joins us in this important cause.

We thank you for such an important contribution!

Holiday Party

Nova Scotia Federation of

Agriculture

cordially invites you to our

Holiday Party

which will be held on

Thursday, December 17th, 2015

from

3-5 p.m.

in the Annapolis Boardroom

Join us for lots of laughs, food and punch.

Please R.S.V.P. to Maxine at
[email protected]

Social Media Marketing for Agri-Businesses

 

This 40 hour program will help prepare members in the agriculture industry to effectively use social media to market their business and create community around them. Social media is not broadcasting outward; it is about creating a community that will support, refer and grow along a business.

 

This program will highlight the following: