Monthly Update

February 2024

2024 Summer Evaluation Program

The Maritime Beef Testing Society is gathering intents of interest for an upcoming 2024 Summer Evaluation Program, being offered for rams, ewes and heifers.

If interested, please ensure you email maritimebeef@eastlink.ca with your intent prior to February 29^th.

Please contact Kara Chisholm with questions at 902-957-2699.

The 2024 Summer Evaluation Program Intent can be found here!

Livestock Price Insurance

2023 Season Response Program

This new Nova Scotia Program just opened February 21st, and helps farmers recover from crop production and financial losses due to extreme weather conditions experienced in the 2023 production season.

Additional information is available here.

Upcoming Local Bull Sales

• March 16: Balamore Farm Ltd. 12th Annual Balamore Farm Thickness Sells Bull Sale
• March 17: Windy Knoll Farm: The Boys of Windy Knoll Online Sale 
• April 6: Maritime Beef Testing Society 51st Annual Breeding Stock Sale

Please email coordinator@agricommodity.ca if you have any bull sales to add to the list!

Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest

Over the past year, Canada Beef has been building the capacity to enable Canadian consumers to scan existing bar codes on beef packages with a smartphone using the Canadian Beef Information Gateway (Gateway). The Gateway currently supports barcodes from more than 30 retailers who represent most of the beef sold in Canadian grocery stores. Scanning barcodes will provide dedicated information about a specific product, including recipes, videos, cooking tips and more.

To introduce consumers to this new scanning capability, Canada Beef launched its Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest. This national contest will be supported by a multi-layered promotional campaign which includes signage in the meat department at retail locations across the country. The campaign encourages consumers to scan a QR code to enter the Gateway website and gain a contest entry for a chance to win one of 30 prize packages. Additional entries can also be earned.

The Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest is open to individuals who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. The campaign runs from January 25 until March 10, 2024. 

The ability to scan the existing barcode on beef packages represents a convenient solution for both retailers and Canadian consumers. The Cooking with Canadian Beef Contest is dedicated to creating awareness of the Gateway and to support our ability to educate consumers in the years ahead.

For more information, or to enter the contest, click here!

Minudie Community Pasture - Call for Interest

Burger it Forward

For a second year in a row, the NSCP have partnered with Canada Beef and Irving Big Stops to raise funds for local food banks with the Burger It Forward campaign. For every Burger It Forward burger purchase from February 1-29, Canada Beef will contribute to Food Banks Canada, up to a maximum of $10,000. 

Irving Big Stops are dedicating 5% of the sales generated by These Chairs Care tables to Feed Nova Scotia, with Irving Corporate matching these contributions raised. 

In addition, the Nova Scotia Cattle Producers are donating $4,000 worth of ground beef to Feed Nova Scotia, with Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia donating $1 per milkshake added to a burger meal, up to a maximum of $5,000, to Feed Nova Scotia. 

Check out www.burgeritforward.ca for more details, and enjoy a Canadian Beef burger in support of a good cause!

Canadian Cattle Young Leaders

Take advantage of mentorship and skill building opportunities in the Canadian beef industry through the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program! Applications are now open for the 2024-25 program year!

Click here to learn more and apply today! Application deadline: March 31, 2024.

Nova Scotia Climate Change Adaptation Survey

As a part of the Climate Change Adaptation work being done within the cattle and sheep sectors in the province, the Nova Scotia Climate Change Adaptation Survey has been created.

The cattle and sheep sectors have been making strides to adapt to changing weather patterns and climate. When you share your experience and insights about your practices and challenges, you're not just helping with a Climate Change Adaptation Plan; you're opening the door to potential support and funding that fits your needs.

Your time spent on this survey isn't just a contribution; it's a proactive move that puts you at the forefront of making your farm stronger. The stronger our sector, the better our sector can withstand market volatility and potential regulatory changes. 

Beef Cattle Research Council: 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is asking all Canadian cow-calf producers to share insight into their on-farm management and production practices, which will help inform future beef research and extension strategies. 

The 2023 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey is an online questionnaire set up to collect data to help understand longer-term trends in production methods and efficiencies. Collecting credible information directly from beef cattle producers helps the BCRC identify research priorities and information gaps, develop provincial benchmarks and examine changes over time that impact farms and ranches.  

Forage U-Pick

AgriStability Enrolment Deadline

The AgriStability enrolment deadline is April 30, 2024. More information on AgriStability can be found here.

Current Opportunities: Nova Scotia



Check out the list of current opportunities available online HERE!

CFGA Winter Webinar Series

This winter, the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association is hosting a series of webinars to help extension professionals working with producers. Running from January 24 - March 20, each session will have a 20–30 minute presentation with 15+ minutes for questions and discussion. Starting with the program design and the communications cycle, we then highlight speakers from national and provincial programs taking place across Canada. Each speaker will share their communications process, strategies, and learnings on promoting best management practice adoption in the agricultural sector.

Click Here to Register

• Feb. 7 – Mar. 20: Program highlights and learnings, featuring speakers from Ontario, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and more to come!

Time: 1-2 PM EST/ 2-3 PM AST

Netherlands & Germany Recruitment Webinar

Are you interested in exploring international markets for employees and entrepreneurs to support your farm’s labour and succession needs?

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration are launching a recruitment mission to Germany and the Netherlands April 3-11 and would like to include up to 4 employers as part of the mission. Demand is high for workers in the sector and Nova Scotia’s provincial immigration programs are a solution for permanent full-time labour needs. 

An information session will be held virtually on February 26th at 1:00pm for those wishing to learn more about this April’s 2024 Mission.

Register for the upcoming webinar or learn more here!

2024 NSCP Annual Meeting (Salmon River, NS)

March 2, 2024

Celebrating Women in Agriculture: Wellness, Safety and Leadership

March 8

Register here!

Seeds of Strength: An International Women's Day Gathering (Masstown)

March 8

Join Farm Safety Nova Scotia at The Peg for a day filled with peer-to-peer discussion and nurturing both personal well-being and professional growth. Lunch and refreshments provided.

Register today and be part of this important conversation, nurturing a brighter future for women in agriculture.

Seeding Success: Farm Business Practices Assessment Workshop

March 21: Best Western Truro - Glengarry

Click here for more information or to register!

Dairy-Beef Nursery School - Atlantic Beef School (Charlottetown, PE)

March 21

NSCP Programs:

• Nova Scotia Genetic Improvement Program

Funding towards sire purchases, genomic testing and carcass ultrasound.

Open now for 2024!

• Nova Scotia Soil, Pasture and Forage Management Program

Funding towards the purchase of lime, and/or soil, manure or feed analysis.

Open now for 2024!

For a complete listing of all Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture programs, please visit www.novascotia.ca/programs.

Atlantic Stockyards Limited

Producers are encouraged to pre-register all feeder cattle as early as possible.

Atlantic Stockyards Limited (ASL) will be listing pre-registered cattle on their website.

Click Here to visit their website!