Table of Contents Printed Acrobat Reader Page #’s Page # Main Newsletter (for all regions) New Animal Protection Legislation Introduced 1 2 Minister Signs Five-Year Agriculture Agreement 1 2 NS Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission 2 3 – Production Insurance – Nova Scotia Wildlife Compensation Program - a first in Atlantic Canada – Client Obligations / Responsibilities Contratulations to Jill Rogers 2 3 Programs and Business Risk Management Division 3 4 – AgriInvest and AgriStability Information – Programs Update – Orchard and Vineyard Transition Program (OVTP) Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) 4 5 Dr. Rob Gordon appointed Dean of OAC at University of Guelph 4 5 Mineral and Trace Element Status of Grass and Legume Silage in Nova Scotia 5 6 Grazing Mentorship Project for Maritime Producers 5 6 Agricultural Awareness Activities 6 7 Select Nova Scotia - Incredible Picnic 6 7 Rural Energy Action Conference and Trade Show (REACT 2008) 7 8 Upcoming NSAC Courses through Continuing & Distance Education 7 8 4-H News 9 10 – Windsor to Host 31st Annual Nova Scotia 4-H Show – 4-H Members to Compete in Young Speakers For Agriculture Competition Employment Opportunity: Farm Safety Consultant 10 11 More Energy Beet Field Days 10 11 Custom Newsletter Pages (for individual regions) West Hants, Kings, Lunenburg and Queens counties 11 12 Colchester, Cumberland, East Hants, and Halifax Regional Municipality 11 13 Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness and Richmond counties 11-14 14-17 Pictou, Antigonish, Inverness and Guysborough counties - - Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne counties - - August 2008 Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Volume 9 No. 3 New Animal Protection Legislation Introduced The province introduced legislation investigations, enhancing its appeals of animal seizures and on May 27, that will improve the accountability.” investigation issues,” said Mr. protection of animals in Nova Scotia. Taylor. “This is an opportunity for The new animal protection act will individuals to have the seizure of an An Act to Protect Animals and to Aid allow the minister to revoke the animal reviewed by an independent Animals That Are in Distress will SPCA’s ability to enforce the act and board in a timely manner.” replace the Animal Cruelty designate another entity to fulfill that Prevention Act. role if the SPCA fails to perform the Other changes include requirements duties set out in the legislation. that annual meetings of the SPCA “A number of changes and must be open to the public and improvements have been made to the “We are also establishing an Animal veterinarians must report animal act to ensure the welfare of animals Cruelty Appeal Board to hear neglect or abuse to the SPCA. in the province,” said Brooke Taylor, Minister of Agriculture. "The Department of Agriculture will look after all agriculture-related cruelty Minister Signs Five-Year Agriculture complaints while the SPCA will handle complaints concerning Agreement domestic animals.” Nova Scotia farmers will continue to agricultural sector and involved them The Department of Agriculture and have programs to help them adapt to in discussions leading up to the the SPCA will each have a head changing consumer markets, signing of this agreement. inspector to oversee inspectors enhance food safety systems, support throughout the province. All environmental actions and prevent “Growing Forward is good for Nova inspectors will meet criteria disease and track food to its original Scotia farmers because it provides established in the act, as well as source. program flexibility to meet local qualifications and standards to be needs.” appointed a special constable by the Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor, Department of Justice. with his Canadian counterparts, Nova Scotia will work with the signed a $1.3-billion agreement on federal government to determine the “The SPCA remains an independent July 11, during the annual ministers program details and implement them society and will have the authority to conference in Quebec City. by April 1, 2009. The agreement is do its work under the act as it relates cost-shared 60-40 by the federal and to non-farm animals,” said Mr. The Growing Forward agreement provincial governments. Taylor. “The society will report to will fund current programs and help the department annually on its develop new approaches for Nova The agreement also includes Scotia's agricultural industry. agriculture business risk- management programs. “Growing Forward provides many benefits right across the value chain, from farm gate to fork,” said Mr. Taylor. "We have consulted with the Back issues of this newsletter are available on-line at http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/rs/fs/arcs/ 1 Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission Congratulations to Production Insurance Jill Rogers! Application Deadlines planting is September 30 in Jill Rogers, NSAC’s Manager of Winter Grain - August 31 Annapolis, Kings and Hants West Research and Graduate Studies, Forage Establishment - October 15 counties and September 20 for all has accepted a new position with Raspberries - October 31 other areas. Agriculture Services in the Strawberries - November 14 Department of Agriculture as the Blueberries - November 14 The deadline to apply for Forage senior planning and development Tree Fruit - November 30 Establishment is October 31. Fields officer. of legumes and legume-grass mixes The application deadline is fast seeded by July 1, as well as grass In her new role, Jill will approaching for Winter Grain – seeded by September 1, are eligible coordinate matters related to August 31! The deadline for for coverage. federal-provincial agreements and their amendments, with emphasis on the new Growing Forward agreement. She will also have responsibility for research, analysis and reporting Nova Scotia Wildlife Compensation Program of programs, implementation of legislative documents and – a first in Atlantic Canada general business planning and accountability across the Branch. On May 8, 2008 a new program that The Nova Scotia Crop and Livestock provides Nova Scotia farmers with Insurance Commission is compensation for damage to crops administering the program, which is and livestock was announced by cost shared by the federal and Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor. provincial governments under the The program provides assistance to Agricultural Policy Framework. farmers who experience damage to More information on specific crops eligible agricultural products as a and livestock currently covered result of the activities of wildlife. under the program and application Examples of eligible products forms are available on the include beehives, plants, trees and Commission’s website at vines grown as commercial crops, www.gov.ns.ca/agri/ci or by calling and livestock such as cattle, sheep 1-800-565-6371. Information can and goats raised for agricultural also be obtained through regional purposes. Fowl are excluded. agriculture offices. Client Obligations / Responsibilities Crop insurance clients are reminded • If applying for a claim you must • Dairy producers are reminded that to: submit a proof of loss form within claims for the loss of an animal 30 days of harvest. must be made within 48 hours of • Report damage as soon as it the loss on the forms provided. occurs and within five days of any • Cancellation deadlines for loss or damage. If damage is not insurance contracts are September For further information on any of our noted until harvest you must 15 for strawberry and winter insurance plans, please call Kentville provide a notice of damage within grain, November 14 for tree (902) 679-6028/6015 or Truro ( 902) five days of harvest. insurance, November 30 for tree 893-6370 or 1-800-565-6371. fruit, and December 15 for • Report accurate yield information blueberries. within 30 days of harvesting an insured crop. 2 Programs and Business Risk Management Division AgriInvest and believe you should have, contact the AgriInvest and AgriStability deadline federal administration by calling 1- AgriStability Information 866-367-8506. reminder for 2007 sessions: September 30, 2008 is the deadline AgriStability 2009 If you would like to learn more to submit AgriInvest and/or Enrolment about the AgriInvest and AgriStability application(s) for the AgriStability programs or need help 2007 program year. Forms and Producers who did not participate in filing your forms please attend an guides are available from the Canada 2008 AgriStability or are new to information session near you. Revenue Agency or on the farming must request a New AgriStability and AgriInvest web Participant package before April 30, If you are interested in meeting one sites at www.agr.gc.ca/AgriStability 2009. To request an Agristability on one, staff will be available prior or www.agr.gc.ca/AgriInvest. new participants package or for more to the scheduled meeting in your information, visit the AgriStability area. To make an appointment phone If you miss the September 30 filing website at Steven Tattrie at the Programs and deadline, you can still submit the www.agr.gc.ca/agristability or call Business Risk Management office form until December 31, 2008, but a AgriStability toll free at 1-866-367- (902-893-6374 or 1-866-844-4276). penalty for late filing will be 8506. applied. For AgriInvest the allowable net sales used to calculate your matchable deposit will be reduced Presentations Schedule: by five per cent for each month (or Date Location Time each part of the month) your form is submitted late. For AgriStability September 2 Truro Best Western