Monthly Update

August 2024

Perennia Resources:

Prepare for the Unexpected: A Resource on Emergency Response for Food Producers, Processors, Packers, or Storage Facilities

Power outages, major floods, boil orders, fires -- did you know that, for food or beverage facilities, some of these incidents can affect your ability to be certified and/or may need to be addressed with a corrective action report including a detailed root cause analysis?

In the below document, you can find guidance and resources on addressing emergencies and developing a Crisis Management Plan for food or beverage processors, producers, packers and storage facilities.

Pasture Manual

Pastureland is an integral part of Atlantic Canadian agriculture, using the land for both animal grazing and harvesting forages. Well-managed pastures can improve soil health and biodiversity on-farm. However, many pastures in Atlantic Canada do not realize their full production potential. This manual aims to guide Atlantic Canadian producers on beneficial management practices for pasture management to improve production and environmental sustainability.

Most pastures in Atlantic Canada are not intensively managed. Stocking rates of one cow-calf pair per 3 to 4 acres is common. The potential for increased animal productivity through improved pasture management in Atlantic Canada is huge. On-farm studies have shown that when native pastures are well managed and intensively grazed, stocking rates of 1.0 acre per cow-calf pair or 4-5 ewes per acre are achievable. Farms practicing such intensive management grazing have reported producing over 600 lb of beef per acre and over 200 lb of lamb per acre: three times the productivity expected under a more traditional continuous grazing system.

This project aimed to produce a comprehensive but practical pasture management manual for the Atlantic provinces. The information and recommendations in the manual have been shown to be effective tools in this region for improving animal and pasture productivity. The manual is written from the perspective that animal productivity will improve as a result of improved pasture productivity and health. The manual covers a range of information, including grazing management systems, pasture fertility, fencing, drought management, riparian management and methods for extending the grazing season.

Climate Adaptation Leadership Program (CALP) Lime Subsidy

The Climate Adaptation Leadership Program (CALP) have developed a new Lime Subsidy Program for Nova Scotia Cattle and Sheep Producers in good standing.

Cattle and sheep producers are eligible for $15/ton of lime purchases for pre-approval (to a max. of 150 tonnes).

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2024. Claims will be accepted until December 31, 2024 but can be submitted anytime after approval is received.

Climate Adaptation Leadership Program: Farm Highlight Opportunity

How have you adapted to our changing climate?

Big or small, we want to hear about the innovative practises you’ve been implementing.

Apply to have your farm highlighted by the Climate Adaptation Leadership Program team!

Approved producers could receive compensation up to $1,000!

If interested in being featured, please send an email of interest to novascotiasheep@gmail.com, including a brief highlight of the issues you faced due to climate change, and how you overcame them!

Carcass Ultrasound Services



The Nova Scotia Cattle Producers (NSCP) are proud to offer live animal ultrasound technology services for cattle and sheep in the Maritimes. The NSCP obtained the imaging technology equipment and certified two technicians, Jacy McInnis and Ellen Davis, and are proud to offer the first permanent technicians this side of Quebec!

By having ultrasound services readily available to producers, the hope is that overall carcass traits and expected progeny differences (EPD’s) within the region will be increased. This service will aid in future breeding practices, as results will illustrate the appropriateness of breeding stock, indicating which heritable traits, such as those within feed efficiency and carcass measures, should be improved for optimal production.



For more information click HERE

Perennia: Pasture Walk Series

Come out for an insider look into local farm operations and community pastures throughout the province. Beef, sheep, poultry, hog producers and agronomists are encouraged to join! Are you interested in learning more about rotational grazing and improving pasture quality for your grazing livestock? The pasture walk extension topics will include soil health, rotational grazing, early season management, water management, multispecies grazing and more.

Visit the below link to register, as well as for the full detailed pasture walk schedule of dates, locations and topics!

Nova Scotia Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) invites you to a promotional launch of the Nova Scotia Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT). This is a provincial segment of a national effort by the CFGA to develop province-specific HBATs for Canadian agriculture coast to coast. Special thanks to Environmental and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for providing funding for this project, which is currently in year six of a six-year project.

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

1:00 - 3:00 pm Atlantic

Meeting Registration - Zoom

About HBAT

This online tool enables interested agricultural producers to integrate the needs of multiple native species in the management of their land. The Nova Scotia tool contains data to specifically target provincial species and best management practices relevant to the province and regions. Its goal is to help producers identify habitats present on their farms worth a closer look for conservation to support enhanced biodiversity on their operations. It will also provide guidance on best management practices relevant to the habitats they may be stewarding.

Atlantic Fall Sheep Sale

The Annual Fall Sheep Sale is occurring at the 4-H barn on September 14th. 

More information is available on the Purebred Sheep Breeders Association of Nova Scotia website.

OFCAF Field Day

The Perennia extension team is looking forward to sharing information on the BMPs under OFCAF. This field day includes educational talks and on-site demonstrations of cover crops species and management, as well as soil health and forage quality. Lunch will be provided.

Register here!

For a complete listing of all programs, please visit www.novascotia.ca/programs for more information. Some you may find of interest include: