Monthly Update

June 2024

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.

"Good standing" indicates you are either:

• a 2024 Nova Scotia Cattle Grower License holder (meaning 2023 & 2022 levies have been reported and paid), OR
• a SPANS current member (meaning tags were purchased from Nova Scotia supplier within the last three years).

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

Application Process:

• Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2024
• Approvals will be issued as applications are received until the maximum funding has been allocated.
• Claims will be accepted until December 31, 2024 but can be submitted anytime after approval is received.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be either a 2024 Nova Scotia Cattle Grower License holder OR a SPANS current member
• Complete and return application
• Provide copies of soil analysis or Nutrient Management Plan as part of the application

A Soil Analysis or Nutrient Management Plan, within the last three years, supporting the requirement for limestone must also be supplied (soil analysis must include Premises Identification (PID) number or civic address for each sample.)

**Nova Scotia Cattle Producers are offering an additional $5/ton to eligible producers through the the 2024 Nova Scotia Soil, Pasture & Forage Management Program Application.

NSCP Program Deadline Approaching

The NS Genetic Improvement Program and NS Soil, Pasture & Forage Management Program Application deadlines are June 30th!

The next deadlines for these programs are:

• November 30, 2024: NS Soil, Pasture & Forage Management Program
• February 15, 2025: NS Genetic Improvement Program

Program applications can be found here.

Climate Adaptation Leadership Program: Farm Highlight Opportunity

Are you using environmental practices on your farm?

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 office@nscattle.ca, including a brief highlight of the environmental practice being used on your farm. 

Open Farm Day

Registration is Open for Open Farm Day!

On Sunday, September 15th Atlantic Open Farm Day will be celebrated across all 4 Atlantic Provinces, and registration is open until July 31st for Nova Scotia farms! Farms can participate online and in person again this year.

Welcoming members of the public to your farm is a great way to give people a sneak peek at what farm life is like, gain new customers, and make connections in your community.

Even if you aren’t able to welcome people in person, or September isn’t your most exciting month on the farm, you can still participate. Virtual participants can go live on social media on Open Farm Day or submit pre-recorded videos (no need for professional skills here!). Virtual participation is a great way to showcase your farm when it’s at its best and to build your following online.

To be eligible to participate it is required that:

• Your farm registration is current, you have adequate insurance coverage, and you are a member of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.
• An in-person event provides an educational experience to the public and follows all current public health guidelines and/or a virtual visit on your farm provides an educational experience to the public.
• You do not charge admission to visit your farm on Open Farm Day (paid activities are allowed)

If you’re new to Open Farm Day, want to learn more, or want to chat about what an Open Farm Day might look like for you/your farm, contact April at 902-893-2293 or amaclean@nsfa-fane.ca. 

Cover Crop Selection Tool

Perennia Food and Agriculture has launched a NEW Cover Crop Selection Tool! This tool was designed to help producers make agronomic decisions on cover crops for their rotations or grazing plans based on region, field and condition goals. 

Cover crops nourish our soil and subsequent cash crops while providing benefits, including erosion control, reduced compaction and increased resilience in drought. We continue to learn more about cover crops and their unique traits, but with the many agronomic variables, it can take time to sort out the possibilities. 

This new online tool will help you learn about cover crops that are suitable for your region and provide detailed information on planting, termination, traits, advantages and disadvantages for different species.

Sign up for a free account to access this new tool and help make your cover crop selection process even easier!

Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency Scholarship

The Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency Scholarship application is now open for students attending post secondary in the fall.  

The scholarship is open not only to beef producers and those directly involved with their families, but it is open to students who can see unique ways to make an impact through marketing, research, public engagement, and other areas where check-off dollars are invested to generate value for the beef industry in Canada.

CLICK HERE to visit the scholarship webpage!

Deadline = June 30th, 2024.

VBP+ Calving Book/Pocket Book

Are you in need of calving books? Verified Beef Production Plus is offering cattle producers calving books/pocket books for FREE by completing this order form.

Forage U-Pick

Current Opportunities: Nova Scotia



Check out the list of current opportunities available online 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!

NSCP Programs:

• Nova Scotia Genetic Improvement Program

Funding towards sire purchases, genomic testing and carcass ultrasound.

Application deadline: June 30, 2024 & February 15, 2025

• Nova Scotia Soil, Pasture and Forage Management Program

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

Application deadline: June 30, 2024 & November 30, 2024

Nova Scotia SCAP Programs:

Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Program

Application Deadline: June 30, 2024

This program supports the Agricultural sector in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and helps primary producers accelerate the adoption of priority beneficial management practices. 

Limestone Trucking Assistance Program

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

This program aims to help Nova Scotia farms defray the cost of trucking limestone to give equal opportunity in neutralizing the soil's acidity on agricultural land and improve production efficiencies.

On-Farm Electrical Preparedness Program

Application Deadline: July 31, 2024

This program helps farms buy a backup generator and battery storage to support business continuity and preparedness for adverse weather.

Planning New Opportunities Program

Application Deadline: September 30, 2024

This program helps farms and agri-businesses be more competitive, manage transition, develop risk management strategies and respond to change.

Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program

Application Deadline: June 30, 2024

This program helps improve the environmental resiliency of agricultural landscapes by accelerating the adoption of on-farm land use and management practices that maximize benefits for the environment and society.

Value-Adding Equipment Program

Application Deadline: June 30, 2024

This program helps increase local food production, and improve food security and sustainability for farms and communities.

Wildlife Damage Mitigation Program

Application Deadline: August 31, 2024

This program helps farms protect crops and livestock from wildlife damage to improve industry competitiveness and resilience. 

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!