Monthly Update

December 2024

Important Upcoming Dates:


  • Jan. 23: CALP Webinar Series: Targeted Grazing
  • Feb. 5 & 6: Digital Harvest & Innovations in Agriculture


Scroll down to Upcoming Events for more information on any of the above events!

The Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia (SPANS) issues a monthly update to members the last Friday of each month. This is comprised of industry news and updates, upcoming events, upcoming sales, and relevant articles.


If you have content to potentially be added, please contact the SPANS office at (902) 893-7455 or coordinator@agricommodity.ca.

The SPANS office will be closed between December 20, 2024 and January 1, 2025, returning to regular operations January 2, 2025.

SPANS Website Tool Feature of the Month

Visit the Virtual Workshops page now!

Industry News

Nova Scotians who complete the survey are entered in the prize draw. This year the prize package includes a 2-night stay at the Farmhouse at Bar M Ranch. This family farm is nestled in the hills of New Ross, less than 20km from Chester. Farmers, David and Christina, raise Angus beef cattle, have free-range hens, and grow veggies, flowers and more. They farm their small farm with big passion and love sharing that passion with others!

 

Be sure to complete the survey before it ends on December 31, 2024 to be entered into the draw for a farm get-away package! 

CFIA Scrapie Surveillance Resources


Farmers and producers: have your sheep and goats tested for Scrapie, a fatal disease that affects their central nervous system. If an animal aged 12 months and older dies on your farm, contact the CFIA.

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 proudly 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

Northumberlamb



Northumberlamb offers custom processing. Get pricing details HERE!

Transportation Manifests



As a reminder, the SPANS Livestock Transportation Manifest books of 50 triplicate copies can be picked up from our office for a fee of $10.00.

Sheep Industry Conference - GOLD Sponsors

Upcoming Events

Marisa Schuebel is a goat farmer, mom, and instructor of the Animal Science Technology Program at Lakeland College in Alberta. She and her husband have a targeted grazing business with goats. Summer grazing with goats consists of moving a lot of electric net fence, interacting with public, and of course looking after goats, all with the goal of managing the land in an urban environment. Marisa is passionate about sharing her goat, sheep, and grazing experiences to inspire others in this innovative, yet historic way of managing livestock.

Register Here
Learn More Here

Sheep Industry Conference - BRONZE Sponsors

Sheep Producer Programs

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

Canada

An all-inclusive information portal is available to help farmers, food processors and agri-food businesses find information on new and existing programs and financial resources to address hardships that many are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Learn more at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website HERE.

Links of Interest

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