As part of NSFA’s Regulatory Standing Policy, NSFA is committed to informing farmers on regulations and other legislative impacts on their farm. At a recent Wildlife Committee meeting, committee members felt farmers would benefit from knowing more about their options regarding wildlife damage. This article is to provide general information on mitigating against wildlife damage, hunting options and the Wildlife Compensation Program.

Wildlife Mitigation

Certain species of wildlife can be a costly nuisance for farmers. Mitigating against wildlife damage is an investment that can help reduce costs associated with wildlife damage to crops, and in some cases infrastructure on your farm. Below is information on how farms can mitigate against damages suffered from wildlife species which regularly cause damage. The following information has been adapted from information provided by the Department of Lands and Forestry on nuisance wildlife.

White Tailed Deer

The Department of Lands and Forestry website explains tactics to help mitigate against deer damage. Examples that are most practical to farms include scare devices and fencing. When it comes to deer, remember “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s recommended to take preventative measures before deer get a taste and take a liking to a crop.

Scare devices
Variety is important when/if using scare devices for keeping deer out of crops. Deer can become used to regular, frequent or repetitive sounds – so mix it up. Other considerations for scare devices are the size of the field. For smaller field you may want to consider all-night radio stations or gas exploders. Remember to notify your local Lands and Forestry office and your neighbours out of courtesy and keep safety in mind.

Fencing
Keeping deer out of a field in the first place is important – trying to manage returning deer is more challenging than keeping new deer out. Even a single strand of electric fence will keep deer out, but more is better. A great example is the Gallagher deer fencing system – the three-strand system was tested and proved to keep out deer. There is a requirement for maintenance such as keeping an eye on the ground quality, keeping the fence clear of weeds and fixing downed wires are essential to the effectiveness of the fencing system. Depending on your farm, a fence 8 feet high might be practical. Pricing varies by acreage, so you’ll need to do a bit of homework to determine which is best for your crop depending the amount of risk you are willing to assume.

Black Bear

Black bears are attracted to fruit and sweet flavours which probably doesn’t come as a surprise to wild blueberry farmers and bee keepers. Advice to protect homeowners from unwanted visits from bears isn’t always practical for farms. However, the remedy still applies – keep them out. The information below will hopefully help as you mitigate against black bear damage.

Fencing
Fencing bears out of a location is possible. Electric fencing is the most effective. However, amperage must be considered. The most determined bear will get through an electric fence if the amperage isn’t high enough. Although not 100%, fencing remains the best option. Some – not all – bears will just roll through the fence to get beehive larvae. Similar to deer, it’s best to fence out the bear before they get a taste of the goodies!

Lure crops
Lure crops are hit or miss. Lure crops are intended to attract a bear away from the crop the farmer is planning to harvest. Scientific studies haven’t strongly demonstrated the benefits of lure crops, but some farmers swear by them.

Racoons

Like other nuisance species, keeping racoons out in the first place is easier than trying to remove them once they’ve arrived. Some preventative techniques include covering opening such as doors and windows with a wire mesh. Electric fences are effective and even more so when there is a ground wire 5cm above the ground and a live wire 15cm above that. Since racoons are nocturnals, the livewire can be turned off during the day. If you need to remove racoons, a sturdy live trap is necessary. An appropriate trap can be purchased at some hardware stores or you can build a barrel trap using a 200L barrel. Be careful when removing racoons – they carry many diseases and parasites which can be harmful to humans. And remember – it is illegal to drown racoons. The Trappers Association of Nova Scotia may be able to provide information and can be reached at info@trappersassociationofnovascotia.ca.

Detailed information on wildlife mitigation for the above species and others can be found in the nuisance wildlife section of Department of Lands and Forestry website or by contacting your local Lands and Forestry office.

Wildlife Removal

Depending on the specific circumstance, there are options available to support the removal of wildlife negatively impacting farm operations.

Usual Hunting Season

Nova Scotia, through regulation, has a hunting season for a vast majority of wildlife including many species that are nuisance to farms. Farmers not interested in hunting themselves may wish to work with a member of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, a licensed hunter or trapper to address removal of wildlife species during regular hunting or trapping season.

Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps

For issues outside of the “normal” hunting seasons, the Department of Lands and Forestry has a process where Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps may be available to remove white-tailed deer and/or black bears. These stamps are available from the first of September until the end of April. The gap between April and September exists to reduce the risk of orphaning non-weaned cubs and fawns. These licenses can be issued in high-pressure zones across the province and are for specified locations and species. The Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps are made available in addition to any above the seasonal allocation and wildlife stamps.

Under the Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps, tags can either be purchased for $7 and the hunter can keep the meat or the tag is issued for free and the meat is donated to Feed Nova Scotia. In the case the meat is donated, it is the responsibility of the farmer to field dress the carcass.

To be approved for Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps, a significant issue must be demonstrated, and mitigation tactics must be attempted. A Wildlife Biologist will visit the location to assess the issue and determine the quantity of stamps to be issued. Any supporting evidence such as pictures from trailcams and assessment of damages can be used to help support your application for these unique stamps.

For more information contact your local Lands and Forestry office. https://novascotia.ca/natr/staffdir/offices.asp

How do I contact hunters in my area?

Farmers interested in working with a hunter either following approval for Human Wildlife Conflict Stamps or during the usual hunting season can connect with Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters by contacting Mike Pollard at mikepollard@ns.sympatico.ca or at 902-830-4310.

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA) seeks proposals from consultants interested in redesigning the websites for: Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Environmental Farm Plan, Farm Safety Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Young Farmers; and the development of a website for the AgSector Program.

Proposals are to be submitted by July 17. The estimated project timeline is July – October.

Click here to view the RFP.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2020

YOUR FARMERS, YOUR NOVA SCOTIA – NEW CAMPAIGN CONNECTS NOVA SCOTIANS WITH FARMERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Truro, NS – Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA) has launched Your Farmers, Your Nova Scotia, a new initiative that works to build a stronger connection between farmers and the people living in their communities.

“Your Farmers, Your Nova Scotia, was created in an effort to connect Nova Scotians not only with the food on their plates, but how it got there and who produced it. We have seen the rise in the “buy local” movement and we hope that the momentum continues in the years ahead,” said Victor Oulton, President of NSFA. “This campaign will help connect your families to our farm families, one bite at a time.”

The campaign coincides with a refresh of NSFA’s Meet Your Farmer website, and will profile stories of farm families located from one end of the province to the other, share favourite Nova Scotia inspired recipes, and provide details on how to purchase products in order to support the local economy and contribute to efforts of sustaining our food supply.

“On our farm we believe in the importance of sharing where your food comes from, how it was produced and the people who helped grow it,” said Josh Oulton, of Taproot Farms. “We are very active on social media, we host various events on our farm and are big supporters of Open Farm Day. This is another way we can connect Nova Scotians with local food, local farmers and a #ScotianDiet.”

Nova Scotia farms are incredibly diverse in their offerings, producing over 100 different products with 24 per cent of farms selling direct to consumers. Some of the more popular products offered in the province are maple, strawberries and apples.

In addition to the campaign’s interactive components on the Meet Your Farmer website, a call for NS inspired recipes and other interactive activities will be shared on social media through the Meet Your Farmer Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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For Information:

Katherine Doyle

Communications Coordinator

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Phone: (902) 893-2293

kdoyle@nsfa-fane.ca

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. Things at the NSFA have not slowed down, as we continue to advocate on your behalf during these tough times. Our calls with Minister Colwell and Member of Parliament, Kody Blois continue on a weekly basis, where we continue to push for financial supports and other policy changes. We understand that it is frustrating to not see advancement on these supports, but please know that we are working hard to see these supports and programs put in place.

We are happy to see that Temporary Foreign Workers continue to arrive here in Nova Scotia, with more workers scheduled to land this week. Our first group of workers have officially “graduated” from isolation and are now ready to get to work.

I want to wish you all a great 2020 season, take care of yourselves. We will continue to provide you updates as they come available. I look forward to the day we can all meet face to face again.

Until next time,

Victor

Below you will find a general update related to COVID-19, broken down into various sections for ease of reading.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact NSFA staff. You can reach us by email or phone.

Email: info@nsfa-fane.ca
Phone: (902) 893-2293

Canadian Federation of Agriculture Press Conference

This afternoon Mary Robinson, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), hosted a virtual press conference to address the extraordinary challenges being faced by Canadian farmers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Robinson warned that without immediate assistance from the federal government, the Canadian agriculture sector cannot ensure our domestic food supply will remain secure for the immediate and long-term benefit of all Canadians.

To view a recording of today’s virtual press conference, click here.

Government of Nova Scotia’s Press Conference

Thank you to Premier McNeil for acknowledging the industry, we look forward to working with government through the various challenges facing the agriculture sector to ensure food security for Nova Scotians.

During his closing remarks at the end of today’s press conference, Premier Stephen McNeil highlighted two important topics: food security and temporary foreign workers. We have placed a portion of his message below, if you would like to watch the press conference click here. The Premier’s full closing remarks begin at 1:00:34.

“Once those 14 days (of self isolation) are up they will go to work on our farms, as they have every spring for many years. For many of these workers they have become part of our farming families. They play a very important role in the agricultural sector and it’s their hard work and the hard work of the men and women farming in our province who put food on our tables and help keep our economy moving. We are grateful our temporary foreign workers are here.”

TFW Employer Documents – Provincial Requirements

The provincial government has outlined its requirements for TFW employers in the Guidance for Temporary Foreign Workers Employed in the Agriculture and Seafood Sectors document. The provincial requirements for employers include all federal requirements plus additional requirements from the Province of Nova Scotia. We have also developed a webpage to provide you with all of the information and required documentation in one place.

As previously mentioned, there is a working group established between the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Perennia and Department of Agriculture. This group is here to support you through this and is not responsible for any enforcement or legislation. Please feel free to reach out to a member of the working group with any questions:

Carolyn Van Den Heuvel – cvandenheuvel@nsfa-fane.ca or (902)318-8977 (cell)
Kyla Pierik – kpierik@perennia.ca or (902)698-6873 (cell)
Rachael Cheverie – rachael.cheverie@novascotia.ca or (902)324-2178 (cell)

COVID-19 Financial Relief Measures Guide

NSFA has pulled together a guide on the financial relief measures that have been put in place by both Federal and Provincial governments. You can view this guide here, for more information pertaining to COVID-19, please visit our website. This document will continue to be updated as new measures are introduced.

COVID-19 Resources – Farm Safety

Farm Safety Nova Scotia now has resources in available in both English and Spanish to help manage the new working requirements. The resources range from a COVID-19 fact sheet, guidance for farmers to information graphics for workers on hand washsing, how to protect themselves, how to stop the spread, and procedures if workers are showing signs and symptoms of the illness.

This page continues to be updated as new materials are created.

Communication with Government

We continue to remain in contact with Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Keith Colwell and Member of Parliament, Kody Blois. Our calls now take place on a weekly basis. NSFA continues to advocate on behalf of our members to ensure there are measures in place to support farmers during these difficult times. Please reach out to the office if you have specific issues to be brought up through our advocacy initiatives.

TFW Working Group – Update

Dear members,

Things are changing a mile a minute these days and we are doing our very best to keep you informed of all aspects of COVID-19 and agriculture. I am going to break down today’s update into a few sections for clarity.

Business Implications
The province has developed an employer assessment tool for you to use so you can determine if your business can stay open and what protocols you must follow to comply with the current Public Health Orders. The link to the assessment can be found here.

Financial Implications
We know we are facing a lot of financial challenges at this time. We continue to advocate for better financial assistance for farmers; including improved BRM programs, interest forgiveness, no-penalty deferrals and access to funds to support cashflow.

Labour Implications
Everyone is aware of the challenges facing those with TFWs on-farm. There are workers ready to arrive and flight details are being finalized – but the last and biggest piece of the puzzle is to get proper isolation protocols in place for the first 14 days. The most recent update we have received through F.A.R.M.S. is that the earliest workers will potentially be arriving is April 14. As of today, there has been a working group established with the NSFA, Perennia and NSDA to coordinate the logistics of getting the isolation facilities, transportation and protocols in place. This group will be working with the many other key players who are essential to making this happen. The goal is to provide an off-farm isolation facility to mitigate risks of international travel to our farm businesses and we are still working out the specific details of how this will work. Carolyn Van Den Heuvel is our representative on this group – please feel free to reach out to her with your specific questions.

There are concerns related to requirements to pay wages during the 14-day isolation and what coverage is available should a worker become sick later in the season. We are seeking legal clarification on all aspects related to EI, contracts, etc.

There has been a new job board developed on the NSFA website along with an Employee Registration – if you have a job or know someone looking for work, go to our website and you will find the applications under “Resources”.

We are working with the Department of Labour and Advanced Education and the Department of Agriculture to determine what types of programs and initiatives can support the labour shortage in our industry. This extends beyond those challenges faced by TFWs but those with workers out sick, on quarantine or for childcare reasons. These conversations are ongoing and we will share information as available.

Farm Resources
Our staff are working on the development of resources for proper protocols and procedures to be implemented on-farm – these will be made available in the coming days. If you have questions related to protocols, please reach out to our staff and they will be happy to help you.

Public Relations
Our staff are working on an awareness campaign related to food security along with the importance of TFWs to our supply chain. This campaign will be focused on Nova Scotian farmers assuring their families, friends and community members that their food is safe, their supply is reliable, and their operations can be trusted.

I know that is a lot of information to process but we wanted to make sure that you all know the work that is going on behind the scenes. We are here for you and doing our very best in trying to support you through these times. Now, more than ever, we need to be clear that we are in this together as an industry. We will come out the other side, but only if we work together and communicate openly.

Thank you all for your patience and for the work you do in ensuring food security in Nova Scotia each and every day.

Victor Oulton

Dear members,

As you may have heard, the federal government’s guidelines related to temporary foreign workers is now available, you can find them here. These guidelines state that all TFWs will be required to quarantine on their arrival, there are no exemptions for this. The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture is working on the logistics of supporting the quarantine period as we speak. Keep in mind, workers are unable to work during this 14-day quarantine period.

In an effort to help lessen the labour gap that Nova Scotia farms will experience this year especially, NSFA and the Agriculture Sector Program have launched three new pieces on the NSFA website.

First, is a page for our members to post job availability on their operations. All you have to do is answer all the necessary questions and a job description will be formulated. After being reviewed by NSFA staff, it will be posted on the newly developed job board on the NSFA website.

The second piece as mentioned above, is our new job board. This board will house all of the incoming job postings for farms and agricultural related businesses.

The third piece is an employee registration, where potential employees can fill out a registration form highlighting their skills and location. Jobs in their area will then be emailed to them.

Once we begin to receive job postings, we will start promoting this to Nova Scotians.

We are currently working with the Department of Labour and Advanced Education and the Department of Agriculture to identify programs and other initiatives that we need to support the labour gap in our province.

We continue to push for stronger financial program support for farmers. Our farmers don’t need more debt or only payment deferrals. We need interest forgiveness and no penalty deferrals, as our farmers should not be faced with the entire financial burden.

In addition, we have also requested that spring weight restrictions be lifted for agriculture related travel.

Our calls with Minister Colwell and MP Kody Blois continue, and I will keep bringing you new information as often as I can. As always, if you have any questions or concerns our NSFA staff are more than willing to help! You can reach them via email or by calling the office 902-893-2293.

Until next time,

Victor Oulton
President
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Dear Members,

Today we had our regular call with Minister Colwell and MP Kody Blois, we had lots of great discussions. We continue to emphasize the need for support for our farmers so that we aren’t bearing all of the risk in ensuring food security for Nova Scotians.

As you probably saw, food and agri-food have been deemed essential service in Nova Scotia, this includes farms and processors. This means that we are exempt from the 5-person rule and the social distancing requirements on the farm and in processing facilities. We do still need to make sure that we are taking every precaution to protect ourselves and our workers so we recommend following the public health protocols as closely as you can, while still being able to work efficiently. We have been receiving lots of questions about the definition of agri-food and have requested clarity – keep you posted!

You may have also heard that the travel restrictions related to Temporary Foreign Workers have been lifted and our provincial government is working on the logistics needed in Nova Scotia for the 14-day isolation period. We will let you know when we know more.

The Farm Loan Board and FCC are available to support farmers through some of these financial challenges and we encourage you to reach out directly to them to find out how they can help. We continue to advocate for strong BRM programs to support our farmers through this.

As of next week, we will be decreasing the number of COVID-19 Update emails we send out in the run of the week. We will provide updates when there is new information that is important to the agriculture industry or if there are new developments. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at any time for questions.

Our goal with these updates has always been to keep our members informed, up to date, and hopefully provide some comfort during such difficult times.

I wish you well,

Victor Oulton
President
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Dear Members,

I come to you with more updates related to COVID-19.

In Nova Scotia, food and agri-food businesses are considered an essential service. This means that agri-food businesses are able to stay open and are exempt from the five-person rule. We must do everything we can to ensure we as an industry, and on our own operations, are meeting the protocols set out by public health. These are necessary actions to safeguard the health of our families, our workers and the community.

For full details relating to the designation of food and agri-food businesses as an essential service, please consult the order issued by Dr. Strang. You can view this order by clicking here.

While we have been informed that temporary foreign workers will be able to come into Canada, we are still awaiting the details on the timeline and the protocols that will be in place. We are hoping to provide you with an update soon. Please know that CFA is working hard to ensure the protocols put in place by the federal government will be attainable by farming operations across the country.

We recognize that our farms will be facing delayed labour and labour shortages this season. NSFA is advocating for programs to be in place to support and supplement the labour force that will be impacted this year.

We are aware of the financial strain that this pandemic is having on our farms and the amount of risk our members are taking in order to prepare for the season. Please know that we are doing everything we can to advocate to ensure that the financial programs that will be made available to farmers are not just extra debt – we don’t want to see farmers carrying the full burden of this. Whether it be interest free deferrals, funding grants, etc.

Today we had our regular call with Minister Colwell and MP Kody Blois, I would like to personally thank them for the hard work they are putting in to support the agriculture industry through these tough times.

I would also like to thank our Federation staff, they have been working around the clock to keep us all up to date and informed on their actions, and announcements that impact us.

The agriculture industry is a tight knit group, we are all facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19. It’s important that we all come together and stand together as one industry now and always. Check in on your neighbours, your friends, your family, and yourself. We are all in this together.

Until tomorrow,

Victor Oulton
President
Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture