The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA) is celebrating another successful Farmers’ Forum, which brought together producers, industry leaders, government representatives, and partners for two days of learning, networking, and meaningful policy discussion.
This year’s event saw an impressive turnout with over 180 farmers, government officials, and industry stakeholders coming together over the two days – reflecting the strong engagement and momentum within Nova Scotia’s agricultural community.
Day 1 featured a robust program, including presentations on the economic impact of agriculture, and updates on the Business Risk Management program review that is entering its final stages.
NSFA’s economic impact study shown that agriculture in Nova Scotia is a growing industry contributing $906 million a year to Nova Scotia’s economy and has opportunities to increase productivity through an emphasis on boosting local sales, increasing the amount of processing happening in Nova Scotia, and supporting farms to adopt critical technologies in digital and precision agriculture to increase their competitiveness. The Business Risk Management project used real farm financial data to demonstrate to farmers how Business Risk Management programs protect a farm during difficult years while also acknowledging areas where farmers have struggled to trust the programs. Business Risk Management programs continue to be critical to supporting farmers in the face of bad weather and turbulent markets.
Day 1 also involved insights from provincial government speakers. This included the announcement of the Program for Accessing Agricultural Land, from Minister Morrow on Thursday, December 4. NSFA has long advocated for land protections measures such as an agricultural land bank and PAAL appears to be made with this in mind.
Policy took centre stage on Day 2, as members gathered for in-depth discussion on resolutions and priority issues affecting farmers across the province. Farmers emphasized the importance of strong, member-driven policy in shaping the future of agriculture in Nova Scotia. The day concluded with elections for the NSFA Council, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to being a farmer-led organization that works to represent the diverse interest of Nova Scotia’s agriculture industry.
“Farmers’ Forum continues to be where our members come together to share their experiences, debate challenges, and set direction for the work ahead,” said Alicia King, President of the NSFA.
In addition to policy discussions, the Forum also showcased NSFA’s suite of programs designed to support farmers year-round. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with and hear directly from staff from Farm Safety Nova Scotia, Farm and Workforce Development, Environmental Farm Plan, Living Lab Nova Scotia and Meet Your Farmer. These programs continue to play a vital role in building a safer, stronger, and more resilient agricultural sector—whether through on-farm safety training, workforce development, on-farm research, environmental stewardship, or public outreach that strengthens the connection between consumers and producers.
NSFA extends its appreciation to all presenters, partners, sponsors, and members who contributed to the success of this year’s Forum. Planning is already underway for next year’s event, with the organization committed to ensuring that the voices of Nova Scotia’s farmers continue to guide its advocacy and priorities.