Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2024!
On behalf of the OFCAF team at Perennia. We truly hope you were able to enjoy the holiday season!
These last few weeks, while catching up on Ag news from across the country, it is pretty easy to see the trend of what most Ag journalist, economist, and industry folk are writing about. As we attempt to summarize the year, most first paragraphs begin with “This last year has been extremely challenging …”. It is an understatement, but also, it can be difficult to find the words to describe the hardships farmers and their families have gone through. This week specifically, it was hard to ignore the endless articles stating that 2023 was the hottest year on record. Check out The Conversations article: 2023 was the hottest year in history — and Canada is warming faster than anywhere else on earth (theconversation.com). Nova Scotia farmers not only saw record temperatures, but they also faced cold snaps, extreme dryness, record rainfalls, and high winds along with their everyday stresses. I write this not to remind everyone of the devastations but to acknowledge what farmers have undergone this past year and the resilience that continues to amaze me.
Yesterday at the first ever NS Young Farmers Summit, it was incredible to witness young farmers from across the province taking time to get together. There were many topics covered including mental health, succession and transitioning, trust, marketing, and the words resilience. What stood out to me was something very simple yet so encouraging. During the farmer panel, three generational farmers, there was laughter. True laughter. And they were making the audience laugh. And although they were talking about difficult conversations, and challenges on farm, there were laughs being shared. The definition of resilience was mentioned early on in the day and how we talk about it from mental health to soils. It’s quite fitting how much it is used to describe this industry. Yesterday’s laughter was a testament to the continued resilience in our province’s agriculture community.
Here is to a great 2024! I am optimistic in our weather and continued support for one another as we move into this next year.
I also just want to say, please do not hesitate to reach out to ask any questions OFCAF related or to just say Hi. I am still just learning about Perennia, OFCAF, your farms, and your practices. I may not have many answers on the fly, but I know how to find them! Anytime you ask questions, it provides me with an opportunity to learn and serve everyone better in the future.
To get the year started we have some really exciting OFCAF events! Please take a look and register! We would love to see you out!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Cover Crop and Split Application – Ask Us Anything ! Protected Crop Edition – February 6th, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Register here: Cover Crops and Split Nutrient Application – Ask Us Anything! Protected Ag Edition – Perennia
Soil Health Day Featuring Rotational Grazing expert Steve Kenyon along with Paul Manning PhD speaking on dung beetles in your system and our soil specialist Caitlin McCavour – February 9th , 2024, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm. Register here: Soil Health Day Featuring Rotational Grazing expert Steve Kenyon – Perennia
“Let’s Talk Nitrogen Managment” with Wheat Pete Johnson – February 12th, 2024. Register here:Let’s Talk Nitrogen Management with Peter Johnson – “Wheat Pete” – Perennia
Truro Perennia office – 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Kentville Fire Hall – 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Hope to see lots of people out!
Kindest regards,