Nova Scotia provides more support to programs aimed at beefing up farm production

The Agriculture Department is working with the province’s 380 licensed beef farmers to produce more local beef for Nova Scotians.

“Nova Scotia is in a great position to be competitive in the beef market,” Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow said in a news release that accompanied a 3 p.m. announcement at the department’s regional office at the Nappan Research Farm on Highway 302 in Nappan, near Amherst.

“Consumers want high-quality local products, and our producers are ready to meet that need by innovating and increasing the number of cattle raised here at home,” Morrow said. “That’s why we’re investing in new programs and projects to help beef farmers.”

Nova Scotia beef farmers generated $33.5 million in income in the first nine months of 2023 but the province announced Thursday that it is working with beef producers on new projects and programs to increase production in Nova Scotia and help the industry stay competitive, connected and consumer focused.

The department is collaborating with other departments and industry, academic and marketing partners on the Nova Scotia beef initiative, which includes:

• more investment in the Nova Scotia Cattle Producers’ Elite Sire Program, which encourages registered beef producers to stay competitive by purchasing high-quality sires
• an updated Perennia Forage Production Guide with information about optimal diet and cost of production to raise more cattle locally
• addressing training needs of Nova Scotia meat processors
• support for cattle producers to adopt new management practices and farm innovations that will prepare the industry for climate change
• provincial marketing to drive consumer awareness of the value of consuming healthy local beef along with other Nova Scotia products; and 
• a new feedlot pilot program to encourage producers to grow their cattle in Nova Scotia instead of shipping out of province.

Not far down the road from the research farm is Bacon Farms Ltd. in Upper Nappan, a mixed dairy and beef operation run by Doug Bacon and his family.

“It’s a good thing,” Bacon said of the beef initiative announcement.  

“It’s a program in the works is the way I’d like to look at it,” said Bacon, who is the son of Roger Bacon, the late, innovative dairy farmer, Nova Scotia premier and provincial agriculture minister.

“I think it’s step 1,” said Bacon, who runs about 100 head of beef cattle. 

“What’s good about it is the government is recognizing the beef industry in Nova Scotia and willing to support it and move it along, for Nova Scotia consumers. That’s a win-win for us in the beef industry.

Bacon said the province has the grass to grow beef and the slaughter facilities to send the beef to market.

“The best thing about it is that when I drove into that experimental farm lot today, you could see the number of people in there, they had enthusiasm and we were right there where we have a (Nappan) Maritime Beef Test Station right on the federal government property and they are doing research on beef. 

“It’s coming together and I really like to see it progressing in the right direction.”

Morrow was joined for the announcement by Jonathan Wort, manager of livestock and field crops with Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation, and William Versteeg, a member of the new Nova Scotia Beef Initiative Steering Committee.

The new steering committee, including representatives from the Agriculture Department, Nova Scotia Cattle Producers, Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board, Perennia Food and industry, will inform the work of the beef initiative, with the province investing more than $950,000 over two years.

“The beef industry in Nova Scotia is an integral part of the agricultural landscape, providing employment opportunities, environmental stewardship and food security,” Larry Weatherby, chairman of the Nova Scotia Cattle Producers, said in the release.

Weatherby said the cattle producers appreciate the support from the department and the efforts to move the industry forward through the beef initiative. 

Lynne Godlien, chief executive officer at Perennia, said the company was immediately on board with the minister’s vision for moving the beef sector forward. 

“A team of our specialists has worked with the province and the steering committee to create a focused plan to support producers in producing more beef for Nova Scotians and we are looking forward to working with industry to make it a reality,” Godlien said.

There are eight provincially owned community pastures for use by beef farmers in Nova Scotia, encompassing about 2,630 hectares of grassland.

Nova Scotia has 11 provincially inspected beef abattoirs and 86 licensed meat processing facilities.