IMPORTANT NOTICE
CHANGES TO THE REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURE PRODUCER (RPAP) & FARM BUSINESS REGISTRY NOW IN EFFECT
- The expiry date of the RPAP registration will be changed from October 31 to January 31. If you are a current RPAP holder, your RPAP will be AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED until January 31, 2018.
- Due to the expiry date change to the RPAP, the expiry date for the Farmer Purchaser’s Permit will also change from October 31 to January 31. This means that if you currently hold a Farmer Purchaser’s Permit it will automatically be extended until January 31, 2018.
- Your NFU-NB membership will automatically be extended until January 31, 2018.
Read how and why the NFU-NB supported these changes here.
The 7th Conference of La Via Campesina
On July 15, I flew to Bilbao in the Basque Country, Spain, for the 7th conference of La Via Campesina. Though I had known the organization for many years, I did not expect to see such a well-organized, professional and large-scale organization. Read the full recount of the wonderful experience here in French. Jean-Eudes...
read moreWhat’s Your Recipe for a Better Food System?
Food Secure Canada is hosting a web engagement session to hear from new farmers and their allies on what they would like to see in A Food Policy for Canada. This is an opportunity to share your perspectives and experiences on how the federal government can better support new farmers and build a healthy, just and sustainable food system. A summary report will be drafted from the conversation and submitted as part of Food Secure Canada’s Report on What’s Your Recipe For A Better Food System? Events towards the consultations...
read moreNew Farmers of the Maritimes
Following a wonderful and engaging youth seminar in PEI over the weekend, here is a helpful article by NFU’s Region 1 Youth President, Philippe Gervais. The group welcomed Ayla Fenton, National Youth President, as well as representatives from La Via Cialis Italy, FAWN, and l’Union Paysanne. Organized farm educational and social events like this happen on a regular basis, so keep your eyes open for them. If your interest lies in farming, but you don’t know where to begin, read Phil’s article for some...
read moreLivestock Legislation Updates
The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (DAAF) has undertaken a review of legislation around the licensing of new or expanding livestock operations. The legislation which at one time may have been adequate, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, especially as many young farmers attempt to enter the industry. The DAAF started a consultation process in late winter 2016 with farmers and industry organizations. The NFU-NB made a submission to the DAAF on the proposed changes in the hopes of ensuring more...
read more“Canada150” – Looking Back on Agriculture in New Brunswick
With today officially marking 150 years since Confederation, farmers of NB are thoughtfully reflecting on the history of agriculture in this place now known as New Brunswick, Canada. While recognizing all of the injustices, the progress, and our generally contentious past, we hope to move forward not with naïveté, but with inclusion, diversity, and fair access to land and markets for all of our primary producers. Here you will find all 7 parts of the NFU-NB’s report “Looking Back at Agriculture in New Brunswick” with highlights...
read moreMedia Release: Farmers Market Calendar Campaign
Looking for a unique gift for a friend or family member? Choose the colourful new bilingual Farmers’ Markets calendar, available soon at farmers’ markets and other locations throughout New Brunswick. And don’t forget to pick one up for yourself as well! Find all the details of how you can keep everything on track AND support our NB farmers with our snazzy calendars...
read moreA Spotlight on Women in Agriculture
More than 75% of new farmers are women, who settle on small areas, often less than one hectare in cultivation. In a fair world, all farmers would be given a voice when it comes to succession. Unfortunately, the fact is that husbands or male peers are very often invited to speak in the media on the issue of succession or new agriculture. Read the full article by Jean-Eudes Chiasson in French...
read moreNB Highlights from the 2016 Census of Agriculture
Further to the Census of Agriculture released by the Government of Canada on May 10, 2017, we have lots of empirical data to help us assess the current face of farming in New Brunswick. It paints a picture with a brush of familiarity, showing the declining number of farms and farmers (“farm operators”), the increasing (though only slightly) average age of farmers, and the shrinking livestock numbers and area in production. Many of the statistics reported reconfirm our need to foster the new generation of agrarians with education and...
read moreSubmission – Proposed Changes to the Livestock Operations Act
The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick (NFU-NB) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Livestock Operations Act. We would like to begin by saying that the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick generally welcomes changes to the current Livestock Operations Act (LOA), and that we generally agree with the proposed changes and the approach the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries has taken so far in seeking consultation and promoting awareness of the proposed changes. The NFU-NB has...
read moreCo-operation Agri-Food New Brunswick
The province’s Department of Agriculture Aquaculture and Fisheries has funded $273,000 to the Cooperation Agri-food New-Brunswick initiative, announced on April 6, 2017. The Co-op’s goal is to be operational by September of this year – that means working through the summer to purchase, process and store NB-grown food and move it into NB schools to feed NB students when classes begin again in the fall. The initiative is encouraging, but some NFU-NB members have voiced concern about the potential for produce price being...
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