NSFA annual general meeting back in-person this year
/by Tim Marsh
It seems like just yesterday that the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA) staff and executive were gathered in the conference room at the NSFA office putting on our very first virtual annual meeting. Now here we are, back to hosting an in-person meeting! I’m looking forward to connecting with many of you face-to-face for the first time in nearly two years. Our 126th annual general meeting will take place on Nov. 25 and 26 at the Inn on Prince Hotel and Conference Centre in Truro. This is a new location for us.
Accommodating our members is important to us, so not only are we offering a virtual component for those who can’t attend in person, but our in-person meeting is also a family-friendly event. This year, we’ll have a dedicated family room set up for our farm families in attendance. Although we’re unable to offer childminding due to COVID-19, we want to offer families a quiet place to take a break with the kids.
Because we’ll be living with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future, we must ensure that our AGM plans are adaptable so we can make adjustments as needed to follow Public Health guidelines.
The agenda for this meeting will look similar to other years. The first day will feature the NSFA’s business meeting and we’ll also welcome government speakers. This will be followed by the Nova Scotia Young Farmers annual meeting and our evening banquet with a guest speaker.
The second day will include our wrap-up, as well as the Farm Safety Nova Scotia annual meeting, which will include a guest speaker.
Our AGM team is still nailing down the fine details in terms of confirming our speaker lineup, presenters, and the other fun stuff. Keep an eye on our social media channels and our weekly electronic newsletter for more details.
This year, we’ll host our farewell to Henry Vissers. As the NSFA’s executive director for the past 12 years, Henry has been dedicated to serving Nova Scotia farmers and working toward a sustainable future for the generations to come. I hope you’ll join us for Henry’s retirement reception on the afternoon of Nov. 26 following the AGM.
Pivoting slightly, it wouldn’t be an NSFA annual meeting without policies and resolutions. These comprise a key piece of our game plan for the upcoming year. This year, our policy advisory committee worked to pull together five standing policies for the membership to discuss and vote on. Here is a condensed, high-level look at what the committee is putting forward for 2022:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
Focusing on protecting agricultural land for future generations. This includes working with stakeholders to keep existing farmland in production and lobbying for resources to compensate landowners for removing development rights.
SOIL AND WATER
Working with stakeholders to address soil and water issues faced by Nova Scotia farms while also actively advocating for funding and implementation of long-term solutions for continual soil health and clean water supply.
FPT AGREEMENT
Taking a leadership role in consulting with our membership to inform recommendations and lobbying efforts for the next federal-provincial-territorial agreement for agriculture.
PROCESSING CAPACITY
Lobbying for incentives and other tools to increase processing capacity in Nova Scotia while continuing to work with interested stakeholders to identify how we can collaboratively address processing challenges in Nova Scotia.
REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Continuing to lobby for regulations that reflect the needs of farmers, farm families, and farm operations. We’ll then monitor, participate in, and communicate changes to regulations that impact agriculture at the provincial and federal levels, while also working with industry stakeholders to ensure compliance requirements are well communicated throughout the industry.
I’m looking forward to connecting with you all on Nov. 25 and 26. Visit nsfa-fane.ca/agm for meeting details, important documents, and our online registration. See you soon!
(Tim Marsh is president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture.)
