Growing Forward 2 rolled out in Nova Scotia

May 29, 2013

Growing Forward 2 rolled out in Nova Scotia

Growing Forward 2, an agricultural policy framework between the federal, provincial and territorial governments was launched in Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

In a news release Minister Ritz said “Growing Forward 2 provides flexible, innovative programming for Nova Scotia's hardworking producers to ensure that they have the tools necessary to remain innovative, competitive, and to grow in new and existing markets." Minister Ritz was joined by Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture John MacDonell, who praised his federal partners - noting that the funding will help strengthen the agri-food economy in the province.

Over a five-year period, Growing Forward 2 will invest $37 million into Nova Scotia’s agriculture industry focusing on – innovation, competitiveness and markets, and industry capacity.

Other highlights include:

•$2-billion for federal, provincial and strategic initiatives (over five years)
•50% increase in cost-shared related funding
•$1-billion for federal initiatives
•Business Risk Management (BRM) will continue to receive ongoing funding to serve as a tool to protect farmers against market volatility and disasters.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.