The new poultry research facility at NSAC has really begun to take shape. Started in late February, the contractors claim to be able to have the $11M facility completed by the end of 2006. Once up and running, the Atlantic Canadian Centre for Poultry Research will significantly strengthen the capability of NSAC to carry out world-class research and technology development in Poultry Science.

We now have a webcam being tested on campus. Pointing towards the new poultry facility and updated every minute, between 9am and 5pm, you can view the construction progress. You can link to the live pictures at nsac.ca/development/live

101st NSAC Convocation May 5th

Approximately 150 students will graduate May 5th, 2006 at the 101st NSAC convocation.. In addition to the graduation ceremonies and awards to faculty and staff there will be two honorary degrees conferred upon men who have had a major impact on NSAC and the field of agricultural science. Mr. DIck Huggard NSAC Class of 1956) and Dr. Murray McLaughlin (NSAC Class of 1966) will both receive Honorary Doctorate degrees. Check out the details for convocation at http://nsac.ca/convocation/

NSAC Successful in AIF

NSAC has been very successful in the most recent round of Atlantic Innovation Fund announcements.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), announced that the Government of Canada will invest in 29 research and development projects in Atlantic Canada under ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF). Two of these projects will go to NSAC.

The Nova Scotia Agricultural College, through its Atlantic BioVenture Centre, is collaborating with several private sector companies and the Atlantic Horticultural Centre in Kentville. Their current project involves developing natural products from Atlantic bioresources, including Atlantic dogfish, cultivated mussels and selected seaweed. With total costs estimated at almost $5 million, this project will receive up to $2.9 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a two-year period.

Performance Genomics Inc. is a private Canadian controlled company that develops DNA breeding markers for commercial livestock improvement. The expected result of this research project is the development of DNA tests that can be used to predict the reproductive longevity of livestock and validate these tests in two species - swine and beef. The project, with total costs of almost $3 million, will receive up to $1 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a four-year period.

NSAC has always had a strong Athletics programs. The annual awards banquet honouring NSAC student athletics and their supports was held Friday, March 31st.. Check out the full results. Congratulations to all the winners.

Student NSERC Summer Scholarships

NSAC students have been very successful in securing funding under the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards program (USRA's) for summer 2006. This highly competitive program will help fund these students while they work on their research projects. The following ten students and their supervisors are to be congratulated for their success.

Student: Kathleen Atkinson. Truro. Supervisor: Dr. Ali Madani
Research: Integrated Water Management Strategies

Student: Emily Fraser. Dartmouth. Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Hoyle
Research: Nutrient Content of Edible Flowers Grown Under Organic and
Conventional Regimes

Student: Margaret Graves. Dartmouth. Supervisor: Dr. Ralph Martin
Research: Characterization of gastrointestinal parasitism in organic beef
cattle

Student: John Langille, Pugwash. Supervisor: Dr. Ali Madani
Research: Improved Irrigation Scheduling: Reference Evapotranspiration for
Turf Production

Student: Mila MacLean. Pictou. Supervisor: Dr. Ali Madani
Research: Improved Agricultural Water Management Through Controlled Drainage Systems

Student: Sebastian Margarit. Amherst. Supervisor: Dr. Phil Warman
Research: The Influence of Compost and Compost Teas Upon Selected Vegetable and Berry Crops and Soil Properties

Student: Andrea Rauba. Hudson, QC. Supervisor: Dr. Hossain Farid
Research: SNP Discovery in the Ovine Leptin Gene

Student: Katherine Rutherford. Old Burns Supervisor: Dr. Ralph Martin
Research: Evaluation of Adventitious Presence in Soy, Corn and Wheat

Student: Adam Scanlan. Cleveland. Supervisor: Dr. Leslie MacLaren
Research: Are Pine Marten Spontaneous Ovulators?

Student: Crystal Whitney. Miramichi, NB. Supervisor: Dr. Alan Fredeen
Research: Algal Fatty Acids to Enrich Milk of Dairy Cows