NSAC E-Bulletin

Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to Stephanie Rogers (news@nsac.ca) by Friday at 3:00 p.m. for inclusion in the next week's edition.

September 8th 2003 - Week 145

United Way Campaign 2003-2004
The President’s office is pleased to announce the institution's great pleasure at the news that Fraser Nicholson has generously volunteered to co-ordinate this year's United Way Appeal drive with Robin Bremner of the NSDAF in a joint campaign. We on campus are all looking forward with eager anticipation to the fresh ideas and team spirit that this co-operation will certainly produce from all corners of the campus and we are sure that anything that the Department comes up with this year, will easily be bettered by the campus side of the joint campaign! :-)

NSAC Receives Grant for Rock Garden
The Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) has been granted $6700 US from the North American Rock Garden Society under its Norman Singer Endowment Fund for use in the recently developed NSAC Rock Garden.

The funds, to be utilized by the Friends of the Gardens and its Director Dr. Bernard Jackson, have been allocated for the construction of a 1500 square foot limestone patio entryway at the east end of the Garden which will incorporate two trough courtyards.

“Bernard Jackson and his Friends of the Gardens have shown tremendous initiative and enthusiasm in helping NSAC showcase ornamental horticulture and have brought international recognition to our campus,” said NSAC President Dr. Philip Hicks. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

The project, slated to begin mid-September, will involve various classes in its undertaking.

“This one-acre alpine plant display will make a significant contribution to the understanding and appreciation of alpine and saxatile plants and will be a valuable teaching media for students wishing to increase their knowledge of botany and entomology,” said NSAC Honourary Associate, Dr. Bernard Jackson. “This prestigious award will also help us to maintain the high standards we have set for this project and indicates faith in our ability by one of the most influential and respected organizations of its kind.”

Department of Business and Social Sciences offers new course
Topics in Economics and Business Management: Agriculture in Global Economic Development
The course deals with the economic aspects of international development with emphasis on the role of food, agriculture and the natural resource sector in world economies. The course will help students understand the problems and theories of agricultural development and analyse economic policies and programs in developing countries and their effect on economic development. At the end of the course, students will: expand their knowledge on the role of agriculture in economic development; be familiar with the major economic growth and development issues; understand the major theories of development and their relevance; understand the political and economic dimensions linked with the role of industrialized countries in the development of less favoured economies.

For more information contact Dr. Emmanuel K. Yiridoe
Phone: 893-6699 E-mail: eyiridoe@nsac.ns.ca

ATV/CTV present: Truro’s Walk to D’Feet ALS
The ALS society of Nova Scotia would like to invite you to put forth a team of colleagues, friends’ family etc to participate in the annual walk to D’Feet ALS on September 27th, 2003. This is the first year theat the Walk to D’Feet ALS has taken place in Truro and we will be joined by many other communities within the Maritimes. The walk will take place at the AgriTECH park in Bible Hill and will consist of 5km. Please help in making this walk a success within our community. The walk route will be barrier free.
(Babystrollers/pets)

For more information please contact Walk Coordinators: Bruce Asselstine (902) 895-0782
basselstine@tru.eastlink.ca Or Kenzie Cook (902) 843-2711 or kenziecook@hotmail.com

Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Looking for Volunteers
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides excellence awards to outstanding Canadians who are entering university or college studies for the first time and have made significant contributions to the betterment of their communities, demonstrated the capacity for leadership and innovation and are committed to the pursuit of academic excellence. The Foundation relies on an extensive network of volunteers across the country to assess applicants and help it determine which students will receive the awards. One of the distinctive aspects of the Millennium Excellence Awards Program's selection process is that applicants are assessed in the context of their community. Volunteer assessors are grouped in committees; each committee is responsible for reviewing all candidates in its region. The assessors are thus able to use their knowledge of their region in evaluating and selecting local candidates.

The role of the assessor is to read and assess applicants' files. Applicants are not just evaluated on the basis of academic merit: assessors consider their leadership and dedication to improving the lives of those around them. Assessors participate in a one-day training workshop to help them become familiar with the objectives of the program, the selection criteria and the assessment process. Volunteers must be available between February 2 and March 26, 2004.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation looks for volunteers who reflect the social and professional diversity of Canada. It is not necessary or even preferable for assessors to have previous experience in scholarship administration but they should demonstrate a commitment to the qualities of the excellence award recipients: leadership, creativity and community service.

If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested in participating in the selection process this year, please contact Brian Crouse, NSAC Awards Office, phone 893-6729, email bcrouse@nsac.ns.ca Nomination forms are to be submitted by September 15, 2003.

The Great Centennial Theme and Logo Contest
NSAC will celebrate 100 years of service in 2005. Through excellence in Education, Research and Extension, NSAC has had a major impact on the agricultural industry in the Atlantic Region and beyond.
Planning is underway for centennial celebrations. In preparation for the big day, we need a theme phrase and appropriate logo that can be used on promotional material, memorabilia, correspondence etc. This is your chance to put your creative thinking to the test. The Great Centennial Theme and Logo Contest is designed to give you a chance to come up with a theme and a logo concept design that will be used during our centennial.

To enter send in theme wording along with a sketch or concept for the design of a logo to the Development and Alumni Relations office, NSAC no later than September 30, 2003. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entry.

1 . Entries should be no more that three pages in length including explanation and justification of the concept.

2 . A committee will review the entries and make a selection. Entries will be judged on:
• degree of representation of the history and service of NSAC
• originality
• design elements that allow the logo and theme to be used in a variety of sizes and on various media.

3 . The winning concept theme and logo may be further refined or slightly altered at the discretion of the committee.

4. The winner will be announced and the theme and logo will unveiled by the president at Autumn Assembly, October 22, 2003.

5. All entries to the contest become the property of NSAC.

If you have any questions please contact the Development and Alumni Relations office, (902) 893-6721 or jjordon@nsac.ns.ca

New Course in Nutrient Management Planning
Nutrient management planning is a key component of the economic and environmental management of agricultural operations. Recent efforts to introduce environmental farm planning initiatives across the country have further highlighted the need for nutrient management planning and provided an incentive for the development of nutrient management frameworks and training of nutrient management planners. The Nova Scotia Agricultural College, working with the Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre, has developed a nutrient management planning course intended for agricultural professionals in Atlantic Canada.

The course will teach the basic general concepts of Nutrient Management Planning in a lecture format. It will also include local case studies and issues, drawing on the strong regional expertise within each of the institutions. The course has been designed for this region, using examples specifically from Atlantic Canada.

The content of the course has been developed with the expectation that participants will have a B.Sc. or its equivalent, so that the concepts of nutrient cycling, soil and manure analysis, crop response and the economics of fertilizer use can be mastered. Eligible Certified Crop Advisors will receive continuing education units (CEUs) for attendance.

Nutrient management systems, ranging from those that use manure and/or biosolids as the primary nutrient source to those based solely on the use of chemical fertilizers, will be considered. Participants will complete exercises relating to soil, manure and plant tissue testing and their interpretation. The course will examine the calculations required for the completion of nutrient management plans, improving participants’ skills in dealing with nutrient management planning issues.

The course will be offered, in English, at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Bible Hill, N.S. from November 24 - 27, 2003, instructed by Dr. David Burton with assistance from Dr. Gordon Fairchild.

The course will also be offered, in French, in Moncton, New Brunswick, in November, 2003, by Dr. Gordon Fairchild and Jérôme Damboise, assisted by Dr. David Burton.

This project is a joint initiative of the Atlantic Agricultural Co-ordinating Council. Funding is provided by the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

For more information contact the NSAC Department of Continuing and Distance Education at 893-6666