SW Nova Scotia: Cranberry dreams

NS: Climate study could boost Southwest Nova's marketability


Information such as frost free dates, light intensity and frequency of fog would be included in a proposed climate data study for Southwest Nova. — Carla Allen photo
Published on February 7, 2011
Published on February 7, 2011
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Topics : College of Geographical Sciences , Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture , Southwest Nova.Recognizing , Shelburne , Lunenburg
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Show us the numbers. Businesses considering major agricultural investment want cold, hard facts before they plunk upwards of $30,000 per acre to develop crops like cranberries in Southwest Nova.

Recognizing the need, CBDCs in Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Lunenburg are trying to get a three-year climate data project off the ground.

“One of our biggest issues of trying to attract developers from outside the region is that agriculture is very much a science nowadays and climate plays a critical role with regard to production,” said Yarmouth CBCD executive director Chris Atwood. “Every time we had developers come down, they’d ask specific questions regarding specific areas. Apart from very general climate information we couldn’t give them the information they needed — frost free dates, light intensity — we are noted to be a foggy region but it varies the further inland you go,” he said.

The $225,000 project will incorporate 42 climate data loggers set up in the region.

Some municipal units have stepped forward, and Economic Rural Development, Agrifutures, the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and ACOA are also contributing.

Atwood says CBDC is still working with letters of offers from some funding partners.

The project would be based on a similar one that engaged the College of Geographical Sciences for the grape growers association.

“We’re looking at what they did and tailoring it for this end of the province. Once you’ve got the climate data study, you can market the region to potential developers,” said Atwood. “Our desire as a community economic development agency is to see business grow here. We see certain types of agriculture, like specialty crops, as holding potential for this region.”