Hello Dear Growers, and Happy Long Weekend!
This week has been focused on planning several upcoming summer events, and I am pleased to share that the week of June 15–19 will feature a series of vineyard visits and learning opportunities across Nova Scotia.
As mentioned during the GGANS AGM, we will be welcoming Stephane Badet, an Agriculture Economist from Bordeaux, for a week of industry discussions and site visits focused on cool climate viticulture, sustainability, and regional development. Throughout the week, we will explore topics including:
- Canopy Management
- Disease Management
- Cover Cropping
- Sustainability
- Diversification
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
JOST Field Day
- Vineyard and cellar visit at Jost Vineyards
- Visit to Fox Harb'r Resort Vineyards
Discussion themes will include cover cropping, canopy management, and pest and disease management.
Participants are welcome to remain on-site for lunch at the Jost Café following the field day.
Thursday, June 18, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Discussion led by Stephane Badet on viticultural diversification, co-operation, and resilience within the wine sector.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Steve Ells will host a vineyard tour and discuss vineyard management practices at Ellslea Vineyard.
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Nova Scotia: “The Cool” in Cool Climate Terroir presentation and discussion.
Registration pages for both events will be available shortly. I wanted to share these opportunities in advance and hope you will be able to join us for one or both events.
Warmer weather is officially here!
This weekend, we are expecting temperatures in the low 20s. I visited several sites last week and captured Osceola at budbreak.
Perennia Now Offering Analytical Testing
Effective May 1, 2026, Perennia is fully operating the
former Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture (NSDA) Analytical Lab at the
Harlow Institute Building, 176 College Road in Truro.
In addition to mineral and bacteria water testing, we are
conducting the same tests as previously offered:
Soil analysis for lawn, garden and field samples
Soil amendment analysis
Greenhouse soil, nutrients and water + field, milk house
water, etc.
Feed analysis
Digest samples
Plant tissue analysis
We are also continuing to offer the 50 per cent discount on
the same tests as when the lab was operated by NSDA for farmers with a current
farm registration number. Our service fees also haven’t been changed and the
overview PDF is available at https://www.perennia.ca/analytical-lab
For drinking water samples, Perennia is referring and
transporting these daily Monday to Thursday to an accredited lab in the HRM.
NSDA’s ISO accreditation for this testing was not transferrable to Perennia.
Thus, we are doing all the extensive paperwork required for a new ISO
accreditation for Perennia and anticipate taking drinking water samples after a
successful audit this summer. We will keep everyone updated. For now, water
samples for these tests can only be accepted at the Harlow Building in Truro.
All other samples can continue to be dropped off at:
NSDA Digby, Antigonish and Kentville offices (Kentville will
be phased out as a drop off location in the coming weeks)
Nova Scotia Department for Natural Resources and Renewables
Strathlorne Nursery in Inverness
Harlow Building in Truro
Perennia office in Kentville (28 Aberdeen Street – drop off
will be at the entrance at the back of the building facing the side of the
Independent grocery store. Parking is available – feel free to park in the
space directly in front of the door for quick drop off.)
Soil collection supplies can also be obtained at these
locations along with submission forms and resources.
All drop-off dates and times, locations, submission forms,
how-to resource forms and interpretation guides, payment methods and fee
listing are all available at
www.perennia.ca/labservices where you can also order tests from our
Plant Health Lab.
For more information or questions please contact
labs@perennia.ca
Thank you all for your time this week. I hope you have a lovely long weekend, and enjoy the sunshine!
Cheers!
Katarina
