Nova Scotia livestock producers can now try to source hay and other forages for their animals from other farmers using a new toll-free phone line.
“Many farmers have been affected by poor weather this year and do not have enough feed for their livestock for the coming winter,” Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor said in a release Tuesday announcing the free service, provided by the province and consulting agency AgraPoint International.
AgraPoint will operate the toll-free line at 1-866-606-4636 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. “AgraPoint will maintain a list of farmers with available hay and forage, and put them in touch with other farmers who need it through this toll-free number,” Taylor said.
Farmers may also leave messages after hours and AgraPoint staff will respond the next business day, the province said. Farmers who have extra forage may also provide their information by e-mail.
Contact information, location and details about what hay and forage is available will also be posted on AgraPoint’s Extension Central website.
“We understand that many livestock farmers are facing a difficult situation and we want to help them make it through these difficulties,” Taylor said in the province’s release. “AgraPoint specialists can also discuss feeding and cropping options with producers as they manage these challenges.”
AgraPoint, which operates offices in Kentville and Truro, N.S. and Souris, P.E.I., provides ag advisory services to provincial and federal governments, commodity associations, agri-businesses, farms, and chemical companies.
