Fur farmers facing new laws to control environmental impact
Posted Apr 30, 2010 05:51:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia is placing more responsibility on fur breeders to be better neighbours and more environmentally friendly.
Agriculture Minister John MacDonnell has introduced legislative changes requiring farmers to have permits before getting licensed.
“Because of the environmental farm plan, we need, and I think the community needs to know, that anything around impacts on the environment, manure storage, water leaving the property and so on won’t have a negative impact on the surrounding community,” said MacDonnell.
Liberal Agriculture Critic Leo Glavine is applauding the industry for pushing the bill forward.
“They want to be proactive and prevent problems that have actually developed in other jurisdictions,” he said. “Especially [like those] in Europe.”
Inspectors will also be checking to see if ranchers have management plans in place to cover waste, water management and disease prevention.
Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association president Earl Prime says the industry welcomes the changes.
“It’ll encourage young farmers that want to get into the business, and that’s why we want this legislation put in place so we can tell them how they have to do it,” he said.
There are 150 mink, fox and chinchilla farms in Nova Scotia representing a multi-million dollar industry.
