Making plant health a priority

Added on 24 May 2020

Tags

Healthy plants are crucial to food security and the well-being of all. Plants make up 80 per cent of the food we eat and 98 per cent of the oxygen we breathe.

Plant protection is essential to both the human and animal food supply and to our environment and our economy.

The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture administers regulations and along with partners delivers programs contributing to plant health, such as agricultural weed control, prevention, nursery certification, weed surveys, soil and water testing and insect monitoring.

In 2020, the International Year of Plant Health, 4-H members are asked to put their thinking caps on and explore how they can contribute to protecting plants in their local areas.

A 4-H member can explore protecting our plants by: learning about pests to reduce the spread of pests and getting involved with the #PlantHealth and #IYPH2020 conversations on social media to raise awareness about plant protection.

This could be a great learning experience for our great outdoors and horticulture members.

Some interesting sites to visit are https://www.perennia.ca/plant-health/ or science.gc.ca for more details, activities and events happening.

For more information on agriculture topics like this contact your local department of agriculture office.

Marina Gillis is the 4-H agriculture extension co-ordinator for the Cape Breton Region. For more information about 4-H contact Gillis at marina.gillis@novascotia.ca.