Latest news with #Churchville
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
As N.S. farmers struggle, report urges steps to help increase stagnant local sales
A farmer works a field in Churchville, N.S., on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX — Nova Scotia farmers who are struggling to break even could benefit from selling more produce in local markets, says a new study released Thursday. The report titled, 'Growing at Home: Nova Scotia local food and agriculture report' was completed by the Ecology Action Centre, the province's largest environmental group, using academic research and data from Statistics Canada. It says the province's farming industry has been losing money between 2017 and 2024. Last year alone, the overall industry deficit was more than $41 million. The study concludes farmers in Nova Scotia are facing some of the biggest deficits in the country -- as their production expenses are often higher than the revenues their crops and livestock bring in. Lead author Vicki Madziak also documented a steep, 29 per cent decline between 2011 and 2021 in the total land used for farming. 'We know that farms across the country are struggling, but this has been a persistent issue for a long time in Nova Scotia,' said Madziak in a telephone interview Thursday. 'We're seeing a lot of concerning trends.' The report says if the province wants a food system that withstands shocks like climate change and economic tariffs, more investment is needed in encouraging local sales of farmers' produce. Using Statistics Canada data, the authors estimated that only 14 per cent of Nova Scotia's food spending went to local farms in 2023. That percentage hadn't increased from figures collected a decade ago. Citing research this year in the journal Food Policy, the study concludes that increasing local sales would allow farmers to increase their profit margins. It also says one bright spot is that Nova Scotia now has more than 40 farmers markets, the highest number per capita in Canada. Madziak concluded that while the province has started some buy-local initiatives, the provincial government must further develop local sales channels. Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow, when asked by reporters what factors were contributing to the industry's problems, said there were a variety of potential answers. 'These are private business, so there's a lot of different factors. It could be the weather, it could be access to markets, any number of things could play a role,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. He said the province is providing $7 million for equipment and programs to help extend growing seasons, is encouraging buy-local programs and working to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette was critical of Morrow's response. 'The minister needs to be able to come before the media and before the public and say, 'These are the steps that we're taking to help to support an important sector in our province.'' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Decades-old record broken at NYS boys golf tournament: How Section V golfers scored
While Victor star Brody Burgess earned Section V's lone medal, Section III's Division I commit Jackson Saroney broke a 49-year-old record at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys Golf Championships, which concluded Monday at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville. Saroney, a Jamesville-DeWitt senior who's committed to Penn State, struck gold in the individual golf tournament after shooting an astounding 10-under-par 132 — six less strokes than the next best score. NYSPHSAA's previous 36-hole record was 134 set by Section IV's Joey Sindelar in 1976 before he joined the PGA Tour. Advertisement Saroney also helped Section III win the team championship with a plus-38. This was Saroney's fourth appearance in the NYSPHSAA golf tournament. Saroney's previous best finish was fourth in 2023, when Burgess was the runner-up after coming back to force a playoff hole. Burgess tied for fourth in 2024 and placed eighth in 2022. "Section III, we haven't won in quite a while. It's been a long, long time. It feel nice to get a team win. This tournament has been circled on my calendar ever since I've been in ninth grade," Saroney said. Here's how local golfers performed in the NYSPHSAA tournament: NYS state boys golf tournament: Section V scores at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville Section V's 2025 boys golf state qualifiers: Brody Burgess (Victor), Zach Jerome (Fairport), Austin Erdmann (McQuaid), Sam Eichas (Spencerport), Timmy Spitz (Pittsford Sutherland), Sam Schultz (Brockport), Jack Reichard (Penfield), Zayden Patel (Rush-Henrietta). Brody Burgess (Victor) plus-5, 10th place. Timmy Spitz (Pittsford Sutherland) plus-7. Zach Jerome (Fairport) plus-12. Sam Eichas (Spencerport) plus-13. Ryan Thompson (Addison) plus-19. Ace Erdmann (McQuaid) plus-20. Zayden Patel (Rush-Henrietta) plus-22. Jack Reichard (Penfield) plus-27. Sam Schultz (Brockport) plus-32. Brody Burgess of Victor hits out of the tall grass on hole four during the boys state golf championship held at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville on June 9, 2025 Team: Section V plus-98, eighth place. NYS girls golf tournament: Section V scores at Wild Wood Country Club in Henrietta Individuals Champion: Nina Choe (Section I's Ursuline) 6-under-par 138. Destiny Jodoin (Victor) plus-7, tied for sixth. Harper Dittman (Fairport) plus-18. Jennie Piao (Harley Allendale Columbia) plus-19. Reagan Paolini (Churchville/Hilton) plus-26. Emma Sweazy (Rush-Henrietta) plus-29. Jacey Neylon (Churchville/HIlton) plus-31. Allie Sherman (Spencerport) plus-32. Emily Zigrossi (Spencerport) plus-37. Lylah HerrNeckar (Victor) plus-37. Victor's Destiny Jodoin is the AGR girl's golfer of the year. Team tournament Champion: Scarsdale (Section I) plus-106; Victor plus-164, fourth place. Advertisement Section team tournamnt Champion: Section II plus-68; Section V plus-160, fourth place. — Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He won numerous Associated Press and NYNPA awards for his work in print and broadcasting throughout his 15-year career as a reporter. Follow him @MarquelSports and X and Instagram for exclusive interviews, photos and videos. You can email him at mslaughter1@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NYS boys golf tournament record broken: How Section V golfers scored
