GRAPES
Grape growing for wine production has been in Nova Scotia for centuries in some form, but in the last 20 years there has been a major expansion in the acreage. As a new area for wine production there is potential to create unique products, as well as some challenges to manage the crop. With more than 15 wineries around the province, the goal is to make a high quality product and for wine, quality starts in the vineyard. In this section of our website, you will find information on the factors which have to be considered before the establishment of a vineyard, climatic conditions in the province, varieties recommended for Nova Scotia conditions, essentials of pest management and information on production costs.
AAFC UPDATES
- AAFC Pest Note to Growers
- A Nova Scotia Wine Grape Deep Freeze Event: Climate Trends, Considerations and Pruning
- NS Wine grapes: Will a changing climate mean a change in spring frost risk?
- AAFC Invasive Insects July 2021
TERROIR ANALYSIS
- Executive Summary – Terroir Analysis for the NS Wine Growing Region
- Terroir Analysis of the Nova Scotia Wine Growing Region 2018 – Executive Summary
- Terroir Analysis of the Nova Scotia Wine Growing Region 2017 – Executive Summary
- Biopesticides for Fungal and Bacterial Disease Management in Horticultural Crops
- Mineral Nutrients
- Grape Tissue Sampling
- Perennia’s Nutrient Deficiency Guide
- The Importance of Soil Testing
- Got Compaction?
- The Value of Maintaining a Good Soil pH
- Mineral Nutrients
- Bud Burst
- Pruning
- Factors to Consider for New Vineyard Plantations
- Biosecurity is Important for Horticulture Crops Too
- Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila
- Wine Grape Site Selection in Nova Scotia
- Recommended Wine Grape Varieties for Nova Scotia
- Pruning Principles for Grapes
- Grape Tissue Sampling
- NS Wine Grape Cost of Production and Cash Flow Analysis
- An Introduction to Grape Growing in Nova Scotia
- Emergency Registration for Spotted Wing Drosophila 2018
PERENNIA PEST MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS
- Your Cheat Sheet for Searching Pesticide Labels
- Practical Pesticide Application Considerations
- Understanding Pesticide Safety and Toxicity
- Reducing Spray Drift
- Quality of Pesticide Spray Water
- Pesticide Storage and Handling
- Field Sprayer Calibration
- Efficient and Effective Application of Pesticides
- Understanding Weed ID and Terminology
- Calculating Spray Application Information
- Proper Cleaning of a Boom Sprayer
- Pesticide Application Equipment
- Herbicide Group Classification
- Non-labeled Tank Mixes
- Reading a Pesticide Label
- Record Keeping
- Practical Pesticide Application Considerations
- Integrated Pest Management
SEASON 2021-2022
- Report 12 (April 11 – 12 2022)
- Report 11 (March 28 – 30 2022)
- Report 10 (March 14 – 15 2022)
- Report 9 (Feb 28 – March 1 2022)
- Report 8 (Feb 15 – 16 2022)
- Report 7 (Feb 1 – 2 2022)
- Report 6 (Jan 19 – 20 2022)
- Report 5 (Jan 4 – 5 2022)
- Report 4 (Dec 20 – 21 2021)
- Report 3 (Dec 6 – 7 2021)
- Report 2 (Nov 23 – 24 2021)
- Report 1 (Nov 8 – 9 2021)
SEASON 2020-2021
- Report 1 (Dec 7 – 8 2020)
- Report 2 (Dec 21 – 22 2020)
- Report 3 (Jan 4 – 5 2021)
- Report 4 (Jan 18 – 19 2021)
- Report 5 (Feb 1 – 3 2021)
- Report 6 (Feb 15 – 17 2021)
- Report 7 (Mar 1 – 3 2021)
- Report 8 (Mar 15 – 16 2021)
- Report 9 (Mar 29 – 30 2021)
- Report 10 (Apr 12 – 13 2021)
- Report 11 (Apr 26 – 27 2021)
Disclaimer
Perennia’s Pest Management Guides are general information only. Perennia does not offer any warranty or guarantee, nor does it assume any liability for any crop loss, livestock loss, health, safety or environmental hazard caused by the use of a pesticide mentioned in the publication. For most recent and specific product information, always refer to and follow directions on the product label. Labels can be found at Health Canada’s Pesticide Label Search. The publication lists a number of brand name pesticides. It is neither an endorsement of the product nor a suggestion that similar products are ineffective. Please also note that pesticides registered in the US are not necessarily registered in Canada.
FRUIT CROPS





Perennia's Agricultural Services Team
Protected Crop Specialist
Talia Plaskett
Cell: 902-305-3419
tplaskett@perennia.ca
On-Farm Climate Action Fund Technical Project Manager
Rosalie Gillis-Madden
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-670-9655
rmadden@perennia.ca
Berry Specialist
Gordon (Sonny) Murray
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-670-4892
smurray@perennia.ca
Manager of Horticulture
Jen Haverstock
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-670-5003
jhaverstock@perennia.ca
Horticulturist and Field Plant Pathologist
Dustin MacLean
Cell: 902-324-9623
dustinmaclean@perennia.ca
Field Crops Specialist
Caitlin Congdon
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-698-9473
ccongdon@perennia.ca
Tree Fruit Specialist
Michelle Cortens
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-679-7908
mcortens@perennia.ca
Viticulture Specialist
Francisco Diez
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-300-3905
fdiez@perennia.ca
Non-Ruminant Specialist
Heather McLean
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-670-5002
hmclean@perennia.ca
Dairy Specialist
Dan Mosley
Office: 902-896-0277
Cell: 902-890-9665
dmosley@perennia.ca
Manager of Livestock and Field Crops
Jonathan Wort
Office: 902-896-0277
Cell: 902-890-0303
jwort@perennia.ca
Molecular Biologist
Matt Peill
Office: 902-678-7722
mpeill@perennia.ca
Lead Field Research Associate
Jonathan Bent
Office: 902-678-7722
Cell: 902-670-0820
jbent@perennia.ca
Senior Apiculture/ATTTA Program Lead
Andrew Byers
Cell: (902) 324 1832
abyers@perennia.ca
Wild Blueberry Specialist
Hugh Lyu
Cell: 902-890-0472
hlyu@perennia.ca
Forage Specialist/Research Program Coordinator
Shane Wood
Office: (902) 896-0277
Cell: (902) 890-7774
shanewood@perennia.ca
Agriculture Technology Specialist
Thomas Harrington
Cell: 902-324-8255
tharrington@perennia.ca
Ruminant Livestock Specialist
Katie Trottier
Cell: 902-324-8306
ktrottier@perennia.ca
Climate Change Intern
Katelyn Stokes
Cell: 782-640-8058
kstokes@perennia.ca
Soil Specialist
Caitlin McCavour
Cell: 902-890-8629
cmccavour@perennia.ca
Apiculturist
Annie Bennett
Cell: 902-957-3274
abennett@perennia.ca
Agricultural Research Technician
Lindsay Scott
Cell: 902-890-8849
lscott@perennia.ca
Agricultural Research Technician
Jenna Bekkers
Cell: 902-890-6611
jbekkers@perennia.ca
Agricultural Environmental Specialist
Mackenzie Rathgeber
Cell: 902-890-7716
mrathgeber@perennia.ca
Agricultural Research Technician
Kristen Cue
Cell: 902-670-5411
kcue@perennia.ca
Agricultural Research Technician
Sarah Schaefer
Cell: 902-324-2118
sschaefer@perennia.ca