“All About Water” Information Session 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended our “All About Water” Information Session at the Brooklyn Fire Hall on February 26th, 2026! We’re grateful for the great turnout, our amazing speakers (huge thank you!), the Brooklyn Fire Hall, as well as for the thoughtful discussions that took place on farm ponds, controlled tile drainage, irrigation, and more. You all made this event a success!
Please see below for a recording of the day’s sessions, speaker bios, and resources shared by speakers.
Recording:
Watch video on YouTube to access timestamps in video description!
Presentations include the following topics:
Water Quality Testing/Coastal Action Farm Projects
In the Aggregate: Improving Soil Water Retention with Microbes
Controlled Drainage and the Benefits of Automation
Design Considerations for Farm Ponds, Pond Cleaning, and Irrigation Wells
From Monitoring to Management: Using Local Water Data to Support Reliable Farm Water Supplies
Drip Irrigation
Irrigation, Water Withdrawal Approvals, and Regulations
Automated Watering Systems
Speaker Bios:
Beth MacLellan, Project Coordinator, Coastal Action
Beth MacLellan is a Project Coordinator at Coastal Action, specializing in water quality and conservation initiatives. She leads projects in mine water remediation, lake eutrophication, wetland assessment, enhancement, and construction, and water quality and habitat monitoring. Beth is also passionate about engaging local communities in environmental stewardship and education. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cape Breton University.
Email: Beth@coastalaction.org Website: coastalaction.org
Jordan Veinot, Climate Change Program Manager, Coastal Action
Jordan Veinot is the Climate Change Program Manager for an environmental non-profit organization called Coastal Action. As the Climate Change Program Manager, she leads a diverse portfolio of projects that includes nature-based solutions, agricultural projects, planting initiatives, biodiversity conservation, stormwater management, and flood mapping. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture (formerly NSAC) and has a strong interest in the intersection of agriculture and the environment. She is also passionate about community engagement and believes the best climate solutions come from listening to and working alongside local people.
Email: jordan@coastalaction.org Website: coastalaction.org
Brian W. Pusch, President, Microbes, Inc.
Brian W. Pusch has served on the Board of Microbes, Inc. since 1997 and as President and CEO since 2017. Microbes is a leading producer of beneficial microbes for conventional, sustainable, and regenerative plant agriculture. For nearly 30 years the company has been in the forefront of translating research into commercial products. Brian and his wife operate a fully integrated dairy goat farm and creamery in western New York, which also serves as the site of extensive crop field trials of Microbes’ products and experimental bionematicide treatments for controlling parasites in goats.
Email: bpusch@microbesbio.com Website: https://microbesbiosciences.com/
Josh Shuler, Technical Product and Business Development Manager, Agri Drain Corporation
Josh Shuler has over two decades of experience in precision agriculture and water management, focused on developing technologies that improve water quality, resource efficiency, and crop productivity. As a Technical Product & Business Development Manager at Agri Drain Corporation, he leads smart automation initiatives that expand access to innovative drainage and water management solutions while delivering clear environmental and economic value. Throughout his career, he has led product development efforts and contributed to advances in land-forming and drainage systems that help producers increase yields through effective drainage water management. He also holds multiple patents in agricultural drainage and terrain-forming technology systems.
Email: josh@agridrain.com Website: https://agridrain.com/
Scott Anderson, P. Eng, Engineering Consultant Company
Scott Anderson holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. From 1992 to 2008, he worked for the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture as an Extension Specialist in the area of Soil and Water Conservation and served as the Provincial Agricultural Irrigation Specialist. In 2008, he joined AAFC as the Regional Water Resources Engineer for the Atlantic Region where he developed and implemented numerous water-related projects with watershed groups, industry associations, and provincial governments in all four Atlantic provinces. In 2015, after a substantial departmental reorganization, his role became the Knowledge Transfer/ Industry Outreach Coordinator for the AAFC Charlottetown Research and Development Centre. He also acted as the Science Coordinator for the Living Labs Project. In his role, he was a liaison between all federal and external participants and oversaw the day-to-day operation of Living Labs activities. He now has his own engineering consulting company focused on agricultural water management, specializing in irrigation, drainage, and water supply development in Atlantic Canada. Contracted by the PEI government to provide on farm extension services, he works closely with agricultural irrigators to design and implement irrigation systems.
Email: atlanticwaterpei@gmail.com Website: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/water/ponds-and-dugouts
Dr. Etienne Mfoumou, Research Scientist, Nova Scotia Community College
Dr. Etienne Mfoumou is a Research Scientist at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and leads the Engineered Technologies Applied Research Lab, which designs, builds and tests prototypes, delivering problem-solving solutions with practical relevance and pathways to commercial use for Nova Scotia partners. Before joining NSCC in 2013, he held research roles at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (QC, Canada) and the University of Arizona (AZ, USA). He holds mechanical engineering degrees (University of Douala, Cameroon; Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden) and a second PhD from Concordia University (QC, Canada). He is principal investigator on the current NSERC CCSIF-funded well-water climate-change community preparedness project.
Email: Etienne.Mfoumou@nscc.ca Website: https://www.nscc.ca/appliedresearch/research-areas/engineered-technologies/team/index.asp
Dave Wolpin, Wolpin Enterprises
Dave Wolpin has been involved in food and agriculture since he could walk. In his first life, he farmed 10 acres of mixed vegetables and owned a grocery store. Now he has an agricultural supply company, specializing in season extension. His company focuses on serving mixed fruit and vegetable farmers.
Email: david@wolpinenterprises.ca Website: https://wolpinenterprises.ca/
Philippe-Michael Caron, Senior Irrigation Advisor and Ontario/Atlantic Sales Manager, Dubois Agrinovation
Philippe-Michael has been part of the agricultural scene for 25 years and a member of the ‘Irrigation Association’ between 2012 and 2022 as a Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist. He is now part of Dubois Agrinovation working as the Senior Irrigation Advisor and Ontario/Atlantic Sales Manager.
Email: pmcaron@duboisag.com Website: https://duboisag.com/ca_en/
Paul Jones, District Manager-Yarmouth, NS Department of Environment and Climate Change
Paul Jones is the District Manager for the Yarmouth office with Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, where he oversees inspection, compliance, and enforcement operations across a broad and complex regulatory landscape. With more than 19 years of experience in the Nova Scotia government, Paul brings deep technical knowledge in environmental protection, field investigations, and legislative application. He focuses on practical, evidence‑based decision‑making and supporting teams working in demanding regulatory and operational environments.
Email: Paul.Jones@novascotia.ca Website: https://www.novascotia.ca/government/environment-and-climate-change
David Ernst, President, Terra Beata Farms Ltd.
David Ernst is president of Terra Beata Farms Ltd. Started in 1998 with a plan to develop a cranberry farm on Heckmans Island (near Lunenburg), Terra Beata Farms has grown into a vertically integrated growing, processing, and marketing company. Terra Beata has three active farms and two processing sites, employing 40 people. David enjoys working to be part of vibrant food economy in our region.
Email: david.ernst@terrabeata.ca Website: https://www.terrabeata.ca/
Shared Resources:
AAFC Ponds and Dugouts Information: Ponds and dugouts – agriculture.canada.ca
AAFC Farm Water Well Management Info: Well Info
Atlantic Committee on Agricultural Engineering Farm Ponds Doc: Farm-Ponds1.pdf
B.C. Trickle Irrigation Manual: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/water/irrigation/bc-trickle-irrigation-manual
Dubois Agrinovation Catalogs: Catalog | Dubois Agrinovation CA
Water Withdrawal Approval Info: https://novascotia.ca/nse/water/withdrawalApproval.asp