Country Life in BC

Foreign land buyers hollow out Dunster

Northern farmland purchases fuel calls for ownership limits

April 29, 2026

DUNSTER – Purchases of swathes of farmland in the Robson Valley by wealthy American businessmen have some in BC demanding restrictions on foreign and corporate ownership of agricultural land. The issue centres on the small, remote community of Dunster, where Fraser River Landholdings Ltd. has purchased approximately 3,850 acres – much of it agricultural land …

FARM NEWS UPDATE April 29, 2026

Monette Farms wins creditor protection

Sun-Rype moves concern growers

Dry start to wildfire season

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BC greenhouse growers join forces

April 15, 2026

BC greenhouse vegetable growers joined forces with their counterparts across Canada last month to form…

Maple Ridge farm fined for raw milk sales

April 15, 2026

Raw milk remains off the table for dairy producers, with the BC Milk Marketing Board…

New beef practices open for comment

April 15, 2026

A new national code of practice for beef producers is open for public comment. “The…

Fertilizer, fuel costs soar amid Iran conflict

April 1, 2026

ENDERBY – War in the Middle East has delivered a generational shock to energy prices,…

KPU study explores dry farming potential

April 1, 2026

COMOX VALLEY – Research on dry farming practices in the Comox Valley is helping an…

Cannabis tops BC crop cash receipts

April 1, 2026

DELTA – BC’s legal cannabis crop is reaching new highs, ranking as the top cash…

Land Commission lays off staff

March 25, 2026

With no budget increase this year, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) is laying off six…

Vancouver Island attracts small-lot buyers

March 25, 2026

Small-lot growers and hobby farmers helped make Vancouver Island one of the most active farmland…

Province appoints new apiculturist

March 25, 2026

With beekeepers preparing their colonies for spring, the province has officially announced Abigail Chapman as…

Fertilizer prices on the rise

March 11, 2026

War in the Middle East has delivered a generational shock to energy prices, meaning BC…

New leadership at AgSafe BC

March 11, 2026

Cameron Stockdale is the new executive director of provincial farm safety organization AgSafeBC, succeeding Wendy…

Pacific Time decision creates issues

March 11, 2026

BC’s decision to ditch seasonal time changes will leave much of BC in the dark…

Title concerns add uncertainty to land deals

March 1, 2026

WILLIAMS LAKE – An initial offering of 12 ranches totalling more than 45,000 acres by…

Water woes: groundwater under pressure across BC

March 1, 2026

JAFFRAY – As a young boy growing up in the Kootenay-Boundary region, Randy Reay never…

Board finds overgrazing rules unenforceable, unmeasurable

March 1, 2026

MERRITT – A BC Forest Practices Board investigation has found instances of non-compliance related to…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

April 29, 2026

Monette Farms wins creditor protection

Sun-Rype moves concern growers

Dry start to wildfire season

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shared or sold ever

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16 hours ago

Saskatchewan's Monette Farms, with nearly $1.1 billion in liabilities, has been granted creditor protection under the CCAA while it restructures. Rapid expansion into produce and cattle dragged earnings well below projections. The farm's BC cattle operation — and a planned West Kelowna winery — hang in the b#BCAge.

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Monette Farms’ rapidly expanding produce business was a key factor in its decision to seek protection from creditors last week, according to court documents. Saskatchewan-based Monette Farms was…

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3 days ago

A new national beef code of practice is open for public comment until June 12. Developed by NFACC and the Canadian Cattle Association, the draft addresses pain management, weaning, nutrition, lameness and end-of-life care.

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A new national code of practice for beef producers is open for public comment. “The public comment period is an important opportunity for producers across Canada to review the draft code and provide...

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7 days ago

The BC Ministry of Health has approved $4.25 million for the BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program, administered by the BC Association of Farmers Markets, for 2026. The funding is even with last year, and follows on $12 million provided in 2022-24. The funding is a cornerstone of BCAFM, providing eligible low-income, pregnant and senior individuals with $27 a week for purchases of locally grown produce at more than 100 participating farmers markets in 92 communities across BC. Funding has increased seven-fold since the program launched in 2012.

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It provides for more than produce. It includes, eggs, meat and honey!

Good program. Additionally, I toured the Kelowna Food bank yesterday. They are serving about 12,000 people a month. Lots are working people.

I have seen people at the Saanichton markets asking if vendors take the coupons and being embarrassed when the vendor says no. Are there signs that are placed on the tables so people know who is part of the program and who is not?

You would have a slim choice of meat if you only get $27.00 .

“While it’s unfortunate that programs like this are necessary, I’m grateful they exist to support families and local farmers.”

This should be made a little more accessible, especially for seniors

What exactly is this and how does it work? I've never heard of it before. How does this get applied to us who it's intended to help?

Food stamps?

Christy Sakai its a week and if you to the markets you can get a small bag of carrots 5bucks, a few potatoes, usually a bag of apples are 5 bucks, and in summer you have fruit choices. Yes doesn't seem like alot but it could be stretched at the markets and remember its a week so really ypu going to use the whole bag of carrots in a week, probably not so you have something for the next week. Heads of lettuce 5 bucks. Every little bit does help when it comes to supporting local farmer and family.

This program has helped me afford local produce, as a senior. I am grateful for the assistance and eat a healthier diet.

I have been a working poor and 🙏👍for recognizing the people who deserve a bit of help as they are doing the best they can 😘👍

This sounds a little more complicated to enroll in than it needs to be. A lot of people probably never heard of it, I only did because I read this post.

It is illegal for me to grow a garden . We can all afford to eat if we can grow.

How does a senior apply?

On my smalltown the food bank puts your name in a lottery for this Seniors included in lottery

Here are the general qualifications: Income Threshold: Generally for lower-income households. Some specific, local programs have identified a threshold of $27,000 or less for a single person or under $50,000 per year for a household. Targeted Groups: Participants must be seniors/elders, pregnant individuals, or families with children under 19. Participant Requirements: In addition to income, participants must: Participate in a food literacy program (e.g., cooking, gardening, or food budgeting). Be able to travel to a participating market to shop for themselves. Allocation: Because demand is high, coupons are often prioritized for new participants each year. Important Information: Coupons are not handed out by the BC Farmers' Markets directly. You must connect with a local community partner (such as a food bank, community centre, or neighbourhood house) to apply.

Glad to see this continue. With the increase in cost of living, this program should be increasing, not staying even with last year. Our local food bank is inundated with need.

It’s a great program. Too bad they won’t extend it to Farmstands as well. Some producers can’t make it to market because of work schedules. And there is more than just vegetables out there.

Where do people apply? Thinking of those I know who need this program.

Have you got an email yet?

I wish a person on disability could get the help too :(

What cities have this

I didn’t know that the program existed

Please if you have these coupons do not be embarrassed to use them they are a good as anyone's money to a grower! I would agree it is a slippery slope to have people pay with government coupons but Remember large scale agriculture is subsidized in this country in way that dwarfs this little program. We are all in a sense are paying with coupons at the big supermarket. As a small scale grower grower I can tell you when you see the higher prices at the farmers market, no one is getting rich off you. That is the true cost of food. Yes that should scare you

Excellent work, BC Ministry of Health! 👍👍👍 An amazing program

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2 weeks ago

KPU researcher Naomi Robert is partnering with Oregon State University's Dry Farming Collaborative to test drought-resilient growing practices across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Working with three market gardeners, the study found tomatoes and zucchini thrived without irrigation. With droughts intensifying across the Pacific Northwest, dry farming offers BC growers practical tools to adapt to a changing climate. The full story appears in our April edition. tinyurl.com/d2fzs #BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

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A Maple Ridge dairy producer has been fined $7,512, had his licence suspended for three months, and faces quota restrictions for two years after an undercover investigation confirmed raw milk was sold directly from the farm on three separate occasions.

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Raw milk remains off the table for dairy producers, with the BC Milk Marketing Board (BCMMB) taking action against a Maple Ridge producer for illicit sales. An undercover investigation of Maple Ridge�...

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Unpasteurized milk is sold in Europe. It's the only milk certain cheeses can be made from.

Europeans used raw milk to make cheese for millenia, the farmer should sue them back on cultural grounds and a charter violation.

A person can shoot up government drugs in a playground but milk is the issue. 🙄

Is there a go fund me?

Raised on raw milk and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. My immune system is top notch compared to all others raised on corn syrup baby formula. Make it make sense!

When i was on the farm we would drink milk right from the cow in a bottle then drink and never got sick.

Ohh the milk moffia at it again I see

So whose the rat? lol one of the ppl who bought the raw milk? 🤦🏻‍♀️

I grew up in the 60’s with raw milk, cream and butter the farm shipped cream. One day the cream was rejected do too much bacteria. It wasn’t kept cool enough. That was the first of government control I experienced. Ok so the cream went back to the farm and made the best sourdough bread, ice cream and the cats came from heavens green acres for a treat of stale bread soaked in that very cream.

If the farmer sold shares in his farm so all these people owned part of the farm. Then it’s their milk . And don’t have to buy anything

Yet the government can supply cigarettes, alcohol, weed and hard drugs. Makes sense. 🙄

leave him the hell alone! if someone wants to buy raw milk at their own risk, let them. At least they can see where the milk came from

I would love my own cow so I could get raw milk

I love the back in the day story’s . Please remember those stories were of grandpa drinking his own cow’s milk. You still have the right to buy cows and drink their milk raw. Go ahead and do it….

As the government sells alcohol and cigarettes 🤡

Free drugs good raw milk bad 🤣

Just identify as first nations and say it's a cultural thing . Then it becomes legal

Guy up the road sells milk raw here too

Raised on our own milk, so were my kids. Got told my kids would not be as Intelegent because of it 😂 they are adults and doing very well. The problem lays in the consumer handling of product after pick up. when milking at home its in a stainless steel pail, sifted, into glass containers, then in fridge to cool down. People picking up, put jn car drive off for an hour or more, then in fridge. This is the problem, bactia grows in the heat. Then they drink that evening when still warm, get sick, blame farm milk. Go to grocery store buy a jug, it last 2weeks after due date ...yummy. ( tested this therory) Id rather have fresh milk and properly handle it. Everything is so regulated,

I have mixed opinions here. I think that people should be able to get unpasteurized milk( I was raised on it and raised my own family with our own milk cow..) However in this day and age people are so inclined to sue for most anything it seems like the dairy farmers need some kind of protection against that? They could lose their businesses over legal procedures. Maybe that is a positive thing about the milk boards…

Some comments seem to be missing the point of the article. NO ONE was sick from the milk. It’s all about money. “By selling milk outside the regulated system, where revenues are pooled, the board claimed Stuyt had cost producers as a whole $195,185 and ordered him to repay this amount. It also ordered Stuyt to pay $33,266 to cover the cost of BCMMB’s investigation and hearings into the matter. The BC Dairy Association, which stood as an intervenor in the appeal before FIRB, said illicit raw milk sales are a direct threat to supply management.”

Communist Canada. If people want raw milk they should be able to buy raw milk. It’s all about control ….

You mean sold real milk, unadulterated, whole milk

That's just sad, but drugs are fine

To each their own. If people want to buy resh milk im sure they know the consequences involved. Maybe the people take it home, seperate the cream and pasturize it them selves. We drank milk at my aunts house off the cow but it was heated to 72’ (Pasturized )