Country Life in BC

Ag council helps avert seasonal worker delays

Biometrics, bureaucracy key obstacles for returning workers

February 4, 2020

ABBOTSFORD – Potential problems bringing in seasonal farm workers have been averted. Western Agricultural Labour Initiative (WALI) program manager Veronica Moreno warned growers at a BC Landscape & Nursery Association meeting in Abbotsford on December 17 that they could face delays receiving Mexican workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) at the beginning of …

FARM NEWS UPDATE February 19, 2020

Province pares agriculture budget

BCMMB new entrants shortlist

Research association mulls future

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Apple growers fight low prices

February 12, 2020

BC tree fruit growers are seeing extremely poor returns on their first pool advance from…

Reeve leads BC Young Farmers

February 12, 2020

BC Young Farmers has a new executive director. Ava Reeve, a farmer in Langley, succeeded…

Ingratta heads dairy commission

February 12, 2020

Bob Ingratta is back in the dairy industry. Ingratta was CEO of the BC Milk…

Canada recognizes agriculture

February 5, 2020

The first half of February includes several key dates for raising awareness of the challenges…

Dairy producers payout

February 5, 2020

A first round of compensation to BC dairy farmers for market share lost thanks to…

Annual gala yields awards

February 5, 2020

BC’s agriculture sector gathered to grow their knowledge and relationships at the Pacific Agriculture Show…

Black walnuts are an option for water-logged land

February 1, 2020

KELOWNA – After 10 years in the growing phase, a Kelowna agro-forestry producer is gathering…

Farm plans offer new opportunities for ranchers

February 1, 2020

VERNON – Winter weather chilled the turnout for the annual North Okanagan Livestock Association educational…

New executive director for COABC appointed

February 1, 2020

VERNON – A new executive director has been found to lead the Certified Organic Associations…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

Province pares agriculture budget

Research association mulls future

BCMMB new entrants shortlist

Your information will not be
shared or sold ever

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Two years of funding increases for the province’s agriculture ministry have come to an end with today’s budget, which proposes a cut of nearly $3 million for operating expenses. While the Agricultural Land Commission receives a boost of $70,000 and the BC Farm Industry Review Board is allocated an additional $16,000, funding for agriculture science and policy is taking a cut of $2.3 million. The budget for the ministry’s executive and support services is also being pared by $72,000. The result will see the ministry’s budget fall from $98.2 million to $95.4 million in the coming year. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. More details coming in our March edition. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

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100 million dollars to the taxpayer for essentially nothing improved and much worse. I wonder how much the ALC cost us when it comprised of a board of regional representatives??

This is a sad day for BC agriculture.

Concern about a potential shortage of seasonal farm workers has been averted. “We worked with the affected employers and I think we were able to accommodate everyone,” BC Agriculture Council executive director Reg Ens said in early January. The issue hinged on the need for Mexican workers to provide biometric information (fingerprints and a facial photo) before being permitted to work in Canada. This can only be done at one center in Mexico City and that center can handle no more than 150 applicants a day. Once provided, however, biometric information is good for 10 years. buff.ly/3bf64hV ... See MoreSee Less

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BC greenhouse growers have until December 1 to transition to the new Greenhouse Certification Program if they want to export plants. The new program defines a greenhouse as any structure which creates a modified growing environment and controls pests. It excludes field-grown nursery stock. Details are in the February edition of Country Life in BC, the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and ranchers since 1915. ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Increasing the amount of BC grown or raised food in government funded institutions (like hospitals, residential care homes, universities and colleges) is not as easy as it sounds. “It’s not as easy as flipping a switch and buying food closer to home,” admits agriculture minister Lana Popham. But recent work under Feed BC hopes to make the path to market clearer for BC’s farmers and ranchers. Feed BC has published a list of the top 20 food products BC health care facilities use that are currently sourced outside the province that local producers have the greatest potential to supply. Another new publication, Selling BC Food to BC’s Government Supported Facilities, also identifies the opportunities as well as illustrating the supply chain and outlines a producer’s route to market. Read Tom Walker’s story is the February edition of Country Life in BC. ... See MoreSee Less

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Bees and cranberries are the latest recipients of funding under the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program, administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Worker Bee Honey Co. of Chilliwack and the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission have received more than $181,000 towards projects aimed at building a more sustainable future for agriculture. The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program has funded a total of 28 projects worth to date. Total funding available is $5.3 million, of which $2.7 million has been awarded. ... See MoreSee Less

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FARM NEWS UPDATE

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