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Originally published:

SEPTEMBER 2019
Vol. 105 Issue 9

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Stories In This Edition

Livestock groups ramp up security

Gaurav Maan

EU tightens shipping rules

New waste control rules kick in October 1

Dibs on ribs

Nip the buds

Climate woes are everyone’s responsibility

Viewpoint: Weighing in on the battle of the burgers

Ag counil defendes cannabis sector on odour

Feds announce compensation package for dairy

Potato harvest looks promising for BC growers

Motor Vehicle Act covers tractors

Province urges armyworm precautions

Feast for the eyes

Funding helps cherry growers court new buyers

Oregon hazelnut optimism inspires BC growers

Dairy tour showcases innovative farming

Minimize the risk of corn silage fires

Teachers receive valuable lessons about farming

Climate change concerns grapegrowers

Canada eyes clean vines network

Province extends deadline for meat consultation

Top seller

Winery upstart banks on ranch’s rich history

Sidebar: Room to grow

Market Musings: Rain creates haying challenges

Nechako win

Forage council ready for a changing climate

Armyworm warning

Soda Creek social highlights land-matching

Research: The symbiotic relationship in pregnancy

Sheep farmers have high hopes for cooperative

PNE lamb

AAFC seeks volunteer weather reporters

Land commission orders Gleaners off ALR

Tour highlights adaption

Maan Farms keeps the focus on family

Ceadrow Farm tops Chilliwack sheep show

Island Holstein show and sale reflects quality

4-H sale saves the bacon for ranching student

4-H sale at the PNE is the best part of summer

Success is in the bag for barley entrepreneurs

Simple steps help to overcome gas exposure

Blueberries find a home in wine at Baccata

Woodshed: Henderson backs off while Frank closes in

Volunteers harvest for FV charities

Nutritious autumn eats

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1 month ago

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production; repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: buff.ly/3sVRF4G
... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production;  repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: https://buff.ly/3sVRF4G
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1 month ago

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details. ... See MoreSee Less

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details.
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2 months ago

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the province's deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed. ... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the provinces deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed.
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Sounds like 2 weeks to flatten the curve turning into 2 years.

USDA doing avian vax research, May 11 bio-docs to UN incl section on H5N8 w/wild bird spread. Found link to apparent pre-release on May 11 Geller Report. Good luck farmers.

2 months ago

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.” ... See MoreSee Less

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.”
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Killing our food chain. How do we know they are actually carrying a virus, look what's taking place with covid, is it real.

Ik kan niet zo goed Engels maar als ik het goed begrijp is bij jullie ook vogelgriep maar nog niet bij jullie

Any idea when this episode or bird flu might be over?

2 months ago

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions. ... See MoreSee Less

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions.
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4-H sale saves the bacon for ranching student

Young farmer ready to roll north to studies at TRU

September 1, 2019 bySean Hitrec

VANCOUVER—As he stepped into the Agrodome with his 4-H hog project on August 19, 20-year-old Gabriel Camparmo had no idea about the surprise ahead.

The gavel clapped in a joint sale to Bonetti Meats and Gabriel’s proud father, Maurice Camparmo. Gabriel was beaming as the crowd cheered.

Then, Maurice jumped the fence, walked up to his son and handed him the keys to his new truck. The two men embraced as Gabriel fought back tears.

“I’m so happy to know that I have people in my life that love me like that,” says Gabriel. “[Getting a truck] was my biggest stressor this year because I barely had enough money for school, much less a truck.”

Gabriel’s last year in 4-H went off as well as it could have. Weighing in at 266 pounds, Pedro won champion market and champion swine showmanship during the PNE 4-H show.

Pedro was one of 127 animals sold at the anual auction and at $7 per pound, brought well above the average price of $3.90 per pound. The auction’s total sales were just shy of $308,000 and featured swine, lambs, goats, poultry and beef. Gabriel also sold his lamb Kip for just over $2 a pound.

His father Maurice couldn’t have been happier.

Raised in Saskatchewan, Gabriel came to live with him at 15, and they bonded over the livestock on their small hobby farm in Langley.

“At times I wouldn’t find him in the house, and I couldn’t figure out where he was. He’s sleeping in the hay loft [near pregnant ewes]…,” he says. “Animals and caring of animals have been his go-to place and he does it well.”

For as long as he can remember, Gabriel has had a passion for animals. Growing up, all he wanted were animal dictionaries and pets. It started with a well-trained hamster named Slinky and eventually led to a dog, cat and then horses he’d save from meat markets.

His passion was overshadowed by a tough life in Saskatchewan, however.

Gabriel spent most of his childhood and early teenage years with his mother. He lived through emotional and mental abuse so in desperation, he left to be with his father in Langley.

“I would be hiding under stairs and stuff and it wasn’t good. I came out here and I was pretty broken,” says Gabriel. “I had my dad, but I didn’t know him. I hadn’t talked to him really until I was 15.”

“It’s been a really long and hard trip for me,” Gabriel continues. “To be able to end my 4-H career like this, it makes me very happy because I didn’t think I’d ever get here. I didn’t think I’d live past 17.”

Maurice took note of his son’s love for animals, and signed him up for 4-H. Gabriel came out of his shell and flourished in the program.

“4-H gave me a family,” says Gabriel. “It gave me something to look forward to and support and people to talk to … it allowed me to be a kid again when I didn’t have that growing up.”

The horses Gabriel had in Saskatchewan were too expensive to board so he tried swine, an animal with a completely different temperament than he was used to.

“I was so scared of pigs! The first time I saw them I started crying,” he says.

Through determination and support from 4-H, Gabriel began to understand and love the animals he’d feared.

“I’ve fallen in love with my pigs because I’ve figured out that you don’t have to push them to do anything. They’ll generally do what you want on their own if you ask politely,” he says. “I specifically love their mind. You would think that they are very brutish animals. They [seem] loud [and] aggressive, but they’re not ; they’re very gentle and they are a prey animal and they panic. Their defense mechanism is their strength, so they tend to throw their weight around, but if you keep them calm and you’re calm around them and you don’t aggravate them, you’re not going to have any issues. You’re going to have this sweet animal that’s easy to handle, easy to train and manoeuvre.”

In a sense, he managed to turn some of the darker times in his life into a strength when dealing with especially fearful animals. Pedro was Gabriel’s “prize” possession, even before she (yes, she!) came out on top at the PNE. It took countless hours of patience to get her to trust him.

“Till today, she has been the most difficult hog I’ve ever had,” he says. “I would go into the pen and I’d ask her to turn and she’d just throw her whole body into me and knock me over and then run away screaming … but eventually she’s learned that I’m not going to hurt her.”

Off to school

A week after the PNE, Gabriel is leaving for Big Bear Ranch, between 150 Mile House and Horsefly, but he didn’t have a vehicle to get there. A major snag like that had the potential to kill a dream he’d been working towards for his whole life. He spent the summer milking goats at 4 am to afford gas so he could drive his father’s truck to a pest management field course at University of the Fraser Valley in Chilliwack during the day. He also finished a certificate in livestock production at UFV this year, bussing from Langley to get to the campus in Chilliwack. All the while, he was looking for some wheels to get him to the Interior so he could start the sustainable ranching program at Thompson Rivers University.

“We’ve been looking all summer long and there were a couple [of] opportunities to acquire a truck, but as things have it, you’re always the second person there,” explains Maurice. “This all happened on Friday after delivering the animals [to the PNE].”

After he purchased the used truck privately on Friday,  Maurice secretly moved it to his hobby farm in Langley while Gabriel stayed in residence at the PNE with 4-H.

With his new truck, he will spend the fall and winter at Big Bear Ranch where he’ll work as a hand while attending classes in Williams Lake. After completing the two-year diploma in sustainable ranching, Gabriel hopes to be part of the next generation of environmentally conscious farmers with his own pasture-raised hog and lamb farm.

“It’s my passion to be able to farm sustainably for the future,” he says, noting that farmers’ average age is getting close to retirement. “I want to pick up some of the slack that’s being left from the depleting farmers and continue in a sustainable fashion.”

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