VANCOUVER – The BC Milk Marketing Board is purchasing a cow for a vulnerable family in Uganda. The BCMMB made the unusual move to recognize Dick Klein Geltink’s years of service to agriculture. The Langley dairy farmer retired as a BCMMB director at the conclusion of the BC Dairy Conference, November 29. BCMMB chair Ben …
‘Green rush’ overwhelms OK planning staff
LUMBY – Some local governments in the Okanagan are facing a “green rush” as proposals blossom to meet the demand for recreational cannabis. Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) planning and building general manager Rob Smailes said changes made to its zoning bylaw to address the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations in 2016 …
Cattle feeders bullish on packing plant
WESTWOLD – Townhall meetings as the new year gets underway will determine whether or not a beef packing plant proposed for Prince George will go ahead. If it does, it will mean changes in how the BC industry finishes cattle. Someone intimately familiar with what that could mean is BC Association of Cattle Feeders executive …
Online platform connects producers, consumers
VANCOUVER – When entrepreneur Victor Straatman moved with his family to Vancouver from the Netherlands in summer 2015, he went online seeking grass-fed meat from a local farmer. Through a referral, he finally found a source and placed his order. But he had to meet the farmer in a North Vancouver parking lot. The farmer had …
Animal cruelty charges laid
Three parties appeared in Chilliwack provincial court this week to hear charges laid following a 2017 investigation into the abuse of chickens at farms in the Fraser Valley. Elite Farm Services Ltd., its president Dwayne Dueck, and processor Sofina Foods Inc. are charged with 38 counts of abusing animals. The charges were brought forward by …
BC ice wine harvest begins
BC wineries have picked approximately 135 tons of grapes for ice wine since December 5, when temperatures fell to levels required for the harvest. Twenty wineries registered an intention to produce ice wine this year with the BC Wine Authority, which regulates production. Seven plucked frozen grapes for the sweet beverage on December 5, 6 …