DUNCAN – A six-member panel at a full-day event prior to the Islands Agriculture Show in Duncan on February 6 highlighted the complex and challenging nature of supporting local agriculture. Expanding the Influence of Regional Agriculture Support, organized by the Alberni- Clayoquot Regional District, attracted 50 people to the Cowichan exhibition grounds for a morning …
New round of traceability funding available
ABBOTSFORD – Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding for the BC traceability adoption and livestock tag reader rebate programs. Part of the federal-provincial Canadian Agricultural Program (CAP), the programs provide funding for software, hardware and training for farmers and agribusinesses to adopt traceability programs. “Traceability is the ability to track a …
Pruning priorities different for FV grapegrowers
LANGLEY – Close to 30 grape growers in the Lower Mainland attended the BC Grapegrowers’ Association’s first workshop outside the Okanagan on January 21. The session, held at Chaberton Estate Winery in Langley, included a safety discussion and hands-on pruning workshop. Township 7 winemaker Mary McDermott notes events like this are needed in Langley because …
BC potato growers optimistic
Poor weather across Canada in 2018 led to strong demand for BC potatoes as the 2019 crop rolled in, members of the BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association heard this week. “It had a good crop and was able to take advantage of an industry that was ready for a new crop early in the …
Organic growers discuss challenges
Research, policy and farm tours were on the agenda as the Certified Organic Associations of BC gathered in Richmond for its annual conference on February 28-March 1. A key theme running through the conference, however, was how to explain organic agriculture to a new generation. With the title, “The Future of Organic,” several speakers touched …
Province issues co-op guidance
Two new guides from the BC Ministry of Agriculture aim to help producers looking to establish agricultural co-ops become established. According to the province, the recently updated Agricultural Co-operatives Start-Up Guide outlines an easy five-step process to help farmers create a new local co-op, while the Financing Agricultural Co-operatives Guide provides funding options for co-op …