COMOX VALLEY – Research on dry farming practices in the Comox Valley is helping an international study foster more resilient production systems. “We need a very large set of tools to adapt to climate change. We know it’s not going anywhere, and we know that droughts are going to become increasingly a source of stress …
BC greenhouse growers join forces
BC greenhouse vegetable growers joined forces with their counterparts across Canada last month to form the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada (GPAC). Created to be the national voice of Canada’s greenhouse fruit and vegetable growers, the group met for the first time during the Fruit & Vegetable Growers Canada (FVGC) annual general meeting in Ottawa, …
Maple Ridge farm fined for raw milk sales
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 producer Kevin Davison resulted in Davison Farms ordered to pay $7,512 in expenses related to a show-cause hearing last month. The farm has …
New beef practices open for comment
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 feedback on how it applies to their operations,” Canadian Cattle Association president Tyler Fulton said in a statement announcing the draft code. …
Fertilizer, fuel costs soar amid Iran conflict
ENDERBY – War in the Middle East has delivered a generational shock to energy prices, meaning BC farmers can expect a prolonged period of higher costs, not just for fuel but also for fertilizer. Western North America’s nitrogen fertilizers are mostly locally produced, but Okanagan Fertilizer Ltd. president and CEO Ken Clancy says various factors …
Cannabis tops BC crop cash receipts
DELTA – BC’s legal cannabis crop is reaching new highs, ranking as the top cash crop by value – ahead of both fresh fruits and vegetables. Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, and since then it has become a major agricultural crop. Last year, licensed cannabis producers contributed $10.6 billion to Canada’s GDP. In BC, Statistics …