The consortium fighting Japanese beetle in BC found fewer of the emerald-coloured pest last year, but detections occurred at more sites than in the past. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 79 individuals were caught in a total of 2,790 traps as part of survey efforts in 2021. This was down from 214 captures …
Ukraine adds to producer pressures
The trade fallout from Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine threatens to add to the pressures producers face in what was already shaping up to be an expensive growing season. Responding to international sanctions, Russia has urged its producers to halt exports of fertilizer, which was already in short supply in Europe due to production disruptions. …
Groundwater deadline passes
Thousands of non-domestic groundwater users woke up this morning, drawing water illegally from their wells. March 1 marked the deadline for well owners to submit applications for licences to use their wells, guaranteeing their historic water rights, and priority use in the event of restrictions during dry seasons. The province implemented the new regime in …
Sold! – to Make a Difference
Organizers are hoping for strong participation in this year’s Make a Difference sale in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. This year marks the second consecutive time the event has been run online, thanks to restrictions on social gatherings courtesy of COVID-19. (Two years ago, the sale at the McClary Stockyards in Abbotsford was one …
Province opens ALR to agritech development
ABBOTSFORD – Vertical farms will no longer have to seek permission from the Agricultural Land Commission to set up on protected farmland under a host of changes announced February 20. “We are making changes to support agritech and intensive crop production, like vertical farming, on the Agricultural Land Reserve,” BC agriculture minister Lana Popham said …
Building back better means avoiding past mistakes
KELOWNA – Planners and decision-makers are in a difficult position as they face the challenge of creating a plan to mitigate damage from last November’s unprecedented rainfall. On the one hand, property owners want a return to life as it was, minus the water. But at the same time, building back – even if it …