Organic BC is using funding from the Abbotsford Community Foundation to build domestic markets for organic blueberries. With trade uncertainties continuing to loom large over BC’s agriculture sector, blueberry growers have been taking steps to diversify markets. Plans to diversify sales away from the US, the province’s single largest export market, were discussed at the …
Young Leader heads to Winnipeg
Vanderhoof rancher Sarah MacDonald is in Winnipeg this week, one of 23 semi-finalists vying for a spot among this year’s Canadian Cattle Young Leaders. MacDonald, whose family operates Braemoor Ranch, has served as program coordinator with the BC Cattlemen’s Association and represented the province at the Canadian Cattle Youth Council. She’s also been an active …
ALR processing rules changing
The province is set to announce changes to rules governing food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve in response to strong demand for locally produced food. “Processing and farming have never been strangers,” BC agriculture minister Lana Popham told the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce’s annual agriculture bus tour on June 5. “The question before us …
Federal research cuts alarm industry experts
AGASSIZ – The federal government should reconsider its decision to close seven research centres and experimental farms and take a closer look at the potential national impacts of cuts to agriculture research, a federal agriculture committee says. Dozens of industry experts say the planned closures could undermine agricultural research across Canada as a whole, even …
Vernon growers address drought
Growers blindsided by last week’s demand from the Regional District of North Okanagan for a 70% cut in agricultural water use hope a June 10 meeting with RDNO will chart a positive path forward. “When I first started with the ranch back in 2015, we were having conversations like this, but it was in August …
Chilco Ranch practices honoured
Hanceville’s Chilco Ranch-Miller Ranches Ltd. is this year’s recipient of the BC Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Sustainability Award. Four generations are involved in the ranch, with Jordan and Crystal Grier, their children Connor and Taylor, as well as Justin Grier and Meghan Cave accepting the award at the BC Cattlemen’s Association annual general meeting in Kamloops, …