Ottawa’s ambitions to rein in grocery prices are at odds with efforts to support producers, according to a growing chorus of voices throughout the supply chain. On the farmer side, national horticulture association Fruit and Vegetable Growers Canada says the federal government has failed to consider how capping grocery prices will impact producers. “We appreciate …
Rural communities see surge in farmland sales
ROCK CREEK – Farmers and non-farmers wanting to buy farmland are increasingly migrating to BC’s rural communities to find land that’s more affordable than in urban areas. The impacts of this trend are wide-reaching: land is in high demand and supply is limited, land values have increased and properties suited to growing food are being …
ALR policy review shows room for improvement
PRINCE GEORGE – A third-party review of Agricultural Land Reserve policies by UNBC undergraduate student Matt Henderson hopes to capture the challenges North Cariboo producers face and recommend ways government can better support the industry. And unlike many government initiatives, it is welcomed by farmers, ranchers and community partners. “I would say that many, many …
Country Life in BC tops awards
Country Life in BC came away with a record nine awards from the annual Canadian Farm Writers Federation competition on October 5. The paper’s team of writers and photographers came out tops in the Opinion, Current Affairs and business writing categories, and swept the top spots in the photography classes. Reprising last year’s success, columnist …
Federal minister visits BC
Thanksgiving is often a time for families and friends to gather, and this week federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay took the opportunity to visit BC for the first time since being reappointed to the portfolio in July’s cabinet shuffle. “It was a relational visit,” said Danielle Synotte, executive director with the BC Agriculture Council, which …
BC pumpkins weigh in
From the Kootenays to the Fraser Valley and as far away as California, BC pumpkins have impressed crowds with their colour and size. At Top Crop Garden Farm and Pet in Cranbrook, 2,300 people turned out on a rainy September 30 to see who grew this year’s largest pumpkin. “People came out in droves, rain …