BC’s biggest agricultural fair, the Pacific National Exhibition, may be best known for its midway and concert venues these days, but it maintains close ties to the province’s agricultural community through its support of 4-H. This year’s annual “Evening for Agriculture” fundraiser was held December 9, coinciding with the PNE’s new winter festival that offered …
Producers wary of housing bylaw implications
SAANICHTON – Growers in Central Saanich say proposed changes to local zoning bylaws that will align them more closely with new provincial regulations designed to increase housing options within the Agricultural Land Reserve will eat up productive farmland. “I’m really against the proposed changes,” says Katy Connelly of Sea Dog Farm in Saanichton, who grows …
Nanaimo farmland vulnerable
A suite of bills passed before the fall sitting of the legislature that wrapped up at the end of November stands to increase the pressure on unprotected urban farmland. The new legislation upzones every residential property in the province and gives the lieutenant governor discretion to mandate higher densities along rapid transit routes. Unprotected farmland …
Mushroom harvester commercialized
A homegrown mushroom harvesting robot is set to for commercial deployment this month, marking a milestone for ag tech in BC. Commercialization of the fully autonomous, vision-guided mushroom harvester is the next step for 4ag Robotics Inc. of Salmon Arm, which began life as Techbrew Robotics Inc. The company won the BC Agritech Challenge in …
Wise water management funded
A new round of funding for projects designed to improve the quality of water in Shuswap and Mara lakes opened December 1. Up to $55,000 is available to landowners, farms and businesses as well as stewardship groups through through the Water Quality Grant Program administered by the Shuswap Watershed Council. “In particular, we’re looking to …
Hopcotts win OYF Canada
Pitt Meadows farmers Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms have taken top honours in the Outstanding Young Farmers Canada event, held in Laval, Quebec, November 22-26. “We are so excited to receive this award,” says Brad Hopcott. “The judges had an extremely hard decision to make with all of the fantastic honourees. We would …