The impact of a dramatic turn in the provincial wildfire situation last week is still being calculated as the smoke clears in the Okanagan. Dramatic footage from the McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna focused on the impacts to residential and recreational properties, but the smoke plume hit orchards as well as vineyards, where veraison …
Cattle head to market
A fire sale is never a good sign, but that’s what’s happening in the beef sector as hundreds of animals move to market early this summer in advance of a winter where available forage is expected to be expensive, if it can be had at all. “There’s a shortage of feed with the drought and …
BC Tree CEO on leave
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative CEO Warren Sarafinchan took an extended leave of absence, effective August 5, following a battle with COVID-19 and the toll four years of transformation at the co-op has taken. “This decision comes as he focuses on recovering from COVID and takes some much-needed time to rest with his family,” co-op chair …
CYL semi-finalists share positive outlook
VERNON – Three BC ranchers were selected as semi-finalists for this year’s Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program. Cassie Marchand of Vernon, Kayla Shallard of Hixon and Brett Squair of Lumby, along with 21 other semi-finalists from across the country, are invited to attend the annual CYL selections competition taking place during the Canadian Beef Industry …
Lower Salmon River shutdown
With temperatures cresting 40°C in various parts of the province this week, BC Forests Minister Bruce Ralston signed the first Section 88 order of the season. Lower Salmon River water users (east of Westwold) must cease irrigating forage crops from August 15 through September 30 in order to protect fish, specifically the spawning population of …
Comox Valley farmers seek support
Mid-Island Farmers Institute representatives spoke to the Comox Valley Regional District this week to advocate for a coordinated response to the region’s water shortage and threat of restriction on irrigation water. “We have a dugout at our farm and it’s virtually empty,” institute president and produce grower Diane Jackson of Fitzgerald Farms in Merville told …