ABBOTSFORD – A year after successive atmospheric river events dropped between 200 and 300 mm of rain on southern BC, many producers are still in recovery mode. The deluge resulted in several feet of water on some farms, the evacuations of thousands of people and livestock, and the Lower Mainland being cut off from the …
Seven properties at auction
What’s being billed as BC’s biggest-ever auction of farm and ranch real estate is accepting bids on seven farm properties in Abbotsford, Langley and Quesnel through November 3. The properties include a former dairy farm, a ranch, acreages and farmhouses. Together, they total 1,905 acres. John Glazema of BC Farm and Ranch Realty Ltd. is …
Ag Days hit Victoria
BC Agriculture Council representatives stormed Victoria this week for meetings with cabinet ministers and MLAs as part of the annual Ag Days lobbying event. This year’s event was the first in-person meeting since 2019, following two years of Zooming in to make the case for agriculture to government. “This year’s discussions will focus on producer-led …
Interest rates rise, again
The sixth consecutive increase in the Bank of Canada benchmark lending rate underscores the need for farmers to be on their toes heading into 2023. A 50-basis point increase October 26 puts the so-called policy rate at 3.75%, 15 times what it was March 1. Many economists now expect a recession in the new year, …
Peace producers engage in on-farm research
DAWSON CREEK – The Peace Region is conducting climate change adaptation research, thanks to federal funding. The area received nearly $6 million in funding through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Lab program to develop best management practices that solve climate change challenges. “I find the Peace Region is often forgotten about …
No licence, no problem
Despite a growing number of areas in BC being elevated to Level 5 drought, the province has yet to issue fish protection or curtailment orders in response to low stream flows and the risk to aquifers. This also means that compliance activities have yet to shut down unlicensed groundwater users across the province, thousands of …