SURREY – This spring’s cool, wet weather has made it difficult for farmers to get on fields across the Lower Mainland, particularly in low-lying areas of Delta and on Sumas Prairie. But in Campbell Heights, the Heppell family was seeding its 220 acres in early March – a little bit later than usual, but earlier …
Irrigation shouldn’t be an afterthought
GRAND FORKS – When cool weather lingers through spring and when it arrives in the fall, irrigation is the furthest thing from the minds of many growers. That shouldn’t be the case, says irrigation designer Andrew Bennett. “It’s been a cold April – nobody’s thinking about irrigation,” he says. “[But] start early, and make sure …
DAS expands to Kootenays
The BC Decision Aid System, one of the best resources available for providing time-sensitive information on managing pests, is expanding to the Kootenays. Five new provincially funded weather stations in the Creston area will collect and integrate data used to forecast insect population trends so orchardists can anticipate and respond to pest management issues. An …
Wireworms require vigilance
Corn growers need to be on top of crop protection this year in order to make the most of a tough season. Wet weather delayed planting of various feed crops across the province this year by two to three weeks. Growers of forage corn have been particularly affected, with plantings in the Cariboo described as …
Animal activists on trial
The trial of three activists charged in the invasion of Excelsior Hog Farm in April 2019 began in Abbotsford on June 27. Amy Soranno, Nick Schafer and Roy Sasano are charged with a total of 14 counts of break and enter and mischief. The initial stage of the trial is the Crown laying forth its …
Women offer ‘cutting-edge’ skills
ARMSTRONG – To work in meat processing, one requires strength, passion and specialized skills. But for Amber Baryla, getting into poultry processing came out of necessity. She ended up falling in love with her new career choice anyway. “I didn’t come from a farm family. I worked in the auto industry in sales for a …