The next five-year policy framework that sets the priorities for federal and provincial agriculture programming will deliver $3.5 billion in support, thanks to an extra $500 million for strategic initiatives focused primarily on initiatives addressing sustainable practices and farm resilience in the face of environmental threats. Appropriately, the new framework has been christened the Sustainable …
Peace leads real estate
The first half of the year was a busy one for farm property transactions, with BC Ministry of Finance data released this month indicating an 88% increase in transaction volume to 975 deals. While the value of those properties isn’t disclosed, the regional breakdown was. According to the numbers, the Peace was both the most …
Tree decline linked to fungi, pests
The graft union is a critical juncture when it comes to Sudden Apple Death (SAD) a phenomenon that affects young apple trees across the Okanagan. Staff from the Summerland Research and Development Centre delivered a SAD update on July 13, noting that it presents as a combination of factors whose effects may be accelerated by …
Fruit volumes down, quality up
Okanagan tree fruit producers are seeing some light – and heat – at the end of the tunnel as high summer reaches its peak. “We’ve been seeing what I would [call] challenging growing conditions for apples even in the Okanagan this year. It has been very cold, very dry and then very wet,” says Adrian …
Okanagan wine appellations expand
The province recently approved six new sub-geographical indications in the Okanagan Valley. “I think it’s a logical next step in the progression of looking harder at the Okanagan Valley and seeing what it has to offer north to south, east to west. A lot of people do that anyways, certainly within the industry,” says Julian …
ALC rejects Teacup appeal
An appeal by the District of Kent regarding the exclusion of 43 acres from the Agricultural Land Reserve for residential development has been rejected. A four-page decision issued June 10 by the Agricultural Land Commission states that the district’s request did not meet the criteria for triggering a reconsideration, and that, “in any event, is …