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September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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1 day ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

3 days ago

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3 days ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattleâ...
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4 days ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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5 days ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Beekeepers suffer colony losses

FILE PHOTO

April 7, 2021 byTom Walker

High winter colony losses were among the issues discussed at the semi-annual meeting of the BC Honey Producers Association in late March.

“I personally lost between 80% to 90% of my own colonies this winter and I have talked to others who have had the same results and some who have had no losses at all,” says association president Heather Higo. “We are putting our heads together and trying to figure out what is going on.”

Lower Mainland beekeepers are some of the first to open their colonies each year. Langley Bee Club first vice-president Carolyn Essaunce reported that the club surveyed members in early February and received 150 responses.

“Keepers with 10 or more colonies have seen 53% losses, and those with one to nine colonies reported 59% losses,” she says, noting that colony losses can continue up until the first flow of nectar in April.

There appear to be three main causes, based on early discussions among beekeepers.

“There were higher-than-usual varroa mite loads going into the winter, despite summer and fall treatments,” says Essaunce. “We also saw cases of dysentery, and we believe that the age and source of queens is also a factor.”

She says colonies with local first-year queens seemed to overwinter better.

Essaunce encouraged association members to fill out provincial apiarist Paul van Westendorp’s early spring survey, distributed by email to registered beekeepers with 25 or more colonies.

“We have an increasing concern over winter mortalities,” says van Westendorp. “[The survey] is very short and will give us an idea of the projected losses and we may contact you again for samples.”

Van Westendorp explains that this is separate from the regular spring survey circulated in May.

“We are getting alarming reports, not just from the Fraser valley but other parts of the province. We want to get an idea of the damage,” he says.

According to the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists, winter colony losses in BC averaged 20.3% last year and 31.9% in 2019.

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