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Originally published:

JUNE 2022
Vol. 108 Issue 6

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Stories In This Edition

Bird flu in FV

Birds of a feather

BC farm count shrinks

Fast turnaround nabs new grower high praise

Editorial: Growing old quickly

Back 40: War puts perspective on delayed spring in BC

Op-ed: Panel frames a vision for the future of BC ag

Cool spring has delayed crops province-wide

Sidebar: Low termperatures impact fruit

Nicola Valley secures funding for new abattoir

Ranchers feel margin squeeze

IAFBC expands its reach despite challenging year

Good job

Growers must focus on quality to grow market

Task force works to implement UNDRIP goals

Packers say they’ll work together to fix industry

New president aims to motivate farmers institutes

Irrigation shouldn’t be an afterthought

Project provides peace of mind for Oliver growers

Seaweed shows promise as feed additive

Forage field days showcase new tools, concepts

Sidebar: Pest management plot

Women offer ‘cutting-edge’ skills

Irrigation planning critical for hazelnuts

Nip and tuck

Off-season sales boosted by new vending machine

New pest jeopardizes strawberry production

Big expansion plans for Terrace poultry farm

BCAITC celebrates 30 years

Farm Story: There’s always one field that’s “special”

Shape-shifting dahlias drawing in growers

Woodshed Chronicles: Rescue comes for Kenneth

Jude’s Kitchen: Cake to celebrate summer and dads

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2 days ago

BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

#BCAg
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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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3 days ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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1 month ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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1 month ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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1 month ago

BC wool shipments drop sharply in 2023, according to StatsCan data released in mid-April. Local producers shipped just 5,200kg at 37¢/kg, down from 18,600kg at $1.08/kg in 2022. While many farmers now use wool on-farm or dispose of it due to low market value, innovative producers like Emily McIvor point to untapped opportunities. Read more in our Farm News Update from Country Life in BC.

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BC wool value, volume drop

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BC sheep producers shipped less wool for less in 2023, reversing strong growth a year earlier. BC producers shipped 5,200 kilograms of raw wool in 2023, according to Statistics Canada data released on...
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Bird flu in FV

H5N1 confirmed in Abbotsford

June 1, 2022 byPeter Mitham

ABBOTSFORD – A control zone was imposed on more than 50 commercial poultry farms in West Abbotsford last month following the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a local turkey farm, complicating the outlook for producers already under pressure from multiple supply chain issues.
“We’ve been meeting our chicken numbers so far as allocation and utilization numbers, and turkey and eggs are as well,” says Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association. “Everything is working, but it doesn’t get easier. It would be nice to have a little relief.”
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency established the zone east of 264 Street and south of Fraser Hwy. By press time, two local farms had tested positive.
The outbreak came just days after the province extended an order requiring commercial flocks to remain indoors until June 13 to protect them against the disease. Strict movement controls were put in place, including permits to ship live birds to market.
“We are still able to move birds to market; we’re still able to place birds. It just adds more layers that make it that much more difficult,” says Nickel. “This will affect hatcheries now, processing plants, feed companies. Everybody requires a movement permit.”
The Fraser Valley is home to 80% of the province’s poultry farms. While producers have followed red-level biosecurity measures since early April to reduce the risk of disease transmission, the federal measures will increase the pressure on producers in the heart of the province’s poultry sector.
“We have our work cut out for us in self-managing some of this movement control stuff, and it will create a significant burden on the industry,” says Nickel.
Controls remain in place until CFIA signs off on the cleaning and disinfection of subject farms and completes post-outbreak testing surveillance. This will not happen for any of the affected premises until early June at the earliest.
There is no known cause for the outbreak in Abbotsford. All birds were kept indoors, and the farm was under quarantine for five days prior to the outbreak announcement.
“[There’s] this ongoing uncertainty as to why this is happening, because we’re following protocols and rules yet we still seem to be getting outbreaks,” says Nickel.
To date, 12 flocks in BC have tested positive with more than 60,000 birds affected. All but three of the flocks are considered small flocks, which are not required to be kept indoors.
Speaking to Country Life in BC, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau emphasized the need of backyard flocks to follow proper biosecurity protocols.
“It’s important to remind those who have these backyard flocks to be extremely careful,” she says. “The big commercial installations know about all these biosecurity measures, but some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place.”
The ongoing provincial order in BC allows small-lot growers to continue pasturing birds outdoors provided they adhere to biosecurity protocols drafted by the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association.
The province has pointed to migratory birds as key players in the infection of farms. By keeping birds indoors, farmers aim to reduce risk of transmission between wild and domestic flocks.
A wild bird surveillance program tests about 1,200 birds a year and 400 sediment samples, but in extending the provincial order to June 13, the province’s deputy chief veterinarian said additional measures may be required.
“The B.C. Poultry Association (BCPA) has introduced the highest biosecurity ‘code Red’ standards to support producers taking actions in limiting the spread of the virus,” the order states. “In addition to the actions being taken by the BCPA, further government actions to limit direct contact between wild birds and commercial poultry are warranted.”
The original order was meant to extend until the end of the migratory season. While additional outbreaks changed those plans, Nickel welcome the arrival of warm weather at the end of May following a cool, damp spring.
“The good news is it’s warming up, so hopefully this summertime weather will bring some of this to an end,” he says.

 

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