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Originally published:

September 2018
Vol. 104 Issue 9

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Stories In This Edition

BC faces another summer of fire

Heather takes the cake

ALR report confirms agenda

Organic labelling regulations kick in September 1

Editorial: Inside information

Back Forty: Quantum change in the barn and kitchen

OpEd: Civic elections important for agriculture

Armyworm infestation hits North Okanagan

New entrants face scrutiny, but no waitlist

Surprise quota increase for dairies

Carrot field day

National apple programs focus of OK meeting

Okanagan tree fruits grab international spotlight

Farmers put food hub on wish list

Farming matters

Potato trials reflect change in consumer tastes

Veterinary partnership aimrs to improve service

Ag Brief: New public trust manager planning workshops

Ag Brief: BCAC hires new environmental programs mgr

Ag Brief: Poultry specialist joins IAF

Ag Brief: Salmon farmers hire new executive director

Ag Brief: New island agrologist

Automation good investment for nursery

Hort show offering more educational opportunities

Grant harnesses opportunities for farming

Flood management requires collaboration

Rancher goes wireless to manage irrigation

Wildfire lessons learned, but still work to be done

National park reserve consultations to resume

BC youth prevail at Western Canadian Classic

Land trust for Metro Vancouver floated again

Cawston market garden looks to future

Summer Institute plants seeds of knowledge

Cariboo farm thrives with mentorship

Research: Genetic editing stops deadline pig virus

Ploughing championship in sight

Coop rentals connect urbanites with farming

Maple Ridge consults on backyard chickens

Organic pioneers reflect on growth, changes in sector

Hooked on 4-H

Fair time

Woodshed: Sweet-talkin’ Henderson makes vacation plans

Wannabe: Here’s to the ordinary

Feast of Fields

Jude’s Kitchen: September and birthday celebrations

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1 month ago

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production; repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: buff.ly/3sVRF4G
... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production;  repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: https://buff.ly/3sVRF4G
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1 month ago

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details. ... See MoreSee Less

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details.
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2 months ago

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the province's deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed. ... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the provinces deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed.
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Sounds like 2 weeks to flatten the curve turning into 2 years.

USDA doing avian vax research, May 11 bio-docs to UN incl section on H5N8 w/wild bird spread. Found link to apparent pre-release on May 11 Geller Report. Good luck farmers.

2 months ago

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.” ... See MoreSee Less

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.”
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Killing our food chain. How do we know they are actually carrying a virus, look what's taking place with covid, is it real.

Ik kan niet zo goed Engels maar als ik het goed begrijp is bij jullie ook vogelgriep maar nog niet bij jullie

Any idea when this episode or bird flu might be over?

2 months ago

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions. ... See MoreSee Less

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions.
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Cariboo farm thrives with mentorship

Short-season production comes with long days

September 5, 2018 byMyrna Stark Leader

100 MILE HOUSE – At 8 pm, Robin Hunt and her husband of almost two years, Johan Bos, are finishing washing and prepping their produce for the next day’s 20-minute drive to the South Cariboo farmers’ market in 100 Mile House. It’s hard work, but both say it’s satisfying to do a job that helps feed people and sustains the land.

Two years ago, the couple turned a half-acre of pasture in Forest Grove into a market garden producing vegetables, strawberries and other small fruit. They also raise heritage chickens for meat and eggs. A herd of pigs was also part of the mix but this year they’re focusing on the garden.

Both were on the coast working, she in film and photography and he as a lighting technician for concerts and other events. They met online but discovered they shared a common best friend. At the time, she lived above a horse barn in Squamish, had a couple horses and was already passionate about farming – for the lifestyle and personal fulfilment.

“The true passion started at 21. I built a 4×20-foot raised bed. It had everything – the tiniest little carrots. I learned lots and my gardens kept getting bigger,” Hunt recalls, saying she eventually convinced Bos to move to a rented farm in the Squamish valley where for two years they raised 30 chickens, boarded horses, had gardens, eggs and launched a small community-supported agriculture (CSA) venture.

“I always wanted to run my own business and did so as a freelancer, so I said let’s give it a shot,” says Bos who, along with Hunt, advise others to spend a year working for someone else on a farm to learn more.

They say they couldn’t have been farmers if they’d had to buy property in Squamish but when Hunt’s grandfather died in 2016 they moved to Forest Grove and Big Rock Ranch to be with her grandmother, Karen Smith. The 148 acres was named for the high rock point on the property that overlooks the house and surrounding countryside. Hunt’s grandparents were both teachers and over the years leased their land for cattle grazing to the neighbouring Pincott Ranches Ltd.

“Johan is in charge of the livestock, bookkeeping, accounting, website design, YouTube and construction and I’m more in charge of the vegetable production and sales, marketing to public, restaurants and businesses and social media,” Hunt explains.

Market gardening here is challenging. The last frost can be as late as June 1 and the first in mid-September. To beat the short season, they’ve constructed two greenhouses and will be doing a third next year to give more plants a head start.

Hunt has strong feelings that food should be raised sustainability, which for her means working towards organic certification.

“We add ladybugs and beneficial nematodes to the garden to deal with issues like wireworms and aphids. We deal with things as nature would,” she explains.

She worries that people don’t think enough about the hours it takes to produce their food or how it reaches them. When wildfires limited travel in and around Forest Grove last year, she was able to provide a measure of local food security with deliveries of produce and eggs from the ranch. It was a small contribution that made her feel good.

Game changers

The couple are avid learners. They’ve borrowed great ideas to farm economically. Their cold storage, for example, is housed in an insulated shipping container cooled by a modified home air conditioner fitted with a CoolBot.

“It tricks the unit to go way cooler than it’s supposed to go. It’s a more affordable way to make a cool room and is way easier and cheaper to fix if something breaks,” Hunt says.

They’ve created a cleaning station for the produce that features an improvised air-bubbling system for washing greens. A washing machine has been retrofitted to spin-dry salad.

“The drying rack and the washing station is from Urban Farmer Curtis Stone and we want to build a germination chamber,” Bos says.

They bought a flame-weeder, a walk-behind tractor and attachments. YouTube videos taught them to build a tiny house that provides additional income as a vacation rental.

A mentorship engagement through Young Agrarians has been a key influence on their farming careers.

“Through meeting others, we began to see that this could be more than just a hobby, that it could be living for the two of us,” says Hunt. “We also obtained a mentor, Seann Dory, who met with us weekly for 30 hours. He started Sole Food Street Farms in Vancouver and is running Salt and Harrow Farm on [Vancouver] Island.”

Dory remains available to them, even though the formal mentorship is over.

“He said, ‘You guys are doing really good, even if you feel like the weeds are out of control and there’s too much work.’ He’s been really good at grounding us and showing us that we’re not alone,” says Bos.

“We usually call him around the burn-out point. … We say, ‘How do you guys do this in eight or 10-hour days?’ and he said, ‘We’re not. We’re doing 12-hour days just like you and it’s hard. It’s July but you will get to winter and have down time,’” Hunt adds. “We love it, but where’s the quality of life? We do try and find balance by taking Sundays off and away from the farm.”

Planning for profit

Recently, they submitted a one-minute video that saw them selected for a lifetime scholarship for The Market Gardener Master Class, an online learning forum for tools like crop plans from Quebec small-scale organic vegetable grower and author Jean-Martin Fortier. It’s a big win because Fortier promotes human-scale, ecological and – as importantly – profitable agriculture.

The couple’s future goal is for the farm to support themselves and a couple of employees. But for now, Bos will continue monthly contract lighting jobs and Hunt may do some film work in the off-season to supplement their farm income and pay back a small loan used mostly for equipment like their 2018 853 BCS Walk Behind Tractor.

“Part of the challenge right now is that we invested a lot,” says Hunt. “We’re seeing good sales, and our CSA members are happy, but it’s not easy. You have to start somewhere and ignite the interest in local farming, especially in a community like ours where people are still getting used to a profitable small-scale farm.”

To that end, she’s chair and he’s a director of the South Cariboo Farmers’ Market Society.

“We’ve talked to others who have reviewed our finances and what we’ve accomplished for a couple of people who just started this two years ago, [and] they say we are doing good,” adds Bos. “You have to set your financial goals and then work backwards. And it’s about determining the level of income you need or want.”

 

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