A massive expansion of BC’s milk processing capacity received an infusion of $25 million from the province this week. Premier David Eby and Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Minister Brenda Bailey announced the funding April 23 at Vitalus Nutrition Inc. in Abbotsford. The funding is provided as part of the province’s blueprint for clean industrial …
FARM NEWS UPDATE
Early-season fires spark concern
This past weekend saw seven wildfires reported in the Cariboo, including the 1,600-hectare Burgess Creek Wildfire, which continues to burn out of control between Quesnel and Williams Lake. An evacuation alert was announced April 23 for the area east of the fire, but no ranches have been impacted to date. However, rancher and Quesnel Cattlemen’s …
Federal budget “falls short”
The federal budget delivered April 16 held no surprises for agriculture and little to cheer about, either. The budget allocated $64 million to support an increase in the interest-free limit on Advance Payments Program loans to $250,000 from $100,000 for the 2024 program year. However, the announcement had already been made nearly a month earlier …
Throne speech silent on agriculture
MLAs returned to Victoria this week for their final sitting before this year’s provincial election, but agriculture rated barely a mention in the government’s agenda. The top priority for the government is pushing through amendments to the Land Act in the name of reconciliation, according to the speech from the throne delivered by Lieutenant Governor …
A dry season continues
Growers across the province have been pinning their hopes on winter delivering the hit of moisture needed to address last summer’s dry conditions. The Peace region entered winter at Level 5 drought for the second year in a row, while four of the province’s 34 basins – the Upper Fraser East and West, the Kettle …