VERNON – This summer’s dry weather resulted in a record number of restrictions on water use across southern BC, underscoring just how tapped out some basins are. Salmon River remained at drought level 5 last month – the most severe under the province’s new six-tier drought rating system – even after the autumn rains arrived. …
ISSUE
Producers silent on Columbia River Treaty impacts
VICTORIA – The recently completed public consultation on the Columbia River Treaty’s impacts on BC agriculture has come up short. “We are extremely disappointed that we only received four submissions to our request for feedback,” says Kathy Eichenberger, who is leading the Columbia River Treaty review on behalf of the province. Eichenberger acknowledges that it …
BCAC meetings bear fruit
Representatives of agriculture organizations from across BC met with provincial cabinet ministers and staff today as part of a virtual BC Agriculture Day. With meetings continuing past 5 pm yesterday, the event organized by the BC Agriculture Council was set to include 35 meetings over two days with more than 50 farmers, ranchers and agricultural …
Travel restrictions raise concerns
Travel restrictions are coming to BC this week, and that could put a chill on farmers’ ability to access domestic labour. Specifics of the new restrictions have yet to be unveiled, but the province has said they’ll limit travel between health regions. Signs will be posted at the Alberta border asking non-residents not to enter. …
No surprises in Throne speech
The second throne speech since the BC NDP held few surprises for agriculture. Opening a new sitting of the legislature on April 12, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin laid forth an agenda that reaffirmed the province’s support for the Buy BC program and greater investment in the agritech sector. But the reminder that the government had …