KELOWNA – A Vancouver Island farmer has reactivated and expanded a Kelowna abattoir, providing processing to about 80 farmers. “I’ve processed hogs and lambs from 100 Mile (and) Vanderhoof, so people need the services, but about 80% of my customers are within an hour,” says operator Dave Semmelink, who opened Creekside Meats in 2021 to …
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BC mourns sheep advocate
A tireless advocate for the BC sheep sector has died. Barbara Ydenberg of Wind’s Reach Farm in Langley passed away April 26 following an incredibly short battle with cancer. Born in California, Ydenberg moved to BC with her family to a farm near Fort Langley in 1971. She joined Pony Club and rode in many …
Vet urges dairies to be vigilant against HPAI
ABBOTSFORD – The devastation California dairy herds are experiencing from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has BC dairy producers taking note. There are no reported cases of HPAI-infected dairy or beef cattle in Canada to date, but with borders still open to the free movement of non-lactating animals and BC at the northern end of …
Reminiscences of a honeyed career
CRANBROOK – Those involved in the art of keeping bees often mention a lifelong attraction to the insects. For BC provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp, a Grade 3 school trip sparked his interest. “Apparently, it made such an impression on me, I couldn’t stop talking about them for weeks,” van Westendorp told the BC Honey …
Milk board undertakes review
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. The consultation invites comment from stakeholders on whether the board’s powers are “adequate and appropriate” and if there should be any changes or additional …
BC wool value, volume drop
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 April 17. This was down from 18,600 kilograms a year earlier. The shipments fetched an average of 37 cents per kilogram, down …