The province is providing $500,000 to help BC abattoirs deal with waste animal tissue following slaughter. “This is great news,” says Nova Woodbury, executive director of the BC Association of Abattoirs, one of a number of industry representatives who advised the province on the funding. “Animal hide prices are low, options for waste disposal are …
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Under one roof
VICTORIA – The BC Ministry of Agriculture is taking over meat inspection in the province on December 1, consolidating oversight of the sector. “Effective December 1, 2020, all slaughter activity licensed under the Meat Inspection Regulation for class A, B, D, and E meat slaughter licenses will now be regulated under the Ministry of Agriculture,” …
Sheep producers told to bear with wildlife
METCHOSIN – A black bear has been killing sheep in the Metchosin area on Vancouver Island since July and unlike previous occasions, the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) is stepping back and asking farmers to step up prevention efforts. Twenty-one sheep from various farms have been killed to date. Ten of the bear kills were …
BC beekeepers go online
BC beekeepers have made a beeline for online meetings as COVID-19 has limited the size of public gatherings. At the provincial level, the semi-annual meeting of the BC Honey Producers Association in March took place via videoconference while its semi-annual education day was cancelled. Its monthly business meetings have since taken place via videoconference. The …
Hornet catch has beekeepers vigilant
Washington State Department of Agriculture staff announced this week that an Asian giant hornet was caught in a trap south of Blaine on July 29, but BC has yet to collect any of the insects. That’s good news for BC, says provincial apiculture specialist, Paul van Westendorp. “Our friends in Washington have installed hundreds of …
Province updates watering intentions
The province updated the intentions paper for its proposed livestock watering policy at the end of July. “We were surprised to see an updated intentions paper released, quite frankly,” says Princeton area rancher Linda Allison, noting the extensive consultations BC Cattlemen’s Association have had with the province over the last 10 years. “We voiced many …