BC announced its reopening plan this week, setting the stage for a life without limits in the wake of COVID-19. But just how that unfolds for the farm sector and rural communities across the province is unclear. The four-stage plan announced by Premier John Horgan and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on May 25 …
NEWS
Balanced conditions in 2020
Climate variability has hit BC farmers and ranchers hard in recent years, between wildfire, flood and drought. Conditions in 2019 were such that 52 census subdivisions became eligible for the federal government’s livestock tax deferral program. The program provides relief to farmers in areas where forage shortfalls due to excessive drought or moisture total 50% …
Building boom ahead
Statistics Canada is forecasting a building boom on BC farms this year, as capital investments in construction projects get ready to surge. Construction spending will total $394.6 million this year, according to the annual survey of business investment intentions that took place in late 2020. This is up nearly 24% from $318.7 million last year …
Supply management crucial to BC
COVID-19 hit BC hatching egg producers hard as the disease roiled demand for broilers, forcing them to anticipate where demand might lie months in the future. While fully grown broilers can be processed and their meat frozen when demand shifts, hatching eggs can’t be shelved if they’re not wanted. Indeed, the BC Broiler Hatching Egg …
IAF elects new executive
Jack DeWit is the new chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation, succeeding Don Low who stepped down from the board at the organization’s annual general meeting April 8. DeWit was previously vice-chair of the organization, which has 13 directors. New to the board this year are Paul Devick, representing livestock, and David Machial, representing the …
WorkSafeBC increases inspections
The single-largest cause of on-farm injuries in the farm sector according to WorkSafeBC is falls, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still going strong the provincial agency is doubling down on efforts to make sure the farm sector is adhering to its safety plans designed to curb the risk of infection. WorkSafeBC announced May 8 that …