ABBOTSFORD – The vast difference between the farm they started in 2005 and what it’s become as Ray and Tracey Bredenhof have expanded from broiler production to hops is testimony to not only their own efforts but the support of their community. “By getting involved, opportunities come up. You meet great people and you learn …
NEWS
Land matching pays off
A provincial investment of $700,000 in a program to match farmers with landowners is nearing 95 successful pairings and more than 7,000 acres brought into production. The program, originally launched by the Young Agrarians organization in 2016, has completed 73 matches that have paired producers with 900 acres. But if all goes well, an additional …
BC farms embrace safety
A national survey by Farm Credit Canada this spring found that 23% of the 115 respondents in BC experienced a farm safety incident in the past year. This was slightly less than the national average of 24%. But the survey also found that 78% of BC respondents say that work proceeds safely most of the …
BC turkey farmers chip in
BC turkey growers are among the first in Canada to chip in as part of a national initiative by the sector to give back. Three organizations are each receiving $10,000 from members of the BC Turkey Marketing Board and the BC Turkey Association to help them fight hunger. These include the Union Gospel Mission, Potluck …
Don’t stress, plan
Business thrives when conditions and stable and predictable, but uncertainties can create stress that lead to poor attitudes, a decreased capacity for decision-making and bad lifestyle choices. According to a study Farm Management Canada released this week, 78% of farmers across Canada report mid to high stress levels. But having a written business plan can …
“Big number” tough to get
Ottawa’s support for agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn mixed reviews. Many critics say it falls well short of the $2.6 billion the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and its members, including the BC Agriculture Council, have asked for. Others point out that programs such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which offers up …