The BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) announced a new professional certification this spring, the Registered Technologist in Agrology (RTAg). The new designation will align the profession of agrology with other applied science professionals that also have a technologist designation. The RTAg certification typically requires a two-year college or university education in a variety of approved …
NEWS
Province covers quarantine costs
BC will cover the cost of quarantining seasonal farm workers arriving in BC this spring. “The province will fund hotel and food-service costs during the 14-day self-isolation period,” the province announced in an information bulletin issued April 14. The announcement follows a federal announcement this week that employers in the agrifood sector would receive $1,500 …
Cold air hits cherries
Okanagan cherry growers are looking at a reduced crop this year after a series of cold events damaged buds. Up to 60% of buds were damaged when cold air swept into the South Okanagan on April 2. “I saw a low of -8°C in Summerland, and South Okanagan orchards were close to green tip,” says …
Strawberry levies increase
BC Strawberry Growers Association members unanimously agreed to increase the per-pound levy on their fruit for the first time in decades during an April 9 conference call. Growers couldn’t attend their annual general meeting in person this year, but a videoconference still allowed them to make key decisions. The levy for the coming year will …
Farmland values face headwinds
BC farmland values rose 5.4% in 2019, according to Farm Credit Canada’s annual survey released this week. This compared to a 6.1% increase in 2018, and was slightly ahead of the national average of 5.2%. The highest average per-acre value in the province last year was recorded in the Okanagan, at $103,288 as buyers purchased …
Consumers embrace niche products
Producers have long been told that niche products are one way to avoid being reduced to commodity producers and price-takers. Now, the BC Milk Marketing Board’s scramble to align conventional milk production with consumer demand is highlighting the challenges of serving the mass market and the benefits of targeting smaller categories. The board initially announced …