Ottawa’s pledge last week of $82 billion in support to individuals and businesses were fleshed out this week by federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, who explained that Farm Credit Canada would receive an extra $5 billion in lending capacity. “This will help producers and agri-food businesses manage cash-flow challenges,” Bibeau said. “This injection of credits …
NEWS
Growers scramble as pandemic spreads
The World Health Organization’s elevation of the new coronavirus COVID-19 to pandemic status on March 11 has sent farm organizations scrambling to assess the impact. While no BC farmers are known to be infected with the virus, many who have returned to the country from abroad this month are in self-quarantine as a precaution. Meanwhile, …
Diagnostic services continue
Diagnostic services provided by the BC Ministry of Agriculture are continuing through the COVID-19 pandemic, says the executive director of the Plant and Animal Health Branch. Jane Pritchard said that the branch is trying to minimize the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the agriculture sector by remaining open and providing its services, which she …
Province to consider value-added options
The province plans is preparing to explore options for accommodating value-added activities within the Agricultural Land Reserve. “We’ll be working on a workplan around the economic diversification policy options which include the agritourism, processing and on-farm food and beverage services,” Anna North, an assistant director, policy, with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, told the Certified …
Meat inspection budget tightens
Abattoir operators have been put on notice that regular shifts for provincial meat inspectors must not exceed seven hours a day unless authorized by the province. “I am asking that all slaughter establishment operators adhere strictly to the scheduled inspection services, which do not exceed seven hours per day,” Gavin Last, executive director of the …
Cherry growers discuss trade
Trade and research were the topics at the annual meeting of the BC Cherry Association in Kelowna on March 3. The industry has grown substantially in the last 15 years, thanks to the opening of export markets. China, Japan and California are now major buyers of BC cherries. “But we need to continue to diversify …