Ottawa has announced millions of dollars in funding for horticulture research at events on both sides of the country. On March 11, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced up to $4.2 million in funding for the BC Fruit Growers Association. The cash will support the development of new apple and cherry cultivars. The funding for …
NEWS
Trade deals lead poultry groups’ concerns
The fourth annual BC Poultry Conference enjoyed record attendance with just over 500 people registered for the event held in Vancouver, February 28-March 1. The conference brings together representatives of the province’s four feather groups – chicken, eggs, hatching eggs and turkeys – for two days of annual meetings, motivational speakers and technical seminars. The …
Cold weather raises concerns for crops
February has gone down in the record books as the coldest on record, particularly in southern BC where the locals typically bask in blossoms and blue skies. Water on fields in Delta were glazed over last week and frost has Longview Farms on the Saanich Peninsula – the country’s largest daffodil farm – anxious to …
BC most active for Indigenous farmers
Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is a priority for BC premier John Horgan, but data from Statistics Canada shows the province leads the country when it comes to First Nations farmers. A total of 1,060 farm operators identified as Indigenous in the 2016 Census of Agriculture. Of these, 285 – or 27% – were located in …
Groundwater application deadline extended
Property owners now have three more years to register existing wells that draw water for non-domestic purposes and apply for a licence to use groundwater. The new deadline of March 1, 2022 is the third such extension in as many years, and exempts existing well owners from application and licensing fees. Without the extension, thousands …
Zylmans tenders resignation to BCPVGA
New leadership is in the offing at the BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. During the association’s annual general meeting in Tsawwassen this week, chair Bill Zylmans announced his resignation and members approved the board’s expansion to nine members to better handle the association’s work on behalf of the sector. Speaking with emotion, Zylmans was …