VICTORIA – Renewed efforts to promote BC farmers’ markets are in the works following a study that identified a need for common branding and a greater awareness among consumers of the value farmers’ markets offer. “This year, we’ve secured dollars to launch this BC Farmers’ Market Trail,” Heather O’Hara, executive director of the BC Association …
NEWS
ALR sessions closed to public
VICTORIA – The public engagement process aimed at gathering feedback towards revitalization of the 45-year-old Agricultural Land Reserve kicked off in early February with meetings in Richmond and Nanaimo. But not everyone was welcome at the meetings organized by the nine-member committee charged with conducting the review. The invitation-only events were strictly for representatives from …
Processor capacity challenges small-scale farmers
MERRITT – Small scale abattoirs are closing across BC and that is an increasing concern for small-scale livestock and poultry farmers. The lack of processing capacity means more time spent travelling to the ones that remain. For Blue Sky Ranch, near Merritt, it means Kam Lakeview Meats near Kamloops and Rocana Meats in Salmon Arm. …
Producers need training for disaster response
ABBOTSFORD – It is critical for the livestock industry to have both an emergency response plan and people trained to implement it, says BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon. He admits he was skeptical about the value of participating in last spring’s discussions to develop an emergency response plan (targeted at animal diseases) but …
Province launches ALR review
Panel includes veterans, critics of farmland policies VICTORIA – The province kicked off the new year with a bang, announcing a nine-member panel to review and recommend steps for the revitalization of the province’s 45-year-old Agricultural Land Reserve. Headed by Port Alberni water buffalo farmer Jennifer Dyson, who until last year sat on the Agricultural …
Weed will be an ag product unlike any other
ABBOTSFORD – Growers hoping to cash in on Canada’s newest legal cash crop face plenty of challenges as government wrestles with how to treat a crop that has yet to receive legal standing. Cannabis is grabbing headlines in the mainstream media in advance of Canada legalizing recreational pot (expected by July 1), but Ottawa will …