PENDER ISLAND – A new draft Islands Trust policy statement that removes a key Agricultural Land Reserve provision and no longer recognizes agriculture as a “traditional and valuable activity” is sparking concern among some in the Gulf Islands farming community. The effort to update the current policy statement – which has been largely unchanged since …
NEWS
Country Life in BC reporting honoured
Country Life in BC found the “win” in “Winnipeg” on September 20, receiving a record nine awards during the annual conference of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation. Top honours went to contributor Ronda Payne, who received a gold award for her technical feature in the March 2024 issue, “Pruning should focus on the needs of …
Vintage replacement renewed
The province has extended the vintage replacement provisions introduced last year to support wineries bereft of grapes due to extreme cold in January 2024. Vine damage resulted in a 99% crop loss last year and current projections anticipate a shortfall in the range of 40% this year. This amounts to about 10,000 tonnes of wine …
CUSMA consultations begin
Ottawa has launched public consultations regarding the Canada-US-Mexico free trade agreement (CUSMA) ahead of a planned review by the three countries in 2026. “We encourage members of the agriculture and agri-food sector to participate in this consultation by sharing their experiences and perspectives on CUSMA’s operation,” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said in a memo to …
Gulf Island entrepreneurs eye food security
THETIS ISLAND – When Elisabeth and Noah Bond bought the only vineyard on Thetis Island in 2014, they looked forward to uncorking a new phase of life in the wine industry. “We were always into food and sustainability, but really hadn’t grown food before,” says Elisabeth. “We thought it would be cool to have a …
Stabilization initiative yet to bear fruit
OLIVER – The deep black of dying plum trees stands in stark contrast to the vibrant green of the adjacent cherries in Pinder Dhaliwal’s orchard in Oliver. Yet on closer inspection, many of the cherry branches have little if any fruit and several branches are dying. The nearby peach trees have no fruit at all …