Peace Region Forage Association president Brian Gilbert hopes to give back to the organization and people who have helped him so far throughout his farming career. Gilbert was elected president at PRFA’s annual general meeting December 1, succeeding Neil Ward of Fort St. John. “The forage association is a great resource for learning. I’m constantly …
NEWS
Farm class numbers drop
The number of farm properties in the province has dropped, according to BC Assessment data released this week. The number of farm properties on the 2024 tax roll is 50,565, down 1% from 51,066 properties last year. The aggregate value is nearly $1.3 billion. BC Assessment deputy assessor Peter Alexander, who focuses on farm properties, …
No relief from high costs in 2024
Broader carbon tax exemptions for farm businesses were nixed last month as the Senate sent an amended version of Bill C-234 back to MPs for final approval. The private member’s bill sought to amend the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to extend an exemption from the federal carbon tax to fuel consumed by heating …
Water plans kick off
DUNCAN – BC signed an historic watershed planning agreement with the Cowichan Tribes last May that set the stage for the province’s first water sustainability plan, but local farmers say the pressures on the region’s farms can’t wait. Beginning in the mountains southwest of Duncan and flowing 44 km northeast towards the city, the Koksilah …
Country Life in BC writer recognized
Clear communication can help smooth hard times, and the BC Landscape and Nursery Association honoured Country Life in BC contributor Ronda Payne of Maple Ridge for her accomplishments in that regard. Payne received the association’s Garden Communicator of the Year Award for her “outstanding communication to the public on garden and landscape topics.” An avid …
PNE fundraiser supports 4-H
BC’s biggest agricultural fair, the Pacific National Exhibition, may be best known for its midway and concert venues these days, but it maintains close ties to the province’s agricultural community through its support of 4-H. This year’s annual “Evening for Agriculture” fundraiser was held December 9, coinciding with the PNE’s new winter festival that offered …