An appeal by the District of Kent regarding the exclusion of 43 acres from the Agricultural Land Reserve for residential development has been rejected. A four-page decision issued June 10 by the Agricultural Land Commission states that the district’s request did not meet the criteria for triggering a reconsideration, and that, “in any event, is …
NEWS
Slocan market garden finds its sweet spot
WINLAW – Good management and a commitment to making nutritious, ecologically grown food accessible to their community have made Ravine Creek Farm a model for market gardeners in the region. The 10-acre vegetable farm in the Slocan Valley is the sole source of income for Alys Ford, Eric Struxness and their two children, and has …
Hog farm invaders convicted
Two leaders of a high-profile farm invasion in April 2019 have been convicted on charges of break-and-enter and mischief. Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer opted for trial by jury in the hope of better pleading their case and shining a light on farming practices in the province. But after a short trial, the jury ended …
Weather heightens wildfire risk
A cool, wet spring has put a damper on this year’s wildfire season, but the north of the province isn’t out of the woods yet. The province recorded 217 wildfires between April 1 and July 4, or about half the historical average for the period. The area burned is less than a tenth of the …
PremisesID now mandatory
No ID, no help: that’s the message from the province with the passing of the deadline for farmers and ranchers to register for PremisesID, which became mandatory July 1. The province reports that 7,000 premises, or 86% of livestock premises, now have an identification code. When the province announced mandatory registration in February 2021, it …
Drought fears washed away
A year after a historic heat dome sent temperatures soaring, all of BC is at drought level 0 on the province’s six-level drought scale. An abundance of moisture and cool temperatures this year has made it a washout for drought. A year ago, six basins were already at drought level 3 and the Salmon River …