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Current Issue:

September 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 9

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1 week ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

2 weeks ago

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2 weeks ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle...
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2 weeks ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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2 weeks ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Cedar Valley footage released

File photo

November 10, 2021 byPeter Mitham

Video footage that triggered an investigation of Cedar Valley Farms in Abbotsford two weeks ago has been released.

Toronto-based activist group Animal Justice Canada posted the footage with a call for greater regulation of livestock operations, including the installation of surveillance cameras on farms. It notes that organic farms are no better than conventional systems when it comes to animal welfare.

“Whether a farm is conventional or organic, animal suffering is systemic,” says Animal Justice Canada.

BC’s dairy industry has denounced the incidents depicted in the video, which include the caning of animals as well as kicking and suspension of animals from tractor buckets. Other footage includes what appears to be a botched effort to euthanize a down animal.

“The treatment of dairy cows shown in the video clearly violates the National Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle, which is mandatory for all dairy farms in BC,” says a statement from the BC Dairy Association. “Dairy farmers take this very seriously.”

However, next steps will be determined following investigations by the BC Milk Marketing Board, which has suspended the farm’s licence to ship, and the BC SPCA, which has indicated it will be recommending charges.

Cedar Valley’s certifying body, Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd. has not commented on the matter. A revocation of the farm’s organic certification would depend on the outcome of the investigations.

Similarly, the College of Veterinarians of BC referenced the BC Veterinarians Act when asked if Dr. Rich Vanderwal, a co-owner of the farm, could face discipline. The act states that investigations may be launched on receipt of a complaint against a college member, “conviction for an offence relating to the care or treatment of animals” or “conduct unbecoming a registrant.”

The college declined comment on whether or not it is investigating Vanderwal.

BC agriculture minister Lana Popham says mandating surveillance cameras or stricter regulation of livestock operations will depend on discussions with industry and other stakeholders.

“Animal welfare is always of great concern to our government and we’re always moving forward with consultation with industry and stakeholders to see how we can better improve that,” she told Country Life in BC.

The incident will also test the province’s efforts to strengthen protections for livestock producers against trespassers. An amendment to the Trespass Act last year explicitly prohibited trespass in premises housing livestock.

Abbotsford Police Department confirms that it is investigating a break-in at the farm.

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