Citizen scientists wanted

Ottawa is looking for BC farmers to tell them which way the wind is blowing – literally.

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada is seeking agroclimate impact reporters to complete a monthly survey regarding weather conditions in their area. The survey takes less than five minutes to complete and helps federal staff identify climate and weather-related risks to agriculture in regions across Canada. The responses in turn supports federal planning and programs aimed at addressing weather-related risks.

“While in Alberta dozens of surveys have been completed across the province, in BC so far only two producers have done so,” program staff have told Country Life in BC. “It would be incredibly helpful if producers and agrologists could complete these surveys.”

Canada’s obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change commit it to take steps towards climate preparedness and mitigation. Surveys such as this will complement high-level observation by three newly launched SAR satellites as part of the RADARSAT-Constellation mission to improve measurements of crops and conditions, and the ability of government scientists and forecasters to detect changes.

There isn’t a specific sign-up provided. Instead, we are told:

1. Sign up for the Agroclimate Impact Reporter email list here.
2. Once a month during the last week of the growing season, you will receive an email with the link to AAFC’s agroclimate survey. Open this link to fill out a 2-5 minute survey on climate and weather impacts to agriculture in your area. If you have any questions about the survey, contact the National Agroclimate Information service here.

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2 hours ago

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8 hours ago

Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

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4 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. "Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival," says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. They're the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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There is a problem... having lived in the salmon river ( silver creek ) area, I remember a fish biologist telling family members that salmon only "survive" in high iron content creeks, they do not "thrive".... salmon river ( silver creek ) is a very high iron content, would stain clothes brown when i would use bleach... So don't expect high salmon numbers off of that creek , even in ideal situations...

I just wish they would take an interest in CHASE CREEK....went bone dry...100% of trout abd other species died...smell was terrible from rotting fish. Understand this has happened many times in the past. Chase Irrigation District totally responsible for this disaster. Now fishermen are complaining about major drop in water levels at Pillar Lake.

They could not mismanage things worse than they have. It's impossible for them to. The fact that farmers that we need for our animals are now suffering the consequences our governments have not protected us from, is absolutely fucking wild.