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Originally published:

OCTOBER 2023
Vol. 109 Issue 10

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Stories In This Edition

Reprieve for water users

BCTF packinghouses on the block

Rest easy

Flower co-op celebrates 60 years

Editorial: Give us this day

Back 40: The heat is on, and hard choices are needed

Viewpoint: International journalists see the best of BC

Westwold ranchers speak out against irrigation ban

Communication critical to solve water issues

Ag Briefs: Canada loses New Zealand trade challenge

Ag Briefs: Cherry promotion promising

Reliance on foreign workers under scrutiny

IAFBC keeps growing its business

Poultry growers on edige as fall bird migrations start

ALR policy review shows room for improvement

Western corn rootworm detected in OK

On-farm slaughter expands limited options

Building a business around community

Outstanding in her field

Weather ideal for grain harvest

New project offers value-added opportunities

Autonomous seeders move forward

BC hosts national Christmas tree conference

BC fairs hit hard by post-COVID volunteer shortage

Sidebar: Fairs resume post-COVID with new challenges

Panel dishes “the real dirt on farming”

Farm Story: Good corn, like good farming, isn’t cheap

Longer trial, strong results

Tidy orchards ensure clean hazelnut harvest

DFWT blueberry rest program expands east

Ditching the plastic mulch

Compost tease: learning through trial and error

Woodshed: Kenneth bets the water dowzer double or nothing

Quesnel youth awarded 4-H scholarship

Harvest thanks

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4 days ago

Congratulations to Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms for taking top honours as Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers last week in Laval, Quebec. For more, see this week's FARM NEWS UPDATE at www.countrylifeinbc.com/hopcotts-win-oyf#BCAGd#clinbcAg #CLinBC ... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations to Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms for taking top honours as Canadas Outstanding Young Farmers last week in Laval, Quebec. For more, see this weeks FARM NEWS UPDATE at https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/hopcotts-win-oyf-canada/

#BCAg #CLinBC
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Congratulations to all of you. You have done a tremendous job growing your business

Congratulations from Coniagas Ranches! Your business is awesome!!!

Thank you so much! 😁

Congratulations Travis!

Well done ! Well deserved

Congratulations

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6 days ago

Congratulations to Chilliwack’s Ben Janzen, former chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board, who received the BC Dairy Achievement Award from Jim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society on November 23. Byrne hailed Janzen’s selfless work on behalf of the industry, first as a member of the first producer-elected board of Agrifoods International Cooperative in 1996 then as chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board for five years from 2016. "These successes have allowed the industry to increase processing capacity and develop initiatives that, when completed, will provide processing for growth for many years to come,” Byrne said. In response, Janzen expressed gratitude while emphasizing the determination and resilience of producers in the face of challenges. “You’re the ones that make this industry great,” he said.

#BCAg #CLinBC
... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations to Chilliwack’s Ben Janzen, former chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board, who received the BC Dairy Achievement Award from Jim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society on November 23. Byrne hailed Janzen’s selfless work on behalf of the industry, first as a member of the first producer-elected board of Agrifoods International Cooperative in 1996 then as chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board for five years from 2016. These successes have allowed the industry to increase processing capacity and develop initiatives that, when completed, will provide processing for growth for many years to come,” Byrne said. In response, Janzen expressed gratitude while emphasizing the determination and resilience of producers in the face of challenges. “You’re the ones that make this industry great,” he said.

#BCAg #CLinBC
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I don't understand? Maybe it's my own ignorance but don't we produce way more milk than we use and force farmers to dump anything above their quota to ensure the prices stay high? Wouldn't we want to keep the retail price as low as possible while ensuring farmers receive their required compensation? Wouldn't that be worth an award? Help me understand 🤷‍♂️

Is this guy a reason why I cannot buy whole unpasteurized milk for my own personal use, yeah personal use even to make glue ...but really I don't carecwhy anyone wants whole unpasteurized milk ..it is Not my business..and nor should it be the business of bearacracy ..so in mho ppfffft

2 weeks ago

We are profoundly saddened to announce the passing of veteran farm journalist and Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt. He died suddenly in Chilliwack on November 20. For 35 years, David was the face and voice of Country Life in BC, covering producer meetings across the Fraser Valley and throughout BC. His reporting earned many national awards and he was honoured with several lifetime achievement awards, including the 2018 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture, as he edged toward retirement at the start of the pandemic in 2020. He was, as one former ag minister eloquently put it, the "encyclopedia of BC agriculture." We will miss him terribly. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. For more, see today's FARM NEWS UPDATE - www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-agriculture-loses-a-champion/ ... See MoreSee Less

We are profoundly saddened to announce the passing of veteran farm journalist and Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt. He died suddenly in Chilliwack on November 20. For 35 years, David was the face and voice of Country Life in BC, covering producer meetings across the Fraser Valley and throughout BC. His reporting earned many national awards and he was honoured with several lifetime achievement awards,  including the 2018 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture, as he edged toward retirement at the start of the pandemic in 2020. He was, as one former ag minister eloquently put it, the encyclopedia of BC agriculture. We will miss him terribly. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. For more, see todays FARM NEWS UPDATE - https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-agriculture-loses-a-champion/
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Very sad to hear of his loss…amazing dedication to Country Life.

He will be missed. His dedication to the agricullture industry was exceptional and conversattions with David were always welcomed

David was just an exceptional person . He had an unbridled passion for Agriculture. He will be so missed in this Industry. Condolences to David's family and friends.

Condolences to David's family and also his work family. He was a veteran agricultural supporter and reporter, and in his younger days attended every agricultural event he possibly could! He always had insightful views on the current agricultural state of affairs in the Fraser Valley, and also on the government programs and relief offered. He will definitely be missed in the Fraser Valley agricultural community.

David's thoughtful, careful and insightful reporting set a standard in farm reporting in BC, and much further. He will be very much missed.

Deepest Sympathy to family and friends.

Our most heartfelt condolences.

Very sad to hear this.

Sad to hear 😞

Very sorry to hear this. David was a first class journalist and an all around good human being.

Rip David.

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3 weeks ago

An agriculture plan progress report presented to Kelowna council November 6 shows a drop in the number of active farm operations in the Central Okanagan region since 2017. Six years ago, there were 1,034 actively farmed parcels; today, there are 983, according to BC Assessment data. Read more in this week's FARM NEWS UPDATE bitly.ws/ZScG ... See MoreSee Less

An agriculture plan progress report presented to Kelowna council November 6 shows a drop in the number of active farm operations in the Central Okanagan region since 2017. Six years ago, there were 1,034 actively farmed parcels; today, there are 983, according to BC Assessment data. Read more in this weeks FARM NEWS UPDATE https://bitly.ws/ZScG
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3 weeks ago

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Communication critical to solve water issues

Government silence in Westwold a study in crisis mismanagement

Good forage is in short supply across BC this year thanks to a province-wide drought, and irrigation bans imposed by the province are drawing fire from producers. SCHWEB FAMILY CATTLE

October 1, 2023 byTom Walker

WESTWOLD — The Salmon River watershed is a complex ecosystem. A variety of water use interests, long-term environmental impacts and minimal mitigation efforts make the river problematic.

A key issue is the river’s importance as a salmon-bearing stream, which makes it especially vulnerable to regulations designed to protect aquatic life.

But the watershed is also the sole water source for scores of agricultural users, including dairy, beef and forage operations as well as smaller mixed farms and residences. Salmon Lake, off Douglas Lake Road, is one of the origins of the river but there is no dam to control outflows.

Another concern is forest management. The entire region has been impacted by logging as well as the White Rock Lake wildfire in 2021, resulting in reduced upland water-holding capacity and much larger and more intense spring freshets.

The combination of issues isn’t unique to the Salmon River, but they’ve come to a head here with particular intensity over the past three years. Ranchers and farmers are especially concerned at the apparent lack of research presented to justify a curtailment order delivered to forage operations in the lower Salmon River watershed on August 15.

The order, as well as a follow up press release from the BC Ministry of Forests, claimed the decision to restrict irrigation was “science-based.” Streamflows had fallen below 1,270 litres per second, according to the order, and action was needed to protect fish populations.

The decision was in line with reports dating back to the 1970s which said low streamflow thresholds were key to protecting the local salmon run here, as in other sensitive watersheds around the province.

But the province failed to respond to multiple requests from water licensees for a meeting to review the decision, which would have given farmers an opportunity to understand the underlying science. Instead, messaging from the province thanked them for taking steps to reduce water use and defer the curtailment order, which was presented as a last resort to save the fish.

Yet a 110-page report on the conditions, trends and issues completed for the Salmon River Watershed Roundtable in 1995 provided a thorough overview of the problems and made a number of recommendations.

Of chief importance was a study of the “water budget,” the key supply and demand levels for the watershed as well as the relationships between surface water, groundwater, the region’s aquifers, adjacent wetlands and the likelihood of some valley water draining south toward the Okanagan. Groundwater licensing, regulation and user fees, were also recommended.

The report recommended exploring additional water storage capacity, as well as water conservation. The protection and restoration of salmon habitat was also recommended.

One recommendation from the 1995 report was partially carried out.

“My husband was contracted to work on riverbank restoration,” says Westwold rancher Trudy Schweb. “He helped to install rip-rap and plant shade trees along the river banks, but the funding ran out and the project was never completed.”

BC Cattlemen’s Association general manger Kevin Boon says his organization has been discussing headwater control with government for years.

“What I don’t understand is the lack of involvement from DFO,” he says. “They are responsible for salmon. Why are they not investing in mitigation projects?”

Irrigation technology has improved significantly and many hay fields along the valley are watered by the latest pivot systems, but they are expensive.

“We would love to buy a pivot system but it is not within our budget right now,” says Schweb.

While the province introduced a $20 million agricultural water infrastructure program to assist producers expand water storage and undertake irrigation improvements, it was quickly oversubscribed.

Some producers have criticized the program for requiring costly studies that both complicate and double the cost of improvements. For her part, Schweb thinks the money would be better spent developing headwater storage that could help control spring flows and release water later in the season to support spawning salmon.

Regardless of where money is spent, none of the solutions are going to be cheap.

“There is a huge investment needed in water management and infrastructure for both food security and management of all of our other needs including fish,” says Boon, noting that irrigation is crucial to forage producers, who must water fields immediately following a cut in order to foster the next crop.

“It’s like starting a new lawn, the grass needs to be watered immediately,” he says.

Boon believes a local watershed council would help bring all sides to the table to develop a comprehensive plan for the management of the watershed. Similar work is underway in the Koksilah and has been recommended for the Tsolum, both of which were also subject to  curtailment orders this summer.

“[Build] a plan for required storage and management to insure that there is adequate water available when it is needed for fish habitat that is not reliant on or detrimental to the investment that has been made by agriculture,” Boon says.

It would also go a long way to addressing the lack of communication that’s met the concerns of Westwold producers this year. Rather than sending natural resource officers in bulletproof vests to ticket and fine frustrated farmers, listening to their concerns and providing a direct response would go a long way towards garnering community support.

“It’s been more than a month. If they would just meet with us, I know we could come up with some ideas to support both the farmers and the salmon,” Schweb says.

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