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APRIL 2021
Vol. 107 Issue 4

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Today’s provincial budget has given a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million last year. The majority of the funds go to "Agriculture Resources” while $600,000 will support "science, policy and inspection" investments. An additional $60,000 is allocated to the Agricultural Land Commission, which now has $5 million to work with. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranches. Subscribe now to receive the May edition. buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

8 hours ago

Today’s provincial budget has given a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million last year. The majority of the funds go to Agriculture Resources” while $600,000 will support science, policy and inspection investments. An additional $60,000 is allocated to the Agricultural Land Commission, which now has $5 million to work with. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranches. Subscribe now to receive the May edition. buff.ly/2ReiFur
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Warren Sarafinchan’s contract with BC Tree Fruits has been extended for five years. BCTF president Steve Brown made the announcement on Friday. Sarafinchan was first hired in September 2019, the co-op's fifth CEO in eight years. He took the reins as a governance report reported the co-op was in "a serious life-threatening crisis.” “In his short time with the Cooperative Warren and his team have been working tirelessly to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and has taken major steps to right size all aspects of the organization,” says Brown. The governance study that was approved by a super majority set the stage for Sarafinchan and the board to move forward with selling assets, increasing plant efficiencies and offering an Apple Quality Assurance Program to encourage growers to deliver quality fruit. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and writers. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

Warren Sarafinchan’s contract with BC Tree Fruits has been extended for five years. BCTF president Steve Brown made the announcement on Friday. Sarafinchan was first hired in September 2019, the co-ops fifth CEO in eight years. He took the reins as a governance report reported the co-op was in a serious life-threatening crisis.”  “In his short time with the Cooperative Warren and his team have been working tirelessly to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and has taken major steps to right size all aspects of the organization,” says Brown. The governance study that was approved by a super majority set the stage for Sarafinchan and the board to move forward with selling assets, increasing plant efficiencies and offering an Apple Quality Assurance Program to encourage growers to deliver quality fruit. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and writers.
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BC Milk Marketing Board chair Ben Janzen bid an emotional farewell during the final spring producer meeting on April 15. Janzen retires as board chair July 31, but this week’s Zoom meetings were a final public engagement with producers. “It takes a lot of work to do what Ben has done, and I know he’s yearning to spend time with his family and on his farm,” said vice-chair Tom Hoogendoorn in offering thanks for Janzen’s 21 years of service with the board over the past 25 years. Janzen thanked producers for the opportunity to serve and his wife and family for supporting his work on behalf of industry. “It’s disappointing to say goodbye speaking into a computer screen … but the reality is that the industry will continue to progress,” said Janzen, noting that everyone from producers to tradespeople and consumers have a part to play. “It’s been a great honour and a great privilege to be part of this very dynamic industry.” [Image: Ben Janzen, right, congratulates Dick Klein Geltink for his long career in agricultural politics during the 2018 dairy conference.] ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

BC Milk Marketing Board chair Ben Janzen bid an emotional farewell during the final spring producer meeting on April 15. Janzen retires as board chair July 31, but this week’s Zoom meetings were a final public engagement with producers. “It takes a lot of work to do what Ben has done, and I know he’s yearning to spend time with his family and on his farm,” said vice-chair Tom Hoogendoorn in offering thanks for Janzen’s 21 years of service with the board over the past 25 years. Janzen thanked producers for the opportunity to serve and his wife and family for supporting his work on behalf of industry. “It’s disappointing to say goodbye speaking into a computer screen … but the reality is that the industry will continue to progress,” said Janzen, noting that everyone from producers to tradespeople and consumers have a part to play. “It’s been a great honour and a great privilege to be part of this very dynamic industry.” [Image: Ben Janzen, right, congratulates Dick Klein Geltink for his long career in agricultural politics during the 2018 dairy conference.]
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BC poultry producers will received $86.8 million as part of a $691 million federal compensation package for market access concessions granted under the CP-TPP free trade agreement with Canada’s Pacific Rim trading partners. Details of the arrangement have been two years in the making. Compensation will be paid out over 10 years and cover up to 70% of the cost of eligible investments the typical poultry farm undertakes. Individual farms will be allocated an amount reflecting their quota as of January 1, 2021. Ottawa has also promised producers compensation for market access granted under CUSMA. Details have yet to be revealed but all eyes are on next week’s federal budget for hints of what’s in store. More info is available in this morning's Farm News Update. Sign up for free at buff.ly/2H3dK8k. ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago

BC poultry producers will received $86.8 million as part of a $691 million federal compensation package for market access concessions granted under the CP-TPP free trade agreement with Canada’s Pacific Rim trading partners. Details of the arrangement have been two years in the making. Compensation will be paid out over 10 years and cover up to 70% of the cost of eligible investments the typical poultry farm undertakes. Individual farms will be allocated an amount reflecting their quota as of January 1, 2021. Ottawa has also promised producers compensation for market access granted under CUSMA. Details have yet to be revealed but all eyes are on next week’s federal budget for hints of what’s in store. More info is available in this mornings Farm News Update. Sign up for free at buff.ly/2H3dK8k.
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No they aren't actually watering yet. Arterra Wines was testing their overhead sprinkler system at Sunrock Vineyards just north of Osoyoos this week in preparation for the summer growing season. Overheads are used primarily to support the growth of cover crops between the rows of vines. But it won't be long before actual watering begins for Okanagan fruit growers. It has been a particularly dry spring so far with below average precipitation in January and February and an extreme low of 2.6 mm of rain recorded in Kelowna for March. That's just 12% of the seasonal average of 21.6mm. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

No they arent actually watering yet. Arterra Wines was testing their overhead sprinkler system at Sunrock Vineyards just north of Osoyoos this week in preparation for the summer growing season. Overheads are used primarily to support the growth of cover crops between the rows of vines. But it wont be long before actual watering begins for Okanagan fruit growers. It has been a particularly dry spring so far with below average precipitation in January and February and an extreme low of 2.6 mm of rain recorded in Kelowna for March. Thats just 12% of the seasonal average of 21.6mm. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers.
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CP Rail’s plans for extension cause concern

January 13, 2021 byPeter Mitham

Pitt Meadows could lose more than 100 acres of farmland if CP Rail gets the greenlight to expand its operations in the community.

Plans for the CP Logistics Park [cplogisticspark.ca] were unveiled in December following consultations with the municipality, Katzie First Nation and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority last summer. A public consultation on the project wraps up this week. The last of three open houses will be held tonight via videoconference and a survey of local opinion closes January 15.

“CP is proposing to construct a multi-modal, multi-commodity transload and logistics facility adjacent to its Vancouver Intermodal Facility in Pitt Meadows, to meet increased rail demand in Canada’s largest trade gateway,” the rail company says.

The project description outlines plans for 13 silos accommodating 15,600 tonnes of peas, lentils and beans (the equivalent of 147 train cars, or one unit train), an auto transload facility, and 11 tanks for holding ethanol and transportation fuels from Alberta and the US Midwest for distribution locally and overseas.

The project will occupy 101 acres south of Lougheed Highway. CP acquired the properties making up the site between 2012 and 2017. The land falls within the Agricultural Land Reserve. However, rights Ottawa granted to the company at its founding eliminate the need for it to file an exclusion application for railway expansion.

This concerns Shannon Roberts of Blooming Meadows, who operates a small-lot mixed farm with her sister near the proposed facility. She also worries about site safety, light pollution and the effect of particulate matter from site activities on her laying hens and field-grown cut flowers.

“A dirty flower is not a sellable flower,” she says, noting that hundreds of trucks will be needed to bring fill to the site, which sits on the floodplain adjacent to the Pitt River.

Preload will affect the water table in the area, which already suffers from drainage issues.

“I honestly don’t feel like I’m going to be able to farm my land,” she said. “I feel like it will be flooded.”

Similar concerns were raised when CP bought 58 acres of the site in 2012. Pitt Meadows, which is set to receive $4 million in property taxes each year from the proposed development, said at the time it was confident CP would work to mitigate drainage problems.

Agricultural Land Commission CEO Kim Grout, then director of operations for Pitt Meadows, told local media in 2012 that CP brings a long-term vision for its properties.

The commission is among the parties that intend to provide feedback on CP’s plans for the farmland.

Construction of the logistics facility is set to begin in 2026.

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