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Originally published:

November 2016
Vol. 102 Issue 11

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Stories In This Edition

Hazelnut growers optimistic

Animal welfare bill defeated

David Schmidt honored with lifetime achievement award

Ag council recognizes civic support for farming

Urban farm seeks stable footing

This could be final harvest for Site C dam opponents

Kelowna cracks down on ALR abuse

Water workshop for farmers

Agri-food bankruptcies on low side

New roles at ministry

Early snow downgrades Peace harvest

$2.5 invested in Peace flood

BC farms stay focused on safety

Worker dies

Ranchers square off against wood rustlers

New hires to investigate ALR complaints

Opportunity as Western feelot closes

Forage trial in Central Interior

Good planning essential

Genomics will help build a better beef herd

Mobile juicer initiative inspires community outreach

K&M has different approach

Fruit growers offered incentive for safety training

Honey producers urged to stand up

Honey prices spiral down

Zombie bees

Making a case for biosolids

Saving rural areas from sludge

Biosolids: Are they safe?

Money for composting

Serotinin for milk fever

Preparing for next year’s weeds

Vineyard owners are creative

Abattoir cashing in

Room for expansion – hops

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1 week ago

The province remained short on details Thursday as it repeated an announcement it plans to invest $5 million in a new animal disease preparedness and response program. “This investment will provide BC farmers and ranchers with the support to plan and respond quicker and better to disease outbreaks,” said BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis, who was joined by MLAs from Langley East, Chilliwack and Chilliwack-Kent at Canadian Organic Feeds in Chilliwack.

#BCAg #countrylifeinbc #BCpoultry
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The province remained short on details Thursday as it repeated an announcement it plans to invest $5 million in a new animal disease preparedness and response program. “This investment will provide BC farmers and ranchers with the support to plan and respond quicker and better to disease outbreaks,” said BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis, who was joined by MLAs from Langley East, Chilliwack and Chilliwack-Kent at Canadian Organic Feeds in Chilliwack.

#BCAg #countrylifeinbc #BCpoultry
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Stay away from government programs

It's a killing program ..

1 week ago

With the stroke of a pen, BC has officially entered into a new agreement with the federal government that will see more than $140 million invested over the next five years in “strategic” agricultural initiatives. The money represents a 25% increase of about $29 million over the previous funding agreement, which ends on March 31. “This partnership will support our government’s focus on food security for all British Columbians while investing significantly in BC farmers, producers and processors,” says BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis. The agreement was signed earlier today, during federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s visit to the province. ... See MoreSee Less

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Bilateral agreement signed

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BC will see an additional $29 million over five years from the federal government when the new agricultural policy framework debuts April 1. A new bilateral agreement between the provincial and…
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1 week ago

BC farmers and producers have until June 30 to register for AgriStability, pay their fees and secure coverage under the program. AgriStability provides support to growers with large financial declines caused by production losses as a result of extreme weather, disease outbreak (such as avian influenza) and increased costs or declining market conditions. About 2,100 BC farmers enroll in the program annually. For more information or to enrol, visit www.gov.bc.ca/AgriStability

#BCAg #countrylifeinbc #AgriStability
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BC farmers and producers have until June 30 to register for AgriStability, pay their fees and secure coverage under the program. AgriStability provides support to growers with large financial declines caused by production losses as a result of extreme weather, disease outbreak (such as avian influenza) and increased costs or declining market conditions. About 2,100 BC farmers enroll in the program annually. For more information or to enrol, visit www.gov.bc.ca/AgriStability

#BCAg #countrylifeinbc #AgriStability
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2 weeks ago

A new provincial agricultural extension program is in the works, and hopes are high it heralds a fresh start for regional agricultural support in BC. Set to launch this spring, the program intends to increase engagement with producers, with a focus on climate mitigation, adaption and overall sustainability.

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Provincial extension service coming

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A new provincial extension service is in the works, an initiative applauded at an Agri-Extension and Research event organized by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and held at the BC Ministry of...
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2 weeks ago

A planned food hub in the Kootenay Boundary region could be a reality this fall after three years of planning, supporting local meat processing capacity in the southern Interior. “We have settled on a butcher hub with two components, a dedicated space for cut-and-wrap with Magnum Meats as the tenant and a value-added meat processing area with a smokehouse and sausage-making equipment available for daily rental," says Vicki Gee, who sits on the food hub committee. The story appears in our March edition and we've uploaded it to our website.

[Schweb Cattle Co photo]
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Butcher hub moves ahead after three years

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ROCK CREEK – A planned food hub in the Kootenay Boundary region could be a reality this fall after three years of planning, supporting local meat processing capacity in the southern Interior.
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Jessica Coburn you see this?

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David Schmidt honored with lifetime achievement award

November 1, 2016 byTamara Leigh//  Leave a Comment

SASKATOON – Country Life in BC’s own David Schmidt was honoured with a lifetime achievement award in September by the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF). The award recognizes long-serving members who have made outstanding contributions to the organization and to the agricultural communications or media industries.

Schmidt has been a leader within BC’s farm writing community for over 30 years. His commitment and skill as a farm journalist is recognized and respected across commodities and throughout the province.

“No one has written more words about BC agriculture than David Schmidt,” says Cathy Glover, who has worked with David at Country Life in BC for the past 17 years. “He is the face of Country Life in BC among most of the farm leaders in this province, and his reputation as a farm reporter is second to none.”

Beyond the page, his commitment to the revitalization and leadership of the BC Farm Writers’ Association and the farm writing community in BC has been unwavering since he joined the organization in 1985. Nationally, he served as president of the CFWF from 1997-99 and spent many years as the BC representative to the national board.

“David he has been an excellent mentor and longtime contributor to the BC agriculture media scene. It’s great to see him get this level of recognition,” says CFWF president Crystal Jorgenson.

David grew up on a mixed dairy farm in the Fraser Valley, and has always stayed close to his roots. He has a degree in creative writing from the University of BC and has been covering agriculture for 31 years. He has won numerous awards including being named BC’s Agriculturist of the Year in 2000 by the BC Institute of Agrologists.

“I don’t do it for the glory and the honour, but it’s sure nice to get the recognition,” says Schmidt, who accepted the award at the CFWF awards dinner in Saskatoon. “Most of the jobs I’ve had over the years have been through referrals and people I’ve met through this group. Even Country Life in BC was a referral.”

“One of the things that I appreciate writing about agriculture is that I have never had to compromise my own values in writing about it,” he says. “I’ve tried to be fair and honest. I tried to write for my audience and maybe that’s why people are still reading me. I don’t write for the lady in downtown Vancouver; I write for the guy who’s trying to make a living farming.”

Known for his tremendous depth of knowledge about agriculture and local history, Schmidt has earned the respect of editors, colleagues and sources alike.

“In the farming culture of British Columbia, the words ‘David Schmidt’ and “agriculture” go hand in hand,” says Peter Wilding, the newly retired editor of Country Life in BC. “David has always had the respect of farmers, government representatives, farm associations and colleagues. In the age of shoddy journalism, bias and partisanship, David has consistently shown the highest ethical standards in the practice of his craft and has been an inspiration to many people. He’s never let us down.”

Despite his years of experience and continuous presence at agriculture events across the province, Schmidt shows few signs of slowing down or losing his passion for agriculture.

“The biggest reward is that people still want to read my stories. I must be doing something right,” he says with a grin as he trots off to find the next scoop.

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