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Current Issue:

MAY 2022
Vol. 108 Issue 5

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3 days ago

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details. ... See MoreSee Less

A turkey farm in West Abbotsford is the second commercial poultry flock to tested positive for avian influenza since the initial case was reported in Enderby on April 13. CFIA announced the case May 19, but has yet to define the control zone. Ray Nickel of the BC Poultry Association says more than 50 farms are in the vicinity of the infected premises, meaning control measures — including movement controls — will have a significant impact on the industry. The supply of birds moving into the country from US hatcheries will also be affected, compounding the host of supply chain issues growers have been dealing with over the past year. A story in our June issue will provide further details.
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2 weeks ago

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the province's deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed. ... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the order requiring regulated commercial poultry operations to keep their birds indoors through June 13. Originally set to expire this Friday, the order was extended after a careful review by the provinces deputy chief veterinarian. Poultry at seven premises, all but one of them backyard flocks, have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza since April 13. The order allows small-scale producers to continue pasturing their birds outdoors provided biosecurity protocols developed by the Small-Scale Meat producers Association are followed.
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Sounds like 2 weeks to flatten the curve turning into 2 years.

USDA doing avian vax research, May 11 bio-docs to UN incl section on H5N8 w/wild bird spread. Found link to apparent pre-release on May 11 Geller Report. Good luck farmers.

3 weeks ago

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.” ... See MoreSee Less

Two more small flocks in BC have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The latest cases are in Richmond and Kelowna. CFIA is in the process of determining a control zone around the property in Richmond, the first report in the Fraser Valley of the H5N1 strain of the virus among poultry. Speaking to Country Life in BC this week, federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said CFIA staff are working diligently to address outbreaks, and she encourages small flock owners to do the same. While commercial farms have tightened biosecurity measures, owners of small flocks have greater freedom. “Some smaller ones don’t necessarily have these measures in place,” Bibeau says. “They should also be extremely careful, because if we have a case in a backyard flock ... it could have an impact on bigger commercial installations.”
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Killing our food chain. How do we know they are actually carrying a virus, look what's taking place with covid, is it real.

Ik kan niet zo goed Engels maar als ik het goed begrijp is bij jullie ook vogelgriep maar nog niet bij jullie

Any idea when this episode or bird flu might be over?

3 weeks ago

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions. ... See MoreSee Less

Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC welcomed its first new members in 20 years at its AGM on April 27. The BC Blueberry Council, BC Cherry Association, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Food & Beverage Association, BC Meats and Organic BC were approved as members, bringing the IAFBC’s membership to 15 farm and food organizations. IAFBC is also growing in responsibility, managing a record $8.3 million in funding from six funding agencies and developing new programs to support the agriculture sector including Farmland Advantage and Agricultural Climate Solutions.
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4 weeks ago

A second BC flock has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the province reported this evening, April 25. The small backyard flock of chicken and ducks near Kelowna has fewer than 100 birds and is relatively isolated. This is the second backyard flock to be suspected of high-path avian influenza in the past week. The other, on Vancouver Island, was found to be AI-free. Amanda Brittain, chief information officer with the BC Poultry Association’s emergency operations centre, says the latest case is of minimal concern to industry because there are no commercial flocks within 12km of the premises. ... See MoreSee Less

A second BC flock has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the province reported this evening, April 25. The small backyard flock of chicken and ducks near Kelowna has fewer than 100 birds and is relatively isolated. This is the second backyard flock to be suspected of high-path avian influenza in the past week. The other, on Vancouver Island, was found to be AI-free. Amanda Brittain, chief information officer with the BC Poultry Association’s emergency operations centre, says the latest case is of minimal concern to industry because there are no commercial flocks within 12km of the premises.
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Field days feeling the pinch of social distancing rules

Physical distancing and one-way rows are the new standard for grower field days, as practiced August 19 at Brent Kelly Farms in Delta, host of the BC Potato & Vegetable Growers Association potato field trials. Visitors pre-registered for one-hour time slots during the day. Numbers were down but Heather Meberg of ES Cropconsult said input from growers was more detailed and valuable. PHOTO / RONDA PAYNE

September 1, 2020 //  by Cathy

DELTA – Many farmers block off their calendars for the field days that give them a chance to share information, learn and socialize.

This year will be different, however, as ongoing restrictions designed to curb COVID-19 has changed the format of most field days.

Alexis Arthur, owner of Pacific Forage Bag Supply Ltd. in Delta, says she might be hosting two field days this summer, one in Matsqui and the other in Sumas. If they go ahead, they will be different from the usual setup. While her events normally feature a steak BBQ under a tent as part of the draw, sitting together and buffets aren’t on the menu this year.

“When you hear the numbers [of COVID-19 cases] getting higher, as a business I have to be mindful,” she says.

She had intended on hosting four field days, and explained the parameters the events would have to follow to the co-host businesses and farmers. Subsequently, two events were cancelled, one because underlying health issues at the host farm made hosting unwise.

“In light of the rising numbers, I basically said I’d like feedback and I’d like to know if everyone is comfortable having the events on their land,” she explains. “We’ve gone from having four to … [possibly] two. With those increasing [COVID-19 case] numbers, I think people are getting a little more anxious.”

Whether or not any field day events proceed, Arthur will complete the trials on all viable plots from the four sites and collect information. To do so, she will set up the fields in usual field day crop fashion to examine the trial forage. She may invite a few individuals to come out to gain the information first-hand without the formalities of a field day.

She’s keen to share information because it’s been a tough year for growers of forage crops such as corn.

“There’s valuable information that they can get their hands on. It was a bloody hard year for [corn],” she says.

Results of trials Pacific Forage conducted will be posted online and Arthur intends to add short videos detailing information about varieties.

“Maybe we put some money we put towards BBQs to an effective video,” she says.

Okanagan Fertilizer trialed 15 corn varieties this year but opted to skip its field day.

“What we are thinking is if people want to go look at the new varieties, we can take them out there individually,” says sales agronomist Caleb Stuart.

The company planted new varieties from a supplier that wasn’t previously selling seed in BC and Stuart believes the results will be useful to growers.

Strawberry, raspberry and blueberry growers also missed out on their field days this year. Blueberry growers are still expected to have an annual general meeting in the fall, but a field day is unlikely to be part of the event.

Integrated Crop Management Services (ICMS) is still considering options for a field day, says BC regional manager Grant McMillan.

“At this point, we may run it based on appointments,” he says. “We still have been doing small tours whenever a client needs to look at the trials.”

The BC Potato & Vegetable Growers Association potato variety field day is a popular event that typically draws interest from across the country. Organizers modified it to respect COVID-19 protocols, limiting attendance to 20 people an hour and eliminating the food component.

Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors cancelled its spring and summer field days, but coordinator Rachael Roussin resumed the events when the province moved to Phase 3 of its reopening plan. She plans to host six field days before December but the events will be tightly focused and attendance limited to no more than 20 people in keeping with provincial health orders.

“The field days are specific and targeted in their approach and theme,” she says. “Agriculture is an essential service and people haven’t stopped [farming]. Life is continuing for the ag sector and this is supporting them. We have done some online extension events. They’ve been awesome, but everyone says you can’t beat face-to-face.”

 

Pacific Agriculture Show goes virtual

The prospect of prolonged restrictions on large public events has prompted BC’s biggest agriculture show to go online in 2021.

Originally scheduled for Tradex in Abbotsford on January 28-30, the Pacific Agriculture Show will pivot to a virtual format in 2021 with plans for the 2022 event to return to Tradex, says show manager Jim Shepard.

“We’ll be pivoting and producing a world-class virtual show,” he says. “There’s all kinds of reasons for doing it.”

An online portal will allow visitors to explore the trade show floor, which will reflect the usual layout at Tradex. They’ll be able to visit booths, have private chats with vendors, access product information and even enjoy the virtual petting zoo.

The education dimension will also continue, with the show’s partner conferences also moving online. The Horticultural Growers’ Short Course, Cannatech West and Ag Innovation Day have all agreed to run their programs.

Shepard is excited about the opportunities the virtual space provides, including inviting speakers from around the world in addition to the short course’s usual presenters.

He also sees an opportunity to expand the show’s reach and influence to an even wider audience.

Shepard expects to send packages outlining the event and explaining registration opportunities to show exhibitors in mid-September.

“Everyone seems pretty keen to make this a success,” he says. “We’re going to have virtual farm tours, virtual demonstrations, all highly interactive and in real time.”

—Ronda Payne

 

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