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Originally published:

January 2018
Vol. 104 Issue 1

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Stories In This Edition

Peace will be flooded

Groundwater fee postponed

Standing strong

Sidebar: New year, new treaty

No quick fix for contaminated acquifer

Editorial: Watershed moment

Back 40: To better times ahead: hope is in our DNA

OpEd: BC agriculture needs its foreign workers

Dairy production meeting quota increases

Holstein Breeders celebrate progressive year

National unity a concern for dairy farmers

Producers waiting on FIRB review

Challenges, changes face young farmers

Outstanding effort

Steele steps down as fruit growers’ president

Sidebar: BCFGA adopts new bylaws

Lettuce build

BC to bear brunt of food price increases in 2018

Risk assessment research gets funding boost

New year, new start

Profitability should be to the goal of marketing

Sidebar: Seven deadly sins of (just about any) marketing

Abbotsford hosts AgRefresh open houses

Labour elusive for nursery sector

Ag show celebrates 20 years and growing

Hort course the backbone of show

Sidebar: Public trust workshops

Dairy, innovation expos part of show

Expo starts with tours of diverse dairy operations

Forestry, forage co-exist at demonstration site

Opportunities for Cariboo grass-fed beef

Sustainable success

Sidebar: First grad for ranching program

OYF winners show a willingness to innovate

Research: Space program elevates pot

research to new high

Food recovery benefits livestock farmers

Sidebar: Alternative connections

New objectives come with new WestGen barn

Surrey business group recognizes ag leaders

Greenhouse safety protocols save the day

Goat farmers get behind new dairy association

Sidebar: Dairy goat owners learn from one another

Scrapie eradication possible with certification program

National EFP program still a work in progress

Cutting-edge technology could hold key to varroa mites

Sidebar: What is RNAi?

Community gaming grants open February 1

Wannabe Farmer: Overcoming obstacles

Sweet smell of success on just eight acres

Sidebar: Strength in numbers

Sidebar: Award-winning shift in business

Woodshed Chronicles: Henderson figures any

idiot can drive a tractor

Jude’s Kitchen: Pretty edible

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3 days ago

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production; repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: buff.ly/3sVRF4G
... See MoreSee Less

The province has extended the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program deadline from June 1 to Aug. 31. The program helps farmers cover uninsured expenses caused by damages in the November 2021 floods, including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, and water and waste systems; returning flood-affected land and buildings to a safe state for agricultural production;  repairing uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; repairing structures such as livestock-containment fences; renting temporary production facilities; installing drainage ditches and land-stabilization materials; animal welfare activities such as replacing feed, transporting livestock, veterinary care and mortality disposal; and
replacing perennial plants not grown for sale. Program criteria and application forms are available online: https://buff.ly/3sVRF4G
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1 week 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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3 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?

4 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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Goat farmers get behind new dairy association

January 1, 2018 byMyrna Stark Leader

United front needed as market for niche milk product grows

CHILLIWACK – Western Canada’s growing appetite for goat milk is sparking plans for a commercial dairy goat association.

The proposal was discussed at the annual meeting of representatives from the 14 farms across BC and Alberta that supply Happy Days Dairies Ltd. in Chilliwack, November 11.

Together, the farms milk more than 6,000 goats. The milk is processed at Happy Days plants in Chilliwack, Salmon Arm and Ponoka, Alberta. The annual meetings give producers a chance to discuss pricing, common challenges, see each other’s farms and contine learning from experts and each other.

“In 2008, we were facing a large over-production that [Happy Days] couldn’t finance on its own,” says Happy Days founder Donat Koller. “This triggered the first meeting with myself and all the farmers to find a solution to the problem and, ever since, we meet once a year to discuss issues.”

Koller says that as business operations became smoother, the meetings added an educational component to help producers build upon what had been accomplished.

Run by Koller, Happy Days began milking 70 goats in 1993 and processing the milk itself. Today, it’s the largest goat milk processor in Western Canada, processing 3.6 million litres in 2017 and on track for 3.8 million litres in 2018.

Goat milk has been increasing in popularity because it’s easier to digest for the lactose-intolerant and changing demographics mean Canada is home to more people who grew up with goats and are used to consuming the milk.

United front

The idea of a commercial dairy goat association for producers in BC and Alberta makes sense for the developing sector, says Merel Voth, who with her husband Barrie operates Hillside Dreams Goat Dairy near Salmon Arm.

The couple have raised dairy goats for four years and see a bright future for the sector. Barrie is an advocate of classification for dairy goats, which he believes is fundamental when establishing a well-rounded breeding program.

Similarly, a commercial dairy goat association would present a more credible image of producers as a unified group.

“They are all external indicators of strength,” explains Merel of the two initiatives.

Merel, 33, is a mother of two and a part-time social worker in addition to managing the farm. She birthed the association idea partly inspired by leadership at the October Women In Agriculture Conference in Niagara. Before the Happy Days meeting, she gauged interest by sending out a two-minute online survey. Responses were supportive.

“We have Alberta Goat and different goat associations but those groups tend to be geared toward hobby and lifestyle goat farmers,” she says. “They are not necessarily relevant to commercial dairy. We have different issues and different needs. I think it’s time for us to get up to par with others in the ag industry. If we want to have a united voice and we want to make an impact on the industry, we’re going to have to start hustling a bit.”

Once an association is formally constituted, Voth envisions a two-day annual meeting starting in 2018. The first day would be an association meeting with a business meeting on day two. She has secured $5,000 through the Growing Forward program under the BC Strategic Outreach Initiative Funding Program. The new association would be open to all commercial dairy goat farms in BC and Alberta.

The new association would also host webinars, a distance learning technology Voth is familiar with from her social work. The first is set for January 10. It will feature a two-hour session with Chris Clark, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, regarding disease management and biosecurity in relation to milking.

Broad support

Voth’s efforts have support from other producers.

“We’ve all been in meetings where everyone thinks it’s a tremendous idea but you still need one person to take the initiative to do it,” says Gerald Klok, a 150-dairy goat farmer and cash cropper from north of Lethbridge. “It’s nice to see Merel putting the effort into it because sometimes – we all know how farmers are – sometimes, we just need that little extra push.”

Koller has long encouraged producers to organize but as the processor, he couldn’t be the lead.

“I am very grateful that Merel started the process now. It always needs someone to go ahead. An association will give us a voice and might help get funding,” he says. “Eastern Canada dominates the goat industry and a western association will make us more involved.”

Tom Lesher, who with his wife Karen, milks 250 goats in Lacombe, Alberta in addition to operating a 3,000 head cattle feedlot, said the prospect of regular education sessions for producers is encouraging.

“If we get this set up, it will be an online forum where we can more readily interact with each other giving feedback and getting it as well. We just don’t have the experience that others have in eastern Canada or Holland or Israel where they have more goats,” he says. “We’re just learning.”

While she’s hopeful about the association, Voth is also realistic.

“Some people approached us to say they really want to move this forward. Other people said, ‘Oh, that’s a great idea,’ but it will be really interesting by the time we actually form an association with directors to see how many people are willing to step forward and do a job,” she says.

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