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Originally published:

MAY 2019
Vol. 105 Issue 5

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Stories In This Edition

Caribou recovery plan has ranchers worried

What on earth?

Opposition slams ALC bill

Sidebar: Protection & pushback

Global rhubarb glut hits home for BC growers

Editorial: Truth in labelling

Back Forty: So you don’t believe in climate change

Viewpoint: Don’t blame the cows for global warming

Ag council’s lobbying efforts produce results

Learning a new skill

Foundation’s nest egg for funding projects increases

Greenhouse growers see rebound in acreage

Province will hold the line on piece rates

New CEO aims to kindle team spirit at co-op

Shrinking hog industry faces disease threats

FIRB decision prompts rethink of pricing scheme

Beekeepers see potential in technology transfer

AgSafe markes quarter century

Raspberries hit hard by harsh February

Good deal

Blueberry growers anxious for new varieties

Biological controls for pests in demand

Sidebar: Pesticides in play

Growers urged to focus on fresh

Westgen celebrates 75 years of excellence

Top seller was no-show at Holstein sale

Spring show attracts exhibitors from Quebec

Cheesemakers unite to grow niche market

Range use permits under greater scrutiny

Sidebar: Range use plans go digital

Market Musings: Top bulls sell for top dollar at spring sales

Grapegrowers share sustainability objectives

Grape specialist honoured for dedication

Hazelnut production expands across BC

Sidebar: Pest pressures

Supporters take to AITC’s Sips & Sprouts

Research: Cultured meat fails to impress researchers

UAVs undergo testing for pesticide delivery

Sustainability goes beyond saving farmland

Father and daughter roll with the last of the steel wheels

Woodshed: Susan Henderson is warming to country life

Farm initiative puts heart back in agriculture

Wannabe: Farming is more than just a job

Surplus, cull fruit finds new purpose as tasty snacks

Jude’s Kitchen: Special food for special moms

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24 hours ago

Fecal coliform levels in the streams and watercourses that flow through Langley has been an issue for decades. The Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) has received $97,000 from the federal government to work with property owners to help them reduce their impact on water quality and the environment, and ensure their properties are in compliance with the Agriculture Environmental Management Code of Practice (AEMCoP). The story is in the February edition of Country Life in BC. Subscribe today bit.ly/3RIKms9/.

#BCAg #aemcop
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Fecal coliform levels in the streams and watercourses that flow through Langley has been an issue for decades. The Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) has received $97,000 from the federal government to work with property owners to help them reduce their impact on water quality and the environment, and ensure their properties are in compliance with the Agriculture Environmental Management Code of Practice (AEMCoP). The story is in the February edition of Country Life in BC. Subscribe today https://bit.ly/3RIKms9/.

#BCAg #AEMCoP
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2 days ago

BC dairy farmers are feeling the pinch and some in the Fraser Valley are considering selling as narrow margins get tighter and high financing costs complicate succession plans. It's our cover story in the February edition of Country Life in BC.

bit.ly/3JGgk6B

#bcagriculture #bcdairy
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BC dairy farmers are feeling the pinch and some in the Fraser Valley are considering selling as narrow margins get tighter and high financing costs complicate succession plans. Its our cover story in the February edition of Country Life in BC.

https://bit.ly/3JGgk6B

#bcagriculture #bcdairy
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So much pressure being put on the dairy industry from the US. It’s hard to keep the lobbying at bay. Canadian dairy should supply Canadian tables and the farmers who provide it should be paid what they are worth. There is no such thing as cheap food

Farm Management is key. It can't all be blamed on the government.

Just been watching NZ TV news and the price of food. Most complaining about the price of dairy products due to the fact that domestic prices are high with most production being exported. No supply management.

I really don't understand the concern here. The article literally says 30-40 of 600 BC dairy farms (that's less than 1%) are experiencing financial pressure, likely due to being somewhat overleveraged. Sounds like just some mismanagement rather than a broad policy failure is the cause here.

Whole Food Plant Based eating ...oat milk coconut milk Almond milk soy milk etc

Noooooooo. That’s exactly what this LIB/NDP party wants. They want everyone to cave in to their knees. Don’t do it. It’ll be the end.

A lot of this is government squeeze. Be hungry and compliant!

The government is the eternal enemy of humanity.

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1 week ago

Farmland Advantage is receiving a $445,000 grant from the federal government. The program, the “brainchild” of Invermere cattle rancher Dave Zehnder, provides compensation to farmers for their conservation efforts to protect BC’s grasslands, riparian areas and wildlife habitat. The funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada under the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) and Priority Places programs, will be administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Rewarding farmers for enhancing riparian areas appeared in our March 2022 edition and you can view it at ... See MoreSee Less

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Rewarding farmers for enhancing riparian areas

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INVERMERE – Farmers and ranchers in the Columbia Valley will continue to see rewards for taking action to conserve and enhance important riparian areas on their farms. The Windermere District Farmer...
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2 weeks ago

A standing-room only crowd of more than 250 people attended a public hearing the Agricultural Land Commission hosted in Langley Monday night regarding a proposal to include 305 acres controlled by the federal government in the Agricultural Land Reserve. More than 76,000 people have signed an online petition asking municipal and provincial governments to protect the land from development, and for the federal government to grant a long-term lease to the Heppells. Read more in this morning's Farm News Update from Country Life in BC. conta.cc/3XYXw6k ... See MoreSee Less

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Your weekly farm news update

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The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 January 25 2023 Surrey ALR inclusion cheered A standing-room only crowd of more than 250 people attended a public hearing the Agricultural L
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Mike Manion Pitt Meadows City Councillor

2 months ago

Christmas tree growers in BC are seeing strong demand this season and prices remain comparable to last year. But the number of tree farms has decreased dramatically over the past five years and the province will increasingly need to look elsewhere if it wants to meet local demand. More in this week's Farm News Update from Country Life in BC. ... See MoreSee Less

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Christmas trees in demand

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Christmas tree growers in BC are seeing strong demand, with high quality trees making it to market. “The market is good. We’ll probably outdo last year and last year was one of our best years…
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Grapegrowers share sustainability objectives

Joint meeting of grape council, growers association highlights common ground

Nk'Mip grapes

April 30, 2019 byTom Walker

PENTICTON – It was an all-wine grapes meeting when the two groups that represent the sector met together for the first time in Penticton in early April. Kathy Malone, winemaker at Hillside Winery in Naramata and chair of the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC) tipped her glass to the BC Grapegrowers’ Association (BCGA) for hosting a joint event.
“We thank the BCGA for teaming with us,” says Malone.
BCWGC funds research and education through a $10 per ton levy collected from wineries on all grapes processed that are grown in mainland BC. Malone reviewed the work of six committees, including those overseeing health and safety, lab proficiency, and research and development. The work of the sustainability committee received special mention.
“Sustainable Wine Growing BC is one of the initiatives that we are most proud of,” says Malone. “We are at the tipping point to be able to offer sustainability certification.”
The program has been in development for 10 years, with Sustainable Wine Growing BC now offering self-assessment tools that develop sustainable practices for vineyards, wineries and winery hospitality.
Sustainable Wine Growing BC administrator Katie Pease outlined a pilot project planned for this year.
“We are taking those assessment tools and turning them into certification standards,” she says. “Customers care about sustainable practices and they are increasingly choosing them in the marketplace.”
She anticipates launching the full certification program in 2020.
Virus-free
Oliver grower Hans Buchler, chair of the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network, provided an overview of the network’s program to develop a supply of certified virus-free grapevine material for propagation.
“The industry in Canada is mature enough to be able to pool our resources for this project,” notes Buchler. The network includes the BC Wine Grape Council, Grape Growers of Ontario, Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia and the Quebec Winegrowers Association.
“We are all focusing on improving the sustainability of the sector,” says Buchler.
BCGA president Mason Spink, winemaker at Dirty Laundry Vineyard in Summerland, described the association’s education and lobbying activities.
“We have a very strong board that does a lot of work on your behalf behind the scenes,” says Spink, noting that the association is run by volunteers.
BCGA grower days have been well-attended, with recent workshops on pruning, canopy management, spray programs and soil optimization.
One of the key programs BCGA administers is the successful starling control program.
BCGA administrative officer and starling program administrator Tyrion Miskell gave an overview of the new funnel trap being piloted in the North Okanagan to capture birds wintering in local dairy barns. The trap allows birds to be caught by the hundreds, with entire flocks eliminated rather than just a few birds at a time via conventional trapping. The program has captured 834,019 birds to date.
Miskell took the opportunity to appeal for more grower donations to support the program.
“Just because we are not seeing as many birds doesn’t mean the program is not important,” she says. “If we weren’t trapping, we estimate there would be over a million birds in the valley now.”
Western Agriculture Labour Initiative manager Veronica Moreno updated growers on changes to temporary farm worker programs. A representative from Service Canada also spoke to the group via teleconference.
Spink notes there are now over 50 vineyards that rely on labour from the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program and he expects that will increase.
New awards
BCGA has established two new awards this year, recognizing viticulturalist of the year and lifetime achievement.
“We are excited to announce these awards and hope that they help to spur the level of quality across the industry,” says BCGA director John Bayley. “These are the people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities that grow the grapes. We hope that it will become a bit of a benchmark for the industry.”
BCGA is accepting nominations for viticulturalist of the year until May 31. The award will be presented at the annual meeting next spring. The province’s former grape industry specialist, John Vielvoye, received the first lifetime achievement award at the April 4 meeting.
An afternoon workshop on grower relations and contract negotiation featured a panel discussion between two growers and two winery owners chaired by Sandra Oldfield, former winemaker and CEO of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards and now a consultant to the BC beverage industry.
“We have been trying for a long time to get a grower contract workshop,” says Miskell. “When Sandra approached me about it, the timing was great.”
A good contract begins with a long-term trusting relationship, says Naramata grower Rod King.
“You need to work on that relationship for a win-win,” says King. “That includes conversations between the winery and the vineyard on a regular basis.”
Industry lawyer Mark Hicken gave an overview of the laws governing grower contracts. Al Steele, vineyard manager for Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol, California, talked about the importance of long term relationships when he addressed the audience via videoconference.
“This is a small industry,” warns Steele. “You know over time who you want to deal with.”

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