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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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1 month ago

It’s been four years since the last tulip festival was held in Abbotsford, but this year’s event promises to be an even bigger spectacle than ever. Spanning 27 acres along Marion Road, Lakeland Flowers will display more than 70 varieties of the spring blossom, including fringe tulips and double tulips, the first of six months of flower festivals hosted by the farm. Writer Sandra Tretick spoke with Lakeland Flowers owner Nick Warmerdam this spring to find out how the floods on Sumas Prairie in 2021 have had an impact on his business plan as he transitions from wholesale cut flower grower to agri-tourism. We've posted the story to our website this month. It's a good read.

#CLBC #countrylifeinbc #tulipfestival
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Tulip grower makes the shift to agritourism

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ABBOTSFORD – On a bright sunny day in early April, Nick Warmerdam points out his office window at No. 4 and Marion roads to a spot about half a kilometre away across the Trans-Canada Highway.
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Omg 🥹 Jared Huston let’s go pls

1 month ago

Farming, like any other job.. only you punch in at age 5 and never punch out 🚜 ... See MoreSee Less

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Easton Roseboom Levi Roseboom🚜

1 month ago

The province is allocating $15 million to be administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. for a perennial crop replant program benefitting tree fruit, hazelnut, berry and grape growers. The program aims to cover 100% of plant removal costs and 75% of replanting costs. Funds are also available for sector development. The new program replaces a suite of sector-specific replant programs and recognizes the importance of sector adaptation in the face of market, disease and weather challenges. ... See MoreSee Less

The province is allocating $15 million to be administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. for a perennial crop replant program benefitting tree fruit, hazelnut, berry and grape growers. The program aims to cover 100% of plant removal costs and 75% of replanting costs. Funds are also available for sector development. The new program replaces a suite of sector-specific replant programs and recognizes the importance of sector adaptation in the face of market, disease and weather challenges.
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1 month ago

Just a week after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials revoked the last primary control zones established in the Fraser Valley to control last fall’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a new detection on April 29 at a commercial premises in Chilliwack underscored the risk of a spring wave. This is the first new detection since January 22, also in Chilliwack, and brings to 104 the number of premises affected since the current outbreak began April 13, 2022. The disease has impacted 3.7 million birds in BC over the past year. ... See MoreSee Less

Just a week after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials revoked the last primary control zones established in the Fraser Valley to control last fall’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a new detection on April 29 at a commercial premises in Chilliwack underscored the risk of a spring wave. This is the first new detection since January 22, also in Chilliwack, and brings to 104 the number of premises affected since the current outbreak began April 13, 2022. The disease has impacted 3.7 million birds in BC over the past year.
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Any other details for FVN and chillTV please? radiodon11@gmail.com

1 month ago

The province is contributing $3.2 million for upgrades to the Barrowtown pump station in Abbotsford that was overwhelmed during the November 2021 flooding on Sumas Prairie, part of a collaborative approach to flood mitigation in the region. During a press conference at the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices in Abbotsford today, the province said a collaborative approach that includes First Nations is needed as Abbotsford pursues a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy due to the potential impacts on Indigenous lands. Agriculture's interests will be represented by technical teams within the agriculture ministry. ... See MoreSee Less

The province is contributing $3.2 million for upgrades to the Barrowtown pump station in Abbotsford that was overwhelmed during the November 2021 flooding on Sumas Prairie, part of a collaborative approach to flood mitigation in the region. During a press conference at the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food offices in Abbotsford today, the province said a collaborative approach that includes First Nations is needed as Abbotsford pursues a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy due to the potential impacts on Indigenous lands. Agricultures interests will be represented by technical teams within the agriculture ministry.
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I sure hope part of that money is to educate the people in charge of the pumps and drainage system! They just relayed on computers and weren’t even physically monitoring the water levels. I’ve lived in the Fraser Valley my whole life and the old guys managing that system know how to do it. The new generation just sit behind computer screens and don’t physically watch the water levels. That system works very well when you do it right. The Fraser river levels are very important. The system is designed to drain the Sumas Canal (the part that runs thru the valley) into the Fraser. When they let it get backed up it put pressure on the dyke and the weak part burst. Simple science. And yes, the dykes need to be worked on too. Abbotsford has not been maintaining properly for 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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