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Originally published:

August 2018
Vol. 104 Issue 8

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Stories In This Edition

Shaved, showered and shampooed

New regs rolled out for pot growers

Egg farm decommissioned

Richmond cranberry grower honoured

Editorial: Ground for reform

Back Forty: Facing a tenuous future of feeding the world

OpEd: Wildlife federation’s audit request full of holes

Armyworm posing little risk this season

Letters: Dairy feeling price pressures

Abbotsford waits for clarity on ALR guidelines

Chicken quote to increase 20% by 2020

Dairy incentive days this fall

Aquilini seeks exclusion for former nursery

Business risks looms large at national meeting

Maple Ridge denies exclusion bid for dairy

Fire damage won’t delay blueberry shipments

Good weather marks return to normal conditions

Cherries set for near-record crop this season

Laser system has potential for bird control in crops

Hazelnut growers get replant funding

Gulf Islands farmers want rules respected

Young Agrarians push small-scale premium

Value pinned on local ecosystem services

Cash crunch threatens BC berry growers

Hop sector brewing a bright future

IPM for SWD a tall order, says crop consultant

Audit request takes aim at cattle ranchers

Forage action plan nears completion

Site C fund directors get to work

Abattoir recommendations delayed till fall

Research: Smart flowers have the tools to attract clever bees

Science should underpin colony management

Abbotsford tour puts spotlight on innovation

Summer fun at Stock Show

Business smarts needed for farm success

Wannabe: Signs of hope’s fulfilment

New day for Century Growers

Woodshed: Role playing turns up heat for Deborah

Seasonal pastime

Community is key crop for Kelowna farmers

Jude’s Kitchen: Crisp and cool entertaining

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Today’s provincial budget has given a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million last year. The majority of the funds go to "Agriculture Resources” while $600,000 will support "science, policy and inspection" investments. An additional $60,000 is allocated to the Agricultural Land Commission, which now has $5 million to work with. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranches. Subscribe now to receive the May edition. buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

8 hours ago

Today’s provincial budget has given a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million last year. The majority of the funds go to Agriculture Resources” while $600,000 will support science, policy and inspection investments. An additional $60,000 is allocated to the Agricultural Land Commission, which now has $5 million to work with. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranches. Subscribe now to receive the May edition. buff.ly/2ReiFur
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Warren Sarafinchan’s contract with BC Tree Fruits has been extended for five years. BCTF president Steve Brown made the announcement on Friday. Sarafinchan was first hired in September 2019, the co-op's fifth CEO in eight years. He took the reins as a governance report reported the co-op was in "a serious life-threatening crisis.” “In his short time with the Cooperative Warren and his team have been working tirelessly to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and has taken major steps to right size all aspects of the organization,” says Brown. The governance study that was approved by a super majority set the stage for Sarafinchan and the board to move forward with selling assets, increasing plant efficiencies and offering an Apple Quality Assurance Program to encourage growers to deliver quality fruit. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and writers. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

Warren Sarafinchan’s contract with BC Tree Fruits has been extended for five years. BCTF president Steve Brown made the announcement on Friday. Sarafinchan was first hired in September 2019, the co-ops fifth CEO in eight years. He took the reins as a governance report reported the co-op was in a serious life-threatening crisis.”  “In his short time with the Cooperative Warren and his team have been working tirelessly to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and has taken major steps to right size all aspects of the organization,” says Brown. The governance study that was approved by a super majority set the stage for Sarafinchan and the board to move forward with selling assets, increasing plant efficiencies and offering an Apple Quality Assurance Program to encourage growers to deliver quality fruit. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and writers.
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BC Milk Marketing Board chair Ben Janzen bid an emotional farewell during the final spring producer meeting on April 15. Janzen retires as board chair July 31, but this week’s Zoom meetings were a final public engagement with producers. “It takes a lot of work to do what Ben has done, and I know he’s yearning to spend time with his family and on his farm,” said vice-chair Tom Hoogendoorn in offering thanks for Janzen’s 21 years of service with the board over the past 25 years. Janzen thanked producers for the opportunity to serve and his wife and family for supporting his work on behalf of industry. “It’s disappointing to say goodbye speaking into a computer screen … but the reality is that the industry will continue to progress,” said Janzen, noting that everyone from producers to tradespeople and consumers have a part to play. “It’s been a great honour and a great privilege to be part of this very dynamic industry.” [Image: Ben Janzen, right, congratulates Dick Klein Geltink for his long career in agricultural politics during the 2018 dairy conference.] ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

BC Milk Marketing Board chair Ben Janzen bid an emotional farewell during the final spring producer meeting on April 15. Janzen retires as board chair July 31, but this week’s Zoom meetings were a final public engagement with producers. “It takes a lot of work to do what Ben has done, and I know he’s yearning to spend time with his family and on his farm,” said vice-chair Tom Hoogendoorn in offering thanks for Janzen’s 21 years of service with the board over the past 25 years. Janzen thanked producers for the opportunity to serve and his wife and family for supporting his work on behalf of industry. “It’s disappointing to say goodbye speaking into a computer screen … but the reality is that the industry will continue to progress,” said Janzen, noting that everyone from producers to tradespeople and consumers have a part to play. “It’s been a great honour and a great privilege to be part of this very dynamic industry.” [Image: Ben Janzen, right, congratulates Dick Klein Geltink for his long career in agricultural politics during the 2018 dairy conference.]
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BC poultry producers will received $86.8 million as part of a $691 million federal compensation package for market access concessions granted under the CP-TPP free trade agreement with Canada’s Pacific Rim trading partners. Details of the arrangement have been two years in the making. Compensation will be paid out over 10 years and cover up to 70% of the cost of eligible investments the typical poultry farm undertakes. Individual farms will be allocated an amount reflecting their quota as of January 1, 2021. Ottawa has also promised producers compensation for market access granted under CUSMA. Details have yet to be revealed but all eyes are on next week’s federal budget for hints of what’s in store. More info is available in this morning's Farm News Update. Sign up for free at buff.ly/2H3dK8k. ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago

BC poultry producers will received $86.8 million as part of a $691 million federal compensation package for market access concessions granted under the CP-TPP free trade agreement with Canada’s Pacific Rim trading partners. Details of the arrangement have been two years in the making. Compensation will be paid out over 10 years and cover up to 70% of the cost of eligible investments the typical poultry farm undertakes. Individual farms will be allocated an amount reflecting their quota as of January 1, 2021. Ottawa has also promised producers compensation for market access granted under CUSMA. Details have yet to be revealed but all eyes are on next week’s federal budget for hints of what’s in store. More info is available in this mornings Farm News Update. Sign up for free at buff.ly/2H3dK8k.
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No they aren't actually watering yet. Arterra Wines was testing their overhead sprinkler system at Sunrock Vineyards just north of Osoyoos this week in preparation for the summer growing season. Overheads are used primarily to support the growth of cover crops between the rows of vines. But it won't be long before actual watering begins for Okanagan fruit growers. It has been a particularly dry spring so far with below average precipitation in January and February and an extreme low of 2.6 mm of rain recorded in Kelowna for March. That's just 12% of the seasonal average of 21.6mm. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

No they arent actually watering yet. Arterra Wines was testing their overhead sprinkler system at Sunrock Vineyards just north of Osoyoos this week in preparation for the summer growing season. Overheads are used primarily to support the growth of cover crops between the rows of vines. But it wont be long before actual watering begins for Okanagan fruit growers. It has been a particularly dry spring so far with below average precipitation in January and February and an extreme low of 2.6 mm of rain recorded in Kelowna for March. Thats just 12% of the seasonal average of 21.6mm. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers.
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Hazelnut growers get replant funding

Nurseries ready for 2019

July 29, 2018 byDavid Schmidt

CHILLIWACK – After several years of lobbying, the BC hazelnut industry finally has a replant program.

In mid-July, BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham announced $300,000 in funding over three years for a new BC Hazelnut Replant Program (HRP).

The long-established industry was decimated by eastern filbert blight (EFB) in the past decade, leading most Fraser Valley orchardists to rip out their infected orchards. Seeing the writing on the wall, the BC Hazelnut Growers Association started a trial of new EFB-resistant varieties in six (now five) orchards in 2011, with a second planting in 2013.

Developed in Oregon, the six varieties (Yamhill, Jefferson, Sacajawea, Eta, Theta and Gamma) are proving adaptable to BC conditions. Despite being in the shadow of highly infected orchards, most trees, particularly those planted in 2013, are doing quite well with only a few exhibiting signs of EFB.

“Hazelnut growers in BC have faced major setbacks over the past decade, but this funding will help regrow and revitalize a sector that has enormous possibilities,” Popham said. “My mandate includes Grow BC, and that includes hazelnuts.”

“Everyone’s glad to see the announcement. It gives the hazelnut industry a chance to revive and grow bigger than ever before,” says BCHGA president Neal Tebrinke.

Tebrinke admits it’s “hard to restart an industry which has collapsed.”

He believes the industry needs to generate a new grower group, noting many existing growers are older and unlikely to replant given the time it takes for a new orchard to come into full production.

The HRP recognizes that, making the incentives available to both existing growers and new entrants. The program includes both removal and renewal components. The removal component will provide up to $1,800 per acre to remove an infected orchard. The renewal component will provide $5 per tree to a maximum of $1,345 per acre to plant new EFB-resistant trees.

The first application deadline is August 31, and covers removals or plantings before December 31. Although there will likely be a few applications for removal funding, Tebrinke expects the short notice means few will be able to take advantage of the replant funding this year.

“For anyone to replant this year, they would already have had to book their trees,” he points out.

Tebrinke (Mountain View Acres in Agassiz) is one of three BC hazelnut tree propagators/suppliers. His inventory includes the six varieties in the BCHGA trial. Although he has enough trees for about 40 acres of new plantings this fall, he notes they are already committed. He is now taking orders for planting in fall 2019, and expects to be able to produce enough trees for another 50 acres of orchards.

Thom O’Dell (Nature Tech Nursery of Langley) has co-ordinated the BCHGA trial since its inception and not only offers the six varieties in the trial but also sells Dorris, Felix and York, three newer, more EFB-resistant varieties from the Oregon hazelnut breeding program. Although most trees ready for planting this fall are already committed, he says “if the trees grow as they should,” Nature Tech will have a few trees available for planting either this fall or next spring. He expects to be able to fulfil all the demands he gets for plantings next fall.

Mosterman Plants of Chilliwack is the newest entrant into hazelnut propagation and the only one licensed by the Oregon breeding program. As a result, they are offering only the newer, more resistant varieties being developed in Oregon.

“We currently offer Dorris, Felix, York, McDonald and Wepster (Oregon’s most-hyped new variety) commercial varieties and Burgundy Lace and Red Dragon ornamental varieties,” Sylvia Mosterman says, noting their licence will allow them to offer other new Oregon varieties three years after they are made available to Oregon growers.

All her trees are produced from tissue culture (as is also the case at Nature Tech), so “we can produce as many trees as needed” given sufficient lead time. For that to happen, growers planning to plant trees next fall need to place their orders by the beginning of December.

Short notice

“We know (the August 31 deadline) is short notice,” admits provincial berry and nut specialist Karina Sakalauskas. She says once the August deadline passes, the ministry will start accepting applications for plantings in the spring and fall of 2019.

Tebrinke says there is a ready market for all the hazelnuts BC is able to produce and a lot of land available for growing trees.

“There is a lot of unused or underutilized land in the Fraser Valley which could be used for hazelnuts. Our province can easily handle up to 5,000 acres of hazelnuts.”

He urges anyone interested in learning more about the industry and its potential to attend the BCHGA fall field day to be held at the province’s receiving station, Fraser Valley Hazelnuts, on South Sumas Road in Chilliwack, September 22.

A wealth of information is already available on the association’s new website, bchga.com. It will soon also include the BCMA’s new hazelnut production guide.

“We expect to have the guide available by mid-August,” Sakalauskas says. She also encourages potential growers to research Oregon’s information on growing hazelnuts, saying it is very detailed and highly adaptable to BC.

“Our production guide is based on the experience of Oregon growers,” she notes.

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