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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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CP Rail’s plans for a new logistics facility on 100 acres of farmland in Pitt Meadows is facing opposition from neighbours, who question the impact of the project on their community and local agriculture. Close to 100 residents questioned CP representatives in an online open house this week but received few definitive answers. The project is exempt from Agricultural Land Commission and local government approval. Results of a survey that closes today will be made public in March, with mitigation measures of the project provided this summer. Construction could begin in 2026 if federal authorities approve. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

CP Rail’s plans for a new logistics facility on 100 acres of farmland in Pitt Meadows is facing opposition from neighbours, who question the impact of the project on their community and local agriculture. Close to 100 residents questioned CP representatives in an online open house this week but received few definitive answers. The project is exempt from Agricultural Land Commission and local government approval. Results of a survey that closes today will be made public in March, with mitigation measures of the project provided this summer. Construction could begin in 2026 if federal authorities approve. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2ReiFur
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The BC Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new round of funding this week to support more community projects aimed at protecting the health and habitat of bees. The Bee BC program provides up to $5,000 to fund smaller-scale, community-based projects enhancing bee health throughout the province. Since launching in 2018, Bee BC has contributed almost $280,000 to 62 projects. The last round of 24 approved projects projects ranged from providing education in communities to planting bee-specific forage to using innovation and technology to help protect and ensure bee health in BC. The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation. Check out the program guide for more information: buff.ly/3bCMzSW ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

The BC Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new round of funding this week to support more community projects aimed at protecting the health and habitat of bees. The Bee BC program provides up to $5,000 to fund smaller-scale, community-based projects enhancing bee health throughout the province. Since launching in 2018, Bee BC has contributed almost $280,000 to 62 projects. The last round of 24 approved projects projects ranged from providing education in communities to planting bee-specific forage to using innovation and technology to help protect and ensure bee health in BC. The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation. Check out the program guide for more information: https://buff.ly/3bCMzSW
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The Mainland Milk Producers Association could continue its support of local communities with initiatives kickstarted in 2020. MMP president Mark Van Klei says its donation of $25,000 to Fraser Valley food banks last year aided those affected by COVID-19. The organization also sponsored two Ag in the Classroom programs in 2020 – the Pencil Patch, a working garden where K-12 schools get hands-on lessons about agriculture, and Take a Bite of BC, which delivers fresh, BC grown products five times a year to secondary schools running a culinary arts program. “Ag in the Classroom takes our dairy message right to the children’s classrooms straight across the province. I think it works really well,” Van Klei told almost 80 people attending the MMP annual general meeting via Zoom on January 8. With both initiatives getting good feedback from directors, Van Klei says they could be added to the 2021 budget. “COVID doesn’t always make it easy but we plan to work with (the BC Dairy Association) to look at making sure we can keep some of these initiatives going.” Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

The Mainland Milk Producers Association could continue its support of local communities with initiatives kickstarted in 2020. MMP president Mark Van Klei says its donation of $25,000 to Fraser Valley food banks last year aided those affected by COVID-19. The organization also sponsored two Ag in the Classroom programs in 2020 – the Pencil Patch, a working garden where K-12 schools get hands-on lessons about agriculture, and Take a Bite of BC, which delivers fresh, BC grown products five times a year to secondary schools running a culinary arts program. “Ag in the Classroom takes our dairy message right to the children’s classrooms straight across the province. I think it works really well,” Van Klei told almost 80 people attending the MMP annual general meeting via Zoom on January 8. With both initiatives getting good feedback from directors, Van Klei says they could be added to the 2021 budget. “COVID doesn’t always make it easy but we plan to work with (the BC Dairy Association) to look at making sure we can keep some of these initiatives going.” Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers.
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To advance agriculture for the future, Farm Credit Canada industry relations director Marty Seymour says the the industry must be willing to challenge conventional thinking and practices. Speaking at the Agriculture Excellence conference Farm Management Canada hosted last month, he said the sector has two easy options for doing this. One is including youth on industry boards and drawing on what they’re being taught. The other is for farm businesses to assemble boards of directors from other sectors, both inside and outside the agriculture industry, and learn from their experiences. Subscribe to buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

To advance agriculture for the future, Farm Credit Canada industry relations director Marty Seymour says the the industry must be willing to challenge conventional thinking and practices. Speaking at the Agriculture Excellence conference Farm Management Canada hosted last month, he said the sector has two easy options for doing this. One is including youth on industry boards and drawing on what they’re being taught. The other is for farm businesses to assemble boards of directors from other sectors, both inside and outside the agriculture industry, and learn from their experiences. Subscribe to buff.ly/2H3dK8k
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Around 60 viewers attended the BC Grapegrowers’ online pruning session earlier today. After an overarching Pruning 101 presentation by Troy Osborne from Arterra, a panel of growers from across the Okanagan shared their knowledge during an open Q&A. The panel included viticulturist Miguel Fontalvo from Monte Creek Ranch Winery near Kamloops, Felix Egerer, viticulturist at Tantalus Wines in Kelowna, Ralph Suremann, longtime BCGA director from Pegasus Vineyards at Naramata and Amy Richards, 2020-elected BCGA director from Phantom Creek in Oliver. While some North Okanagan wineries won't be pruning until later in the spring, pruning is already underway further south and at Tantalus in Kelowna. The panel cautioned growers against pushing new vineyards to produce grapes too soon. Suremann says a decision to have vines produce before year three or four can result in a setback of several years, while Egerer remarked that one bad shoot thinning can harm five years of growth. BCGA says all their events are being planned online for 2021 and there’s no date yet for the AGM. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

Around 60 viewers attended the BC Grapegrowers’ online pruning session earlier today. After an overarching Pruning 101 presentation by Troy Osborne from Arterra, a panel of growers from across the Okanagan shared their knowledge during an open Q&A. The panel included viticulturist Miguel Fontalvo from Monte Creek Ranch Winery near Kamloops, Felix Egerer, viticulturist at Tantalus Wines in Kelowna, Ralph Suremann, longtime BCGA director from Pegasus Vineyards at Naramata and Amy Richards, 2020-elected BCGA director from Phantom Creek in Oliver. While some North Okanagan wineries wont be pruning until later in the spring, pruning is already underway further south and at Tantalus in Kelowna. The panel cautioned growers against pushing new vineyards to produce grapes too soon. Suremann says a decision to have vines produce before year three or four can result in a setback of several years, while Egerer remarked that one bad shoot thinning can harm five years of growth. BCGA says all their events are being planned online for 2021 and there’s no date yet for the AGM.
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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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