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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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1 month 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 month 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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2 months 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.

2 months 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?

2 months 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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Hort course the backbone of Pacific Ag Show

January 1, 2018 byDavid Schmidt

ABBOTSFORD – While the Pacific Agriculture Show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Horticulture Growers’ Short Course – the backbone of the show – has a much longer history. In fact, the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association, which organizes the annual course, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.

The annual course includes sessions on strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, hazelnuts, hops, potatoes, vegetables, floriculture, agro forestry, organic production, farm business management, agricultural water management, direct farm marketing and the use of drones.

Register by January 9 and the cost is $90 for the first person from a farm and $80 for each additional person and includes access to all seminars as well as the trade show. After January 9, the registration fee jumps to $120 per person. Online registration forms are available at [www.agricultureshow.net].

Berries

Berries remain at the top of the agenda. Thursday’s sessions focus on strawberry and raspberry production. Blueberries take the spotlight on Saturday while Friday’s sessions should be of interest to all berry growers.

Thursday’s raspberry and strawberry sessions will bring growers up to date on new variety developments in BC, Washington and Oregon as well as grower experiences with some of those new varieties. There will also be information on fumigation and the use of tunnels for strawberry and raspberry production, including grower experiences. The day will conclude with the annual raspberry market outlook.

Saturday, blueberry growers will get valuable insights into managing birds, the Spotted Wing Drosophila, voles and blossom blight. They will also learn how to improve yields and bud set. There will also be information on the blueberry breeding program, new blueberry varieties and market trends. As well, Jorge Retamales of Chile’s Universidad de Talca will describe blueberry production in his country, one of BC’s chief competitors.

The Friday afternoon sessions for all berry growers will discuss farm water irrigation, mites, weevils and vegetative buffers. University of the Fraser Valley students will describe some exciting new apps to help growers while Thomas Elliot will provide information on the use of drones in BC blueberry fields.

Growers and others who want more information on the use of drones in agriculture should attend the Saturday morning sessions in the Evergro Room. They will learn regulations on the use of drones and what the drones can do for them. The morning will conclude with a number of drone demonstration flights.

Business management

Nova Scotia agricultural consultant Gary Morton is this year’s keynote speaker. His hour-long address Friday morning will detail success strategies to produce winning customer relationships and improve farmers’ bottom lines.

Friday morning’s business management session also includes Breanna Leininger of Pacific Customs Brokers in Blaine, who will discuss exporting to the US and the potential impact of NAFTA’s renegotiation. Roberta Cook of Village Farms in California will describe how Mexico is becoming a dominant player in the American fruit and vegetable market.

Water is key to agricultural production, so Friday morning’s water management session should be of considerable interest. The first half will discuss rainwater harvesting and include information on available systems and how rainwater can be used in poultry and other agricultural operations.

The second half will discuss the implications of drought in BC agriculture and how the province is responding. It will include a demonstration of the agriculture water use reporting tool developed by the Okanagan Basin Water Board and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

Potatoes, field vegetables

Irrigation water quality will also be a topic in the field vegetable sessions on Thursday. Vegetable growers will learn about herbicide resistance, cutworm, armyworm and corn rootworm management as well as cole crop foliar diseases. Growers will also learn about diversifying their operations, particularly the opportunity to expand into production of a new sweet potato developed by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

Conventional potato producers should attend the Friday afternoon sessions. They will learn proactive strategies to manage thrips in potatoes and other rotational crops, gain insights into managing weeds in potatoes and learn about new research into wireworm management. Finally, BC berry breeder Michael Dossett will discuss how gene-editing could be used to boost pest resistance in potatoes and other agricultural crops.

Greenhouse veggies

Maximizing the use of technology has always been key to greenhouse vegetable production.

Saber Miresmailli will describe how robots and artificial intelligence can be used to pinpoint crop stressors earlier in the greenhouse vegetable session Thursday morning. Growers will also learn about innovative new climate screens and how to prevent bursting of their water storage tanks.

The second half of the session will focus on the greenhouse vegetable market, including the impact of trade talks and increasing production in Mexico.

Floriculture

Thursday afternoon in the Evergro Room, the focus shifts to floriculture. Growers will be told why and how they should establish biocontrol agents during propagation.

They will learn which biocontrols work on specific pests and how they are impacted by the concurrent use of pesticides.

Will Healy of Ball Horticultural and Ted van der Gulik of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC will discuss how to use irrigation to maximize production while minimizing water usage.

Organic production

When you can’t use inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, what options do you have to manage pests and provide nutrients to your organic vegetable crops?

Answering that question is the focus of the organic production sessions in the BASF Gallery on Saturday.

Options to be discussed include using the right varieties for BC conditions, biopesticides and other biocontrols and managing crops to maximize soil nutrients.

There may even be opportunities to use tunnels to extend the season.

Hazelnuts

The BC Hazelnut Growers Association will be meeting in the FCC Loft Friday morning to discuss how the industry is rebounding from Eastern Filbert Blight.

Growers will hear how the new EFB-resistant cultivars are doing and how those young trees can be protected from emerging diseases. TJ Schur of the BC Ministry of Agriculture will describe the support government is providing while Oregon extension specialist Nik Wiman will detail lessons learned in Oregon.

Direct farm marketing

Now that all types of alcohol production are being allowed in the Agricultural Land Reserve, what do farmers have to do to capitalize on the opportunity?

Randy Brown of the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch will provide some of the answers during the direct farm marketing session in the Evergro Room Friday afternoon.

Direct farm marketing is becoming more prevalent, but how do you do that effectively? Offering their insights are Alberta organic beef and potato grower Will Bilozir and Nova Scotia retail marketing consultant Peter Chapman.

Agroforestry

After a short absence, agroforestry is back. Thursday afternoon in the BMO Room, BC Ministry of Agriculture agroforestry specialist Dave Trotter will chair a session describing the potential of agroforestry. Key opportunities include mushroom cultivation, marrying Christmas tree, cattle and forage production, and producing syrup.

Hops

With hop production is attracting so many new growers, the need for reliable information is becoming more critical.

That’s what the BC Hop Growers Association will provide in the BASF Gallery Friday afternoon. Local experts will inform growers how to manage nematodes, downy and powdery mildew and aphids while Paul Sweeting of Ravens Brewing will tell growers what BC craft brewers want from them.

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