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Current Issue:

SEPTEMBER 2026
Vol. 112 Issue 9

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2 days ago

Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

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Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]
 
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6 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, theres rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit growers. 

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1 week ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Deltas family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farms blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the fields blueberry bushes over the past several years. We tried everything, and nothing worked, says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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1 week ago

Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. "Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival," says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. They're the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival, says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. Theyre the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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There is a problem... having lived in the salmon river ( silver creek ) area, I remember a fish biologist telling family members that salmon only "survive" in high iron content creeks, they do not "thrive".... salmon river ( silver creek ) is a very high iron content, would stain clothes brown when i would use bleach... So don't expect high salmon numbers off of that creek , even in ideal situations...

I just wish they would take an interest in CHASE CREEK....went bone dry...100% of trout abd other species died...smell was terrible from rotting fish. Understand this has happened many times in the past. Chase Irrigation District totally responsible for this disaster. Now fishermen are complaining about major drop in water levels at Pillar Lake.

They could not mismanage things worse than they have. It's impossible for them to. The fact that farmers that we need for our animals are now suffering the consequences our governments have not protected us from, is absolutely fucking wild.

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IAF elects new executive

Jack DeWit

May 19, 2021 byPeter Mitham

Jack DeWit is the new chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation, succeeding Don Low who stepped down from the board at the organization’s annual general meeting April 8.

DeWit was previously vice-chair of the organization, which has 13 directors. New to the board this year are Paul Devick, representing livestock, and David Machial, representing the tree fruit and grape sectors.

DeWit takes the helm as IAF expands not only the breadth of programs it administers, but prepares to develop its own programs aimed at responding to the changing needs of the BC farm sector. It will do this with the assistance of a $20 million trust fund it’s developing with the remainder of the original 1996 federal grants it was set up to administer.

Low had been chair for six years, and was praised at the meeting as having been “a real asset to the organization.”

In one of his final acts, Low introduced a new remuneration schedule that will see the chair receive $1,200 a year (down from $1,500) while the vice-chair will receive $400 and the treasurer and secretary will each receive $200.

The compensation reflects the volume of paperwork the executive handles, especially as IAF activities expand.

In addition to the new role for DeWit, the IAF executive for the coming year includes James Pratt as position of vice-chair. Glenda Gesy and Angela Groothof continue in their roles as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

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