March 2017

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Vancouver Island may be the first stop for a BC SPCA pilot program to ensure commercial livestock and poultry operations are maintaining a high level of animal welfare. BC SPCA compliance and enforcement staff met with producer groups and representatives from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the BC Farm Industry Review Board yesterday to clarify the scope of the program, which responds to stakeholder concerns regarding commercial farming practices. Two operations from each commodity group will be subject to unannounced inspections beginning next week, led by BC SPCA’s cruelty investigations manager for Vancouver Island, Kaley Pugh. Agriculture ministry staff will attend each inspection, but producer groups urge members to contact them for support when investigators arrive. While inspection reports will be confidential, farms that deny access will be named publicly. Producer groups are urging cooperation with investigators. ... See MoreSee Less

6 hours ago

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Slippery slope.

Two greenhouse projects are among 10 community development projects receiving $2.1 million in funding from the Northern Development Initiative Trust. The greenhouses will receive a total of $281,000 in funding via economic infrastructure grants. Saulteau First Nations will receive $135,875 for a modular hydroponic growing system while Kitasoo Xai'xais First Nation will receive $145,125 for a commercial hydroponic growing system in Klemtu. “Operating a commercial hydroponics greenhouse in Kitasoo allows us to provide food security, promote food sovereignty and share culturally relevant crops,” says Kitasoo Xai’xais Chief Douglas Neasloss. "Additionally, this project will focus on training local members to manage and operate the greenhouse and distributing the produce to their community.” ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago

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Kristopher Heppner of Chilliwack, Peter and Deborah Torenvliet of Abbotsford and Henry Veldhuis of Vernon have been selected to enter the dairy industry and begin production in 2022 under the BC Milk Marketing Board’s new entrant program. They were chosen from a shortlist of 10 candidates selected in a random draw from a pool of 79 applications the board received in February. The board chose the three following interviews this summer following their submission of business plans and other documentation. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. Subscribe to our monthly newspaper here: buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

6 days ago

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Since selling dairy has become more regulated than selling narcotics in this country I guess " congratulations " ?!?! are in order ? Sure wish I could buy some milk from an actual dairy farm and know that the regulations weren't taking an astronomical cut from that farmer. Canadian dairy farmers have got to be some of the most die hard, dedicated, and passionate farmers to keep doing what they do in this country.

Canadian cherry grower Jealous Fruits has shifted to night picking to help combat the impact of heat and smoke on workers and on the fruit. Crews start work at midnight, using headlamps to light their way. By then, the temperature has cooled from daytime highs in the mid-thirties to around 27° C. The crop of Lapins in this orchard in Kelowna was heavy. Some orchards weren’t pruned as heavily as they might have been after a wet harvest two years ago and a cold snap in 2020 impacted cherry production. Sign up for free FARM NEWS UPDATES from Subscribe to Country Life in BC, the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

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Cool !!!

So God created a Farmer- PAul Harvey. Thank you to each and everyone of you.

Sign yourselves up in the Pickers database. There are many advantages to pick early!

The province has formed the B.C. Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food to guide the full integration of Indigenous food production within the mandate of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The first of its kind in Canada, the council is chaired by Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis and includes 11 members from Indigenous communities around the province, each appointed by the agriculture minister for terms of up to two years. The council operates as a secretariat within the agriculture ministry, and will hold meetings four times a year. Among the objectives for the current year are identifying Indigenous priorities for inclusion in the federal-provincial policy framework that will follow the Canadian Agricultural Partnership in 2023. ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

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March 1, 2017