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JULY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 6

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations 👍🎉

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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2 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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2 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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Livestock producers count losses

BC WILDFIRE SERVICE PHOTO

July 7, 2021 byPeter Mitham & Katie Ayers

Ranchers are on alert as more than 200 active wildfires burn across BC, many sparked following last week’s intense heat.

“We are moving into an unprecedented situation with fires. It’s 2017 on steroids in terms of fire activity. It’s so dry out there,” says BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon.

Some ranchers have suffered losses from the current wildfires, and Boon is asking everyone to exercise caution when in the backcountry for either work or recreational purposes.

The province has also stepped in, banning campfires and open fires province-wide.

The province’s beef sector generally fared quite well during the heat wave, however.

“The cattle are out on range right now where they can get to … higher elevations where the temperatures are cooler,” Boon says. “They are also smart enough to know to sit in the shade and seek shelter in the trees during the day and graze at night. I think things are pretty good on the cattle front.”

Just as the fire activity was ramping up last week, the province urged livestock producers who had not yet registered with the province’s Premises ID program to do so. Premises ID allows provincial staff to assist in the rapid removal of livestock from areas under evacuation orders. Approximately two-thirds of producers have registered with the program.

The province says it has no numbers on livestock injuries and losses as a result of last week’s heat wave.

Broiler producers in the Fraser Valley lost approximately 20% of the birds they would normally ship to market last week, however.

“On the broiler side we’re about 400,000 lost. It’s very, very bad and devastating for the growers that lost them,” says Bill Vanderspek, executive director of the BC Chicken Marketing Board. “To put that in perspective, we produce approximately 2.2 million broilers a week here in BC, so we probably lost about 20% of one week’s production.”

Breeders, egg producers and turkey growers also saw loses from the heat wave, but Vanderspek said broiler producers saw the greatest losses because their birds tend to be younger and are bred to grow rapidly. These factors make them more vulnerable.

BC Egg Marketing Board executive director Katie Lowe said about 4% of BC laying hens fell victim to last week’s heat, primarily in the Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island. This amounts to more than 130,000 birds.

“The one thing we have going for us is new facilities with tunnel ventilation,” said Lowe. “Those systems seem to do very well.”

Growers with ventilation systems to protect their flocks can obtain heat prostration insurance, Vanderspek said. Many of his growers who lost birds will be filing claims.

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