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Originally published:

May 2018
Vol. 104 Issue 5

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Stories In This Edition

Fraser Valley bee shortage overstated

Still waiting: ag waste regs

Cannabis shift delivers hit to vegetable sector

Peter’s legacy

Editorial: The straight dope

Back Forty: Our best friend deserves greater recognitiontory

Overheard: Farmers should embrace First Nations model

Change is coming, fast and furious

Foundation effective in fueling ag projects

New meat producer association launched

Sidebar: On board

Traceability regs to include animal movement

Report recommends FN approval on tenures

Province urged to regulate farmhouse size

Dairy group highlights industry needs on tour

Ottawa plays hardball with Agassiz leases

IAF showcases innovative ag projects

Neonics in water not from farm operations

Potato growers need to exploit opportunities

Spuds in tubs

Vegetable commission optimistic

Sidebar: Variety update

MacAulay grilled over farm labour issues

Apiarists want pollination income to count

Sidebar: BCHPA launches pollinator health study

Raspberry growers increase board size

Popham meets with berry growers

Hazelnut growers flush with optimism

Ranchers schooled in disaster preparation

Westgen eyes beef semen sales for growth

Big prize money draws big entries

Holstein auction sets new sale benchmark

North 40 bull tops Vanderhoof sale

Reclaiming market share in a global economy

Day-neutrals show promise for strawberry fields

Weather skews results in Peace variety trials

Salal berries have market potential

Vole control in blueberries

Wannabe: When tragedy brings us together

Watchful eye

Woodshed Chronicles: Henderson masterminds an apology

Jude’s Kitchen: Celebrate May with beef on the ‘barbie’

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1 month ago

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!!!

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Congratulations

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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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New meat producer association launched

Group will give united voice to small-scale livestock farmers seeking slaughter capacity

April 30, 2018 byMyrna Stark Leader

MERRITT – Small-scale meat producers across BC are banding together to form a new association representing farmers and ranchers who raise meat outside of the conventional system.

The Small-Scale Meat Producers Association was founded by primary producers and their supporters following several months of online Facebook discussions that garnered the interest of about 75 ranchers and farmers. The online group was started by Julia Smith of Blue Sky Ranch in Merritt, which produces pork.

“Through our online discussions about the state of services for small meat producers who are facing real challenges when it comes to abattoir services and availability, we decided the best way to have a stronger voice was to form an association,” Smith explains.

In March, the group began the process of registering as a non-profit society in BC.

The efforts coincided with a BC Ministry of Agriculture consultation launched March 20 aimed at supporting rural slaughter capacity. Small abattoirs and other stakeholders were asked for feedback and suggestions on how to improve rural abattoir licensing in BC, which many small producers have identified as an issue. The consultations were slated to conclude by April 30.

The province asked current and former holders of abattoirs with D and E licences to describe their experiences with administration, licensing, operations and food safety. Presenters had an opportunity to discuss ideas that could enhance local slaughter capacity throughout the province.

Class D licence holders are allowed to slaughter up to 11,340 kilograms (25,000 pounds) of their own or other people’s animals per year for direct sale to consumers or to food businesses such as restaurants and meat shops in the region the meat was produced. They must also operate in one of the 10 regional districts that have been designated as rural remote areas: Central Coast, Kitimat-Stikine, Mount Waddington, Northern Rockies, Powell River, Skeena-Queen Charlotte, Squamish-Lillooet, Stikine, Strathcona (mainland and Discovery Islands portion only) and Sunshine Coast.

Class E licence holders may slaughter up to 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) of their own animals for direct sale to consumers only in the area the meat was produced.

There are currently 19 D-class licence holders and 27 E-class licence holders in BC.

The ministry promised to also gather input from key stakeholders, including the BC Association of Abattoirs, the BC Cattlemen’s Association, and regional health authorities.

“It’s positive they want to consult but I wrote to the department because I wanted their consultation to be broadened to include those of us in the production side who are concerned,” says Smith. “If you’re growing animals, you need some place to have them processed and right now, capacity at local abattoirs and butcher shops doesn’t exist, which means you should have an opportunity to provide input.”

Throughout April, the new association will be consulting with its members specifically to provide the ministry with broader industry feedback for consideration.

Jim Ross of Havesome Hogs in Slocan Park is the regional representative for the Central Kootenays. Ross began raising sheep and hogs 12 years ago.

Ross, who also works as an IT consultant, has an E-class licence that allows him to slaughter on the farm but today he sends most of the carcasses to expert butchers for cutting prior to direct sale to customers.

He has easy access to butchers who cut, process and wrap his meat but like many farmers with E licences, the 10,000-pound limit doesn’t allow him to make a living growing food. If he wants to sell to a retailer or restaurant and follow current regulations, he must haul his live animals more than two hours away, investing in equipment and time he doesn’t have for no additional profit.

“I don’t discount the work done by abattoirs, but feel hauling animals for over two hours is against my values and how my animals deserve to be treated,” he said.

Ross is no stranger to fighting the ministry, which previously refused to renew his licence on the grounds he could use a newly established portable abattoir just down the road. After he supplied a letter from that operator saying that he won’t be able to deal with Ross’s animals, the ministry renewed his licence.

But there’s a catch: he can’t hold his E licence and use the abattoir down the road under current regulations. This is why he supports the new association.

“I’ve swam against the current for eight years. It’s a lot of work and you don’t accomplish anything. It’s easy to ignore Jim Ross and his concerns, but it’s harder to ignore an association with many members,” Ross says.

In addition to a stronger lobby, he says joining forces with other small-scale meat producers enables the sharing of information and ideas across the province.

It also stands to ensure everyone, both large and small-scale producers, are playing by the same rules.

“For every legal licence, I estimate there are at least 10 selling meat on the black market and their customers don’t report them because they want the meat,” says Ross. “One of the challenges is how the government will bring these folks into the tent so all producers and consumers are protected in the event something goes wrong. I support all farmers but would rather we played by the same rules.”

BC agriculture minister Lana Popham says BC’s meat inspection system is being addressed as part of the “Feed BC” element of her mandate.

Small-scale meat producers who would like to be involved can join the association at [www.smallscalemeat.ca] or [smallscalemeat@gmail.com].

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