New nursery specialist appointed

The landscape and nursery sector has a new specialist at the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Metro Vancouver regional agrologist Drew Bondar has taken over the role, formerly held by Karina Sakalauskas, who was appointed specialist for field vegetables and potatoes last fall.

“We are pleased that Drew put his hand up to step into the role,” the BC Landscape and Nursery Association said in its recent newsletter to members.

Bondar has been with the ministry for three years, following a five-year term as executive director with the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust. A civil engineer by training, Bondar has a close connection to the landscape and nursery sector as his family operates an 80-acre tree farm near Edmonton.

During his tenure as regional agrologist, he worked closely with the greenhouse and nursery sector on water issues and development cost charges (DCCs).

The sector recently claimed a victory on the latter, as Metro Vancouver staff requested changes to reduce agricultural water DCCs by 98%.

But further work remains to be done to clarify eligibility requirements for the reductions, and the sector looks forward to Bondar providing ongoing support in his new role.

BCLNA executive director Correen Rodger Berrisford says water access also remains an important issue. A further priority is updating industry handbooks and other resources to ensure growers have access to the most current information.

Sakalauskas played a valuable role in supporting the industry, and Rodger Berrisford expects Bondar’s personal connection with the sector will see him build on her foundation.

“We really appreciate that enthusiasm and look forward to continue working with him,” she says.

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2 hours ago

It was another sell-out at the 31st annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival on Saturday with organizers selling 5,000 pounds of locally-grown, fresh berries in less than five hours. Youth from the Fort Langley Lions Club's Young Lions program scooped, bagged and weighed several pallets' worth of cranberries. Ocean Spray donated the berries, which the public bought to benefit the community. Local grower The Bog was also selling fresh berries, having brought 2,700 pounds, which were on track to sell out by the end of the#BCAgt.

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5 days ago

There was a lot of reminiscing and appreciation of how far BC's turkey industry has come at a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BC Turkey Association and the 60th anniversary of the BC Turkey Marketing Board yesterday in Abbotsford. With a slideshow of events and people over the years, guests laughed and had a lot to be thankful for. "It's an opportunity to celebrate the industry at a time of year that's known for turkey. It's a culmination of all the year's work," says Natalie Veles, executive director with BC Turkey Marketing Board.

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Love it - Deb Etsell I see you 🤩

6 days ago

BC was the sole province to see farmland values decline in the first half of this year, dropping 1.9% according to a Farm Credit Canada report released Octover 7. This represented an acceleration in value declines from last year, and contributed to a 3.9% decline in the 12 montsh ended June 30. The drop follows on a 1.7% decline last year, which Farm Credit Canada attributed to tougher times in the fruit sector. However, the mid-year report points to a broader slowdown in value growth diven by higher production costs, tighter margins and uncertainty around trade, tariffs and international markets.

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Ndp

3 weeks ago

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Photo | Barb Edmonson / Firefly Ranch, Clinton

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Feedback on changes to rules governing food processing in the Agricultural Land Reserve has drawn about 250 submissions. But the proposal now hangs in the balance with Premier David Eby's decision to call a snap election, which also delays discussions of assistance for farmers hit hard by this year's wildfires and historic #BCAght.

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What would you expect from the NDP, when they still had a 2 year mandate?

Ridiculous timing. We have people needing answers and have to plan for winter supplies. Fires are long past, months have gone by knowing there was going to be the need for support. Drought was written on the wall even before summer began with no snow pack. This is not new to government and they are calling for another year just as bad for 2027. I throw my hands up and wonder what else needs to be more challenging than what we've experienced over the last 6 years in BC?

250 submissions.... I'm pretty sure there are more than 250 farmers in BC