Country Life in BC

SAWP requirements waived

August 26, 2020

With the scramble for harvest labour continuing across BC, many growers are looking ahead to…

Cool as cucumbers

August 26, 2020

Rising grocery prices have made headlines across the country this summer as businesses seek to…

BC beekeepers go online

August 26, 2020

BC beekeepers have made a beeline for online meetings as COVID-19 has limited the size…

PAS goes online

August 19, 2020

BC’s biggest agriculture show is going online in 2021. Scheduled to take place January 28-30…

Hornet catch has beekeepers vigilant

August 19, 2020

Washington State Department of Agriculture staff announced this week that an Asian giant hornet was…

Pandemic-related stress increases

August 19, 2020

AgSafe BC safety advisor Emily Kerr was a featured presenter at Virtual Grower Day, organized…

Farm safety organization revamps

August 12, 2020

A new era for farm safety in BC dawned this week as farm sector representatives…

Province updates watering intentions

August 12, 2020

The province updated the intentions paper for its proposed livestock watering policy at the end…

Stand offers berries to go

August 12, 2020

Drive-thru lanes are a familiar sight at fast-food joints, but can you imagine drive-thru farm…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

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Heavy smoke from the United States continues to blanket Okanagan fruit and grape crops. Air quality warnings persist, complicating life for producers who hire pickers, who already are in short supply this year. Normally, this view of Tantalus Vineyards is set against the backdrop of the mountains and Okanagan Lake. This morning at 11, it looked much different. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

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Respondents to a provincial intentions paper regarding residential uses in the Agricultural Land Reserve want whatever the province decides to be clear, straight-forward and respect farmland. A total of 29 local governments (out of 153 that include properties in the ALR) participated in the consultation and 257 submissions were received from individuals and associations through June 22 (the formal consultation ended May 17). The single First Nations government invited did not participate. While individuals who commented want flexibility in terms of housing and rental options, local governments were more cautious and want a simple process that doesn’t increase their responsibilities. Pending further steps, the province is allowing landowners to place manufactured homes on properties in the ALR without approval from the ALC until July 31, 2021. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. Sign up for free weekly FARM NEWS UPDATES. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

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Dont you think it is worth noting that of the 17 page document touted as a summary of public engagement less than one 1 page was a very brief and hand picked summary of the actual public responses? The majority was given over to Local Government responses. Not much respect for the farmers, ALR owners and their supporters opinions as far as I can see.

29 out of 153 local governments responded, that's 18.9%. At the 2019 UBCM there was an overwhelming vote, 99% in favour, to restore residential options in the ALR.

Paul and Corne Moerman, cousins from Sunnyside Produce Ltd. in Surrey, have been named as one of the Four Under Forty Greenhouse Grower national award winners announced at today's virtual greenhouse grower day. The cousins were raised in the greenhouse with their dads and are now part of a large operation with over 70 acres of peppers. One of their accomplishments was taking over management of the company's grading and packing line when it was built and they'd finished some post secondary education. “The cousins love that every day is a new challenge.” [Photo/Sunnyside Greenhouses] ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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Pink caution tape to prevent customers from touching produce, hand sanitizing stations, restrictions on the number of customers entering, physical distancing and masks are all signs of the times at BC farmers markets this summer. ... See MoreSee Less

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Beekeepers in the Cowichan Valley have placed 20 traps in the Duncan-Lake Cowichan corridor in response to what provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp describes as "four credible but non-verified sightings" in the area over the past month of Asian hornets. One species of the hornet, Vespa mandarinia, was identified in Nanaimo last summer and a nest in the city destroyed in September. The traps in the Cowichan Valley will aim to confirm the hornet’s presence there, and expands ongoing surveillance in Nanaimo as well as along 0 Avenue in White Rock, Surrey and Langley. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) trapped its first Asian giant hornet near Birch Bay on July 14. Barbara Johnstone Grimmer provides an update on the hornet and why efforts to monitor and eradicate the hornet is important to BC agriculture in the August edition of Country Life in BC. Subscribe: buff.ly/2NqQQek. PHOTO/PAUL VAN WESTENDORP ... See MoreSee Less

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Yo agarre esta en mi casa en una ventana se metio

Just to be clear, it is the Cowichan beekeepers that are putting up all the traps and monitoring in the Cowichan area NOT the Ministry of Agriculture staff. These beekeepers are all volunteers. It is disheartening to see their personal efforts not recognized. Furthermore this volunteer work is over and above their reguĺar beekeeping work and comes at a very busy time in the beekeeping season. So please give them a big hand and thank you for their efforts.

I think it is very cool.

Amber Frizzle-clifford one of those comes in one door at the store, run out the other door lol

Heather Cairns

Keith Gordon

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FARM NEWS UPDATE

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