Country Life in BC

Chilliwack family cracks open direct sales

May 1, 2020

CHILLIWACK – A foray into farmgate egg sales using an automated, cashless vending machine is…

Island farmers renew request for local abattoir

May 1, 2020

PORT ALBERNI – The Alberni Farmers’ Institute is renewing a request to have the Alberni-Clayoquot…

COVID-19 leads to oversupply of dairy

May 1, 2020

VANCOUVER – A series of unfortunate events has resulted in a slight downturn for the…

Victoria food hub gets funding

April 29, 2020

Relief is on the way for Vancouver Island farmers caught out by the closure of…

COVID-19 spread tracked

April 29, 2020

Broad testing has shown the extent of COVID-19 infections at the various agri-food businesses hit…

BC Veg names officers

April 29, 2020

The BC Vegetable Marketing Commission is holding its annual general meeting today, but the election…

Plant closures a crisis for cattlemen

April 22, 2020

Ranchers are asking Ottawa to consider two programs to support the industry following significant reductions…

BC cranberries get green verification

April 22, 2020

Cranberries are traditionally red and sometimes white – but this week, those grown for Ocean…

Agrologists unveil new designation

April 22, 2020

The BC Institute of Agrologists (BCIA) announced a new professional certification this spring, the Registered…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

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Provincial measures to protect the health of farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic this summer could top $20 million. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham said the province has spent $9.5 million to date housing more than 3,000 foreign workers destined for BC farms, and she expects the spending to double before the season’s over. Meanwhile, the province has allocated $1.6 million to secure campgrounds for domestic workers, who will be required to take a free, online COVID-19 safety course offered through AgSafe BC in order to stay at one of the campgrounds. “We’re asking farmers to also request the certificate,” says Popham. “It’s not a law, but we’ve been working hard with farmers and all the associations to say, ‘This is to protect you, so make them show the certificate.’” Ottawa, which has promised employers $1,500 per foreign worker to cover quarantine costs, has disbursed just $890,000 to BC – enough to cover fewer than 600 workers. Sign up for free weekly FARM NEWS UPDATES. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

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Despite prospects of a short crop that has growers concentrating on domestic markets, BC packers will soon begin shipping their first cherries of the season overseas. But fewer flights mean higher costs to many destinations, with cherry exporters looking at rates to Asia up about 25%. “They are going to be higher than last year, at least to begin the summer,” says Brendan Harnett, CEO of Flying Fresh Air Freight in Richmond. “Then the market [will be] based on demand and competition.” A smaller crop should reduce demand for cargo capacity, that’s limited by the number of passenger flights. Harnett says demand for lobster and other luxury food items shows that Chinese consumers are willing to spend, promising good demand for cherries. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

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Hopefully this is a stock photo - no masks?

3 grocery stores in my town and all Cherries are from Washington. So disappointing.

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6 days ago

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Rancher and one-time agriculture minister Ed Conroy has died at the age of 73. Conroy died on June 26 at his home in Pass Creek, where he ran Polled Herefords. A long-time member of the BC NDP, he worked closely with colourful agriculture minister Corky Evans, succeeding him in the cabinet of Ujjal Dosanjh in late 2000. Conroy spent just a few months in the role before losing his seat when the BC Liberals swept to power on a landslide in the May 2001 election. Originally elected in 1991, Conroy played a role in establishing the Columbia Basin Trust in 1995 and more recently spoke up in support of the beef industry in the Kootenays. He's seen here behind his Kootenay Polled Hereford-bred grand champion female at the West Coast Hereford Club show in 2016. ... See MoreSee Less

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Dad to hear. Remember him showing at Salmon Arm fair

The province is taking further steps in response to feedback received during a series of public consultations around the province last fall on supporting farming within the Agricultural Land Reserve. Effective September 30, the province is reducing fees for non-adhering residential-use applications by 40%, from $1,500 to $900. While each application will continue to be reviewed by the ALC, local governments will receive half the fee amount in recognition of their participation in the process. This amounts to a 50% increase. In addition, farmers will be able to apply or remove up to 50 cubic metres of fill per 100 metres of farm road in the course of annual maintenance, up from 50 cubic metres per farm. "The change provides farmers with large properties a little more leeway to maintain their farms and will also reduce the workload for ALC staff,” the province explains. A third, smaller change will enable the Agricultural Land Commission to register remediation order notes on a property's title. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. The July paper is in the mail! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

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"A third, smaller change will enable the Agricultural Land Commission to register remediation order notes on a property's title. " Can you cite the source for this please? I am trying to find more information on this sentence. Thank you.

Pyramid builders more staff = more pay!!!

And this is a good thing?

FARM NEWS UPDATE

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