• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Country Life In BC Logo

The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915

  • Headlines
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Headlines
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Cart
  • Checkout

Primary Sidebar

Current Issue:

AUGUST 2026
Vol. 112 Issue 8

Subscribe Now!

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

15 hours ago

The committee of MLAs charged with setting priorities for the next provincial budget is recommending regular, annual funding for water storage infrastructure associated with food production, including for engineering inspections, maintenance and upgrades. The recommendation builds on the BC Cattlemen's Association's recommendation of an annual allocation of $5 million for water storage infrastructure related to food production, noting that it could also support resilience in the face of climate-related events. While the province has allocated $120 million for agricultural water infrastructure, agriculture minister Lana Popham told Country Life in BC this week that other ministries and the federal government will need to be involved in funding future p#BCAgts#BCAgCAg

#BCAg
... See MoreSee Less

The committee of MLAs charged with setting priorities for the next provincial budget is recommending regular, annual funding for water storage infrastructure associated with food production, including for engineering inspections, maintenance and upgrades. The recommendation builds on the BC Cattlemens Associations recommendation of an annual allocation of $5 million for water storage infrastructure related to food production, noting that it could also support resilience in the face of climate-related events. While the province has allocated $120 million for agricultural water infrastructure, agriculture minister Lana Popham told Country Life in BC this week that other ministries and the federal government will need to be involved in funding future projects.

#BCAg

#BCAg
View Comments
  • Likes: 20
  • Shares: 5
  • Comments: 3

Comment on Facebook

A typical small-to-medium farming operation featuring a house, main barn, and machine shed generally has around 8,000 to 12,000 square feet of total roof surface. The Okanagan Valley is one of the driest regions in Canada, averaging roughly 300 millimetres (11.8 inches) of annual precipitation. Storing a full year's collected rainwater from those roofs yields roughly 262,500 litres. In the three regional districts that make up the Okanagan valley proper (North Okanagan, Central Okanagan, and Okanagan-Similkameen), the 2021 Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture records roughly 3,100 total farms. Multiply that number by 262,500 litres of harvested rainwater equals 813.75 million litres of water saved per year. Capturing that volume of water across every farm roof in the region would significantly ease peak summer pumping pressure on local groundwater aquifers and Okanagan Lake.

Fantastic!! We will work hard to be involved and do what we can as well as a collective group on the Salmon River!

Absolutely! Long over due and very welcomed. Let's make this happen.

16 hours ago

... See MoreSee Less

View Comments
  • Likes: 2
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

1 day ago

About 40 community members gathered at Silver Creek Community Hall near Salmon Arm last Thursday to discuss ways to improve water availability for both farms and spawning salmon. While the province has since rescinded a fish protection order for the watershed that shut down irrigation, future risks to water access remain top of mind. "We are here because water matters to each of us," says rancher and organizer Trudy Schweb. Farmland Riparian Interface Stewardship Program manager Lee Hesketh outlined the potential for upland water storage while Rob Dinwoodie highlighted cost-shared funding opportunities through the Environmental Farm Plan program for riparian assessments, irrigation efficiency upgrades and other water-related projects available to producers. Photo credit | Facebook/Trudy Schweb

#BCAg
... See MoreSee Less

About 40 community members gathered at Silver Creek Community Hall near Salmon Arm last Thursday to discuss ways to improve water availability for both farms and spawning salmon. While the province has since rescinded a fish protection order for the watershed that shut down irrigation, future risks to water access remain top of mind. We are here because water matters to each of us, says rancher and organizer Trudy Schweb. Farmland Riparian Interface Stewardship Program manager Lee Hesketh outlined the potential for upland water storage while Rob Dinwoodie highlighted cost-shared funding opportunities through the Environmental Farm Plan program for riparian assessments, irrigation efficiency upgrades and other water-related projects available to producers. Photo credit | Facebook/Trudy Schweb

#BCAg
View Comments
  • Likes: 33
  • Shares: 4
  • Comments: 4

Comment on Facebook

Salmon River Watershed Roundtable should be looked into again.

Well done my girl,the voice of Silver Creek ranchers and more

Thanks for covering this🌟

2 days ago

The BC Fruit Growers Association is urging Greater Vernon Water and the Regional District of North Okanagan to halt water shut-offs hitting 2,100+ acres of Okanagan orchards mid-season. With losses potentially topping $250 million, fruit growers say decisions of this scale demand a coordinated plan with farmers and the province — not one-sided cuts. They’re not the only producers affected by this year’s dry conditions.

#BCAg
... See MoreSee Less

Cash Flows

www.countrylifeinbc.com

VERNON – Water restrictions intensified across the southern Interior in late July, with record low stream flows clouding the cash outlook for ranches and orchards. Fourteen agricultural water usersâ...
View Comments
  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 3
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Food should ALWAYS come first. Allow the farmers their water. My grandad watered the apples by flume from the mountain. Let’s get on with AG and get out of the way!

2 days ago

The BC Fruit Growers Association has joined Apples Canada, a new national voice for provincial apple organizations in BC, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Charles Stevens of Ontario chairs the new group, an evolution of the apple working group within Fruit & Vegetable Growers Canada (FVGC), the new group will tackle production, sustainability, research and policy issues as well as advocate for market access in partnership with FVGC. It follows the creation of the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada earlier this year, which replaced the former greenhouse vegetable working group. The berry and field vegetable sectors will continue to maintain working groups with FVGC, while the long-estblished Canadian Potato Council serves the interests of potato growers under the FVGC umbrella.

#BCAg
... See MoreSee Less

The BC Fruit Growers Association has joined Apples Canada, a new national voice for provincial apple organizations in BC, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Charles Stevens of Ontario chairs the new group, an evolution of the apple working group within Fruit & Vegetable Growers Canada (FVGC), the new group will tackle production, sustainability, research and policy issues as well as advocate for market access in partnership with FVGC. It follows the creation of the Greenhouse Produce Alliance of Canada earlier this year, which replaced the former greenhouse vegetable working group. The berry and field vegetable sectors will continue to maintain working groups with FVGC, while the long-estblished Canadian Potato Council serves the interests of potato growers under the FVGC umbrella.

#BCAg
View Comments
  • Likes: 4
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Subscribe | Advertise

The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915
  • Email
  • Facebook

Province rethinks land matching pitch

December 1, 2020

VICTORIA – To increase landowner participation in the BC Land Matching Program administered by Young…

4-H members finish season at virtual Ag Expo

December 1, 2020

BARRIERE – The 4-H community continued to demonstrate its resiliency with a much different show…

High confidence, high prices

November 25, 2020

Consumer confidence in Canada’s food system is at all-time highs, according to the Canadian Centre…

BC Blueberry council set for elections

November 25, 2020

The BC Blueberry Council is set to elect six new directors. One will be elected…

BC agritech for India

November 25, 2020

Langley-based vertical farm provider CubicFarm Systems Corp. has inked a deal that could send its…

Growers, wineries welcome sustainability launch

November 19, 2020

KELOWNA – The first wines certified under a new made-in-BC sustainability program could be on…

Raspberry growers hold AGM

November 18, 2020

BC’s Raspberry Industry Development Council members convened online this week for its first annual general…

Universal broadband fund cheers farmers

November 18, 2020

The recent announcement of an additional $750 million for the universal broadband fund by the…

Online grocery shopping favours produce

November 18, 2020

A new study from the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University highlights the growing importance…

Activists plead not guilty

November 4, 2020

The four activists charged on several counts of break-and-enter and mischief at Excelsior Hog Farm…

Beekeepers Zoom for 100th AGM

November 4, 2020

The centennial of the BC Honey Producers Association was not the grand celebration expected, but…

ALC appointments made

November 4, 2020

A ministerial order signed September 1 has reappointed nine members of the Agricultural Land Commission…

Apple returns raise alarm

November 1, 2020

KELOWNA – Okanagan apple growers say ongoing low returns and rising input costs have pushed…

Hog producers face changes to code of practice

November 1, 2020

ABBOTSFORD – BC’s pork producers insist they are committed to high standards of care for…

New barn promises better egg production

November 1, 2020

ABBOTSFORD – Many young farmers face necessary upgrades to facilities when they take on the…

  • « Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • …
  • Page 61
  • Page 62
  • Page 63
  • Page 64
  • Page 65
  • …
  • Page 97
  • Next Page »

FARM NEWS UPDATE

August 5, 2026

Sign up for free weekly FARM NEWS UPDATES

Loading form…

Your information will not be
shared or sold ever

All content on this website is copyrighted, and cannot be republished or reproduced without permission.

© 2026 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED