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Current Issue:

DECEMBER 2019
Vol. 105 Issue 12

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BC shoppers can once again expect above-average food price increases in 2020, according to the Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. Nationally, food prices are set to rise 2% to 4%, on top of a 3.7% increase this year. But steady wage growth and a good economy mean BC grocery and restaurant prices will outpace the national average. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, a family of four spent $1,017 a month on groceries in 2017; a conservative estimate based on the Dalhousie University estimates means that same family is spending closer to $1,160 a month today — just a fraction of which returns to the farmer. Country Life is BC's agricultural news source. ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago

BC shoppers can once again expect above-average food price increases in 2020, according to the Agri-food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. Nationally, food prices are set to rise 2% to 4%, on top of a 3.7% increase this year. But steady wage growth and a good economy mean BC grocery and restaurant prices will outpace the national average. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, a family of four spent $1,017 a month on groceries in 2017; a conservative estimate based on the Dalhousie University estimates means that same family is spending closer to $1,160 a month today — just a fraction of which returns to the farmer. Country Life is BCs agricultural news source.
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So are producers going to see more money as well?

Why ?

This was reported at exactly, to the day, this time last year. Exactly the same “percentage” of hike as well,,,,, i smell a rat

"steady wage growth"???? What is your definition of "wage"?

That's what you people get if they elect socialists.

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BC farmers can look forward to better access to domestic and foreign markets, according to the throne speech that opened Parliament following October’s federal election. “[We] will remove additional barriers to domestic and international trade for businesses and farmers, continue with ambitious investments in infrastructure, and reduce red tape so that it is easier to create and run a start-up or small business,” said the speech. Dairy farmers can also expect to receive the first piece of compensation this month for market access granted under international trade agreements. A review of the rules governing online commerce is also in the works. Watch for more details in the new year in Country Life in BC, the agricultural news source for British Columbia since 1915. Subscribe: buff.ly/2JhvVYH ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago

BC farmers can look forward to better access to domestic and foreign markets, according to the throne speech that opened Parliament following October’s federal election. “[We] will remove additional barriers to domestic and international trade for businesses and farmers, continue with ambitious investments in infrastructure, and reduce red tape so that it is easier to create and run a start-up or small business,” said the speech. Dairy farmers can also expect to receive the first piece of compensation this month for market access granted under international trade agreements. A review of the rules governing online commerce is also in the works. Watch for more details in the new year in Country Life in BC, the agricultural news source for British Columbia since 1915. Subscribe: https://buff.ly/2JhvVYH
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Secondary residences could be allowed on all properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve under changes the BC Ministry of Agriculture is considering. The details follow comments agriculture minister Lana Popham made to farmers’ institutes last Friday regarding changes her ministry is considering. Second homes such as mobile dwellings and carriage houses could be built without an application to the Agricultural Land Commission, though what say local government might have over the dwellings has yet to be determined. Whether or not the second homes could be permanent structures is also unclear. However, the ministry has confirmed that the proposed change would be for all ALR landowners, not just farmers, who it notes are allowed two, three or more residences with approval from the ALC. Country Life in BC is the agriculture news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. Sign up for free FARM NEWS UPDATES delivered weekly to your inbox. buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

Secondary residences could be allowed on all properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve under changes the BC Ministry of Agriculture is considering. The details follow comments agriculture minister Lana Popham made to farmers’ institutes last Friday regarding changes her ministry is considering. Second homes such as mobile dwellings and carriage houses could be built without an application to the Agricultural Land Commission, though what say local government might have over the dwellings has yet to be determined. Whether or not the second homes could be permanent structures is also unclear. However, the ministry has confirmed that the proposed change would be for all ALR landowners, not just farmers, who it notes are allowed two, three or more residences with approval from the ALC. Country Life in BC is the agriculture news source for BCs farmers and ranchers. Sign up for free FARM NEWS UPDATES delivered weekly to your inbox. buff.ly/2H3dK8k
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We shouldn't need approval from the ALC to have those residences! The ALC SHOULD NOT be in the housing regulation business!!

The article reads "...the province is considering allowing all landowners, whether or not they farm, to build secondary residences in the ALR, providing owners first register the residences with the ALC. These include both mobile homes and carriage houses, though whether these could be permanent structures is unknown." This would be positive news for families or for farms who put staff housing on site. A lot of local governments still don't like the huge homes but should consider with applications square foot caps and how many generations/families are living together; and how one large home actually is more efficient in the long run, as a larger homes can serve as a multi-family dwelling (instead of a family having to fragment and build/buy separate smaller ones that are geographically separated). Also some families living in the ALR can't afford to purchase a separate piece of land or a separate home to live offsite or commute to the family farm, so I like this idea Lana Popham

Well, good news. Too late for Woodwynn farms. Will it stop three 12000 sq ft mansions from being built instead of just one?

Finally.......now maybe we can get our daughter moved onto our land

Excellent news

Harassing BC Farms is the GreeNDP’s last nail in the coffin. Big trouble next election.

A really bad idea.

one could only hope..

Jim Grieve

Gord Rockvam...

This is what I don't understand - "...farmers, who it notes are allowed two, three or more residences with approval from the ALC." If that is true, what is the fuss? Why open it up to ALC owners who are not farmers? I also do not understand why they use square footage instead of the footprint of the dwellings and infrastructure as a way to measure housing. Isn't it the actual land that needs protection? In that case, you could build up and it would decrease the amount of infrastructure needed. I also agree that not all ALC land is suitable for farming. Most of the ALC land was designated by a last minute fly-over. Nobody checked the quality of the soil. In fact, if you want to get really picky, why allow greenhouses with cement pads to be built on viable agricultural soil. They should be restricted to non-arable ALC land. Hats off to Popham for trying to deal with this complicated mess and for listening to the public.

They would save a lot of headache and money by just aloting a home site area and you can build what you want.

Government should stay out of farming

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Seven projects will receive nearly $210,000 in funding as part of the first disbursement from the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund, established in 2018 with $20 million to offset impacts from the construction of the Site C dam. The largest grant is $100,000 in support of BC Grain Producers Association projects assessing grain and oilseed varieties suitable to the Peace Region. The research is particularly important as growers wrestle with a changing and more variable climate, something that hit home this year as weather prevented growers from harvesting half the region’s grain crop. A variety of crop management and education initiatives also received funding. Applications are now being received for the 2020 awards, with $291,000 available for disbursement. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

Seven projects will receive nearly $210,000 in funding as part of the first disbursement from the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund, established in 2018 with $20 million to offset impacts from the construction of the Site C dam. The largest grant is $100,000 in support of BC Grain Producers Association projects assessing grain and oilseed varieties suitable to the Peace Region. The research is particularly important as growers wrestle with a changing and more variable climate, something that hit home this year as weather prevented growers from harvesting half the region’s grain crop. A variety of crop management and education initiatives also received funding. Applications are now being received for the 2020 awards, with $291,000 available for disbursement.
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Protest sends warning signal

May 1, 2019 byPeter Mitham

The invasion of an Abbotsford hog farm by protestors shortly after dawn on April 28 was the culmination of days of rumours that such an incident was in the works.

Fraser Valley livestock producers were on alert, and police in Abbotsford were aware of the rumours, but there was no solid evidence until protestors arrived at Excelsior Hog Farm in West Abbotsford. A video of their arrival posted to social media shows dozens of black-clad activists filing into the farm’s clean and orderly barns, declaring it to be the first occupation of a livestock farm in BC.

The protest followed People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ release of a video to media on April 22 claiming to show sick pigs at the farm. The video followed a break-and-enter at the farm in late March during which surveillance cameras were installed. Those cameras were removed, and police are investigating.

Abbotsford Police Department communications officer Sergeant Judy Bird said the two incidents are being investigated separately at the moment. While a suspect identified himself to media in the first break-and-enter, police must build a case before laying charges.

The latest incident saw 50 identified, and information taken, but just one arrest was made.

“Our investigation continues, and we will be looking at charges for the protestors with respect to break-and-enter and mischief,” Bird said of the protest.

Run by the Binnendyk family, the farm has maintained an open approach, saying it has nothing to hide. It is one of the first open housing systems in BC for pigs, and places an emphasis on animal welfare.

Bird credited the family’s openness with helping ensure an orderly resolution.

BC Agriculture Council offers communications workshops as part of its public trust initiative built around a “shared values” approach that focuses on CHAT principles – Check your reaction, Hear what others are saying, Acknowledge and ask questions, Tell your story – when dealing with the public. BCAC public trust manager Becky Parker says protocols for dealing with protestors are the purview of individual commodity groups.

Which farm invasions are rare in Canada, Bird said the protest is a reminder that they’re not out of the question. She encourages farmers to report any sort of suspicious activity on their properties to police.

“I don’t recall us having anything like this in Abbotsford before,” she said. “This puts an extra reminder on us that this has the potential to happen again in the Fraser Valley.”

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