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JULY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 6

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations 👍🎉

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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2 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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2 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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Province defrays COVID-19 costs

October 13, 2021 byKate Ayers

The province is offsetting the cost of special measures farmers took this summer to keep domestic workers safe from the risk of COVID-19.

Between 1,500 and 2,000 domestic seasonal workers help with fruit harvest throughout the Okanagan and Creston areas each year. Without domestic workers, BC Fruit Growers Association labour manager Ron Forrest says “there would have been a lot of fruit left on trees.”

Keeping those workers safe is critical, both for the crop and to keep the communities that host them safe.

Originally announced June 29, the BC Seasonal Domestic Farm Worker COVID-19 Safety Program totals $50,000 and will benefit at least 25 farms. The funding covers up to 70% of eligible expenses incurred between April 1 and October 31 to a maximum of $2,000 per farm. Applications must be received by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries by October 31.

These costs may relate to sanitation measures for common areas; cleaning, disinfecting and sanitization products, and infrastructure costs related to on farm housing.

The funding was part of $652,000 the province announced in June to ensure safe camping conditions for domestic workers at sites in Oliver, Summerland and the Creston Valley. It extended funding granted in 2020 of $422,000, bringing the total investment in domestic farm workers safety to nearly $1.1 million over two years.

The funding paid off. There were no cases of COVID among domestic workers last year, and this year appears to have been equally successful.

“There is a pickers camp in Oliver, which will have around 150 people. It was anywhere between 80 and 230 (workers) maximum this year,” says Forrest. “We never had a problem.”

Government and industry worked together to provide adequate facilities at the Oliver and Summerland camps over the last two seasons. Coordinators oversaw activities at each location, ensuring the safety of workers. The province also introduced a seasonal liaison position in Creston to act as a COVID-19 coordinator there.

The efforts to reduce risks among domestic workers paralleled efforts to keep foreign workers safe. The majority of temporary foreign workers, nearly 10,000, participate in the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. During the past two seasons, the province has accommodated and fed them during their two-week mandatory quarantine prior to their heading to farms.

With files from Peter Mitham

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