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MAY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 4

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1 week 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 weeks 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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2 weeks ago

BC wool shipments drop sharply in 2023, according to StatsCan data released in mid-April. Local producers shipped just 5,200kg at 37¢/kg, down from 18,600kg at $1.08/kg in 2022. While many farmers now use wool on-farm or dispose of it due to low market value, innovative producers like Emily McIvor point to untapped opportunities. Read more in our Farm News Update from Country Life in BC.

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BC wool value, volume drop

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BC sheep producers shipped less wool for less in 2023, reversing strong growth a year earlier. BC producers shipped 5,200 kilograms of raw wool in 2023, according to Statistics Canada data released on...
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2 weeks ago

Eric Feehely and Miho Shinbo are growing 30+ crops on 2.5 acres in Vernon. Writer Myrna Stark Leader takes a look at how Silverstar Veggies is balancing CSA programs, farmers markets and restaurant sales while planning smart expansions in challenging economic times in Market farm works smarter, not harder.

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Market farm works smarter, not harder

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VERNON – Silverstar Veggies, a five-year-old mixed vegetable and herb farm in Vernon, thrives on passion and innovative ideas. A former watersport and adventure sport instructor…
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4 weeks ago

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Province doubles vet seats

March 29, 2023 byKate Ayers

BC has stepped up to fund 40 seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, making good on an initial investment last year with promises of permanent funding.

This is double the number of seats funded in the past, and welcome news to livestock producers.

“It’s been very difficult to access veterinary care in rural British Columbia, particularly in the north,” says Shuswap rancher and BC Cattlemen’s Association vice-president Werner Stump. “In Northern British Columbia, an animal practitioner would typically look after 7,700 head of livestock. That’s approximately double the provincial average. As an association, we don’t believe that’s sustainable and that’s why we’re incredibly happy to hear the announcement.”

The pledge, made March 23, represents a commitment of $21.8 million over three years that builds on an initial contribution of $10.7 million last year to fund the seats, lowering tuition for BC students enrolled in the WCVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Saskatchewan.

The funding means students will pay about $11,000 per year in tuition versus upwards of $69,000 in unsubsidized tuition costs.

The funding comes via StrongerBC’s Future Ready plan, and is intended to become permanent.

Veterinarians welcome the news as they’ve been under immense pressure the last few years due to the high demand and low supply of veterinarians and vet technicians.

“It’s one of the best things that the veterinarian association has heard in the last few years. … We’ve been working on this since 2018. And they finally agreed that that was a good thing to do,” says Vancouver veterinarian and Society of British Columbia Veterinarians representative Dr. Rob Ashburner.

A report in 2018 indicated an additional 200 veterinarians were needed over the following two years. While the new funding doesn’t fully meet the need, it will help alleviate the shortage.

However, Opposition opinion is mixed about the announcement.

“We’re obviously ecstatic by getting the answers that we’ve been pushing for, for years,” says Delta South MLA Ian Paton and agriculture critic for the BC Liberals. “[But] we’ve fought tooth and nail for probably four years now to get these all 40 seats subsidized by the province.”

Paton would like to see recent unsubsidized students given retroactive payments for their tuition and rebates for students who commit to working in large animal veterinary care in rural and remote BC.

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