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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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Ranches, province fail rangelands

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October 26, 2023 byKate Ayers

Compliance, enforcement and management issues have come to light in South Okanagan protected areas that allow tenured grazing.

“This is a protected area that has very sensitive and important ecosystems to the public,” BC Forest Practices Board chair Keith Atkinson says.

Public complaints in January and July 2021 triggered an investigation into grazing practices and land use in the South Okanagan and White Lake Grasslands Protected Areas. The complainants expressed concern over environmental damage and lack of government oversight.

While the protected areas were established in 2001 to protect rare and endangered plants, habitat and ecological and cultural values, grazing tenure agreements made prior to the designation were permitted to continue within the territories of the Lower Similkameen, Osoyoos and Penticton Indian Bands.

The investigation reviewed the planning and practices of three of the seven ranches with grazing tenures in the protected areas: Elkink Ranch Ltd., 69 Ranch Partnership and Clifton Ranch.

Elkink Ranch Ltd. was out of compliance with legal requirements to follow the grazing schedule in its range plan, remove livestock before deterioration to plant communities occurs, protect riparian and upland areas, and maintain range developments, the board says. The ranch holds a grazing tenure near Mt. Kobau.

The land used by 69 Ranch Partnership had livestock damage to riparian areas around Blue Lake, investigators found, but the livestock did not belong to the range holder.

Clifton Ranch complied with all legal requirements, investigators concluded.

The BC Ministry of Forests also fell out of compliance through unsound construction practices and inadequate enforcement of livestock use within the protected areas, the board found.

In the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area, the ministry lacked authorization to build 19 kilometres of barbed-wire fencing and two water diversions. One of the diversions caused environmental damage, investigators found.

In addition, efforts to revegetate the excavated area resulted in the use of a seed mix known to compete with and potentially overtake native plant communities.

“That was an unfortunate finding,” Atkinson says. “We’re proposing they do a collaborative First Nations and government management plan to put in place the process and steps needed to prevent this from happening.”

Government enforcement of range use at the Chopaka East, Chopaka West and Kilpoola sites of the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area and the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area was not appropriate, the board found, as too few inspections were conducted, and enforcement actions did not achieve compliance.

 

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