• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

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

Country Life In BC Logo

The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915

  • Headlines
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Headlines
  • Calendar
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Search

Primary Sidebar

Current Issue:

DECEMBER 2019
Vol. 105 Issue 12

Subscribe Now!

Sign up for free weekly FARM NEWS UPDATES


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Country Life in BC, 36 Dale Road, Enderby, BC, V0E1V4. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Your information will not be
shared or sold ever
Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Like us on Facebook

BC growers are overwhelmingly in favour of continuing the BC piece rate system, according to a study the BC Ministry of Labour commissioned in fall 2018 and delivered this past January. Released today, the report found that a change in piece rates will decrease the profitability of all growers, particularly Fraser Valley berry growers, which have seen two years of declining production and margins. (The latest increase in piece rates cost BC producers $7.7 million.) Doing away with piece rates would also hit orchardists hard, with 94% of their workers preferring the piece rate and 87% saying they wouldn’t do the work if paid minimum wage. The report will inform proposals to change the piece rate system to ensure workers receive a fair wage. More info coming in tomorrow's FARM NEWS UPDATE - delivered free to your inbox from BC's agricultural news source: Country Life in BC. Sign up here: buff.ly/2H3dK8k. ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

BC growers are overwhelmingly in favour of continuing the BC piece rate system, according to a study the BC Ministry of Labour commissioned in fall 2018 and delivered this past January. Released today, the report found that a change in piece rates will decrease the profitability of all growers, particularly Fraser Valley berry growers, which have seen two years of declining production and margins. (The latest increase in piece rates cost BC producers $7.7 million.) Doing away with piece rates would also hit orchardists hard, with 94% of their workers preferring the piece rate and 87% saying they wouldn’t do the work if paid minimum wage. The report will inform proposals to change the piece rate system to ensure workers receive a fair wage. More info coming in tomorrows FARM NEWS UPDATE - delivered free to your inbox from BCs agricultural news source: Country Life in BC. Sign up here: buff.ly/2H3dK8k.
  • Likes: 4
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

BC's farmers markets sell what local farmers and craftspeople grow, bake and make, and the opportunity to buy local continues during the winter. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham toured the Riley Park winter market in Vancouver on Saturday to mark BC Buy Local week. The market is one of two winter markets that ring up sales of nearly $3 million for BC farmers. A study by local advocacy group LOCO BC says 63% of those dollars stay in the local economy, versus 14% of every dollar spent at vendors that aren’t locally owned. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

BCs farmers markets sell what local farmers and craftspeople grow, bake and make, and the opportunity to buy local continues during the winter. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham toured the Riley Park winter market in Vancouver on Saturday to mark BC Buy Local week. The market is one of two winter markets that ring up sales of nearly $3 million for BC farmers. A study by local advocacy group LOCO BC says 63% of those dollars stay in the local economy, versus 14% of every dollar spent at vendors that aren’t locally owned. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers.
  • Likes: 15
  • Shares: 5
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

Vancouver Food Pedalers Cooperative Fame comes in funny ways!

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

7 days 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.
  • Likes: 5
  • Shares: 5
  • Comments: 5

Comment on Facebook

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.

View more comments

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

7 days 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
  • Likes: 7
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

  • Likes: 15
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Subscribe | Advertise

Satellite surveillance on hold

November 20, 2019 byPeter Mitham

A controversial plan to use satellites to monitor activities in the Agricultural Land Reserve has been put on hold pending consultation with landowners.

A notice of intent to contract with Richmond-based MDA Systems Ltd., which the BC Ministry of Agriculture posted to BC Bid, the government’s procurement site, on November 13, disappeared November 18.

The notice indicated that MDA was uniquely suited to provide the ministry with “radar satellite-based change detection services,” and therefore the project was not put out to tender. The project would have involved analyzing satellite images of three overlapping areas, each of 4,500 square kilometres, in the Lower Mainland taken through February 2020 to see what changes, if any, occurred. Key activities of interest include fill, construction and commercial vehicle parking.

Critics immediately raised red flags about the project, however. The Sunshine Coast Farmers’ Institute and Alberni Farmers’ Institute joined forces to lodge a formal objection. Several landowners chimed in with their own letters.

Privacy, as well as the secrecy of the project, were key issues.

While the province has embraced technology to develop land use inventories and assess property condition following wildfires and floods, its use to monitor compliance raised privacy issues for landowners.

“The specific areas of interest cannot be identified without potentially compromising the value of the pilot,” the government’s notice stated. “It is possible that the land owners may behave differently if they are aware they are being monitored.”

Some noted the information collected could be made available to a foreign company. (MDA is owned by Colorado-based Maxar Technologies Inc.)

The use of satellite surveillance to monitor landowner behaviour also contradicted assurances landowners received during a seven-week public consultation on farming in the ALR that wrapped up November 15. Complaints, not surveillance, drive enforcement activities, landowners were told.

“The land commission is not out there looking for non-compliance,” said Kim Grout, CEO of the Agricultural Land Commission, at the meeting in Merville on September 19.

The contract with MDA was to be signed November 25. It was worth up to $70,000.

Related Posts

You may be interested in these posts from the same category.

Farmers’ institutes briefed on ALR

Ranchers voice ALR concerns at public meetings

Housing tops concerns in Cranbrook

ALC gets an earful

Paton presents ALR petition

ALC gets an earful

Opposition to grill NDP

New round of changes coming to land reserve

ALC needs local governments

ALC steps up compliance efforts

Kelowna endorses intergenerational farmhouse

ALC puts focus on farming

Previous Post: « COABC seeks new ED
Next Post: Tomato virus targeted »

Reader Interactions

Footer

Country Life in BC

36 Dale Road, Enderby, BC, Canada V0E 1V4

  • 604-328-3814
  • office@countrylifeinbc.com

Copyright © 2019 Country Life in BC · All Rights Reserved