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Current Issue:

SEPTEMBER 2026
Vol. 112 Issue 9

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9 hours ago

Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

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Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]
 
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4 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, theres rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit growers. 

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5 days ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Deltas family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farms blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the fields blueberry bushes over the past several years. We tried everything, and nothing worked, says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. "Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival," says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. They're the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival, says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. Theyre the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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There is a problem... having lived in the salmon river ( silver creek ) area, I remember a fish biologist telling family members that salmon only "survive" in high iron content creeks, they do not "thrive".... salmon river ( silver creek ) is a very high iron content, would stain clothes brown when i would use bleach... So don't expect high salmon numbers off of that creek , even in ideal situations...

I just wish they would take an interest in CHASE CREEK....went bone dry...100% of trout abd other species died...smell was terrible from rotting fish. Understand this has happened many times in the past. Chase Irrigation District totally responsible for this disaster. Now fishermen are complaining about major drop in water levels at Pillar Lake.

They could not mismanage things worse than they have. It's impossible for them to. The fact that farmers that we need for our animals are now suffering the consequences our governments have not protected us from, is absolutely fucking wild.

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Second residences still allowed

September 9, 2020 byPeter Mitham

The province will allow landowners in the ALR to place a manufactured home for immediate family on their properties through July 31, 2021 pending the development of new policies.

The province announced the extension on September 4 with the release of a summary of feedback to an intentions paper issued at the end of January. This is the second extension of the provision, which was originally set to expire February 22. It was extended until December 31 with the release of the intentions paper.

The residence wouldn’t just be limited to immediate family or a manufactured home; garden suites, guest houses, carriage suites or units above an existing building were on the table. These could be for the use of farm workers or guests as part of an agri-tourism venture.

The new options won’t affect the maximum size of the principal residence, limiting the total residential floor space for family members to 5,382 square feet (500 square metres). The Agricultural Land Commission would remain the decision maker for additional residences for farm use in the ALR, however.

“Any new permitted secondary residences should be registered with the ALC for long-term land-use planning purposes,” the province states.

The summary report says respondents want whatever the province decides to be clear, straight-forward and respect farmland. Of 153 municipalities that have land in the ALR, 29 participated in the consultation. The single First Nations government invited did not participate. An additional 257 submissions were received from individuals and associations through June 22 (the formal consultation ended May 17).

While individuals who commented want flexibility in terms of housing and rental options, local governments want clear, simple rules that don’t increase their administrative burden.

 

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