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JUNE 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 5

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2 weeks ago

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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2 weeks 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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“Significant losses” to fruit

June 30, 2021 byPeter Mitham And Ronda Payne

BC fruit growers stand to be hit the hardest by the current heat wave, with dozens filing notices of claim regarding crop losses.

“BC berry growers and tree fruit growers are experiencing significant losses as a result of the June heat wave,” the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries told Country Life in BC.

Production insurance staff had received 50 notices of loss from Lower Mainland berry growers as of June 29 and 31 from tree fruit growers in the Okanagan.

“Overall raspberries are the worst and blueberries are second,” says David Mutz of Berry Haven Farm in Abbotsford. “You can literally grab some of the [raspberry plant] leaves and they crumble. They’re just cooked. It’s like you took a torch to it.”

Mutz says primocanes are burnt and twisted. It’s unknown how the damage will impact next year’s crops, but it’s compounding the lingering effects of winter damage suffered over the past two years.

Raspberry Industry Development Council vice-chair Paul Sidhu says it’s “demoralizing” for growers. The industry has been trying to rebuild with the help of a replant program the province established, but his fruit is sunburned and drying up.

“It’s hitting all the raspberry growers,” he says. “We got the replant program, that’s a good thing. We’re trying to make a comeback, then this happens.”

The temperatures mean 2021’s crop will be well below the council’s estimate of 11.3 million pounds.

Blueberries, already at critical risk from scorch virus this year, will also see lower production.

Jack Bates of Tecarte Farms in Delta says some of his berries have shrivelled from the heat. Others aren’t colouring up. While he’s optimistic that late-season varieties may be minimally impacted, the early-season heat could be a knock-out punch for this year’s crop.

“Blueberries, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got early season or late,” says Mutz. “The berries all have some kind of damage on them.”

Apple growers in both the Lower Mainland and Okanagan have also seen damage. One veteran consultant says the intense sunlight and heat has scorched leaves and scalded fruit. Some growers report symptoms similar to watercore, despite it being too early in the season for that phenomenon. The damage has been attributed to the suddeness and severity of the high temperatures.

Growers such as Willow View Farms on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford showered its trees with plenty of water in the hope evaporative cooling would protect most vulnerable trees as temperatures approached 43° C on Monday.

While healthy, well-watered trees are generally more resilient during extremes of temperature, heat can finish off diseased plantings.

 

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