Site launched for farmers’ institutes

The province has launched a site designed to be a hub for farmers’ institutes from around BC.

“Farmers’ institutes members from across the province told me they needed a portal that would help them connect and share information with each other, access timely and relevant information and enable potential new members to connect with farmers’ institutes,” BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said in announcing the site to institute members.

The site [https://bcfarmersinstitutes.ca/] was one of the key initiatives planned following the first-ever conference of farmers’ institutes in Richmond last November. While institutes have a direct line of communication to the minister, there has never been a structure or platform for them to communicate or share information among themselves.

Superintendent of Farmers’ Institutes and regional agrologist Chris Zabek said the website allows for secure interaction between institute members, and allows the posting of documents, events and photos. Zabek has distributed details of how to use and register on the site to each institute by email.

The launch of the site comes in advance of a second conference of institutes, which is planned for November 29 in Richmond. Details on that meeting are forthcoming.

Like us on Facebook

Two years of funding increases for the province’s agriculture ministry have come to an end with today’s budget, which proposes a cut of nearly $3 million for operating expenses. While the Agricultural Land Commission receives a boost of $70,000 and the BC Farm Industry Review Board is allocated an additional $16,000, funding for agriculture science and policy is taking a cut of $2.3 million. The budget for the ministry’s executive and support services is also being pared by $72,000. The result will see the ministry’s budget fall from $98.2 million to $95.4 million in the coming year. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. More details coming in our March edition. ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago

Likes: 3
Shares: 15
Comments: 2

Comment on Facebook

100 million dollars to the taxpayer for essentially nothing improved and much worse. I wonder how much the ALC cost us when it comprised of a board of regional representatives??

This is a sad day for BC agriculture.

Concern about a potential shortage of seasonal farm workers has been averted. “We worked with the affected employers and I think we were able to accommodate everyone,” BC Agriculture Council executive director Reg Ens said in early January. The issue hinged on the need for Mexican workers to provide biometric information (fingerprints and a facial photo) before being permitted to work in Canada. This can only be done at one center in Mexico City and that center can handle no more than 150 applicants a day. Once provided, however, biometric information is good for 10 years. buff.ly/3bf64hV ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Likes: 3
Shares: 1
Comments: 0

BC greenhouse growers have until December 1 to transition to the new Greenhouse Certification Program if they want to export plants. The new program defines a greenhouse as any structure which creates a modified growing environment and controls pests. It excludes field-grown nursery stock. Details are in the February edition of Country Life in BC, the agricultural news source for BC’s farmers and ranchers since 1915. ... See MoreSee Less

Increasing the amount of BC grown or raised food in government funded institutions (like hospitals, residential care homes, universities and colleges) is not as easy as it sounds. “It’s not as easy as flipping a switch and buying food closer to home,” admits agriculture minister Lana Popham. But recent work under Feed BC hopes to make the path to market clearer for BC’s farmers and ranchers. Feed BC has published a list of the top 20 food products BC health care facilities use that are currently sourced outside the province that local producers have the greatest potential to supply. Another new publication, Selling BC Food to BC’s Government Supported Facilities, also identifies the opportunities as well as illustrating the supply chain and outlines a producer’s route to market. Read Tom Walker’s story is the February edition of Country Life in BC. ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 14
Shares: 5
Comments: 0

Bees and cranberries are the latest recipients of funding under the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program, administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Worker Bee Honey Co. of Chilliwack and the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission have received more than $181,000 towards projects aimed at building a more sustainable future for agriculture. The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program has funded a total of 28 projects worth to date. Total funding available is $5.3 million, of which $2.7 million has been awarded. ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 7
Shares: 2
Comments: 0

FEBRUARY 2020
Vol. 106 Issue 2

Site launched for farmers’ institutes

Related Posts

Farmers’ institutes briefed on ALR

Country Life in BC

Related Posts

Reader Interactions

Footer

Country Life in BC