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Originally published:

JULY 2020
Vol. 106 Issue 7

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Stories In This Edition

Province expands slaughter licences
Mexico launches SAWP review
Blue streak
Ranchers troubled by inconsistencies in well licencing
Editorial: All together
Back 40: Canada Day is a time to celebrate diversity
Viewpoint: BC producers keep our local food system strong
Farmland advocates pan agritech plans
Follow the arrow
Letters: Biosolids project misguided
Small on-farm dairy processors raise concerns
Zoning bylaw limits urban farmers
Kelowna readies exclusion bid
Global market puts emphasis on top-quality fruit
Sidebar: Time to renew
Leaming confident fruit industry can rejuvenate
Book Club
Review of vegetable commission forges ahead
Ag Briefs: Record funding pledged for coupon program
Ag Brief: Province boosts online grants
Ag Brief: Organic matter regulation delayed
Kelowna couple sprouts successful business
Greens growers see need for support
Cattlemen host virtual annual meeting
Sidebar: Cattlemen change gears
Pandemic less challenging for small farms
Rainy day thoughts for pesticide applications
Drones hone in on crop water requirements
BC farms adapt chicken tractors to local conditions
Breeders pin a value on traits
Prototype is a Roomba for weed control
Research: Exploring the complexities of soil structure
Viewpoint: Isolation brings the world closer
Buds
Farm Story: Weeds make perfection an impossible dream
Cidermakers give fresh purpose to island orchards
Woodshed: Frank makes Susan’s deliberation easy
Veggie Days adapts to event restrictions
Jude’s Kitchen: Summer food in colour

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CP Rail’s plans for a new logistics facility on 100 acres of farmland in Pitt Meadows is facing opposition from neighbours, who question the impact of the project on their community and local agriculture. Close to 100 residents questioned CP representatives in an online open house this week but received few definitive answers. The project is exempt from Agricultural Land Commission and local government approval. Results of a survey that closes today will be made public in March, with mitigation measures of the project provided this summer. Construction could begin in 2026 if federal authorities approve. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2ReiFur ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago

CP Rail’s plans for a new logistics facility on 100 acres of farmland in Pitt Meadows is facing opposition from neighbours, who question the impact of the project on their community and local agriculture. Close to 100 residents questioned CP representatives in an online open house this week but received few definitive answers. The project is exempt from Agricultural Land Commission and local government approval. Results of a survey that closes today will be made public in March, with mitigation measures of the project provided this summer. Construction could begin in 2026 if federal authorities approve. Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers. buff.ly/2ReiFur
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The BC Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new round of funding this week to support more community projects aimed at protecting the health and habitat of bees. The Bee BC program provides up to $5,000 to fund smaller-scale, community-based projects enhancing bee health throughout the province. Since launching in 2018, Bee BC has contributed almost $280,000 to 62 projects. The last round of 24 approved projects projects ranged from providing education in communities to planting bee-specific forage to using innovation and technology to help protect and ensure bee health in BC. The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation. Check out the program guide for more information: buff.ly/3bCMzSW ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago

The BC Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new round of funding this week to support more community projects aimed at protecting the health and habitat of bees. The Bee BC program provides up to $5,000 to fund smaller-scale, community-based projects enhancing bee health throughout the province. Since launching in 2018, Bee BC has contributed almost $280,000 to 62 projects. The last round of 24 approved projects projects ranged from providing education in communities to planting bee-specific forage to using innovation and technology to help protect and ensure bee health in BC. The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation. Check out the program guide for more information: https://buff.ly/3bCMzSW
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The Mainland Milk Producers Association could continue its support of local communities with initiatives kickstarted in 2020. MMP president Mark Van Klei says its donation of $25,000 to Fraser Valley food banks last year aided those affected by COVID-19. The organization also sponsored two Ag in the Classroom programs in 2020 – the Pencil Patch, a working garden where K-12 schools get hands-on lessons about agriculture, and Take a Bite of BC, which delivers fresh, BC grown products five times a year to secondary schools running a culinary arts program. “Ag in the Classroom takes our dairy message right to the children’s classrooms straight across the province. I think it works really well,” Van Klei told almost 80 people attending the MMP annual general meeting via Zoom on January 8. With both initiatives getting good feedback from directors, Van Klei says they could be added to the 2021 budget. “COVID doesn’t always make it easy but we plan to work with (the BC Dairy Association) to look at making sure we can keep some of these initiatives going.” Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BC's farmers and ranchers. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

The Mainland Milk Producers Association could continue its support of local communities with initiatives kickstarted in 2020. MMP president Mark Van Klei says its donation of $25,000 to Fraser Valley food banks last year aided those affected by COVID-19. The organization also sponsored two Ag in the Classroom programs in 2020 – the Pencil Patch, a working garden where K-12 schools get hands-on lessons about agriculture, and Take a Bite of BC, which delivers fresh, BC grown products five times a year to secondary schools running a culinary arts program. “Ag in the Classroom takes our dairy message right to the children’s classrooms straight across the province. I think it works really well,” Van Klei told almost 80 people attending the MMP annual general meeting via Zoom on January 8. With both initiatives getting good feedback from directors, Van Klei says they could be added to the 2021 budget. “COVID doesn’t always make it easy but we plan to work with (the BC Dairy Association) to look at making sure we can keep some of these initiatives going.” Country Life in BC is the agricultural news source for BCs farmers and ranchers.
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To advance agriculture for the future, Farm Credit Canada industry relations director Marty Seymour says the the industry must be willing to challenge conventional thinking and practices. Speaking at the Agriculture Excellence conference Farm Management Canada hosted last month, he said the sector has two easy options for doing this. One is including youth on industry boards and drawing on what they’re being taught. The other is for farm businesses to assemble boards of directors from other sectors, both inside and outside the agriculture industry, and learn from their experiences. Subscribe to buff.ly/2H3dK8k ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

To advance agriculture for the future, Farm Credit Canada industry relations director Marty Seymour says the the industry must be willing to challenge conventional thinking and practices. Speaking at the Agriculture Excellence conference Farm Management Canada hosted last month, he said the sector has two easy options for doing this. One is including youth on industry boards and drawing on what they’re being taught. The other is for farm businesses to assemble boards of directors from other sectors, both inside and outside the agriculture industry, and learn from their experiences. Subscribe to buff.ly/2H3dK8k
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Around 60 viewers attended the BC Grapegrowers’ online pruning session earlier today. After an overarching Pruning 101 presentation by Troy Osborne from Arterra, a panel of growers from across the Okanagan shared their knowledge during an open Q&A. The panel included viticulturist Miguel Fontalvo from Monte Creek Ranch Winery near Kamloops, Felix Egerer, viticulturist at Tantalus Wines in Kelowna, Ralph Suremann, longtime BCGA director from Pegasus Vineyards at Naramata and Amy Richards, 2020-elected BCGA director from Phantom Creek in Oliver. While some North Okanagan wineries won't be pruning until later in the spring, pruning is already underway further south and at Tantalus in Kelowna. The panel cautioned growers against pushing new vineyards to produce grapes too soon. Suremann says a decision to have vines produce before year three or four can result in a setback of several years, while Egerer remarked that one bad shoot thinning can harm five years of growth. BCGA says all their events are being planned online for 2021 and there’s no date yet for the AGM. ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

Around 60 viewers attended the BC Grapegrowers’ online pruning session earlier today. After an overarching Pruning 101 presentation by Troy Osborne from Arterra, a panel of growers from across the Okanagan shared their knowledge during an open Q&A. The panel included viticulturist Miguel Fontalvo from Monte Creek Ranch Winery near Kamloops, Felix Egerer, viticulturist at Tantalus Wines in Kelowna, Ralph Suremann, longtime BCGA director from Pegasus Vineyards at Naramata and Amy Richards, 2020-elected BCGA director from Phantom Creek in Oliver. While some North Okanagan wineries wont be pruning until later in the spring, pruning is already underway further south and at Tantalus in Kelowna. The panel cautioned growers against pushing new vineyards to produce grapes too soon. Suremann says a decision to have vines produce before year three or four can result in a setback of several years, while Egerer remarked that one bad shoot thinning can harm five years of growth. BCGA says all their events are being planned online for 2021 and there’s no date yet for the AGM.
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Small on-farm dairy processors raise concerns about systemic inequities

Producers want break for fluid milk that doesn’t leave the farm

Erin Harris of Kootenay Meadows Farm in Creston is lobbying the BC Dairy Association and milk marketing board for a more equitable approach for small on-farm milk processors. PHOTO / Thomas Nowaczynski

July 7, 2020 byJackie Pearase

KAMLOOPS – Two small dairies are hoping there’s room in supply management for an alternative way of doing business that will keep on-farm processors viable into the future.

Laura Hunter of Blackwell Dairy in Kamloops and Erin Harris of Kootenay Meadows Farm in the Creston Valley reached out on Facebook recently seeking support for ideas to make supply management more equitable for small on-farm processors. They also presented their proposal to the BC Dairy Association and BC Milk Marketing Board.

Each of the farms produce and process 12,000 to 15,000 litres of milk each week, with the bulk of it going into fluid product.

Blackwell Dairy has processed its own milk since 1983 and Kootenay Meadows started about 15 years ago.

As part of the supply management system, they are required to sell their milk to the BCMMB, then purchase it back for processing.

“The supply management system works really well for producers but being a small processor, when we’re buying our milk back, it’s costing a significant amount. It’s about a 35.5% mark-up on milk from our tank to our processing facility,” says Harris. “On milk that doesn’t ever leave the farm; nobody touches it but ourselves.”

The farms also incur producer fees on one end, processing costs on the other plus farming costs faced by all farmers, leaving a slim profit margin.

“I think why we’re affected the most and why this hits us pretty hard is both of our plants produce 75% fluid milk product and fluid milk is priced the highest. So, we’re putting the most money back into the pool but we’re getting it as a farm at the pooled price,” notes Hunter. “It wasn’t always like this. When we first opened the plant here, the margins weren’t that far apart. If those margins get further apart, it just puts us in a position where we’ve got to make financial business decisions.”

The farms appreciate and understand the importance of supply management but think there are other ways for small on-farm processors to fit into the system.

One idea is to create an on-farm processing class with different pricing.

“Our proposal would be that any milk that’s end use is processing on-farm, regardless of what you’re making with it, should be priced at the same price as the farmer gets paid. So that, basically, we’re producing within our quota and we’re accounting for where our milk is and where it’s going, but we’re not paying to buy our milk back,” explains Hunter. “That way it doesn’t harm the pooled milk price at all but it means that we as small businesses can keep going.”

The other idea is to increase the volume cap on milk processing under a cottage industry licence and include these processors in the supply management system.

Unique issues

BCMMB director David Janssens says the board understands small on-farm processors face unique issues that require unique solutions.

“It’s in our strategic planning agenda and we’re certainly aware of the challenges they face. It’s a question of working through what can we do,” Janssens says. “The problem is that the proposed ideas are contrary to the board’s founding principle of fairness for all producers and processors.”

Harris says a recent BC Dairy Industry Development Council plebiscite prompted them to explore their options. She says the plebiscite is effectively asking them to subsidize large processors – their competition.

BCDA general manager Jeremy Dunn says the plebiscite was held to approve a new plan for the DIDC, which includes enabling the DIDC directors to consider investing in processing initiatives on behalf of BC producers.

“Investments would be made according to a set of strict criteria and all processing-related projects, large or small, would have an opportunity to be considered,” he explains. “Eighty-nine per cent of dairy producers who participated in the plebiscite voted yes.

Important role

Harris wants to see more support for small on-farm processors because they have a key role to play, too.

“We’re an important part in a resilient food system if and when we have another situation like COVID,” she says. “It is easier for a small plant to pivot quicker than it is for some of the large processors so we really filled in a gap when they could not service the market.”

The farms were able to continuing supplying their customers, including large grocery stores and boutique stores, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and even provided product to areas running short.

“With the system right now, it doesn’t encourage or support the fluid milk. In a time like this, especially, we can see how small processors such as ourselves are super important to the industry because there is a need for fluid milk,” adds Hunter.

Harris says they are committed to lobbying for change because their future, and the future of small on-farm processing in BC, depends on ensuring their bottom line doesn’t get smaller.

“Right now, it’s sort of just our two farms working together but it would impact anyone that wants to start on-farm processing. It really disincentivizes local, on-farm processing of milk,” she says.

Tough gig

Janssens says BCMMB’s cottage industry program is designed to give a start to small on-farm processors but admits there has been little interest.

“There hasn’t been a lot of uptake on it, to be perfectly honest, because it’s a lot of work milking cows all day and then processing it and trying to sell it,” he says. “The fluid milk racket is a tough gig.”

Morningstar Farm completed its 15-year run in the cottage industry program in 2016.

Co-owner Ray Gourlay says the 20-year-old farm is now part of the supply management system, producing and processing 1,500-1,800 litres of milk on farm per day. Gourlay says the BCDA and BCMMB provide invaluable contributions to the industry that he is happy to help fund.

But he also sees the need for the organizations to be creative about diversifying the industry by encouraging more on-farm processors and agri-tourism.

“It’s fantastic marketing and education for customers and consumers. It helps make our whole processing infrastructure, our whole processing systems, more resilient, particularly when we have massive disruptions in our supply chain,” Gourlay adds.

Agriculture minister Lana Popham says dairy producers and processors of every size are key to vibrant local food systems.

“I look forward to continuing to work with dairies and dairy producers of all sizes and scales to ensure that the industry continues to grow, thrive and provide food security for all British Columbians,” she says.

The ideas presented by the two farms were on the agenda for discussion at the BCDA’s June 17 meeting.

The farms stress that they are not seeking a hand-out.

“We don’t want anyone supporting or putting money into our plant. We just want the pricing and licensing structure to be equitable enough that we can compete on our own,” says Harris. “We want to not have a system that’s creating this massive financial burden that could ruin our businesses.”

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