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Originally published:

December 2018
Vol. 104 Issue 12

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Stories In This Edition

Province tightens rules in ALR

Farming isn’t what it used to be

Ag waste reg “nearly” ready

Sidebar: New commissioners

Proposed foreign worker registry raises concerns

Fall harvest

Editorial: ‘Tis the season

Back Forty: Time to address climate change head-on

Viewpoint: Ottawa needs to stop milking dairy sector

Sweet times for BC honey producers

Public trust key as grade designation clarified

Apiarists wary as new prescription rules kick in

Pipeline explosion creates uncertainty

Farmers, chefs cook up deals at networking event

Ag Briefs: Safe Food regs require producer registration

Ag Briefs: Reus receives recognition

Keeping the end in mind

Heppell’s Potato Corp

US milk offered for sale in Canada

Volatile blend price hitting home for dairy sector

Landowners see development as only solution

Good soil makes good drinks even better

DNA analysis opens doors in hop renaissance

Tour builds trust between foodies, farmers

New entrant egg producer has long-term goals

Farmers, ranchers grapple with climate change

Drought results in record low water flows

BC ranchers face mounting regulations

Seaweed finds a home on the range

Co-op model recommended for beef plant

Farm market banks on relationship-building

Tour showcases local farm entrepreneurs

Young farmers share experiences at Farm Fest

Research: The complexity of colours

Nutsedge demands strong, decisive response

Wool classifying can add value to sheep flocks

Print remains top media choice for producers

Sidebar: Canadians read more

Communication key to four-way success

Cannabis shows mainstream retail potential

Nurseries change up offerings to stay relevant

Irrigation protocols critical for greenhouses

Producers need to think like retailers

Organic farmer values food education

Wannabe: The greatest gift is friendship

Ag in the Classroom

Woodshed: A present for Deborah sparks inquisition

Jude’s Kitchen: Celebration food

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4 days ago

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays. ... See MoreSee Less

The Great Spallumcheen Farm & Food Festival and North Okanagan Plowing Match is happening this Sunday, September 24 from 10-3 at Fieldstone Organics, 4851 Schubert Rd, Armstrong. The outdoor festival features tastings and a market brimming with local food and beverage vendors, a horse and tractor plowing competition and vintage farm equipment displays.
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Patti 😊

7 days ago

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7 days ago

The top five issues the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity identified in a recent survey were the cost of food, inflation, the cost of energy, keeping healthy food affordable and the Canadian economy. “We are seeing that environmental concerns are not in the top 10,” says Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle Association’s public and stakeholder engagement program. “If you are concerned about being able to afford to feed your family, the environment becomes less important.” ... See MoreSee Less

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Ranchers get the backstory on public perception

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VERNON – Ranchers might be concerned about how the public sees their industry, but a producer-funded team at the Canadian Cattle Association has their back. Amy Peck, manager of the Canadian Cattle...
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1 week ago

BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. ... See MoreSee Less

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Lake Country packing house sold

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BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million.
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Who bought it ffs ?

Ted Nedjelski Karen Turner

One of my first jobs was apple grading in a packing plant in Vernon

Vivian, is this where you worked?

I’d hear the company that owns the big Cannabis company that owns the green houses all around this packing plant was buying up everything around to expand. Wonder if it’s them that got it.

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1 week ago

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Association's preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/ ... See MoreSee Less

The federal government has committed $1.81 million over the next three years to support the BC Poultry Associations preparation  for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the province. “The persistence of the virus in wildlife and recurrence of outbreaks globally, presents additional risks during the migratory bird season in North America later in 2023,” the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Vancouver advised in July. For more, visit https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/ai-risk-rises-with-fall/
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Sweet times for BC honey producers

Public interest, government support a healthy buzz

November 28, 2018 byPeter Mitham

VICTORIA – Bees may be the new pocket pet for urban residents, quipped a speaker at the BC Honey Producers Association annual meeting and education day in Victoria on October 26, but government support is stronger than ever for the tiny but mighty insect.

BCHPA membership now stands at more than 750, boosting association revenues to $78,500 in the fiscal year ended July 31. The association now has more than $200,000 in assets, thanks in part to generous provincial support, requiring it to start filing regular financial reports with the province.

The strength of provincial support for apiculture was acknowledged several times throughout the day.

BCHPA president Kerry Clark pointed to the province’s allocation of $50,000 for community beekeeping and $20,000 for BCHPA initiatives.

“These are things we have not had in previous years,” he said, noting that the sector was also lucky to still have a government-paid apiculturist overseeing the sector in the province. “We still have our apiculture program and we are thankful for that.”

Provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp has spent three decades working with the province’s beekeepers. BC has 10 apiary inspectors, more than ever before, thanks in large measure to current agriculture minister Lana Popham.

“Right now we have a larger complement of inspectors in the province than ever before, and that is largely due to the enthusiastic support the beekeepers enjoy from our current minister,” he said.

Moreover, he reminded beekeepers, the services they receive are free.

“Have you ever wondered about that?” he asked. “If you’re a vegetable grower or a goat producer or something, and you have a problem and submit a sample for analysis at the Animal Health Centre, you pay a fee. Beekeepers are exempt. It’s remarkable.”

Popham, dubbed the Queen Bee at the event (at least of agriculture ministers), touched on the need to maintain the support as the number of colonies multiply.

“There’s many backyard beekeepers, and that is a positive thing,” she said. “[But] as the public gets more interested and more involved in beekeeping, there are some interesting challenges around that, with their education levels and their knowledge of what disease is.”

Indeed, while regional reports presented during the annual meeting highlighted record interest in keeping bees, thanks in part to public concern over pollinators, new members don’t necessarily stick around for long. A veteran apiarist termed bees the new “pocket pet,” quickly shed by amateurs when challenges arise.

This sparked questions among some delegates regarding the risks used equipment poses if it’s not properly treated and stored prior to reuse. This could lead to the spread of disease, which novice beekeepers may not recognize.

Colony losses

Nevertheless, BC bees are proving resilient. Colony losses in 2018 were about 35%, slightly above the national average of 32.6% but below the whopping 45% reported in Ontario.

Summer conditions were more of a concern for many beekeepers than overwintering, with impacts from climate change and extreme weather events flagged as a topic for further research in roundtable discussions.

Many regions reported reduced yields, save for the Peace River and Thompson-Cariboo, representatives of which reported exceptional yields of 150 to 200 pounds of honey and more per hive.

However, the Fraser Valley, Kootenays and other regions saw yields greatly reduced. Some weeks, there was nothing to collect.

On top of low yields, producers across the province reported strong wasp activity. Many lost hives to the insect.

“We did have a huge number of wasps. I track it back to a huge number of aphids in 2017,” Clark said.

An abundant food supply last year led to a greater number of wasps establishing nests at the end of the season. Clark said the population exploded this year as a result, and when the wasps ran out of aphids they turned to honeybees.

The idea of developing more resilient strains of bees and homegrown queens garnered some interest, thanks to a presentation by Anicet Desrochers, a Quebec beekeeper who supplies queens to apiaries across Canada.

Demand for queens in Canada is in the 250,000 range, Desrochers said, and harmonizing inspection regimes to allow for the general movement of bees would open even greater opportunities.

Canada imports $2 million to $5 million worth of bees a year.

“That’s lost revenue to Canadian beekeepers,” van Westendorp said. “[Let’s] get all the provinces on the same page, so that we can move stock, have stock inspected across Canada … for the British Columbia beekeeper it would be an economic boon.”

One economic benefit not granted to beekeepers yet is a recognition of revenues from pollination services as income qualifying towards farm class status for apiaries. A decision is also expected from the Property Appeal board regarding whether or not overwintering bees on a property is a legitimate agricultural use.

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