ABBOTSFORD – One of the biggest organizational shifts in BC agriculture since the 1990s will see the BC Agriculture Council focus on being an advocate for industry and exit the business of program delivery. “BCAC’s core role is that of an advocacy organization,” says Reg Ens, who will be stepping down as executive director of …
BCAC
BCAC shifts to advocacy
Policy development is in, program delivery is out as the BC Agriculture Council prepares to welcome a new executive director in August. Reg Ens announced June 9 that he would be stepping down as executive director July 31, allowing him to step into the newly created position of general manager of the Western Agriculture Labour …
BC farms deliver big impact
BC agriculture had an economic impact on the province of nearly $8.5 billion in 2019, according to a new study MNP prepared for the BC Agriculture Council and Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. The figure represents the total output of the crop and livestock sectors, as well as indirect impacts from spending on supplies and …
SAWP leeway sought
With applications now being accepted for seasonal workers arriving in 2021, farm leaders are stepping up efforts to negotiate entry restrictions on returning workers. Many nursery operations requiring workers in the opening days of January but the requirement for foreign arrivals in Canada to self-isolate for 14 days could delay when they start work. To …
Farm safety organization revamps
A new era for farm safety in BC dawned this week as farm sector representatives approved motions to rename the province’s largest farm safety organization the AgSafe Agriculture Association and reconfigure its board of directors. “Today marks the first time that AgSafe has made significant changes to the bylaws,” AgSafe chair Don Dahr told a …
Mexico sticks with BC
Mexico’s decision to withhold seasonal workers from Canada will have a minimal effect on BC farms, according to both the province and industry. The decision was widely reported on June 15, and affects workers arriving in Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Mexico quickly issued a clarification that the measure only affects farms where …