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Originally published:

March 2019
Vol. 105 Issue 3

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Stories In This Edition

Ten-year plan

Simon Answerth

Province boosts ag spending

It’s a draw!

Well registrations lag in advance of final deadline

Editorial: Vice grip

Back Forty: Snow days make good days for seed selection

Viewpoint: Farmers need to prepare for annual snow melt

Smooth start to season as foreign workers arrive

Sidebar: Province mulls piece rates

Late winter has some Okanagan growers on edge

Ag show attracts near-record attendance

Ag Briefs: Traceability funding available for producers

Ag Briefs: Cattlemen’s launches webinar series

Ag Briefs: Grant winner announced

Labour remains a priority for fruit growers

Dairy, aquaculture take home awards at gala

Farmers need to prepare for uncertainty

Ag critic listens to concerns at farmers’ institute

Growers are responsible for workers’ safety

Robotic milkers sized up during dairy tour

Safe, high-quality silage depends on preparation

Young farmers crack open new vending concept

Diversification makes orchard a landmark

Going green boosts ranch’s credibility

Ranchers need to match forage with herd needs

Tru-Grit

Reducing waste will save money on winter feed

Producers question new Indigenous rights law

Hosting TRU students a way to give back

Livestock co-op provides selling, buying options

Sidebar: Market set to stay steady

Research: Bluetongue outbreaks expected to increase

Filling a niche for gourmet mushrooms

Regulations, housing key issues in Langley

Sheep producers seeing value in genetic program

Above and beyond

Vegetation fundamental to farms, landscape

Studies continue on forage, corn crop pests

4-H BC leader singled out

Growers go with the grain of beer revival

Agri-tourism has plenty of room for growth

Rose stem girdler poses threat to cranberries

Site prep critical for healthy hazelnut orchards

Sidebar: BC renewal program opens up

Wannabe: Renewal comes with a new generation of farmers

Mentorship gives Kelowna grower a headstart

Woodshed: Deborah and Doug McLeod turn up the heat

A good place to meet up

Jude’s Kitchen: Celebrate spring by eating outside

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3 days ago

Congratulations to Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms for taking top honours as Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers last week in Laval, Quebec. For more, see this week's FARM NEWS UPDATE at www.countrylifeinbc.com/hopcotts-win-oyf#BCAGd#clinbcAg #CLinBC ... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations to Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms for taking top honours as Canadas Outstanding Young Farmers last week in Laval, Quebec. For more, see this weeks FARM NEWS UPDATE at https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/hopcotts-win-oyf-canada/

#BCAg #CLinBC
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Congratulations to all of you. You have done a tremendous job growing your business

Congratulations from Coniagas Ranches! Your business is awesome!!!

Thank you so much! 😁

Congratulations Travis!

Well done ! Well deserved

Congratulations

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5 days ago

Congratulations to Chilliwack’s Ben Janzen, former chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board, who received the BC Dairy Achievement Award from Jim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society on November 23. Byrne hailed Janzen’s selfless work on behalf of the industry, first as a member of the first producer-elected board of Agrifoods International Cooperative in 1996 then as chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board for five years from 2016. "These successes have allowed the industry to increase processing capacity and develop initiatives that, when completed, will provide processing for growth for many years to come,” Byrne said. In response, Janzen expressed gratitude while emphasizing the determination and resilience of producers in the face of challenges. “You’re the ones that make this industry great,” he said.

#BCAg #CLinBC
... See MoreSee Less

Congratulations to Chilliwack’s Ben Janzen, former chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board, who received the BC Dairy Achievement Award from Jim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society on November 23. Byrne hailed Janzen’s selfless work on behalf of the industry, first as a member of the first producer-elected board of Agrifoods International Cooperative in 1996 then as chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board for five years from 2016. These successes have allowed the industry to increase processing capacity and develop initiatives that, when completed, will provide processing for growth for many years to come,” Byrne said. In response, Janzen expressed gratitude while emphasizing the determination and resilience of producers in the face of challenges. “You’re the ones that make this industry great,” he said.

#BCAg #CLinBC
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I don't understand? Maybe it's my own ignorance but don't we produce way more milk than we use and force farmers to dump anything above their quota to ensure the prices stay high? Wouldn't we want to keep the retail price as low as possible while ensuring farmers receive their required compensation? Wouldn't that be worth an award? Help me understand 🤷‍♂️

Is this guy a reason why I cannot buy whole unpasteurized milk for my own personal use, yeah personal use even to make glue ...but really I don't carecwhy anyone wants whole unpasteurized milk ..it is Not my business..and nor should it be the business of bearacracy ..so in mho ppfffft

2 weeks ago

We are profoundly saddened to announce the passing of veteran farm journalist and Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt. He died suddenly in Chilliwack on November 20. For 35 years, David was the face and voice of Country Life in BC, covering producer meetings across the Fraser Valley and throughout BC. His reporting earned many national awards and he was honoured with several lifetime achievement awards, including the 2018 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture, as he edged toward retirement at the start of the pandemic in 2020. He was, as one former ag minister eloquently put it, the "encyclopedia of BC agriculture." We will miss him terribly. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. For more, see today's FARM NEWS UPDATE - www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-agriculture-loses-a-champion/ ... See MoreSee Less

We are profoundly saddened to announce the passing of veteran farm journalist and Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt. He died suddenly in Chilliwack on November 20. For 35 years, David was the face and voice of Country Life in BC, covering producer meetings across the Fraser Valley and throughout BC. His reporting earned many national awards and he was honoured with several lifetime achievement awards,  including the 2018 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture, as he edged toward retirement at the start of the pandemic in 2020. He was, as one former ag minister eloquently put it, the encyclopedia of BC agriculture. We will miss him terribly. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. For more, see todays FARM NEWS UPDATE - https://www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-agriculture-loses-a-champion/
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Very sad to hear of his loss…amazing dedication to Country Life.

He will be missed. His dedication to the agricullture industry was exceptional and conversattions with David were always welcomed

David was just an exceptional person . He had an unbridled passion for Agriculture. He will be so missed in this Industry. Condolences to David's family and friends.

Condolences to David's family and also his work family. He was a veteran agricultural supporter and reporter, and in his younger days attended every agricultural event he possibly could! He always had insightful views on the current agricultural state of affairs in the Fraser Valley, and also on the government programs and relief offered. He will definitely be missed in the Fraser Valley agricultural community.

David's thoughtful, careful and insightful reporting set a standard in farm reporting in BC, and much further. He will be very much missed.

Deepest Sympathy to family and friends.

Our most heartfelt condolences.

Very sad to hear this.

Sad to hear 😞

Very sorry to hear this. David was a first class journalist and an all around good human being.

Rip David.

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3 weeks ago

An agriculture plan progress report presented to Kelowna council November 6 shows a drop in the number of active farm operations in the Central Okanagan region since 2017. Six years ago, there were 1,034 actively farmed parcels; today, there are 983, according to BC Assessment data. Read more in this week's FARM NEWS UPDATE bitly.ws/ZScG ... See MoreSee Less

An agriculture plan progress report presented to Kelowna council November 6 shows a drop in the number of active farm operations in the Central Okanagan region since 2017. Six years ago, there were 1,034 actively farmed parcels; today, there are 983, according to BC Assessment data. Read more in this weeks FARM NEWS UPDATE https://bitly.ws/ZScG
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3 weeks ago

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Ten-year plan

Province rolls out new ag waste regs across BC beginning in Hullcar

Manure spreading

February 26, 2019 byDavid Schmidt

ABBOTSFORD – It took a decade to develop the new Agricultural Waste Control Regulation and it will take another decade to fully implement it.

The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (BCMoE) released the new Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management (AEMCoP) January 23, with the first provisions to take effect, February 28, 2019. The AEMCoP replaces the AWCR which had been in effect since 1992. Work on the new regulations began in 2009, with the first public consultations held in 2012.

“We had 25 agricultural associations involved in joint government-industry working groups,” BCMoE clean technologies director Chris Jenkins told farmers at the Pacific Agriculture Show in January.

The new regulation is intended to improve waste management practices, improve clarity and enforceability, outline clear expectations and outcomes and better align with agricultural practices.

“We’re not telling you how to do things; we’ve outlined the outcomes that need to be achieved,” Jenkins said.

Instead of the one-size-fits-all approach of previous regulations, the new regulation has different rules for different scenarios.

“The requirements are science and evidence-based,” BCMoE senior environmental manager Margaret Crowley said. “Some requirements are universal and others are site and/or commodity-specific.”

To accommodate all the definitions and provisions, the AEMCoP totals 45 pages, including schedules and appendices. Rules are much stricter in high-risk areas, such as vulnerable aquifers and areas with high soil nitrate and phosphorus levels.

Farmers will need to be “much more aware of where they farm and how they farm,” says BC Agriculture Council environmental technical advisor Geoff Hughes-Games. “Producers are going to have to do a lot more work to determine which sections apply to them.”

Crowley says BCMoE already has maps of sensitive aquifers and phosphorous-affected areas on its agricultural environmental management webpage and is working with the BC Ministry of Agriculture to develop workbooks and risk assessment tools.

“We need to know what would be helpful to you,” she told farmers at the PAS.

Generally satisfied

Industry is generally satisfied with the new regulation.

“They listened to our concerns and that’s all you can ask for,” says BC Dairy Association chair Holger Schwichtenberg. “It’s not perfect but in the end, it’s fair and manageable.”

“We’re okay,” adds BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon. “We will have to do something but most of our ranches won’t have to make major changes. Our big issue was access to water and we’ve got that.”

BC Chicken Growers Association president Dale Krahn agrees, noting most poultry producers already meet most requirements.

“We support good environmental standards,” BCAC executive director Reg Ens states, noting he particularly likes the implementation timeline. “It ensures adequate time for us, government and professionals to handle the workload that is coming.”

First up

First up is the Hullcar aquifer recharge area. All agricultural operations of five hectares or more must have a nutrient management plan (NMP) in place before the 2020 growing season.

Over the next three years those requirements will expand to include all livestock and poultry operations of five ha or more and five or more animal units located above vulnerable aquifers throughout the province. By 2024, NMPs will also be required of all horticultural operations greater than 30 ha located above vulnerable aquifers.

In 2025, all agricultural operations of at least five ha located in phosphorus-affected areas will require NMPs.

Crowley stressed NMPs need to be developed by either a qualified professional or a person experienced in nutrient management.

“If you already do an NMP as part of an environmental farm plan, it will cover everything we want,” she said.

The timeline may make it appear most farmers don’t have any immediate concerns, but that is not the case.

“When the regulation comes in on February 28, there is an expectation that anyone who applies nutrients to their land has some basis for doing that,” Hughes-Games points out, stressing the regulation applies to both conventional and organic farms and includes manure, compost and inorganic fertilizer.

As a minimum, farmers should have a basic soil test (about $45 to test for N, P, K and soil pH) for each field and keep a record of all nutrient applications. Soil tests need to be taken at least every third year but may be done on a rotation, e.g., a farmer with six fields could test two fields during each of the three years.

While most setbacks have not changed, buffers from watercourses have increased. Farmers must now maintain a 1.5-metre setback for commercial fertilizers or injected manure and a three- metre setback when applying manure or compost other than by direct injection. Although a proposal to apply buffers to property lines has been eliminated, there is a requirement that nutrients not be allowed to go onto a neighbouring property.

“The bottom line is you can’t allow nutrients to leave your property,” Hughes-Games states.

“We don’t want leachate and contaminated water,” noted BCMoE clean technologies policy specialist Josie Beruldsen.

The regulations include specific requirements for temporary field storage of nutrients, seasonal manure applications, confined livestock and use of wood waste.

The regulations still allow farmers to compost manure, spoiled crops or mortalities and even allow them to bring wood waste and other products onto the farm as long as they are for use as nutrients or soil amendments on the farm but the rules on process and use have been tightened up.

Schwichtenberg, Boon and Ens say the biggest question marks are cost and enforcement.

Schwichtenberg admits the regulations are “worthless” without enforcement but wonders how that will look.

Boon says ranchers just want to be treated fairly.

“We’re concerned with how our few truckloads of wood waste are dealt with compared to the big piles of wood waste at the sawmills.”

“We are still not clear on the economic impact (the AEMCoP) will have on some, if not all agricultural operations in the province,” Ens says. “Our push is to get government to provide additional resources to help farmers implement the changes required by the new regulation. The EFP program is already fully subscribed.”

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