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Originally published:

FEBRUARY 2024
Vol. 110 Issue 2

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Stories In This Edition

Green is gold

Water fines upped

Farm class numbers drop

Snowpack lows raise grower fears for summer

Editorial: Abundance and well-being

Back 40: An economy adrift in troubled waters

Viewpoint: There has to be a better way to manage water

Pitt Meadows ag strategy is action-based

Tesche take over as GM for fruit growers

Ag Briefs: BC potato harvest up 10% versus 2022

Ag Briefs: PRFA president brings fresh outlook

Ag Briefs: Nanaimo farm saved

Fruit sector has two years to take the reins

BC Fruit Works labour-matching tool paused

Okanagan grapes hit hard by Arctic outflow

Corn rootworm requires diligence and control

Population trends create new opportunities

Telus dials in new safety tools for agriculture

Living Wage’ certification out of reach for many

Cariboo potato a case study in local resilience

Arrow Lakes project revitalizing agriculture

Silvopasture a new frontier with deep roots

Getting through winter when feed is short

Details count

Salt Spring couple presses on with olive dream

Metchosin farm transitions to new owners

Farm Story: No crying over spilt spuds

Woodshed Chronicles: Henderson (finally) takes time for soul-searching

Cosmopolitan flavours lead chef to farming

Steak and potatoes, dressed up for fare

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations 👍🎉

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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2 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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3 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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Arrow Lakes project revitalizing agriculture

Supporting producers key to supporting growth

February 1, 2024 byTracey Fredrickson

NAKUSP – The Arrow Lakes region of the West Kootenays is one of the most scenic parts of the Columbia River, nestled between the Selkirk Mountains in the east and the Monashees in the west. It has a strong agricultural history dating back to the 1800s, when many settlers came to the area to pursue a farming lifestyle. The region supported an abundance of produce and tree fruits for decades, but agriculture began to decline in the 1960s when dams were built, and flooding under the Columbia River Treaty resulted in the loss of 200,000 hectares of rich, arable land.

Supply chain issues such as those seen during the COVID pandemic have contributed to the need to revitalize the agriculture sector and make food security a community priority.

“Nakusp is the largest community in the region, removed from every major highway that connects the region to its closest cities,” points out Aiden McLaren-Caux, economic development coordinator for the Nakusp and Area Development Board (NADB.) “When there are supply chain problems, we feel them first because trucks just don’t come out here.”

To address these issues, NADB worked with regional partners to launch the Grow Arrow Lakes project in 2022. The initiative has provided unexpected insight into what it takes to grow the sector in this remote, rural and tightknit community.

At the start of the project, about 20 producers and agriculture-related businesses were identified in the region, including small-scale vegetable farms, orchards, honey producers, a few wineries and cideries, and hobby farmers who grew food to meet their own needs.

The project was to be a catalyst for engaging the local agriculture sector and developing an easily identifiable, regional Arrow Lakes brand that would help local producers improve and expand their markets. An educational and marketing campaign was planned to help drive the development of agri-tourism ventures, and eventually a year-round central food hub would be created to boost sales for local producers and better connect residents with local food.

Research for the project showed a much different agricultural landscape that “challenged our initial assumptions about agriculture potential in the area,” says McLaren-Caux.

One assumption is that local producers would embrace the opportunity to become part of a regional brand and had the tools and resources to sell to the public including a website, marketing strategy, business plan and an identifiable brand of their own.

They were expected to have the capacity to provide a consistent volume of products to the public through roadside stands, farm gate sales or pre-arranged pick-up or delivery.

It was also assumed that residents, retailers and restaurants would welcome access to more locally grown food.

In fact, only a few producers had the capacity to operate at a commercial level, and none were able or ready to participate in a food hub or agri-tourism initiative. Most were unwilling or unsure about committing to provide a consistent supply of products, while consumers, restaurants and retail outlets were not willing to participate without that commitment from producers.

In addition, collaboration among local organizations involved in agriculture and food security initiatives was weak.

Despite extensive outreach to the agriculture community through press releases, social media, one-to-one interviews and surveys, few chose to respond to invitations to be listed in a new Grow Arrow Lakes directory. Most of those who did respond said they were “too busy to participate,” “have no desire to gain more business,” “nice idea but I don’t want the public on my land,” and other similar comments.

A lack of consumers willing to pay market prices for locally grown food was a major reason producers were reluctant to expand their capacity.

“At this point, we took a step back, realizing that most producers required basic support and encouragement to increase their capacity and confidence,” says McLaren-Caux.

Building on the work of Phase 1 of the Grow Arrow Lakes project, Phase 2 launched in 2023 with financial support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, the Arrow Slocan Tourism Association, and the Nakusp and Area Community Forest.

Phase 2 resulted in the development of the regional Arrow Lakes brand and a multimedia marketing campaign to inform and excite the community about its agriculture heritage. The Grow Arrow Lakes website was revised to be more interactive so producers can add and change information about themselves and product availability. A print and web-based directory, map of local producers and product stickers were created to inspire the community to buy local.

A Supporting Local Agriculture Committee was also formed, made up of NADB members and others with an interest in local agriculture. The committee sets terms of reference and scopes out potential initiatives, such as the Grow Arrow Lakes project.

While Phase 2 is still launching and its full impact is yet to be realized, positive results are taking place.

“The analytics are much higher now that the site is up and running,” says McLean-Caux. “Users are taking advantage of its interactive nature, and it is becoming a reference point for local agriculture information, including profiles that tell the stories of local growers.”

Educational needs of farmers and producers including best practices, greenhouse growing, regenerative agriculture and sales and marketing have been identified. Growing information for different parts of the Arrow Lakes is also needed since its communities are located in different zones with diverse soil types and varying amounts of rain and snow.

“For the time being, we are estimating increased purchasing from visitors to the area at farmers markets, locally owned retail outlets, and farmgate sales, promoted by our multimedia campaign,” says McLean-Caux.

Agri-tourism initiatives and development of a food hub are considered longer-term opportunities once the sector becomes more stable and resilient.

Mickey Wojnarowski and his wife Brenda Lee Morgan own the HomeGrown Market & Juice Bar in Nakusp. The store sells produce, flowers, health supplements and artisan gift items made or produced in the Arrow Lakes region. Wojnarowski also sits on the new agriculture committee and the Central Kootenay Food Policy Council.

“We were already connected with some 60 producers and artisans in the area when the website and directory came out, and since then we’ve been in touch with many more,” Wojnarowski says. The HomeGrown Market is undergoing an expansion that will double its size.

Carlee Hughes, owner of Nakusp East Farms and a long-time Nakusp resident, says conversations about agriculture in the region are taking place again.

“There is a sense of pride that the sector is an economic priority for the region,” she says. “At our farm, we’ve had more inquiries and orders due to the social media work that has been done, and the profile we’ve received has helped our credibility as a trusted farm in the area.”

“Once people try our products, the majority become repeat customers,” Hughes points out. “This shows how important it is to create awareness and connection to high-quality local food.”

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