Build the brand, then build the plant: that’s the recommendation of the steering committee handling plans for a new federally inspected beef packing plant in BC. “The vision is still to build a BC beef plant in Prince George,” plant project team member and consultant Glenn Brand told the BC Cattlemen’s Association annual general meeting …
Cherry growers ready to pick
The first firm, ripe cherries of the season are set to head to BC packinghouses in the coming days. Oliver grower Pinder Dhaliwal, president of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association, is pleased with the size and quality of the fruit. “We’ve had no drastic weather and there’s no rain forecast for the next few days, …
BC hop industry matures
BC’s hop industry faces a bright future as the industry consolidates around growers with long-term plans, but plenty of challenges remain. “We’re getting more interest and we’re also developing a number of export markets,” says Ray Bredenhof of Bredenhof Hop Farms in Abbotsford and chair of the BC Hop Growers Association. “I’m working on international …
Meat industry wants action
The province’s claim to be acting on recommendations for strengthening the meat industry is disputed by the BC Association of Abattoirs. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham has accepted all 21 recommendations of the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fish and Food’s report on local meat production and inspection and is implementing them, the June 3 …
No changes to Bill 15
Opposition MLAs were unable to secure amendments to Bill 15, which passed third reading on May 30 after the BC NDP closed off debate in advance of the legislature’s summer recess. While the opposition felt there were enough issues with the bill to delay passage until this fall, the government had enough members to pass …
June boosts costs
BC farmers will see higher costs this month as several new measures take effect. June 1 saw the minimum wage increase to $13.85 an hour as part of provincial efforts to raise the rate to $15.20 an hour by 2021. While the province is holding the line on piece rates, the increase to the minimum …