Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen faced grilling in committee this week as the budget for his ministry’s operations came under scrutiny by MLAs. Independent MLA Adam Walker, who represents Parksville-Qualicum, questioned how the province is measuring the success of its water stewardship initiatives to ensure they are delivering on government’s objectives. “Looking …
BC Tree Fruits sells packinghouse site
A decision not to proceed with a state-of-the-art fruit packing plant in Kelowna left BC Tree Fruits Co-operative with no choice but to sell the property acquired for the purpose, says a respected grower. “After the decision to move to Oliver, the fate of the property was a done deal,” says Amarjit Singh Lalli, a co-op …
Farm input costs ease
Statistics Canada’s index of farm input costs for the final quarter of 2023 show a slight easing in British Columbia, but elevated levels versus two years earlier. Total farm inputs indexed 153.1 at the end of 2023 versus a baseline of 2012 (up 53.1% versus the baseline), down two points from the previous quarter. However, …
Bylaws seek to silence Salt Spring roosters
SALT SPRING ISLAND – On an island that proudly features a rooster crowing contest at its annual fall fair, real roosters have ruffled enough feathers in the community that the issue has landed a local couple in court. Following a three-year campaign of complaints by the neighbours of CJ McNichol and Alia Elaraj to silence …
Haskaps hold potential for northern growers
VERNON – With limited provincial resources, haskap berry producers must forge their own paths toward business viability and success through value-added products and direct-to-consumer marketing. “I didn’t want to make a mistake and pick something that’s really hard, which is kind of ironic because I ended up with something really hard,” says Indigo Valley Farm …
Province to oversee livestock welfare
The province is poised to assume responsibility for farmed animal welfare in BC, establishing a new division within the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food to take over from the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Policing of animal welfare, including that of farmed animals, has been the statutory responsibility of the …