The province is relaunching a farm support program piloted two years ago, rebranding it with the assistance of federal funding. The New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program is receiving $600,000 under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support business planning and equipment purchases for farms that have not reported income in the past five years. …
Water licence fight highlights need for change
DUNCAN – A well-loved farmstand and restaurant on Vancouver Island hopes a change in oversight of groundwater management will lead to a more collaborative approach to resolving licensing issues. Katy and John Ehrlich of Alderlea Farm on Vancouver Island have run their award-winning farm for more than 20 years, growing a variety of vegetables and …
BCAC lobbying event positive
A day of productive discussions in Victoria culminated in a reception where representatives of the BC Agriculture Council celebrated their successes and furthered relations with MLAs and stakeholders. Dozens of meetings with elected representatives from all parties as well as cabinet members, their staff and – for the first time ever, the premier – made …
Ranches, province fail rangelands
Compliance, enforcement and management issues have come to light in South Okanagan protected areas that allow tenured grazing. “This is a protected area that has very sensitive and important ecosystems to the public,” BC Forest Practices Board chair Keith Atkinson says. Public complaints in January and July 2021 triggered an investigation into grazing practices and …
Food costs public trust
Rising food costs and reduced affordability continues to top this year’s list of public confidence in the country’s food systems, according to the annual report of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. The centre’s annual survey, which included 300 respondents from BC, identified food costs as the top public concern for the fifth year running. …
Building a business around community
VANDERHOOF – A cut-and-wrap business that started as a side hustle to process animals on their farm has morphed into a licensed meat processing facility for Matthew and Brittany Giesbrecht and a critical service for local farmers and hunters. “It’s a godsend,” says Korey Martens of Broken Horn Farm east of Vanderhoof. “Before these guys …