Several concerns of the BC poultry sector regarding the handling of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreak last year were addressed this week by a federal commitment of $1.8 million. Delivered over three years, the funding will support the BC Poultry Association’s preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks. “The poultry industry …
Investment foundation grows
The sky’s the limit as the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC keeps growing. A review of the organization’s performance at its annual general meeting, held online September 13, noted that $17.8 million was granted to 1,209 projects through 18 programs in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. “Many more programs are coming online in …
Lake Country packing house sold
BC Tree Fruit Co-op has sold its Lake Country packing house as part of its long-term plan to consolidate operations. The sale, to an undisclosed buyer, closed on August 31, 2023 for $15.8 million. “This was a planned sale as part of the cooperative’s consolidation plan that began in August of 2022,” says Laurel Van …
Marketing board chooses new entrant finalists
ABBOTSFORD – The BC Milk Marketing Board has selected five producers to participate in this year’s New Entrant Program. The board chose four producers from a shortlist of seven candidates selected by random draw earlier this year to enter conventional production. One producer was chosen to meet the demand for organic production out of a …
SAWP points to reforms
Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) could point the way to reforming how foreign workers are treated in Canada, according to a United Nations report. Tomoya Obokata, special rapporteur on the global scourge of modern slavery to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) issued a statement on September 6 at the end of a two-week …
AI risk rises with fall
The detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at a commercial poultry operation in the County of Warner, Alberta, on the Montana border is a grim reminder that the disease remains a going concern despite a period of relative calm since last winter. BC reported its last case in April, with spring migrations not unleashing …