New rules that come into play in December will govern exchanges of dairy quota taking place on or after January 1, 2025. The changes, which aim for an exchange model that reflects current market conditions, were approved by BC Milk Marketing Board on September 6 and announced in a bulletin to producers this week. A …
BC seeks crop reporters
The province hopes to recruit industry volunteers to report on agricultural production conditions across the province. Based on similar programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the new initiative in BC launched this year with a handful of reporters in nine regions across the province. Reporters complete a brief, five-minute survey each week with questions about the …
Interior egg production set to rise
This week saw the selection of two new entrants to the BC egg sector, diversifying the production of eggs beyond the Fraser Valley. Approximately 31 of the province’s 154 registered egg producers are located outside the Fraser Valley. But with the selection of Mitch and Breanne Baker of Cawston and Tim Traber of Quesnel in …
New fruit co-op discussed
The BC Fruit Growers Association (BCFGA) coordinated a meeting of former BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (BCTFC) growers September 10 to discuss the prospect of maintaining a co-operative packinghouse for the sector. BC Tree Fruits shut its doors on July 26, leaving 290 grower families with nowhere to sell their fruit. “A number of former BCTFC …
BC rancher brings home esteemed leadership award
Vernon’s Cassie Marchand is the second recipient of the Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award. “It’s very special for sure; having that recognition to be a leader in the industry. I honestly don’t think of myself in that light,” says Marchand, the fourth generation on the Clifton Ranch. “I always try to get information and …
Co-op closure leaves growers in the lurch
OLIVER – On July 3, Osoyoos cherry grower Ranjit Dhillon delivered the last of his cherries to the BC Tree Fruits Co-op in Oliver. “We were really optimistic; it was our best year yet,” Dhillon says. “We did not suffer any winter damage; we had a full crop. We shipped 108,800 lbs of cherries total.” …