A historic funding package has seen minimal disbursements to date, prompting the province to extend the deadline for applications. Producers impacted by catastrophic flooding and landslides following last November’s atmospheric river events will have until August 31 to file claims with the Canada-BC Flood Recovery Program for Food Security. “We’ve had over 400 applications so …
Bird flu in FV
ABBOTSFORD – A control zone was imposed on more than 50 commercial poultry farms in West Abbotsford last month following the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a local turkey farm, complicating the outlook for producers already under pressure from multiple supply chain issues. “We’ve been meeting our chicken numbers so far as allocation …
Dairy tops economic impact
BC Dairy Association members were in Victoria this week for meetings with government representatives, with ice cream distributed to the public at the legislature on Tuesday. But dairy is also the most valuable agribusiness in Abbotsford, according to a report released last week by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. The report estimates the economic impact …
Diesel prices plateau
Producers and consumers alike are keeping close tabs on prices at the pumps. While relief cannot come soon enough for farmers, fuel prices show no signs of dropping until the second half of the year. That means producers will have to consider operational changes or bite the bullet as the busy summer season approaches. “If …
Wages rise June 1
BC’s minimum wage has increased to $15.65 an hour effective June 1, a 2.8% increase from $15.20 last year. The increase was announced in March and reflects the annual inflation rate for 2021. Piece rates for hand-harvesters will rise by a similar percentage on January 1, 2023. The increase adds to input costs farmers face, …
73,500 birds hit by AI
The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza to the Fraser Valley has pushed the total number of birds affected in BC to nearly 73,500 across 12 properties. The past week has seen four new outbreaks, including two commercial poultry operations in West Abbotsford and a small-lot operation near Osprey Lake, between Princeton and Summerland. Two …