Ranchers in areas hit hard by last year’s heat dome, wildfires and drought shouldn’t count on rushing out on their rangeland this summer, cautions a professional agrologist. Chris Wellman, a fence contractor and former range agrologist with the Vernon Forest District, says many herds may need to stick close to home this season pending an …
Apple growers consider marketing commission
Growers will meet in Kelowna on April 12 for another round of discussion to consider the apple marketing commission proposed as a successor organization to the New Tree Fruit Varieties Development Council, which will wind up operations at the end of March 2023. While most of the feedback received from growers to date has been …
Labour shortage has abattoirs hogtied
SALMON ARM – A lack of skilled workers is squeezing meat processing capacity in BC, forcing some small and medium-sized livestock operations to book slaughter dates a year out – and even then, spots aren’t guaranteed. When their processor removed pig slaughter dates from its calendar, first-generation farmers Chelsea and James Keenan of Keenan Family …
Show time!
Growers from across BC will gather this week for the Pacific Agriculture Show, the first time the event has been held in-person since before COVID-19. The province’s biggest farm show kicks off at the Tradex in Abbotsford, March 31, and runs through April 2. Originally scheduled for the end of January, the show – as …
Raspberry replant funding boost
The province has committed an additional $300,000 to extend the raspberry replant program for a third year. “The new investment in this program will help more BC growers replant their fields with varieties that will support their businesses,” BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says. Originally launched in late 2020, the initiative has received close to …
Co-ops’ importance highlighted
Governance, investment for growth and development, accessing institutional markets, and land management were among the topics covered at the inaugural BC Agriculture and Food Co-op Conference in Kamloops, March 24-25. Hosted by the BC Co-operative Association, the event attracted about 120 growers, processors, retailers, academics, government representatives, policymakers and others came together to raise awareness …