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JULY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 6

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations 👍🎉

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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2 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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2 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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BC Blueberry Council gets a new chair

Dalbir Benipal

July 21, 2021 bySarbmeet Singh

Abbotsford blueberry grower and veterinarian Dalbir Benipal is the new chair of the BC Blueberry Council.

Benipal narrowly edged out fellow grower Jason Smith at the first meeting of the council’s nine directors following the council’s annual general meeting in late June. Benipal received five votes while Smith received four.

Benipal previously served as vice-chair, and Smith will now hold that position.

Benipal succeeds Jack Bates of Tecarte Farms in Delta. He is the first Indo-Canadian to hold the position.

“I am thankful to all the board directors for showing faith in me,” he said. “I am delighted over the results.”

Benipal immigrated to Canada from India in 2000 and started his small-animal veterinary practice in 2002. In 2011, he started farming, a natural move that reflected his roots in Punjab, a largely agrarian province in India.

“Being from Punjab, I feel connected with land and farming. So, I decided to start agriculture here, too” he said.

When asked about priorities for BC blueberries, Dalbir says improving the sector’s competitiveness is key. While marketing is important, it goes beyond that.

“In some neighbour countries the cost of production is relatively low due to cheap land and labour availability. Competing with them at the international level reduces the profit margins of the growers,” he says. “I aspire to have BC blueberries recognized, and for that, we are focusing on the varietal improvement of the blueberries.”

It’s also important to grow local skills.

“We also want to educate the growers so they can increase their profit margins,” he says. “Additionally, we will work to get maximum funding and grants for the farmers from the province.”

Many of the more than 600 growers who farm the province’s 27,000 acres of blueberries are Indo-Canadian, and Benipal believes he can make the kinds of connections needed to support them.

“The Punjabi growers of the region can now directly contact the newly appointed chair and share the problems in their mother tongue (Punjabi),” says Harpal Singh, a blueberry grower in Abbotsford.

 

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