Budget speeches in Victoria and Ottawa this week didn’t use the word “agriculture” but the province did give a 5% boost to the provincial agriculture ministry. The provincial budget on April 20 gave a $4.4 million boost to agriculture ministry operations, lifting the ministry’s annual budget to $99.8 million. This is up from $95.4 million …
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Metro Vancouver reconsiders targeted grazing
Goats are natural-born weedeaters, but that doesn’t make them ideal for every city. While they’ve seen service in Kamloops and other municipalities in Western Canada, don’t expect them to be controlling invasive weeds in Metro Vancouver any time soon. Metro Vancouver’s climate action committee discussed a report April 16 that noted goats are ideal for …
Poultry sector receives $86.8 million
The federal government released details April 13 of the compensation arrangement hammered out with the poultry sector for concessions granted as part of the CP-TPP free trade agreement with Pacific Rim nations. The package, worth $691 million nationally, includes up to $86.8 million for growers in BC. Payments will be made to producers over 10 …
Frost nips cherry growers
Cherry growers in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys hope a run of frosty temperatures since April 11 won’t do significant damage to this year’s crop. “I’m just getting started checking grower’s blocks,” says Seradaye Lean, field service and quality control advisor for Consolidated Fruit Packers Ltd. in Kelowna. “There is a range of damage within …
No surprises in Throne speech
The second throne speech since the BC NDP held few surprises for agriculture. Opening a new sitting of the legislature on April 12, Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin laid forth an agenda that reaffirmed the province’s support for the Buy BC program and greater investment in the agritech sector. But the reminder that the government had …
Richmond’s ag community mourns a leader
RICHMOND – Richmond farming advocate Ralph May has died. He was 71. May, a lawyer as well as a prominent cranberry grower, was distinguished by his love of family and commitment to service. “Ralph was always proud of his farming heritage and history in Richmond and felt very strongly about giving back to the community …