Boosted by the first quota increases since the last free trade deal was signed, BC dairy producers have set their sights on market growth in the years ahead. A focus on attracting processor investment is key, with two major processing plants on the horizon locally and the Canadian Dairy Production Council eyeing niche markets that …
NEWS
Creston beekeeper wins award
Creston beekeeper Jeff Lee received the Leadership Award at the BC Food and Beverage Association’s annual Rise awards in New Westminster, November 28. A leader in both the provincial honey industry and in his community, Lee co-owns Honey Bee Zen Apiaries Ltd. and Swan Valley Honey with his wife Amanda Goodman Lee. They are the …
Field days give farmers the dirt on soil management
GRAND FORKS – The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food sponsored a series of soil field days in conjunction with Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors group in early October. “Our purpose is to help you understand the basic techniques of soil sampling and why you would do it,” says soil carbon agrologist Ahmed Lasisi, who led …
Island farmers fish for water solutions
BLACK CREEK – Water challenges are still top of mind for Vancouver Island growers despite a wet fall, and they say the province needs to make it easier to capture and store the liquid wealth for future growing seasons. While the province has committed $100 million to the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program for on-farm water storage …
Popham back as ag minister
What’s old is new again with Premier David Eby’s choice of Saanich South MLA Lana Popham as agriculture minister. Popham returns to a role from which Eby shuffled her in December 2022 in favour of Pam Alexis, who lost her seat in October’s provincial election. Popham’s efforts to cultivate connections during her first term as …
New BC field vegetable specialist
A changing of the guard is underway in BC field vegetables. Karina Sakalauskas will succeed the province’s long-time field vegetable specialist Susan Smith, who retires later this month after two decades with the province’s agriculture ministry. Smith’s contributions were recognized at the BC Certified Seed Potato Growers Association’s annual general meeting in Squamish on November …