Business thrives when conditions and stable and predictable, but uncertainties can create stress that lead to poor attitudes, a decreased capacity for decision-making and bad lifestyle choices. According to a study Farm Management Canada released this week, 78% of farmers across Canada report mid to high stress levels. But having a written business plan can …
NEWS
“Big number” tough to get
Ottawa’s support for agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn mixed reviews. Many critics say it falls well short of the $2.6 billion the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and its members, including the BC Agriculture Council, have asked for. Others point out that programs such as the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which offers up …
IAFBC over-subscribed
A shift to online sales among BC food producers has led to the rapid exhaustion of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC’s latest grant program. IAFBC began receiving applications last week for up to $5,000 in grants from a $300,000 pool of funds the province had allocated under the Buy BC program to assist BC …
Flood buyout bypasses farmers
May is the month when Grand Forks residents watch the Granby and Kettle rivers for signs of flooding. This year, local snowpacks were 119% of normal May 1, above the provincial average of 106% but well below the levels that triggered extensive flooding in 2018. Recent cool temperatures mean the snow pack remains stable but …
Industry mourns abattoir champion
A young champion for more meat processing capacity in the Southern Interior has died. Chad Maarhuis of Magnum Meats in Rock Creek collapsed May 10 following a business trip to Calgary. He was 37. A graduate of the meat-cutting course at Thompson Rivers University, Maarhuis purchased Magnum Meats with his wife Erika in 2008. It …
Province boosts online funding
The province has announced an additional $300,000 through the Buy BC program to help producers take sales online. The new funding, administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, will “support industry-led Buy BC e-commerce activities” by providing up to $5,000 to successful applicants. The intake period will be just two weeks, from May 15 …