Rural youth from across Canada are being invited to apply for a seat on the first-ever Canadian Agricultural Youth Council. Canada’s agriculture minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau, issued the call for applicants on January 24. Council members will meet twice a year to discuss issues that matter to them – “everything from sustainable agriculture, market diversification and …
NEWS
Agri-Innovation projects announced
Bees and cranberries are the latest recipients of funding under the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program, administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Worker Bee Honey Co. of Chilliwack received the largest portion of funding, $170,320, to support development of an automated honey extraction system. It will reduce labour costs for honey producers and improve data …
Secondary housing consultation
The province is asking for feedback on a proposal that would see landowners within the ALR given the right to have a second home if their local government approves. The idea, first announced by BC agriculture minister Lana Popham at the end of November, is fleshed out in an intentions paper released January 27. “Under …
Farm plans offer new opportunities for ranchers
VERNON – Winter weather chilled the turnout for the annual North Okanagan Livestock Association educational seminar in Vernon on January 15. Just half the 80 people registered made it to the event. “Some of our sponsors were not even able to make it,” says NOLA president Lani French. “The -20 temperatures and the poor road …
New executive director for COABC appointed
VERNON – A new executive director has been found to lead the Certified Organic Associations of BC following the departure of Jen Gamble, who spent nine years at the helm of the organization. Eva-Lena Lang will step into the role on March 1, bringing with her a long association with organic farming and community-oriented agriculture. …
Ag council helps avert seasonal worker delays
ABBOTSFORD – Potential problems bringing in seasonal farm workers have been averted. Western Agricultural Labour Initiative (WALI) program manager Veronica Moreno warned growers at a BC Landscape & Nursery Association meeting in Abbotsford on December 17 that they could face delays receiving Mexican workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) at the beginning of …