Provincial efforts to save the Agricultural Land Reserve for farming may be paying off, according to the latest annual report from the Agricultural Land Commission published at the end of June. The most recent year ended March 31, 2019, saw just 524 acres excluded, less than any year since the reserve came into being in …
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BC wine pioneer Harry McWatters dies
The godfather and éminence grise of many key developments in the BC wine industry has died at the age of 74. Harry McWatters died in his sleep at his home in Summerland on July 23, a week following the first anniversary of the opening of his newest venture, Time Winery in Penticton. McWatters saw 50 …
Province allows family on farms
VICTORIA—The province is giving families living in the Agricultural Land Reserve until February 22, 2020 to obtain approvals for second homes for immediate family. “We’ve worked to make long-overdue changes to help farmers farm,” said BC agriculture minister Lana Popham in announcing the changes. “We heard from people living in the ALR, many who said …
BC’s oldest farm seeks new management
SALT SPRING ISLAND—BC Parks is looking for a farm manager for Ruckle Farm on Salt Spring Island through a competitive bid process, after assuming full responsibility for the 200-acre working farm within Ruckle Provincial Park. The farm was managed privately in a life legacy agreement between BC Parks and the Ruckle family, which sold the …
Finding new potential for a lost native berry
KELOWNA—Two years ago, Jane and Michael Johnston traded life in White Rock for a farm in southeast Kelowna. She’s a registered nurse who’d risen to be executive director of a chain of high-end seniors residences. He’s the former CEO of an engineering firm. Both were looking for a new business opportunity. What they found was …
Slow drip on groundwater licences
The number of groundwater licences issued in the province continues to climb. A total of 593 licences have been issued since the registration and licensing process began in 2016. This is up from the 462 licenses issued as of February 22, when the province announced a further waiver of application fees non-domestic users of groundwater. …