China is once again welcoming shipments of beef and pork from Canada. China halted imports in June, after discovering inauthentic export certificates in a meat shipment. The origin of the certificates and even the meat it was attached to remains unknown, but China’s need for meat has outweighed other considerations. China is the world’s largest …
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Parties unite on trespass issue
Unanimous support for tough laws to protect agrifood operations against trespassers was a highlight of agriculture day in Victoria this year. Opposition proposals were embraced by the government, resulting in a rare show of unity among the parties on an issue that has hit farmers hard over the past several years. “We understand that a …
Paton presents ALR petition
A petition seeking the repeal of recent legislation governing the activities of the Agricultural Land Commission and what’s allowed in the Agricultural Land Reserve was presented to the legislature on Monday. Delta South MLA and agriculture critic Ian Paton delivered the petition, signed by nearly 27,000 people, and asked agriculture minister Lana Popham on their …
Sarafinchan leads BC Tree Fruit
BC Tree Fruits Co-operative held its annual general meeting in Peachland on October 24, giving members a chance to meet and question the co-op’s new CEO. Kelowna supply chain management specialist Warren Sarafinchan joined the co-op at the end of September after Todd McMyn was let go. McMynn had been in the role less than …
ALC gets an earful
DELTA – Small-lot agriculture, secondary residences and the profound disconnect between farmers, local government and the Agricultural Land Commission are emerging as common themes at townhall sessions the province launched in September to figure out how it can support farming in the Agricultural Land Reserve. The four-hour sessions featured presentations by ALC chair Jennifer Dyson, …
Neighbours raise stink over cannabis farms
LANGLEY – A year after their crop was legalized for recreational use, cannabis growers in BC are facing a challenge familiar to other agricultural sectors – greater regulation. Both municipalities and neighbours are calling on the province to adopt legislation consistent with federal regulations requiring cannabis producers to have systems that “prevent the escape of …