An early start to the wildfire season and low snowpack led to fire restrictions in the Cariboo this week, as the province tries to prevent a third straight year of record wildfires. “Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre,” the province announced April 9. The ban takes effect at noon …
NEWS
Colony losses have beekeepers on edge
Reports of colony losses across the province have beekeepers on edge this spring, and government wants to know how bad the problem is. “Victoria wants me to give them details right now and with the help of the inspection staff we have been able to collect a bit of information on colony losses,” provincial apiculturist …
Federal funding delay hits berries
A lack of fresh federal funding means the industry associations for raspberry and strawberry growers are set to run deficits in 2019. The budgets approved at the annual general meetings of the Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC) and the BC Strawberry Growers Association (BCSGA) at the end of March both project small deficits. RIDC ended …
New year, new funding
A new fiscal year is giving BC producers a chance to tap into fresh funding for projects ranging from traceability to replant projects. A six-week intake for producers seeking funding to help them meet new federal traceability requirements ended February 28, and is being reprised now through March 2020, with a claims deadline of February …
One province, one panel
VICTORIA – A second round of changes to the Agricultural Land Commission is in the works that will eliminate the system of six regional panels the BC Liberals established in 2002. The change headlines a bill BC agriculture minister Lana Popham introduced March 7. It was one of the first government bills tabled in the …
“Island Good” campaign drives local sales
NANAIMO – Farmers, food processors and retailers on Vancouver Island have a new tool in their marketing toolbox to help tap into local consumer preferences for Island products. “Island Good” is a new brand the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) created last year. The brand was launched as a pilot project aimed at increasing awareness …