PENDER ISLAND – Bylaws passed by local government shouldn’t pre-empt decisions by the Agricultural Land Commission, the commission’s chair and CEO told a recent meeting of the Islands Trust council. While it may seem to be stating what’s clearly written in section 46 of the Agricultural Land Commission Act, the question is at the heart …
NEWS
Hazelnut growers get replant funding
CHILLIWACK – After several years of lobbying, the BC hazelnut industry finally has a replant program. In mid-July, BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham announced $300,000 in funding over three years for a new BC Hazelnut Replant Program (HRP). The long-established industry was decimated by eastern filbert blight (EFB) in the past decade, leading most …
Forage action plan nears completion
SMITHERS – The province is developing a forage action plan for private land, BC Cattlemen’s Association members heard at their annual general meeting in Smithers in June. “Our goal is to increase and improve the quality and quantity of forage on private land,” BC Ministry of Agriculture livestock specialist Geneve Jasper told ranchers. Seven regional …
Prince George packing plant gets further study
SMITHERS – The possibility of a larger scale, federally inspected beef processing plant for BC is getting a boost from the province with $450,000 to support further study. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham announced the funding at the BC Cattlemen’s Association annual general meeting in Smithers on June 1. “Bringing a federally inspected beef processing …
Strawberries kick berry season off to a good start
DELTA – With memories of the difficult spring of 2017 still fresh in their minds, farmers say strawberries are flourishing while while early predictions show blueberry and raspberry crops should match those of with previous years in the Lower Mainland. “The size [this year] is as big as I’ve seen for strawberries,” says Kevin Husband …
ALC allegations nix Delta farmer’s vision
DELTA – Don Malenstyn has all but given up on his career and passion after losing an appeal of a remediation and stop-work order from the Agricultural Land Commission. “I didn’t think I’d ever say it, but I’m done. This is ridiculous. This is 54 years of my life completely wasted,” he says, surveying the …