Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) could point the way to reforming how foreign workers are treated in Canada, according to a United Nations report. Tomoya Obokata, special rapporteur on the global scourge of modern slavery to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) issued a statement on September 6 at the end of a two-week …
NEWS
AI risk rises with fall
The detection of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza at a commercial poultry operation in the County of Warner, Alberta, on the Montana border is a grim reminder that the disease remains a going concern despite a period of relative calm since last winter. BC reported its last case in April, with spring migrations not unleashing …
Cherry promotion promising
A renewed focus on domestic markets got off to a promising start this summer as the BC Cherry Association declared Canadian Cherry Month from July 15 to August 15. While the organization has been attempting to increase domestic Canadian cherry consumption for a couple years, this year the association hired marketing firm t2Marketing International to …
Westwold producers challenge curtailment
Westwold producers rallied September 2 to challenge an August 15 provincial ban on irrigation for forage production in the lower Salmon River watershed east of Westwold. The order signed by BC Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston, was issued under Section 88 of the Water Sustainability Act with a view to protecting the anticipated fall Chinook …
Corn rootworm hits Okanagan
A pest that infested Fraser Valley corn fields in 2017 has made an appearance in the North Okanagan. The BC Dairy Association recently alerted members to the discovery of Western corn rootworm on farms in Armstrong, Enderby and Salmon Arm by a seed industry representative in August. The province is following up to determine the …
Young ranch leaders selected
The latest finalists in the Canadian Cattle Association’s Young Leaders program were announced August 31, following a competitive selection process at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary, August 15. Three young ranchers from BC were among the 16 finalists, including Cassie Marchand of Vernon, Kayla Shallard of Hixon and Brett Squair of Lumby. The …