Fraser Valley farmers are eligible for $5 million in funding under a flood mitigation program announced by the province in March as part of a $200 million food security package. “Individual farms will become more resilient through projects that improve feed and fuel storage, increase erosion control, develop natural buffers and, very importantly, raise farm …
NEWS
Foreign worker consultation planned
BC Agriculture Council and the Western Agriculture Labour Initiative are preparing to survey temporary foreign workers this summer in an effort to understand how employers can improve workers’ experience and reduce complaints. “The goal of the work is to collect anonymous information directly from workers on their experience in BC,” a bulletin circulated to fruit growers this week says. “At …
Short grape crop confirmed
A clearer picture is emerging of the damage to vineyards and wineries and the associated economic cost following the extreme cold weather event that hit the province in December. A new report by Cascadia Partners for Wine Growers BC indicates that 98% of the 38 growers surveyed reported damage to at least 10% of their …
New farmers institutes form to address gaps
SAANICHTON – The newly formed South Island Farmers Institute offers producers the opportunity to connect and learn from one another, a missing component in the local community over the last few years. “We had about 55 people join us. A lot more people than I had expected, and I was really excited that so many …
BC Milk, Dairy grow closer
Western Canada’s dairy associations continue to grow closer, with this week’s announcement that the BC Milk Marketing Board and BC Dairy Association will move in together next summer. “The two boards are taking steps to function together under a single strategy, and over the next 12 months operations will be coming together to create a new …
New veg commission proposed
A greenhouse vegetable marketing commission is on the table as the BC Greenhouse Growers Association looks to the sector’s future. Right now, the marketing of greenhouse vegetables is regulated through the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, which also oversees a range of storage crops. “The relationship has been fine, except our two industries are so diverse …