Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows were honoured March 28 as BC’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2023. “Really, what it boils down to is your farm progress, your farm history, your farm production,” judge Meeru Dhalwala told the finalists for this year’s award at the event in Abbotsford. “Your finances, your …
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Province doubles vet seats
BC has stepped up to fund 40 seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, making good on an initial investment last year with promises of permanent funding. This is double the number of seats funded in the past, and welcome news to livestock producers. “It’s been very difficult to access veterinary care …
Kale acreage on fast track
DELTA – Kale was the fastest-growing vegetable in BC by acreage in 2022, according to Statistics Canada data that shows field vegetable acreage in the province is on the decline. BC growers tended 13,146 acres of vegetables in 2022, according to Statscan’s annual report on fruit and vegetable acreage, released February 16 (potatoes and greenhouse …
AgriStability deadline extended
Unprecedented disease pressure and the extreme weather BC producers encountered in 2022 have prompted Ottawa to extend the deadline for farmers and ranchers to participate in AgriStability for 2022. Ranchers and farmers in BC now have until June 30, 2023 to pay their fees and secure coverage under the program funded by the federal and …
Richardson Ranch hosts bull sale
Don and Leslie Richardson hosted their second online and 37th annual sale of Tlell bulls on March 3-4. The online auction saw 20 buyers sign in to bid on 14 Richardson Ranch bulls. The highest selling two-year-old bull was Tlell 504C Gene Seeker 3J bought by Telkwa’s Kerr Cattle Co. Ltd. for $7,500. The highest …
Westgen looks beyond challenges
The Westgen Group of Companies held its annual general meeting in Abbotsford this week following a year that was both extremely challenging yet extremely rewarding. “[It] was, in some ways, one of the most successful years in Westgen’s history,” Westgen CEO Chris Parry said in his report. Group revenues totaled $21.2 million, an increase of …