BC Blueberry Council estimates point to a 30% reduction in this year’s harvest. The council collected levies on 185 million pounds of berries last year. This year, it expects to collect levies on just 135 million pounds. “Crops are estimated to be down approximately 30% due to various factors, including the [late June] heat dome …
NEWS
Dam oversight lacking
BC’s auditor general says the province is not doing its job when it comes to ensuring the safety of dams in BC, raising the risk of failures such as the 2010 collapse of the Testalinden Dam south of Oliver that swept away vineyards and farm equipment. “Our audit concluded that the ministry has not effectively …
Wildfire state of emergency ends
The provincial state of emergency triggered by this year’s wildfires is over. Originally declared July 20, the state of emergency officially ended at 11:59 pm on September 14. “Cooler seasonal weather and precipitation, combined with the hard work of firefighters from BC, Canada and abroad to contain and extinguish fires, means that BC can allow …
Feed BC connects producers with opportunities
VICTORIA – The government’s Feed BC program is gaining momentum as more food hubs come online and post-secondary partners express interest in offering more local products to students. “We have a dozen food hubs that are underway right now,” says BC Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Lana Popham. “With the increased budget that we …
Province announces wildfire recovery funds
With close to 870,000 hectares burned across BC this year to date, the province has announced $20 million in financial assistance for ranchers and farmers hit by drought and wildfire. “This year’s drought and fires have been incredibly difficult for many BC ranchers and farmers,” BC agriculture minister Lana Popham said in a statement announcing …
Beef export markets grow
Many producers are moving cattle to market early this fall, but all signs point to strong demand. The export value of fresh and frozen beef was up 25% in the first seven months of the year, according to Industry Canada trade data, and Canada’s recognition in May by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) …