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Originally published:

FEBRUARY 2022
Vol. 108 Issue 2

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Stories In This Edition

Grain prices hit chicken growers

Farmers helping farmers

Groundwater deadline firm

IAFBC takes over environmental programs

Editorial: Spring shadows

Back 40: Old tractors pull loads of memories

Viewpoint: Animal agriculture is in the crosshairs

Dairy farmers assured recovery funding on its way

BC SPCA hits pause

Soaring fertilizer prices add to cost pressures

Higher milk prices, costs raise stakes at retail

Growers face recertification challenges

Ag Briefs: Omicron forces rescheduling of ag shows

Ag Briefs: Sumas Prairie farmers sue government

Ag Briefs: BC Tree sells another property

Weather deals another blow to berry growers

Cherry growers assessing winter damage

Grape growers grapple with cold damage

Sidebar: Grape bud hardiness index

Farmers face delays from lab closures

Forage council sets sights on growth

Farmers step up in emergency operations

The birds come first at B Jack

Ranchers waiting for federal fencing funds

Integrated control strategy keeps predators at bay

Sidebar: By the numbers

Peace producers work to expand meat processing

BC goats to benefit from genetics investment

Robson Valley family realizes its dreams

Creamery builds a taste for local connections

Research: Scientists learn how plants respond to heat stress

Blueberry growers on the hunt for pollination options

Viewpoint: Diversity, equity, inclusion is an ongoing process

Farm Story: Positive results arent always sensational

Sweet

Woodshed: Clay makes his intentions known to Ashley

FCC gives 4-H clubs a financial boost

Jude’s Kitchen: For your sweetie

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

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Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

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Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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3 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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3 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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Farmers step up in emergency operations

EOC, firefighting experience help industry

When flooding hit Sumas Prairie after heavy rains in November, Abbotsford poultry farmers and experienced firefighters Krista Harris, left, and her wife, Cathy Van-Martin, jumped into action to help with the emergency response. Their story starts on page 19. SUBMITTED

February 1, 2022 byKate Ayers

ABBOTSFORD – First-generation poultry farmers Krista Harris and Cathy Van-Martin ask fellow egg producers many questions about production and welfare to ensure they have their chickens in a row. They take time to make business decisions with their business partners Barry and Jessica Kragh.

But in addition to managing B Jack Farms, an organic free-range commercial egg operation, Krista is a full-time firefighter in Abbotsford. Her wife Cathy recently retired from firefighting after a 27-year career.

When flooding hit Sumas Prairie last November, the couple didn’t waste time asking questions.

Harris responded to emergency calls the night of November 17 during a second effort to evacuate remaining residents on Sumas Prairie.

“My crew was going door-to-door in the middle of the night to assist with delivering the evacuation order,” she says.

When she wasn’t at work, she offered support as an emergency operations centre rep for the poultry sector to plan routing to move water, feed, birds and eggs.

As an emergency and disaster response specialist, Van-Martin pulled many 16-hour days as a voluntary ECO director during the flooding.

She had been part of previous Eons on the government side of things, helping with COVID-19 responses in the City of Burnaby and during the wildfire season in the Clinton area. These skills came in handy on behalf of industry.

“Representing industry was different,” says Van-Martin. “Being on the other side and being a little bit excluded from the information channels was a challenge. Anytime there’s a disaster, it’s common that communication breaks down between multiple levels of government and multiple ministries of government. We did sort of see that happen as we moved into the second week of the response.”

However, thanks to the BC Poultry Association’s at-the-ready emergency operations centre, reps were able to get to work right away. The association had built out an ECO following the last two avian influenza outbreaks and had systems in place.

“Because we have this standing ECO, we activated before some of the government and ministries did,” says Van-Martin. “We had a lot of success early on, right out of the gate – accessing the flood and evacuation zones and getting necessary supplies to producers.”

Water was a priority as many producers lost access to city water for several days. ECO members were able to start shuttling water between farms that had wells and those that did not.

“All the people we had involved already were just a phone call or email away,” says Van-Martin. “This distribution list we already have made it really easy for us to get up and running fast. That made a huge difference for us to be able to protect and take care of a lot of the birds that we have down there.”

The five poultry boards in BC responsible for turkeys, hatching eggs, chickens, eggs and broiler breeders collaborated during the response phase.

“The agility of industry is really awesome,” says Van-Martin. “We didn’t necessarily know each other professionally a lot before, but everyone just worked seamlessly together to take care of all the impacted people down in the zone.”

Part of Van-Martin’s day-to-day tasks was to create action plans and report to the Abbotsford ECO. She would in turn receive briefings from the agriculture branch director. But information on response, operations and decision-making was elusive.

“I assigned our deputy director of planning, which happens to be Harris, to try and gain information from Environment Canada and any other sources she could get because I wasn’t able to ever get the actual situation reports that were generated by the Abbotsford ECO,” says Van-Martin.

While information was shared within municipalities, regions and the province, those trying to plan on the ground were not part of the conversation. That complicated the development of action plans.

“It was a challenge not having all the information and it became more complicated as more layers of government became involved in the response,” says Van-Martin. “Decisions were being made and it’s a top-down structure. By the time we were informed of the decision, we didn’t have any input into the decision-making process. We weren’t able to point out ways the decision could be altered to be more of a win-win for government and industry.”

Van-Martin and other ECO members look forward to making more connections with government officials and decision-makers in future as well as involving more stakeholders in training and exercises.

Fortunately, B Jack Farms sits on a hill overlooking Matsuri Prairie and was largely unscathed by the flooding. But the couple know many farmers who were forced to evacuate. Some remain off their properties while others lack heating.

“It was an extremely challenging and stressful time, and it was disastrous for some farmers who we received mentorship from,” says Harris. “Our hearts went out to them and the animals that were affected. It was devastating.”

During the series of intense atmospheric rivers that rolled across the region, feed companies were also part of the ECO and showed flexibility and resilience.

“Feed was a significant concern from the get-go. Feed is what keeps these birds alive, and it became a top priority,” says Harris. “There were challenges but all the suppliers in BC and Alberta collaborated. … All the companies worked together to be creative and diligently worked to make sure any farm that needed feed was able to get what they needed.”

B Jack Farms is also fortunate in that the family sources organic feed from a local mill, which proved to be especially useful amidst a slew of road closures.

“Our feed company was consistent, and they communicated with us daily,” Harris says. “We were lucky to not have any disruptions.”

Through the extreme winter weather in late December and early January, Harris and her family focused on the positives and tried to make the most of a rare white Christmas in the Lower Mainland.

“The biggest challenge is keeping snow cleared and making sure trucks can get in for feed and eggs. I don’t know how much more the world can throw at us, but it’s hard to complain after what some people have been through this year,” says Harris. “We all have our health, and the birds don’t care what it’s like outside. They just expect us to take care of them.”

During the most demanding times, the family find refuge in the barn.

“When life is stressful, chaotic, busy, annoying or limiting, with everything we’ve been through the last couple years, you go in the barn every single day at the same time. It’s so consistent,” says Harris. “It’s routine and pattern. You go out there and it gives you purpose. You interact with the birds, and it just balances you out. That’s something all of us enjoy. Sometimes you just need to go to the barn.”

 

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