Country Life in BC

Challenges, opportunities ahead for farmers institutes

January 1, 2024

PORT ALBERNI – BC farmers’ institutes are calling on the government to review the legislation…

Producers struggle to talk about mental health

January 1, 2024

SALMON ARM – Although causes and organizations have tried to encourage producers to speak up…

Water plans kick off

January 1, 2024

DUNCAN – BC signed an historic watershed planning agreement with the Cowichan Tribes last May…

Spallumcheen cuts, wraps deal for butcher hub

January 1, 2024

SPALLUMCHEEN – Merritt’s loss is the North Okanagan’s gain as the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association…

PNE fundraiser supports 4-H

December 13, 2023

BC’s biggest agricultural fair, the Pacific National Exhibition, may be best known for its midway…

Country Life in BC writer recognized

December 13, 2023

Clear communication can help smooth hard times, and the BC Landscape and Nursery Association honoured…

Nanaimo farmland vulnerable

December 6, 2023

A suite of bills passed before the fall sitting of the legislature that wrapped up…

Mushroom harvester commercialized

December 6, 2023

A homegrown mushroom harvesting robot is set to for commercial deployment this month, marking a…

Wise water management funded

December 6, 2023

A new round of funding for projects designed to improve the quality of water in…

Hopcotts win OYF Canada

November 29, 2023

Pitt Meadows farmers Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms have taken top honours in…

Ben Janzen recognized for service

November 29, 2023

High production costs, narrow margins and market opportunities were key topics of discussion at the…

Site C compensation funds awarded

November 29, 2023

The flooding of Peace farmland for the Site C reservoir has been pushed back till…

Producers wary of housing bylaw implications

November 29, 2023

SAANICHTON – Growers in Central Saanich say proposed changes to local zoning bylaws that will…

Province considers farmland tax

November 29, 2023

ABBOTSFORD – Unused farmland could be the next front in the province’s battle against real…

Flood recovery in hand

November 22, 2023

Two years after the atmospheric rivers of November 2021 led to catastrophic flooding and landslides…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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1 day ago

Kelowna’s Farming Karma Fruit Company Ltd. has received up to $2 million to purchase manufacturing equipment to increase the production of value-added products made with Okanagan fruit. The money is part of the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF). This round of up to $6.6 million is targeted to Farming Karma and six other BC manufacturing companies to expand operations. BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham was joined by BC Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diane Gibson at Farming Karma for the announcement earlier today. “Seventy percent of our agriculture trade is with the US, so we’ve learned a big lesson about the need to diversify our trading partners,” says Popham. “... It’s not good news that we are in a tariff war, but it’s an opportunity.” To date, the BCMJF has committed $146 million toward 132 projects, unlocking more than $1 billion in private-sector and other public investments. Other recipients this round include: Prabu Foods Inc. in Surrey, North Delta Seafoods Inc. and Trafa Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Delta, One Degree Organic Foods in the Fraser Valley, Brown’s Bay Packing Company Ltd. in Campbell River and Vitamin-One Formulas Inc. in Victoria.

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Team Canada was the theme at Westgen's AGM in Abbotsford, March 18. "We are collectively Team Canada," says CEO Chris Parry. "Elbows up!" The lighthearted, patriotic mood eased some serious discussions around the future. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (the "other" AI!), creating buffers for potential trade-based losses and supporting farmers were key messages under the theme of proudly Canadian. About 50% of semen doses from Semex (a fellow company under the Antares Alliance umbrella) are sold to the US.

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2 weeks ago

The province is earmarking $55.2 million for production insurance in the provincial budget, announced this afternoon in Victoria. The boost in funding represents a 32.5% increase over last year as BC agriculture producers continue to face challenges with weather and wildfire impacts. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will see a 10% increase in its overall operating budget, up from $130 million in 2024 to $143 million. The budget also noted the new premier's task force on agriculture and food economy is working on “short- and long-term solutions to help farmers find new markets in the face of tariff uncertainty.”

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BC agriculture leaders are mobilizing as the 25% tariff on Canadian exports to the US took effect today. Originally announced February 1 and paused for 30 days, these tariffs now threaten BC's $4.3 billion agriculture sector, which sends 82% of its exports to the US. Industry leaders like Paul Pryce of BC Blueberry Council are working with US counterparts, while BC Cattlemen's Kevin Boon sees opportunity in new markets, particularly in Asia. Tariff shock is our front page story this month, and we’ve posted it to our website.

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Tariff shock

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ABBOTSFORD – BC agriculture leaders are taking a strategic approach in response to the disruptive potential of a 25% tariff on Canada’s exports to the US. “It’s really bringing people together...

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About 60 growers, researchers, consultants, government and industry support staff attended the Cross-Commodity Leadership Support Project's day-long meeting in Penticton on Friday. Project leader Kellie Garcia says discussions at the event will shape the project's 2025 priorities, the last year of the BC government-funded program. The afternoon saw a researcher, grower, government staff, consultant and industry association person at each table share their view on gaps, challenges, priorities, advocacy and industry support efforts, which is not commonly done at other association meetings. Growers highlighted needs such as a one-stop shop spot for extension, research and program access information, better knowledge transfer methods, accelerated approval for new products to help with climate adaptation, equal enforcement of regulations for all, and that revenue generation for the farmer should be the top consideration for any new program or #BCAgct.

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