Country Life in BC

BCAC lobbying event positive

October 26, 2023

A day of productive discussions in Victoria culminated in a reception where representatives of the…

Ranches, province fail rangelands

October 26, 2023

Compliance, enforcement and management issues have come to light in South Okanagan protected areas that…

Food costs public trust

October 26, 2023

Rising food costs and reduced affordability continues to top this year’s list of public confidence…

Short course rebranded, again

October 18, 2023

The long-running horticultural growers’ short course has undergone a fresh rebranding as it looks ahead…

Rainfall returns as drought holds

October 18, 2023

The first atmospheric river of the season hit the South Coast this week, with the…

Production cost bind

October 18, 2023

Ottawa’s ambitions to rein in grocery prices are at odds with efforts to support producers,…

Federal minister visits BC

October 11, 2023

Thanksgiving is often a time for families and friends to gather, and this week federal…

Country Life in BC tops awards

October 11, 2023

Country Life in BC came away with a record nine awards from the annual Canadian…

BC pumpkins weigh in

October 11, 2023

From the Kootenays to the Fraser Valley and as far away as California, BC pumpkins…

Okanagan egg producers chosen

October 4, 2023

Residents of BC’s Okanagan Valley will soon have two new commercial egg producers shipping to…

BC farmland values flat

October 4, 2023

BC land values held the course in the first half of 2023, according to Farm…

Foreign worker compliance up

October 4, 2023

National farm groups have welcomed the results of an Employment and Skills Development Canada report…

Communication critical to solve water issues

October 1, 2023

WESTWOLD — The Salmon River watershed is a complex ecosystem. A variety of water use…

ALR policy review shows room for improvement

October 1, 2023

PRINCE GEORGE – A third-party review of Agricultural Land Reserve policies by UNBC undergraduate student…

Building a business around community

October 1, 2023

VANDERHOOF – A cut-and-wrap business that started as a side hustle to process animals on…

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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