Country Life in BC

Water cut to growers

August 2, 2023

A growing number of what the province tactfully calls “suspected unauthorized users” are being ordered…

New federal minister

August 2, 2023

What’s old is new again as Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet in what many say…

Food Day in Canada milestone

August 2, 2023

A long-standing day to celebrate food in Canada will be officially recognized this year on…

Province funds feed access

July 26, 2023

The province updated industry this week on efforts announced July 14 to match producers with…

Livestock health in spotlight

July 26, 2023

The health of Canada’s livestock took centre stage as federal, provincial and territorial ministers of…

Province consults on agritech

July 26, 2023

A legislature committee is requesting submissions regarding soil health and carbon sequestration as part of…

Drought threatens feed supply

July 20, 2023

Ranchers and livestock producers took it on the chin in 2021 and into 2022 as…

Province files AgriRecovery request

July 20, 2023

The province has asked Ottawa to support an AgriRecovery program for the province’s beef sector,…

Langley seeks deregulation

July 20, 2023

A three-month consultation period is underway in the Township of Langley as the municipality seeks…

Land values “on solid ground”: FCC

July 12, 2023

Yet another rate hike from the Bank of Canada this week has added to the…

Poultry processing goes mobile

July 12, 2023

For the last two years, Ben Glassen of Nanaimo’s Glassen Farms has processed his own…

Penticton agriculture committee fails

July 12, 2023

Penticton says it needs nine people to form an agriculture committee, and not enough applicants…

Ag minister visits Okanagan

July 5, 2023

Harsh weather drove stern words to BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis as she visited the…

ACRD hires agri-food staff

July 5, 2023

“An exciting and progressive shift in oversight” is coming for agriculture in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional…

Hay! Danger aboard

July 5, 2023

An audit of protocols at BC Ferries means hay haulers must now label their loads…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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18 hours 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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23 hours ago

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

www.countrylifeinbc.com

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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