Country Life in BC

Industry looks to move needle on labour shortage

April 5, 2023

Two new initiatives are digging into solutions to the perennial labour shortage facing BC producers.…

Carbon tax relief begins

April 5, 2023

Details of the new point-of-sale carbon tax rebate for greenhouse growers were announced this week…

New business registry planned

April 5, 2023

The province will develop a new registry designed to deepen its tracking of business ownership…

New rules for pesticide applications

April 1, 2023

KELOWNA – New regulations under the federal Pest Control Products Act now restrict the practice…

Producers at a loss with elk damages

April 1, 2023

LADYSMITH – Elk continue to damage farm infrastructure and government compensation is not enough, producers…

Homemade food rules are too restrictive

April 1, 2023

PENDER ISLAND – While Canadian grocery retailers were called to Ottawa in March to account…

Watershed strategy could hang ag out to dry

April 1, 2023

VICTORIA – The province’s proposed watershed security strategy is big on local governance but short…

Crossroads ahead for BC farmland

March 29, 2023

DELTA – Jutting out into the Strait of Georgia, the rich soils of Brunswick Point…

Climate Change Adaptation Program winds down

March 29, 2023

The future of a dedicated program to help farmers adapt to a changing climate is…

Hopcotts take OYF title

March 29, 2023

Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows were honoured March 28 as…

Province doubles vet seats

March 29, 2023

BC has stepped up to fund 40 seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine…

AgriStability deadline extended

March 22, 2023

Unprecedented disease pressure and the extreme weather BC producers encountered in 2022 have prompted Ottawa…

Richardson Ranch hosts bull sale

March 22, 2023

Don and Leslie Richardson hosted their second online and 37th annual sale of Tlell bulls…

Westgen looks beyond challenges

March 22, 2023

The Westgen Group of Companies held its annual general meeting in Abbotsford this week following…

Bilateral agreement signed

March 15, 2023

BC will see an additional $29 million over five years from the federal government when…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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12 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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17 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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