Country Life in BC

BC vine damage discussed

January 24, 2023

The blast of cold air Okanagan vineyards experienced December 21 was a hot topic at…

Generational change for finances

January 18, 2023

With one more hike to the Bank of Canada’s policy rate widely anticipated on January…

Seed potato stocks short

January 18, 2023

Potatoes remain the top vegetable with consumers, offering good value as the price of other…

Provincial employer registry backlogged

January 18, 2023

What should have been the smoothest start to the season after three years of pandemic-related…

Ministry hires deputy ministers

January 11, 2023

Two new assistant deputy ministers are joining the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Michelle…

Isolation program keeps going

January 11, 2023

A provincial initiative designed to curb COVID-19 continues to prove useful this winter as a…

Rabobank expands lending

January 11, 2023

Three years of planning has culminated in Dutch financial services firm Rabobank working directly with…

Farm values stable despite market shifts

January 4, 2023

Property assessments will soon be landing in mailboxes across the province, with the publication of…

BC Milk opens organic stream

January 4, 2023

The BC Milk Marketing Board’s is accepting applications until February 7 from potential new entrants…

PRFA projects receive funding boost

January 4, 2023

The Peace River Forage Association of BC has received $85,380 from the BC Hydro Peace…

Greenhouse extends growing season, sales

January 1, 2023

WYCLIFFE – When imported produce is in short supply at the grocery store and fresh…

Generational change in BC potato business

January 1, 2023

DELTA – A veteran of the seed potato sector has stepped down after 44 years…

Dairy producers raise alarm on costs

January 1, 2023

BURNABY – Producer income loomed large on the minds of dairy producers as the province’s…

Pilot helps UBCO’s Feed BC initiative grow

January 1, 2023

KELOWNA – A year-old pilot program at UBC Okanagan is showing that providing more locally…

Christmas trees in demand

December 14, 2022

Christmas tree growers in BC are seeing strong demand, with high quality trees making it…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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8 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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13 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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