Country Life in BC

Interest rates rise, again

October 26, 2022

The sixth consecutive increase in the Bank of Canada benchmark lending rate underscores the need…

No licence, no problem

October 19, 2022

Despite a growing number of areas in BC being elevated to Level 5 drought, the…

Poultry gatherings banned

October 19, 2022

The province has tightened controls on poultry in the face of a growing number of…

Animal activists sentenced

October 19, 2022

Two activists convicted for their part in the April 2019 invasion of Excelsior Hog Farm…

Dry fall, wet winter ahead

October 12, 2022

A long, dry fall may be just what many growers caught out by the late…

New child worker rules

October 12, 2022

Certain work will now be off limits to workers under the age of 18, according…

BC jug recovery up

October 12, 2022

BC is one of the smaller markets for agricultural plastics in Canada, accounting for 7%…

Country Life in BC wins big

October 5, 2022

An unprecedented year for BC farmers led to unprecedented recognition for Country Life in BC…

Western dairy groups streamline

October 5, 2022

Dairy producers in the four western provinces will operate as a single production unit under…

Strong growth for farmland values

October 5, 2022

BC farmland values continue to post strong growth, according to Farm Credit Canada, rising faster…

Rural communities see surge in farmland sales

October 1, 2022

ROCK CREEK – Farmers and non-farmers wanting to buy farmland are increasingly migrating to BC’s…

Chilliwack tour showcases farm automation

September 28, 2022

CHILLIWACK – A better quality product with fewer workers was the common rationale for the…

Abattoir closure leaves producers scrambling

September 28, 2022

SALMON ARM – Hog producers in the Thompson-Okanagan are without a processor after Salmon Arm’s…

Peace producers engage in on-farm research

September 28, 2022

DAWSON CREEK – The Peace Region is conducting climate change adaptation research, thanks to federal…

Plant health centre breaks ground

September 28, 2022

Ground has broken in North Saanich on a new Centre for Plant Health, Canada’s first…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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2 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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7 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

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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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