Country Life in BC

Disaster preparedness lacking

September 28, 2022

Canada is among the top 10 most food-secure countries in the world, but it is…

Average crop for BC cranberries

September 28, 2022

BC’s cranberry harvest kicked off September 23 with Lower Mainland growers harvesting the first of…

Avian influenza returns

September 21, 2022

Poultry producers across the province are once more on high alert for highly pathogenic avian…

Salmon Arm abattoir closes

September 21, 2022

Many hog producers in the Thompson-Okanagan region are without a processor after Salmon Arm’s Rocana…

Peace heifer shot, butchered

September 21, 2022

The persistent problem of cattle rustling has one Peace rancher wondering why the police aren’t…

Nicola ranches wait for help

September 14, 2022

The latest of three natural disasters to hit their property in a little over a…

Chilliwack showcases farm automation

September 14, 2022

The future of farming is robotic. That was one take-away from the annual Chilliwack Economic…

Strong growth for organics

September 14, 2022

A new report by the Canadian Organic Trade Association pegs the value of the BC…

Co-op meets with growers

September 7, 2022

A series of public engagement sessions are giving BC Tree Fruits Co-op members an opportunity…

Wildfire threat remains high

September 7, 2022

September has amped up the wildfire risk in many parts of BC as hot, dry…

Rate hike demands planning

September 7, 2022

The latest rate hike by the Bank of Canada is putting the onus on farmers…

Milk board picks new entrant finalists

September 1, 2022

ARMSTRONG – The idea of seeing their children grow up to pursue dairy farming as…

Bert Miles remembered

September 1, 2022

VANDERHOOF – Former Burnaby Lake Greenhouses general manager Bert Miles died on July 28. He…

Market garden makes a wise transition

September 1, 2022

KELOWNA – Of all the challenges farmers face – from unpredictable weather to finding workers…

Cattleliner loss mourned

August 31, 2022

Country Life in BC joins Western Canada’s dairy community as it mourns the loss of…

FARM NEWS UPDATE

March 12, 2025

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46 minutes 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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6 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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