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JULY 2025
Vol. 111 Issue 6

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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BC Cattlemen’s Association members gathered in Cranbrook for their 97th AGM last week. BCCA president Werner Stump welcomed upwards of 300 ranchers as he signalled a change in tone with the association’s approach to government. “We are going to be a lot more blunt in our dealings with government as we fight for our livelihood,” Stump told his audience. The North American herd size remains down, and calf prices are expected to stay strong, says Brenna Grant from Canfax. “We could see $5.50 -$5.70 this fall for a 5(00) weight calves.” Duncan and Jane Barnett and family from Barnett Land and Livestock in 150 Mile House received the Ranch Sustainability Award, which recognized their riparian management and community involvement. From left to right, Clayton Loewen with Jane, Duncan and Lindsay Barnett.

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Congratulations!!!

Congratulations 👍🎉

Congratulations

Congratulations <3

Congratulations Duncan and Jane Trott Barnett Well deserved recognition

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Duncan, Jane, and all the rest of the Barnett family!

Congratulations Duncan and Jane!!

Congratulations Jane and Ducan! Sandra Andresen Hawkins

Congratulations Jane & Duncan 🥳

Congratulation Duncan & Jane!!

Congratulations Jane Trott Barnett and Duncan!!!

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1 month ago

Grapegrower Colleen Ingram, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association. “Given the devastation we have had over the last three years, I feel like this award should be given to the entire industry,” she says. Her story appears in the June edition of Country Life in BC, and we've also posted to our website.

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Industry champion named BC’s best grape grower

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KELOWNA – Colleen Ingram’s enthusiasm for collaboration within the BC wine industry is so great that when she was named 2024 Grower of the Year by the BC Grapegrowers Association, she wanted to sh...
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2 months ago

From orchard manager to government specialist and now executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association, Adrian Arts brings a rare blend of hands-on farming experience and organizational leadership to an industry poised for renewal. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BC fruit growers, with Arts expressing enthusiasm about continuing the momentum built by his predecessor and working alongside a board that signals a generational shift in agricultural advocacy.

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Arts leads BCFGA forward

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A combination of organizational management and practical farming experience has primed the new executive director of the BC Fruit Growers Association to lead the industry forward.
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2 months ago

A public consultation is now underway on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board. Key issues for dairy producers include transportation costs, rules governing shipments and limitations on supporting processing initiatives. Stakeholders have until May 31 to comment.

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Milk board undertakes review

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A public consultation on the powers and duties of the BC Milk Marketing Board is underway as part of a triennial review required by the British Columbia Milk Marketing Board Regulation.
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Pandemic highlights SAWP improvements

June 24, 2020 byPeter Mitham

British Columbia’s response to COVID-19 has set an example for other provinces in managing seasonal farm workers this year, but Mexico’s consul-general in Vancouver says an overhaul of the program remains necessary.

“British Columbia has done exceptional things,” Berenice Díaz Ceballos told Country Life in BC, singling out the province’s decision to fund housing and meals for incoming workers. “I think that’s a very excellent idea, because that’s one of the ways to make sure the workers are not bringing the COVID-19 in, to avoid any kind of stigmatization of [workers].”

She also praised the province’s efforts to inspect worker housing to ensure that it met requirements of public health orders aimed at preventing COVID-19 and protecting workers.

However, the measures that have largely prevented issues this year point a way in which the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program could be improved in future. Mexico announced June 21 that it had established an intergovernmental committee with Canada to chart overhaul the program.

“It’s a mix of different factors that have made things go better, but we cannot drop the guard,” Ceballos said. “We know where the problems are, and I am sure after COVID-19 has passed that these temporary measures will become permanent, because I think that’s the way to [protect] the safety, health and human rights of foreign workers.”

Since foreign labour is critical to delivering the essential service of food production, Ceballos said Canada also needs to enforce the laws governing foreign workers and crack down on employers that mistreat workers or otherwise don’t live up to their obligations.

“It’s clear for everybody that this program, which is a collaboration between Mexico and Canada, has to be overhauled completely,” she said, noting that since Mexico began participating in 1974, it has expanded across Canada but with various rules for each region. Since her arrival in Vancouver in 2016, Ceballos has overseen efforts with SAWP stakeholders ranging from government to industry to non-governmental organizations to identify and address issues. Ottawa established a working group in 2018 that has made significant progress. Collaboration to address issues during the pandemic is a fruit of those efforts.

Previously, Mexico was regularly criticized for not having any consular representation in the Okanagan similar to what Caribbean governments have had. This made for less productive relationships with growers. Ceballos said improvements in communication mean her staff are now in regular touch with more than 5,000 workers from Mexico and 350 farms throughout the season.

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