Country Life in BC

Ottawa' $177 million to extend the Wine Industry Support prog wont go far in BC. It's based on production. "If there’s no grapes, there’s no wine, and no wine means you’re not necessarily eligible for the funding," says Miles Prodan, president and CEO of Wine Growers BC. #CLinBC

A new study by the BC Association of Farmers Markets in partnership with the University of Northern BC confirms farmers market are much more than a place to buy food. For more on the study, see bitly.ws/3etHa

BC's ag ministry will see a 16% increase in funding in 2024-2025, entirely due to the ongoing losses farmers are experiencing from extreme weather. Overall ministry operations will see funding increase by less than 2%. #BCAg #CLinBC

Michelle Cook has been appointed GM of the OK-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release (SIR) program. She will officially take helm when current GM Melissa Tesche formally succeeds Glen Lucas as general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association in early March. countrylifeinbc.com/sir-appo…

Sure as our March paper went to press last night, the province backed down today on changes to the Land Act, the focus of our front-page story! The announcement came less than 24 hours after the government prioritized reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in its throne speech.

Agriculture rated barely a mention in yesterday's throne speech from Victoria. For more, see today's Farm News Update: countrylifeinbc.com/throne-s…

The BC Fruit Growers' Association's 135th annual general meeting is taking place at the Ramada in Kelowna this afternoon and tomorrow morning. #BCAg #CLinBC

The long-running horticultural growers' short course is being rebranded (again) for 2024. Gone is the 'regenerative' handle introduced last year when the ag ministry partnered with the Lower Mainland Horticulture Improvement Assoc. bitly.ws/XKyM #CLinBC #BCAg

The province’s pledge to permanently fund 40 seats for BC students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine was welcome news to livestock and poultry sectors, but a new study says a local option is needed to support local food production. countrylifeinbc.com/northern…

After an exceptionally dry March, AAFC declared Kelowna & Vernon in severe drought March 31. On the coast, dry conditions could mean lower Fraser River streamflows - a long-term trend that cud see the water supply window for Rmond & Delta growers of just 3 hours/day in future.

Today marks 50 years since the Agricultural Land Reserve became law in BC, laying the foundation for what's now seen as an integral piece of BC food security strategy despite widespread opposition at the time. bit.ly/3MTfyos

CFIA has revoked all but four of the primary control zones established to control highly pathogenic avian influenza, a year after the first case in the current outbreak was detected on a broiler farm in the North Okanagan. #BCAg

The design of new laboratory facilities at the Sidney Centre for Plant Health on southern Vancouver Island has been unveiled months after construction started last fall. The new facility, targeted for completion in 2025, will be used to test for plant diseases. #BCAg

A carbon tax rebate will save BC greenhouse operators upwards of $20 million this year. Growers will pay just 20% of the carbon tax levied on NG and propane in a new point-of-sale carbon tax rebate announced in the provincial budget. countrylifeinbc.com/carbon-t…

BC Fruit Growers is proposing a pilot project to help smaller farm operations access labour by allowing temporary foreign workers to work for multiple employers during their stay in BC. Currently, SAWP workers are limited to a single, specific employer. countrylifeinbc.com/industry…

A private members bill to ensure 600 acres of prime Delta farmland is preserved in perpetuity for soil-based agriculture and migratory bird habitat underscores the importance of the province's ALR as it turns 50 this month. countrylifeinbc.com/crossroa…

The province remained short on details Thursday as it repeated an announcement it plans to invest $5 million in a new animal disease preparedness and response program.

USDA plans to tighten “Product of USA” labelling requirements and that's a problem for Canadian producers; Canada exports nearly 50% of Cdn beef production and most is US-bound.

Premier David Eby & ag minister Pam Alexis were in Vancouver this am to announce a $200 million investment in food security for BC. Expect “new and enhanced” programs to expand local food production and help farmers, processors be more resilient to climate change. #BCAg

Shawn Heppell was recognized for 25 years of service to the BC Turkey Marketing Board by executive director Natalie Veles at the BC Poultry Conference yesterday. #BCAg #countrylifeinbc