Agriculture

Pam Alexis, B.C. minister of agriculture and food, said the $5 million she was announcing on March 16 in Chilliwack will protect farmers and their animals from animal diseases, which in turn will protect B.C.’s economy and food security. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. creates $5M animal-disease response program to make farmers, ranchers more resilient

‘Quicker, better’ response coming for B.C. outbreaks of avian influenza, swine fever: ag minister

Pam Alexis, B.C. minister of agriculture and food, said the $5 million she was announcing on March 16 in Chilliwack will protect farmers and their animals from animal diseases, which in turn will protect B.C.’s economy and food security. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)
Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

New agreement with Ottawa promises more support for B.C. farmers

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership kicks in April 1, 2023

Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
Shahram Rashti (left) and Bahram Rashti (right) of UP Vertical Farms just unveiled Canada’s first hands-free vertical farming facility. (Special to The News)

Canada gets its first hands-free vertical farming facility

UP Vertical Farms is expected to produce nearly 2 million pounds of salad greens each year

Shahram Rashti (left) and Bahram Rashti (right) of UP Vertical Farms just unveiled Canada’s first hands-free vertical farming facility. (Special to The News)
CTV is looking for single farmers for their reality dating show. (File Photo)

Put on your dress-up flannel, Farming for Love is looking for singles in B.C.

The CTV reality show is looking to cast farmers for the reality dating show

CTV is looking for single farmers for their reality dating show. (File Photo)
Dairy cows are seen at a farm, Friday, August 31, 2018 in Sainte-Marie-Madelaine, Que. A pair of senior U.S. senators are urging the Biden administration to get tough with Canada for “flouting” obligations to its North American trade partners. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

U.S. senators call for trade crackdown on Canada over dairy quotas, digital policies

Pair say America’s continental trading partners playing fast and loose with new rules

Dairy cows are seen at a farm, Friday, August 31, 2018 in Sainte-Marie-Madelaine, Que. A pair of senior U.S. senators are urging the Biden administration to get tough with Canada for “flouting” obligations to its North American trade partners. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
A new Plant and Animal Health Centre will be built by the province in the Fraser Valley, as the current building is at risk of flooding again someday. The ministry of agriculture and food will have a business plan with some suitable locations highlighted by the end of 2023. (Pixabay photo)

Province announces plans to replace Abbotsford plant and animal health facility, citing flood risk

Current facility in Abbotsford was damaged by the flooding in 2021 but back in operation for now

A new Plant and Animal Health Centre will be built by the province in the Fraser Valley, as the current building is at risk of flooding again someday. The ministry of agriculture and food will have a business plan with some suitable locations highlighted by the end of 2023. (Pixabay photo)
Cows on a dairy farm, in St-Henri-de-Taillon, Que., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Months-long saga of runaway cattle in Quebec comes to an end with weekend capture

Officials to determine who is responsible for tracking and capturing future runaway farm animals

Cows on a dairy farm, in St-Henri-de-Taillon, Que., Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
River Ranch cowboys bring home cattle from a fall meadow, a process which takes three days to complete, to feed for the winter months. (Raquel Russell file photo)

Farmers develop their ground game with upcoming BC Forage Council workshops

Workshops will be held in Smithers, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, PG, Quesnel and Williams Lake

River Ranch cowboys bring home cattle from a fall meadow, a process which takes three days to complete, to feed for the winter months. (Raquel Russell file photo)
Workers picking 15 different types of fruits and vegetables including strawberries stand to earn more as their piece rates will rise starting Jan. 1 under a provincial mandate. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. fruit, berry growers now have to pay workers more

Provincially mandated increase came into effect Jan. 1 in response to rising inflation

Workers picking 15 different types of fruits and vegetables including strawberries stand to earn more as their piece rates will rise starting Jan. 1 under a provincial mandate. (Black Press Media file photo)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, front left, responds to questions as Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino listens during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Agriculture commodity groups are applauding the Liberal government’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy and hoping it will lead to more, and better, free trade deals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian agriculture groups hope new Indo-Pacific strategy leads to trade deals

$244.1 million earmarked for improving trade between Canada and countries in the region

Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, front left, responds to questions as Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino listens during a news conference to announce Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Vancouver on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Agriculture commodity groups are applauding the Liberal government’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy and hoping it will lead to more, and better, free trade deals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. ‘doing everything’ it can to stop bird flu, minister says, as infections spread

Lana Popham says normally avian flu aligns with bird migration seasons, but not this year

B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday July 5, 2019. Farmers in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley are facing “intense disease pressure,” with an avian flu outbreak in commercial farms that the agriculture minister says is concerning. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A farmer sorts through eggs as they exit the hen barn at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Canadian poultry and egg producers have now lost more than 3.7 million birds to a highly contagious strain of avian influenza. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power)

Seven Fraser Valley poultry farms under quarantine for avian influenza

Commercial flocks at risk from migratory birds; ministry offering free online information sessions

A farmer sorts through eggs as they exit the hen barn at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Canadian poultry and egg producers have now lost more than 3.7 million birds to a highly contagious strain of avian influenza. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power)
A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on Monday, April 18, 2022. Experts say outbreaks of H5N1 represent an unprecedented threat to Canada, infecting about 200 flocks with about 3.5 million birds nationwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Republican-Herald, Lindsey Shuey

Bird flu fighters in B.C. face unprecedented challenge, as H5N1 spreads across Canada

H5N1 has infected about 200 flocks with more than 3.5 million birds Canada-wide this year

A chicken looks in the barn at Honey Brook Farm in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., on Monday, April 18, 2022. Experts say outbreaks of H5N1 represent an unprecedented threat to Canada, infecting about 200 flocks with about 3.5 million birds nationwide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Republican-Herald, Lindsey Shuey
A farm submerged by flood waters caused by heavy rains and mudslides earlier in the week is pictured in the Sumas Prairies near Chilliwack, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia’s agriculture minister says farmers in the Sumas Prairies had “an emotional year” as they work to recover following the province’s catastrophic flooding last November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. agriculture minister says sector is recovering well on flooding anniversary

About 630,000 chickens, 420 cattle and 12,000 hogs died in Sumas Prairie during flooding a year ago

A farm submerged by flood waters caused by heavy rains and mudslides earlier in the week is pictured in the Sumas Prairies near Chilliwack, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia’s agriculture minister says farmers in the Sumas Prairies had “an emotional year” as they work to recover following the province’s catastrophic flooding last November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A worker is framed by a display of pumpkins while handing out candy to children during a drive-thru trick-or-treating Halloween event, at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds in Vancouver, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Agriculture experts in British Columbia say the record-setting drought has created favourable harvesting conditions for most crops this fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. drought benefits some farmers, extending harvest and reducing rot

‘You can always apply more water, but it’s hard to get rid of water’

A worker is framed by a display of pumpkins while handing out candy to children during a drive-thru trick-or-treating Halloween event, at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds in Vancouver, on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. Agriculture experts in British Columbia say the record-setting drought has created favourable harvesting conditions for most crops this fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts on Wednesday morning (Oct. 12) prior to sentencing. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Two Abbotsford hog-farm protesters sentenced to 30 days in jail

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer also each receive one year of probation

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts on Wednesday morning (Oct. 12) prior to sentencing. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
The Donaldson family of Bradner Farms has received the Century Farm Award from the provincial government. Robert Donaldson (in the centre in the plaid shirt) passed away on Aug. 11. (Photo from Bradner Farms)

Abbotsford family honoured for more than 100 years of farming

Bradner Farms celebrates 4 generations of farming with provincial award

The Donaldson family of Bradner Farms has received the Century Farm Award from the provincial government. Robert Donaldson (in the centre in the plaid shirt) passed away on Aug. 11. (Photo from Bradner Farms)
The Peach ice cream had become a major tourists attraction onto itself. But city staff awarded the license for the next three years to Alberta-based company. (The Peach Facebook) The Peach, on the shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, has become an iconic landmark of Penticton’s lakefront. (The Peach Facebook)

QUIZ: A celebration of the fruit harvest

In orchards around British Columbia, fruit pickers are hard at work

The Peach ice cream had become a major tourists attraction onto itself. But city staff awarded the license for the next three years to Alberta-based company. (The Peach Facebook) The Peach, on the shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, has become an iconic landmark of Penticton’s lakefront. (The Peach Facebook)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau picks cherries at family farm owner Derek Lutz’s orchard in Summerland, B.C., Monday, July 18, 2022. The heat and wildfires in British Columbia last year combined with mild temperatures in the earlier months of 2022 have left fruit growers with a sour taste as farmers record a lighter than normal crop. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau tours B.C. cherry farm, where weather events have affected crop

Cherry crop about 30 to 40 per cent lower than normal year, and about two weeks behind

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau picks cherries at family farm owner Derek Lutz’s orchard in Summerland, B.C., Monday, July 18, 2022. The heat and wildfires in British Columbia last year combined with mild temperatures in the earlier months of 2022 have left fruit growers with a sour taste as farmers record a lighter than normal crop. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough (centre-left) visited plant-based food manufacturer Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd.’s production facility in her riding of Delta on July 7, 2022, the same day the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced the government was investing over $1.4 million in the company. (submitted photo)

Feds invests over $1.4 million in B.C. plant-based food producer

Big Mountain Foods 2 to add fully-automated robotic equipment, commercialize chickpea tofu

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough (centre-left) visited plant-based food manufacturer Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd.’s production facility in her riding of Delta on July 7, 2022, the same day the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced the government was investing over $1.4 million in the company. (submitted photo)