Agriculture

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

 

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

 

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

 

Hoofbeats and Heartbeats 4-H Club leader Tawnie Fehr (left) with Quesnel and District 4-H key leader Erin Kishkan met with parents and youth during an information night held Wednesday, Nov. 16. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

Equine-focused 4-H Club launches in Quesnel

Registration for Hoofbeats and Heartbeats opens Dec. 1

Hoofbeats and Heartbeats 4-H Club leader Tawnie Fehr (left) with Quesnel and District 4-H key leader Erin Kishkan met with parents and youth during an information night held Wednesday, Nov. 16. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
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)
Emergency Livestock Response Committee chair Bob Miller stands by a Livestock Response Unit trailer unveiled in Quesnel. It is one of two trailers that will provide agricultural producers in the Lower Mainland and Kootenays support during emergencies. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

B.C. Livestock Response Unit unveiled in Quesnel

The two trailers are equipped with livestock rescue supplies

Emergency Livestock Response Committee chair Bob Miller stands by a Livestock Response Unit trailer unveiled in Quesnel. It is one of two trailers that will provide agricultural producers in the Lower Mainland and Kootenays support during emergencies. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
Bob Miller is the president of the BC Angus Association. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

BC Angus Association hosts annual general meeting, field day in Quesnel

Cattle were on display at Alex Fraser Park

Bob Miller is the president of the BC Angus Association. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
?Esdilagh First Nation is located along both sides of the Fraser River between Williams Lake and Quesnel. (?Esdilagh First Nation Facebook photo)

?Esdilagh First Nation near Quesnel receives $410K to plan an abattoir

?Esdilagh First Nation has been awarded $410,000 towards planning a multi-phase project…

?Esdilagh First Nation is located along both sides of the Fraser River between Williams Lake and Quesnel. (?Esdilagh First Nation Facebook photo)
Lorraine and Alan Sanford (centre) are surrounded by their children Reanne (right), Ross, Robin and Riley in front of a landmark hip-roof barn that adorned the Nine Mile Ranch for many years. The roof was destroyed during a windstorm two years ago, changing the view along the road where the original home once stood. (Dani Sanford photo)

Celebrating 100 years of ranching in the North Cariboo

Nine Mile Ranch awarded a Century Farm Award by BC Government

Lorraine and Alan Sanford (centre) are surrounded by their children Reanne (right), Ross, Robin and Riley in front of a landmark hip-roof barn that adorned the Nine Mile Ranch for many years. The roof was destroyed during a windstorm two years ago, changing the view along the road where the original home once stood. (Dani Sanford photo)
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)
Bria Sanford holds up a jar of honey at the Quesnel and District 4-H Show and Sale. The three jars sold for $290. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)

Quesnel and District 4-H Show and Sale wraps up another year

The event was held Aug. 5-7

Bria Sanford holds up a jar of honey at the Quesnel and District 4-H Show and Sale. The three jars sold for $290. (Rebecca Dyok photo — Quesnel Observer)
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)
Ranch Musings columnist David Zirnhelt. (File photo)

RANCH MUSINGS: To hay or not to hay?

Haymaking business is nerve-wracking

  • Jul 23, 2022
Ranch Musings columnist David Zirnhelt. (File photo)
(North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association (FARMED)/Facebook photo)

“Growing Together” in the Cariboo

North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association and Integris Credit Union sign 3-year partnership

  • Jul 22, 2022
(North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association (FARMED)/Facebook photo)
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)
A Cariboo ranch cow gave birth to triplets earlier in June and all the them are doing well. (Photo submitted)

Cariboo couple’s cow delivers triplets

It was a first for Laurie and Danny Frame

A Cariboo ranch cow gave birth to triplets earlier in June and all the them are doing well. (Photo submitted)