CLBC April 2024 : simplebooklet.com

Postmaster, Please return Undeliverable labels to: Country Life in BC 36 Dale Road Enderby, BC V0E 1V4CANADA POSTES POST CANADA Postage paid Port payé Publications Mail Post-Publications 40012122Vol. 110 No.4The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 APRIL 2024 | Vol. 110 No. 4RIGHT TO FARMBylaws seek to silence Salt Spring roosters 7 ROLE MODELS OYF gives nod to Spray Creek Ranch 13 BERRIES Haskaps hold potential for northern growers 27 PETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – The Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI) has a new general manager. Veronica Moreno stepped into the role April 1, succeeding Reg Ens, who stepped into semi-retirement on Vancouver Island at the end of March. “It never seems to be a good time, and I’m glad BCAC has agreed with Veronica to take on the role as GM,” Ens says. “She knows the people, she knows the system, she knows the nuances, so it’s great to have that corporate history.” The change in leadership comes as the farm labour sector faces a number of challenges. A recent report for the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council indicates a growing farm labour gap in BC. By 2030, the province’s farm sector will face a shortfall of 17,716 domestic workers, up from 16,075 today. Of 12,655 farms surveyed, 42% indicate challenges nding needed workers and 29% report zero domestic workers applying to work with them. This has prompted 31% of farms in BC to employ temporary foreign workers. WALI has been a key industry partner in addressing issues related to foreign labour. It will become even more so now as Moreno will be among the most Clayton Fox of Silver Rill Corn in Saanichton planted three acres of peaches-and-cream corn on March 15. This date marks the earliest planting at the Central Saanich farm and was the day before nearly 40 BC communities surpassed heat records. “I do about 60 total acres of sweet corn, staggered each week or so from now until early July,” Fox says. “We only specialize in the highest possible quality varieties, and it is all sold fresh at our own market.” SUBMITTEDNew leadership for WALIPETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – BC farmland values fell 3.1% last year, Farm Credit Canada reported March 12, the first annual decline since 2010 and the most significant drop since 1998. Properties on the South Coast led the decline, with FCC reporting a 19.3% drop in values to an average of $112,200 an acre. This was more than four times the decline reported for the Okanagan, where Land prices fallLower interest rates will help, but not in the short term Ready! Seed! Go!Farmland values uWALI in good hands uRooted in your community® since 1973www.tlhort.com1-800-661-4559SeedPlant NutritionCrop ProtectionSuppliesService

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2 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCYOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESYOURping Youpingpgpping YouiWSWSSign up for FREE todayvalues fell 4.5% to $32,500 an acre, and the Peace, where values realigned to regional norms with a 3.2% decline to $2,100 an acre. Nevertheless, BC farm properties remain the most expensive in Canada. While the country as a whole saw values rise an average of 11.5%, properties in BC's Lower Mainland remained more than triple those in the next most-expensive region, Southwestern Ontario. “Once interest rates began to rise in 2022, the market experienced a slowdown with the number of sales dropping significantly,” explains Cody Hall, an appraiser with FCC in Abbotsford. “We did not see prices drop at this time, other than a few exceptions. Rather, properties sat on the market longer or were delisted. This continued into 2023, however sellers began dropping prices once they realized peak 2021/22 prices were no longer obtainable.” BC Ministry of Finance data indicates 1,014 farm properties traded provincewide last year, down 42% from 2022 and less than half the 2,147 farm properties that changed hands in 2021. It marked the lowest number of farm property sales since 2017. The issue was particularly acute in the Lower Mainland, typically one of the most active markets in the province. The region saw sales decline 54% last year, led by a 70% decline in the Fraser Valley. The downward pressure on values from the sluggish market made farmland one of the worst-performing land types in the Lower Mainland last year. An analysis of real estate investment deals by Altus Group indicates that per-acre prices for commercial land in Metro Vancouver fell 6% last year while residential land values increased 25%. However, FCC says transaction data reveals a bigger spread on pricing last year versus a year earlier. Its analysis excludes the cheapest 5% of properties as well as the most expensive 5%. In 2022, South Coast farm properties transacted at between $93,800 and $250,000 an acre, according to FCC. In 2023, the spread increased with deals ranging from $69,600 to $264,300 an acre. A case in point is the pricing achieved for 43013 Adams Road, Chilliwack. Online auctioneer CLHbid.com took the 10-acre property with 26,000 square feet of barn space and seven acres in crops to market on February 8. Bidding began at $2.1 million and sold for $2.75 million to a local dairy farmer looking to expand. However, the price also represented a 29% discount from the last sale reported to BC Assessment. That deal saw the former owner pay $3.85 million in February 2022. u Farmland values dip as financing costs hit deal-makingu WALI in good hands with new appointmentThe decline points to the erosion in equity many dairy farmers are facing, even as interest rates show signs of stabilizing. The lack of sales has also made it tough to determine accurate values, hence the larger spread in pricing. “You’re seeing the equity erode on a lot of these farms, which makes it doubly hard on the folks that are in a financial pinch,” says Gord Houweling of BC Farm and Ranch Realty Corp., noting that many of the sales taking place are smaller parcels sold as part of deleveraging strategies. “It’s not fun for these guys right now. It’s a lot of stress.” Uncertainty The long-term impacts are less certain. “It’s pretty early to tell,” says Casey Pruim, an Abbotsford dairy farmer and chair of the BC Dairy Association, which undertook a cost of production study last year that indicated the sector is operating at a loss. “I think it would affect your ability to borrow because you’re borrowing off your asset value,” Pruim says regarding the impact of any depreciation in land values. A key variable is how soon the banks start easing interest rates, which will encourage land deals as well as other types of investment and reduce overall operating costs. “The interest rates have been a huge part,” Pruim said. “It’s affected the operating costs; we’ve seen a lot of costs increase over the last few years and this just makes it more challenging.” While there’s hope the Bank of Canada will lower its benchmark policy rate on April 10 after nine months at 5%, reversing the impact of two years of higher rates will take months and financing is generally expected to remain more expensive than the historic lows recorded following March 2020. Some areas continue to see good growth, however. Cariboo-Chilcotin pastureland increased 13.9% to $3,500 an acre last year, according to FCC, while ordinary farmland in the same region saw its average value increase 8% to an average of $4,400 an acre. Kootenay farmland increased 7.6% to $24,100 an acre. The increases occurred against the provincewide slowdown in sales, however. Cariboo farm property sales were down by half last year, while the East Kootenay region reported a 46% decline, according to provincial data. experienced representatives on the le. Besides Ens’ departure, the retirement of BC Agriculture Council labour committee co-chair Glen Lucas from the BC Fruit Growers Association, Mexico’s appointment of its Vancouver consul-general as ambassador to the Czech Republic, and a shuing of sta at Jamaica’s liaison service means relationships will have to be rebuilt. Ens says Moreno is Family Farm Friendly Financial Planning Services.Holistic ﬁnancial planning for your family farm now and into the future. Patrick’s proven ﬁnancial and estate planning program provides income, security, and tax minimization to help ensure the most effective decisions are made now, and on an ongoing basis.Please contact me to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation discussion at 604.467.5321 | patrick.obrien@rbc.com References are available.1.877.272.2002 | www.patrick-obrien.ca#200-11980 227th St. Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6J2tenacious and respectful and has cultivated the connections that will make her a solid advocate for the sector. “WALI’s in a good place. We’ve got our things together … but at the same time there’s a lot of things that are outside our control,” Ens said. “Programs are changing, government’s changing, there’s a federal election coming which is complicating things.” Ens, who joined the BC Agriculture Council as general manager in 2009 after a career with MNP then made the shift to WALI in 2021, looks forward to a more relaxed pace of life from semi-retirement on Vancouver Island, where he moved two years ago. “I counted up that I’d been back across 28 times last year, and I said this just isn’t sustainable,” he says of the decision he made over the Christmas holidays to step down from WALI. “I’m planning to take a month or two o completely, then I could see picking up some contract work or something that’s a little less intense. I want to see how a mini sabbatical for a month or two goes.” www.tractorparts4sale.caABBOTSFORD, BC Bus. 604/807-2391 email: tractorparts4sale@shaw.caWe accept Interact, Visa and Mastercard WHITE 2-70 FIELD BOSS, 2WD,CAB, 78HP,NEW RUBBER, HD REAR ARENA LEVELER INCLUDED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,500 JOHN DEERE 410E 4X4 BACKHOE. GOOD CONDITION . . . . . . 32,000 JOHN DEERE 450 DOZER REBUILT ENGINE, NEWER TRACKS & CARRIAGE. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 3TOM WALKER VICTORIA – The BC NDP has deferred plans to amend the Land Act, which governs management of Crown land in the province. “Our government has decided not to proceed with proposed amendments to the Land Act,” Water, Land and Resource Stewardship minister Nathan Cullen announced February 21. “That’s the best news story we have heard all year,” says Brian Thomas, president of the BC Cattlemen’s Association. The previous day, Thomas had been told to expect a call from Cullen. It wasn’t the rst time Thomas had spoken with Cullen over the previous month, but after several calls discussing the government’s attempts to push through amendments to the Land Act without giving stakeholders any clear idea of what those changes would entail, Thomas was hopeful. “I was on pins and needles,” he says. “I gured there was a 50/50 chance that he was going to call the whole thing o.” The call came just before noon, and lasted 90 seconds. “Cullen told me they weren’t going to go through with it,” Thomas says. A few minutes after the call to Thomas, Cullen released a public statement announcing the deferral of the proposed changes pending further consultation. Cullen attributes the decision to the feedback he’s received on the government’s plans. WLRS began contacting more than 26 Crown land user groups in mid-January regarding the plans to amend how Crown land is administered in the province but gave very few details as to what that would look like. Not surprisingly, people responded. “Over the last several weeks, I have had the opportunity to discuss proposed amendments to the Land Act with over 650 representatives of stakeholder groups,” Cullen said in a news release. But the complete lack of details regarding the plans led people to speculate. “In conversations with these groups, many were surprised to learn that the claims being made about the proposed legislation by some were not true and that there would be no impacts to tenures, renewals, private properties, or access to Crown land,” Cullen says. Cullen notes that the government’s focus on reconciliation was not the focus of the pushback. “Throughout these conversations, the vast majority have told us that they want reconciliation to work, and they want to be partners in this work,” he says. In response to feedback, WLRS expanded the details in the slide deck it posted online. Sta continued to speak with user groups, including BC Cattlemen’s entire board of directors. BC Cattlemen’s worked to get the word out to their members and other groups. “[We] worked tirelessly, sending letters and making phone calls,” says Thomas, crediting Boon and assistant general manager Elaine Stovin for their eorts. “In the end, I believe it was a cooperative eort between all groups who use Crown land that led to the change.” But the government realized its lack of information and a short timeline that called for legislation to be introduced in the closing weeks of the spring session of the legislature was backring. Shared decision-making will remain on the agenda if the BC NDP win this year’s provincial election, which must be held no later than October 19. It’s part of aligning all legislation with the Declaration Act, passed unanimously by MLAs of all parties in 2021. “I think they will wait till after the election and bring it up again,” says Thomas. “We have told them we want to be in on the consultation giving input.” Thomas says he still does not understand why the government took such an adversarial approach in the rst place. “I just think that they thought there wasn’t going to be any opposition. If the Vancouver media hadn’t have brought it out, I’m not sure what would have happened,” he says. “I do have to give Cullen kudos,” Thomas says. “When he phoned me on Wednesday to tell me of the decision, he pointed out that this was proof that the government was listening. We would like to think that ranchers’ voices were part of that decision.” BC ranchers are relieved they will now have more time to respond to the province’s plans to update the Land Act. LIZ TWAN / FILE PHOTO1.800.282.7856 terraseco.comGifk\`eXe[M`kXd`e$i`Z_[X`ipZXkkc\]f[[\iTerra Seed Corp =ifjki\j`jkXekkf$():M\ip_`^_dXjjp`\c[n`k__`^_c\X]Zfek\ek<oZ\cc\ekJ`cfdX`q\gifk\`eYffjk\i:8D8IF8E>C@8E>FC;DXiifnJk\dBXc\`jn`ek\i_Xi[pXe[Xcjflj\[`en`c[Xe`dXc^iXq`e^Xggc`ZXk`fej%>ILE<I8E><C@K<I¢DXiifnJk\dBXc\10 Acre, 140+ Cow Capacity Dairy OperationSOLD February 8, 2024, 8 AM to 10 AM PST. CLHbid.com, a leading edge online tender platform to market and sell farm and ranch land in Western Canada. info@clhbid.com 1 866 263 7480STARTING BID $2.1MFINAL PRICE $2.75MGREENDALE PRIMECHILLIWACK BCProvince defers Land Act amendmentsConsultations ongoing as the province implements DRIPA

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Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error which advertises goods or services at a wrong price, such goods or services need not be sold at the advertised price. Advertising is an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. All advertising is accepted subject to publisher’s approval. All of Country Life in British Columbia’s content is covered by Canadian copyright law. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Country Life in British Columbia. Letters are welcome, though they may be edited in the interest of brevity before publication. All errors brought to our attention will be corrected.36 Dale Road, Enderby BC V0E 1V4 . Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 . GST Reg. No. 86878 7375 . Subscriptions: $2/issue . $18.90/year . $33.60/2 years . $37.80/3 years incl GSTThe agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 Vol.110 No. 4 . APRIL 2024Published monthly by Country Life 2000 Ltd. www.countrylifeinbc.comThe BC Farm Writers Association held its AGM on January 26 in Abbotsford. Among the guest speakers was BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis, who participated in a panel discussion titled “Sustainability in Ag: Why It Matters, What Are the Messages and Who’s Listening.” During the Q&A session, the minister thanked association members and urged them to take agriculture’s message to the broader public. Several members found the request puzzling in that few, if any, of us are ever recruited to speak to agricultural issues in the mainstream media. Our contributions are almost exclusively aimed at an agricultural readership. In spite of that, I’m willing to take a stab at it here, with reservations it will ever nd its way to the general public. So, what exactly is it the public needs to know about sustainability in agriculture? There is a whole suite of sustainability messaging dealing with environmental protection, best practices, biodiversity, recycling ... Many are sector or even site-specic and will benet from a more intimate explanation to a specic audience. While they are all important stories to tell, there is a more fundamental issue that deserves broad public consideration: the sustainability of agriculture itself. Consider it a given by now that almost everyone in BC has personal experience with erratic weather events: atmospheric rivers, ooding, drought, extreme heat, extreme cold, landslides and wildres. All of these, with increasing frequency, are turning the search for sector stability into a province-wide exercise in crisis management. Discussions about irrigation now focus on drought management as low precipitation and snowpack promise to follow last year’s drought with more of the same. Low river and lake levels are forecast. If water restrictions that turned o irrigation withdrawals in several watersheds last summer recur, forage and livestock producers will face another devastating year. Wildres are increasing in frequency and intensity to the point of requiring 24-hour-a-day confrontation. Some are beyond response at all. A mid-January -30ᵒ C Arctic outow event literally froze the Okanagan grape and wine industry to death. In addition to the weather challenges, the farm population is shrinking and those who remain are older. The total number of BC farm operators in the 2021 Census of Agriculture was down 9.7% from 2016 and respondents averaged 57.8 years old. Toss in the fact that the average farm operator earns 75 cents of every dollar of household income from sources other than farming, and it’s not hard to see why farm and ranch operators collecting the Old Age Pension vastly outnumber those under 35. Altogether, a poor recipe for sustainable agriculture. I doubt if this picture of sustainability in agriculture is quite what Minister Alexis was hoping for. But it is the one that needs to be seen and reected on. These issues are existential to agriculture, and agriculture is existential to everyone without the long-term ability to succeed as a hunter-gatherer. Many of those who envision food in their future want something reassuring and upbeat. Sorry, but that would be public relations and that’s not my job. There are others, worried about food sustainability, who will turn to the soothing balm of the ALR. Sorry, here’s what you need to know about that: Yes, the ALR has been successful in preserving the potential for food production, but in the same way that a boarded-up hospital has preserved the potential to deliver health care, or a boarded-up schoolhouse has preserved the potential to educate. Without farmers or ranchers, all you are left with is the potential, and it isn’t very lling, no matter how you serve it. Hopefully, some of the broader public has made it this far and are wondering what’s next. In the short term, government, on behalf of taxpayers, is providing nancial life-support on a case-by-case basis. That is not sustainable either, but it might well be what is sparing you from a main course of potential. In the longer run, everyone needs to spare a thought for the thin lm of atmosphere that surrounds us and makes all biology possible. Every increase in the carbon dioxide level decreases the potential for agricultural sustainability. There has been a lot of talk about it for a long time, with lots of good intentions and laudable goals which have gone largely unmet. There are federal and provincial elections in the ong. Support whoever you believe will actually do something meaningful to stop it. Or, put in the ear buds, crank up Highway to Hell and don’t worry, that highway is paved with good intentions right to the end. Bob Collins raises beef cattle and grows produce on his farm in the Alberni Valley. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.4 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCA shared future“April showers bring May owers,” runs the old saying, one current as early as the 14th century and known (it would seem) to Chaucer, who tells his readers, “April with its showers sweet / cuts March drought o at the feet.” There’s no poetry in the plight of BC farmers and ranchers this year, however. While many of us have celebrated Easter with all the hope of new life it oers, Nature has a way of interpreting “new life” its own way. It has a dry sense of humour. The parlous state of the snowpack and the more than 90 res in northern BC that remain active after a dry winter suggest that this year will once again be a tough one for ranch country. Prince George is among the driest regions in the country, and forecasters are once again saying – this year, earlier than ever – that several months of sustained rains are needed to recharge aquifers and rivers that sustain both aquatic life and human endeavour. More than ever, we need April showers that sweep the feet out from under the drought of March. The province, for its part, is doing what it can. An additional $83 million for on-farm water storage in this year’s provincial budget means a total of $103 million will be spent by 2027 to better capture and manage the largesse of the skies. But new life also depends on new ways of thinking and being. Our gratitude for the natural resources with which we’ve been blessed is too often rooted in a sense of abundance rather than a recognition of just how much we have to lose. It’s a kind of cheap grace, one that fails to see how our actions can have serious consequences for ourselves and others. But the hard truths are hitting home for farmers. A growing number of consumers are starting to notice, too, and higher food prices will require them to pay more than just their attention. There will be costs. The Back 40 BOB COLLINSPublisher Cathy Glover 604-328-3814 . publisher@countrylifeinbc.com Associate Editor Peter Mitham news@countrylifeinbc.com Advertising Sales & Marketing Cathy Glover sales@countrylifeinbc.com Production Designer Tina Rezansoff Whew! Spring at last, PW!Good intentions need tending to bear fruitThis is where farmers need to stand their ground, explaining (as one olive oil producer did last month) that higher prices are a function of rising input costs even as dry conditions reduce actual production. Water is a shared resource, and the costs of scarcity must be shared, too. Growers are in an ideal position to underscore the connection. And by establishing the connection, they may well foster a new way of being that benets our collective future.

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BC farmers get more by giving backChallenging financial times create opportunities for generosity COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 5This is where the BC Farmers Food Donation Tax Credit comes in. Originally adopted in 2016 and now extended until December 31, 2026, this tax credit presents a unique opportunity to alleviate some of the nancial pressures facing the farm sector. If that is not enough, many researchers and writers are nding evidence to support that giving does in fact make you richer. Author and researcher Arthur C. Brooks has found that charitable giving stimulates prosperity, for both individuals and corporations. According to his research, giving back can have long- term benets for nancial health. Through a pilot project initiated with our farm partners, we've begun to explore the potential of this tax credit to reduce their year-end taxes payable. In just one tax season, we've seen over $125,000 in tax credits claimed, reducing their tax burden and allowing them to keep more money in their pockets. Besides the direct nancial impact, one of the most compelling aspects of this initiative is its ability to reduce food waste. The farming industry often leaves a signicant portion of crops unharvested due to the high labour cost, especially when customer quotas have already been met. This results in perfectly good, high-quality produce going to waste. This is a loss for both farmers and our communities in need. By leveraging the BC Farmers Food Donation Tax Credit, you can turn surplus produce into additional tax savings. The donation of surplus crops (acknowledged through an in-kind tax receipt) to organizations like the GVFB and other qualied charities oers BC farmers an additional tax credit equivalent to 25% of the retail value of the donated goods. The tax credit applies to most products produced in BC, including meat, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables that have been grown, raised or harvested on a BC farm. Not only does this reduce your payable taxes for the year, but it also ensures that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Imagine the impact this could have on hungry families in our province. Food Banks Canada found that more than 16% of BC residents are living with food insecurity – those who cannot aord the quality and quantity of food they need to avoid hunger. This can be skipping meals so their children can eat, not buying fruits and vegetables or having to go to work or school hungry. This is the harsh reality for our neighbours, friends and community members who are in need. Every day, the food bank hears the stories of people who need our help and who benet directly from the generosity of our farmers. Heppell's Potatoes in Surrey is one of many BC farms that have generously donated products to their local community and received tax credits for doing so. “The Farmer Tax Credit allows us to reduce our taxes while donating nutritious produce to the food banks,” said Tyler Heppell. “This tax credit is a tool that each farmer should be using as it not only helps operations but feeds those who can't aord to shop at our local grocery stores." Other Fraser Valley producers such as KBF Farms, Jit Bains Inc., Rai Farms, Witzke Farm and Sam Enterprises Ltd. have all donated produce to GVFB and utilized the Farmer Tax Credit. The opportunity to reduce your tax burden and minimize food wastage has arrived, but only those who make use of the BC Farmer Food Donation Tax Credit will benet. We need farmers like you to seize the benets of this opportunity and show the government there is a need for greater farmer support. Give back to get more, and help us cultivate a brighter future for farming and food security in BC. To learn more, reach out to GVFB to participate and impact your community this season. Craig Edwards is operations director at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. He can be reached at craige@foodbank.bc.ca. As the costs of farming continue to rise and food security for so many people in our province becomes threatened, it's time we take a closer look at supporting those who grow and distribute the food that feeds us. Farmers are the backbone of BC's food system. You play a vital role in our society, supplying fresh produce to BC residents and retailers. You are also among those most unappreciated, facing immense challenges in making ends meet for your businesses and families. Take, for instance, the example of four Fraser Valley farmers and two Okanagan orchardists who contributed over half a million dollars (retail value) of fresh produce to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) last year. These individuals are not just growing crops, they're nourishing communities and ensuring those in need have access to high-quality, nutritious food. While the donation of food is a positive story on its own, there is still a harsh reality about the state of farming. Despite being able to provide food donations to the food bank, these BC farmers still need to grapple with signicant nancial burdens from soaring overhead costs, escalating prices for fertilizer and fuel, and the rising cost of labour. Finding opportunities to reduce costs, such as taxes, is becoming a greater necessity for BC farmers to be successful in today's world. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 7The Capital Regional District has taken Alia Elaraj and CJ McNichol of Salt Spring Island to court over noise complaints about their roosters. SUBMITTEDSANDRA TRETICK SALT SPRING ISLAND – On an island that proudly features a rooster crowing contest at its annual fall fair, real roosters have rued enough feathers in the community that the issue has landed a local couple in court. Following a three-year campaign of complaints by the neighbours of CJ McNichol and Alia Elaraj to silence the couple’s roosters, the Capital Regional District is now asking a judge to rule on the matter. McNichol was initially charged with seven counts under the district’s Animal Regulation and Impounding Bylaw because his rooster disturbed his neighbours. Two charges have since been dropped. The couple have expressed frustration that the complaints continue despite spending “thousands of dollars” on mitigation eorts. They built a new, better insulated coop away from the property lines, tried rooster collars, blacked out the coop and swapped out noisier roosters for ones they hoped would be quieter. “We’ve already been told that nothing we do is good enough,” she says. McNichol and Elaraj live on one acre in an area of similar properties zoned rural. Agriculture is a permitted use under the local land use bylaws, which was part of the property’s attraction. They keep Sebastapol geese and currently have 20 heritage Silverudd hens and three roosters. Elaraj believes they are being singled out. “We’re not the only people with roosters on our street,” she adds. Pecking order In the last three years, the BC Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB) received three rooster-related noise complaints, all of them from Salt Spring. This comprised 25% of all noise complaints over the period, with the rest related to helicopters, wind turbines and other mechanical noises from farm operations. FIRB chair Peter Donkers dismissed all three Salt Spring rooster complaints because the farms in question were classed as hobby farms. They didn’t meet the threshold to be considered farm businesses, a prerequisite for proceeding to a FIRB ruling. Donkers recommended the complainants pursue common law remedies or take up noise complaints with the local government. This provides little assurance for hobby farmers like Elaraj and McNichol. One of the FIRB decisions was for a complaint led against them. Elaraj admits they don’t have farm status yet, because Bylaws seek to silence Salt Spring roostersHobby farmers not protected by province’s Right to Farm ActEinbock Tillage Equipment For Organic FarmingEconomical Reliable Low Maintenance Safe and Proven Order now for guaranteed next season delivery.Tine Weeders Row Crop CultivatorsRotary Hoes Camera GuidanceSystemsOrder now forguaranteed next season delivery.DELTA Drain Tile CleanersImproves Drainage & Conditions SoilEmail us today at: info@reimersfarmservices.comRooster wars u

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8 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Rooster wars heading to courtOur John Deere 6R Tractors are among thesmartest tractors ever built, featuring a widevariety of John Deere Precision Ag Technologies.Connected TechnologyBigger, Faster and Clearer More Accuracy and Long-Term RepeatabilityPLUSDisplayG5™StarFire ReceiverSeamless Streaming of your Farm Data™JDLinkModemPrecision Ag Essentials Package with Display, Receiver & Modem Limited Time Sale Price $5,999Nanaimo | Chilliwack | Langley | Kamloops | Kelowna | Prince George | 1.877.553.3373Scan here to learn more aboutPrecision Ag Technologies orvisit us online at www.pce.ca*Pricing is for a limited time only. Please see your sales representative for details. of the high sales threshold for a one-acre lot. “We would need $10,000. How do we get to that mark?” she says. “I’ve been hesitant to continue to invest in our birds, because this has been going on so long. It’s really hard to think that, at any time, your livelihood could be taken away by complaints.” The BC Ministry of Agriculture notes that the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act only provides protection from nuisance lawsuits from neighbours for farms located outside of the ALR on land zoned for agriculture. In a statement, the ministry says: “These farms must still comply with local government nuisance bylaws. All farms, no matter the size, should practice ‘good neighbour farming’ and are expected to make changes to mitigate issues if a complaint is made, even if they are following normal farm practices and are in the ALR.” On Salt Spring Island, zoning falls to the Islands Trust but nuisance noise falls under the jurisdiction of the Capital Regional District. This division of responsibility can be confusing to residents and Islands Trust bylaw compliance and enforcement manager Warren Dingman says they have received complaints about roosters. In the last three years, there have been two from Salt Spring and one from Mayne Island. CRD sta declined to answer questions about the number of complaints it gets while the matter is before the courts, but McNichol says the complaints against them “would be in the hundreds.” Who rules the roost? After FIRB quashed the Salt Spring rooster complaints, the matter was taken up by the CRD. In 2022, hobby farmer Ashleigh Roslinky challenged her tickets in court. “She was allowed to go in front of a judge and dispute the tickets,” says Elaraj. “The judge told the CRD legal to tread carefully on people’s rights.” McNichol says he received the summons to court before they could mount the same challenge and he suspects that the CRD is using this to set a precedent. Rather than walk on eggshells, the couple decided to go public about the issue following their rst day in court in January, and this led to an outpouring of support. Coined “rooster wars” on social media and in the local newspaper, the Poultry Club of Salt Spring has taken up their cause and launched a Save Our Roosters campaign. “That’s when this started to take re, because I think people were recognizing, nally, how dangerous this type of ruling could be for the rest of the community,” says McNichol. “This topic of gentrication and trying to strip farming rights is not an exclusive thing. It’s happening across the province.” CRD chief administrative ocer Ted Robbins said in an email to a Salt Spring Poultry Club member that the CRD “respects the rights of all residents in our Electoral Areas, and we strive to nd collaborative ways to resolve issues before they escalate.” He added that enforcement measures were pursued in this situation when mitigation proved unsatisfactory to all parties. McNichol is concerned because Salt Spring’s farming community falls under CRD bylaws set by urban Victoria standards, instead of being more closely aligned to a farming district like the Cowichan Valley. “I’ve got a Freedom of Information request in to connect the dots,” says McNichol, who adds that after the rst day in court he was handed three additional tickets for oences from last September. “There’s a general concern around why the CRD is handling this the way it is and where they’re going with it. People would like some answers.” Originally scheduled to last one day in January, the trial ran over and is set to resume on March 25 in Victoria Provincial Court. After initially representing himself, McNichol has now retained a lawyer thanks to funds raised by the community for his legal defence. If found guilty, he faces up to $10,000 in nes. Salt Spring Island Farmers’ Institute president Terry Clement said the board heard from McNichol and Elaraj at its March meeting and subsequently discussed the issue. “Unfortunately, the Farmers and Womens Institutes Act does not provide any mechanism whereby we can take an ocial position,” said Clement. Nevertheless, the institute’s board intends to pursue some broader issues with other organizations that can. These could include: What constitutes farming? Where can farming take place? And what reasonable expectations property owners living adjacent to a farm should have. “This topic of gentrication and trying to strip farming rights is not an exclusive thing. It’s happening across the province.” CJ McNICHOL

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 9Save the Roosters campaign gains traction Support has raised enough money to fund court appearanceSave the Rooster stickers were designed and donated by Richard and Amy McDowell. SUBMITTEDSANDRA TRETICK SALT SPRING ISLAND – The Salt Spring community has rallied behind a local couple as they defend themselves in court against the Capital Regional District over crowing rooster noise complaints. The issue is being depicted as overreach by the regional district and an attack on local food security. Leading the ock is the Salt Spring Poultry Club, a club for local breeders and backyard ock owners, which launched a campaign, Save Our Roosters, and donated $5,000 towards CJ McNichol’s legal costs, anticipated at $25,000. “This is the fth person I've had to deal with since becoming an executive member of the poultry club in the last three years,” says Elsie Born, the board representative on this matter. “They get threatened by the CRD that they'll get tickets. They just want to get rid of the roosters, because they don't want to deal with it.” It makes Born wonder why small lots on Salt Spring are zoned rural, leaving the impression that agriculture – and the keeping of roosters – is permitted. “There’s no recourse for them, either,” says Born, referring to instances where property buyers intentionally seek out lots where they can keep their birds only to nd themselves subjected to noise complaints from neighbours. Born’s own farm is Ernst & Elsie Farmworks. She breeds chickens on ALR land. The campaign has resonated with the Rural Island Economic Partnership, chaired by Francine Carlin of Salt Spring. In a strongly worded Facebook post, the partnership states that the CRD’s actions in taking McNichol to court “has wider implications” on food security and is “intended to set legal precedent that would empower CRD bylaw ocers to deny other rural residents of the Southern Gulf Islands the right to have poultry ocks which include roosters.” A GoFundMe campaign, called “Funds needed for legal defense of farmers rights,” had raised $8,421 as of mid-March and another $1,903 was raised at a weekend event in February outside the local Country Grocer. Mielle Chandler started a petition on Change.org that she called “Protect Food Security in the Southern Gulf Islands – Stop the CRD crackdown on Roosters.” It had nearly 1,500 signatures at deadline. Chandler raised the concern that the Southern Gulf Islands are being treated as a suburban extension of Greater Victoria, robbing individual island communities of the democratic right to decide how to address issues around “rural character ... and sounds ... for themselves.” She urges the CRD “to reconsider its stance on backyard roosters but also recognize their importance towards achieving food security within our community.” The elected CRD director for Salt Spring Island, Gary Holman, says the CRD is not attacking local food security. “CRD support for farming is coordinated and substantial,” Holman said in an email, referring to $400,000 in grants that helped fund Salt Spring’s area farm plan, a large-scale composting facility, the Root food storage and processing facility, and the Farmland Trust ‘Grow Local’ initiative. 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10 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCView over 100 listings of farm properties at www.bcfarmandranch.comBC FARM & RANCH REALTY CORP.Buying or Selling a Farm or Acreage?GORD HOUWELING Cell: 604/793-8660GREG WALTON Cell: 604/864-1610Toll free 1-888-852-AGRI Call BC’s First and Only Real Estate Office committed 100% to Agriculture!PROFESSIONAL SERVICESProvince delivers massive new replant programThese funds are in addition to the current Perennial Crop Renewal Program (PCRP), and will support replanting over the next ve to seven years. “Details are yet to be worked out in consultation with the individual commodities, but I think this is more responsive to what industry has asked for,” says BCGA executive director Tyrion Miskell. The announcement preceded the March 18 opening of draft applications for Stream 3 funding of the existing crop renewal program. Applicants will be able to develop their applications on-line and be ready when submissions open April 2. The two-year program has approximately $7 million remaining for replanting after removal projects, which were funded in the rst year. Growers who took advantage of pull-out funds last year will be given priority, but new applications will also be accepted. The maximum pay-out for tree fruits is $7,500 an acre. At this time, only hazelnut, raspberry, blueberry, apple and pear growers are eligible. Although the cherry industry has completed a sector opportunity assessment which the province requires to release replant funding, funds have yet to ow. “We are sorting things out with the ministry,” says BC Cherry Association executive director Beth Cavers. “We fully expect that cherries will be a part of this.” Expert farm taxation adviceApproved consultants for Government funding throughBC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramEnderby 250-838-7337Armstrong 250-546-8665 |t1VSDIBTFBOETBMFPGGBSNTt5SBOTGFSPGGBSNTUPDIJMESFOt(PWFSONFOUTVCTJEZQSPHSBNTt1SFQBSBUJPOPGGBSNUBYSFUVSOTt6TFPG$BQJUBM(BJOT&YFNQUJPOT$ISJT)FOEFSTPO$1"$"-PSFO)VUUPO$1"$"5PMM 'SFF1-888-818-FARM |www.farmtax.comRossworn HendersonLLPChartered Professional Accountants - Tax Consultantsartered Professional Accountants - Tax ConsultanCALL FOR AN ESTIMATE LARRY 604.209.5523 TROY 604.209.5524 TRI-WAY FARMS LASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVED DRAINAGE UNIFORM GERMINATION UNIFORM IRRIGATION FAST, ACCURATE SURVEYING INCREASE CROP YIELDS We service all of Southern BCReplant funding aims to assist growers replacing less protable varieties with newer, more popular ones that can deliver a higher return. IAFBC cites Cripps Pink (Pink Lady), Honeycrisp, Ambrosia and Granny Smith as suitable varieties, but the latter has some growers scratching their heads as most Granny Smiths were pulled out years ago. However, one veteran Kelowna grower has seen Granny Smith deliver. “I got just two cents less for my Grannies than I did for my Fujis last year,” he says. “If you can grow them big and green, there is a market for them.” The wine grape industry was only eligible for $1 million under the existing renewal program, and industry groups opted to channel the funds to the BC Wine Grape Council (BCWGC) to continue its research activities. BCWGC work is funded by levies collected on grapes delivered for processing, and these have been greatly reduced by frost events. —Tom Walker Northern BC faces acute vet shortage A survey the province conducted last fall conrms that veterinary services in BC remain dicult to access, with the shortage particularly acute in Northern BC. A total of 451 responses were received to the survey, which wrapped up October 6. Provincial chief veterinarian Dr. Theresa Burns shared preliminary ndings during a webinar the Centre for Organizational Governance in Agriculture hosted on March 4. While small-scale producers have the most diculty province-wide, with signicant challenges accessing services in the Okanagan and on Vancouver Island, producers of all sizes face challenges in Northern BC. “You can see that, particularly in the north part of the province, everyone is having trouble accessing veterinary services,” Burns said. The challenges were also identied in a survey of veterinarians, which identied the shortage of services as most acute in Northern BC, the Okanagan and Vancouver Island. The province has since conducted a survey on the services the province’s Animal Health Centre provides, part of a review of its services to the sector. The lab at the Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford oers both post-mortem services as well as more than 400 diagnostic tests for both animals and plants. The lab conducted more than 10,000 tests last year, including analyzing 9,000 avian inuenza samples between October and December 2023. The results will help improve operations at the current centre as well as A new $70.5 million replant program was announced March 13 at the BC Wine Industry Insight conference in Penticton by Premier David Eby and BC Agriculture and Food Minister Pam Alexis. The program will see about $65 million disbursed to farmers net of Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC administrative expenses, with $18 million for berries, $23 million for grapes and $24 million for tree fruits. “We are very grateful for the money,” says Peter Simonsen, president of the BC Fruit Growers Association. “We felt the government has listened to our concerns and is committed to the viability of the grape- growing industry,” BC Grapegrowers Association president Sue de Charmoy adds. Ag Briefs PETER MITHAMFull-on kudos Full-on kudos to Country Life in BC. I can’t believe how helpful, useful (and) informative your newspaper is on all sorts of topics, with specic, practical information. Even the ads and their photos are helpful. Of course, I started out with essentially nothing about farming! We recently bought Galaxy Farm with my daughter and son-in-law – a multi-generational farm! Our new farm is in Courtenay and my daughter is growing and selling organic vegetables. My husband and I wish to get better at the hay and have a few animals as well. So yours is a very helpful magazine on all these topics – both the practical and the political bureaucracy nuances. Thank you. Judy Thomas, RPF Thomas and Norwell Forestry Consulting Ltd. Courtenay, BC Letters guide development of a new facility oering enhanced lab services to BC’s agricultural and veterinary sectors. Plans for the new centre were announced in January 2023. “The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is continuing to look at potential locations,” ministry sta told Country Life in BC. “When the centre is up and running, the new facility will oer enhanced lab services to BC’s agricultural and veterinary sectors.” —Peter Mitham Livestock investment shifts upwards Capital investment in BC livestock operations is set to rise this year. Annual estimates from Statistics Canada, released at the end of February, indicate BC livestock operations will invest $122.1 million in construction this year, up from just under $101 million in each of the last two years. Spending on machinery and equipment will also rise for the third straight year, reaching $260.1 million versus an estimated $207.9 million last year. The gains more than oset declines in the crop sector, which will see capital investment on new construction and equipment decline 15% to $259.3 million. While the reasons for the gains are not broken out, the livestock sector has benetted from a number of government programs designed to increase resilience against extreme weather, a changing climate, and access granted to foreign producers during trade negotiations. —Peter Mitham YOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESYOURping Youpingpgpping YouiWSWSSign up for FREE today

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 11Drought information sessions see low participationKELLY SINOSKI VICTORIA – BC is oering farmers a series of water management workshops and $83 million for water storage, as farmers face the likelihood of another drought. The measures come as the province’s snowpack sits at 66% of normal – the second lowest in 50 years after 1977, when the snowpack was 53% below normal, according to the province’s River Forecast Centre. The unseasonably dry conditions have led BC Wildre Service to urge caution and prohibit open res in the Cariboo Fire Centre as well as the in Prince George, Stewart Nechako, Mackenzie, Peace and Fort Nelson Forest Districts within the Prince George Fire Centre eective March 28. While provincial drought ratings won't resume until June 1, the Peace and Cariboo entered the winter at Level 4 and 5 drought, the two most severe levels on the province's six-level scale. All told, 16 of the province's 34 water basins are at Level 3 or higher, when adverse eects are likely. Farmers are also bracing for a repeat of last year’s drought, which saw irrigation restrictions throughout BC, resulting in low hay volumes and stranded salmon, and underscoring calls by the BC Agriculture Council and Watershed Salmon Society for coordinated drought plans and increased water infrastructure. “Given what’s happening with climate change and drought, we need to be investing in water infrastructure,” says Duncan Barnett, a rancher and past president of the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association who lives near Horsey in BC’s Cariboo. “It’s easy to take water for granted when you have a lot of it. We’re getting to where we have to be much more careful with the water supplies that are available.” On February 22, the provincial budget announced an additional $83 million for the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program, boosting funding for the three-year program to $103 million from the initial $20 million announced last year as part of a $200 million food security package. The latest funding, which includes water storage capacity such as dugouts, is part of $405 million designed to address climate emergencies. The allocation will also pay for a $76.6 million upgrade to Abbotsford’s Barrowtown pump station announced February 14. Participation in workshops this spring designed to provide farmers and ranchers with information on efcient irrigation and new technologies to measure soil moisture has been underwhelming. MYRNA STARK LEADERProducers, government brace uMFG OF MINI SKID STEERS AND A VARIETY OF ATTACHMENTS INCLUDINGTREE SPADES | TREE SAWS & SHEARS | BOOM MOWERS | PTO POWER PACKSBRUSH MULCHERS | ROTARY BRUSH CUTTERS | PTO GENERATORS | AUGER DRIVES | FLAIL MOWERSTREE PULLERS | FELLER BUNCHERS | EXCAVATOR ADAPTERS | SCREW SPLITTERS | TRENCHERS | STUMP GRINDERSBAUMALIGHT.COMAdair Sales & Marketing Company Inc. 306-773-0996 | info@adairreps.comLocate A Dealer OnlineBC offers more money for drought support

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12 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Producers, government brace for another year of water shortfallsBC Agriculture Council policy director Paul Pryce says the water infrastructure funding is an improvement over last year when farmers were only eligible for about $50,000 for water storage, which would only cover the design and engineering. BCAC has been urging the provincial government’s Watershed Security Strategy to consider tax exemptions for insurance and invest more money into water storage programs. The government oers 50% cost-sharing on water infrastructure, Pryce says, but it costs $250,000 for a water storage system. The budget also announced that farmers and ranchers will be exempt from the province’s insurance premium tax when paying premiums for provincial agricultural insurance, making these programs more aordable. “There’s been a historic under-investment in water investment,” Pryce says. “It still will require a sustained commitment by government but it’s good progress. It’s fair to say it could be another tough year again. When it comes to these projects, it might be possible with this funding to put us in a better position.” Barnett, who is currently waiting for a water licence, agrees. The changing weather patterns aect not just existing farmers and ranchers, he says, but new entrants because they need water to survive in the industry. “We need to be able to get one good soaking in the early spring in May, otherwise we are nding our annual forage crops just dry out and die. They don’t get that moisture they need,” he says. “The water is there; it can easily be captured but it takes some work to do it.” Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with the River Forecast Centre, says there is still a chance BC will get the spring rains it needs in May and June. “A lot is determined by the upcoming spring weather. If it stays relatively dry with sustained warm weather, we may end up with an early melt. There’s still uncertainty when it comes to drought,” he says. The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food is working with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship to enhance drought preparedness. Drought management workshops are being held in 30 communities across BC, oering “step-by-step water management advice and information about available nancial support.” Barnett, who partly attended the workshop in Williams Lake on March 1, says the session provided useful information on irrigation eciencies as well as innovative technologies to measure soil moisture, but he was surprised by the low turnout. “It’s kind of disappointing when we as producers ask the ministry for support,” he says. “They went to some eort to put together these workshops and provide a comprehensive package of materials.” Pryce says the workshops also helped to demystify the reasoning behind temporary restrictions. However, many attendees wonder what’s next in terms of the province’s longer-term strategy for water over the next 10 years, he says. Country Life in BC also asked the province for the next steps but it did not respond by press time. Pryce says he hopes the answers are in the province’s Watershed Security Strategy. “Now is the moment of truth for us. We’re waiting very anxiously for that to be released,” he says. “It would be nice before we start seeing reduction orders.” Province pledges flood funds The province is rolling out more money to combat climate-related disasters and extreme weather events, announcing $39 million on March 21 for flood projects and mitigation strategies, such as flood mapping. The announcement also includes a new BC Flood Strategy. “The climate crisis is here, and we need communities to adapt and strengthen their defences against flooding and other extreme-weather events,” says Emergency Management and Climate Readiness minister Bowinn Ma. “We are working with local governments and First Nations to reduce disaster risk and better prepare people and communities for the impacts of climate change.” The BC Flood Strategy will guide continued flood preparedness and mitigation work by all levels of government until 2035. The strategy will help communities to better prepare and respond to floods. Water, Land and Resource Stewardship minister Nathan Cullen says the province will continue to work with First Nations, local government agencies, the agricultural sector, industry and conservation organizations to reduce flood risk. “Together, we can build stronger communities that are resilient to flood hazards in a changing climate,” he says. The province says it has invested $369 million into the CEPF since 2017. First Nations and local governments have received about $214 million through the CEPF for more than 1,880 projects, including about $115 million to support disaster-mitigation and climate-adaptation projects. —Kelly Sinoski

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 13OYF gives nod to Spray Creek RanchRotational grazing, direct sales transform ranch operationTristan and Aubyn Banwell will be representing BC/Yukon as Outstanding Young Farmers in the national OYF competition in Lethbridge next November. ANNA KLOCHKOVisit your local KUHN TMR Mixer dealer today!Invest in Quality®www.kuhn.comBTC 100 SERIES BOTEC® | Commercial 4-Auger Mixers550 – 1,000 ft3 mixing capacities • truck & trailer modelsREDEFINE COMMERCIAL QUALITY MIXINGRaised lower and offset upper auger reduces horsepower requirementMultiple discharge optionsto best suit your feeding needsStronger auger-to-driveshaft connection for longer life and more power transferFast mixing and quick, complete cleanout with 4-auger dischargeMatsqui Ag-Repair Abbotsford, BCNorth Valley EquipmentArmstrong, BCAcross North America, Little & Large, Local & Long Port to Dealer, Farm to Farm and anything in between.Call or email for freight solutions.Versatile ramp -to- ground capabilityRecommended Transportation Supplier forANNA KLOCHKO & PETER MITHAM LILLOOET – Aubyn and Tristan Banwell of Spray Creek Ranch near Lillooet were named BC & Yukon Outstanding Young Farmers at the Clarion Hotel in Abbotsford, March 12. “We believe in the power of regenerative agriculture to change the world, the power of food to connect people, and the power of consumers to change how farms are managed,” Aubyn Banwell said in introducing the couple’s presentation, which focused on the transformation of their ranch from a mainstream cow-calf operation selling animals at auction to one selling more than 250 products direct to consumers. Together with their children Twain and Tusi, their landowner partners and crew, the Banwells raise cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry on 260 acres overlooking the Fraser River. They also operate an on-farm abattoir that allows them to direct-market and distribute their organic meats throughout the Sea-to-Sky region. “Our vision is this: Spray Creek Ranch is creating an agro-ecosystem that is increasing in diversity, connectivity and functionality,” Aubyn said in the couple’s presentation. “We educate and inspire others by demonstrating the power of regenerative agriculture to improve our environment, enable meaningful livelihoods and build local resilience while producing healthy food for our community.” Since 2014, they have transitioned a total of 500 acres into organic certication, a journey that began with the recognition that conventional production wasn’t going to make ends meet. “We worked hard, we spent money and we waited all year for our two paycheques – one from the stockyard and one from selling extra hay,” Tristan said. “When we nally got that payday in October, it was pretty discouraging. It was clear immediately that we would not make a living with 130 acres of irrigated pasture by following the status quo. We had to start moving in a dierent direction.” Of course, the couple had hardly followed the status quo to date. Originally meeting in high school band class and later living together in a mobile home on the UBC Point Grey campus while Tristan nished a degree in conservation, they envisioned a life with as few commercial foods in their cupboard as possible. They also lived as vegetarians until they could be assured of the welfare of the animals providing them with meat. This vision came alive in Lillooet as they partnered with a couple looking to buy a ranch with a view to conservation. The Banwells would operate the ranch with a view to environmental stewardship; the landowners would be their business partners and long-term landlords. “The relationship we have with our business partners is what allows us to access the land without having to purchase it, and at the prices of land in BC, we couldn’t aord to both nance and purchase a land base for this type of agriculture and also operate a business,” Tristan told Country Life in BC. “As farmland prices increase and it becomes more and more dicult for people to pay for land with farming income, more relationships like these will become necessary,” Aubyn added. Rotational grazing underpins the farm’s transformation, with the herd developed with an eye to being locally adapted to the range. Calving season was shifted later in the year to allow calves to feed on fresh spring grass, and the breeding cycle was shortened to facilitate herd selection. “We now have a herd that’s adapted to our management and our ranch, and do not need expensive and time-consuming inputs in order to survive and thrive,” Tristan says. “In our herd today, not one of the animals has needed any intervention or treatment of any kind.” A model for other farmers u

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14 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCThird-generation farmers Carrie and Jeff Hooge of Greendale were OYF runner-ups alongside Kerry McCann of Laughing Crow Organics in Pemberton. ANNA KLOCHKOu A model for other farmersPRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT CLAAS AXION 930 MFD Tractor, Consignment Unit . . . . . . . Call CASE IH FARMALL 95A MFD Rops Tractor with Loader . . . . . Call CLAAS JAG 870 SP Forage Harvester 10’ pickup & 6row cornhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call for more details/Pricing CLAAS ORBIS 600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call for Details CLAAS 750 Tedder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Just in | Call for Price www.caliberequipment.ca MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5 604-864-2273 860 RIVERSIDE ROAD ABBOTSFORD Unstoppable. For more than 50 years.CLAAS 880 Center Delivery Rotary Rake . . . . . Just in | $23,500 CLAAS 970 SP Forage Harvester 10’ Pickup & 10Row Cornhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call for more details/Pricing KUBOTA DMC8536T Mid Pivot Mower Conditioner . . . $31,900 KUHN GF7802THA Tedder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,700 MCHALE R6878 Center Delivery Rotary Rake . . . . . . . . 45,000 NH T4.75 Tractor ROPS MFD with Loader . . . . . . . . . . . . $47,500Happy animals have led to happy customers. “We started learning more about forage and nutrition and began grass-nishing and selling beef directly to our customers. In addition to the cattle, we began diversifying, introducing other livestock species to the farm,” Aubyn said. “This stacking of enterprises allows us to produce more value from the same land and oer more products to the same customers. We always have something to sell and we are buered against losses in any one enterprise.” Spray Creek shifted its sales entirely to direct marketing in 2018, and in 2020 gave up farmers markets in favour of online sales exclusively, a business that generated $500,000 last year. It has about 2,000 regular customers. A commitment to regenerative agriculture and third-party certication of their operations has made them a model for other farmers as well as helped them engage a more demanding consumer base. OYF spirit The Banwells’ dedication and innovative approach exemplify the spirit of the Outstanding Young Farmers program, inspiring others in the agricultural community. The Banwells were up against Kerry McCann of Laughing Crow Organics, an 11-year-old market garden and ower farm in Pemberton, and poultry farmers Je and Carrie Hooge of Greendale, third-generation farmers active at four farm sites as well as the businesses of their extended families, Lepp’s Farm Market and Fraser Valley Hazelnuts. Kevin Klippenstein, a past award winner and one of this year’s judges, said this year’s nominees all showed the kind of pluck that makes for outstanding credentials. “With everything that’s happening now and in the future, you almost have to be able to pivot and move forward,” he says. “All of our nalists this year showed excellence in agriculture. They’re all able to go through environmental issues – with ooding and the heat dome … mudslides and wildres, yet they’re still able to grow food for the people. That is excellence in itself. A normal person might give up.” OYF honours young farmers aged 18 to 39 who exhibit exemplary dedication and skill. “We’re very humbled,” Tristan said in accepting the award, acknowledging that the achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the assistance of many inside and outside the room. It was an achievement that almost didn’t happen. Just before the event, a worker lled up Spray Creek’s biggest tractor with gasoline rather than diesel and red it up. “On Saturday we were sure we were going to drop out of this event as we processed the operational and nancial ramications of this preventable mistake,” Tristan said. “But we slept on it, and on Sunday we picked ourselves up, did what needed to be done and showed up,” Aubyn continued. “There’s never enough time to get everything done and sometimes the best you can do isn’t good enough, but the most important part is to show up, work hard and keep improving.” The regional award allows the Banwells to advance to the national competition, scheduled to take place in Lethbridge, November 27-30.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 15Chicken pricing agreement nears completionChicken groups focus on financialsBC Growers Association president Dale Krahn told growers at the BC Poultry Conference that the industry saw it all in 2023, but he says growers can look forward to a new long-term chicken-pricing formula in 2024. RONDA PAYNESuppor soi-based agriculturDrinfarm fresh beerfarm fresh beerfarm fresh beerAsk for us at your local Angry Otter Liquor StoreAsk for us at your local Angry Otter Liquor StoreAsk for us at your local Angry Otter Liquor StoreGrown and brewed on-farm in Ladner, B.C.www.barnsidebrewing.caRONDA PAYNE LANGLEY – Disease, drought and pricing uncertainty – growers saw it all this year, BC Chicken Growers’ Association president Dale Krahn told the association’s annual general meeting, held March 8 in Langley as part of the BC Poultry Conference. “Look at us. We’re all still here. All still farming,” he says. “We need every BC chicken grower to raise your voice. Tell the MPs. They want to hear from you.” BCCGA, the BC Chicken Marketing Board and Primary Poultry Processors Association have worked for four years to get costs of production and pricing aligned. “Imagine a fair pricing system that recognizes all the costs of the growers,” he says. “We’re on the cusp and the decision is on the horizon.” The BC Farm Industry Review Board issued a new timeline for a decision in a March 4 letter to industry. It set a deadline of March 18 for industry association submissions on the pricing formula, and BC Chicken’s response is due April 1. The decision date has yet to be determined as there will be panel reviews and the potential for further actions. BC FIRB chair Peter Donkers noted the work is challenging, but important for the future of BC’s hatching egg and chicken industries, when he spoke during the lunch break after the boards’ AGMs. “Finalizing long-term cost of production pricing models will help create stable and predictable pricing and address the continued uncertainty and instability in the industry that will support orderly marketing that benets the sector and protects the public interest now and long into the future,” he says. BC Chicken chair Kevin Klippenstein noted feedback from meetings in February recommended against pushing changes to interim pricing, but instead to continue focusing on improving the long-term pricing. “Our primary objective was to have a model that would provide fair returns for farms, creating stability for now and for future generations while still allowing our processors to be competitive in the marketplace,” he says. Levy supports marketing Additionally, he noted there was a national levy increase from $0.0202 to $0.0204 that started June 2023. “This is a CFC [Chicken Farmers of Canada] levy increase for marketing and brand promotion as part of the approved three-year strategy set up by CFC,” he explains. Klippenstein closed his discussion by touching on avian inuenza, a topic brought up by almost every speaker throughout the day’s events. “Growers are reminded they must practice the highest biosecurity at this time,” he says. “Sometimes the emails may feel repetitive, but I urge you to read them.” Donkers also spoke of the importance of new entrants. In 2022, 7% of chicken producers and 7% of hatching egg producers were new entrants. “In the summer of 2023, BC FIRB requested increasing reporting from supply managed boards and commission on their new management programs,” he says. “More detailed annual reporting on these programs will enable the poultry sector as a whole to track progress on achieving each of the boards’ new entrant goals.” Another speaker during the break was Brian Douglas, chairperson and deputy head of the Farm Products Council of Canada. “Despite market volatility over the past few years brought on by market disruptions and avian inuenza, we are happy to see that you’ve been able to produce your full allocation from April 24 onward,” he says. “This is a ne demonstration of your ability to adapt to many uncertainties in your sector and year over year resilience.” BC Chicken board member Ray Nickel, the second vice-chair with Chicken Farmers of Canada, hopes 2024 will be “a little more calm.” “But there always seems to be emergencies and special market conditions,” he says. “There’s 2,800 of us across the country contributing about $8 billion to GDP. We’re a strong lobby group that contributes a lot to these eorts.” When it comes to the challenges producers face, BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis recommended reaching out to AgSafe if farmers are feeling emotionally burdened. “I know it’s been dicult on the farm in recent years,” she says. “We’re here to help. I’m working hard with my colleagues to ensure a sustainable poultry industry is here today and into the future.” Don’t forget to RENEW yourSubscription.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 17Paige Rohlf of Aviagen Turkeys in Lewisburg, West Virginia, explains the ner points of turkey breeding and selection at the BC Poultry Conference in March. RONDA PAYNE 250.307.5042 tf 1.877.707.5042 info@roostsolar.com www.roostsolar.com Roost Solar is a licensed electrical contractor with Red Seal Journeyman Electricians. As the only installer in the region with a NABCEP Certiﬁed PV Installation Professional, we are committed to the highest level of quality, customer service, and technical expertise.Visit us online for informationabout How to get started and the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Greener Home Loan which offer up to $5000 in grants, and up to a $40,000 10-year interest-free loan for solar installations.TSBC License #LEL0209968Call or click for a FREE Solar Consultation and Estimate.Solar PV Arrays | Home Battery Systems | EV ChargersGo Solar and SaveAccess the Canada Greener Homes Loan -up to $40,000 in interest-free nancing for solar installationsRONDA PAYNE LANGLEY – The BC Turkey Marketing Board (BC Turkey) and BC Turkey Association (BCTA) addressed the year’s hurdles and learned more about breeding at their AGMs during the BC Poultry Conference in Langley, March 8. BC Turkey chair Kalpna Solanki kicked the session o by outlining challenges and accomplishments from 2023. “As everyone knows in this room, it’s an ongoing and signicant threat,” she said of avian inuenza. “Just when you think it’s over, it rears its ugly head.” AI was a key element of the AGM, even when not named specically. For example, in Solanki’s review of BC Turkey’s new three-year strategic plan, managing risks was one of the four priorities. “The industry’s response was quite remarkable at every level,” she says in her chair’s statement about the waves of AI outbreaks that began in 2022. In addition to managing risks, building strong relationships, administering pricing and growing the market round out the plan’s points. “We need to look at opportunities to increase the availability of turkey in food service and other sources like that,” she says. In her executive director’s report, Natalie Veles mentioned another disease, blackhead, and how ve farms were impacted by it in 2023. She added there has been some relief on feed prices. Turkey Farmers of Canada audits continued, but some were changed to reviews of records when the biosecurity level returned to red in October. New communication vehicles have also been added. “We’ve implemented some new communication tools,” she says. “We’ve started new monthly grower newsletters and launched our new website.” On a national level, Turkey Farmers of Canada chair Darren Ference noted that import and export forecasting for 2024 are dicult due to AI. “TFC will continue to monitor this as import levels are critical determinants of the domestic need to satisfy the market,” he says. Ference went on to speak about the potential of bird vaccinations in Canada. “Currently there is no AI vaccination that has been used in Canada and no commercial vaccines are licensed in Canada,” he says. “However, the work is ongoing and potential implementation of a vaccination program will take signicant time.” National growth in turkey consumption is strong, rising 19% since 2020. However, imports more than doubled from 5 million kilograms to 10.3 million over the same period. “The market is increasing, but imports are increasing faster due to the market access that’s been given in the trade agreements,” he says. BC Turkey nances saw a decrease in total assets of approximately $200,000, primarily attributable to expenses related to AI. A $126,775 shortfall of revenues versus expenses was noted in 2023 due in part to legal fees for a FIRB review and an increase in wages with the hiring of Veles. No other excessive changes to the 2024 budget were mentioned, and a $54,000 surplus is anticipated for the current year. BC Turkey board member Debbie Etsell, who also represents the provincial Turkey growers feel pressure from importsManaging risks a critical part of three-year strategic planTurkey u@countrylifeinbcFollow Us for farm newsFfnbcwswww.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613@TubelineMFGFind us on$AVINGS FROM START TO FINISH.There’s never been a better time to save on equipment or feed costs. For a limited time unlock savings instantly when purchasing any Tubeline inline model BaleWrapper, starting from 0% O.A.C. for 24 months OR $3,000 cash.Contact your dealer today to take advantage of this limited time offer.

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18 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Turkey© 2024 Vestaron Corporation. All Rights Reserved. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. COHORTwholesale.comTechnical and sales support for Spear®Lep is provided by Cohort WholesaleNew peptide technology. SPEAR® LEP insecticide provides a new mode of action that effectively targets lepidopteran pests on vegetables and otherhigh-value field crops. Five years of field trials and more than 550 K+ applied com-mercial acres show SPEAR LEP delivers the efficacy of synthetics with the safety and sustainability of biologicals. With no known resistance or cross-resistance, SPEAR LEP works as a stand alone or in rotation with conventional insecticides as a powerful new IPM tool for your operation. • New MOA - IRAC group 32• 0-Day PHI• 4-Hour REI • MRL ExemptA revolution in crop protection®™board at TFC, was re-elected by acclamation. She noted that expenditures for AI are not sustainable. “There’s not sucient funds in the reserves at this time to keep doing disease disinfecting,” she says. Suggestions from the oor to oset BC Turkey expenses included oering producers zero-interest loans or partial payments towards disinfection. BCTA director Stan Thiessen started his presentation with the July 2023 golf tournament held in partnership with BC Egg, which raised $180,000. The recipient, Union Gospel Mission, will use part of the funds to purchase turkey and eggs for outreach meals. The association received funding of $1 million from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Farmed Animal Disease program. This will be partially used to improve biosecurity and disease preparedness. “Some of these funds were used for the strategic plan,” Thiessen says, adding grower workshops will also benet. About $100,000 of the fund has been used. There was no election as Steve Heppell, Myles Andrew and Henry Klassen all agreed to renew their terms. Breeding better birdsRONDA PAYNE LANGLEY – Paige Rohlf is a research and development manager with Aviagen Turkeys in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She spoke to BC turkey growers about primary breeding in turkeys during the BC Poultry Conference in Langley in early March. “The birds I’m working on now, you’re going to see in 2028,” she says. “It’s a very slow boat and it’s very consistent.” Rohlf explained that she sees each of her lines as a breed because there are so few turkey breeders. Each line has unique characteristics. “We have to be very condent in our birds,” she says, “to make sure they are the best for the industry.” Her process looks at grandparents, parents and siblings through dierent lenses to help decide on the best birds for breeding selection. Picture a family tree many generations deep; if Rohlf doesn’t pick the best birds from the top of that tree, the faults will carry on to thousands of birds at the bottom. Rohlf focuses on selecting the best genetics for meat production, the main reason turkeys are raised. Reproductive traits make up 10% of her criteria. Health and welfare traits are also part of the equation, but commercial needs are the lion’s share. A new practice is doing a CT scan of live birds to assess breast meat yield. Previously, a bird needed to be euthanized. “We gured out a way to scan the turkeys,” she says. “We essentially put them in a [blanket] burrito. We scan over 100 a day. It’s very eective.” Aviagen keeps records on all breast meat yields, which helps keep the genetics going in the right direction. But a number of other factors go into selecting robust turkeys. Rohlf ensures feet and legs are assessed for things such as foot shape and footpad dermatitis, while they are also given a Lixi Scope leg x-ray and are assigned a walking score. Brooding density and mature stock density are also factors and no antibiotics or coccidiostats are administered. Feed is also important. “We feed a commercial diet, but it is a vegetable diet,” she says. The facility in Lewisburg is in an ideal location for biosecurity because it’s not on a migration route, nor are there other poultry farms nearby. However, when turkeys go to other farms where there are more challenging environments, the birds may struggle. Aviagen has a test farm in Virginia with a less perfect, more challenging environment. It’s near other poultry farms, litter is reused and older birds are present. Birds that go to the “challenge farm” aren’t medicated and their experiences supply data for their turkey brothers to further rene genetic information. “We can understand the genotype by environmental interaction,” Rohlf says. “We just want birds that are unaected by the challenging environments.” This means birds that were front runners in the Lewisburg farm may fail in the challenge environment. But some lines that were middle-of-the-pack in Lewisburg may show themselves as the best overall birds for customers of Aviagen in Brazil, Morocco, Canada and the US. Birds at the challenge farm are found to be exposed to much more bad bacteria, so understanding which birds thrive in this environment makes for better turkeys at processor farms. Rohlf explains that looking at turkeys and nding key traits is like a library, but one where the book spines are turned inward so titles can’t be seen. “The information is all there, but we can’t see it,” she says. “We’re working on turning those spines around.” Researchers using CT scans of live birds to assess breast meat

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 19Fruit growers face tough timesAnnual meeting takes stock of weather, marketing challengesTOM WALKER KELOWNA – Bad news was the order of the day as orchardists gathered for the 135th annual convention of the BC Fruit Growers Association in Kelowna, February 20. “It has been a dicult time for all tree fruit growers,” BCFGA president Peter Simonsen noted in his report. While the 2023 apple crop rebounded from the eects of the 2021 heat dome, Simonsen says Washington growers also saw a large crop that resulted in lower prices in BC. Cherry prices also plunged last year when weather events conspired to bring nearly all of western North America’s cherry production online at the same time. The apple industry is also plagued by internal competition, something the proposed orderly marketing initiative seeks to overcome. “There is intensive and destructive internal competition in marketing and a strong desire to maintain the status quo,” Simonsen says. “Our sector sells apples for less than Washington state – same grade, same variety, dierent box. With promotion, data-sharing and quality standards, we should be getting a ‘BC premium’ for our apples, not discounting them.” BCFGA is committed to providing more information about orderly marketing with the aim of having a member vote this spring. Several members spoke in support of moving forward with a marketing commission. “We have to do something,” says BCFGA vice president Deep Brar. “Things are not working the way they are.” Melissa Tesche gave her last report as general manager of the Okanagan Kootenay Sterile Insect Release program before succeeding Glen Lucas as BCFGA general manager on March 1. SIR relies on parcel rates of $162.68 per acre of planted host trees, while urban properties pay an average of $10 per year through an assessment paid to the regional district. The monies nance the rearing and release of sterile codling moths to control the pest. Apple acreage has fallen more than 1,600 acres over the last ve years to a low of 7,150 acres in 2023, Tesche reports, and program funding has declined as a result. SIR has in turn pivoted its business model and now sells excess moths to Washington growers. “That revenue is keeping us alive,” Tesche says. Washington apple growers pay as much as $1,200 per acre to control codling moth with conventional inputs. While additional government funding will support the program for two more years, Tesche says SIR is also looking at bringing a funding partner. The meeting heard updates on the Snowake apple recently launched in Ontario and the as yet unnamed 1080 apple now in eld trials here and across Canada. Members benefit BCFGA provides a good number of services for members. The 2023 Crop Input Incentive provided 159 member growers with a credit worth 2.5 times their membership at a chosen supplier, for a total outlay of just short of $180,000. Fifteen members sought assistance with their Perennial Crop Replant Program applications and 25 members were reimbursed the registration fee for the Southern Interior Horticultural Show in Penticton. BCFGA has allocated just over $735,000 to tree fruit research over the next ve years. Research projects will focus on alternative control strategies for pests of importance to tree fruit production and precision tools and techniques for improved crop load management as well as fruit quality, postharvest management and building the resilience of orchards. But there is bad news on the horizon. “A further challenge faces us in 2024,” says Simonsen. “The peach, apricot, plum, nectarine and cherry crops will be severely impacted by the January 2024 freeze event, although the full extent is still unclear. Our sister industry, the wine grape sector, will see no fruit this 2024 vintage and will likely suer from vine mortalities as well.” The millions of dollars and countless hours the provincial government and industry has devoted to the Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan launched in February 2021 has yet to deliver meaningful results. “The project has achieved some of its goals,” Simonsen says. “However, in a fall 2023 survey, growers indicated that few meaningful eects have been noticed and, overall, they feel the TFISP has not achieved the important goals set out.” Outstanding!Outstanding Young Farmer nalist Kerry McCann of Laughing Crow Organics has been operating a market garden and growing owers in Pemberton for 11 years. She presented her story at the BC & Yukon regional competition in Abbotsford on March 12 alongside poultry farmers Jeff and Carrie Hooge of Greendale, and winners Tristan and Aubyn Banwell. ANNA KLOCHKO

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20 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCTOM WALKER PENTICTON – “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” Mo Dhaliwal told attendees at the Southern Interior Horticultural Show in Penticton, February 16. Dhaliwal’s keynote address drew on his background as a kid growing up in the Sikh farming community in Abbotsford and combined that with his role as CEO of Skyrocket Digital, a leading digital marketing company in Vancouver. Dhaliwal’s comments were aimed at all farmers, but given that Okanagan apple growers are struggling to work together on marketing apples, his talk could have been aimed in their direction. Farming is changing rapidly as is much of our world, leading Dhaliwal to describe the situation as “VUCA” or “Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.” In the face of this, Dhaliwal quotes Darwin saying, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent that survive, but the most responsive to change.” Farming is an entity that must raise the quality of all members if it seeks to improve, Dhaliwal maintains. “There is no single farmer or plot of land that can ensure food security for us. Even the smallest guy needs access to the best resources to fully participate,” he notes. “There might be some top farmers, but if they don’t support the network of the sector, they will all be dragged down.” Dhaliwal pointed to the participation, resiliency and cooperation of farmers who worked together in India to protest three farm bills enacted in late 2020 that would have worsened conditions for farmers. Those bills were recalled after thousands of farmers protested. “If you want to go fast, go alone,” Dhaliwal says. “But if you want to go far, go together.” Responding to comments from the audience, Dhaliwal says that farmers need to organize in groups like farmers institutes. “Yes, farming can be a struggle, but when you show up in service to others, you derive strength,” he says. Working together is the only way to effect economic change, Dhaliwal told a grower who asked about the current challenges with apple marketing. “If you are dealing with large buyers who are dictating terms that any individual farmer might not find favourable, the only choice you have is to have a united front,” he says, noting that a group that cooperates has much more bargaining power. “You need to be a large enough body so you can talk corporation to corporation on a peer level,” Dhaliwal says. “If everybody is fending for themselves it weakens the entire system and drags down the sector.” Hort keynote offers ideas on moving forward “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.”MO DHALIWALTree fruit and grape growers packed the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre for the rst-ever Southern Interior Horticultural Show, February 16-17. “We had 568 registrants, 80 trade exhibitors and 47 speakers,” says Lindsay Hainstock, extension specialist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. “It was pretty exciting to see all the networking and discussion going on between the sessions.” The two-day event featured specic sessions for apple, cherry and grape growers, a rst for the Okanagan region and an event that ticks a lot of boxes, Hainstock says. “The Lower Mainland and the Island both have their own shows,” she points out. “The Okanagan Similkameen is the second-largest growing area in the province, so it makes sense for us to have our own show.” A cross-commodity event has a number of benets that a commodity-specic event lacks, Hainstock points out, particularly given the diversity of crops that many growers have. “We have lots of growers who farm more than one crop, apple growers who also grow cherries and tree fruit growers who also grow grapes,” she notes. Growers didn’t have to worry if they missed an important apple session while they were attending a session about cherries. “All the sessions were recorded,” Hainstock explains. “One registration gave you an access to all of the sessions online for a full month, so If you missed something or wanted to go back and review a session, you could do that.” Sharing the work to organize just one show also makes a lot of sense. “You know, it is often the same people who organize these events for their group and being able to come together and help each other really made it easier for everyone,” Hainstock says. “We had myself, Katelyn Hengel and Lindsay King from ministry sta along with the BC Fruit Growers Association, the BC Grapegrowers Association, BC Wine Grape Council, Wine Growers BC, Sustainable Wine Growing BC and the OK Sterile Insect Release program.” Hainstock says the group is already starting to plan for next year. “The biggest success for me was to feel the wonderful synergy of all the growers coming together,” she said. “We had various networking areas set aside and they were really well used.” —Tom Walker New hort show finds an audienceQuality Pre-Owned Tractors & EquipmentCHALLENGER MT545E full load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140,000 JAYLOR Mixer Wagon 4575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 MF 1742 tractor, AWD with cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,500 MF 4609 tractor with 931 loader, 2215 Hours . . . . . 49,000 MF 4707 4WD, LDR, LOW HOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,000 MF 4708 tractor/loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,500 MCCORMICK X5.40 cab tractor, low hours . . . . . . . 60,000 TURBOMATIC 600 lt sprayer with side cannon . . . . 8,500 VICON fertilizer spreader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 WALLENSTEIN M130 manure spreader . . . . . . . . . 17,500 WN WL60T articulating loader 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,000 WACKER NEUSON 8085T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.500FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO GO UPVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD.3080T TELESCOPIC WHEEL LOADER 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE | 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 21Kerri Wyse-McNolty, her parents Jim and Midge and brother Chris Wyse were toasted for their commitment to quality and conservation at the 2024 Wine Industry Awards in Penticton, March 12. SUBMITTEDTree Fruit Growers: Join or Renew your 2024 BCFGA MembershipAt the BCFGA, our mission is to· Advocate for the interest of growers· Foster collaboration within the industry· Promote sustainable practices to ensure the continued success of fruit farming in BC Together, our collective voice is strong.1. LMIA Application Assistance2. Valuable Information: via weekly newsletters, Ag publication subscriptions, Tree Fruit Production Guide, seasonal farm labour information, extension advice, spray schedules, and more.3. Member Support: • Monetary incentives for programs like EFP completion ($250) and COR/ Worker Safety ($250-$500). • Discounts & Partnerships like the TFW Housing Building Permit application discount, and Crop Tracker digitized Spray Records & GAP modules (free for members)Representing Growers Since 1889.1.800.619.9022 info@bcfga.com www.bcfga.com 880 Vaughan Avenue, Kelowna, BCMEMBERSHIPMEMBER INCENTIVESeasy scanQR linkKATE AYERS PENTICTON – The Wyse family of Oliver’s Burrowing Owl Estate Winery took home the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction during the 2024 Wine Industry Awards ceremony on March 12 in Penticton. A long-term commitment to producing high-quality wine while honouring and protecting the local environment have been dening practices at Burrowing Owl, founded in 1993 by Jim and Midge Wyse. “That's been our family’s life work for the last 30 years and so it's very special to be recognized for all that hard work,” says their daughter and winery vice-president Kerri Wyse-McNolty. Together with Wyse-McNolty’s brother Chris Wyse, company president, the family oversees 210 acres with 13 grape varieties which support an annual production of 50,000 cases. As determined by the awards selection committee, the Wyse family has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment and passion to the advancement of the Canadian wine industry and made integral contributions to BC’s and Canada’s wine sectors. “The Canadian Wine Award of Distinction, is known as the highest form of peer recognition,” says Wine Growers BC acting communications director Lindsay Kelm. “It is a nomination process and then is selected on by the Wine Growers of Canada board of directors.” Side hustle Jim and Midge planted the roots for their winery in the early 90s when they bought a 100-acre vineyard on the Black Sage Bench as a side hustle while still living in Vancouver. “They worked very hard to make sure they were choosing the right vineyard. They were keen on planting excellent quality European vinifera grape varietals,” Wyse-McNolty says. Their original site in the South Okanagan was deemed one of the best grape-growing regions in Canada, she adds. In addition to a focus on quality, sustainability has been a priority from the beginning. Shortly after buying the property, Jim found an old sign from the 1970s indicating that the provincial government attempted Wine sector celebrates award winnersBurrowing Owl Estate Winery and the Wyse family receive top national prizeWinning winery u<H;;FJEFkcfeh(+&&:_iYekdjedI[b[Yj?hh_]Wj_edH[[bi><KI<<CK?@JJGI@E>>*0'&*''$efZfdglk\i**#0-->*0'&*,'$efZfdglk\i*,#(,'>*0'&*/'$efZfdglk\i*0#)+0H[[biWh[Yecfb[j[m_j^ifh_dab[hWdZ_db[j^ei[$nXk\ik\ZeX%ZfdCXe^c\p -'+$//)$.+',:_`cc`nXZb../$)0/$)+''N`cc`XdjCXb\),'$*0/$..,.FREE freight to ranch or farm site while supplies lastNXk\iK\Z

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22 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Winning winery has raised over $2 million for burrowing owl conservation Magister® is a registered trademark used under license by Gowan Company, L.L.C. REGISTRATION NO. 34544 PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS ACT. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.COHORTwholesale.comTechnical and sales support for Magister®is provided by Cohort WholesaleMagister® SC Miticide Magister, offering broad spectrum mite control, along with advantage of powdery mildew control.Mindful ofMites &powdery mildew!ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.reintroducing the burrowing owl to the area, an initiative that was largely unsuccessful at the time. This acquainted the family with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society, where they volunteered. The commitment inspired the name of the vineyard. “It wasn't something they thought about resonating with consumers,” Wyse-McNolty says. “At that point, they weren't even planning on making wine. They thought, if it raises awareness of these burrowing owls with a couple people, then we've done something good.” The wineries to which the Wyse family sold grapes soon began to win awards and so Jim and Midge drafted plans for their own winery. “Dad got some friends and investors on board to raise some capital to build a winery and the winery was completed in time for the 1998 harvest,” Wyse-McNolty says. “The original plan was for a 10,000-case winery, but today we produce ve times that amount. Thanks to my dad's smart business decisions, focus on quality and constant reinvestment, we've expanded by acquiring more vineyards and building up our facilities.” As the business grew, the couple decided to add a restaurant and accommodations to provide a high-quality agri-tourism experience to visitors with the local economy and environment in mind. Over the years, through tasting programs and wine shop, the family have raised about $2 million for the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society and other conservation organizations of interest. In July 2021, the family added to their production portfolio through the purchase of Wild Goose Winery in Okanagan Falls. Despite the family’s expansion and success throughout 30 years of business, the last few years have posed challenges. Last August, during the province’s record-setting wildre season, the BC government introduced travel restrictions with the aim of freeing up accommodations for reghting crews and evacuees. “We had to cancel all of our bookings in our guest house for those two weeks. We followed all the rules, but it denitely severely impacted our business as it did everyone around us,” Wyse-McNolty says. “I know the provincial government is working hard to make sure that their future emergency responses are appropriate for the situation. It was the rst time that that had happened, and I think we're denitely learning as we go.” The cold snap in January has the family waiting to assess bud damage. “We're remaining cautiously optimistic. We won’t know our status for sure until after bud break in April and then once we get some heat in June,” Wyse-McNolty says. “It's not until we pass those markers that we'll know the full reality of what we're dealing with.” Even though 2023 crop volume was down, quality was high and the large 2022 crop is still providing fodder for wine hitting shelves this year. “Although there has been a lot of devastation in the vineyard, you actually won't see that translate to the shelves until 2025,” Kelm says. “This year we're selling the 2022 vintages and we're seeing 2023 come on stream. … We would love for people to come and visit the wineries this year and still plan their trips to BC wine country. Down the line, we don’t know what it means for the 2024 vintage yet. Wyse-McNolty agrees. “In the Okanagan, there is wine for sale. Yes, there's a lot of growers who had a tough winter, but there is still good reason to come and visit,” she says. “There is still going to be wine on the shelves.” Back in Penticton, the awards ceremony served as a reminder that the wine sector is resilient and can adapt to any new challenges that lie ahead. “It's huge to have these little moments, celebrations and these silver linings, especially during these challenging times when growers have been challenged for the past several years in ways that no one could have imagined,” Kelm says. “Being able to come together as an industry last week to celebrate some of the good things and the amazing people that have built this industry really, I think provided a nice little moment of clarity and a moment of reection for everybody to remember why we're all doing this and that we do have an amazing community around us.” Other BC-based award winners include UncorkBC founder and editor Kayla Bordignon, Iconic Wineries of BC guest and VIP experience manager Bram Bolwijn and Enotecca Wineries and Resorts winemaker, viticulturist and managing partner Severine Pinte. “ Yes, there's a lot of growers who had a tough winter, but there is still good reason to come and visit. There is still going to be wine on the shelves.” KERRI WYSE-MCNOLTY VICE PRESIDENT BURROWING OWL ESTATE WINERY

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Sukhpaul Bal presented Dr. David Geen of Bertram Farms in Kelowna with the Dr. Karlis Lapins Achievement Award for his service to the industry at BC Cherry's annual meeting in Kelowna, March 1. The award is named for the Summerland plant breeder who developed the cherry variety that bears his name – a variety Geen trialled prior to its release, just one example of his support of the industry. MYRNA STARK LEADERCherry growers face headwinds Growth in international markets offset challenges at homeCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 23595 Acre Active Ranch 5 Titles | $3,500,0005770 Spring Lake Rd, 100 Mile, BCLEADER IN AGRICULTURAL SALES IN THE FRASER VALLEY WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE4323 Humphrey Rd, Agassiz, BC 92.95 Acre Blueberry Farm | $3,900,000T 604 793 8138 | bryanvanhoepen.com | 23.85 Acres | $2,470,0002689 Sutherland Road Agassiz, BC 25.61 Acre Blueberry Farm | $2,470,0004184 Humphrey Rd Agassiz, BCSOLDTOM WALKER KELOWNA – Optimism regarding international and domestic markets oset the harsh realities of extreme growing conditions at home as the BC Cherry Association met for its annual general meeting in Kelowna, March 1. While the industry continues to expand its access to international markets, with last year witnessing the rst ocial exports to Korea, domestic growing conditions are a concern. “We saw damage from the freeze of late December 2022 and then 30°C spring weather that condensed our growing season last year and put us in direct competition with Washington, Oregon and California,” says BCCA president Sukhpaul Bal. The onset of fruit from the four West Coast growing regions pushed down prices, resulting in a fth consecutive season where growers suered nancial hurt due to extreme weather. Now, the extended freeze event this January is expected to reduce the 2024 crop signicantly, promising a sixth season of pain. “If this is the new normal, we cannot tackle these problems on our own,” Bal says. Recognizing this challenge, the BC Cherry board voted to subsidize grower costs for the in-orchard cherry fruit y trapping program required to export cherries to China. This will enable registered growers to continue meeting export requirements, whether or not they have much fruit to export this season. “I urge you to stick with China, and that is why the board has voted to subsidize the work this season,” says Richard Isaacs, chair of BC Cherry’s market access committee. “If you withdraw from the program, we don’t know if you would be able to get back on the list next year.” BC cherries were well received in the South Korean market last year. “First impressions were good,” Isaacs says. BC has a leg up on competition from US Pacic Northwest cherry exports. “We don’t have to fumigate our fruit before we ship it to Korea and this ensures our cherries arrive in much better condition than US fruit,” Issacs explains. But further export opportunities are limited, Isaacs says. BC Cherry’s market access committee is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to open up Mexico as well as Brazil and Australia, but those markets won’t match past successes. “There won’t be another China or South Korea, which is why we are keen to develop the domestic Canadian market,” Isaacs explains. Canadian cherry month promotions launched last year will return for 2024. “Canada is the largest market for Washington cherries,” Isaacs points out. “There is more opportunity here than any other market in the world. We want Canadians to love our cherries.” BC Cherry will attend the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s convention in Vancouver in late April to promote Canadian cherries and to kick o the 2024 Canadian Cherry Month campaign, set to run July 15 to August 15. “We don’t yet know how extensive the campaign will be,” Isaacs notes. “We are cautious right now as we aren’t sure of our supply.” Little Cherry Disease and Western X virus – two threats present in BC orchards but not currently spreading – remain a top priority of BC Cherry’s research and extension committee, which is planning research and eld days to help growers tackle the diseases. BC’s cherry industry continues to cooperate with and benet from Washington State researchers as part of the Little Cherry Disease task force. “We will likely be bringing a speaker up from Washington as part of our eld days,” committee chair Gayle Krahn notes. “We are also planning orchard management sessions, but those will focus on setting your orchard up for next year.” Two long-time BC Cherry board members were recognized for their service at the meeting. Consolidated Fruit Packers president Dariel Trottier and Dr. David Geen of Bertram Farms in Kelowna have stepped down from their board roles. YOURHelping YouYOURHelping YouHelpingpingplpinYoulHHpingoeDon’t forget to RENEW your subscription toCountry Lifein BC

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 25Farmers markets explore new opportunitiesSuccessful nutrition coupon program goes digitalChris Bodnar of Close to Home Organics introduced BC Association of Farmers Markets members to a new virtual guide to help market managers and farmers better understand on-farm visits at the BCAFM conference in North Vancouver in March alongside BCAFM executive director Heather O'Hara (centre) and Stacey Santos. RONDA PAYNEMatsqui Ag-Repair Abbotsford, BCNorth Valley EquipmentArmstrong, BCVisit your local KUHN Manure Spreader dealer today!Invest in Quality®www.kuhn.comPS 250 – 280 PROSPREAD® | Apron Box Spreaders500 – 800 ft3 heaped capacities • trailer modelsSUPERIOR BUILD. SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE.Heavy-duty guillotine gate for increased material metering and 昀ow management Multiple discharge options to meet your spreading needs Dual apron provides consistent and reliable material 昀ow to beatersHydraulic apron drive* allows for speed variability for desired application rates(*PS 280 features dual hydraulic motors)RONDA PAYNE NORTH VANCOUVER – BC farmers markets are always trying to make things easier and better for vendors, customers and market management teams. Strategies include attracting more people to markets by generating increased funding for the provincial market nutrition coupon programs, one of many actions in the works with Canadian Farmers’ Markets, a coalition of market associations in seven provinces. The Canadian body was formed during the pandemic in 2020 to keep markets going when provincial associations were meeting regularly online. “We’ve been able to do some pretty cool stu like meet [federal agriculture] minister Lawrence MacAulay,” says CFM co-founder and president Justin Cantao at the 2024 BC Farmers Markets Conference in North Vancouver March 1-3. Cantao, who is also executive director with Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, told the BC association how the national organization asked MacAulay for federal funding for provincial nutrition coupon programs. There are currently only three regional associations with coupon programs. “We dropped a pretty big number on them,” he says. “It didn’t scare them.” Numerous new BC initiatives were discussed during the business meeting on the nal day of the conference. BCAFM executive director Heather O’Hara described a tasting passport that will generate visitor data to better understand customers while delivering prizes and a more interactive experience. “The power of the app is that people check-in,” says O’Hara. “It’s a new engagement exercise.” The passport will be linked to the existing BC Farmers Market Trail program and additional support from regional tourism bodies will enhance the promotion of local markets. O’Hara introduced another new element to members, a tourism growth grant, which is allowing the association to work with the market management teams to create more of a tourism experience. “Maybe it’s about multiple-language signage or creating more of what your guests want to see,” she says. Finding new ways to support markets with their biggest challenges continues to be important, given the membership survey results presented by Melissa Maltais, membership and program lead with BCAFM. Fifty markets submitted survey responses. “We really use this info to guide us,” she says. Rental fees were a surprising part of the results, with some markets paying nothing for their space and other markets paying up to $26,000 a year. She says a townhall discussion to discuss rental fees is coming. Additionally, Maltais says the BC Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program and the recently released data from BCAFM’s economic impact study give markets strong ground to stand on when they present a value case to municipalities. The nutrition coupon program remains a key talking point at the conference. As one of BCAFM’s most widely known programs, it got a facelift from paper coupons to a reloadable card for member markets that trialed the option in the 2023 season. It saves time in counting coupons, is reloadable and provides data instantly. “It allows our partners [such as food banks] to load cards on a regular basis,” says coupon program manager Peter Leblanc. He explains that vendors sign up for the coupon app and use their phones to scan guest cards at the market when a purchase is made. This data is captured in a database and calculated to ensure vendors are reimbursed based on scanned cards rather than paper coupons. Fraser North Farmers Market Society executive director Ron Gorman, who oversees the Haney, Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows markets, felt a little intimidated to try the card at rst, but was quickly converted. The card saved him the time required to count the upwards of 18,000 coupons the society’s three markets receive each summer. “I didn’t have to count a single coupon,” Gorman says. Leblanc encourages other markets to try the card. Additional benets include the ability to instantly track which partners are most successful with giving out (and reloading) the cards to guests and which vendors are seeing the cards most. Ultimately, the digital coupons provide access to more information. “It’s available to all of you,” Leblanc told conference attendees. There was no election of BCAFM directors at the AGM as ve nominees were acclaimed. These include Jane Bowser of Williams Lake Farmers Market, Greg Unger of Kamloops Farmers Market, Kate McLaughlin of Sechelt Farmers and Artisans Market, Martin Krell of Prince George Farmers Market and Wylie Bystedt of Quesnel Farmers Market. 1.800.282.7856 Find out more at terraseco.comFiXaTion CloverFrosty CloverCrimson CloverDC Red CloverHybrid CloverNEW eNhance CloverFiXaTion CloverFrosty CloverCrimson CloverDC Red CloverHybrid CloverNEW eNhance CloverTerra Seed Corp GROW YOUR OWN NITROGEN

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26 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCChris Vuksic spoke to Farmer to Farmer participants about the clay-lined pond he constructed to meet his farm’s water needs. KATHLEEN GIBSONKATHLEEN GIBSON SAANICH – The new South Island Farmers Institute got 2024 o to a strong start with its Farmer to Farmer program, a series of workshops and a day-long conference on February 15 at the Saanich Fairgrounds north of Victoria. SIFI founding member Katie Underwood of Peas n Carrots Farm in Saanich describes how, during the institute’s 2023 formation, they asked area farmers what interested them. This year’s topics were membership driven. Eight workshops over four days gave farmers a chance to discuss soils, irrigation systems and ponds, small-scale solar, pest management, plant grafting and machine maintenance. A workshop at Anneth Farm in North Saanich showcased a new irrigation pond and details of its design, construction and operation. Co-owner Chris Vuksic introduced the clay-lined, rain-fed pond as a key element in the operation’s sustainable prole, reducing reliance on municipal water. The 23-by-12-metre pond holds about 500,000 litres to meet the farm’s annual irrigation needs. Farmer participants had the opportunity to talk with the excavator and pond designer. The soil removed was kept on site to regrade a nearby area from which the topsoil was removed and then replaced. Farm manager Shellie Macdonald described ongoing ecosystems restoration work, with plantings taking root at the pond’s edge and salamanders and dragonies arriving. The project, including pumping equipment, cost about $35,000 and took 10 to 12 days to complete. Useful information and farmer engagement were equally evident at the February 15 conference, where discussions were organized around production of livestock, vegetables and owers, and across topics that included crop planning, product pricing, wholesaling, business scale-up, plant breeding, sheep-raising, cut-ower harvesting and handling, and FireSmart farming. A session on sheep with Lorea Tomsin of Country Wools in Sidney laid out the essentials of choosing breeds, establishing and maintaining a healthy ock and choosing your approach for meat and/or wool products. Another, on scaling up your poultry business with Thomas Hyde of Mill Bay Farms and Mill Bay Processors, oered specics for poultry production and marketing. Hyde’s operation raises turkey and chicken, distributes turkey chicks, and oers slaughter services at its new provincially inspected abattoir, with plans to add a cut-and-wrap facility soon. Thomas wants to make poultry production on Vancouver Island more aordable, thus increasing regional food security. “We hope our operation changes the poultry landscape so that ‘local’ means ‘Island,’” he says. Cammy Lockwood, co-owner of Lockwood Farms in Cobble Hill, hosted one of two labour sessions. After more than ve years of trying, the Lockwoods brought in two workers from Mexico in 2023 on a two-year contract through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s ag stream. Lockwood detailed the process and its requirements, challenges and benets. Will she renew the contract? “Yes,” Lockwood says. “It’s a no-brainer.” The imported help has given the Lockwoods renewed energy and time away from the farm, including to share their experiences at conferences. Island conference prioritizes farmer issuesThoughtful sessions well-received

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 27Amber Stamm’ler of Indigo Valley Farm in Vernon, is looking forward to a new season growing haskaps that she'll sell online and at farmers markets. CATHY GLOVERKATE AYERS VERNON – With limited provincial resources, haskap berry producers must forge their own paths toward business viability and success through value-added products and direct-to-consumer marketing. “I didn't want to make a mistake and pick something that's really hard, which is kind of ironic because I ended up with something really hard,” says Indigo Valley Farm owner Amber Stamm’ler. “It was supposed to be my part-time job … but it quickly turned out to be not at all what I had expected. It is like a full-time job plus more.” Haskaps grow wild in most provinces, excluding BC, but the wild fruit is not suitable for consumption or harvest. Commercial cultivation in Canada began in Alberta in the 1950s. In 2007, the University of Saskatchewan released commercial varieties that are much sweeter, easier to grow and more suitable for harvest than their wild counterparts. In BC, most haskaps were planted in 2015 or later, according to a BC Haskap Association survey of growers in 2019. The association has since dissolved. Haskaps ripen in mid June and taste like a mixture of blueberry and raspberry. The berries can be consumed fresh, frozen or in a wide range of processed products, including juice, wine, candies and jams. Stamm’ler is a first-generation farmer with previous experience bringing fruit spreads to market. When the opportunity arose to pivot from processing to growing, she took it. In 2014, she and her family moved from Ontario to Vernon and bought a property with three acres of horse pasture. After extensive research, she identified haskaps as the easiest fruit to establish and maintain. Coincidentally, a local grower held a haskap seminar in nearby Salmon Arm around that same time. To Stamm’ler’s surprise, when she finally had a crop of haskaps in 2018, it turned out she needed to do all her own processing and marketing. When a retailer deal fell through, she froze and began processing the berries in her home kitchen to make such products as sauce, jam, juice, tea and chocolate. Even with farming experience, Kristin Atherton of Chetwynd’s Hasberry Farms says the crop requires some trial and error. “It was partly experimentation, partly hopeful, partly educated guess,” Atherton says of how her family started growing haskaps. Atherton, along with her brother and parents, bought acreage and planted their first crop of haskaps in 2018. A few years earlier, a local school had a haskap berry research project that the family supported. Through this project, they discovered the hardiness of the fruit and its ability to thrive in the northern environment so began their own research into potential markets and business viability. One of the larger haskap farms in BC, Hasberry Farms has 30 acres of berries which equals roughly 30,000 plants, and six varieties. 400 acres in cultivation The BC Haskap Association survey indicated approximately 400 acres of haskaps in BC in 2018. “In 2018, the BC Haskap Association had 34 grower members including a handful of large-scale producers in the Okanagan and Peace Region, each with [between] 15 and 30 acres,” it reported, adding that many BC haskap producers have less than 10 acres. Atherton has relied on provincial agronomists, local business organizations, social media and YouTube to grow the family operation. “It has been very difficult [determining] how to learn, who to learn from and trying to find the right people to get support in the right areas,” Atherton says. “There are not a lot of people that are growing haskaps. There are a few people that are ahead of us ... and so you know you can make connections but then we're all kind of struggling to figure it out.” Indeed, Stamm’ler and Atherton faced the reality of developing their own products and building their own markets. “We realized that especially being in the north and being a small community, logistics are hard for shipping frozen, especially getting started in small quantities; it’s just not financially viable,” Atherton says. “That's why we really wanted to do processed products.” Family support and collaboration make a difference as well as scale and mechanization. Atherton’s father modified a bush berry harvester to mechanically harvest the haskaps, her mother contributes to product development and market research and her brother tends to the plants. Atherton completes paperwork and helps wherever she can on the farm. Stamm’ler has done everything by hand and largely on her own, which has resulted in large time, labour and financial investments. Atherton and her family have been able to expand their product reach throughout Hudson Hope, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Prince George and Chetwynd. “U-pick is good. We’ve sold a lot through U-pick. … But it's not enough for long term viability,” Atherton says. “We really needed a way that was feasible to get started on a smaller scale and then be able to expand as we were able to scale up. We needed to be able to process smaller quantities and keep our profit margin so that we can be sustainable long term.” Since 2018, the family have processed the berries at a local commercial kitchen. In November, they received a $50,000 boost from the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund to build an on-farm processing centre. Haskaps hold potential for northern growersGrowers must process products, build niche marketsHaskaps uFarm & Rural ResidentialProperties in the Peace Country are our specialtyAnne H. ClaytonMBA, P App AACI, RIAppraiserJudi LeemingBHE, P App CRAAppraiser250.782.1088info@aspengrovepropertyservices.ca www.aspengrovepropertyservices.ca

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28 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Haskaps“It should help us increase our production dramatically from what we're doing right now,” Atherton says. The family’s main products are juice and jam. Their goal is to have the facility ready by April before farming operations begin for the year. “I'm really proud of the innovation that we've done. And starting something totally new in the Peace Region on a larger scale and sticking to it. It's been a long road so far,” Atherton says. Looking ahead, Atherton hopes the family can expand their haskap acreage and reach stores beyond the Peace. “That will come with being able to process more,” she says. Stamm’ler hopes to turn a profit this year after investing in plants, netting, deer fencing and irrigation infrastructure. She sells her products online and at farmers markets. “It was the customers that kept me going because they were so enthusiastic and appreciative of the products that I'm making and the berries I was providing. They were telling me to keep going,” Stamm’ler says. For those considering growing haskaps, “think 100 times before you actually do this,” Stamm’ler explains. “Know who you're going to be selling to and all that before you even do anything, because otherwise you're going to end up with a bunch of berries and nobody to sell to,” she says. “Have a plan [with] everything thought out.” Well, despite the winter wallop recently received, I suspect spring is still lurking nearby. It’s like the proverbial dropping of the other shoe: I know it’s inevitable, I just don’t know when, and I don’t know if you can tell, but I am not ready to rejoice in its arrival. The rst shoe is already down, because just before winter nally showed up with intent, spring had sprung quite convincingly. In fact, it was so spring-like that I suspect the more ambitious mixed vegetable growers were eyeing up their elds for an early brassica block planting. Now they are back to sensibly seeding tiny onion seeds in their cozy greenhouses. I never left my dimly lit roothouse where I’ve been spending all my time pawing through potatoes, doing my best to ignore the outside. The sunlight and warmth streamed in each time the door opened, however, inspiring some potatoes to begin sprouting. The Sieglinde succumbed almost entirely although the French Fingerling, La Ratte and Yukon Gold were having none of it. Tangentially, one thing I really miss about spring is calving. I don’t have nearly enough exposure to it at this stage in my agricultural career. There was a time when I had family in active ranching and I was as good as the next crop farmer at applying the green Cheerios, burning the buds and clipping the tag (if you know, you know). The Pemberton beef cattle scene has changed over the years, as things do, and there seems to be fewer herds available for spring calf viewing. Most seed potato farmers used to run cow-calf herds because it complemented the potato program. Until it didn’t. It’s tough in Pemberton to run livestock. I think mud might be the main issue, but the sheer volume of snow plays a part, too, not to mention the distance from the auction house and the unpredictable price uctuations. I do see plenty of seed potato liner trucks rumbling up and down the highway, mind you. Not as cute as calves, but a still useful seasonal mood booster. The 18-wheelers are in the valley to pick up loads of conventional seed potatoes for delivery to farms all over the Western states and provinces. To me, there is a thrill in knowing that the root houses are open after being buttoned up all winter and that somewhere, people are planting potatoes. One of the earliest elds to be planted, probably in all of Canada, is in the Lower Mainland of BC. The location is geographically favoured in such a way that February planting in warm, dry soil is possible. The farmer in charge of that eld duly pounces. It is to be admired. Less admirable is the behaviour of the landlord of that eld, the federal government, which is in danger of selling that land for development of some kind. Imagine squandering the only patch of ground in Canada that can grow potatoes in February. The fact it is necessary to explain why it’s worth protecting is the heartbreaking part. Oops. I descended into a rant without warning and without meaning to. All apologies. Allow me to move on gracefully, others having far more eloquently made the point before now. Any day now we should be reading that the land has been absorbed into the ALR. Throughout the recent snowfall, which was so much more than the usual March squall that melts the next day, the birds continued to sing in the trees from whence their droppings have been peppering windshields for weeks now. At times the trees were not visible in the whiteness, but the cheerful chirping continued. Were you to close your eyes, the sound would transport you to a bright spring day with a to-do list a mile long. Anna Helmer farms in Pemberton and was in grave danger of missing this deadline. Spring, and the liner trucks are hauling potatoesFarm Story ANNA HELMERFinancing programs are subject to change at any time.FINANCINGAVAILABLE0%**Prices are subject to change$371/MONTH$0 DOWN 0% INTERESTWith Loader and BackhoeeMax 20HYUNDAI EXCAVATORHX85A 7-Year Powertrain WarrantyABBOTSFORD 604.850.3601 339 Sumas WayHOUSTON 250.845.3333 2990 Highway CrescentVICTORIA 250.474.33014377C Metchosin Rd. @tractor timeequipmenttractortime.com30 mins from Victoria and15 mins from Hwy#1 in Metchosin.handlersequipment.com@handlersequipment

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 29John and Maria Byland, centre, received a lifetime achievement award in recognition of their family-run nursery, which is now in the hands of a third-generation, son Michael (left) and daughter Melanie (right). SUBMITTEDServing the Okanagan and Fraser Valley We’ve been proudly family owned and operated since opening in 1976. And with two blending plants, we’re one of BC’s largest distributors of granular, liquid and foliar fertilizers. Our buying power and proximity to the Fraser Valley makes us the logical choice for truckload shipments. OKANAGAN FERTILIZER LTD 1-800-361-4600 or 250-838-6414Employers are responsible for the safety of their workers. Educate new and young workers to identify hazards and minimize risks.TRACEY FREDRICKSON WEST KELOWNA – If you enjoy houseplants, garden plants or are a commercial grower, chances are Bylands Nursery and Garden Centre has enhanced your life with plants during the past 60 years. The business has remained family owned and operated throughout that time, with John Byland managing the nursery and his wife Maria running the 20,000-square-foot garden centre which provides home décor items, houseplants and gardening accessories. Bylands’ expansive production facility is a landmark on Hwy 97 at the approach to West Kelowna. Four million plants are grown annually, including fruit trees, perennials, container shrubs, bare-root trees and container trees on over a dozen plots totalling more than 500 acres. With 300,000 square feet of greenhouses, 20 acres of cold frames, 45,000 square feet of refrigerated storage space and 143 employees, the business is the largest grower in Western Canada outside of the Fraser Valley and one of the most diversied in the country. Son Michael is a third-generation nurseryman who took an active part in the business after attending university. He moved through the ranks from sales, to positions as vice-president, general manager and CEO, his current role. Daughter Melanie has been involved in various areas of the business and is currently working with Maria on the launch of a second garden centre in Kelowna. The nursery’s focus is on growing hardy plants suited to cooler regions. Most customers are wholesale buyers in Western Canada and Alberta, but Bylands also ships products across North America. Equally impressive is the line up of awards Bylands has received for its economic performance, positioning in the marketplace, innovation in production and growing techniques, company image, environmental standards and human resource management. Most recently it was honored with the Lifetime of Outstanding Service Award from the BC Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA) in December 2023. Award-winning nursery a family affairBylands Nursery credits success to relationships, seasonal workers and innovation Embracing new technologies uUSED EQUIPMENT KUBOTA K76249H 76” SKIDSTEER SNOWBLOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 KUBOTA AP-SC2572, 72” SKID CUTTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 JD XUV560E 4S GATOR 2019, 4 SEATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,500 NH 1033 BALE WAGON, 105 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,500 NH 1036 BALE WAGON, 70 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 SHAVER #10 POST DRIVER, SKIDSTEER MOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,500 USED TRACTORS KUBOTA T2380 2017, 48” DECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,500 TORO 328D 48” MOWERS, 2,900 HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 KUB F2880 2006, 1,411HRS, 60” REAR DISCHARGE . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,500 KUB M5-111HDCC24, 2021, TRACW/ M32 LDR, 35HRS . . . . . . 115,000 KUB GF1800-4W, 2010, 1,100HRS, NEW 60” MOWER DECK . . . . . 16,900 NEW INVENTORY KUBOTA RAKES, TEDDERS, MOWERS, POWER HARROWS - CALL! RAIN-FLO MULCH LAYERS, MULCH LIFTERS & TRANSPLANTERS, IN-STOCK OMH PROSCREEN, TOPSOIL SCREENERS. 68”, 78” AND 108” MODELS CONSTRUCTION KUB SVL75-2HWC 2016, CAB, HYD CPLR, 2,000HRS . . . . . . . . . . 63,500 KUB SSV65P 2021, CAB, HYD CPLR, 130HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,850 KUB SVL75-2 CAB, HYD CPLR, STD FLOW 1,100HRS . . . . . . . . . . . 71,500 KUB SVL95 2020, CAB, HIGH FLOW, 225hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99,375 CASE 420CT, 2007, TRACK LOADER, ROPS, 1,750HRS . . . . . . . . . . 45,000 CAT 289D 2019, TRACK LOADER, CAB, 1621 HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74,750 TORO TX1000 2017, MINI TRACK LOADER, 300HRS . . . . . . . . . . . 29,500 TORO 22473 TRENCHER, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,500 KUB KX080-42 2019, HYD Q/A, 2 BKTS, THUMB, 590HRS . . . . . . 145,000 WACKER NEUSON RD12 2021, 67 HRS, DRUM ROLLER . . . . . . . 22,500 CUSTOMER APPRECIATION APRIL 17 | DUNCAN YOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESURg YougYouWS

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30 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Embracing new technologies has given Bylands an international reputationwww.GroberNutrition.com | 1.800.265.7863 |C.J Brookes Chilliwack (604) 846-2100Dares Country FeedsLangley (604) 856-1611Smithers Feed Store Smithers (250) 847-9810Four Rivers Co-operativePrince George (250) 564-6010Agri-Supply LTDKamloops (250) 372-7446Barriere Country Feeds Inc. Barriere (250) 672-5256Beavervalley FeedsWilliams Lake (250) 392-6282Country West SupplyArmstrong (250) 546-9174Chilliwack (604) 847-3737Find Grober products at the following DairyCrop B.C. area dealers:Top Shelf FeedsCourtenay (250) 897-3302 Duncan (250) 746-5101 Powell River (604) 485-2244Victoria (250) 478-8012Contact the DairyCrop teamGerry DeGroot (604) 819-4139James Robinson 236.986.7693Evan Davidson (604) 991-6708YOUR YOUNG ANIMAL SPECIALISTS SINCE 1974High quality products backed by 50 years of research, knowledge and dedication to young animal nutritionBut scaling up the family-run business hasn’t always been a bed of roses, and John’s decision to take it over was not exactly planned. His parents, Adrian and Katie Byland, emigrated from Holland in 1954 and started the nursery on rented land in West Kelowna. “My father was an old-school thinker – he had high standards and people liked and respected him,” says John. “Growing up, I was expected to work at the nursery every day after school and on weekends. Years later when I was at university in the states, dad would y me back and forth to work there weekends because I could do every job.” In 1982, Adrian Byland became seriously ill. “I pulled out of school thinking I would help my dad out at the nursery until he recovered,” John says. “But he never did recover, and I never went back.” Instead, he embarked on his most intense learning experience ever as the second-generation operator of the nursery. “I soon realized I hadn’t learned anything to prepare me for operating this business,” John says. “Back then we didn’t have the technology, equipment and knowledge we do today. There was always an insatiable demand for our products, and we were constantly running out of things. Today we have a better tool chest with supports like the Seasonal [Agricultural] Worker Program.” “By working with many industry groups and volunteers over the years, I’ve learned it’s more about who you know than what you know,” he adds. “Relationships are super-important, and learning is a life-long process. You also need thick skin and a lot of tenacity in this business.” A special challenge for new growers today is the price of land, which makes it largely unaordable for new entrants. There is also more competition these days and tighter margins. Then there is nature, climate change and unforeseen events. An extreme cold spell in 2020 decimated local cherry orchards, and Bylands own nursery stock was hit, too. Close to half of its cherry stock, worth about $2 million, suered. The following year saw extreme drought in the Okanagan. Bylands draws some of its water from Okanagan Lake, but water levels fell below some intakes, creating conditions not seen in 40 years. The business tried to secure approvals for new wells and remains frustrated by the province’s groundwater licensing process. The worst happened when Bylands experienced BC’s rst outbreak of COVID-19 in an agricultural operation. “It took years o my life,” John recalls. “About 60 seasonal workers were unable to work but we continued to provide them with good accommodation and meals. Sales were down and we threw away tons of produce. The government supports available were not even enough to cover our losses.” With its diverse product range and a lot of determination, the business has minimized its risks signicantly. Its seasonal workers continue to return. “Not much work would get done in local orchards without seasonal workers, and their presence has enabled us to scale up,” John says. “If we want competitive agriculture, we need the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program.” People like to garden Despite the challenges facing the industry, people still like to garden, John points out. “More young people are interested in growing their own food and many growers are adapting their gardening interests to apartments and smaller spaces. They know the value that attractive landscaping adds to the price of a home.” Bylands’ list of achievements includes important contributions to innovation and environmental standards. One of its rst inventions was the pot-in-pot growing technique which was initially designed to keep plants from blowing over. The technique also allows more ecient water use and reduces heat stress to the root system during the summer. The pots are extremely durable with some 200,000 sleeves still in the ground after 20 years. Bylands was one of rst Canadian nurseries to become DPCP (Domestic Phytosanitary Certication Program) and Clean Plants certied. It was also the rst BC nursery to create water reclamation ponds which recapture and reuse all the water on two properties. All production is managed by an environmental control system that helps improve plant quality, control temperature, collect data and reduce labour to optimal levels. Today, Bylands harvests 90% of the trees it plants compared to 60% in earlier years. In the last few years, John and Maria have spent spending more time travelling and enjoying their grandchildren. “Mike looks after the nuts and bolts; I work part-time and basically do what I want,” John says. He is still a familiar sight driving around the facility property to spot potential problems. Looking back on his career, winning the International Grower of the Year Award from the International Association of Horticultural Producers is one of the greatest highlights for John. The entire Byland family was presented with the award in China in 2011, surpassing nurseries from Belgium, China, Taiwan and the Netherlands. But it is the simple rewards that remind John of why he went into the nursery business in the rst place. “A fresh, juicy, vine-ripened peach, a beefsteak tomato bursting with avour, a brilliant red maple in the fall – these are some of my favourite things,” he says.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 31email: audreycifca@gmail.com395 Kinchant Street, Quesnel, B.C. V2J 5A3Producers can apply for an advance on calves, yearlings, lambs, bison, forage and grain up to $1,000,000.00 with the rst $100,000.00 being interest free. Plus, interest relief through the Advance Payments Program is available to association members on their feeder cattle purchases.Angela Clarke, left, of Willow Row Farm in Parksville was one of several BC Sheep Federation members who joined provincial livestock specialist Lori Vickers for a workshop at Meadow Valley Meats. RONDA PAYNERONDA PAYNE PITT MEADOWS – Producing a quality sheep for slaughter that meets retailer and consumer demands can be dicult, even with years of experience, so the BC Sheep Federation brought experts together on March 9 for a workshop to share tips on raising animals for the best meat. John Buchanan of Parry Bay Sheep Farm explained to the more than 30 participants that he deals with sheep on “both sides of the fence” as both a producer and a small slaughter operation. “We’re all in the same business really,” he says. “Growing lambs to provide them to the consumer.” Buchanan has purchased sheep for slaughter he wishes he hadn’t and wants to help producers create lambs any slaughterhouse would welcome. Through photos, he illustrated traits of good carcasses with the desired amount of back fat and meat and explained how to get animals to the right stages. “Genetics are really important,” he says. “Feed for steady growth. It’s a lot easier to keep something growing than having it go up and down.” Worm control is another factor. While people may think they are on top of it, it’s important to stay vigilant because worms come quickly and easily. He also advises to keep rams and ewes from mixing. The meat of jazzed up rams is less pleasant and of lower quality because all their energy is going into chasing ewes rather than muscling up for the table. “Castrate them or at least run the ram lambs separate from the ewes,” Buchanan says. He’s also seen cases where ewes aren’t believed to be pregnant but are found so at the slaughterhouse. One ewe he purchased for slaughtering gave birth to two lambs not long after he’d purchased it from a producer. Extra weight isn’t always meat. Even after 30 years of sheep production, Buchanan still occasionally nds his estimate of a sheep’s weight is o and says guessing isn’t enough. “You need to weigh them and you need to put your hands on them,” he says. Feeling the sheep’s back will help the producer gauge fat along the spine and readiness for market. Back fat should be present, but not excessive. It also helps protect the meat from browning in storage. Plan ahead It’s also important to know how close sheep are to being ready for slaughter so producers can give an abattoir adequate notice – typically six to eight weeks’ lead time – for planning. The nishing method is key. Shifting demographics boost demand for lambSheep producers learn tips to meet consumer preferenceswww.hlaattachments.com 1-866-567-4162 A ve-month 80-pound lamb on feed could be ready in six weeks while that same grass-fed lamb might take 12 weeks. “If I could get notice, it would be just fantastic,” Buchanan says. “Most packing plants will feel that way. That’s what you guys should be going for. Creating a relationship.” Building a relationship with an abattoir comes from understanding consumer Market potential u

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32 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCAzhar Kazi of Meadow Valley Meats explains what makes a good lamb carcass to members of the BC Sheep Federation who attended an all-day workshop in Pitt Meadows, March 9. RONDA PAYNEu Market potential for BC lamb ATTENTION: BC CATTLE PRODUCERSWe now have Lewis Cattle Oiler depots throughout the province. From as far north as Prespatou and as far south as Rock Creek with many locations in between.Please call us to nd your closest depot.needs. Producers should ask their slaughterhouse the qualities customers regularly ask for so they can work to meet them. Buchanan says questions should include the size of animals customers are asking for and quality aspects. The nishing method, weight and breed are all variable factors that contribute to quality. Local lambs are always preferred as this keeps animal stress down and improves meat quality. Angela Clarke of Willow Row Farm, a 10-acre operation in Parksville, wants to be more consistent in her production of 20 to 30 lambs a year. “I want to pull up my standards despite drought or atmospheric rivers,” she says. “Just being prepared to ride out those tough or unusual circumstances.” Having a good, consistent source of BC lamb meat will ensure consumers can access the lamb they want, says Bonnie Windsora founding member and president of BC Meats. “BC lamb is hard to come by. You know what that means to me? Opportunity,” she says. “The BC lamb industry needs to pull it together and give New Zealand lamb a run for its money.” Windsor regularly gets calls from people looking for BC lamb because they can only nd New Zealand lamb and don’t like it. The lack of fat on the imported meat and the high price creates a niche BC producers can ll. “We have what we need in BC,” she says. “We have the quality and the environment.” Several producers at the workshop said the costs of raising lamb for commercial sale year-round are prohibitive. Windsor agreed that prices for grain and transportation are going up, but stressed that the market, especially immigrants from Fiji, the Philippines and Jamaica, have a need that isn’t being met. She advises a strong marketing push by farms and the industry. “These groups are starving for your lamb and they don’t know where to get it,” she says. “I have seen, in the last few years, huge growth for lamb.” Factors that Buchanan described as variable, such as taste, size, fat content and condition, must be consistent to keep consumers coming back for more. Windsor says consumers expect lamb being the same each time they purchase it. “It’s about giving consumers and retailers condence in your product,” she says. As the mind behind the marketing that transitioned Johnston’s Packers to become more consumer-friendly, Windsor advises lamb producers to tell their story. BC consumers want to know about the grower and where their food comes from so they can embrace that local aspect. Having been through the pains of animal rights activists’ activity at Johnston’s as well as through BC Meats, she knows there can be a fear of putting a story or marketing out in the world. But she also knows it’s a necessary activity. “Animal welfare is huge and if you think you’re not being watched, you’re wrong,” she says. “Doing everything right does not mean you won’t get hit. It’s not fun. It’s scary. We still need to get out there and promote ourselves.” Clarke enjoyed Windsor’s presentation, describing activists as a “lurking threat,” but she appreciates the support of those in the federation and in other meat producing groups. “It’s always good to have continuing education and networking within the sheep community,” she says. “Serving and Supporting the Community Together”PROVINCIALLY INSPECTED ABATTOIR B.C. #34ALL SIZES MARKET GOATS & LAMBS604.465.4752 (Ext 105)FAX 604.465.4744 ashiq@meadowvalleymeats.comVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD. 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com Sulky DX 20 precision spreader1.5 ton economical spreader Equally capable of spreader cover crops at low rates or fertilizer at high rates, at widths up to 60 ft.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 33 BCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466 BCHA President Kym Jim 403-358-8935 Producer Check-o Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.233329 Black Angus 2-year-old Bulls10 Yearling Angus Heifer Bulls2024SATURDAYApril 2712PM Noonat the farm Prince George, BCMarch & April calving females for sale now.ANGUS BULLSOn O昀erTOM WALKER VERNON – North Okanagan Livestock Association’s annual education day in Vernon on March 21 gave about 50 people a chance to meet a Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program participant and get tips for keeping their irrigation systems working at top eciency, as well as supporting calves through the seasons. Brett Squair, a Vernon lawyer and director of both NOLA and the BC Cattlemen’s Association, is the third generation on his family’s Lumby cattle ranch. He’s also one of three CCYL participants from BC for 2023, and gave NOLA members a short overview of the program and its benets. CCYL is available to cattle industry members from 18-35 years of age, and provides an excellent opportunity for young industry members to connect with a mentor and build their skills, Squair says. Squair’s focus has been succession planning, something he oers as part of his law practice. “They hand-pick a mentor for you and I was paired up with a gentleman who has been doing succession planning for 50 years,” Squair says. CCYL provides an opportunity to connect with other regions through a $2,000 travel budget that will increase to $3,000 for 2024 participants. “They suggest events for you to attend and the $2,000 travel budget gives you opportunity to travel and network with other young leaders,” he says. Squair urged youth to apply. “If you don’t get accepted right away, apply again,” Squair says. “I believe that if I had done this earlier in my career it would have helped me build a better succession planning program from the start.” Water wisdom Bruce Naka is a Certied Irrigation Designer and veteran of the irrigation industry. “Given the lean dry years we have seen lately it is prudent to plan ahead to use your water wisely,” Naka says. Ranchers may have a variety of irrigation systems for growing forage. But the eciency of these can vary. A traveling gun has around 65% eciency, a wheel and sprinkler system around 72% eciency and a centre pivot between 72% and 80%. “It’s not about having the latest and most expensive equipment,” Naka says. “You can make your old system more ecient while you are saving up for the latest in pivot technology.” Naka explained the process for growers to plan water use for their particular crop. “You need to customize the amount of water you need for the crop that you have, your soil and the evapotranspiration rate for your location,” he explains. He took listeners through an overview of their system. “I like to have you look at your system in sections and to search for simple ideas for improvement,” he says. “Even small leaks can add up.” Dr. Jo Anna Tronson, a large animal vet with Shuswap Veterinary Clinic in Salmon Arm, gave an informative, practical and entertaining talk on supporting calves through the calendar year. Her talk centered on how vaccine supports can assist a calf throughout their growth. “That calf is your paycheque in the fall, a potential new mother in two years and could be a herd matriarch in seven years,” she says. “Feed them, take care of them and if you have a problem, phone a friend.” That friend could be an experienced neighbour or your local vet, and preferably someone you have built a relationship with, she says. Education day offers tips and networking National, local programs help advance young ranchersLife’s a beachAs the cow herd enjoyed a leisurely lunch beachside at Richardson Ranch on Haida Gwaii in early March, the bulls from last year’s calf crop were selling online during Don and Leslie Richardson’s annual bull sale. High seller went to Daryl Kirton and 3-D-L Farms in Abbotsford, who purchased lot 6, Tlell H65 Island Time 13L, for $9,000. Cedar Meadows Ranch in Black Creek bid lot 5, Tlell H65 High Line 5L, to $8,250. In all, 10 yearling bulls sold and averaged $6,385. Telegraph Trail Ranch in Punchaw was the volume buyer. RICHARDSON RANCH

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34| APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC Biopolin is a registered trademark of ICBpharma © 2024 Andermatt Canada Inc.COHORTwholesale.comTechnical and sales support for Biopolin®is provided by Cohort WholesaleBiopolin®• Extended attractiveness of flowering crops for pollinators thanks to Slow-Release Technology™• Improves crop weight and quality.• Attracts honeybee, bumblebee, mason bees and other pollinators to flowering crops.• Dissuades bees from foraging outside of the target crops to other competitive plants.VANESSA FARNSWORTH PENTICTON – An eort to remove systemic barriers and make agriculture more accessible to producers from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences led to the founding of the Mid Island Farmers Institute in the Comox Valley in 2016. “I totally believe that farming shouldn’t be done in isolation, that it was always meant to be done in community,” says Arzeena Hamir, speaking at Organic BC’s annual conference in Penticton last fall. This belief led Hamir to seek out the existing farmers institute when she rst arrived in the valley 12 years ago. She had been hoping to connect with a group of like-minded farmers, but when she attended her rst meeting, she found herself face-to-face with a sea of white, male faces. When the time arrived for coee and conversation, not one attendee spoke to her. Needless to say, she didn’t feel welcome. “This institution had obviously been rooted in the community for 80-plus years and it very much embodied a barrier for people, especially women, and especially women of colour,” says Hamir, who runs a 25-acre organic farm in Courtenay with her husband. “Maybe people don't understand that when you don't have representation, when you don't have voices from people who don't look like you or think like you, it shows them that this isn’t their space.” Although Hamir returned to the institute several more times, she never did feel included and ultimately decided to found the Mid Island Farmers Institute to support a wide range of local producers through workshops, community events and shared resources. “We started as a space to welcome anyone ag-curious [whether they were] farming or not. We considered beekeeping, sheep, anything to do with land, food or owers,” she says. “We saw the need for diversity in our community.” Disconnect Abra Brynne, a food systems advocate who currently works as a policy advisor for FarmFolk CityFolk, moderated the panel on inclusivity that included Hamir. She’s seen this kind of disconnect before. “We really need to understand and make space and provide opportunities for all kinds of dierent people to be part of our farming communities, our food systems and our ecosystems,” she says. Brynne has some advice to anyone running an agricultural organization. “There are people in your community who come from dierent backgrounds. They think dierently. They won’t come to you and say, ‘Can I sit on your board?’ Please invite them,” she says. “You may need to invite them multiple times just to show them that you’re serious.” Brynne grew up on a farm in the North Okanagan and has been working closely with farmers for 30 years. Across the decades, she’s seen a notable shift in demographics. “It used to be that there was an abundant population of farmers showing up [to meetings]. It was all men but the dierent organizations all had reasonably sized memberships,” she says. “Now there are like three retired farmers barely holding on trying to keep things going.” Brynne believes the net result is that longstanding organizations aren’t always quick to respond to the needs of a new generation of farmers seeking to enact change and yet she’s hopeful that the necessary changes can take place within these existing groups. “There's real opportunity for us to nd ways [of moving forward] without necessarily having to create something new,” she says. “Because creating an organization is hard.” Hamir agrees. Although happy that she formed the Mid Island Farmers Institute, she acknowledges that it takes a lot of work to do the programming, fundraising and other tasks necessary to maintain it. “It’s not fun creating a brand new organization and then feeling as though you’re having to compete,” she says. Hamir is hopeful that a more progressive board at the original farmers institute will one day translate into increased opportunities for the two organizations to work together for the good of farming in the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island, generally. “My dream is that eventually our institutes will merge into one,” she says. “I mean, it's crazy that we have two but, for now, this is what it is.” Farmers institutes need to embrace changeNewcomers must be recruited and welcomed for institutes to keep paceARZEENA HAMIR

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 35Getting down to businessConference tackles funding, insurance, regulations and moreGavin Currie of Mixed Barrel Farm asked Kim Grout of the ALC about ways to support multiple generations on one farm with their housing needs. RONDA PAYNEFOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERSDarren Jansen Owner604.794.3701organicfeeds@gmail.comwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comCertified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.RONDA PAYNE ABBOTSFORD – There’s more to running a farm business than farming, and the nancial and regulatory aspects behind the scenes can make or break an operation. Sharing knowledge about government funding, insurance, credit and land-use regulations was the theme of “Running a Farm Business – What to be Thinking About,” a panel at BC Young Farmers’ Farm Fest last fall. With respect to government funding programs, Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC CEO TJ Schur said farmers are taking full advantage of what’s available. “Honestly, everything is oversubscribed, or at least meeting its cap,” Schur says. “I genuinely haven’t seen a program that is under-subscribed.” She says IAFBC has been working with the province and Ottawa to tweak programs and shift money around as needed to make sure it is being put to the best use. Most programs are built around best management practices, like the federally funded BC Living Lab, a climate change-focused research and development project many stakeholders have been interested in. “Living Labs is also focused on regenerative practices,” she says. “We do try to listen to what our community and partners are saying.” Another thing farmers have been saying is that program intake timing isn’t always right, given the nature of farm activities like planting and harvesting. “We’re trying to work on improving the timeline,” she says. Tied in with sustainability and regenerative practices is water infrastructure. It’s a key concern, and Mark Raymond, executive director of the extension and support services branch of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, said the ministry was looking for additional funding -- a quest answered with an additional $83 million in this spring's budget. The province is also seeking funding for variety trials and labour-saving initiatives. “We take a lot of factors into account when we look at our programming,” he says. “We really try to optimize our funding. It is a balance.” Raymond says programs are regularly reviewed for tweaks that can make them work better. “The last thing we want is to leave dollars on the table,” he says. “Dierent things can be tweaked and that’s what we’re trying to do every day.” Andrew Unruh, relationship manager with federal farm lender Farm Credit Canada, wants to build relationships with farmers early so he can be ready to help down the road. “With interest rates so high, it’s hard to access new money and it’s even harder to renew,” he says. “We need to help young farmers get into nancing. We just really want young farmers to come to us and start the conversation early.” FCC oers more than 20 loan products. Some allow interest-only payments, which can ease the pressure on cash ow when times are lean but extend the timeline for repaying the principal. Unruh prefers to look at things on a case-by-case basis because everyone’s needs are dierent and the various products reect that. “Of course, the bottom line is always cash ow,” he says. “For me, it’s how prepared you come to us. Unruh would prefer farmers be transparent. He understands that businesses work to keep taxes and other expenses low and he wants to see the paperwork for how farmers run their business to get the full picture. What is reported on tax forms indicates revenues and net income, but it doesn’t always tell the full story. The ow of dollars and cents is also important when it comes to insurance, says Sherry Watty, professional nancial advisor with The Co-operators. “Insurance plays a pivotal role,” she says. “Nobody wants to talk about their death… and unfortunately, that’s what succession planning is all about.” She says people often come to her about farm succession planning once the costs of life and/or disability insurance – tools that can help protect the family farm from sudden upsets – have become too high or an incident has already occurred that puts the farm’s stability at risk. People don’t plan ahead, which leaves the farm nancially vulnerable when the primary operator is incapacitated or dies. “Let’s talk about this now, at 27 years old when [insurance is] a fraction of the cost of when the person is 56,” she says. Beyond life and disability insurance, Watty also recommends debt insurance if a property’s mortgage exceeds $2 million. Regulations governing land have become a major issue in recent years as farmers try to nd new ways to diversify their operations. Agricultural Land Commission CEO Kim Grout says the commission is elding a greater number of inquiries about value-added activities within the ALR. “If you want to do something that isn’t in the regulations and you are farming, that is a conversation the commission would like to have,” she says. But as the small fraction of those who farm protected agricultural land know, pressures are inevitable. “Farmers are outnumbered by landowners in the ALR,” she says. Moreover, not all municipalities are backing up ALC regulations with their own bylaws. LANGLEY CHILLIWACK CHEMAINUS KELOWNA rollinsmachinery.com 1-800-665-9060USED TRACTORS NH T3.80F orchard, 2020, 25 hours [U32843] ....................................... 45,000 NEW HOLLAND TN60SA super steer, turf tires, 2004 (U40235) ........ 20,000 FORD 1320 1991, new rear tires, loader [U33455] ................................ 12,500 QUALITY USED EQUIPMENT NH FP240 29P grass, 3PN corn, crop proc [CNS786] ........................ 47,500 SUPREME 500T feed mixer, 2009, 540 rpm PTO (U33583) .................. 45,000 NH BC5070 small square baler, 2019, like new [U33470].................... 42,000 NH STACKCRUISER 1069 bale wagon, great condition [CNS822] ....40,000 VERMEER TM1400 mower, 18’, 2015 (U33591) ..................................... 37,800 KVERNELAND 9476C Rake 2017 [U32957]............................................. 33,700 POETTINGER HIT 6.80T tedder, 2019 (U40243) .................................... 21,000 KVERNELAND 9084C rake, 26’ (U33029) ............................................... 18,900 NEW HOLLAND H7230 flail DMC, 9’2” (2.8m), 2012 [U40221] ........... 18,000 NEW HOLLAND 570 small square baler, field ready, 2004 (CNS819) 15,000 NEW HOLLAND H7330 flail DMC, 10' 4' (3.2 m), 2014 [U40172] ........ 14,500 TORO Z MASTER Z453, 48” zero turn, 2004, [U33445] ........................ 4,625

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36 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCKenneth isn’t going down without a fighthe’d put it up on the Tikker- Tock, and see if anyone liked it. Harriet said the second police car was already at the scene when she got there. Frank said he got a couple of good shots of the handcung if Harriet was interested. Harriet said she was and asked the police ocer if she cared to comment on the crime. The ocer declined and Frank asked if the perpetrators’ vehicles needed to be impounded because as luck would have it there was a tow truck right at the scene and an impoundment yard with proper zoning and everything less than a mile o. The police ocer took Delta aside and quizzed her about how such a thing had come to pass and asked her if either of the men were her partner or signicant other. Delta said they had both expressed an interest in the position but that currently wasn’t the case. The police ocer asked her if she was afraid of or intimidated by either of them and Delta assured her she was not. The police ocer said both of them were going to be taken to the police station for questioning and unless there was a compelling reason to hold them, they would probably be photographed and ngerprinted and released. Delta said she thought that would be a good idea. The ocer asked if she wanted the vehicles removed from her property. Delta said she thought that was a good idea, too, and added that it might be best if they didn’t turn both of them loose at the same time. The police ocer asked Delta if she knew Frank and was he really a licensed tow truck operator and did he have a legitimate impound yard? “I’ve only known him a short time but apparently he’s run the local tow truck and auto wrecking yard forever. I’ve been told he gets work towing stu out of the provincial park.” The police ocer had a short, animated conversation with Frank. “Yes, sir, ocer, ma’am. I’ll get right to it just as soon’s you haul then scrappers o to the hoosegow.” As she was about to leave, the ocer turned toward Delta. “Nice job with the hose, by the way.” “Thanks,” said Delta. “My grandmaw showed me that the time her old house cat came in heat and the yard lled up with tom cats.” ... to be continued The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915.SUBSCRIBEThousands of BC farmers and ranchers turn to Country Life in BC every month to nd out what (and who!) is making news in BC agriculture and how it may affect their farms and agri-businesses! www.countrylifeinbc.com/subscribeCREDIT CARD # _________________________________________________________________ EXP _____________ CVV _____________ o NEW o RENEWAL | o ONE YEAR ($18.90) oT WO YEARS ($33.60) o THREE YEARS ($37.80) Your Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________ Postal Code _______________________________________ Phone _________________________ Email _______________________________________________________________ MAIL TO: 36 DALE RD, ENDERBY, BC V0E 1V4 subscriptions@ countrylifeinbc.com Please send a _______ year gift subscription to ______________________________________________________________ Farm Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________ Postal Code ________ ______________________________ Phone _________________________ Email _______________________________________________________________ When we left o last time, Deborah had whipped up breakfast for Vern Jones, then headed to the barn to make a quick call to Vern’s wife, Linda, to nd out why he might have arrived on her doorstep, unannounced. Rural Redemption, Part 169, continues. Junkyard Frank gave Kenneth Henderson an extra hearty good morning when he came through the general store door. “Can I buy you a cup of coee?” “I think not. Thanks all the same,” said Kenneth. “Suit yourself,” said Frank. “Say, did that friend of Delta’s nd her alright?” “What are you talking about?” “That friend of Delta’s who came looking for her. Just wondered if he found his way, is all.” “What friend?” “Oh, you haven’t met him yet then. I just kind of gured you probably dropped in on her on your way here.” “Who are you talking about? What friend?” demanded Kenneth. “I believe he said it was Vernon somebody-or-other. Apparently known her for years. Said he was from Calgary. Seemed kind of impatient to get to her.” Kenneth turned toward Cam and asked when all this had come to pass. Cam said it was all news to him. Frank said Lois could probably tell him all about it except she was o to the old hen’s book club meeting. Kenneth asked how long ago this friend had been there. Frank said he gured it must more than an hour ago by now, but if Kenneth hurried he could probably still catch him there because he’d been at the coee club table all morning and hadn’t seen that fella coming back this way. “I suggest you get a move on if you want to catch up to him,” said Frank. Kenneth took Frank at his word. He went down the front steps two at a time and squealed his tires when he pulled out. Frank told Cam he was going to drop by Delta’s just to be on the safe side. Cam asked, “The safe side of what?” Frank said the safe side of missing out on the reworks, that’s what. Delta was telling Vern about her phone call to Linda when Kenneth came a little too quickly down the driveway. “Oh, dang it!” said Delta. “What?” said Vern. “Is something wrong? Who’s here?” “Nothing is wrong. It’s just my landlord. I need to talk to him. You stay here.” Kenneth was coming up the front steps when Delta came through the door. “Who’s here, Delta?” “Just an old friend.” “An old friend who came all the way from Calgary?” “Yes, in fact.” “Well, I’d like to see this old friend of yours.” “You don’t need to see him. We are just having a little chat, then he’ll be on his way. Why don’t you go home and give me a call after lunch?” “I don’t think so!” said Kenneth. “I’m not going anywhere until I nd out who this clown is!” Before Delta could respond, Vernon Jones stepped onto the verandah behind her. “Who are you calling clown, friend?” “Who are you calling friend, clown?” The two men stood glowering at one another. Later that day, Delta told the police ocer it was hard to say who threw the rst punch. Frank told the police ocer they were both throwing haymakers in the front yard when he got there. The police ocer asked Frank how long the ghting lasted? Frank said he barely had time to call 911 before Delta put a stop to it. The police ocer asked Frank how Delta had managed that? “Took the garden hose to the pair of them. Turned it on full and got right up close and started going back and forth full in their faces. Had it on the turbo-wash setting, I’d say. They was gagging and spitting and every time one of them come up for air, she’d hit ‘im again. I’ll tell you, ocer, it was a thing of rare beauty.” The police ocer asked Frank to describe the ght. Frank asked if she ever heard of Muhammad Ali? The police ocer said she had. Frank said it was nothing at all like that. The police ocer asked Frank what he was doing while Delta was hosing them down? Frank said he was live streaming it to Harriet Murray from the paper, and wasn’t that funny, livestreaming a live streaming, and maybe Woodshed Chronicles BOB COLLINS

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 37Students receivea lesson in sustainabilityKelowna teacher recognized for his unique farm curriculumAaron Veenstra and students, left to right, Lorelei Foster, Jadey Rhind and Ruby Lundeen were a part of the leadership team that explored the school’s waste management, which resulted in them setting up a new collection system at the school – recycling and using Lomi composters to turn food waste into organic compost. MYRNA STARK LEADERMYRNA STARK LEADER KELOWNA – Aaron Veenstra isn’t sure who nominated him for the 2023 Agriculture in the Classroom BC Teacher of the Year award, but the Grade 6 teacher at A S Matheson School in Kelowna is grateful to be recognized for helping connect the students to land and sustainable actions. Although his grandfather emigrated from the Netherlands and raised chickens, Aaron pursued teaching, studying in Ontario. While there, he met his future wife, the daughter of an agrologist raised on a 10-acre Vancouver Island hobby farm. Veenstra has always appreciated nature, but his interest in sustainability has grown since buying three acres in the Agricultural Land Reserve with two homes ve years ago. He and his wife share the property with his wife’s sister and her family, tending about 100 chickens for eggs marketed locally, and a quarter-acre garden producing for themselves and friends. “It's amazing how much you grow in such little space here,” says Veenstra. Yet few Grade 6 students have connected the dots between land, food and sustainability even though all t within BC’s inquiry-based school curriculum. The model encourages students to pose questions, learning as they seek answers, which inevitably leads to more questions and answers. Veenstra guides the journey, blending subjects like history, science and health to explore integrated systems. For example, with Canadian Indigenous history, he notes the value of land as a food-producing resource, how our bodies need and process food, and how today’s actions impact soil and climate. “I really love what the land gives us, so that's just kind of my niche, and I like to take the learning outside of the classroom,” he explains. His students have visited community garden Helen’s Acres to learn how food is grown and how it’s provided to those in need, as well as to Kelowna’s landll, seeing what happens to food waste. Veenstra credits organizations like Agriculture in the Classroom and Be The Change Earth Alliance for helpful teaching resources, as well as his students who want tangible actions with lasting impact. In the past two years, their enthusiasm and hard work changed their classroom actions, but also the school’s actions. Seeing the impact of food waste at the landll, and working in partnership with a Grade 11/12 Kelowna Secondary School environmental science class, Veenstra’s students started collecting their food waste for The Bug Farms, a local company growing bugs as a protein source mostly for animal feed. That initiative led to each room where food is consumed having a Lomi composter and obtaining a large outdoor composter for the A S Matheson School grounds. The Central Okanagan Teachers Association provided funding of $10,000. “That led to a total school waste audit, looking at everything we threw out. Realizing the situation was bad, we’ve changed our whole waste management system at school,” he explains. “In doing that, students are now able to explain how they are giving back, how they're acting towards reconciliation (with the land) and sustainability.” A S Matheson has one of the most diverse cultural and socio-economic student populations in Kelowna. “They see many types of kids who are dealing with situations in their own ways. They judge less so I think tapping into the empathy for the earth perhaps comes easier at my school,” he says. Veenstra’s latest goal is nding a more sustainable plan for the school’s outdoor gardens. “We want food there, but with summer school breaks, it becomes hard for teachers or students to care for, so I'm wondering what kind of things we can grow more perennially,” he says. Veenstra says it would be great if more farmers opened their farms to students, showing them what they do, how they do it and why. “That's the most valuable thing they can do because kids don't learn by just Must be 19+ to playLottery #146968Chances are 1 in 10,000 to win!4-H BC GATOR4-H BC GATORLOTTERY & 50/50LOTTERY & 50/50Lots of great prizes up for grabs!Tickets just $10.00 eachKnow your Limit, Play within ItProblem Gambling Help Line: 1-888-795-6111 | www.bcresponsiblegambling.calistening. Once they have their hands in the soil and their shoes dirty, then they connect with it,” he says. While he’s come at agriculture through the sustainability side, Veenstra sees opportunities to integrate agriculture with other subjects, like technology. “So many kids love coding. When I got my award at the gala, I chatted with someone who makes a robotic arm for picking strawberries. The arm needs to sense how ripe the strawberry is, cutting it just right. It's a bit mind-blowing,” he says. “While I haven’t taken that angle yet in teaching, I would love to. Those kids would buy into that in a heartbeat.”

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38 | APRIL 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCWith Earth Day April 22, and a growing awareness of the need to include more fruit and vegetables in our diets, this seemed like a good month to emphasize produce over meat products. Many of us now include at least a day each week when we prepare meals that focus on alternatives to meat: whether that’s members of the legume family, fish or seafood, cheese or dairy products. It’s a change and reminds us all that there are other proteins beside beef, pork, chicken and lamb that are valuable components of a healthy diet. We love our animal protein, but we also love our vegetables, and we generally eat main meals that are composed of a lean meat and at least three vegetables, so we get the diversity of vegetables that is required for a balanced diet. Planning on one meatless day a week simply encourages us to broaden our horizons and include more bean-based proteins, along with foods from the sea and dairy case. We always have a variety of cheeses in our fridge and often that’s the basis for lunch, with yogurts and fresh fruit a handy snack during the day. April is also the beginning Haul out the BBQ to celebrate Earth DayIt’s time to bring out the barbecue and try a little something different with your veggies. JUDIE STEEVESJude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVESVEGGIES ON THE BARBECUE2 small zucchini 1 sweet red pepper 1 sweet yellow (or orange) pepper 4 medium red potatoes Half a head of cauliower • Prepare zucchini by slicing each lengthwise in half and putting cut side up, on a plate. • Take 3-4 slices, lengthwise, from the peppers and place cut side up, beside the zukes. • Clean the cauliower and take four large orets and slice each in half and add to the plate, cut side up. • Spray a little olive oil on each of the veggies and sprinkle with a favourite mix of spices, including salt and pepper. • Wash and pierce each potato in several places with a fork; place in the microwave and cook for four minutes or so. • Carefully remove (they will be hot) and slice each in half and add to the plate. Spray each with oil and sprinkle with a complementary spice mix, including freshly ground black pepper. • Preheat the barbecue and once it’s hot, turn the burners down to medium and put the spuds on rst, leaving for 3-4 minutes before turning over and adding the other vegetables to the grill. • Cook for a few minutes before turning over for another couple of minutes. Finish by turning each piece on the grill to get the desired cross-hatch grill pattern on each. • Between turning, keep the lid down on the barbecue to keep it hot enough to cook them. • Serve this colourful mix of vegetables on a platter. • Serves 4 or so. of barbecue season and a great opportunity to set aside the frypan and even the roaster, in favour of simple meals cooked directly over flame. Have you ever tried using your old-fashioned campfire toaster rack—the one that is simply two cooling-type racks held together with a ring—to grill a fillet of fish? You need to give it a spritz of oil first, but it allows you to easily cook your fish on both sides, by flipping that toaster over part-way through. Sprinkle it with a tasty spice mix to give it a bit of extra flavour. Have you ever tried buying flatbreads and cooking them on the barbecue, topped with your favourite vegetables or fruit and a smear of tomato sauce, topped with grated cheese? Delicious. And then there are quesadillas, filled with slices of pepper, onion and cheese, grilled until the cheese melts everything together and the outside has that toasty, smoky flavour and crispy grill marks. There are lots of options for using the barbecue for more than steak and chicken and there’s no better time to embark on a new barbecue food adventure than now, when outdoors is where you want to be. I’ve found all sorts of vegetables do very well on the barbecue, though we have a few favourites. All year round, we grill halved zucchini, sweet peppers and potatoes. However, asparagus is perfect grilled; cauliower also cooks up beautifully, as do thick slices of onion, halved baby bok choy and corn on the cob. On the fruit side of things, sliced peaches lightly grilled are heavenly, as are plums, nectarines, pears and apricots.PEAR & GREENS FLATBREAD ON THE BBQPrepared atbread crust Handful of fresh spinach or arugula leaves 1 pear 2-4 thin slices of sweet red onion 8 oz. (225 g) creamy goat cheese 1 tbsp. (15 ml) balsamic vinegar glaze chopped walnuts, to garnish • Slice pear in half, remove the core, then slice thinly. • Thinly slice sweet onion or use caramelized regular onions or thinly-sliced green onions. • Buy or prepare a balsamic vinegar glaze, or use a good honey or real Canadian maple syrup to drizzle over the top. • Sprinkle the crust with fresh spinach or arugula leaves and top with thin slices of pear and onion. • Crumble goat cheese (or feta or gorgonzola or blue cheese) over and around the pears and onion. • Drizzle the top with a balsamic vinegar glaze, maple syrup or runny honey and top with a few chopped walnuts or pecans. • Heat the barbecue on high and once the temperature is around 500° F, turn o the middle (or all) burners and place the topped atbread on. Immediately put the lid down to keep the heat in. • It takes less than 15 minutes, depending on your barbecue, to crisp up the bottom of the atbread and melt the cheese. There are now simple atbreads available in many sizes in most major grocery stores to use for appies or meals, topped with a wide variety of spreads and veggies or fruit and/or cheeses. They cook up with extra avour on the barbecue.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC APRIL 2024 | 39TRACTORS/EQUIPMENTREAL ESTATEFOR SALEFOR SALEHAYBERRIESIRRIGATIONFor Tissue Culture Derived Plants of New Varieties of Haskaps, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Saskatoon Berries and Sour Cherries, Please Contact:DISEASE FREE PLANTING STOCK OF NEW BERRY CROPS 4290 Wallace Hill Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 4B6info@agriforestbiotech.com250.764.2224www.agriforestbiotech.com NEW POLYETHYLENE TANKS of all shapes & sizes for septic and water storage. Ideal for irrigation, hydropon-ics, washdown, lazy wells, rain water, truck box, fertizilizer mixing & spray-ing. Call 1-800-661-4473 for closest distributor. Manufactured in Delta by Premier Plastics premierplastics.com DON GILOWSKI 250-260-0828 Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd BUYING OR SELLING OKANAGAN FARM, RANCH OR ACREAGE? COURTENAY HEREFORDS. Cattle for Sale: yearling bulls and bred heifers. John 250/334-3252 or Johnny 250-218-2537.PYESTERDAY’S TRADITION - TODAY’S TECHNOLOGYMANAGERS Phil Brown 250-293-6857 Catherine Brown 250-293-6858 ccr.princeton@gmail.com www.coppercreekranch.com PRINCETON, BC Raising registered polled & horned Herefords & F1s. BREEDING BULLS FOR SALE.LIVESTOCKJD 7410 4WD CAB, LDR, GRAPPLE 78,000 JD 315 13’ HD DISC, 21” BLADES, FRT & REAR 9,500 JD 940 12’ ROLLER HARROW, CROW FOOT FRONT, SOLID REAR 8,500 JD 3155 4WD CAB 265 LDR 105 PTO HP 42,000 JD 6300 4WD OPEN PLATFORM W/640 LDR 36,000 JD 1630 W/LDR 15,000 MF 165 DSL W/LDR, CANOPY 9,000 JD 1630 W/LDR 16,000 ED DEBOER 250/838-7362 cell 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/838-9612 cell 250/804-6147CUSTOM BALING 3x4 BIG SQUARES SILAGE BALING/WRAPPING ED DEBOER 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/804-6147EDVENTURE HAY SALES ENDERBYZcXjj`Ô\[j7Zflekipc`]\`eYZ%ZfdfiZXcc1-'+%*)/%*/(+C@E<8;J1),nfi[jfic\jj#d`e`dld(*gclj>JK#\XZ_X[[`k`feXcnfi[`j%),;@JGC8P8;J1),gclj>JKg\iZfclde`eZ_M[WYY[fjcW`ehYh[Z_jYWhZi$EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL • FIRESTONE radial 8000, 460/85R38 (18.4/R38) 70% tread, $950 • JD CLAMP-ON DUALS 18.4-38, $2,500 TONY 604-850-4718RINIER EL 140 IN-ROW TILLER SN 17859 $8,500 Call 778-241-1665 ADVERTISING THAT WORKS!AVAILABLE NOW Fire suppression systems, pumps, protection for farms, 2 - 1/4 mile Used Valley 2015, low hours clean, 1 - used Zimmatic 1,600 ft , Used Hose reels, 2,000 ft 12 in 25,000ft 10 in HDPE, 10,000 ft used steel pipe in all sizes. "New" Pierce Pivots, T.L Pivots, lease available , New Hose reels RM Brand, Idrio, Diesel Pumps, End centrifugal pumps, submersible pumps, freq drives, Pump stations, plug and play water treatment systems, 30 years experience. Talk to Brock @ Dynamic Irrigation Kamloops 250 319 3044FEEDERS & PANELS that maintain their value!ROUND BALE FEEDERS BIG SQUARE BALE FEEDERS FENCE PANELS CATTLE & HORSE FEEDERSHEAVY DUTY OIL FIELD PIPE CRADLE FEEDERS. Single big square or 2 round bales Outside measurement is 8 feet x 12 feet Silage bunk feeders For product pictures, check out Double Delichte Stables on Facebook www.doubledelichtefarms.ca Dan 250/308-9218 ColdstreamLIVESTOCKDEAN SPADY, Presidentspadylivestock@gmail.comGARY WOOD, Vice Presidentsemiahmooshorthorns@shaw.caMaschio Gaspardo VIRAT 275 Rotary Tiller $13,000 Gear Drive, HP req: 85-120 jvsvet_aj@shaw.caSome outstanding yearlings bulls on offer,strong young females with calves,and our 2024 calf crop is strong and will have calves for sale Gary Wood 604-916-3350 semiahmooshorthorns@shaw.ca garywoodprojects@gmail.com The weekly what’s happeningin agriculture.countrylifeinbc.comWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESFARM NEWSBLACK ANGUS PUREBRED YEARLING BULLS WILL BE VET CHECKED STOP BY TO VIEW ANYTIME AT CEDAR CREEK RANCH 1872 - HWY 3A, KEREMEOS BUD or SHAWN CARTER 250-499-2528CRAIG ELACHIE SHORTHORNSPurebred Registered SHORTHORN STOCKBulls, Cows, Heifers and Calves AvailableGrant & Barbara SmithBALMORAL FARMS 250.253.0133 1802 Tappen Notch Hill Rd. Tappen, BC V0E 2X0‘Pride in Traditional Quality’PACIFIC JET OPTICAL SORTER Designed for use with blueberries or cranberries. Ready to place in a production line to reduce labour costs in sorting. Located on Vancouver Island. Asking $16,000 CALL 250-743-9464 or email svanhouwe@outlook.comUSED TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT GRINDROD, BCDeBOER’SMAY DEADLINE APRIL 20$15$30

CLBC April 2024

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