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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.8The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 AUGUST 2024 | Vol. 110 No. 8WEATHER Farmers reeling from extreme weather impacts 7 SETTLEMENT Ottawa prepares to offer farmland for land claims 9 REPLANT Cherry growers pan inadequate replant funding 11 PETER MITHAM VICTORIA – The longtime manager of Douglas Lake Cattle Co. has been honoured for his contributions to the community as part of his volunteer work. Joe Gardner was one of nine representatives of the Government House Foundation honoured with a Charles III Coronation Medal at Government House in Victoria on July 18. The medal, instituted to mark the king’s coronation last year, complements the medals presented on the occasion of the late queen’s golden, diamond and platinum jubilees. It recognizes “those who have made signicant contributions to Canada and their home province.” Best known as general manager of Douglas Lake, Canada’s largest working cattle ranch, Gardner has also served the community in several capacities over the past 50 years. Gardner’s role as a trustee of the Government House Foundation dates from 2012, when fellow rancher Judith Guichon was lieutenant governor. Trustees guide the foundation’s activities but also serve as advisors to Government House when requested by the lieutenant governor. Chosen for their specic areas of knowledge, trustees oversee the property and its grounds, contributing from their practical knowledge and insights into the historical and cultural values the property reects as the ocial residence of the lieutenant governor. Kelowna fruit grower Karma Gill is the visionary behind Farming Karma, which his son Avi Gill runs with his wife Binnie. The family farm's diversication into sodas, spirits and other value-added products is building connections between consumers and local farms as well as creating opportunities for Karma's grandson Jhelum. Read their story on page 25. | MYRNA STARK LEADERRancher honoured with medalNew marketing commission sought PETER MITHAM SURREY – BC greenhouse vegetable growers have begun consultations with members on a new marketing commission for the sector. Currently regulated by the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, the greenhouse sector has unique needs that BC Greenhouse Growers Association (BCGGA) president Armand Vander Meulen says don’t t well with potatoes and other storage Good KarmaGreenhouse board uRooted in your community® since 1973www.tlhort.com1-800-661-4559SeedPlant NutritionCrop ProtectionSuppliesServiceHothouse growers tap glass ceilingDaring rescue u
2 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCcrops regulated by BC Veg. “There is just a fundamental aw because there’s no commonality between our interests, at all,” he says. “The only solution that our six-member grower association board feels is the solution to that fundamental aw is the separation of the two distinct commodity groups.” Greenhouse vegetables are worth nearly four times the value of storage crops regulated by BC Veg, at $396 million versus $104.1 million. BC Veg’s denition of greenhouses includes vertical farms. Storage crops such as potatoes have a long storage life versus greenhouse produce, a perishable item that faces signicant pressure from imports. Potatoes are protected from imports by anti-dumping measures. Study shows opportunities A study accounting rm MNP LLP prepared for BCGGA and presented at the association’s annual general meeting on June 25 identies several strengths and opportunities growers could enjoy through a commission of their own. Strengths include giving greenhouse growers a measure of self-governance that prioritizes their interests, including labour, international trade and energy. Opportunities include “an enhanced governance structure, transparent decision-making and sector-specic expertise” as well as the development of marketing programs tailored to the sector’s domestic and international markets. The study also sees the potential to alleviate cash ow issues the BCGGA experiences while waiting for levies collected on its behalf by BC Veg. The study was based on interviews with ve of the BCGGA’s six directors, not the full membership. MNP’s analysis also looked to the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers as a model for a possible BC commission. BCGGA rst raised the idea of a separate marketing commission last year. A survey of the sector’s 60-plus growers regarding the idea was launched in late July. The feedback will lay the groundwork for a business case and governance model for the proposed commission. Growers who attended the June 25 meeting raised few questions, with most voicing support for the idea. Veteran grower Casey Houweling of Houweling Nurseries in Ladner stated emphatically, “It’s the right thing to do.” John Newell of Windset Farms was among those questioning the move towards a new marketing commission, arguing that the vegetable industry is one. “It doesn’t matter how you grow it,” he said. “We’re all selling the same thing.” Several growers called him out on the claim, with Vander Meulen arguing that greenhouse vegetables require unique oversight because of their exposure to foreign competition. BC Veg chair Derek Sturko attended the townhall, as well as general manager Andre Solymosi and other representatives. Sturko pointed out that the Ontario model was not directly transferrable to BC. Under the province’s Natural Products Marketing Act, marketing boards and commissions are limited to oversight rather than advocacy and marketing, one of the opportunities MNP identies for the proposed greenhouse commission. “The current legislative model in BC does not allow the Ontario model to exist as it exists in Ontario,” Sturko said. Vander Meulen downplayed the concerns, saying the enabling legislation could be changed. “Acts are there, and they’re there as guidance, but they’re also there to be changed as necessary,” he said. “But quite frankly, I don’t know what area we could be in conict with that act.” Vander Meulen says that greenhouse growers, unlike the supply-managed groups, do not set price. “We do not set price, we do not control production, we do not control imports or exports,” he said. “What we are talking about is quite a dierent thing.” A handout from the u Greenhouse board favours split from vegetable marketing commissionOther medal recipients alongside Gardner include members of the Friends of Government House Garden Society, chosen for their work caring for the property’s food-producing plants and controlling invasive weeds. The Charles III Coronation Medal is not Gardner’s rst civil honour. In 1986, he was honoured for the daring rescue of a cowboy who had failed to return to the ranch in early December 1982. In presenting the Charles III Coronation Medal, Lt. Gov. Janet Austin hoped others would be inspired by the same spirit of service and self-sacrice. “Their commitment to helping their communities, uplifting those in need and improving the lives of their fellow British Columbians emphasizes the purpose of such an honour,” she said of recipients. “In elevating these accomplishments, we might be inspired to do the same." 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 6J2commission outlining its concerns was available to attendees. “It seems counter-intuitive for the BCGGA to be destabilizing the industry through its eorts, as opposed to simply bringing issues forward to [BC Veg] and working cooperatively within the existing system,” the handout stated. This didn’t sit well with growers, including BCGGA director Vijay Randhawa of Randhawa Farms in Abbotsford. “Why is it unfortunate? If we’re here to do what’s best for the industry and we’re looking and we’re writing a report, doing some research, why is that unfortunate?” he asked. “That kind of rubs me the wrong way.” Part of larger shakeup BCGGA’s proposal is part of a larger shakeup of regulated marketing taking place in BC. The province’s apple growers are exploring the possibility of establishing a marketing commission in the hope it will stabilize their sector, while dairy producers are working to harmonize the activities of the marketing boards across the four Western provinces. However, challenges to dairy’s eorts by the BC Farm Industry Review Board highlight the limits rst-instance regulators face in BC. BC FIRB has repeatedly told the BC Milk Marketing Board it cannot involve itself in matters that are the concern of producers under BC law, such as market development and advocacy. BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food greenhouse specialist Rajiv Dasanjh said the province would look to the BC Vegetable Scheme regulation “for any amendments or additions” if greenhouse growers proceed to establish their own commission. “It would be good to engage with our policy team to ask some of those questions in terms of the legislative feasibility of doing this thing so you’re well-informed of the path you’re going down,” Dasanjh told the meeting. Any proposal for a new regulatory body for greenhouse growers must go to a vote of growers as well as receive the blessing of BC FIRB, which oversees orderly marketing in BC under the province’s Natural Products Marketing Act. 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Rescuing cattle from the fast-moving Shetland Creek wildre has been emotionally and physically taxing for ranchers, says TJ Walkem. | FACEBOOK / TJ WALKEMCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 3KATE AYERS SPENCES BRIDGE – Hot, dry and windy conditions persisted at the end of July, causing the Shetland Creek wildfire to grow exponentially and devastate the agricultural region of Venables Valley. “I’m beyond frustrated for all the loss that has occurred within the last 12 hours. I am so sorry for the people of Venables Valley with having not much warning and for the potential catastrophic losses they may endure,” 60 Ranch owner TJ Walkem posted to Facebook on July 18. “I’m sorry to my range mates and neighbours that most likely [will] endure the same losses we will have. Driving into a wall of fire from one mountain top to the other is something I hope no one has to experience. We rode hard and fast and got what we could. On to tomorrow to find a new home for these poor animals.” The Walkem family was not immediately available for an interview, but posts on social media indicate extensive losses of cattle and grazing land as a result of the fast-moving fire. Discovered July 12, the Shetland Creek fire – like 58% of wildfires in the province this year – was sparked by lightning. It originated as a 5,000-hectare fire 7.5 kilometres northwest of Spences Bridge. On July 17, it merged with the Teit wildfire to create much larger and more dangerous conflagration. It was one of 345 active wildfires in the province at press time, and one of four wildfires of note. The other three included Aylwin Creek and Komonko Creek in the Kootenays as well as Antler Creek in the Cariboo. An update from the BC Wildfire Service on July 22 indicated the fire had travelled north parallel to Highway 1 towards Ashcroft. Over the preceding two days, extremely aggressive fire behaviour between North and South Venables Road caused crews to retreat to safety zones because of the risk of getting trapped. On July 22, the fire was listed as a 19,942-hectare fire of note and the highway was closed in both directions for public safety. The Village of Ashcroft and areas of Cook’s Ferry Indian Reserve were under evacuation orders, with hundreds of properties evacuated, and a further 2,000 people were under evacuation alert in the Venables Valley. BCWS had 120 firefighters, 10 helicopters, 20 pieces of heavy equipment, an incident management team and structure protection resources on site. Structure loss has been reported but the full extent of damage is still unclear, says Amanda Ellison of Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre. “We did some preliminary damage assessments yesterday,” she said on July 22. “We still don't know the full extent or haven't confirmed the full extent, but it does look like there have been some structures lost and we're still thinking in that range of around 10.” Ellison did not comment on livestock losses but said that the EOC is working closely with the ranching community. Amidst these stressful and challenging times, community spirit has prevailed to help ranchers save as many cattle as possible. Walkem thanked those who helped get the word out and offered support, “dropping everything and getting out into some dangerous country right now to help save as many lives as possible.” The fire’s aggressive behaviour meant nothing could be taken for granted. “This has been an extraordinary couple of days and it’s not over yet,” he wrote July 21. “We are constantly trying to stay ahead, but the last few days it seems like catch up and trying to salvage what we can. This fire is very unpredictable and moving so fast.” Weather forecasts for the final week of July promised hot and dry weather for the region, raising fears of aggressive burning conditions with increased fire behaviour. Wildfires this year have burned 740,724 hectares in BC as of press time. The majority, or nearly 700,000 hectares, are in the Prince George Fire Centre. “Medium range spotting will continue with forecasted winds and as fuels remain dry and susceptible for ignition,” BCWS said. Wildfires threaten ranchesHot and dry conditions spark aggressive fire behaviourBOOK NOW!*Some Restric琀ons Apply*Some Restric琀ons ApplyGAP analyses help identify opportunities forimprovement in workplace safety programs.
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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. 8 . AUGUST 2024Published monthly by Country Life 2000 Ltd. www.countrylifeinbc.comWe are, one and all, part of a thin biological lm that exists on or near the surface of a small rocky planet orbiting a smallish star among a hundred billion others whirling in the great spiral sweep of the Milky Way galaxy. That this fragile biology exists at all is a matter of cosmic coincidences. Every second our star (Sun) fuses 500 million tonnes of hydrogen into helium and radiates 380 billion terajoules of energy into space. Travelling 150 million kilometres, 1/200-billionth of that energy contacts the atmosphere of our planet (Earth) and 60% of that energy nds its way to the surface. It is the primary energy source for the earth’s biosphere. Earth is surrounded by an oxygen-rich atmosphere that directly reects 30% of incoming energy and emits 10% more as heat through infrared radiation. The Earth’s molten iron core generates a geomagnetic eld that deects cosmic radiation and solar wind. Most of what we recognise as life depends on this unique circumstance. Consider Earth’s moon, the same distance from the sun but without an atmosphere or a geomagnetic eld. Temperatures vary from -170ᵒC to 120ᵒC (a spread of 290 degrees), there is direct surface exposure to solar and cosmic radiation and it is without weather, owing water or life. As vast as Earth’s biosphere may seem, no one is more than a few kilometres, up or down, from its limit. Weather occurs in the troposphere at an altitude below nine to 15 kilometres. At 12,500 feet, less than four kilometres, the temperature is typically -10ᵒC and pilots are required to have supplemental oxygen. At the base of Earth’s crust, a depth of just ve kilometres on some parts of Vancouver Island, the temperature reaches 1,000ᵒC. Humans in their natural state probably began in small populations in specic tropical and sub-tropical environments. From tenuous beginnings, humankind has grown and prospered, spreading across the globe and thriving in climates all the way to the Arctic. To the earliest humans, the ability to gather an armful of sticks and turn them into re for light, warmth and safety would have been life-altering. Now, the ability to turn petroleum pumped from the earth’s crust into fuel for an aeroplane to y passengers to Las Vegas for a weekend excursion is commonplace. Human existence, and the style in which many aspire to live it, is having a profound impact on the atmosphere and the weather it generates. What started out as the need for an armful of rewood has grown to an annual human energy consumption estimated at 580 million terajoules. This energy comes from a diverse menu: fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectricity, wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal and solar. Fossil fuels account for over 80% of the total and are far and away the major source of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels, nuclear and hydroelectricity are the most reliable and predictable power sources. Geothermal is equally so in specic geological sites. Solar is available everywhere you can see the sun shine and – to a lesser degree – even when you cannot. The drawback to solar is that it only works, on average, 50% of the time. For a power grid committed to delivering uninterrupted electricity day and night, solar has been a challenge. That and a litany of criticism from naysayers initially consigned solar to a minor role in the overall energy system. But solar is proving its critics wrong, exceeding the expectations of even its staunchest supporters. In 2004, the entire world installed 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar-power capacity. (Remember the 1.21 GWs Doc Brown needed to make the DeLorean time travel in Back to the Future?) By 2010, it was up to 1 GW every month and by 2016, 1 GW every week. In 2023, it was almost 1 GW per day and in 2024, installed capacity is expected to equal 2004 twice every day. China is the world leader in manufacturing photovoltaic cells and production in 2024 is expected to reach 70 billion. Total solar panel generation in 2023 reached approximately 1,600 terawatt hours, roughly 6% of global electricity generation. As cell production increases, the cost comes down, driving increased investment fuelling more growth and driving costs even lower. The growth is exponential, not just as a means of combatting atmospheric CO2 and climate change, but because it has consistently outpaced its wildest expectations. In 2009, Greenpeace, one of solar’s staunchest advocates, was derided for predicting global solar capacity would reach 921 GWs by 2030. In 2023, global capacity reached 1,419 GWs. The capital cost of solar power in the UK fell by more than 90% between 2008 and 2020. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global investment in solar generation is set to reach $500 billion in 2024. Another IEA scenario foresees the possibility of net-zero CO2 emissions and solar energy becoming the primary source of all human energy requirements by 2050. That would be a game-changer. As George Harrison wrote in 1969: Here comes the sun. 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 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCGrounded knowledgeThe 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 And I say, it’s alright, PW!Here comes the sunAn unsettling theme runs through several stories in this issue, one whose impacts are clear to Rock Creek rancher Doug Fossen: without farmers and ranchers, the rural areas of British Columbia lack an important rst line of resilience against the impacts of variable and extreme weather, and long-term climate change. The exodus of city residents to rural properties during the pandemic thanks to expanded broadband access that allowed them to work remotely, as well as a rise in tracts bought for retirement or recreational purposes, has given many farmers an exit strategy. But it has also depleted the rural landscape. “With no active farming, grazing or logging, this has created a tinderbox of fuel that is a problem in drought years,” Fossen says, singling out the danger of wildre as a particular threat. While many new owners embrace rural living with enthusiasm, the learning curve that keeps them engaged also underscores just how much the old-timers knew about the surrounding environment and how the landscape behaves under certain conditions. Idealism goes a long way, but a deep sense of place often earned by years of hard experience is fundamental to making improvements. Recent years have worn away the idealism of many. Hard knocks and outright error often mean our love of the land is less a victory march, to quote Leonard Cohen, than it is a cold and broken hallelujah. Resilience is proven when times get tough, but fewer people are toughing it out. Many have had enough. The last Census of Agriculture in 2021 reported a double-digit drop in the number of farmers in BC, with fewer properties in production as a result either of abandonment, sale or transfer to non-farm entities. This means fewer people with intimate knowledge of the rural landscape, and many of those remaining say government prefers its own sta reports to what they’re reporting. Planners often talk about complete urban communities. Complete rural communities need farmers. It isn’t just about food security in the cities, it’s about everyone’s security in an ever-changing world.
After a prolonged hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and avian inuenza, the Poultry in Motion trailers are back in action across British Columbia. Operated jointly by the BC Chicken Growers’ Association and the BC Hatching Egg Producers Association, Poultry in Motion features three mini barn trailers strategically stationed in the Lower Mainland, the Interior and on Vancouver Island. Each trailer serves as a mobile barn, showcasing three distinct sections: broiler breeders (complete with a rooster and three hens), chicks and broilers. In light of current biosecurity protocols restricting public barn or farm tours, our innovative approach brings the barn experience directly to the consumer. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Recently, the Poultry in Motion trailer attracted over 16,000 visitors at the Cloverdale Rodeo, where attendees engaged with growers and sta, learning about the chicken life cycle and the practices of chicken farming in British Columbia. Many visitors are surprised to discover that BC is home to 56 hatching egg producers and 325 broiler farms, which supply chicken to local markets. Hatchery egg producers, broiler farm growers, board members and sta actively engage in the Poultry in Motion trailer events. Visitors to the trailer appreciate the chance to interact with producers and growers, asking questions about their farms. Meeting the individuals who run the farms and work directly in the industry is a key aspect of the Poultry in Motion program. There is a rising awareness among our population regarding the food they consume, including questions about how it’s produced and grown. Poultry in Motion’s mission is to answer those questions by having conversations with people and sharing their stories. Visitors frequently inquire about how growers began their farming journey, the conditions inside barns, what chickens eat and whether their farms were impacted by recent events like ooding on Sumas Prairie or avian inuenza. Engaging with growers and discussing these topics directly at the trailer provides consumers with reliable, rst-hand insights and experiences. Have chicken, will travel – and educatePoultry in Motion trailer is making the rounds this summerCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 5The Poultry in Motion program aims to convey several key messages, including the signicance of supply management in Canada. Many visitors to the trailer are uninformed about supply management or have questions on why the chicken industry operates dierently from other agricultural sectors that navigate the open market system. Explaining the benets, such as on-farm audits to uphold animal welfare standards, preventing drastic supply and price uctuations and ensuring fair income for farmers, helps clarify these questions. Visitors often encounter unfamiliar terms like ‘quota’ and have questions about how quota works and the benets of a quota system for both the farmer and the consumer. The Poultry in Motion committee has recently upgraded the Lower Mainland trailer by installing screens on the back wall of each section of the trailer, along with projectors. This enhancement enables visitors to watch videos showcasing broiler farms, hatcheries and broiler breeder farms. Displaying images and footage of farms, including their automation and overall environment, serves as another valuable method to further public education. Poultry in Motion isn’t limited to fairs. School visits are a major focus during May, Viewpoint BRAD DRIEDIGER%PXOUPXO3FBMUZtOE4U7FSOPO#$t0óDFPat | 250.308.0938QBUEVHHBO!SPZBMMFQBHFDBThea | 250.308.5807UIFBNDMBVHIMJO!SPZBMMFQBHFDB6475 COSENS BAY RD, COLDSTREAMwww.FarmRanchResidential.ca “Farmers helping farmers with their real estate needs”21.6 acres with 3 bed/3 bath home, 34x38 shop, attached suite, 2 60x100 pole barns. Ap-prox 15 acres in hay/pasture, 4 acres mature trees. Muni water with drilled well. Quiet rural area a quick drive to downtown Salmon Arm. MLS®10319731 $2,150,0002290 50 ST NW, SALMON ARMJune and September. Recently, Bev Whitta, director of Poultry in Motion for Vancouver Island, visited 28 schools and daycares, engaging with audiences ranging from 250 to 450 daily. Visitors were captivated by the insights shared about the BC chicken industry. Customized classroom packages are assembled for every school visit, containing educational materials for teachers along with colouring books, recipe books and activity books and fun giveaways like chicken key rings. Additionally, secondary school students were informed about potential career pathways within BC agriculture. Bev will continue her outreach by attending six Vancouver Island fairs this summer, welcoming visitors to learn more about poultry farming. Looking ahead, the Lower Mainland trailer will be making appearances at the Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Chilliwack fairs, spending two full weeks at the PNE in Vancouver, participating in Delta’s Day at the Farm and attending the Agassiz Fall Fair. Meanwhile, the Interior Poultry in Motion trailer has an exciting summer ahead, with plans to participate in the Salmon Arm Fall Fair, the Armstrong IPE, the Kamloops Fair and the Rock Creek Fall Fair. Come by and visit one of our Poultry in Motion trailers this summer. We look forward to seeing you! Brad Driediger is president of the BC Chicken Growers Association and an organic chicken grower in Abbotsford.Across North America, Little & Large, Local & Long, Port to Dealer, Farm to Farm and anything in between.Call or email Dave for freight solutions.Versatile Ramp -to- Ground capability
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 7It may be green, but it’s hardly enough to salvage this year’s vintage after successive years of bad weather in BC’s wine country. | MYRNA STARK LEADERUSED EQUIPMENT JD XUV560E 4S GATOR 2019, 4 SEATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,500 NH 1036 BALE WAGON, 70 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 SHAVER #10 POST DRIVER, SKIDSTEER MOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,500 JD 568 2012 ROUND BALER, 17,000 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL JD 348 SMALL SQUARE BALER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,500 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 GF1800-4W, 2010, 1,100HRS, NEW 60” MOWER DECK . . . . . 16,900 KUB M6-111DTCC 2019, LDR, 300 HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135,000 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 CASE TR320 2012, TRACK LOADER, 2,100 HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,000 CAT 289D 2019, TRACK LOADER, CAB, 1621 HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,000 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 TRACEY FREDRICKSON BALDONNEL – Successive years of forest res, ooding, extreme weather, pests and diseases have tested the resilience of BC farmers but now some of the province’s most experienced growers believe it’s time to re-evaluate what they grow and how they grow it. Severe drought was the top risk facing BC farmers this June, with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada identifying Prince George and Dawson Creek among the driest in Canada – and home to 80% of the province’s grain production. “We can usually rely on the snowpack to water our crops for the growing season, but this year we’ve had to rely on rain for moisture,” says Malcolm Odermatt, a third-generation grain farmer in Baldonnel and president of the BC Grain Producers Association. “Everyone got their seeds planted under good spring conditions, then things dried up and some seeds didn’t germinate right away. Fortunately, conditions proved sucient and the crops are looking good now.” Odermatt conducts research trials on his land to adapt his farming practices to environmental conditions, but not all BCGPA members are embracing the challenging conditions they’re dealing with. “Over the last 20 years or so, our members have dropped from 900 to 260. Grain farming has become increasingly challenging and less protable, discouraging younger generations from taking over the family farm. Extreme weather events have just added to the challenges,” says Odermatt. A similar story is playing out in the Okanagan, where a record-breaking deep freeze in January devastated the grape and tree fruit industry, which has been shedding apple growers at an unprecedented rate. Soft fruits were wiped out by this year’s freeze. By July, Farmers reeling from extreme weather impactsMany sectors are seeing farmers exit rather than adapt Farmers, ranchers uFARM NEWS UPDATEScountrylifeinbc.comSign upfor FREE today!YOURHelping YoupEEYOURHelping YouHelping pingpngYouniillHHpingoelpi 250.307.5042 tf 1.877.707.5042 info@roostsolar.com www.roostsolar.com The only installer in the region with an NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional, committed to the highest level of quality, customer service, and technical expertise.TSBC License #LEL0209968Visit online or call our oce for info on how to get started!Solar PV Arrays | Home Battery Systems | EV ChargersRoost Solar is a licensed electrical contractor with Red Seal Journeyman/woman Electricians. INSTALL SOLAR TODAY AND ACCESS BOTHThe BC Hydro Rebate for up to $5,000 on solar installations, and up to $40,000 in 10-year, interest-free financing through the Canada Greener Homes Loan program. NEW Solar RebateBC Hydro has just announced a new rebate for up to $5000 for solar installations!
8 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Farmers, ranchers in survival mode to overcome challangesFARM NGWe’re a crucial part of your industry. Recycling used oil is like preparing your farm at the end of the season, you need it ready for the next cycle. Help us recycle your used oil, fi lters and antifreeze at interchangerecycling.comjust a one-third of the Okanagan cherry crop had survived, says Sukhdeep Brar, vice-president of the BC Fruit Growers Association. Wine Growers British Columbia (WGBC) reported in February that BC's grape crop and, in turn, wine production is expected to be down 99% this year. Still, WGBC president and CEO Miles Prodan says there is hope for the BC wine industry. “It’s not as though we can’t grow grapes,” says Prodan. “It’s just that with climate change, there needs to be adjustments. We're in a good place to reset the vineyard for the future.” Soil support Farmers in all areas of the province have memories they would like to forget as well as lessons learned. Dale Wilker, who runs Old Blue Truck Market Garden in Invermere with his wife Kathleen, recalls grasshoppers covering the entire 1.6-acre farm in 2023. “When you walked around, they parted like Moses parting the sea,” he says. One of the farm’s apple trees was located about 20 feet from its orchard in typical valley soil. The grasshoppers stripped all of its leaves while the orchard trees in good soil had zero damage. The couple took a closer look and the soil was not as good as the rest, even though the farm’s irrigation system was providing enough water. “We immediately applied compost, compost tea and rock dust to address the issue, and this year that tree looks fantastic,” says Wilker. “We are raising soil life and that does all the work.” Rachael Roussin leads the Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors team, which delivers extension services throughout the region. “The imminent issue here is extreme variability,” says Roussin. “It is so hard for farmers to plan. But the greatest impact may be wildre smoke as it creates unbearable working conditions.” Smoke is an issue in many areas, including the Arrow Lakes region where Gary Diers and Innana Judd have operated Argenta Gardens (formerly Tipiland Organic Produce) for 30 years. “Survival for us is looking at how we are allocating resources,” says Diers. “Our irrigation system consists of a gravity-fed system and sprinklers. Just three years ago we installed solar panels and use them exclusively in the summer. It saves a lot of water for irrigation.” Producers of all types are impacted by severe drought, including Fossen Bar 7 Ranch in Rock Creek, one of the largest cattle ranches in the Boundary area with 350 head. “The weather now can go from extreme wet to dry overnight so we moved to more intensive feed production and irrigation,” says owner Doug Fossen. Bar 7 uses cover crops to prevent erosion during heavy rainfalls, and in 2023 moved from a hand line to a centre pivot irrigation system which helps save more water. “We ran the pump about three days a week and our production almost doubled,” says Fossen. A downturn in cattle numbers and an inux of recreational buyers has disturbed the balance in the local ecosystem since 2015, when a fast-moving wildre raged through the area. “Cattle numbers have dropped, with large tracts of land being bought for retirement and hunting properties,” Fossen says. “With no active farming, grazing or logging, this has created a tinderbox of fuel that is a problem in drought years.” Dairy producers leaving industry It’s also been challenging for dairy farmers due to drought conditions in the Fraser Valley where most of the industry is located. “Dairy farmers need predictable, reliable access to water for their animals, crops and feed,” says Casey Pruim, chair of the BC Dairy Association. “Most dairy farmers have made big investments in irrigation equipment and installed fans and drop or misting cooling systems in their barns. Still, in the last year and a half, we lost 10% of BC’s dairy farms. It’s not a crisis for the animals, but we may see a loss of production.” Sudden weather events and choking smoke have severely aected the province’s bees and beekeepers. Seven years ago, Je and Amanda Lee bought Honey Bee Zen Apiaries in Creston, now one of the largest honey producers in the Kootenays. Je Lee is also the BC Honey Producers Association representative at the Canadian Honey Council. “Our honey yields are no longer stable – they’re extremely good or bad,” says Lee. “In the honey business, we say what you do today aects your bees in six months, which means recognizing weather patterns and making changes in advance. At our farm we have a plan A, B and C and are constantly trying to gure out which to use.” When temperatures and precipitation uctuate, plants stop owering and the ow of nectar essential to feed the bees and make honey stops. “It’s like the grocery store is closed,” says Blair Tarves who owns Similkameen Apiaries in Cawston. “The bees are living on stores they have already collected and when the heat becomes intense, it can be too much for them to handle. One day, 80 bees just fried inside of the hive within an hour. I’ve never seen that happen before.” Record high temperatures were recorded throughout BC in early July, raising concerns on Vancouver Island, one of the few areas to see drought levels worsen as the month got underway. While still at Level 2 on the province’s six-level scale, a far cry from the most severe Level 5 rating experienced last year, there are concerns about what 2024 will bring. “A common point of view is that drought is the new normal,” says Vancouver Island University geography professor Alan Gilchrist.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 9Ottawa prepares to offer farmland for land claimsALC says protecting farmland inconsistent with reconciliationTyler Heppell led a social media campaign in 2022 to raise awareness of the risks facing a 305-acre property in Surrey owned by the federal government and leased to the Heppell family for decades. | RONDA PAYNE595 Acre Active Ranch 5 Titles | $3,250,0005770 Spring Lake Rd, 100 Mile, BCLEADER IN AGRICULTURAL SALES IN THE FRASER VALLEY WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCELots 21, 24, 26 & 27 Westminster Hwy, 4 lots - 4.5 +/- Acres of Blueberries | $530,000 - $610,000T 604 793 8138 | bryanvanhoepen.com | 23.85 Acres | $2,400,0002689 Sutherland Road Agassiz, BC Custom home 5 acres w/horse barn & 7,000 hedging trees | $2,990,00010862 McSween Rd Chilliwack, BCSOLDSOLDSOLDPETER MITHAM SURREY – A long-standing land claim by three First Nations in the Lower Mainland has trumped a bid by the Agricultural Land Commission to protect 305 acres of federally owned land in Surrey deemed critical to local food security. The property, located at 36 Avenue and 192 Street, has been leased to the Heppell family since 1974 and produces about 50 million servings of vegetables each year. But the federal government declared the lands surplus in 2016, and three years ago initiated the disposition process. The property sits outside the Agricultural Land Reserve and Surrey has designated the site for industrial use, prompting widespread alarm that led the ALC to initiate an inclusion process in 2022. But on June 20, it announced that including the property within the ALR was inconsistent with the intent of the Agricultural Land Commission Act. Signed by chair Jennifer Dyson, the decision cited the ongoing discussions between Ottawa and the Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nations (KKS) – who call the lands k'ʷeq'ənəq – as the basis for terminating the inclusion bid. While the ALC’s mandate includes “encouraging First Nations to enable and accommodate farm use of land within the ALR and uses compatible with agriculture in their plans, bylaws and policies,” including the lands within the ALR to guarantee such uses is not. “Should the Lands be transferred to a non-federal government entity other than KKS, the Commission could potentially consider inclusion of the Lands in the ALR in the future,” the commission stated. The decision was quickly followed June 26 by a statement from KKS reiterating its interest in the site. “Returning k'ʷeq'ənəq to our Nations will provide intergenerational wealth to our communities for years to come. This is a chance for Canada to turn the talk of reconciliation into reconciliation” Semiahmoo First Nation chief Harley Chappell said in a statement. A timeline for a federal decision on the future of the lands has not been set. According to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which holds the property, “dialogue” with stakeholders regarding the future of the lands continues. “This includes ongoing engagement with Indigenous peoples to explore opportunities for reconciliation, and to assess whether potential or established Aboriginal or treaty rights could be adversely impacted by the disposition of the land,” it told Country Life in BC in a statement. Transfer of title to the lands requires Treasury Board approval, and farmer Tyler Heppell doesn’t expect any major change in use for several years. “We’re at least ve to seven years away,” he says. “It’s going to be another ve years before [BC] Hydro builds enough capacity to even service all the warehouse buildings at full capacity i[in Campbell Heights].” However, change is coming. KKS claims to have no plans for the property but federal lobbying records indicate 14 meetings since last October between KKS lobbyists and MPs as well as bureaucrats. These include discussions with ISED as well as Transport Canada, which oversees the Port of Vancouver, and the export development branch of Global Aairs Canada. Sources within industry point to the lands being developed for port-related uses. But economic reconciliation shouldn’t come at the expense of food security, Heppell says. “We are harvesting one to four semi-truckloads a day out of there right now, and that will keep happening until August,” he says. “Give the First Nations their economic reconciliation but don’t allow it to happen at the cost of food security here in Western Canada.” While emphasizing the importance of food security at the annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture in Whitehorse last month, federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay shrugged when Country Life in BC asked about the fate of the property. “Of course, what we want to make sure is that anywhere there can be production, we want to make sure it’s the best Ottawa’s move u
10 | AUGUST 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 SERVICESBC woes fuel Business Risk Management discussionsThe losses BC fruit growers are experiencing following two years of devastating winter weather were top of mind, federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay notes. “That was the base of part of our discussions,” he says. “What we’re trying to do is work and restore the plants that will stand some frost, and I know the sector is quite interested in making sure that takes place.” Discussions around AgriStability and advance payments will be part of next year’s ministerial meeting in Manitoba. Production costs also gured into the discussions, but MacAulay said solutions are elusive. In the case of fertilizer, he said farmers could save costs by reducing applications, which in turn could have environmental benets. “Quite simply, if nitrogen is reduced in a proper manner, it means the plant grows stronger,” he says. “It takes nitrogen out of the soil, it takes nitrogen out of the air.” The primary success trumpeted at the meeting was acceptance of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct by all major grocers. While the code may not mean better prices for farmers or consumers, MacAulay said it will create more transparency for consumers. — Peter Mitham Expert farm taxation adviceApproved consultants for Government funding throughBC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramEnderby 250-838-7337Armstrong 250-546-8665 |t1VSDIBTFBOETBMFPGGBSNTt5SBOTGFSPGGBSNTUPDIJMESFOt(PWFSONFOUTVCTJEZQSPHSBNTt1SFQBSBUJPOPGGBSNUBYSFUVSOTt6TFPG$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 BCBC Milk caught out The BC Farm Industry Review Board has found the BC Milk Marketing Board violated its pledge to not involve itself in the nancing arrangements for Dairy Innovation West, the new processing plant jointly owned by dairy producers in the four Western provinces. Writing to BC FIRB in May 2020, then-BC Milk chair Ben Janzen conrmed “that no funds will be invested in the DIW initiative, either directly or indirectly, from the [milk marketing board].” But earlier this year, BC Milk conrmed that it had advanced funds to Dairy Innovation West under a cash ow agreement, using funds drawn from producer levies. These payments totalled $310,331.45. “BCFIRB nds that the ‘prepayments’ provided by the Milk Board to DIW … under the cash ow agreement constitute a direct contravention of the April 23, 2020 direction by BCFIRB, and the responding commitment made by Chair Janzen,” BC FIRB chair Peter Donkers wrote in a July 10 letter to current BC Milk chair Janice Comeau. While the deductions have ceased, BC FIRB has asked BC Milk to conrm the steps being taken to recover the funds advanced to DIW and return them to the producer levy pool. It has requested an answer on or before July 26. Several members of BC FIRB who were set to see their terms expire at the end of July have been reappointed, ensuring continuity. These include Pawan Singh Joshi and Dennis Lapierre, reappointed for one-year terms ending July 31, 2025, and Wendy Holm, who will serve a further two years through July 31, 2026. BC FIRB vice-chair Neil Turner was reappointed for two years, until July 31, 2026, while chair Peter Donkers has been appointed for an additional six weeks, through December 31, 2024. — Peter Mitham Anju Gill leaves blueberries BC Blueberry Council executive director Anju Gill has accepted a sta position at the BC Greenhouse Growers Association (BCGGA). Gill begins in her new role this month as the greenhouse association strengthens its sta resources. The annual meeting of Canadian agriculture ministers in Whitehorse, July 17-19, highlighted promises of change, but the sparsely attended closing press conference held few surprises. Of most interest to producers in BC were promises of a more responsive and anticipatory suite of business risk management programs. “We were trying to talk about how to make this timely, but also predictable. We don’t think it’s productive across the country to have a program have to re up and be specialized each time,” the meeting’s host, Yukon agriculture minister John Streicker, says. “We’re looking for something that will be more predictable across the board.” Ag Briefs PETER MITHAMu Ottawa’s move awaitedGill’s role has yet to be fully dened, but it will involve supporting Linda Delli Santi and other sta in the face of an ambitious work plan. “As a board of directors, we’ve made the decision to add an extra person to our sta,” BCGGA president Armand Vander Meulen told growers at the association’s annual meeting in Surrey on June 25. Paul Pryce, formerly policy director with the BC Agriculture Council, will succeed Gill at the BC Blueberry Council. Gill joined the blueberry council in 2017 with a vision to provide enhanced grower support that would support the sector’s growth. Pryce joined the BC Agriculture Council in February 2022 following extensive international experience, including establishing Saskatchewan’s rst international oce in Japan and facilitating ceasere talks during the 2008 war in Georgia. — Peter Mitham production possible,” he said. “But there is a process in place with the Government of Canada when land is dispersed of, so it will be handled in an appropriate manner.” Chappell says the Heppells should be grateful to have had access to the property for so long. “They’ve been very fortunate and they should be appreciative for what they’ve been able to receive for those lands for a substantial amount of time,” he says. Heppell’s Potato Corp. is an “industrial” grower receiving a “subsidized lease,” KKS maintains, and Chappell says the Heppells need to sort out their future on the land with the federal government – just like KKS does. “I don’t want any interference,” he says. “I’m not into a conversation, or a discussion or an argument about this being between First Nations and farming. … The discussion here is the consultation and dissolution process at the federal level.”
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 11Dont forget to renew your subscription.countrylifeinbc.comCherry growers pan inadequate replant fundingProgram overlooks infrastructure and other key needsSoft fruit, hard times: BC cherry growers say the government didn't undertake the consultations needed to deliver a replant program this spring to meet the sector's evolving needs. | MYRNA STARK LEADERwww.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613@TubelineMFGFind us onNITRO 275RS SPREADERSACCUMUL8 & RETRIEVERBALEWRAPPERS SILAGE RAKE• Increase milk production• Increase heat detection• Reduce hoof & leg injuries• Reduce cull rates1.877.966.3546www.agritraction.com | CHILLIWACK, BCTOM WALKER KELOWNA – This is anything but a normal season for BC cherry growers, which is saying something after successive years of record payouts from the province’s AgriStability and Production Insurance programs. “With the combined damage from the winter deep freeze and frost at bloom time, I don’t have any fruit at all,” says Sukhpaul Bal, an East Kelowna grower and president of the BC Cherry Association. This doesn’t mean he can stop working, however. Without proper care, this year’s losses could easily turn into a multi-year disaster. “It’s strange; part of me feels like I should be taking a break from farming, but I know that if I don’t take care of my trees this year, I won’t have a good crop next year,” he says. With proper management, Bal says his trees should be on track to produce fruit again next year, but as the temperatures in the Okanagan Valley approached 40°C in mid-July, he was worried that they showed signs of stress similar to the impacts of the 2021 heat dome. “The heat dome of ’21, the winter freeze events of December ’22 and January ’24, together with spring frosts, have really impacted my crop over the last three years,” Bal explains. The province announced “a new enhanced replant program” of $70 million for fruit growers in March, following on the Perennial Crop Renewal Program announced a year earlier as part of a $200 million basket of food security funding. The renewal program – government sta have pointedly refused to call it a replant program – supported pull-outs by hazelnut growers in addition to berry, grape and tree fruit growers last year and is now providing funds for planting this year. Apple growers received some funds for planting this spring, and applications for cranberry growers closed July 6. Cherry growers will be able to submit applications for replanting from August 20-27. Bal says the renewal program was “well intended” but lacked adequate funding. The funding provided could easily have been taken up entirely by pull-outs. The new round of $70 million is nice, but Bal is sceptical of the enhancements, which a provincial press release ag as primarily applying to Program lacked consultation uNo grower left behind With last year’s Perennial Crop Renewal Program running concurrently with the new, enhanced replant program for fruit growers, BC Cherry Association president Sukhpaul Bal hopes growers won’t fall through the cracks. A key concern for him are those who pulled out trees in the hopes of replant funding under the original program, but failed to receive funding. He hopes they’ll be rst up for funding under the new program. “You’ve got one program starting before the other one is nished,” he says. “I hope that growers who … went ahead and pulled and replanted with their own funds will be able to receive retroactive support now that the program is better funded.” Additionally, one program is not ideal for all growers. “For grape growers whose vines are dead, they need to rip out and replant the whole vineyard, but that is not the same for cherry growers,” he says. “My trees didn’t all die, but I haven’t had a good crop for several years now.” While he would like to renew his orchard with varieties resistant to the impacts of the more extreme weather seen in recent years, he doesn’t know of any. —Tom Walker
12 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Program lacked consultation vineyards and wineries. “We appreciate the funds, but the government didn’t consult with industry before they announced the new program,” Bal says. “I was hoping that ‘enhanced’ would provide us with funds for infrastructure to help the industry become more resilient to climate change, in addition to just replanting trees.” Washington growers have installed shade covers over their most sun-aected blocks to lower temperatures and reduce the risk of sun damage to the fruit. The covers have an added advantage of protecting from hail as well. In BC, Davison Orchards of Vernon has erected a shade and hail cover over a block of apple trees. Weather covers have been trialed at two Okanagan locations in recent years as well as one in Creston to protect fruit from rain. “Covers come at a high cost, as well as the labour costs to open and close them, but given the variability in our weather patterns, perhaps these covers are an investment worth looking into,” notes BC Cherry research committee chair Gayle Krahn. Krahn adds that retractable covers being employed by European cherry growers are also something to consider, as the covers can be quickly closed prior to rain events, and opened again to guard against mildew pressure. They can also be closed for frost, and longer cold events. But the widespread adoption of crop covers has yet to take place in BC. Bal says Infrastructure funding is key for cherry growers right now, and looks forward to the province making good on its pledge to work with industry to identify ways to enhance programming to make orchards more resilient. Right now, the replant program is like oering people who’ve lost their home a rebate on new appliances without making sure they’ve got a new house rst. Bal says that cherry growers should approach replanting as if they were starting from scratch. “We need to be looking at growing conditions we have today and with an eye to the future,” he says. “If we were putting in a new farm, we would be looking at building in infrastructure that would support us for future climate events. We can’t be successful farming the way we have in the past.” On July 15, BC Farm Writers' Association members had an in-depth tour for professional development at Frind Estate Winery located in West Kelowna. It's the rst time in several years members of the group have gathered in the Okanagan, following an event in Chilliwack a few weeks prior. Farm writers and communicators heard how winery owner Markus Frind and his belief in data and research continue to shape all aspects of the winery since it opened six years ago – from vineyard management to an onsite lab, production facilities and barrel room. Frind's vineyard manager, Lucas Johnson, left, showed how some vines have done better than others given last winter's cold. Johnson talked about how they continue to experiment with different grape varieties, vineyard locations, inputs, watering styles and pruning to come up with the best formula for grape production. The vine canopy also points to a more optimistic outlook in local vineyards than earlier this year, with more vines than expected showing signs of new growth as growers' care for their plants yields results. | MYRNA STARK LEADERThe state of vines
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 13Susan Herring, manager at Paynters Fruit Market in West Kelowna, shows off a ‘just trucked’ peach from California. “The truck came in at 6:30 this morning,” says Herring. “They are different from our Okanagan peaches but I really like them.” | TOM WALKERSuppor soi-based agriculturDrinfarm 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.caTOM WALKER KELOWNA – Fred Steele remembers the sound of peach trees cracking in the cold. “They were going o like a rie shot,” the former BC Fruit Growers Association president recalls. “The temperature had dropped quickly in the fall of 2007 and there was still sap in the trunks that froze and the trees just spilt apart.” While climate change experts predict that suitable growing areas will expand north, cold snaps like the one experienced in BC fruit regions this January show that temperature extremes are also more likely. “This year, peach buds were impacted as far south as Oregon,” says East Kelowna orchardist Hank Markgraf. “I’m pretty happy to be just growing apples right now.” Soft fruit can be a higher value crop and represents a diversity of income for an Okanagan grower, but with no peaches, apricots or nectarines this year, a signicantly reduced cherry and plum crop and the likelihood of substantial damage to many trees, many growers wonder if it’s still worth it. “I still think so,” says Jennay Oliver of Paynters Fruit Market in West Kelowna. “Soft fruit is 40% of what we grow on our own farm and we bring in fruit from other growers as well.” Oliver says the trees they have renewed in the last several years are doing well. “I just walked the orchard yesterday and the blocks of trees that we planted last year and several years ago have come through the cold ne, but our 25-year-old block we will have to pull out and replant,” she says. “It’s a lesson learned; we should have replanted them a few years ago. The older trees are not able to withstand these winters that are so extreme.” Oliver is a staunch proponent of buy-local, but is currently bringing in peaches and plums from California. “I had a hard time with it at the beginning, but I realized places like Loblaws import fruit all the time.” she notes. “We have large signs explaining what we are doing and where the product is from – like we do with our local products – and our customers are ne with it. I’ve had good feedback. They know we don’t have local fruit.” The rst peaches were from Georgia, and Oliver will bring in Washington fruit later in the season. “They have good avour, but it’s very hard to compare with an Okanagan peach right o the tree,” she says. Oliver remains optimistic in a business where positive thinking is essential. “That’s kind of the roller coaster you sign up for when you start farming,” she says. While growers like Oliver are renewing their existing orchards, South Okanagan fruit grower Pinder Dahliwal has already replanted some peach trees that were damaged by the January deep freeze. The BC Fruit Growers Association has investigated the long-term potential of the soft fruit industry in BC as part of requirements for funding under the province’s Perennial Crop Renewal Program. Its report in February concluded “growth opportunities for the sector are signicant.” “There is a potential for soft Peach report bullish on future opportunitiesMore acres needed to feed a growing populationSoft fruit has potential uSubscribe for FREE today!FARM NEWS UPDATEScountrylifeinbc.comEXPECT MORE GET MOREVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD. 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com T7042 TELEHANDLER • 7m lifting height w/4.2 t payload • Heavy material handling • Precise stacking at great heights • Good reach when pushing material
14 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Soft fruit has potential to make a profit for growers1.604.363.8483FARMREALESTATE.COMGETAWAY FARM ID#1102430 • SICAMOUS, BCwSerenity and luxury overlooking Mara Lakew4 Bed, 3 bath home with a walkout basementwPaved driveway, 30’ x 45’ shop and hay shedwFishpond, nearby creek, and natural beautywCo-listed with Chase Westersund - LandQuest Realty Corp.HANK VAN HIERDEN REALTOR® 403.308.173739.3 ACRES39.3 ACRES$2,690,000$2,690,000Greenhouse Ground CoverGreenhouse FilmProtection NetsMulch Film Landscaping FabricsShade Nets Bale WrapsBunker CoversSilage BagsTwine & Net WrapsHay TarpsForage & Grain Seed1.800.663.6022office@silagrow.com5121 - 46 Ave S.E. Salmon Arm, BCPick Up & Delivery Only 112-18860 24 Ave. Surrey, BCNOW AVAILABLETrellis NettingsandPolycarbonate Panelssilagrow.comBC and Alberta anticipate signicant population growth in the next two decades, the report notes. Meeting the fresh local fruit demands of this growing population will require growth in soft fruit acreage, which currently sits at about 1,000 acres. Nelson expects that replant funds under the new enhanced replant program will be available to growers in the fall. But access to planting material could be an issue, she says. Plants elusive Clean plant material from local nurseries is limited and imports are dicult, she explains. “There is a CFIA regulation that all imported peach plant material be fumigated with methyl bromide to prevent the introduction of Oriental fruit moth, a pest which is not present in BC at this time,” she notes. “US nurseries have to comply with their own regulations and to follow BC standards would be costly for their business for a small market, and the process is also hard on the trees.” There has been work over the last several years to adopt a systems approach, a series of best practices that would eliminate the chances of OFM coming in without the need of fumigation. BCFGA’s tree fruit nursery stock access committee is actively working with Pacic Northwest suppliers, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and its US counterparts to understand the requirements for a sustainable supply of material, Nelson says. A pilot program will be organized that could have nursery trees brought into BC as early as next spring. “Growers have told me that if they had better access to plant material they would plant more soft fruit, but at times they end up planting grapes because vines are available and they don’t want to leave the land unproductive,” Nelson says. WorkSafeBC 2025 rates announcedfruit to make growers money,” says BCFGA project manager Gail Nelson. “The study was a way of identifying what those opportunities are, if there is an opportunity for expanding the industry, and where should eorts be focused.” The most immediate growth opportunity the study identied is to displace in-season imports with BC soft fruits. “BC consumers still rely on imported soft fruits in-season to meet the demand,” the report says. Growers could increase production by 28% for nectarines and 7% for peaches and still only just be meeting the current in-season demand of local consumers. Seven percent doesn’t seem like much but it’s a farm gate value of more than $600,000. The ve-year average for peach production in the province is around 10 million pounds of peaches with a farm gate value of $8.8 million, according to BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food data. The study points to an opportunity to extend the domestic market. As a fresh-market commodity, soft fruit has a limited sales window, spanning from early July into late September, but retailers are already switching gears to apples and pears at that point. “The market assessment identied the need for a generic marketing campaign,” notes Nelson. “There is also an opportunity to work with retailers and extend that sale period.” There is stability in soft fruit. “Prices have been fairly steady over the years, while grapes prices can be more volatile,” Nelson notes. Growth in cherry production may be leading to potential market saturation and apples prices have been low for years. There is growth potential in the long-term as well. Preliminary 2025 base rates for WorkSafeBC premiums were announced last month. Tree fruit growers are alone in seeing their base rate unchanged at 1.76% of assessable payroll across 576 operations. Vineyard operators will see their rate fall 0.8% to 1.1% of payroll across 195 firms, while berry growers face an increase of 0.8% to 124% across 689 firms. Some of the biggest decreases in base rates this year are proposed for horticultural operations. Field vegetable growers and grain farmers are on track for a 20% reduction, while greenhouse producers are set for a 19.7% reduction. White mushroom growers continue to see premiums increase, with a 16% rise to 2.52% proposed for 2025. WorkSafeBC insures workers at 22 operations, and the latest increase is up from 2.13% in 2023. Workplace health and safety was a driver of a recent unionization bid at farms Highline Mushrooms operates in BC, with 390 workers in Langley and Abbotsford now part of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518. WorkSafeBC insures workers across 5,083 agricultural operations in BC, with a portion of premiums supporting the work of AgSafe BC, the province’s farm and ranch safety association. WorkSafeBC is accepting feedback on the proposed rates through September 30. The final rates will be announced this fall. — Peter Mitham
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Since 2012, the province has consulted First Nations, local governments and residents, to learn about concerns with the current treaty, set to expire this fall, and how it could be improved. Agricultural producers highlighted the losses sustained when 60,000 hectares of valley-bottom land were ooded following the construction of treaty dams, notably the prime ranch land inundated with the creation of Lake Koocanusa in 1975 by Washington’s Libby Dam. In all, approximately 2,300 people were displaced. “At the beginning, the province did try to engage with agriculture, but I think it fell o the rails as farmers are so busy,” says Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors coordinator Rachael Roussin. In June 2021, the province released a document of over 40 programs and initiatives that address the agricultural interests in the Columbia Basin and Kootenay region. A year later, in February 2022, the province released a Columbia River Treaty agriculture discussion paper that noted farmers face challenges accessing those supports. While further public engagement will take place before release of the new treaty document, the agriculture sector has been largely quiet about potential impacts and supports needed in the nal treaty. “We have launched a couple of initiatives trying to see where there are gaps to support the agricultural sector in the basin; we frankly didn't get much uptake,” Eichenberger says. “We've never been really successful in getting a lot of input or feedback.” The BC Fruit Growers Association, which has long advocated for greater consideration of the impacts to BC’s fruit and vegetable sector as a result of the greater irrigation the treaty made possible in eastern Washington, said it no longer has a position. Eichenberger hopes the BC negotiation team can foreground supports the sector needs, above and beyond what the province and BC Ministry of Agriculture and others are already doing. Flood control In place since 1964 and set to expire in September, the Columbia River Treaty has contributed to ood control and energy production in Canada and the US. The modernized treaty will provide some level of assured pre-planned ood control and continued cooperation on hydropower for the Columbia River. BC will have more control over treaty ows and reservoir levels for BC’s purposes to reduce local impacts. As a result, the treaty requires Canada and the US to annually coordinate 15.5 million acre feet of water storage behind Canadian treaty dams to optimize hydropower generation in both countries (1.23 million litres of water will cover an acre to a depth of one foot). Domestic exibility will be used to address impacts resulting from the treaty to ecosystems, Indigenous cultural values and socio-economic interests. “We don't see that any potential changes in the reservoir operations will aect agriculture in any way,” Eichenberger says. “But we are again, outside of the treaty, wanting to hear more from the local producers on what support they need and how, between the dierent agencies, we can coordinate greater support delivery for the producers here.” More additions to the AIP include Canadian entitlement for downstream benets. Preplanned ood control will see Canada provide the US with 3.6 million acre feet of preplanned ood-risk management, down from 8.95 million acre feet in time for spring 2025. Canada will receive compensation for ood risk management through 2044 to the tune of US$37.6 million annually, indexed to ination. The US will provide another US$16.6 million annually for additional benets it receives from Canadian reservoir operations. In addition, the US and Canada will form an Indigenous-led advisory body and cross-border working group to provide recommendations on how treaty and hydrosystem operations can better support ecosystem needs and Indigenous cultural values. The treaty’s eective date is still to be determined, but both countries have committed to getting it in place as soon as possible. In the coming weeks, the governments of Canada and BC will share more detailed information about the AIP and future engagement with basin communities.
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 17Salmon farm ban sends warning to land-based farmsCritics say Ottawa’s ban on open-net pens betrays scienceBC Salmon Farmers Association executive director Brian Kingzett, right, with Grieg Seafoods managing director Jennifer Woodland, says he was blindsided by Ottawa’s announcement to close open net-pen salmon farms by 2029. | SUBMITTEDMFG 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 OnlineTOM WALKER CAMPBELL RIVER – A federal move to phase out ocean-based salmon farms in BC should be a warning to land-based farmers, says the newest member of the BC Agriculture Council. On June 19, federal sheries minister Diane Lebouthillier announced that open net-pen salmon aquaculture in BC coastal waters would be banned by June 30, 2029. Current net-pen licences will be renewed for ve years with stricter conditions, but new sh farm licences will only be granted to land-based farms or marine-based closed containment systems. The decision blindsided Brian Kingzett, a third-generation orchardist and marine biologist serving as executive director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association. Kingzett believed the industry was primed for renewal when he made the case in April for the association to join the BC Agriculture Council, but those hopes were smoked by Lebouthillier’s announcement. “Lebouthillier was telling us that she was not going to close down any salmon farms, that she was looking for growth and we would have a responsible plan,” he says. Ottawa’s own scientists have concluded that salmon farms pose only a minimal risk to wild populations, Kingzett points out. Many factors have contributed to the decline of West Coast salmon populations, but salmon farm opponents have sold the public on the dream that wild salmon will suddenly reappear if the farms are phased out, he says. “We went from having a science-based, outcomes-based decision … to a purely political decision that was appeasing activists,” says Kingzett. “This should send a chill through our neighbours in terrestrial agriculture.” The federal move follows the November 2021 decision to phase out mink farms in BC, another ban driven by activists. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture says the latest ban undermines Ottawa’s commitments to science-Salmon farm closures uDon’t forget to RENEW yourSubscription.
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Expiry Aug.30, 2024.based decision-making and support for rural coastal communities. “Rather than present a responsible plan that advances incremental protections for wild salmon and supports the sector in their continuous adoption of innovative new protection measures, the plan put forward presents no viable pathway to maintain the sector’s food production and economic contributions,” CFA says in a statement. While the government says it is only shutting open net-pen farms, the entire industry in BC is at risk, with far-reaching impacts. “That will be the unintended consequence,” Kingzett says. “Raising salmon on land is basically a non-starter, particularly in BC.” He says the federal ban will drive the industry’s 6,000-plus jobs out of the province. Numerous companies around the world are working to perfect land-based technology, raising salmon in fresh water either in tanks or raceways, and recirculating and cleaning the water in a closed system. However, no companies are making money at it. Sustainable Blue, a land-based farm in Nova Scotia often cited as an example by critics of net-pens, was forced into receivership in April after an equipment failure last November killed 100,000 sh ready for harvest. The mishap cost the company $5 million in lost sales. “Land-based technology requires billions of dollars in investment as well as a large enough site and access to sucient water and power to run the recirculation systems,” says Kingzett. “Things that are in short supply in coastal BC communities.” BC is the only province in Canada where salmon farming is under federal oversight; in Atlantic Canada, the industry is a provincial responsibility. Kingzett says uncertainty over federal policies has stalled new investment and cut the output of BC salmon farms by 40% over the past ve years. “When land-based operations are being built, they are in regions that welcome aquaculture and are close to markets to reduce trucking costs,” he says. Closed containment systems raise salmon in a bag in the ocean that prevents any interaction between the farmed salmon and the ocean environment. “Closed containment technology is not fully developed but it has promise,” says Kingzett. “But these systems also require a large capital investment and a huge amount of electricity to pump oxygen through the bags.” It’s a dierent situation in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which say they are open for business and ran ads highlighting the fact the day after the federal announcement. BC salmon farms produce 80% of Canada’s farmed salmon, and shutting them down will have far-reaching eects, Kingzett explains. “Our farms contribute over $1.2 billion to BC’s economy annually, employ over 6,000 direct and indirect jobs, and raise BC’s largest agricultural export,” he says. “Every farm operates in partnership or agreement with the First Nations in whose territories we operate.” The eects at the community level will be profound. “Folks in some of these rural areas on Vancouver Island have been working in salmon farming for 30 years,” Kingzett notes. “The direct job loses will be one thing, but the overall eect is much more.” A lot of work is subcontracted to local businesses, he notes, many of which are Indigenous-owned, from boat-builders to feed mills and sh processors. “Those jobs will be gone, too. Communities will change. First Nations leaders tell me they fear a return to high unemployment,” he said. Domestic salmon farms produce 95% of the salmon eaten in Canada, Kingzett says, so fewer farms mean greater opportunities for imports. Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) gures indicate that Canadians bought $42.8 million of Norwegian farmed salmon in the rst half of 2024, up 35% versus a year earlier. “Without our own production, we are relying on imports, often from countries that have fewer environmental regulations and a greater carbon footprint,” says Kingzett, framing the issue as one of food security. Rather than forcing an unproven technology on farmers, Kingzett says the industry could respond to certain objectives. “You don’t just get rid of a sector,” he says. “Tell us the outcomes, whether it’s reducing sea lice or having more sustainable power sources. Farmers are the ones who can gure out how to do things better.” Dictating a certain salmon farming technology is akin to telling a tomato grower what kind of greenhouse to use, or a blueberry grower how to harvest. “I have a First Nations colleague who likes to joke that you can raise chickens in a submarine, but why would you want to,” Kingzett says. BC Agriculture Council president and Vancouver Island grower Jennifer Woike says Ottawa’s decision hardly provides a “responsible, realistic, and achievable” way forward for producers. “We believe that any responsible plan must include measures to protect food aordability and security, jobs, and the health of families and communities, including Indigenous Peoples who have a right to choose to have salmon farming in their traditional territories,” she said. Kingzett says the government has committed to outlining a transition plan by the end of July, but it’s holding its cards close to its chest. “Right now, we just don’t have any details,” he says.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 19BC wildfires put a spotlight on soil healthSenate committee recommends a national soils advocateA new report examining soil conditions across Canada cites the impact wildres are having on soil health. It includes 25 recommendations, including tax credits for farmers. | TOM WALKER Einbock 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.comFOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERSDarren Jansen Owner604.794.3701organicfeeds@gmail.comwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comCertified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.KELLY SINOSKI VANCOUVER – The damaging eect of BC wildres on soil structure has prompted Canada’s senate to take notice of soil health nationwide. Runo from wildres was one of many issues cited as negatively aecting the quality of Canadian soil in the report, Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health. It tops a list that includes melting permafrost in the North, industrial development in the Prairies and wetter climates in eastern Canada. BC Agriculture Council policy director Paul Pryce told the Senate that if macronutrients from a wildre enter a river, for instance, and a farmer who lives downstream of that river sources the water for their operation, that will aect soil health. “Aerosolized debris from a wildre can carry these macronutrients far and wide, so you don’t even need to be downstream to experience these adverse eects,” Pryce says in the report. Other causes of soil degradation in BC, the Senate committee heard, were soil compaction, soil salinization and its impact on irrigation water, loss of soil organic carbon and water retention in soils, and soil erosion. The report, released in June, was the culmination of an 18-month study that heard from 150 witnesses to examine current soil conditions in Canada and soil’s eects on climate change, human health, food security and agricultural productivity. It found soil health is so critical, soil should be designated as a strategic national asset and a national soils advocate appointed. The report also makes 25 recommendations, including tax credits for farmers, enhanced crop insurance and a viable carbon market, which it says are critical in protecting and conserving farmland soil and ensuring producers’ prosperity. Pryce says his organization plans to cite the report in discussions with all levels of government going forward, noting that agriculture is as critical as roads and telecommunications to national well-being. Only about 3% of BC’s land mass is farmed today, and the industry faces several challenges to expanding its land base, he says. “Even in emergency management, you see farm infrastructure being placed further down in the hierarchy. This is something we need to change our focus on and recognize these farms are a long-term investment,” Pryce says. “You can have the Internet working and your phones up and running and our roads clear of trac but if we don’t have food to eat, we’re not really in a good place, either.” Soil health and a resilient food system are two main priorities of BC’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food. To improve soil health and soil care practices throughout the province, the minister’s Advisory Group on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech was formed in 2022 to provide opportunities for innovation, technology, adoption and sustainable practices to create more resilient farms and food systems. The committee heard that the province’s agriculture and forest ministries have been collaborating on soil health and soil carbon, specically on the soil health of the forestry sector and how that impacts water inltration and its downstream eects on agriculture and irrigation levels, as well as sh and aquaculture habitats. Pryce says he supports tax credits for farmers, ranchers, and growers who have adopted innovation and technology for soil health as well as a crop insurance model that incentivizes the ecological goods and services carried out by farmers. He was also excited with a recommendation to encourage provinces, territories, and municipalities to develop measures – as a form of land use planning – to preserve and protect agricultural land in their jurisdictions. “We recognize the Agricultural Land Reserve is an eective means of protecting agricultural land for production. It’s not perfect but the current approach is the best possible solution right now,” he says. Pryce says he also supports a recommendation to give special consideration to the economic viability of agricultural and forestry producers, because “at the end of the day, farmers are businesspeople, and they have to be generating a prot.” The report will now go to the federal government for review.
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 21Research council provides valuable insight to ranchersClout and activities have grown since 1999 HEIFER CALVES, BRED HEIFERS, EXPORTABLE EMBRYOSDon & Leslie Richardson Oce: 250 - 557 - 4348 Cell: 250 - 566 - 5114 don@richardsonranch.ca www.richardsonranch.ca Join us on www.dlms.ca Soft close Sat, Sept 21, 7PM , BC time1515th A Annunual Onal Onlinine Salee Sale September 20 –21, 2024 Farm & 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.caProducer Check-o Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333TOM WALKER WILLIAMS LAKE – Changes at the Beef Cattle Research Council over the past 25 years have allowed it to greatly expand its services. “Twenty-ve years ago, none of you would have been aware of us and what we did,” BCRC science director Dr. Reynold Bergen told the BC Cattlemen’s Association annual general meeting, held online in June. “Back in 1999 when we started, we had a really small budget. We could fund maybe two or three projects a year. Now we have about a hundred projects underway at any given time.” BCRC is one of three agencies the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-O funds. “Our job is to fund research and extension that will help support the Canadian beef industry,” Bergen says. Some of the funds go to national marketing agency Canada Beef for promotions in Canada and around the world, Bergen explains. Some also goes to public and stakeholder engagement, helping to educate the public on the realities of beef production. “All of the dollars that we spend on research are your dollars. It is producers making the funding decisions, and your producer rep is Je Braisher,” Bergen says. In the early years, the council’s work was spread thin. “We would fund a forage project this year and maybe a food safety project the next year, and maybe animal health,” Bergen says. “We would be bouncing in and out of dierent things. There was no real continuity and no ability to cover everything that needed to get done.” The organization’s small size limited its inuence with researchers and the ability to do extension. “Researchers would come to us with ideas and we would fund the best ones, but they wouldn’t really listen to us very much if we were trying to inuence what they were going to do,” Bergen says. “And we couldn’t really aord to do any extension stu at all.” But times have changed. “We are a much more signicant funder, able to fund bits of everything all the time in all of our dierent priority areas,” Bergen explains. “We actually do have a fair bit of inuence on what researchers do, which is kind of cool, and we have actually gotten really involved in extension.” More dollars is part of the reason. “In 1999, the check-o was a dollar, and a nickel of that came to us,” Bergen says. The check-o went up to $2.50 in 2017 and 67 cents of that now goes to BCRC. “For every animal marketed now, we can fund 13 times as much research than we used to before on a dollar-for-dollar basis,” he says. BCRC’s research programs now cover animal health and welfare, feed eciency, forage and grasslands, environmental sustainability, beef quality and food safety. They are involved in technology transfer and they oversee the Veried Beef Program as well. “The pie has gotten bigger, there are more slices and they are more evenly sized,” says Bergen. “So we are able to take a much more strategic and balanced approach to research.” Beef cattle research uKyle Melvin, left, of Shepherd’s Home Hardware in Armstrong bid top dollar for the Gand Champion Market Steer at the 2024 Okanagan 4-H Stock Show and Sale, July 6. Shepherd’s has been a long-time supporter of the show and sale. The steer, shown by Armstrong 4-H Beef Club member Jordan Bapty, right, was one of 100 4-H projects shown at this year’s show. Over 60 4-H members participated in the show from clubs in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Rock Creek, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Vernon and Armstrong. | KENDRA CLIPPERTON LUTTMERDINGTop dollar
22 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Beef cattle research growingIn BC, Jillian Bainard at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre has a ve-year project with BCRC working with other researchers across the West. “They are looking at the impact of grazing management on forage quality, on forage composition, soil health, carbon sequestration, all manner of things,” Bergen says. “That is partly stu getting done at research sites and partly getting done on producer cooperator sites.” Bainard is also doing a shorter, three-year project |co-funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and BC Hydro looking at the use of prescribed re and grazing management to renew pastureland. Co-funding is an important requirement for BCRC funding. “Research is really expensive and if we funded 100% of research projects, PROGRAM CONTACT:Email: hay@cattlemen.bc.caCall or text: 250.306.6277ACCESS TOFEEDAVAILABLETO ALL LIVESTOCKPRODUCERSThis program is intendedto link producersexperiencing droughtand feed shortages withsuppliers who have feedavailable. REACH OUT TO US IF YOU HAVE FEED AVAILABLE We will need:Type of hay and quality Bale type & size Equipment to unloadAbility to handle a b-train or step-deck deliveryYour contact information & locationyour dollars wouldn’t go very far,” Bergen says. “We require that at least half of the funding for any specic project has to come from outside of the check-o dollars, from government or other industry groups.” Dollars give the council quite a bit of inuence, particularly when it comes to establishing research capacity at universities. “When a professor retires, the university might look at changing the job description from grazing management to something more popular like soil health, which might attract more funding dollars,” Bergen says. “But that is not something we necessarily need on a day-to-day basis. We are more interested in the production side.” Bergen says the BCRC has started to put industry funds into specic university positions. “We do this so that the university will hire the types of expertise that we need in the applied production side,” he explains. BCRC inuence has been key to three positions at the University of Saskatchewan, including two research chairs, and one position at the University of Alberta. Tech transfer provides an important bridge between research and the producer. “Research projects are only one small piece of the puzzle and on their own they are not particularly useful,” Bergen says. “Our tech transfer program assembles all of those individual puzzle pieces into the bigger picture, that might turn into a tool that would be useful to you on your operation.” Those tools are available through the website [BeefResearch.ca]. “You can subscribe to the emails or you can listen to our podcasts,” Bergen says. It also oers The Wire, a themed monthly newsletter, and producers can access BCRC webinars which are all recorded and posted to the site. “The last one was on raising heifers for reproductive success,” Bergen says. BCRC also works with Canfax a lot to develop decision-making tools. “The point being is to put some dollars and cents to your operation and help you decide whether this change in production actually makes sense,” Bergen explains. “We are all about getting research into the hands of producers.” Sign up for FREE!FARM NEWS UPDATES countrylifeinbc.comAveline Hladych, left, gives Colter Luttmerding, right, a helping hand with his cow-calf entry at the Okanagan 4-H Stock Show in Armstrong in early July. Colter has shown the cow, Jade, since she was a calf. She was named Grand Champion Homegrown Female, Grand Champion Female of the show, and with her calf, Jasmine, won Grand Champion Cow-Calf Pair. | KENDRA CLIPPERTON LUTTMERDING Clean sweep
Mobile abattoir supports OK producersSmall-scale and emergency slaughter will benefitOn the hook. Steve Meggait of Fresh Valley Farms in Spallumcheen and Julia Smith, executive director of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association, with one of three mobile abattoirs serving BC meat producers. | TOM WALKERCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 23BEEF | VEAL | BISON | LAMB | GOAT | DEERALL SIZES MARKET GOATS & LAMBS Provincially Inspected Abattoir info@meadowvalleymeats.com (604)465-4744 EXT 10518315 Ford Road, Pitt Meadows BC BCHA President Kym Jim 403-358-8935 BCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466 www.bchereford.ca MMORE POUNDS, , MORE CALVES, , MORE PROFITIT Herefords are known as the eciency experts Used in a crossbreeding system Herefords boost pregnancy rates by 7% and add $30 a head in feedlot profit Hybrid Vigor, Longevity and Disposition TOM WALKER SPALLUMCHEEN – The new butcher hub under construction in the North Okanagan will be home to BC’s third mobile abattoir, supporting livestock producers looking to process their own animals. Purchased with funding through the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association, the two existing units are currently located at the Bolen Livestock butchery in Jaray and Creekside Meats in Kelowna, where it also helps to train butchers. “This third one will be attached to the modular butcher hub we are building here in Spallumcheen,” says Julia Smith, executive director of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association. “We have funds to build more, including some that would be specic for poultry, but we want to work the kinks out with these three rst.” Run by independent operators unaliated with SSMPA, the units are designed to support on-farm slaughter and initial carcass breakdown, Smith explains. “We expect that they will be used by operators of a Farmgate licence as well as farmers looking to process animals for their own use,” she says. Built by metal fabricator Black Venom Products of Idaho, the 16-foot double-axle trailers are completely self-contained. There’s a rail for hanging meat, and an on-board refrigeration system for cooling. A propane generator provides back-up power. The trailer also delivers hot and Trailers ucold water. The unit becomes a delivery trailer on the way to a cut-and-wrap facility. “We refer to them as a kill-and-chill unit,” says Smith. The steel and breglass trailers are imported through a dealer in Penticton at a cost of $126,000 each. “Our rst build was supported by a Northern Development grant back in March of 2020, and it was for a prototype we designed,” Smith says. “When we pivoted from the Nicola Valley butcher hub, we were able to use some of the funds for two more trailers.” The trailers aren’t actually used for slaughter, but rather initial processing. Two crane units assist with eld processing and hanging. Connected to the interior rail system, the cranes fold down when not in use. The cranes are used to hang the animal as it’s skinned, gutted and quartered, and then each quarter is moved into the cooler unit. “The most you have to work with is one quarter, so it’s quite ergonomic,” says Smith. Smith says each unit is sized for a day’s work by a single operator. “It is completely self-sucient. The generator is a back-up if shore power is not available, and there is Dont forget to renew your subscription.countrylifeinbc.com
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Sliding rear engine cover provides quick and easy hassle-free access for service.Armstrong, BC250-546-3033Chilliwack, BC604-792-1301Proudly supported by:We are almost out of potatoes from the 2023 crop. It’s been a good run. We very nearly accomplished overlap with this year’s crop. Today, the Pontiac are owering, which means they are just about to make size, and we are putting the last of the Sieglinde from 2023 into the farmstand. The last of the Sieglinde look a little rough, it must be said. They were seconds from an order I processed months ago, kept on hand with just this in mind. As an experienced potato pusher, I know that July culls are January rsts, and now I know that January culls are July rsts. The seconds are selling just ne, despite outward appearances. We have luckily managed to cultivate a hopelessly addicted core group of customers who can’t help but choose these scarred, slightly sprouty, yet deliciously tasty potatoes over alternatives like pasta, rice or other potatoes. If they taste good, we get the business. Not to worry. Even though I am boasting a little bit, I have a deplorable carrot crop to keep me humble. What is going on with me and the carrots? Why can I not get a nice thick stand of carrots going? Several years ago, but oh-so-recently in my head, we had a massively successful crop. It was the culmination of several years of really great crops and we immediately set it as the benchmark and congratulated ourselves. We have struggled ever since to meet that standard. This year we really missed the mark. All the ingredients for success were lined up: a nicely cultivated seed bed, reasonably moist conditions, all the seed left the seeder and went into the soil, the irrigation system worked, weed burning was nicely timed. There was no reason to expect anything but mythical crop standard. Turns out the crop is sparse, patchy and weak, and it seems as though the cultivation failed to properly kill the grass from the cover crop. Possibly some carrot seeds germinated early and were torched or failed to germinate in the rst place. Maybe they were drowned in the massive downpours and over-irrigation. Maybe they fried in this recent heat wave. I don’t know. I am traumatized. Next year, I am not going to take it so seriously. In the successful yesteryears, carrots always played second ddle to potatoes and maybe they need to go to the end of the attention line again. It’s time to take a page from the garlic scene. Remember how I put garlic on the tough love program? If the carrots can’t thrive on tough love, then they are out. O.U.T out. The peas are out this year, and so are the tomatoes – both having failed tough-love tests. Life is much easier, and as a bonus outcome, there will be no lack of fresh tomatoes because sister-in-law has taken over the greenhouse. They look fabulous. I can’t wait to slice into the fruits of someone else’s labour. What does tough love look like for carrots, I ask myself? Well, for one thing, planting can wait till we are good and ready with the eld: no more of this silly insistence on a June 10 deadline. In fact, I might just go ahead right now and rotavate up a wheel track and try a July 10 planting. And enough with the irrigation fuss-fest. I seem to recall a much dustier environment. Furthermore, I am going to use the A-pulley, which will deliver twice as much seed, which will mean I can use the Treer tine weeder without worrying over every single uprooted carrot. Bottom line: I should at no time nd myself on my hands and knees peering anxiously around. Got it all sorted. Tough love mind-set starts right now: get a grip, carrots. Anna Helmer farms in Pemberton and anyone worried about her parenting skills should know it’s probably too late for that. Tough love yields sweet rewardsWhy stress? Some crops take care of themselvesFarm Story ANNA HELMERon-board water supply,” she says. The trailer can accommodate up to 20 beef quarters for transport to a cut-and-wrap facility. It can also serve as a primary cooling unit, but at a lower capacity. The trailers also give an option to producers looking to harvest animals in an emergency situation, something SSMPA is exploring with the Kamloops Food Policy Council. The two groups are working to train volunteers for emergency slaughter and butchering. “We could bring the trailer on to a farm and process calves that have come o range with re-related injuries and might not make the journey to the feed lot,” says SSMPA vice-president Steve Meggait of Fresh Valley Farms in Spallumcheen. “The trailers would have been useful for the hogs that went feral after the Shuswap Lake res, or it could help if an on-farm cooler unit has broken down.” Smith would like to see the trailers aligned with a cut-and-wrap facility. “We don’t want to create another bottleneck,” she says. “It is imperative that people have a way to butcher their animals after the initial processing.”
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 25Farming Karma scales up on-farm processingBright future for farm-based drinks maker Avi Gill, son Jhelum and dad Karma stand in front of their new fruit processing facility in Kelowna. Karma and Avi are committed to the next generation having a future in agriculture. | MYRNA STARK LEADERATTENTION: VANCOUVER ISLANDCATTLE PRODUCERSTo purchase parts or oilers call us, and be directed to your nearest Vancouver Island distributor.CURRENTLY SEEKING SALES DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE LOWER MAINLAND.MYRNA STARK LEADER KELOWNA – The worst cherry crop in the Gill family’s 30 years of farming in the Okanagan hasn't dampened their drive, with a new 100,000-square-foot processing facility for their Farming Karma line of fruit sodas and other drinks set to open this month. Built in their orchard in Kelowna’s Lower Mission neighbourhood, the facility will produce and can a range of 20 beverages, which began with the creation of an apple soda made from their own fruit. While the original juicing and canning facility at their Rutland property will remain open, this five-fold space expansion will be the heart of operations for the six-year-old business. “Our new facility is unique. It’s not only for sorting and packaging apples. We will have new juicing equipment to make our drinks but also allow us to make other value-added fruit products,” says Farming Karma Fruit Co. CEO Avi Gill, son of the company’s namesake patriarch, Karma Gill. The senior Gill is a well-recognized tree fruit grower, having served as a director of the BC Fruit Growers Association and the BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, among other organizations. But it’s Avi and his wife Binnie’s youthful energy that tackled the path of vertical integration. After university educations in pharmacy and finance, respectively, they recognized that selling fruit by the piece wasn’t providing high enough returns. Farming Karma’s newest 30-calorie hydration beverage will be made in the new building, which houses cold storage, a distillery for their alcohol products, sorting area, public tasting room and a hybrid packing line. Keeping business in the family, the Gills acted as general contractors for the building, which incorporates artificial intelligence into the sorting and juicing process. “It has enhanced features that can really extract our commercial-grade fruit and juicing fruit, the base of many of our drinks,” Gill explains. The Gills continue to modify equipment purchased off-the-shelf to meet their needs. They are conscious of increasing environmental sustainability in their production methods, addressing retailer and customer needs. A switch from water technology to air technology in their old juicing system will be mirrored in the new facility, saving around 90% of the water used to wash and process raw fruit into juice. “We strive to be responsible manufacturers and our commitment to Public connection uQuality Pre-Owned Tractors & EquipmentBOBCAT 751 skidsteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 JAYLOR Mixer Wagon 4575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 MASCHIO C300 tiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,500 MF 1742 tractor, AWD with cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,500 MF 4707 4WD, load, low hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,000 MF 4708 tractor/loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,500 TECKUCHI TS60V skidsteer (low hours) . . . . . . . . . 50,000 TURBOMATIC 600 lt sprayer with side cannon . . . . 8,500 WALLENSTEIN M130 manure spreader . . . . . . . . . 17,500 WN WL60T articulating loader 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,000 WACKER NEUSON 8085T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,500
26 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCKarma Gill has been growing apples in the Okanagan for 30 years. | MYRNA STARK LEADERu Public connection to farmthese practices has led to some awards. This recognition has opened doors for us with retailers, providing us the opportunity to sell in their stores,” says Gill. Success like this fuels the farming operation and, he hopes, also helps increase public understanding about the source of their food and drinks. In the old building, the public could see the juicing process and the canning line at work. “There’s no secret to how we make products. I think that's our strength; you get what you see,” says Gill, adding that discussion continues around how they can continue to connect the dots between their products and the orchard in and around the new building While the Gills’ apple crop, the major fruit in their beverages, looks to be okay so far, cherries are a different story. “My dad says in 30 years of growing fruit he sometimes gets better crops and sometimes worse, but he never thought he would get no crop,” says Gill. The losses the Gills are experiencing are part of a series of challenges roiling the sector, as Gill knows from his participation as a BC Fruit Growers’ Association director and representative on the province’s Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Initiative. He says the industry needs to remain united in order to achieve results from the stabilization process. However, this isn’t stopping the Gills from addressing factors within their control. “My dad is the farmer,” says Gill. “Although our cherry crop was decimated this year, we are increasing our farming operations with younger trees coming into production. We're growing it alongside our beverages. It's all one big loop.” Farming Karma attributes much of its success to the invaluable support of their community and mentors from diverse industries who continue to guide them, and they give back to others who need support. “We get together once a month with a group of local businesses with similar interests to discuss challenges, successes. We share our ideas on how to collaborate and overcome barriers small businesses face,” says Gill. The new plant will allow Farming Karma to grow its fruit soda business, which debuted in Western Canadian Costco stores in July. Its fruit-based spirits are in BC liquor stores now. “Dad is the visionary. We barely had our first soda can in hand and he was talking about expansion,” says Avi. “He’s always thinking two or three years ahead; his futuristic mentality inspires and guides us.” While growth has its challenges, the Gills are positive about the future. “We don’t want to be a company solely driven by profits. We’re looking to grow the company to create a positive impact in the industry,” says Gill. “Agriculture is our passion and at the heart of our operation. Seeing farmers in the Okanagan struggling is very concerning. We want to play our part in fostering a future where farmers thrive and youth are enthusiastic about pursuing careers agriculture. That is the key to strengthening our industry and ensuring food security for future generations.” @tractor timeequipmenttractortime.comABBOTSFORD 604.850.3601 339 Sumas WayHOUSTON 250.845.3333 2990 Highway CrescentVICTORIA 250.474.33014377C Metchosin Rd. 30 mins from Victoria and15 mins from Hwy#1 in Metchosin.handlersequipment.com@handlersequipmenteMaxHYUNDAI EXCAVATORHX48AzFINANCINGAVAILABLE0%$0 DOWN 0% INTEREST7 year Powertrain WarrantyFinancing programs are subject to change at any time.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 27Nora, a Sonoran gopher snake conscated from an unauthorized owner, has become an effective training aid for the Snake Smart program offered through the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society. | HEIDI LORCHMatsqui Ag-Repair Abbotsford, BCNorth Valley EquipmentArmstrong, BCVisit your local KUHN Manure Spreader dealer today!Invest in Quality®www.kuhn.comSL 100 SERIES PROTWIN® SLINGER® | Manure Spreaders1,000 – 2,400 gallon capacities • trailer modelsFAST. CONSISTENT. 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Keeping snakes and humans safe is the point behind the 15-year-old Snake Smart program oered through the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society (OSS). “We got our snake ambassador, Nora, four years ago,” says OSS executive director Allyson Skinner. The organization helps care for nature in the region. Nora, a Sonoran gopher snake, joined the cause after conservation ocers conscated her from an unauthorized owner. It was the ideal opportunity for OSS to bring in a snake able to break the ice with individuals ready to learn. “We thought it would be great to have a fairly docile snake that we could have on farms and around people,” Skinner says. “We’re hoping to educate the people working on the ground about how to work safely around snakes. It’s a human impact thing. We are wanting fewer snakes killed because of human interaction.” Interactions happen more often in spring and fall when snakes are moving to and from their dens. They are also out and about in the summer, basking in the sun in the early to mid-morning before retreating to the shade during high heat. Heidi Lorch, owner of Heidi’s Peak Estate Vineyard, hosted a Snake Smart session in April 2023 that attracted 14 participants. “These workshops help raise awareness about the importance of snakes in the ecosystem and how to safely interact with them,” says Lorch. “Many vineyard workers are in direct contact with snakes while carrying out tasks.” OSS oers Snake Smart throughout the Okanagan and Similkameen regions, which are home to several snakes including the common garter snake, rubber boa snake, the Great Basin gopher snake, Northern Pacic rattlesnake and others. “By co-existing with snakes and appreciating their role in the agriculture ecosystem, growers can contribute to ecological balance and sustainable agriculture practices in the Okanagan,” says Lorch. People are often fearful of snakes, but they don’t damage crops and are seldom an issue with livestock. Most of the species in BC are non-venomous and help manage rodents that damage crops. “Snakes are fabulous rodent control,” says Skinner. “When we’re doing the Snake Smart workshops, we’re telling people how to identify all snakes. We talk a lot about rattlesnakes because they are our only venomous snake.” Temporary foreign workers are often more familiar with a wider range of snakes, including many that are venomous, but that doesn’t mean they know how to identify or handle BC’s snakes or deal with them appropriately based on type. Nora bridges the gap. On-farm workshops are about 90 minutes, generally with eight to 10 participants. The workshops include handling Nora with snake tongs while increasing familiarity and safety with a large snake. “By sharing knowledge and promoting conservation practices, we can protect and preserve the habitats that snakes depend on. We can learn to work in safety around snakes (especially venomous rattlesnakes) and have knowledge about how to properly handle snakes,” says Lorch. “Hosting the workshop allowed me to connect with fellow farmers and neighbours to exchange insights, and inspire collective action towards creating a more wildlife-friendly environment in the Okanagan region.” She says the workshop was lled with benets, but the biggest was the ability to handle Nora. “Nora's presence allowed attendees to touch her and learn proper snake handling, promoting condence and Snake smarts critical skillset for OK workersGopher snake helps workers learn safe snake managementSnake smarts u
28 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Snake smartsRoses blossom but Delta asks thorny questions“Yes, Chris. They mean you are going to have to cook for yourself on Saturday.” By the time Deborah was arranging the roses in her best crystal vase, Axl was delivering another dozen red roses to Delta. Delta readily admitted her identity even though Axl couldn’t quite wrap his tongue around Poindexter. Delta asked if there was a card. “No, ma’am. I asked at the store, but the boss said there was just supposed to be a card with your name on it. No other sentiments.” “I’m sorry, but I’m not in the habit of accepting gifts from anonymous sources.” “It’s not really anonymous, is it? It was sent from the flower shop. Probably it was your husband or something. “ “Well, it was definitely not my husband so that leaves ‘or something’ and I’m not aware of any something I’d care to be getting red roses from.” “Maybe you’ve got a secret admirer then.” “Maybe, and if the secret admirer ever comes up with the courage to show themselves, they can bring some roses with them.” “Gimme a break, lady. I need to deliver these to you and get you to sign the receipt. If I take them back, I’ll never hear the end of it. I might even get fired and then my girlfriend might say she’s leaving, and I’ll be too depressed to look for another job, and I won’t be able to pay my rent and I’ll get kicked out and end up panhandling in front of your favourite store so you’d have to walk past me and feel guilty every time you went shopping and you wouldn’t want that, would you?” Delta was having a good chuckle by this point. “Maybe you could feed them to one of those horses I saw out back,” said Axl. Delta said no, she couldn’t do that, but she’d sign the receipt as long as Axl kept the roses and got rid of them some other way. Delta gave him another $5 bill, and he remembered the Christmas tips he used to get from his paper route customers when he was a kid. Scarcely a half-hour after he’d left, Axl walked back into the general store carrying a dozen red roses. “Welcome back,” said Frank. “Did you find what you were after?” Axl nodded. “Is the store lady still here?” “She’s in back for a minute. Hey, Lois. That flower truck guy’s back.” Lois came in and eyed up the roses. “Everything okay?” “Just wondered if you might be interested in buying a dozen roses.” “The flower store taken to selling roses door to door now?” Axl explained his predicament, and Lois asked how much he was selling them for. Axl said they cost sixty bucks in the flower store. Lois said they weren’t worth anything near that in the general store. Axl said how about thirty bucks. Lois said how about five bucks. Axl wondered if five bucks was all everyone in Hicksville ever paid for anything. He said he’d let them go for ten. Lois said five was all she was willing to pay but she’d throw in one of the SpongeBob SquarePants popsicles all the kids were raving about as a tip. Frank said he’d tried one himself and could highly recommend them. ... to be continued When we left off last time, Deborah and Doug were casually discussing the status of their relationship when a call from Ashley to discuss Gladdie’s 100th birthday interrupted. Rural Redemption, Part 173, continues. Two days after Deborah’s epiphany on the rocks on Tiny Olsen’s bluff, a young man with pink and green hair walked into the general store. “Hey,” he said, “does anyone know where Debera Henderson or Delta Poyntexeder live?” “Do you mean Deborah Henderson and Delta Poindexter?” asked Lois. “Yeah. Anybody know where they live?” “Lots of people know where they live.” The young man waited impatiently for several seconds, then rolled his eyes. “Alright, I’ll bite. Do you know where they live?” “Yes, I do,” said Lois. “The question is who are you?” “I’m Axl, and just so you don’t have to ask, my mom was into Guns N’ Roses. Who are you?” “I’m Lois.” “Nice to meet you, Lois. Now are you going to tell me where they live?” “Maybe,” said Lois. “It depends on why you want to know.” “You’re kidding, right?” Lois pursed her lips, raised her eyebrows, and stared sternly at Axel, then shook her head slowly from side to side. “I know where they both live,” said Junkyard Frank from his chair at the coffee club table. “Maybe you can tell me then?” “He wouldn’t dare!” said Lois. “Now, who are you and why are you looking for Deborah and Delta?” “And what’s happened to your hair?” asked Frank. Axel took several seconds to reboot. “My name is Axel Cipriani. My hair’s like this because my girlfriend works at the hair place in the mini-mall and needed the practice. I drive the delivery van for the flower store across from the Tim Hortons drive-thru, and I have to deliver flowers to Deborah Henderson and Delta what’s-her-face. I left my stupid phone at the store with the addresses in it and I just need somebody to tell me where they live.” “You should get yourself one of those smart phones,” said Frank. “What?” “Smart phone. You said you left your stupid one behind. You should get a hold of one of those smart ones. Some of them now can even talk to you and everything.” “Thanks,” said Axl. “I’ll think it over.” Lois wrote down the house numbers from the volunteer fire department list and told Axl how to find them both. Frank watched him go. “Lois, if I was you I’d give that mini-mall hair place a hard miss,” he said. In a matter of minutes, Axl pulled up Deborah’s driveway. She met him on the front porch and he asked if she was Deborah Henderson. When Deborah said she was, he handed her a dozen red roses and said they were for her then. “Goodness, who are these from?” said Deborah. “I wouldn’t know, ma’am,” said Axl. “The boss says she feels better if I don’t know because then I can’t tell. There’s a card with them and I’m supposed to say you should get them into some water as soon as you can.” Deborah asked him to hold the flowers while she went inside. When she returned she took the roses and handed Axl a $5 bill. He thanked her and stared at the bill on his way to the truck. Sometimes he got a ten, and one time even a twenty because he said he didn’t have anything smaller. Once Axl was on his way, Deborah opened the card. Inside in beautiful calligraphy it said: Mr. Douglas McLeod and Flo Request the presence of Ms. Deborah Henderson For dinner at the McLeod residence next Saturday at 7 o’clock pm RSVP Christopher came in as Deborah finished reading the card. “Wow, Mom. Nice roses. You know what they mean?” Woodshed Chronicles BOB COLLINSunderstanding,” says Lorch. “The workshop was also informative regarding what to do; rst aid, in case of an accidental snake bite. I think these interactive elements made the workshop engaging and educational, fostering a deeper appreciation for snakes and wildlife conservation.” Photos used during the workshop added to the identication process and helped participants gain an appreciation of the various unique features of each snake. “We want to train certain workers, like the vineyard manager of a team lead. We can teach them how to move a snake,” Skinner says. “It builds some comfort around that. If it were a rattlesnake, they’ve already done it on a real-life moving snake.” Lorch says she would like to see other growers learn more about snakes and how they “play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem on their property.” Preserving natural habitats like rock piles or brush piles to provide hiding spots is something she supports, as well as avoiding chemicals that can harm snakes. “We’re not needing everybody to love snakes but we’re wanting everyone to appreciate their role in the ecosystem,” says Skinner. Snake management information is available through OSS in English, French, Spanish and Punjabi. Thousands 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) 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 _____________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIBEThe agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915.Your Name ___________________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________ City ______________________________ Postal Code ________________ Phone _________________ Email _____________________________________
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC AUGUST 2024 | 29Lavender farm adds calm to pain relief, foodChilliwack farm serves essential oils and culinary productsCarmen Forde welcomed a delegation of BC farm writers to Greendale Lavender Company in Chilliwack in June. She and her husband John have created a lavender-based cream to help with joint pain relief. | RONDA PAYNERONDA PAYNE CHILLIWACK – A rainy day doesn’t stop farmers from doing their jobs and it doesn’t stop farm writers either. A small but very curious group of BC Farm Writers’ Association members took a trip to Chilliwack on June 26 that included a stop at Greendale Lavender Company, a business formed to bring calming to pain relief. “The farm actually came to support our analgesics business,” says Carmen Forde, who owns Greendale Lavender Co. with her husband John, a former physical therapist. “Our rst attempt at farming was Christmas trees.” John created P3, a mint-based cream for muscle and joint pain relief, 15 years ago to give his fellow therapists an alternative to acetaminophen-based analgesics. It’s essentially a reformulation of Dynamint, a product many farmers with horses are familiar with. Originally, the Fordes thought they could grow the peppermint for P3, but after learning how invasive mint is, they abandoned that idea. The couple then settled on lavender to create a new line of products including a cream – Calm by P3, which adds lavender oil for its calming inuence – but found the road to learning how to grow their own lavender wasn’t a local one. “Lavender people are super-secretive,” Forde says. Moreover, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food had limited knowledge of lavender growing in the mid-2010s. Forde reached out to renowned Washington lavender expert Victor Gonzalez and began importing the species he recommended and watching the DVDs he sent about growing. “We really wanted awesome oil because we were doing it for analgesics,” Forde says. They found that nearby Qualitree, a propagator in Rosedale, carried the varieties they wanted, so they switched from imports to buying local. Once the plants were ready, they followed Gonzalez’s advice and hilled their one-acre planting area as well as putting landscape fabric along the hill rows, burning small www.hlaattachments.com 1-866-567-4162 Serving 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 250-838-6414holes in it for the lavender plants to poke through. They planted grass between the rows because Forde says she prefers that aesthetic to dirt alleys. “Before we planted, we tested the pH of the soil. It was in the 6.5 to 7.5 range,” she says. “We added nothing to the soil.” She wasn’t sure what to expect from that planting in 2017, but was delighted they didn’t lose a single plant even though a 10% death rate is normal. There was no intention of doing farm tours or inviting the public to see the farm, but in 2018 a friend on social media visited and started posting pictures. Soon, crowds came to see the same aesthetics Forde enjoys. The seven varieties at Greendale Lavender, including Phenomenal, Royal Velvet and Grosso, are either English lavender or lavandins, which she says do well in the Fraser Valley climate. “It’s a Mediterranean plant. When we had the heat dome, our lavender thrived. It loves sun, heat,” Forde says. “The biggest thing to kill lavender is water. Too much water, it gets a big, swollen root and it will travel down the row.” The success of the 2017 plantings couldn’t save them from ooding in 2021, with about 30% of the plants lost. Replanting has been ongoing and the farm has yet to re-open to guests. “Barring the 2021 ood. It has been an unbelievable success,” Forde says. “All of this was actually under water. It amazes me that anything survived that. I’ve been replanting in small amounts as I pull out the dead.” Despite the losses, the eld has the look one would expect with some pinkish white plants osetting the traditional purples. Lavender comes in white, yellow and red in addition to the expected pinks, purples and blues. Harvest begins in early July and as varieties progress, it generally wraps up in early August. Early varieties often push out another ush of blooms in mid-September that lead to a small October harvest. About 65% of the lavender harvested goes to culinary uses, with numerous restaurants buying direct from Greendale Lavender. About 15% of the farm’s production is distilled onsite into essential oil. Each variety is distilled separately. Oils are used in Calm by P3, essential oils, hand sanitizers, soaps, and bath salts. Other products include dried bouquets, wreaths, fresh bouquets, live plant sales and more. Forde says a small farm like theirs needs to have these value-added lines as well as agri-tourism activities to remain viable.
30 | AUGUST 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC’Tis the season when everyone is sharing their zucchini harvest, including farmers, friends, family and the neighbours. Luckily, zucchini are an extremely versatile vegetable and can form the basis for savoury or sweet breads, appetizers (think mini-pizza rounds), main dishes (ratatouille), side dishes (too many to list), desserts (cakes or squares), breakfast (pancakes), or lunch (muns or casseroles). Due to their abundance at this time of year, it seems to me that another recipe is always welcome, so here’s my latest favourite. August is a delightful month for cooks, with so much inspiration from the garden patch, farmers market or produce section. Summer fruits and vegetables are plentiful and diverse, and fall ones are coming on, too. It can be overwhelming. One solution is to pay back all those people who have invited you over for a meal in the past year with a monster garden harvest and a garden or patio party that makes use of all that beautiful fresh produce. You could even oer a bonus: a basket full of the produce you can’t make use of for everyone to take home a bit of your bounty after the social. Think boards arranged with fresh fruit and veggie munchies with a simple dip that includes some of the many herbs that are ready to pick now; a crudite (“crew de tay”) platter drizzled with a quality olive oil, lemon, garlic and fresh herbs, and salads full of colour and crunch. Summer’s a great time to entertain, when spills and crumbs can be turned into compost or left for the birds, instead of having to be sponged out of the hand-woven carpet or wiped o the walls. Invite everyone and let them contribute to the bounty if they wish: it’s always so interesting to try something new! And, to wash down all that lovely fresh food, don’t feel you have to imbibe in alcoholic beverages. Today there are lots of low or no-alcohol drink choices available. For instance, we tried a new Okanagan wine made especially for those who would prefer to enjoy good wine without the after-eects of over-indulgence. Feature fresh produce at patio partiesSausage-stuffed zucchini boats and grilled corn cobs are a great way to enjoy summer's bounty. | JUDIE STEEVESJude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVESFresh corn cobs olive oil spray salt and pepper or other spices, to taste Quick cooking on a medium-hot barbecue keeps the kernels moist and provides a nice, smoky avour and attractive grill marks. These are an easy size to eat elegantly and they look inviting on the plate. SAUSAGE-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS3 medium (half-pound ea.) zucchini 1 small onion 2 minced garlic cloves 2 hot Italian sausages (about 2/3 lb.) 1/2 red pepper 1/4 tsp. (1 ml) red papper akes 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) sea salt 1 tsp. (5 ml) minced fresh oregano 1 tbsp. (15 ml) minced fresh basil 1/2 c. (125 ml) tomato sauce 1/2 c. (125 ml) grated mozzarella cheese Topping: 1/4 c. (60 ml) grated parmesan cheese 1/4 c. (60 ml) panko bread crumbs 1 tbsp. (15 ml) olive oil • Preheat the oven to 425°F. • Slice the zucchini lengthwise into halves. Use a spoon to scoop out the interior, leaving a quarter-inch thick shell, and set the zucchini boats on a baking sheet. • Chop the reserved esh from the zucchini and set aside. Chop the onion and mince the garlic cloves and set aside. • Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a deep frypan over medium heat and soften the onions. Add the chopped sausages and break them up as they fry. Add the garlic and red pepper, then the chopped zucchini and stir until the vegetables are soft and the meat is cooked, about ve minutes. • Remove from the heat and add the herbs, tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, stirring in well. • Meanwhile, combine the parmesan, bread crumbs and olive oil in a small bowl. • Divide the meat mixture amongst the zucchini boats. Sprinkle the tops with the crumb mixture. • Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the tops have browned. • Serves 2-3. The spicy sausage is a perfect combo with the neutral-avoured zucchini and these look terric on the plate if you’re hosting company. This recipe can be doubled. These little boats can also be prepared the day before, ready to pop into the oven just before serving.• Strip the leaves and silk from fresh corn cobs. Cut each cob into two pieces, then chop each lengthwise in half, then half again. • Lay these out on a board or plate and spritz each with a spritz of olive oil. • Sprinkle each with salt and pepper or your favourite barbecue spice mix. • Begin by grilling each inside down on a medium-hot barbecue, then turn to sear grill marks into the top of each, just a few minutes in total. • Pile into a bowl or onto a plate and serve, with napkins. The Ones wines are available in bottles or cans and have no added sugar, are made with 100% BC wine, yet contain only 0.5% alcohol – and they’re delicious, especially the Ones+ Rose, a sparkling wine that has avour, a festive zz, but is also dry and refreshing. It was introduced to us by Peter Boyd, owner of Your Independent Grocer in Kelowna and his wine curator, sommelier and wine educator Paul Clark, well-known for decades in the Okanagan wine industry. The grocer also carries a wide selection of Okanagan and BC-made products, from jams and pickles, coee and chocolate, to candy, samosas and meat pies. BBQ MINI CORN COBS
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