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Postmaster, Please returnUndeliverable labels to:Country Life in BC1120 East 13th AveVancouver, BC V5T 2M1CANADA POSTESPOST CANADAPostage paid Port payéPublications Mail Post-publications40012122Vol. 101 No. 11Tribute Mary Forstbauer mourned by BC’s organic movement 7Dairy Processors in “desperate need” of modernization 9Retirement Berry growers honour Mark Sweeney for service 17Lifein BCThe agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915Vol. 101 No. 11 • December 2015What’s ina name?Workplace safety groupmore inclusive as AgSafename supplants FARSHAby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – The Cattle IndustryDevelopment Council (CIDC) is proposing toincrease the checko levy from $3 to $5 perhead as of January 1, 2017.The current levy includes a mandatory $1national levy and a voluntary $2 provincial levyon all beef and dairy cattle sales in theprovince and raised almost $750,000 in the lastscal year. It is proposed to increase each ofthe national and provincial levies to $2.50.Auction marts automatically charge the levyon all beef and dairy cattle which go throughtheir auction. Levies are also charged on anyprivate sales recorded by BC brand inspectors.Although levies are also due on all otherprivate sales, a few do escape notice. Princeton rancher Linda Allison, who is chairof CIDC and vice-chair of Canada Beef (theCanadian beef cattle research, marketdevelopment and promotion agency) says thelevy increase was prompted by adoption ofthe National Beef Strategy by Canada Beef, theCanadian Cattlemen’s Association and the BeefCattle Research Council (BCRC).The national strategy aims for a 15%increase in both production eciency andcarcass cutout value by 2020. It also proposesto increase beef marketing eorts to helpmaintain current beef prices.“Achieving the goals outlined in the strategyis estimated to require a projected nationalchecko of $2.50 per head,” the CIDC says.Please see “INCREASE” page 2YCOUNTRYCattle agencies hike checkoff leviesby DAVID SCHMIDTLANGLEY – The Farm and RanchSafety and Health Association(FARSHA) is now AgSafe.“We always had to explain whatFARSHA was,” executive directorWendy Bennett says in explaining thename change, adding AgSafe“represents all the commodities wework with. Not all greenhousesconsidered themselves as farms orranches so this is more inclusive.”WorkSafeBC (WCB), the BCAgriculture Council and the CanadianFarmworkers’ Union launched FARSHAin 1993 when WCB started applyingoccupational health and safetyregulations to agriculture. It is fundedfrom WCB dues paid by agriculturewith a mission to reduce the numberof agriculture-related workplacedeaths and injuries. The rst suchorganization in the province, the“Frost is the greatest artist in our clime - He paints in nature and describes in rime.” So says poet ThomasHood in Eugene Aram’s Dream (c 1829). As this Christmas edition of Country Life in BC went to press, farmersand ranchers throughout the province were bracing for the rst blast of winter cold which turned this barbwire fence and the elds it protects near Enderby into a work of art. (Sweet Iron Photography photo)WintercanvasAgSafe model is now duplicated inmany other sectors.Based in Langley, AgSafe has a teamof safety consultants spread throughthe province and available to conductsafety courses, provide safetymaterials and advice, and help owners,operators and workers implementspecic health and safety programs.With the move to AgSafe, theorganization is expanding itsmembership to include landscapers,garden centres, wholesale and retailnurseries, suppliers and tree services. The greenhouse and nursery sectorcontinue to have the highest rate ofPlease see “FARMS” page 2IRRIGATION LTD1-888-675-7999www.watertecna.comSEASONS GREETINGS!Merry Christmas& Happy New Yearfrom all of us at1-888-770-7333Quality Seeds ... where quality counts!ALL THE BESTfor the HOLIDAY SEASON!
protocols detailing the actiontaken when a solo worker failsto report in.In addition to her role asexecutive director of AgSafe,Bennett was recently electedchair of the CanadianAgricultural Safety Association– the national organization ofprovincial agricultural safetyassociations.While CASA’s overall goal isto reduce agricultural injuriesacross the country, Bennettsays her specic goals as chairare to “understand how theindividual provincialassociations work and howwe can come up with aconsistent set of bestpractices across the country.”She notes regulations arenot consistent across thecountry, pointing out BC is theonly province in Canadawhere WCB acts as both theinsurance provider and safetyregulator.She says the recent tragicdeaths of three young girls ontheir family’s Alberta grainfarm has drawn renewedattention to agriculture safety,particularly on family farmswhich aren’t regulated inmany jurisdictions, includingBC.BC family farms do notneed to register with WCB ifthey have no employees, butBennett says “we’re hopingthat because the regulationsare there, family farms willlook at their neighbours’ goodpractices and implementthem as well.” FARMS BECOMING SAFER From page 1Country Life in BC • December 20152INCREASE LONG OVERDUE From page 1injuries, although they aregenerally not the most seriousas most are simply strains andsprains.Safety on the farm appearsto be improving. While thenumber of WCB inspectionshas remained static for thepast three years, the numberof prevention orders hasdropped dramatically. In 2013,WCB inspectors wrote 3,300prevention orders. In 2014,that number dropped to just2,400. Bennett says this year’sstatistics appear to bemirroring 2014.“WCB inspectors are ndingless issues that need attentionbecause farmers and ranchersare doing the things theyneed to do to ensure a saferworker environment,” shesays, adding that should leadto fewer injuries.That improvement has notyet been reected in the rates.While the WCB rates for mostsectors of agriculture remainthe same, there is about a 20%increase in the rates for horseand cattle ranches, dairies andfeedlots.“It’s a big hit,” Bennettadmits.Regulations about workingalone remain among thebiggest issues of contentionfor many ranchers.“We’ve looked at a varianceto the regulations but WCB isquite clear – they have tofollow the regulations,”Bennett says.While some ranchers havelooked at putting two peopleon an ATV to inspect fences orcheck on a herd, Bennett saysthat is not an option. “WCBrequires people to follow ATVmanufacturers’recommendations and thosesay one seat means one rider.”Working alone is notprohibited as long asemployers have “a good,functioning program” toensure the safety of soloworkers. Sending someoneout one morning anddiscovering they are missingwhen they don’t show up forwork the next morning is notacceptable. A lot of ranchersrely on cellphones to keep intouch or use spot locatorswhich workers punch in on inareas without cell service. Butthat is only half the program.Employers also needNational Beef StrategicPlanning Group co-chairMartin Unrau believes theincrease is long overdue,noting the national checkohas not increased since beingimplemented in 1999.BCRC executive directorAndrea Brocklebank says itshows producers’commitment to the industry.“If we expect government, ourconsumers and tradingpartners to have condence inus and put money behind us,we have to do so ourselves.” Allison says the leadershipof all four CIDC members (BCCattlemen’s Association, BCDairy Association, BCAssociation of Cattle Feedersand BC Breeders & FeedersAssociation) not onlyendorsed the proposednational levy increase butchose to couple a smallincrease in the provincial levy.“If there is going to be anincrease in the nationalchecko, it makes sense toincrease the provincialchecko at the same time,”she says.Each association is nowtasked with informing theirmembers as to what is beingproposed and why, and toreach out to producers whoare not members so they tooare informed and, hopefully,onside.“There will be no actualvote but we have to be able todemonstrate to governmentthat we have garneredsupport for the increase,”Allison says.She notes the CIDC canobtain matching funds fromthe Beef Cattle IndustryDevelopment Fund for allchecko dollars raised. Shestresses all BCIDF funding,including matching fundinggenerated by the nationalchecko, will be used for BCprojects.Because the nationalchecko is mandatory for allproducers across the country,it can be and is also applied toimported livestock.“This investment is aboutbeing proactive,” says CanadaBeef president Rob Meijer.Wendy BennettCALL FOR AN ESTIMATELARRY604.209.5523TROY604.209.5524TRI-WAYFARMSLASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVEDDRAINAGEUNIFORMGERMINATIONUNIFORMIRRIGATIONFAST,ACCURATESURVEYINGINCREASECROPYIELDS GD Repair Ltdwww.tractorparts4sale.caABBOTSFORD, BCBus. 604/807-2391Fax. 604/854-6708 email: sales@tractorparts4sale.caFrom our family to yours,Wishing all our Customers aMerry Christmas & Happy New Year!www.tjequipmentllc.com360-815-1597LYNDEN, WAALL PRICES IN US FUNDS2006 JD 6603, 2WD, 109 HP, ONLY38 HOURS, 2 REMOTES $38,0001995 JOHN DEERE 6400W/JD 640 LOADER, 4WD, 100 HP,POWERSHIFT $19,9002010 JD 8270R MFWD, 270 HP,POWERSHIFT, 4 REMOTES $79,0001989 JOHN DEERE 4255MFWD, 140 HP, 6886 HOURS,POWERSHIFT $36,000LANGLEY 1-888-675-7999WILLIAMS LAKE 1-855-398-7757www.watertecna.comWIN THIS!WINTERBOOKINGPROGRAMOrder now and be eligible* to wina NEW ATV at thePacific AgricultureShow in AbbotsfordJanuary 30, 2016*PROOF OF QUALIFYING PURCHASE REQUIRED;SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 3Industry reps rubshoulders withpoliticos at ag daysBC Cattlemen’s executive director Kevin Boon, left, touches base with BC Minister of Forest, Lands andNatural Resource Operations Steve Thomson, no stranger to BC farmers and the issues that aect themduring BC Agrifoods Day at the provincial Legislature in Victoria, November 3. (Tamara Leigh photo)by DAVID SCHMIDTVICTORIA – When BC goeson a trade mission, itpromotes its agrifood asproducts of “clean air, cleanwater and clean land,” amessage which resonateswell in Asia.“That’s BC’s reputation thatpeople in the rest of theworld are buying,” says BCAgriculture Council executivedirector Reg Ens. “We have torepatriate that with our ownconsumers.”That was the consensusopinion of 80 BC agricultureindustry leaders at a strategysession in Victoria in earlyNovember. The industryleaders had descended onVictoria to celebrate theannual BC Agrifoods Day onthe lawn of the Legislature,November 3.Attendance doubled“It was a super couple ofdays,” Ens said, noting theyhad a full room of industryand guests at the openingreception. The attendancewas almost double that of2014 and had a lot tocelebrate, as BC agrifoodsgenerated a record $12.3billion in sales in 2014, a 5.9%increase over the previousyear.“We’re outstripping therest of the BC economy,” Ensnotes.Behind-the-scenesWhile the openingreception and noon-hourgathering on the legislaturelawn were the most visibleevents, more important werethe behind-the-scenesmeetings held through theday. Industry representativesformed small groups to meetwith MLAs from both sides ofthe house as well as seniorstaff from such ministries asenvironment, labour andhealth.“Our groups attended 30different meetings includingfour with BC Minister ofAgriculture Norm Letnick,”Ens says. “We tried to targeturban MLA’s. There’s a limitedunderstanding of agriculturefrom all MLAs and it’ssomething we can build on.”Topics discussed includedforeign agricultural workerprograms, Agricultural LandCommission funding forenforcement, changes to thewater act and agriculturalwaste control regulations,and a revised methodologyfor farm PST exemptions.Ens credits Letnick’ssupport for the day’s success.“Minister Letnick and theBCMA staff were extremelyhelpful in arrangingmeetings. We wouldn’t havebeen as successful withouthis support.” United mandateHe says politicians andindustry came away from theday with a united mandate to“grow agriculture.” Letnicktook the first step by gettinggovernment to declareNovember 3 as Agrifoods Dayin BC.“With $12.3 billion in sales,it is clear the BCgovernment’s AgrifoodsStrategy is working. The BCgovernment is committed toproviding BC farm familieswith the chance to earn ahigher income while ensuringour province has a growingagrifoods economy and areliable food source for yearsto come,” Letnick said.Ens says the next step isfor BCAC to engageconsumers much more thanin the past. “We have to talk to andlisten to our consumers,” hesays, noting industry’schallenge is to figure out“how we work with ourpartners to advance thatconversation.”The 3PH Box Scraper by MK Martin provides both small and large property owners with affordable options for grading with their line of box scrapers.For more information on grading, scraping and leveling products contact MK Martin.These rugged land movers come in a range of sizes from 8 to 12 feet and feature a variety of options ensuring the right con-figuration for your needs.This two in one combination of leveling and scraping makes short work of your grading and leveling jobs. Available mounts for skid loaders and 3PH.Note: Models may not be exactly as shown.also on sale Rite-Mins 16:16 Beef Mineral Supplementwhen you present this ad.$5 off!Rite-Lix cattle tubs untilDEC31stCountry West Supply All of your equine and livestock feed needs available! Chilliwack 1-877-37358 // Armstong 1-250-546-9174 www.countrywestsupply.com
“Fixing Fences: Bridging the Urban/Rural Divide”was the focus of the annual meeting of theCanadian Farm Writers Federation held in Calgaryin late September. The logo for the event featureda city skyline in the background with a traditional“little red barn” façade in front. The presence of the little red barn in the logocame in for some harsh criticism from agrologistand Agri-Trend CEO Robert Saik during the paneldiscussions that grappled with how producerscould convince consumers that the food they arebuying is safe and nutritious. Mr. Saik lamentedthat the little red barn is a myth that stands in theway of convincing consumers to accept the realityof modern agriculture and the science thatvalidates it. According to Mr. Saik, the agriculturesymbolized by the little red barn disappeared inthe 1960’s and to return to it would present us withthe conundrum of having to determine whichthree billion people wouldn’t be eating any longer. Mr. Saik is likely close to the mark on this point:for every three people being fed in 1960, there areseven today, and the total number is expected togrow by another two and a half billion (equivalentto the entire world population in 1950) by 2050. The little red barn might well be a myth as far asmost current food production is concerned, but itis a myth that is alive and well in the hearts andminds of consumers. Even if none of the food mostconsumers buy comes from their little red barnperception of a farm, the majority of them want tobelieve it does. That’s why you don’t see batterycages in egg commercials, or feed lots andslaughterhouses in beef commercials, or ads withsprayers in the fields and orchards, even if all ofthose are part of the reality of food production andeven if there is credible science that will prove thesafety and nutrition of the food produced. You do see dairy cows grazing in lush pastures,or a cuddly piglet sleeping under someone’s arm,or hens scratching in the farmyard, even if that’snot what happens on most farms, because thoseare the images that resonate with most consumers.Few consumers have ever grown a vegetablegarden or a field of grain. Fewer still have everbutchered anything. While they are generationsremoved from such activities, most of them knowviscerally that someone else is doing the heavylifting when it comes to putting food on their plate.They just don’t want to confront the details and noamount of science is liable change that. The idea of the little red barn derives somecredibility because it is not entirely myth. There arestill farms that live up to the perceptions byproviding free range eggs, grass fed beef, organicvegetables, u-pick berries and the like toconsumers who are willing and able to invest thetime and money to buy them. Mr. Saik is right: for the vast majority ofconsumers, there is no little red barn. He mightwell wish to expose it to be a myth and use scienceto build a bridge across the much lamentedurban/rural divide but few consumers will agree tomake the crossing. People hold many beliefs that science mightexpose to be myth. Santa Claus wouldn’t hold upto scientific scrutiny but there are still a lot ofpeople playing along. Most people hold theirbeliefs very dearly and aren’t receptive to beingtold they are wrong. Enlisting science to prove thatthey are wrong is particularly futile. To belabourthe point will only make them hostile.What is the urban/rural divide? It’s a little hard topin down but in all likelihood, it is growing widerall the time. Most of the population lives on theurban side and with every generation, theconnection grows weaker and the chasm getsdeeper. What can farmers do to help bridge theurban/rural divide? Welcome those who do makethe journey across and show them around, sendfood back over to those who don’t, and put a freshcoat of paint on the little red barn because whenthey do take the time to look, that’s all theyprobably want to see.Editor & Publisher Peter WildingPhone: 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003E-mail: countrylifeinbc@shaw.ca • Web: countrylifeinbc.comAssociate Editor David SchmidtPhone: 604-793-9193E-mail: davidschmidt@shaw.caAdvertising Sales & Marketing Cathy GloverPhone: 604/328-3814E-mail: cathyglover@telus.netProduction Ass’t: Ann Morris • Senior Researcher: Phil “Ben” GordonCOUNTRYLifeAdvertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portionof the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance forsignature will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at theapplicable rate.In the event of a typographical error which advertises goods or services at a wrong price, suchgoods or services need not be sold at the advertised price. Advertising is an offer to sell, and maybe withdrawn at any time. All advertising is accepted subject to publisher’s approval.All of Country Life in British Columbia’s content is covered by Canadian copyright law.Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and not necessarily those ofCountry Life in British Columbia.Letters are welcome, though they may be edited in the interest of brevity before publication.All errors brought to our attention will be corrected.The agricultural news sourcein British Columbia since 1915Published monthly byCountry Life 2000 Ltd.Vol. 101 No. 11December 2015in B.C.1120 East 13th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 GST Reg. No: 86878 7375 Subscriptions: $18.90/year • $33.60/2 years • $37.80/3 yearsAll prices incl GSTEmbracing the myth: giving consumers what they wantThe Back 40BOB COLLINSCountry Life in BC • December 20154Old Saint Nick has become aChristmas icon of epic proportions.He’s a supreme record keeper with thelatest word on who’s been naughtyand who’s been nice, as well as anenviable ability to slip down chimneysdespite a jolly girth and thecomplexities of modern HVAC systems.We also like to think of him as one ofus, dressed in Canada’s nationalcolours and residing at the mostnortherly latitudes of our country(despite all mail being routed throughthe Montreal-area postal codeHOH OHO).But he also keeps livestock, andwhile we know “Dasher and Dancerand Prancer and Vixen, Comet andCupid and Donner and Blitzen,” mostof us don’t think of the jolly old chap asa farmer.One can only wonder how Santamanages his labour requirements,between the need to retain skilledherdsmen to care for his reindeer inthe harsh and shifting conditions ofthe Arctic while ensuring his busymanufacturing and distributiondivision has the workers required toachieve its annual targets.Does his proximity to internationalboundaries facilitate access totemporary foreign elves? Does hejudge niceness and naughtiness on acurve that reects his eln crew’sproductivity? And does he hire elvesequally skilled in the workshop andreindeer management, so they canassume dierent roles as the seasonschange?These are questions agricultureleaders might do well to ask Santa ashe makes the rounds of local malls andcommunity centres this month.Developing a farm labour strategyhas been a low priority for BC since thefederal government shiftedresponsibility for human resources tothe provinces in the late 1990s. Whilethere’s signicant emphasis onkeeping farm workers safe, lessattention is paid to giving thoseworkers a future in agriculture. Theprovince’s farmers are often on theirown, tapping foreign workers to llseasonal jobs on an as-needed basiswhile more advanced positions go tograduates keen to work in a sector thatlets them make a positive contributionto society.But more could be done, and Santamay have just the gift farmers arelooking for.Skilled at managing a diverseSanta as job coach! Ho! Ho! Ho!operation in one of the most remoteand inhospitable places on earth, Santahas nevertheless managed to attract agroup of productive workers who excelat customer satisfaction. The NorthPole is seen as a desirable place towork despite the environment,suggesting that BC farms need to playup their workplace culture a bit more.Our hunch is that most elves don’tgo to the North Pole to do just one job.We bet Santa gives elves a chance towork in more than one part of hisoperation so that they’re kept busythroughout the year. This also givesthem the skills needed to advance intodierent roles as the years go on.Developing a career path for farmworkers is something BC farmersshould consider, too.Finally, better record-keeping isessential so that stakeholders knowwhere the jobs are and how the farmlabour market is shifting. It’s not just acase of knowing who’s been naughtyor nice – the issue commonly seen onthe front pages – but giving workersjobs. A satisfying job in a goodenvironment is better than a lump ofcoal any day of the year.
Canada’s dairy farmers arewise to tread carefully as theyconsider how to position theirindustry in the face of risingimports due to trade andtechnology.The oh-so-temptingreaction that comesimmediately to mind wouldbe to seek replacement of thesector’s protective tari wall,which is gradually beingeroded, with a non-taribarrier built around the factthat US dairy farmers haveaccess to production aids thatare not approved in Canada.On the surface, the fact thatrecombinant bovinesomatotropin (rBST),continues to be controversialtwo decades after it wasintroduced in the US andrejected by Canada, makesblocking it at the borderappear deceptively rational.After all, the US along withmany of Canada’s tradingpartners, refuse to acceptagricultural productsproduced with productionaids such as pesticides orgrowth implants that are notapproved for use by their ownfarmers. Why should Canadabe any dierent? Or Canadianproducers could seek to haveimported milk productsproduced using rBST labelled,similar to the campaigns tolabel foods produced withGMOs.The other temptation is totake the A&W approach andmarket based on what thefood doesn’t contain, insteadof what it does.For the industry to adoptany of these tactics would beshort sighted and likely to fail.First of all, it’s importantthat any industry faced withthe need to continously adaptkeep the door open to whatscience has to oer.Health Canada refused toallow the use of rBST inCanada in 1999, not becauseit posed a risk to humanhealth, but because of thedocumented risks to animalhealth – namely a 25%increase in the incidence ofmastitis – which implieshigher usage of antibiotics, a40% reduction in a cow’sfertility rate, and 55% increasein lameness.Escalating pressureWe are not suggesting thatrBST, which increases a cow’smilk production by 11% to16%, oers any kind ofsolution to the escalatingpressures on Canada’s dairyfarmers. In fact, astechnologies go, it’s probablydue for a rethink. Surveyssuggest that it is now used onless than 20% of US farms. Aswell, many retail labels havemoved to oering productlines that are rBST free.Canada’s other maincompetitors in dairy, includingNew Zealand, Australia andthe EU, don’t use it at all.But science must beallowed to evolve. The daymay come when rBST orsomething like it becomesmore palatable. For example,it helps the dairy industryreduce its environmentalfootprint. Nitrogen andphosphorus secretions arereduced and the cowsreceiving these injectionsrequire less feed. These herdscan produce the sameamount of milk with 8% fewercows than conventionaloperations and 25% fewercows than organic pasture-based operations.Secondly, attempting toblock or label rBST at theborder would set the stage fora protracted trade disputeakin to Canada’s ght with theEuropean Union over bovinegrowth hormones and withthe US over country-of-originlabelling. They cost a lot toght and Canada knows fromits experience on the otherside of the dispute that itwould likely lose.The dierence, however, isthat unlike the EU and US,Canada is too small aneconomic power and toodependent on trade to ignorethe rulings when it loses.The third point we make isthat the challenge facingCanadian dairy farmers is toappeal to Canadianconsumers on the basis ofvalue instead of price. Valueencompasses a much broaderspectrum than productioneciency.It can mean local for some,animal welfare for others, andincreasingly, environmentalsustainability for all.When borders slammedshut and Canada’s beefindustry faced decimation bythe bovine spongiformencephalitis crisis of 2003,Canadians rallied to support‘their’ beef farmers.Many Canadians would dothe same for their dairyproducers – provided they aregiven the reasons and amechanism for doing so.That mechanism alreadyexists – the Blue Cow logo –that tells anyone buying dairythey are getting real milk orcream produced by Canadiandairy producers. The sector isnow moving to associate thatwith a fully traceable andaudited quality control systemlike no other – which means itcan be trusted.Technology, in the form ofmilk proteins, and trade in theform of CETA and TPP, haveupped the pressure onCanada’s supply managementsector. The federalgovernment wouldn’t beinvesting $4.3 billion in thesector if it didn’t think thecoming rise in imports weren’tgoing to hurt.The biggest pitfall in takinga defensive stance in the faceof all this is that it oers upthe illusion that the sectordoesn’t have to change –when change it must.Laura Rance is editor ofManitoba Co-operator.Dairy industry must appeal to consumers on the basis of valueGiving customers a reason to remain loyal is more important than priceDecember 2015 • Country Life in BC 5ViewpointLAURA RANCEThe directors and staff of the Investment Agriculture Foundation would like to wish you and your families all the best for the upcoming holiday season. Wishing all involved in British Columbia’s agri-food industry a healthy and prosperous 2016.CONTACT US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE FUNDING TO HELP TURN YOUR IDEAS INTO SOLUTIONS!T 250.356.1662 E funding@iafbc.ca www.iafbc.caPrivate 129 acres w/4 bed, 2 bath log home. Short drive from Lumby. 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Country Life in BC • December 20156by PETER MITHAMABBOTSFORD – Healthyreturns to packers andgrowers from this year’sraspberry crop is buoyinghopes for the revival ofAbbotsford Growers Ltd. in2016.The former AbbotsfordGrowers Co-op emerged fromnancial diculties in spring2015 when a group of 18growers and former co-opmembers stepped up toextract the business,including its operating assets,from a court-ordered sale.The co-op’s property,including two buildings witha total of 68,766 square feet,was listed with CBRE Ltd. in2014 for $11.3 million.However, despite interestfrom outside purchasers, thepremises never actuallychanged hands.“The outstanding debt waspurchased/assumed by agroup of local investors thatare associated with theAbbotsford Growers Co-op,”explains listing broker HarryGhag, an associate vice-president with CBRE inVancouver, via e-mail. “Thusthe property never actuallysold, but in essence wasretained by these investorsfor the co-op.”The new ownership groupreconstituted the business asa corporation just in time forharvest, which came on earlyand abundantly.“The fruit was two to threeweeks earlier than expected,so once the fruit hit, it justkept coming,” says generalmanager Colin Hutchinson,formerly the superintendentof Lucerne Foods’ frozen fruitand vegetable plant. “It was alittle chaotic at times.”Good lead timeThe coming season shouldbe smoother because therevived plant will have oneseason under its belt andgood lead time for improvingsystems and preparing for thenext harvest.While plant infrastructuredidn’t require too muchattention, the big challengefacing the business isrenewing relationships withgrowers and customers.The plant handled threemillion pounds of raspberriesin 2013 and counted 88growers as members. Themajority of the fruit it handledwas frozen.Its nancial diculties notonly left some growers at aloss for payment butscrambling to place fruit in2015. Customers whotraditionally bought from theco-op were also left lookingelsewhere.“We have to re-establishour markets because we lostsome of that. We went awhole season withoutprocessing so a lot ofprevious customers hadsourced product elsewhere,”Hutchinson says.By the same token, growerswant assurances that they’llget the money owing them.“The key is to re-establishAbbotsford Growers bounces backBack in business. A processing plant for Fraser Valley berries hasbeen resurrected after 18 growers and former co-op membersstepped up to rescue the business from a court-ordered sale. (Filephoto courtesy of Abbotsford Growers)that condence with thegrowers,” he says. “It’senticing them to bring thefruit here and ensuringthey’re going to get paid forit. I think a lot of them are stilla little bit gun-shy.”With conditions forgrowers looking up, theindustry needs both thecapacity and opportunitiesprocessors like AbbotsfordGrowers provide.Established in 1947The decline of fruit andvegetable processing in theLower Mainland is a well-known story, but the formerco-op – established in 1947 –has weathered the storm andis ready to continue servingthe industry.While the volume of the2015 raspberry crop wasdown 33% from 2014 thanksto a combination of winterdamage and hot, dry growingconditions during the season,prices have strengthened.“Brix levels of theraspberries were highercompared to last year, whichis what the purchasers ofpurees and straight packslook for,” says Lisa Craig,manager of the RaspberryIndustry DevelopmentCouncil. “In terms of themarket outlook, farmers canexpect a higher price for theirfruit compared to last year.”“The season was fairlygood,” Hutchinson concurs.“As we grow our volume andget more fruit and customers,we have some plans toexpand.” 604-881-6078 | 1-877-533-1789 | www.agsafebc.ca Wishing you a merry Christmas and a safe, happy holiday seasonSee our complete inventory atFarmersEquip.comLYNDEN, WASHINGTON888-855-4981PRICES IN US DOLLARS2008 CASE IH PUMA 195 16SP POWERSHIFT, LX770LOADER, NICE TIRES, 80%TREAD FE#22554$120,000’96 KUBOTA L235025 HP, GEAR DRIVE, LB400LOADER, 540 PTO, TURF TIRESFE #23278$8,950ROTO-MIX 653-16 MIXER BOX 3 AUGER HORIZONTIAL, NOSCALE, STAINLESS FLOORFE# #22757$12,500VOLVO L50B WHEEL LOADER1670 HRS ON REMAN MOTOR,BKT/FORKS, HYD QUICKCHANGE BUCKET, GOOD TIRES,FE#20050$39,950JOHN DEERE 94005,400 HRS, FR/R DUALS, 3PT, 4 SETS OF REMOTESFE#23347$84,950
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 7Mary Forstbauerby DAVID SCHMIDTCHILLIWACK – The BC organic industry has lostone of its founders and guiding lights. MaryForstbauer of Forstbauer Family Natural Food Farmin Chilliwack passed away October 30 after a six-week illness, just over a month from her 67thbirthday.About 1,000 people packed Chilliwack’s largestchurch on November 9 for a moving celebration oflife for this incredibly dynamic mother, farmer andcommunity leader.In a tribute to her in the provincial Legislature onNovember 5, NDP agriculture critic called Forstbauera “titan for the organic movement in this province …she fed many of us with nutritious food grown withlove and respect for the earth and in keeping withbiodynamic and organic principles.”Gunta Vitins, the outgoing chair of the OrganicValue Chain Round Table, repeated the “titan”phrase as she posthumously presented Forstbauerwith the Canadian Health Food Association’s 2015Organics Achievement Award. Forstbauer washospitalized four days before she was to go toToronto to receive the prestigious award.Started out in 1977The award recognizes a lifetime of work on behalfof the organic sector. She and her husband, Hans,started their organic blueberry and vegetable farmin 1977. In 1989, the Forstbauers relocated to largerproperties in Chilliwack, where the family now farms90 acres.When the Forstbauers began farming organically,it was uncharted territory. So Mary helped developthe standards and associations which would givecredibility to the movement. She was a foundingmember of both the BC Association of RegenerativeAgriculture and the Certied Organic Associations ofBC, serving as president of both organizationsmultiple times and earning an early Founders Awardfrom the COABC.Checkmark logoShe was a driving force behind getting thegovernment to authorize the checkmark logo stillused to identify BC certied organic products. At thetime of her passing, she was president of the Bio-Dynamic Agricultural Society of BC and a directorand immediate past co-president of COABC.In the 1990’s, Forstbauer started marketingthrough farmers’ markets and immediately gotinvolved in the BC Association of Farmers Markets(BCAFM), which she also recently served aspresident.“She has left a huge footprint,” BCAFM presidentJon Bell said.Unlike many who simply accumulate titles tomark their worth, Forstbauer was not afraid to gether hands dirty in the day-to-day work both on ando the farm. For years, she almost singlehandedlyorganized and staed the silent auction at theannual COABC conference. In her tribute, Vitins toldof the time Forstbauer was determined that theorganic sector have a presence at the Pacic AgShow.“She put up the display, manned it for three days,then took it down at the end,” Vitins recalled.Although a passionate advocate for organicagriculture, Forstbauer never disparagedconventional producers. She strongly endorsed theBC Agriculture Council, often telling this reporterthe entire agricultural sector needed to unify tosurvive and prosper. Despite her active involvement in industryassociations, Forstbauer was rst and foremost aloving mother and grandmother. In addition to herhusband, Hans, she leaves behind 12 children and36 grandchildren.As Popham said in the legislature, “please join (us)in acknowledging this special person, her hard workand a life well lived.”BC agriculture mourning loss of organic leaderMary Forstbauer was a tireless mother, farmer and “titan” for BC’s organic movementTop-notch seeds!OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS British Columbia / EvergroGurnaib Gill Fraser Valley gurnaib.gill@cpsagu.ca 604 835-3124Balkar Gill Fraser Valley balkar.gill@cpsagu.ca 604 825-0366Terry Stevens Vancouver Island terry.stevens@cpsagu.ca 604 883-5361Ben Yurkiw Fraser Valley and BC Interior ben.yurkiw@cpsagu.ca 604 830-9295OntarioWarren Peacock wp@norseco.com 519 426-1131 | 519 426-6156ManitobaGilliane Bisson gbisson@norseco.com 514 295-7202Maritimes Yves Thibault, agr. yt@norseco.com 418 660-1498 | 418 666-8947Customer service order@norseco.com 800 561-9693 | 800 567-4594Martin DeslauriersSales Manager Vegetable Division mdeslauriers@norseco.com 438 989-4863norseco.com
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December 2015 • Country Life in BC 9Modernization of dairy processors “desperately needed”Program announced by former Conservative government as part of TPP package is considered most critical by industryby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – When the TransPacic Partnership (TPP) tradeagreement was concluded, theprevious Conservative governmentannounced a 10-year $2.4 billionincome guarantee and $1.5 billionquota value guarantee programs tooset losses supply managedproducers may suer as a result. Theyalso promised to add $15 million tothe AgriMarketing Program to helpsupply-managed groups promote andmarket their products.However, Dairy Farmers of Canada’s(DFC) BC director David Janssens saysthe fourth program announcedOctober 5, a $450 million ProcessorModernization Program, may be themost critical.Modernization of dairy processingfacilities is “desperately needed,” hetold a packed house attending theMainland Milk Producers fall meeting,October 28.The 12 TPP countries include threeof the world’s biggest dairy exporterswhile the fourth, Europe, is covered bythe Comprehensive Economic TradeAgreement (CETA). With the WorldTrade Organization negotiationsstalled, supply management shouldnot face any more signicant tradechallenges in the near future.The TPP does not specify amounts,as CETA did for European cheeses.Instead it “opens thedoors a little bit” byproviding tari-freeaccess totalling 3.25% ofCanada’s 2016 milkproduction. Imports willalso be entitled to 1-3%of growth in theCanadian milk market. Janssens says theagreement “opens thedoors a little bit” byproviding some tari-free access for all milkclasses and elimination of all taris onwhey powder and milk proteinconcentrates. One of his biggestconcerns is that imports contributenothing to marketing and nutritionprograms.“Dairy farmers in Canada spend$130 million per year on building upthe market and trade deals are givingit away,” he said.Janssens said DFC is calling for“rigorous border inspections” toensure trade obligations are not beingexceeded and asking government todevelop a system to capture newproductswhich areescaping thesystembecause theyhave not beenclassied.“It’saecting ourblend price,”he said.However,Janssens saysDFC doesn’thave a lot ofmoney for lobbying, noting itsgovernment relations andcommunications budget is “only $1million.”BC Milk Marketing Board (BCMMB)chair Jim Byrne provided statistics toback up Janssens. He noted largeprocessors imported 100 million litresof “ingredients” to make cheese in therst four months of 2015 and another100 million litres in the next twomonths. As a result, Ontario andManitoba ended up dumping skimmilk which could have been usedinstead of the “ingredients.”“For a month, we were payingprocessors to take our milk to turn itinto cheese,” he said.Producers were also updated onthe ProAction Initiative (PAI).BC Dairy Association ProActionprogram co-ordinator ElizabethSchouten says the BCDA will beginanimal care validations in November.“If you’re due for a CQM validation,it will nowinclude ananimal carecomponent,”Schouten said,notingvalidators willlook forstandardoperatingprotocols forcolostrummanagement,painmanagement,euthanasia, downed animals and otheranimal care issues. Herds will also bescanned for udder cleanliness andproducers will be also be asked toprovide medical reasons for any taildocking. Although CQM validators arenow doing the animal audits, they willbe turned over to Holstein Canada bySeptember 2016.Byrne said the BCMMB isconducting both random andcomplaint-based animal careinspections with a goal of merging theDFC and BCMMB inspections in thenear future. He noted all dairy industryleaders and BCMMB producerdirectors have been inspected to setan example for the industry.With the animal care componentrolled out, DFC is turning its attentionto the next PAI components.“We plan to run pilot projects onbiosecurity and environment fromJanuary to April 2016, and need atleast 12 farms for each,” Schouten said.With the World Trade Organizationnegotiations stalled, supplymanagement should not face anymore significant trade challengesin the near future.Elizabeth SchoutenJim ByrneODLUMBROWN.COMFind out how we build better portfolios$250,000$500,000$1,000,000$2,000,000$4,000,000$8,000,0009596 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15S&P/TSX Total Return Index 8.1%Odlum Brown Model Portfolio 15.6%*ODLUM BROWN MODEL PORTFOLIO VS S&P/TSX TOTAL RETURN INDEX*Compound annual returns are from inceptionDecember 15, 1994 to November 15, 2015. 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Country Life in BC • December 201510Farmers are being encouraged to diversify their operations, astrategy undertaken in Washington, to help retain workers yearround. (Wendy Johnson le photo)by PETER MITHAMRICHMOND – A decadeafter unemployment in BC’sfarm sector dropped to arecord low of 5.9%, part-timepositions have dropped tolevels not seen since the1970s as full-time positionstake up the slack.“Agriculture andagribusiness has beenworking for a long time to getrid of people in the industry,and they’ve been reallysuccessful at it,” observes KentMullinix, director of theInstitute for Sustainable FoodSystems at KwantlenPolytechnic University inRichmond. “Concomitantly,though, industrialization andspecialization in agriculturehas created a demand for avery dierent kind ofagricultural workforce.”Those workers are oftenminimally skilled, seasonalworkers engaged in menial,repetitive tasks, Mullinix says,while the full-time positionsare often held by the farmoperators themselves.Almost 20,000 farmsThe most recent federalcensus of agriculture indicatesthere were about 29,925 farmoperators in BC in 2011managing 19,759 farms.(Farms may report up to threeoperators.) Provincial numbersindicate there areapproximately 20,000 farmfamilies in the provinces, whilefederal tax data indicates thatapproximately 45% of BCfarms are small businesseswith only a few thousand inannual revenue.Stacked up against labourforce numbers, it appears thatBC’s largely family-run farmsare maintaining, but notcreating, many full-time jobs.11.6% unemploymentUnemployment among theprovince’s 27,500 farmworkers totalled 11.6% in2014, with employmentdivided betweenapproximately 20,500 full-timeand 4,500 part-time positions.The phenomenon wasrecognized by the vineyardand wine industry in 2012,when a labour market studywas undertaken to developthe workforce available to thesector.“There’s a human resourcesgap,” Carolyn MacLaren, ahuman resources consultantand chair of the ViticultureLabour Market HumanResources steering committeeestablished by the BC WineGrape Council, said at thetime. “We’re not developingour local talent in that area.”Developing a career trackfor such workers, anddeveloping strategies toensure year-roundemployment so workerswould stay in the sector, wasseen as key.The orchard industry inneighbouring Washingtonstate pursued a similarstrategy to retain workers andprevent them from beinglured to competing industrieswith better wages, Mullinixsays. Growers diversied theiroperations, changing up theirvariety mix and crop mix toensure a steady ow of year-round work for employees.“It was very much front andcentre in their thinking,” hesays. “You don’t have as manyapples to pick at any one time,but you have more apples topick over time, and thereforeyou can keep your crew onand then you can move theminto pruning.”The shift also helpedbroaden growers’ cash ows,reducing their dependence onany one crop or variety.However, no one seems tobe drafting similar plans forBC.Moribund boardThe province’s AgriculturalWorkforce Policy Board,established in 1991, has beenmoribund for more than adecade, and Jaclyn Laic, whooversees labour initiatives forthe BC Agricultural Researchand Development Corp.(Ardcorp), the research arm ofthe BC Agriculture Council,was unaware of any work onthe matter.Christine Koch, senioragricultural labour analystwith the BC Ministry ofAgriculture and Food when aprole of the province’sagricultural work force wasproduced in 1999 and now aconsultant to the sector, is notAgriculture offers rewarding work – but who wants it?British Columbia’s largely family-run farms aremaintaining, but not creating, many full-time jobsaware of any recent studies.The last study, in 1999,responded to therestructuring of HumanResources DevelopmentCanada that transferred itsresponsibilities to theprovinces. However, no onepicked up the slack in BC.Issues differ“One reason the farmindustry has not cometogether to address workforceneeds is that the issues dierfrom crop to crop, region toregion, and season to season,”the Agricultural WorkforcePolicy Board observed at thetime.BC agriculture ministerNorm Letnick feels progress isbeing made on the jobs front,however. While there may befewer jobs, the skill level tendsto be higher, the pay is better,Please see “JOB” page 11inew@tru604.556.7477DUNCAN5410 Trans Canada Hwy. 250.748.8171KELOWNA103-1889 Springfield Road250.860.2346NANAIMO1-1277 Island Hwy. S250.753.4221PARKSVILLE587 Alberni Hwy. 250.248.3243SAANICH1970 Keating Cross Rd. 250.652.9188SALMON ARM1771 - 10th Avenue S.W. 250.832.8424WEST KELOWNA2565 Main St., Hwy. 97 South 250.768.8870ABBOTSFORD31852 Marshall PlaceCanadian Owned and Operated100%From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas together with asincere thank you for your patronage throughout this past year!We Have Moved31852 Marshall Place, West of the Clearbrook Road RoundaboutMake sure to pay us a visit at our NEW ABBOTSFORD LOCATION
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 11Farm and agri-business employers should be capitalizing on thepopularity of the Buy Local movement to attract employees andposition their operations as appealing places to work. (JudieSteeves le photo)Careers in agriculture need to be cultivated, promoted: Mullinixby PETER MITHAMRICHMOND – ThompsonRivers University is launchinga sustainable ranchingprogram, and BC Minister ofAgriculture Norm Letnicknotes the Universityof the Fraser Valleyand KwantlenPolytechnicUniversity both havepopular agricultureprograms.“[Kwantlen sta]tell me that 100% oftheir graduates getjobs in the industry,”he says. “Is there apolicy lever that wehave at our disposalthat we can helpthat those peoplerecognize there arejob opportunities if they’rewilling to retrain or relocate?”Kent Mullinix is the directorof the Institute for SustainableFood Systems at KwantlenPolytechnic University inRichmond. He agrees thatagriculture oers good-qualityjobs that can bringsatisfaction to workers, and hewould like to see thoseopportunities cultivated andpromoted.“Agriculture is good work,and enjoyable work andrewarding work,” Mullinix says.“We should be guring outhow agriculture can creategood jobs. And all sorts of jobs,from hourly labour tomanagement to technical.”If young people don’t seeagriculture as a desireablecareer path, Mullinix says it’snot because they’re afraid towork. Rather, it’s becausethey’re not seeing itin the right light.“I refuse to believeit’s because youngpeople are just lazy,and don’t want towork, and think thatworking on a farmand doing farming isbeneath them. I willnot accept that,” hesays.Speaking at thePacic AgricultureShow in 2013,Michelle Painchaud,principal ofWinnipeg human resourcesrm Painchaud PerformanceGroup, said farms need tobrand themselves as dynamicemployers providing excitingwork. By working to cultivate apositive reputation, farmbusinesses can win the battlefor talent.Painchaud explained howher rm helped a septicservices provider boostemployment and morale tounderscore that even farming– with its own share ofunglamorous work – can be anappealing eld.Promoting careers inagriculture the way theJOB QUALITY From page 10produce of the sector is toutedmay be one solution.A federal study prepared byToronto consulting rmStrategic Counsel, found that“green,” “local” and “organic”were terms with highly positiveassociations when consumersthink of farms; by contrast, “joblosses,” “pesticides” and“bioengineering” were amongthe negative terms associatedwith the sector.Mullinix says he hears thesame thing among youngpeople, who are keen on cleanand green agriculture but shyfrom practices that exposethemselves and theenvironment to chemicalinputs. And they’re keen onkeeping things small, engagingdirectly with the work ratherthan co-ordinating teams ofpeople.“The young people I wasworking with wanted to workwith plants and soil and waterand sunlight, and steward theenvironment and grow goodfood,” he said. “They didn’twant to be personnelmanagers.”and productivity is up. BCagri-food sales last yeartotalled a record $12.3 billion,up 5.9% from the previousyear, despite the relativelyhigh unemployment gures.“While the count of thenumber of jobs is down, thequality of the jobs isimproving every year,” he toldCountry Life in BC. “I talk tofarmers and ranchers andproducers all year round, andfor the most part what I’mhearing are good news stories– stories of increased sales,stories of increasedcondence in their future.”Letnick has asked ministrysta to dig into theemployment gures – notingthat the call from Country Lifein BC was the rst time anyonehad asked him about thematter – to see ifunemployment was prevalentin any one sector, and ifspecic training programscould be developed to boostworkers’ opportunities.Kent Mullinixwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comFOR QUALITYCERTIFIEDORGANICFEEDS FOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERS:Darren JansenGeneral Manager604/794-3701organicfeeds@gmail.comCUSTOM ORDERSCertified to Canadian National StandardsPRESENTING SPONSORGOLD SPONSORDAIRY TENT SPONSORFor more information: 604.291-1553 | info@agricultureshow.netwww.agricultureshow.netPROUDLY SUPPORTING18TH ANNUALBC’s Largest Agriculture Event of the year!Showcasing the latest and most innovative equipment & technology for the agriculture industry. Featuring over 280exhibitors covering 200,000 square feet!Thursday-Saturday 9am-430pmJANUARY 28-30TRADEXExhibition Centre(Abbotsford Airport)Abbotsford
Country Life in BC • December 201512by PETER MITHAMFERNIE – Rising interest inlocal food and communitygardens is giving developersa new hook for luring buyersinto bucolic developmentsaround BC.What vineyards were toOkanagan resort properties adecade ago, small-scale farmsand community gardens areto residentialneighbourhoods beingplanned for Delta, Chilliwackand Fernie today.Among the latest projectsto envision a community farmis Montane, a projectParastone Developments Ltd.is undertaking in theKootenay community ofFernie. The 660-acre site wasformerly slated for a master-planned golf resort, but planshave been scaled backsignicantly, with approvals inplace for just 140 of the 1,400homes allowed on the site.At the heart of thedevelopment is an old barnwhere pit ponies for the localcoal mines were once kept.Today, the barn serves as aretirement community ofsorts for miniature horseswho are used in therapeuticprograms. It’s also thecentrepiece of a 15-acrecommunity farm thatParastone principal SimonHowse plans to build.But rather than simplyretain the barn as a historicalrelic, Howse, like a growingnumber of developers, hopesthe farm will be a gatheringpoint for the community andeducate residents, too.Whereas farm buildings at theformer Bose family farm inCloverdale became meetingspaces for residents of TheRidge at Bose Farm, Howsehopes residents at Montanewill see the farm as anamenity allowing adults togrow their own food and“kids to touch and feel wheretheir eggs come from, wheretheir milk comes from.”OptionsTo facilitate that, he’splanning to oer threeoptions for residents toparticipate in the life of thefarm. Residents can eithersubscribe to simply purchaseproduce from the farm, assistthe farm manager withchores, or manage acommunity garden plot ontheir own.While the details haven’tbeen worked out, Howse aimsto keep the fees between $40and $85 a month. The farmwill launch in spring 2016,following the nalization ofdetails this winter with alandscape architect.The model is similar to oneFrosst Creek DevelopmentsLtd. plans for Creekside Millsat Cultus Lake, which willincorporate 10 acres that wasformerly part of an 80-acrecattle farm. It was mostrecently farmed for hay priorto being secured for theCreekside Mills development.The acreage will feature an“edible landscape” andprovide homeowners accessto community garden plots aswell as berry plantings, fruitorchards, a livestock area anda farmers market where they’llbe able to sell produce theyaren’t using themselves. Afarm manager will oversee theoperation, which will befunded through residencefees.The various projects buildFernie agri-hood part of a growing trend in BCThe South Coast isn’t the only place where developers are looking to capitalize on a growing interestin reconnecting home-buyers to their agricultural roots. Simon Howse of Parastone Developments isdeveloping a 660 acre site in the Kootenay community of Fernie that centres around a 15 acrecommunity farm that would allow residents to grow their own food. (Peter Mitham photo)on the foundation laid by theCentury Group of Delta, whichis preparing to redevelop theSouthlands property inTsawwassen.Formerly potato landThe project entailsremediating a portion of the535-acre site, formerly hometo potatoes and pasture, toaccommodate a communitygarden and farm school thatwill yield a variety ofvegetables and fruits forresidents of the surroundingcommunity. The propertyitself was long deemedunproductive and in need ofdrainage to make it a viablesite for farming on any kind ofcommercial scale, and theagricultural component gaveCentury Group the sociallicense needed with themunicipality and Deltaresidents to pursueredevelopment.“The land that is going tobe farmed is enhanced andimproved, so that theagricultural input in the areaknown as the Southlands willactually be far greater than itwould without thisdevelopment,” Brad Semke,project manager for CenturyGroup, told Country Life in BClast year.Site preparation of theSouthlands is under way, withdevelopment set to occur by2017.However, the modelreects the growing interestin agriculture in many lesserways.See “COMMUNITY” page 13MatsquiAg-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141 Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101A MIXER FOR EVERY OPERATIONKuhnNor thAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®Kuhn North America is committed to creating innovative mixers that will provide a quality rationand years of low-maintenance service. From 147 – 1320 cu. ft. mixing capacities. Vertical Single Auger Commercial ReelReel AuggieBotecVertical Twin Auger
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 13COMMUNITY GARDENS From page 12Community gardens and edible landscaping arenow incorporated in many urban condodevelopments and the waiting list for plots at theSharing Farm in Richmond’s Terra Nova Rural Park istypically two years or more as riverfrontdevelopment in Richmond gathers pace.A similar phenomenon is playing out at UBC,where the century-old farm property at the school’sWest Point Grey campus is integral to the success ofthe adjacent Wesbrook Village community.Caution is in orderThe integration of community gardens into BC’surban fabric means agri-hoods are likely to be moredurable than the golf communities developmentslike Montane are replacing, but the fate of the moreambitious vineyard-oriented developments of themid-2000s suggest that caution is in order.Projects such as The Rise in Vernon, ConcordPacic Group’s Greata Ranch Vineyard Estates inPeachland, and Lakestone, a project now in thehands of Vancouver-based MacdonaldDevelopment Corp., have either failed to completeor have scaled back their plans remarkably.In the case of Lakestone, Macdonald eliminatedthe vineyard component (as well as a golf course)and recongured the project to, as documents ledwith municipal sta in Lake Country put it, “reectcurrent market and phasing considerations, whileresponding to detailed site planning and gradingstudies that place specic housing types on themost suitable pieces of land.”Plans for vineyards were replaced withxeriscaping that reected the arid conditions of theOkanagan and sales have been brisk, with morethan 90% of the rst phase of 105 homes now sold.While vineyard-front properties were a sellingfeature a decade ago, environment-consciousbuyers have no problem with a more modestoering that oers sensible landscaping rather thanagricultural spectacle.“It’s not really a tough sell at all,” says HowardKruschke, who handles sales and marketing for theproject.JAGUAR.Multi-talented.STORE HOURSMONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5SATURDAY, 8-12Closed SundaysTRACTORSJOHN DEERE 260 SKID STEER LOADER . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSTILLAGEJOHN DEERE 3600 PLOW, 5 BOTTOM, DRAWBAR PULL . . . . . . . . $4,100HAY TOOLSCLAAS 870T TEDDER 28.5’ HYD. FOLD . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSNH 315 SMALL SQUARE BALER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSPZ FANEX 730 6 BASKET 24’ TEDDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,900Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!www.caliberequipment.ca604-864-227334511 VYE ROAD ABBOTSFORDWith gratitudeBC greenhouse vegetable growers celebrated the conclusion of another reasonable year at their annualreception in Langley, November 14. BC Greenhouse Growers Association vice-chair Ravi Cheema, left, usedthe event to present tokens of appreciation to three of the four greenhouses which opened their doors forBC Greenhouse Vegetable Day in March. They were Calais Farms (Marcus Janzen), TopGro Greenhouses(Peter Brederland) and Sunny Bay Greenhouses (Jos Moerman). Greenhouse Vegetable Day was the start ofa season which is just concluding. Although cucumbers got o to a rough start and peppers struggled withthe heat in mid-season, BCGGA executive director Linda Delli Santi says growers ended up with reasonablereturns on an average yield year. With the lower Canadian dollar and the carbon tax rebate now ensconcedin legislation, growers are expressing renewed condence in the future of the BC industry. 2015 saw newgreenhouses come into production and more are on the way for 2016 and beyond. (David Schmidt photo)
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open up higher-value markets.“Any trade liberalizationhelps us,” says Fonterradirector John Monaghan. Help is denitely needed.The NZ dairy cost ofproduction is over $4.00 perkg of milk solids yet Fonterra isonly paying an advance of$2.00 per kg and projecting anal producer price of just$3.85 per kg this year (aboutCdn $27.00 per hectoliter).“NZ dairy producers willlose an average of $200,000this year,” says LincolnUniversity agriculturaleconomist Bruce Greig.That caused production todrop 5% in July and another9% in September but has notput the brakes on expansionof the industry.Leading the expansion onthe North Island is Landcorp, astate-owned-enterprise whichowns and/or manages 140sheep, beef, venison and dairyfarms totaling over 380,000hectares.Landcorp’s biggest dairyproject is the 25,685 hectareWairakei Estate in the centralNorth Island. The estate, thenfully-forested, was purchasedby four Auckland businessmenin 2004, who gave Landcorp a40-year lease agreement todevelop and operate a seriesof farms on the property. December 2015 • Country Life in BC 15by DAVID SCHMIDTHAMILTON, NZ – Despitereturns that are currentlybelow the cost of production,the export-oriented NewZealand dairy industry, like therest of NZ agriculture,continues to expand. Fonterra, a co-op owned byover 10,000 New Zealand dairyfarmers, is already the world’ssecond largest dairy processorand largest dairy productsexporter, and has ambitiousplans to grow their businesseven more. “We want to grow fromprocessing 22 billion litres to30 billion litres of milk peryear,” Fonterra chief nancialocer Lukas Paravicini toldthe International Federation ofAgriculture Journalists inOctober.That lofty goal has the fullDairy exports propellingNew Zealand’s ag economysupport of the New Zealandgovernment.“We’re the only developedcountry which has developedon the back of agriculture,”says NZ Minister of Trade TimGrose. “The New Zealandmodel shows agriculture is notsomething you need to movefrom.”That model is large farmsproducing for export. Grosepoints out that over 90% of NZagricultural products areexported, which is why thecareer trade negotiator hasspent his life ghting againstprotectionism in agricultureand why he initiated the TransPacic Partnership and foughtso hard to eliminate exportsubsidies and import taris.Grose believes large farmsare the way to feed the worldand grow national economies,claiming “the worst poverty inthe developing world is not inthe urban slums (like Mumbai),it’s in rural areas where peopleare trapped in small farms.”Like the rest of NZagriculture, NZ’s dairy industryexports over 90% of its milk,most as milk solids, butter andinfant formula. AlthoughChina, with which NZ alreadyhas a free trade agreement, isnow its biggest market, NZhopes the TPP will start toSharon and Mike Barton of Glen Emmroth Farm in New Zealand leda movement to reduce livestock numbers in the Lake Taupocatchment area to reduce potential nitrate pollution. Several areadairy farms were bought out and reforested. (David Schmidt photo)Paid in part byMark Driediger, CFP, Senior Wealth AdvisorAssante Financial Management Ltd.101 – 33386 South, Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2B5 (604) 859-4890 | www.MarkDriediger.comInsurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc. United Financial is a division of CI Private Counsel LP. Please visit www.assante.com/legal.jsp or contact Assante at 1-800-268-3200 for information with respect to important legal and regulatory disclosures relating to this notice.• Holistic Financial Planning • Intergenerational Farm Transfer• Wealth Management Solutions• Investment Planning• Tax Planning• Estate Services• Insurance Planning• Retirement & Income PlanningOur SpecialtiesYour Farm. Your Family. Your Future.Succession Expertise for GenerationsNew Zealand is an islandcountry in the southwesternPacific Ocean. The countrygeographically comprises twomain landmasses – that of theNorth and South Island andmany smaller islands. NewZealand is situated some 1,500kilometres (900 mi) east ofAustralia across the TasmanSea. It has an area of 267,710km2(103,738 mi2), making itslightly smaller than Japan anda little larger than the UnitedKingdom. It was one of the lastlands to be settled by humans.During its long isolation, NewZealand developed a distinctivebiodiversity of animal and plantlife. The capital city isWellington, while its mostpopulous city is Auckland.Associate Editor David Schmidt recently returned from the 2015International Federation of Agriculture Journalists conference held inNew Zealand. On the 3-week tour he visited diverse agriculturaloperations in the country. Over the next few months, Country Life in BCwill present a series of feature articles from his experiences.Please see “LAND” page 16Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seatbelts save livesWe’re working with you to make sure all farmers go home safe. For resources and videos on safe equipment operation, visit worksafebc.com/agriculture.
Country Life in BC • December 201516LAND CLEARING From page 15The owners clear the landby selling the logs, burningthe residue and tilling the ashto add organic matter to theporous volcanic soil, then turnit over to Landcorp whichseeds the property in plantain,lucerne (alfalfa) and othergrasses and builds thenecessary farminginfrastructure. “We have already built 15cow dairies and one sheepdairy and expect to addanother four cow and twosheep dairies by 2020,”explains Landcorp seniorbusiness manager BruceHunter. “It takes about threeyears to convert each pieceand costs us about $7.5 millionto set up each farm.”Although the current milkprice does not cover the COP,Hunter believes prices willrecover and when they do,Landcorp’s economies of scalewill put them in a goodposition.“The average New Zealandherd size is 300 cows but oursmallest herd here is 700 cowsand our largest is 2,200 cows,”he notes.Hunter stresses Landcorp iscommitted to creating a modelof economic andenvironmental sustainability,pointing to the estate’sextensive riparian buer toprotect the pristine WaikatoRiver which abuts the property.Others believe Waireki is anenvironmental disaster in themaking. That includesenvironmentalists Mike andSharon Barton. In 2004, theychucked their careers asuniversity professors andmoved to Glen Emmreth Farm,a 150-hectare beef farm, soMike could “live out hisdream.” Glen Emmreth is located inthe Taupo Lake CatchmentArea. Like the nearby WairekiEstate, the area has porousvolcanic soil and was heavilyforested until the 1970’s whengovernment encouragedremoval of the trees andconversion of the land into aseries of dairy, beef and sheepfarms.Unfortunately, science hassince showed that livestockurine not absorbed by thegrass cover, shoots straightthrough the free-draining soil,eventually ending up in LakeTaupo. To protect the lake, whichhas among the cleanest waterin the world, the 100 arealandowners formed TaupoLake Care (TLC), which Bartonchaired until just recently, andset nitrogen-loading limits onthe soil. They also successfullysued the government forcausing the potential pollutionby endorsing the conversion. Rather than force all farmersto cut back their numbers, TLCused the settlement funds tobuy out several of the largerdairy farms and replant themto forests.“It was the only way toensure the remaining farmerswould be viable,” Barton says. He believes Waireki is facingthe same scenario, regardlessof the size and quality of theriparian buer or the quality ofthe management andwonders how government willdeal with Landcorp, given it isultimately Landcorp’s owner.Waireki may be the largestindividual dairy expansionproject but it is being dwarfedby the expansion of the dairyindustry on the South Island,particularly in the Amuri Basinand Canterbury plains.Although the South Islandstill has only 26% of NZ dairyherds, its herds contain 40% ofNZ cattleandproduce41% of itsmilk.TheSouthIslandexpansionis drivenboth bygreateravailability of land and by theadvent of irrigation in theAmuri Basin. One of the rst tochampion irrigation wasDougal Norrie. Then asuccessful sheep farmer, Norriehelped form the AmuriIrrigation Committee in 1970.Bringing irrigation onto thebasin increased cropproduction ve-fold. However,the high cost of the systemforced him to switch from hisprized Corriedale sheep tocows in the 1980’s. AlthoughNorrie had the only dairy farmin the area for almost a decade,the Amuri Basin is now hometo almost 80 dairy farmsmilking over 60,000 cows. Norrie, his son and twosons-in-law now milk over4,000 cows on four area farms.The most recent was openedthis past summer and featuresa 54-cow rotary parlour andstate-of-the-art manuremanagement system. Andplans are already underway tobuild a fth farm.Greig says the expansion isfuelled by easy credit.“Banks still lend up to 50%of the value of the herd and70% of the value of the land.With land values shooting upevery year (one dairy farmerreported paying $75,000 perha for 75 ha this year althoughGreig says the average price iscloser to $44,000 per ha), somefarmers are renancingupwards every year and usingthe additional funds toexpand,” he states.Dairy farmersEmlumFrancis andDougal Norrieof CanterburyPlain on NewZealand’sSouth Island.(DavidSchmidtphoto)Dr. Tim Grose
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 17by DAVID SCHMIDTALDERGROVE – A capacitycrowd came to Krause BerryFarms in Aldergrove,November 13, to expresstheir appreciation andadmiration for Mark Sweeney.Sweeney retired from theBC Ministry of Agriculture atthe end of October after overa 37-plus year career. Hebegan as the field vegetablespecialist but became theberry and nut specialist whenBill Peters retired in the early1990’s.“We’re all here becausewe’re grateful for the impactMark’s had on our lives,professionally andpersonally,” emcee and berryresearcher Eric Gerbrandtsaid.“Huge part”“Mark has been a hugepart of our industry and itsgrowth,” added BC BlueberryCouncil chair Jason Smith.To emphasize how longSweeney’s career was,Raspberry IndustryDevelopment Council chairArvind Nijjar noted “Markhelped me, my dad, my uncleand my grandfather.“I get intimidated when Italk to government reps butwhen I talk to Mark it’s morelike talking to a friend,” headded, expressing asentiment shared byeveryone in the room.“Good asset”BC Cranberry MarketingCouncil chair Jack Browncalled Sweeney a “goodasset” when groups lookedfor funding. “He knew who topoint us to.”BC Strawberry GrowersAssociation president EdMcKim seconded that, notingSweeney worked tirelesslybehind the scenes to helpthem “word things properly”when sending missives to thegovernment.Sweeney responded bysaying his job was so mucheasier than that of thegrowers he tried to help.Tough industry“I was just a governmentguy collecting my paychequeevery two weeks,” he said,noting that for growers,berries are “a really toughindustry and it’s not going toget any easier.”Sweeney called his thebest job in the world, sayinghe fell in love with berrieswhen he first began pickingthem at age seven.“There’s nothing betterthan to see a well-managed,productive crop.”He took a shot at thosewho often criticize the publicservice, asking “what couldbe more in the public goodthan helping agriculture?”Good supportHe admitted that wassometimes challenging“because we were so thin,”but said he was given thefreedom to do his job andalways had good supportfrom his managers.Carolyn Teasdale has nowtaken up the berry and nutspecialist position. She isalready familiar with and tothe berry industry, havingproduced the weekly SWDnewsletter during herprevious tenure with ESCropconsult. She actuallybegan her new job beforeSweeney retired, hopefullyensuring a smooth transition. Sweeney wasaccompanied to thecelebration by his wife, Janet,and five of his seven children.As a token of theirappreciation, growers salutedhim with a standing ovationwhile presenting them with atravel voucher to go toAustralia to visit one of theirtwo sons missing from theevent (the other was inOttawa.)Sweeney said they lookforward to seeing two of theirgrandchildren for the firsttime but promised he wouldcontinue to be involved inthe berry industry “in somecapacity” in the future.Growers honour Mark Sweeney for serviceBC berry growers showed their appreciation of Mark Sweeney’s service to them during a 37-plus yearcareer with the BC Ministry of Agriculture. The industry hosted a retirement party for Sweeney atKrause Berry Farms in Aldergrove. Presenting Mark and his wife Janet (centre) with a trip to Australiato visit their son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren were, from left to right, BC BlueberryCouncil chair Jason Smith, BC Cranberry Marketing Commission chair Jack Brown, BC StrawberryGrowers Association president Ed McKim, Raspberry Industry Development Council chair ArvindNijjar, BCBC executive director Debbie Etsell and RIDC/BCSGA executive director Lisa Craig. (DavidSchmidt photo)CLOSER CUTTING, FASTER DRYDOWN.The Discbine® 313 and Discbine® 316 center-pivot disc mower-conditioners feature cleaner cutting, more effi cient crop fl ow, and smoother, more effective conditioning. The SMART design includes the new MowMax™ cutterbar and the WideDry™ conditioning system. Larger discs with heavier gears, bearings, and interconnecting shafts increase durability. While the conditioning module is 125 inches wide for consistent dry down, maximizing hay quality.• Larger discs cut closer with less cutterbar tilt• ShockPRO™ disc drive hubs absorb impact before damage can occur• Exclusive 3-year MowMax™ II cutterbar warranty protection• Widedry™ conditioning systems are 22% wider than previous models• Your choice of chevron rubber rolls, chevron steel rolls or LeaningEdge™ fl ails© 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affi liates.MachineryLimitedROLLINSRCHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048MerryChristmas!From our family to yours, a very Merry Christmas& Happy New YearVALLEY FARM DRAINAGE604-462-7213 | valleyfarmdrainage.com
good feed conversion ratio forSilkies is 3.6-4.2 (3.6 kgs offeed produces 1 kg of birdweight). In comparison, theconversion rate forconventional broilers is about1.5. As a result, Silkies stillweigh only 1.2-1.3 kgs whenshipped. Although very avourful,they are mostly skin and boneand primarily used to make achicken soup highly prized atChinese weddings andCountry Life in BC • December 201518Jordan Spitters displays a full-grown Silkie chicken at OranyaFarms in Aldergrove .Members of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors Fraser Valley chapter joined Corry Spitters,left, and his sons Jerey and Jordan (in the rear without suits) for a tour of Oranya Farms, BC’s largestorganic and specialty poultry producer in September. (David Schmidt photos)by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – When mostpeople think of specialtypoultry production, they thinksmall: a few backyard chickensor, at best, a few thousandbirds in a pasture or a smallbarn.Not Corry Spitters and hissons, Jerey and Jordan ofOranya Farms. When theythink about producingTaiwanese chickens, Silkiesand organic broilers, theythink big.“We have over 50 barns(oors) and are building 10more,” they told members ofthe Fraser Valley chapter ofthe Canadian Association ofFarm Advisors during a tour ofOranya’s three farms, in lateSeptember.“We now have about250,000 birds in production,”they said.Oranya produces itsTaiwanese chicken and Silkieson side-by-side farms inAldergrove and its organicchicken on an ever-expandingfarm in Abbotsford.“This farm grows about 80%of the Silkies and Taiwanesechicken for the Canadianmarket.”120 days to maturityEach ock of Silkies (sonamed because of their snowwhite soft silk-like featherswhich, ironically, cover a jet-black skin) is about 24,000birds and takes 120 days toreach maturity. “The Silkies eat very little,”the Spitters explain. “Wesupplement the automaticfeeders with paper feed toencourage them to eat.” Very little of the feed theydo eat is converted to meat. AOranya Farms rules the roost in specialty poultryfestivals.Taiwanese chicken are alsodestined for the ethnicChinese market but as a meatbird. Shipped at 78 days ofage, their meat is more yellowthan conventional broilers.Marigold and otheringredients are added to thepelletized feed to enhanceboth colour and avour.“The meat takes on theavour of what the birds eat,”Corry notes.Fraught with dangerBreeders are trying tointroduce some broilergenetics into the TC’s so theygrow faster but that is fraughtwith danger as it reduces theavour, a primary selling pointfor TC’s.Oranya grows 32 ocks onits two specialty poultry farmsbut that pales in comparisonto their organic chickenproduction.“We produce about 65-70%of the organic chicken in BC,”Corry says, noting the farmships out about 50,000 birdseach week. The chicken isgrown on demand for three ofBC’s four main processors:Lilydale, Sunrise andRossdown.To accommodate theirproduction, Oranya has had toacquire mainstream chickenEver-expanding Abbotsford farm producesTaiwanese chickens, Silkies and organic birdsSee “APPEALING” page 19Wishing you & yours all the special joysof this Christmas SeasonWishing you & yours all the special joysof this Christmas SeasonIAIN SUTHERLAND, P.AgAGRICULTURE MANAGER604-504-4978604-751-0292iain.sutherland@bmo.comSTEVE SACCOMANOSENIOR AGRICULTURE MANAGER604-504-4976604-703-5161steve.saccomano@bmo.comLANA DUECKDIRECTOR OFAGRICULTURAL MARKETS604-504-4980lana.dueck@bmo.comLYNN LASHUK, P.AgAGRICULTURE MANAGER250-979-7827lynn.lashuk@bmo.comABBOTSFORDRandy Lam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-504-4626Rick Tilitzky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-504-4970Satpal Gill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-504-4975Greg Ksinan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-504-4647James Wieler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-504-4635CHILLIWACKBrian Schurmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-793-7256David Fuerst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-793-7274Sheryl Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-793-7271CLOVERDALEIgor Koblizka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-574-6885John Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-574-6855COURTENAYCaroline Neumann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-703-5330DUNCANRyan Wettlaufer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-715-2705HANEY / PITT MEADOWSAngie Edmonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604-466-3551NORTH OKANAGANTeri Kopp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-838-5820KELOWNAShelley Holitzki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-979-1078CRESTON / CRANBROOKChristine Dayman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-426-1179PRINCE GEORGE / NORTHAnte Cirko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-612-3030QUESNEL Robin Madison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-565-8699WILLIAMS LAKEDarlene Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250-305-6828Financing the future of agricultureWe’re here to helpVisit us at the Pacific Ag ShowJanuary 28-30, Abbotsford Tradexoffice@silagrow.com • www.silagrow.comSuppliers of Superior Quality Corn, Grainand Grass Seed, Silage Plastics & Machinery250-804-4769 Toll free 1-800-663-6022We wishyou aBlessedChristmasand a HappyNew YearThe Silage Experts
APPEALING QUOTA ALLOCATIONS From page 18December 2015 • Country Life in BC 19quota as there is no separate organic quota. (Silkiesand Taiwanese chicken do have a separate quotaallocation.) The BC Chicken Marketing Board hasagreed to “grandfather” organic chicken growersuntil July 2016, but what will happen after that isanyone’s guess. Oranya has led an appeal of theBCCMB’s rules governing quota allocations fororganic chicken with the BC Farm Industry ReviewBoard. That appeal has yet to be heard.Full speed aheadIn the meantime, it is full speed ahead at Oranya.They already have 24 barns (each building is twostories and counted as two barns) and in the processof building another 10, each about 80X200 feet.“Costco alone currently markets 25,000 kg oforganic chicken in BC and Alberta and have told usthey expect to grow that market to 100,000 kgs,”Spitters says. “We are setting ourselves up to growwith them.”To avoid onerous development cost charges(about $5,000 per building) from the City ofAbbotsford, the farm has built its own watertreatment system. It uses two 26 foot deep wells,one producing 90 gallons per minute and the other40 gallons per minute. Because a 5 ppm ironcontent makes the water unsafe to drink, state-of-the-art ltration softens the water and removes allthe iron and other impurities.Water for 25,000“Our water treatment facility could service a townof 25,000,” Spitters says, noting the farm uses 1000-1200 cubic metres of water.Oranya has come up with a unique way to raiseits chicken to meet the organic standards. For therst three weeks when they are not required to haveoutdoor access, the birds are raised on the upperDownright BEASTLY with heavy lifting.2009 VALTRA N141LS AC11.2SELF LEVELING LOADER, 4WD, A/C,BALE SPEAR W/GRAPPLE FOR BIGSQUARE BALES, 48 KM TOP SPEED,2200 HRS. $89,900JOHN DEERE 7215R2012, 4WD, 215 ENGINE HP, 4 SETS OFREAR REMOTE HYDS, 540/1000 PTO,STEREO, 830 HRS. $169,9002010 KRONE BIG X6508 ROW CORNHEAD, 12 FT GRASSHEAD,897 HRS ON THE CUTTER,980 HRS ON THE MACHINE. $350,000ABBOTSFORD 1.888.283.3276KELOWNA 1.800.680.0233VERNON 1.800.551.6411MF 1635 W/DL120 LOADER2011, A/C, 4WD, AG TIRES, STEREO, 35 ENG HP, 28 PTO HP, POWER SHUTTLE TRANS, 813 HRS. $26,250MF 4270-4 W/LOADER4WD, 675 LDR, DUAL REMOTES, REARWHEEL WEIGHTS, 99 PTO HP, APROX4,000 TOTAL HOURS $38,900MASSEY FERGUSON 7622DEMO UNIT PRICED TO SELL!, 200ENGINE HP, ANALOGUE & DIGITAL INSTPANEL, $212,950 CASHSEE USAT THE PACIFICAG SHOWJAN 28-30Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas!www.avenuemachinery.caoor of a barn. After three weeks, they are sentdown a chute to the main oor which does haveoutdoor access and where they remain for the nextseven weeks. This allows Oranya to reduce overallbuilding footprints and helps minimize diseasepressure. Each barn is thoroughly cleaned after eachock and lled with fresh litter. Disease buildup arrested“Because birds get fresh litter partway throughthe growing cycles, it arrests disease buildup,”Spitters says.Outdoor pastures are located between two barnsand shared by the two ocks. Trees have beenplanted in the pastures to meet the criteria forhumane certication. “Everything we do has to be sustainable as wecarry both organic and humane certication,”Spitters explains.Oranya used to contract out both the moving andthe catching but “the contractors weren’t as carefulas we wanted them to be” so now have their owncrews. “When a bird is worth $10 or more, you can’taord losses.”24 barns (oors) and counting. Already BC’s largest organic chicken grower, Oranya Farms in Abbotsford is busilybuilding barns with plans of nearly doubling their production in the next three years. (David Schmidt photo)
by DAVID SCHMIDTOTTAWA – A veteranpolitician with a backgroundin agriculture has been namedCanada’s new Minister ofAgriculture and Agri-Food.New Prime Minister JustinTrudeau selected Cardigan,Prince Edward Island MPLawrence MacAulay to ll therole in Canada’s rst Liberalgovernment in almost adecade.The longest-serving MP inPEI history, MacAulay was rstelected to the House ofCommons in 1988.He served in previousfederal Liberal cabinets asSecretary of State for VeteransAairs (1993-97), Minister ofLabour (1997-98) and SolicitorGeneral (1998-2002). Duringthe last parliament, he was theopposition critic for seniors.Before being elected toParliament, McAulay was a PEIpotato and dairy farmer,giving him at least somefamiliarity with both supply-managed and non-supplymanaged agriculture.Agriculture will need toaccomplish plenty ofeducation and lobbying asmost Liberal MP’s representurban ridings. However,Country Life in BC • December 201520ProfessionalServicesMacAulay named new federal agriculture ministerby DAVID SCHMIDTVICTORIA – The AgriculturalLand Commission has a newchief executive ocer.Kim Grout is to begin hernew duties with the ALC onDecember 11.When governmentappointed Frank Leonard aschair of the ALC after ringprevious chair and CEORichard Bullock earlier thisyear, he was also named theinterim CEO and tasked withthe job of nding a full-timeCEO by the end of the year.Grout appears to be well-qualied for the position. Shehas a Bachelor of ScienceGrout appointed new executive officer of ALCnew Trans Pacic Partnershiptrade agreement (which theLiberals supported in principleprior to the election) anddeciding whether to go aheadwith the $4.3 billioncompensation package theConservative governmentpromised supply managedfarmers. Since theConservative cabinet neveradopted the necessaryspending authorities, theLiberal government is notbound to honour the promise. The new government willalso have to determine if andhow to go forward withretaliatory taris against theUnited States in the ongoingdispute over US Country ofOrigin Labeling (COOL).Favour curriedMacAulay’s previous tenureas Minister of Labour shouldstand him in good stead asgovernment wrestles with theTemporary Foreign WorkersProgram which many peoplein agriculture rely on tosupply them with a necessary,skilled workforce.The Liberals have alreadycurried favour with industryby removinging the muzzlefrom its agri-food researchers,and promising to restoremore basic research.Canadian farmers can takesome hope from the factRalph Goodale, who was well-respected by the industrywhen he served as Minister ofAgriculture & Agri-Food from1993-1997, is not only back incabinet as Minister of PublicSafety and EmergencyPreparedness, but is also itssenior member.Prior to unveiling the newcabinet, Goodale told theManitoba Co-operator thatgrain transportation and tradetop the new government’sagricultural agenda.That includes reviewing theView over 100 listings of farm properties atwww.bcfarmandranch.comBC FARM & RANCHREALTY CORP.Buying or Selling a Farm or Acreage?GORD HOUWELINGCell: 604/793-8660GREG WALTONCell: 604/864-1610Toll free 1-888-852-AGRI (2474)Call BC’s First and OnlyReal Estate Office commited 100% to Agriculture!Jack Reams P.Ag. Agri-Consultingv BC Farm Business Advisory Services Consultantv Farm Debt Mediation Consultantv Organic Consultantv Meat Labeling Consultantv Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) ConsultantPhone: 604-858-1715 Cell: 604-302-4033Fax: 604-858-9815 email: marlene.reams@gmail.comCONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEEDwww.agri-jobs.ca | Phone: 604-823-6222 | Email: info@agri-labour pool.comWe do the work for you! Agri-jobs.caOur business is helping your business GROW, since 1974.Connecting employers with the right employee!Contact us to nd out how we can fill your position:Looking for HELP on your farm?DustinStadnykCPA-CAChrisHendersonBBA, CPA-CANathalieMerrillCPA, CMATOLL FREE 1-888-818-FARM | www.farmtax.comExpert farm taxation advice:• Purchase and sale of farms• Transfer of farms to children• Government subsidy programs• Preparation of farm tax returns• Use of $813,600 Capital Gains ExemptionsApproved consultants for Government funding through BC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramARMSTRONG 250-546-8665 | LUMBY 250-547-2118 | ENDERBY 250-838-7337Lawrence MacAulayKim Groutdegree in agriculture from theUniversity of British Columbia,is a registered professionalDismayed overChilliwack farmtour articleEditor:Re: Canada’s largest dairyhighlights Chilliwack farm tour,November 2015, page 9We were dismayed to seeChilliwack Cattle Sales as a“highlight” of the 14th annualChilliwack Agriculture Tour. This dairy was the scene ofan undercover investigationthat revealed shockinginstances of alleged animalcruelty in June 2014. Videofootage from the investigation,which was broadcast onnational media across thecountry, showed cows beingviciously kicked, punched andbeaten. The BC SPCArecommended charges againstthe company and severalemployees. BC Crown Counselis currently reviewing theserecommended charges.Under such circumstances,choosing Chilliwack CattleSales to represent the BC dairyindustry is an insult to theCanadian public, which was soshocked and horried by thetelevision coverage of thiscase. Is this really the best thedairy industry has to oer?Peter FrickerProjects & CommunicationsDirectorVancouver Humane Societyagrologist and a registeredprofessional planner. She hasalso completed strategicmanagement training at theUBC Sauder School ofBusiness and municipaladministrative traininginstitute programs at CapilanoUniversity.For the past 11 years, Groutworked for the City of PittMeadows in such roles aschief administrative ocer(CAO), deputy CAO anddirector of operations anddevelopment service. She hasalso worked for the cities ofMaple Ridge and Abbotsford.Wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year! Ph: 604-309.3509. E: qfirst@telus.net www.qfirst.ca For more information or to pursue an idea contact: Annette Moore B.Sc.(Agr), M.Sc., P.Ag. Quality First in Agriculture Inc.
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 21Debbie EtsellBlueberry growers need to develop more domestic consumption: Etsellby DAVID SCHMIDTALDERGROVE – 2015 was a goodyear for the BC blueberry sector, BCBlueberry Council chair Jason Smithand executive director Debbie Etsellsaid at the fall growers meeting inAldergrove, November 13.Etsell noted BC gained fresh marketaccess to China in late August andKorea in late September. Although itdid not result in a lot of blueberriesheading to those countries this year,she believes the Asian markets oerhuge potential.“There is demand in China andwe’re going to learn over the next fewyears what the demand is,” she toldgrowers. “They like big, they like sweetand they like BC.”At the same time, she stressed theneed to develop more consumption inthe domestic market, noting the USHigh Bush Blueberry Council is alreadyworking on that in the US and BCneeds to do the same here.That is especially important in yearswhen an early season puts BC berrieson the shelves at the same time asthose from eastern and southern US.“It’s not good for growers to havethat much fruit (from all of NorthAmerica) at the same time,” Smith said.That was certainly the case this yearas BC’s season started and endedmuch earlier than usual.“I never picked this early before. Iwas nished before I normally start,”Smith said.The lack of spring rain createdchallenges for growers, particularlythose applying granular fertilizers, andSmith notes many growers arespending a lot of time this fallimproving their irrigation systems toavoid these challenges in future.The mild winter boosted spottedwing drosophilla (SWD) numbers, withBC Ministry of Agricultureentomologist Tracy Hueppelsheusernoting monitoring traps had up to 100times more ies this year. However,the dry summer turned out to be aboon.“Low humidity is not as good forSWD so the problem was not as bad aswe expected,” she said.Smith told growers help is on theway. Capture received an emergencyregistration this year, giving them onemore option. As well, universities inNorth Carolina and Georgia havereceived almost $9 million from the USDepartment of Agriculture to researchSWD and develop controls for bothconventional and organic growers. SWD may be most pressing but it isnot the only issue. BCMA plantpathologist Siva Sabaratnam toldgrowers to watch for such emergingdiseases as armillaria, silver leaf andblueberry rust. He said they are not yetmajor problems but are lurking on thehorizon.FCC Drive Away HungerThanks a million (well 5.2 million, actually)Thanks to the generosity of our partners and community volunteers, there are fewer empty plates in Canada. You helped raise 5.2 million meals for hungry Canadians across the country.Agro Source Ltd., Baker Newby LLP, Clearbrook Grain & Milling Co. Ltd., Kane, Shannon & Weiler, Lulu Island Winery NATIONAL GOLD SILVER PLATINUM With production exploding, foodsafety is becoming paramount as mostcustomers are demanding that theirberries have gone through arecognized food safety program.Etsell said the council wants to helpgrowers get through food safetyaudits “as best we can” and took therst step by bringing Canada GAPauditor Priscilla Reimer from Manitobato address the meeting.Reimer identied some of theproblems she sees, saying this is oneof the few chances she has to helpgrowers.“I see some of you struggling but Ican’t help you when I’m on your farmas an auditor,” she said.One common problem is notidentifying production blocksindividually so growers can staggerspraying and still meet pre-harvestinterval requirements.Another is having water bottles inthe eld.“You have to nd a way to letpeople drink the water they needwithout using water bottles since oneGAP requirement is for workers towash their hands and follow that ahand sanitizer before touching fruit(after drinking water and/or using atoilet),” she said.She told growers to pay attentionto the water they use. “If you’re stillusing ditch water, don’t do it, eitherfor irrigation or for washingequipment. You need to gure outhow to read a water test result,” shesaid, noting auditors look for zeroe.coli and coliform counts.She stressed that food safetyrequires constant vigilance. “Foodsafety audits do not make food safe.Only growers can do that. At best,audits are only an indicator.”She advised growers to “look atyour own operation from a food safetyperspective,” then study the foodsafety manual. “The science is allthere.”
Country Life in BC • December 201522The construction of three dams in BC’s Kootenays in the 1960s, including the Hugh Keenleyside Dam,north of Castlegar, not only helped control ooding downstream in Washington and Oregon, it alsoopened up thousands of acres of previously dry benchland in Washington, allowing growers there toexpand their industry. (File photo)www.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613Built with smaller operations in mind, the Nitro 375RS is constructed with top grade materials to handle real day-to-day farming. With standard features including robust apron chains, hungry vertical beaters, and an adjustable guillotine end gate, you can rest assured that the Nitro 375RS will not only provide the consistent spread you’ll need, but also limit your time in the field. Contact Tubeline for more information on the Nitro 375RS or other models.Steele is referring to theGrand Coulee Dam, builtbetween 1933-42, for bothhydro power and irrigation.The Columbia River runs some400 feet below elevation of theEastern Washington plains, dryrangelands that receive anaverage of six to eight inchesof rainfall a year. The damcreated the large and deepLake Roosevelt and generatedFarmers want compensation in new treaty negotiationsColumbia River Treaty needs to recognize impacts to agriculture on both sides of the borderby TOM WALKERCASTLEGAR – A 10-yearreview process to modernizethe historic Columbia RiverTreaty (CRT) before itsanticipated renewal in 2024 isunderway and this time, BCfarmers want their share of themillions of dollars owing toBC to compensate for impactsto their industry.First ratied in 1964, theCRT considered two importantissues of the day: ood controland the generation ofelectricity. The treatyfacilitated the construction ofthree large reservoirs in BC’sKootenay region to hold backthe huge volumes of waterthat run through the ColumbiaRiver system. The reservoirshelp control ooding furtherdownstream in Washingtonand Oregon states and allowsthe release of a consistent owof water for year-round powergeneration and irrigation. In exchange forconstruction of the reservoirs,the province received $64million in an initial paymentfrom the US and another $254million for the rst 30 years ofpower allotment (whichnanced construction of thedams), and continues tocollect, on average, $214million annually for its share inhydro electric sales.But it was the 1960’s andmany of the cultural,ecosystem and social valueswe recognize today were noton the radar. There were signicantimpacts to First Nations onboth sides of the border, shpassage was interrupted andin places completely blocked,entire towns in BC wereooded, 2500 peoplemisplaced and 25,000 acres ofarable land lost in the ArrowLakes region whileWashington state gained asignicant amount of high-value, irrigated crop land.“We store the water and letit down gently for them, and Iagree that we should bestoring it,” says BC FruitGrowers Association (BCFGA)president Fred Steele, “butsomewhere it should benegotiated that (BC farmers)get something for it.”In March, the provinceannounced its interest inextending the Columbia RiverTreaty (CRT) and seekimprovements within itsexisting framework. “To be fair, nobody thoughtabout it 50 years ago,” saysSteele. “All of a sudden, theyhave water and they have aplace where they can make alake and pump, pump, pump;they have this land that theycan now use.” enough electricity to pumpwater 350 feet up to the benchlands. Manmade Banks Lakeand more than 2,000 miles ofcanals created 671,000 acres ofirrigated farm land. It’s calledthe Columbia Basin Project.(CBP).ForumDr. John Wagner from theUniversity of BC Okanaganexplained Canada’s role insupporting Washingtonfarmers at a Columbia RiverTreaty forum held in Osoyoosin October.Wagner refers to a studythat points out late summerlevels in the Columbia can beas little as one fth of theaverage ows of the yearwithout the consistentreleases from BC storage. (Youcan’t pump out of an emptybathtub.) “Some years, it may havebeen sucient but it onlytakes one year in four or ve oreven 10 (for a fruit tree orgrape vine to die) to make theland unsuitable,” says Wagner. “The argument,” maintainsWagner, ”is not about theincrease in irrigated acreage.”(Indeed, the US did thatentirely on their own.) “Theargument is about generatinglate summer irrigationcapacity.”A secure, consistent supplyreleased from BC damsthroughout the summer,allowed Washington growersto shift to higher value crops.Fruit trees and grapes, orpotatoes and onions, nowprosper instead of the hay,oats, barley and sugar beetsthat had been grownpreviously, Wagner explains.The study provided thegures to prove it. It looked atland use within the CBP areathat was irrigated from theCoulee Dam. Between 1962(pre-BC dams) and 1992, appleplantings increased from 484acres to 27,433. 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December 2015 • Country Life in BC 23LETʼS MAKE A DEAL From page 22Apple crop value increasedfrom $1.3 to $150 million Cdn.Asparagus went from 628 tonearly 36,000 acres; onionsfrom 1,250 to 39,000 acres. The real market value of allcrops harvested in the CBPincreased by 219% comparedto a 39% increase in the rest ofWashington state.Do Washington farmerswant to keep the good deal?You bet, says Steele. “They are now wanting toinclude access to irrigationwater as part of the (CRT)discussions,” he says. “Theywant security due to climatechange and droughtconditions.”And BC storage does a goodjob, Steele says. “Even with the recorddrought conditions in easternWashington this summer, LakeRoosevelt did not go down.”But there is more. Water likes to seep. Most ofthe irrigation canals in theColumbia Basin Project arenot lined. Add to that,irrigation water not taken upby plants and from whatevertrickles down from the man-made lakes gives a hugeboost to area aquifers knownas Quincy Mound and PascoMound.A 2002 report from theWashington State Departmentof Ecology describes it as“imported water.” “Much of the introducedirrigation water has inltratedinto the ground where it hasco-mingled with naturalgroundwater. As a result, thegroundwater systemthroughout much of the basinnow has a large component of“articially stored” water thatwas not present before theColumbia Basin Project began.”That means Washingtonfarmers can pump it and use itagain, maybe three or fourtimes more, says Wagner,before it’s used up. “Agriculture water useshould be accounted for,” saysWagner. “It’s too big a player tobe left out of the treaty.”Steele agrees.“We feel that the tree fruitindustry and also the potatoand vegetable industry shouldget some kind ofcompensation because wewere impacted by this.” “(Washington farmers) wantto recognize (water issues inthe treaty). We want them torecognize it. So somebodybetter bring their chequebook to the table,” Steelesays.by PETER MITHAMKELOWNA – A monthbefore implementation of theColumbia River Treaty inSeptember 1964, farmers inthe Kootenays sent an openletter to then Prime MinisterLester B. Pearson.Parliament had voted infavour of ratifying the treaty,but farmers had yet to receiveassurances regarding theirfuture in areas slated forooding following theconstruction of three damsalong the upper ColumbiaRiver.“We ask you to assumesome responsibility beforenal ratication of the treaty tosee that injustice and hardshipdo not occur to people whohave already been upset andunsettled for many yearsbecause of the longuncertainty about the treaty,”wrote Oliver Buerge, secretaryof the Burton and DistrictFarmers’ Institute, whosemembers were concerned byconstruction of what would beknown as the HughKeenleyside Dam in the ArrowLakes district.Uncertainty regarding theoutcome of the treaty – signedin 1961 but not ratied untilsummer 1964 – had depressedthe market value of propertiesthe province, through BCHydro, required to full itsobligations under theinternational treaty betweenCanada and the US. This, inturn, left landownersvulnerable to being short-changed when the time cameto assign a market value to theproperties for the purposes ofcompensation.“Our properties have beenarticially depressed in valuebecause of these years ofdiscussion about the treaty,”Buerge said. “We are tired ofhearing that our desperatelyhard-won bottom lands are oflittle value when we knowwhat a struggle it has been toget them and how reallypriceless in the world todaythis land is. Those of us whoare farmers know full well whatwe are losing.”Published in the August1964 issue of Country Life in BC,the letter’s complaint wastaken up in that month’seditorial.Premier W.A.C. Bennett hadpledged “fair, sympathetic,generous” compensation tolandowners, but editor J.R.(Tim) Armstrong saidsomething more concrete wasrequired. Direct discussionswith landowners would havebeen nice, but they hadn’thappened even though thetreaty would take eect withinweeks.“One would imagine thatthe Hydro authority wouldhave had its course wellcharted and would have beenprepared to swing into actionimmediately [once] signatureswere axed to the treaty,”Armstrong wrote. “[There] isno excuse for keepingfarmland owners in suspense aminute more than isnecessary.”Armstrong was clear aboutwhat was at stake: without frankdiscussions that provided ameasure of assurance regardingthe future – not to mentiondemonstrating good will – theprovince would be engenderinga legacy of resentment against aproject widely seen as for thegood of all.“If delays andprocrastinations continue, BCHydro will be dealing with amutinous family not preparedto give and take to anydegree,” Armstrong wrote.Ultimately, the provinceestablished a $295 millionendowment fund in 1995 – 30years after the treaty tookeect – to establish theColumbia Basin Trust, with aview to supporting social,economic and environmentalinitiatives in the Kootenays.But the indirect impacts ofthe treaty on growers acrossthe province have yet to beresolved, as current rumblingsfrom the agriculture leadersmake clear.During consultations in therun-up to Canada and the USdeclaring in 2014 whether ornot they would withdraw fromthe treaty or renegotiate itsterms, growers suggested thatthe province allocate $9.25million annually to oset thecompetitive disadvantage theyface, a fraction of the $200million to $300 million theprovince receives annually frompower sales under the treaty.“The BCFGA and thevegetable growers have askedthat a share of thedownstream benets beredirected to impactedindustries,” Glen Lucas of theBC Fruit Growers Associationtold Country Life in BC in 2013.“[The province] allocated largeamounts – signicant amounts– to the Kootenays on theimpact there with the samelevel of evidence we havetoday for agriculture, but wehave to go the extra mile toprove the impact.”Today, as in 1964, theprovince – to quote TimArmstrong – “has a chance togain that goodwill from thefarmers … [through] promptaction which takes intoaccount all the mitigatingcircumstances.”Compensation is about goodwill, not just moneyCanadian prime minister John Diefenbaker and US presidentDwight D. 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by TOM WALKERKELOWNA – The BC Fruit GrowersAssociation BCFGA held regional meetingsNovember 9-10 in Kelowna and Oliver.Members listened to and discussed apresentation on the replant program. They alsoheard the president’s report and updates onlabour. Resolutions were gathered to be takento the annual general meeting in January.Executive nominations were received to bedecided at the AGM.Carl Withler, the new Ministry of Agriculturetree fruit and grape specialist, spoke about thereplant program. Funded by the provincialgovernment in the fall of 2014, the programprovides $8.4 million over seven years to assistfruit growers in replanting to newer, morevaluable varieties. The 2015 program wasadministered on a rst-come/rst-served basis.Of 127 applications, 124 were approved and ofthose, between 115-119 growers or 97% ofapplicants will receive a share of the $1.2million funding.The problem is that the program was toosuccessful, says BCFGA president Fred Steele. “The government said last year that theyexpected it to be undersubscribed,” he saidwith a chuckle. “Well, it was oversubscribed andwe were able to go back to the governmentand get a top up”. The province agreed to match $117,000 putforward by Summerland Varieties Corp (SVC).SVC is the variety rights management companythat licenses new varieties of tree fruits andberries domestically and internationally fromprovincial breeding programs. In addition, SVCfound another $55,000 for a total of $289,000. “We met with the deputy minister and toldhim that we will see applications this year forconsiderably more than they are budgeting,”Steele says. “He didn’t say no but he said hehad to take this to treasury board. The treasuryboard is our biggest stumbling block.” Withler reviewed the new criteria for 2016that are a change from previous programs. “This year’s applications will be rated on aten point scale for ve categories,” says Withler. Growers will be rated on their overall planincluding site mapping, soil analysis, varietyselection for location and cost sheets. Theprogram will provide $3.50 per tree up to$7,625 per acre to go towards an actual cost ofnearly $22,000 per acre in rootstock alone, notincluding planting, trellis and irrigation costs.While the program supports higher valuevarieties such as Ambrosia or Honey Crisp,growers asked about their specic locations.Growers felt they knew what was best for theirland.Tell your story, was Withler’s advice. “If you are in a location where you can’t getAmbrosias to color up, explain that to us,” hesaid. “If you have an excellent market for yourpremium MacIntosh, tell us that story, too.” Fred Steele gave a brief president’s report.He spoke about the need for agriculture issuesto be included in the current Columbia Treatynegotiations. The BCFGA is requesting toMinister of Forests, Land and Natural ResourceOperations Steve Thompson that they beincluded in the new provincial advisorycommittee that will be discussing the deerproblem across the province. This year, the Sterile Insect Release Programrecorded the lowest levels of damage fromcodling moth ever seen in the valley.Vice president Pinder Dahliwal gave asummary of the Seasonal Agriculture WorkerProgram. He said there were 4724 Mexicanworkers in BC during 2015, up from 4050 in2014. Likewise, 714 Caribbean workersoutpaced the 214 employed last year. Dahliwal spoke about the ongoing issueswith worker social insurance numbers. Asystem change has prevented the CanadianBorder Service Agency from issuing SIN’s forworkers entering Canada and they wererequired to report to a Service Canada oce.With pressure from local MP’s, Service Canadasent a representative out to farms notconvenient to a Service Canada oce. It ishoped Service Canada will be able to meetarriving workers at the point of entry(Vancouver) next year. He also explained that housing inspectorsmust now be licensed and certied.Executive nominations were received, withelections to take place at the BCFGA annualmeeting on January 30. Incumbent Fred Steelewill again face Jeet Dukhia for president. PinderDhaliwal was acclaimed as vice president. PeterSimonsen, Ravinder Bains and Sukhdeep Brarwere acclaimed as southern executivemembers, while voters will choose three ofTony Nijjar, Surjit Nagra, Tahir Raza, AsifMohammed and Sukhdev Goraya as northernexecutive.Country Life in BC • December 201526Fruit replant program exceedsgovernment expectationsGrowers told at regional meetings to “tell their story” when making applicationsby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – The North Thompson FallFair & Rodeo Association is getting $25,000from the Farm Credit Canada AgriSpiritFund to nish its Agriplex.As well, the Bulkley Valley Soccer Societyis receiving $20,000 to redevelop threesoccer elds in Smithers and Bulkley Valley,while the Lake Country Food AssistanceSociety is receiving $10,000 for a newbuilding to house its food bank.The three donations are among 74 beingmade by the FCC AgriSpirit Fund this year.Awards are between $5,000 and $25,000and must be for hospitals and medicalcentres, child care facilities, communitygardens and other communityimprovement projects. 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December 2015 • Country Life in BC 27Genome project triesbuilding the better honey beeHoney bees are essential tothe productivity of Canadianagriculture but, nationally,beekeepers have lost over aquarter of their colonies eachwinter since 2006-2007. Canadian honey beesproduce 75 million pounds ofhoney each year and they areresponsible for pollinatingnumerous fruits andvegetable crops, nuts and oilseeds. Their contribution istallied at more than $4.6billion to the Canadianeconomy each year. So it’s no wonder, given thelevel of economiccontribution, that the die-oof colonies is a huge worryand puts at risk future foodproductivity and security.Beekeepers replace theirlosses with imported beestocks but that risks thepossibility of importingdiseases or invasive strains ofbees. So, what aboutselectively breeding our ownbees with desirableproduction and behaviourtraits and dispense withimporting new stocks?Provide markersAt Genome BritishColumbia and GenomeCanada, a new project isbuilding on previous researchto develop genomics andproteomics tools that willprovide the markers neededto selectively breed 12economically valuable traitsfor queen bees. The enormousbenet will be for beekeepersto quickly and cost-eectivelybreed healthy, disease-resistant, productive honeybee colonies better able tosurvive Canadian winters. “Everyone has a reasonableidea of what a gene is – a setof instructions for ourselves tomake a protein,” explainsresearch team leader Dr.Leonard Foster with theUniversity of British Columbia.“Proteomics is a way oflooking at all the proteins thathave been built. In a moresimple way, it is a molecularngerprinting tool so, in thesame way that a forensics labwould take a ngerprint at acrime scene, proteomics allowus to measure a molecularngerprint in whatever it isthat we are looking at (suchas) the molecular signaturebetween normal honeybeescompared to those that havetraits such as better honeyproduction, bees that aremore disease resistant, orbees that are less aggressivethan others.”Complex sociologyFoster said that honey beeshave a very highly developedsocial structure withbehaviours that workbecause of theircomplex sociology.One of the bestexamples is theirhygienic behaviourand some bees’ abilityto clean their hiveenvironment better thanothers.“So where this hasapplication for diseaseresistance is to identify thosebees that are very good atidentifying larva or bees thatare diseased, dying or dead.They remove them veryquickly from the hive and getthem out of the colonyenvironment. So what we areaiming at here (is) to quicklyand eciently nd a way toidentify those bees that dohave these (desirable)behaviours and they willguide a selective breedingprogram.”The research team, which isco-led with Dr. Amro Zayedfrom York University, has beenworking on the project forabout seven years. They arenow at the point where,within the next three or fouryears, they expect to nd thesignatures that will beindicative of the dierentdesirable traits.“We are hoping that, at theend of four years, we will beable to take our collection ofsomewhere around a dozendierent traits and startapplying those on a largescale with bee breeders acrossthe country,” says Foster.“There is a large amount ofinterest from the community.I’m leading the project withresearchers across the countrybut we can’t experimentwithout the involvement ofmany bee breeders. They arean integral part of it.” Fewer die offsFoster is very hopeful thatthe research will allow bees tobe better able to survive theCanadian climate and copewith diseases, leading to fewerdie os. “It should get us to a pointwhere we no longer have totreat diseases in a way that weare doing now. BeekeepersResearchMARGARET EVANSeverywhere have to addchemicals to a colony that aremildly to highly toxic just tocontrol some of thesediseases. It will get us awayfrom having to do that. Thepublic would love that.”The research, led byGenome BC and co-led byOntario Genomics, will serveas a road map for improvinghoney bee health across theglobe and was fundedthrough Genome Canada’s2014 Large-Scale AppliedResearch Project Competition:Genomics and Feeding theFuture. Other fundingpartners include GenomeAlberta, Genome Quebec, theUniversity of British Columbia,Manitoba Agriculture, Foodand Rural Development(MAFRD), the BC Ministry ofAgriculture, and the BC HoneyProducers Association.Research at UBC could help apiarists breed specic character traitsinto their hives of bees and help reduce the need for chemicaltreatments to keep colonies disease free. 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Country Life in BC • December 201528Feed shortages likely to keep BC cattle numbers stagnantby CAM FORTEMSKAMLOOPS – Fears thesummer drought would shrinkBC’s cattle herd appear to beoverblown, says an industryrepresentative.Kevin Boon, generalmanager of the BCCattlemen’s Association,acknowledges some Interiorranchers brought cattle tomarket early this summer inthe wake of high feed pricesand dwindling range grassdue to drought. The federalgovernment also oered aprogram encouragingranchers to bring cattle tomarket early in order to dealwith dry conditionsthroughout Western Canada.“The late rains really helpedout,” Boon says, adding “someguys went to market earlierthan usual to cut down onfeed usage.”Wayne Jordan, anauctioneer at BC LivestockProducers Co-op in Kamloops,says the cost of feed and aprice spike for cattle inSeptember brought anincreased number of animalsearly to market. Cattle sold atthe auction here are primarilyshipped to Alberta feedlotsbefore slaughter.“All in all, the larger rancheshave to wait to get o therange and we’re on schedule,”he says.Downwards driftAfter years of decliningprices in the wake ofdiscovery of BSE disease morethan a decade ago, BC’s herdexperienced a correspondingdrift downwards.But the rapid increase inthose prices, setting recordsannually, has not seen acorresponding growth in theoverall herd. Boon says therewere concerns the summerdrought would further shrinkthe provincial herd.“I don’t think it will aectour numbers that much,” hesays.But uncertainty aboutrange in the face of drought iskeeping a lid on growth of theherd. Today, the number ofbreeding cows is between185,000 to 190,000 provincewide. That compares toBC feeders log into national concernsby TOM WALKERKAMLOOPS – The BCAssociation of Cattle Feeders(BCACF) held their AGM inKamloops in September.August Bremer was returnedas president along with JoeHeemskerk as vice presidentand Haley Rutherford astreasurer. Continuing directorsare Marc Fortin, Mark Canart,Terry Schalles and Vern Baird.Denise Doswell resigned herposition as director after manyyears of service. New directorsare Aaron Canart, DougHaughton and Phil Braig.Members discussedpriorities for the coming year:industry promotion, supportfor the National Beef Strategy,rejecting COOL, andmonitoring developmentswith the Trans PacicPartnership on the trade front. While labour shortages thataect industry packing housesin Alberta are not a concern inBC, the BCACF continues tocall for improvements to theforeign worker program tohelp operators across Canada.Animal health and welfare isan on-going priority andBCACF support theintroduction of the FeedlotAnimal Care Assessment Toolthat is being developed by theNational Cattle FeedersAssociation.Handling and disposal ofspecied risk material (SRM) isan issue for the BC industry.BCACF has received fundingto research SRM. “The main objectives are toidentify what challenges andcosts are facing the beefindustry in SRM,” explainedBCACF executive directorAndrea van Iterson, in aninterview. “Environmentalimpact will be the mostessential part of our research,and looking for a sustainablesolution.”Members were treated to aday of presentations. LindaAllison, the ranching/beef repto the BC Agriculture CouncilWater Committee, spokeabout the new BC WaterSustainability Act, the comingregulations and how it willaect the cattle industry. John Parker, a rancher andfeeder from Oklahoma, gavemembers a picture of a largescale marketing operation inthe US. “It was more to get peoplethinking,” said van Iterson. “It’svery dierent what they dodown in the States comparedto Canada, but it’s really thesame with the same end goal.”National Cattle FeedersAssociation policy andresearch manager CaseyVanderploeg gave anoverview of their strategicplan. Many national initiativeshave similar importance in BCand he spoke about howassociations can worktogether across Canada. Healso explained to members theon-going lobbying in whichthe group engages in Ottawa.Finally, market analyst AnneWasko of Gateway Livestockgave a summary of marketnumbers over the past year. “Last year was an amazingyear,” said Wasco. “It was asupply story,” she noted. Butthat will change with as the USrebuilds its herd. By nextspring, the US herd isexpected to grow by threemillion head. That’s as manybeef cows as we have in all ofCanada.This summer’s dry weather has resulted in feed shortages on summer range that saw an early start tothe fall run. (Liz Twan le photo)320,000 a decade ago.“Things are ripe for us togrow,” Boon says, addingmany ranchers, however, areinvesting in new machinery orother infrastructure ratherthan taking a risk byexpanding.While hay prices have comedown from this summer,Jordan says they remainelevated enough todiscourage some ranchersfrom keeping cattle overwinter.“You have to do a little soulsearching as to how manyanimals you can keep over.”CIDC Check-offBCID Fund9WorkBeef atCheck-offCheck-offCIDC 9Ch9f9heck-of9at9W9Beef 9ork9WoFundCI-D FundBCID Producer Check-Off Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net | 1-877-688-2333www.kelloughent.com1-888-500-2646403-347-2646#3, 7491 - 49 Ave., Red Deer, AB. 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December 2015 • Country Life in BC 29Is this the beginningof the winter deluge?As I sit at my keyboard andsigh, it is (indeed) beginningto look a lot like Christmas.The snow is falling steadilypast my oce window,adding to the earlyaccumulation already on theground. Is this our fate,relative to the prodigiousprecipitation predicted toravage the West Coast of BC(in the form of rain) as the ElNino winter, promised byweather forecasters, envelopsthe province? Are we toexpect a heavier than averagesnow fall in the Cariboo?Muskrats are readyThe muskrats are sure ofthat; they have alreadyconstructed formidably higherwinter lodges than normal.They are towering over smallponds, much like cityskyscrapers. In appearance,they seem ridiculously over-built. But trust me, those ratsare in-the-know; the snow willbe coming.Action in the cattle marketshas slowed as producers havesold most of their saleablelivestock. The prices tailed osomewhat as feedlots reachedtheir intake levels. They seemto have absorbed the bulk ofthe sale cattle. In the US, feedlotplacements totalled 10.8million head, November 1, atwo percent increase over lastyear, yet the annualmarketings were down 3% inOctober, the lowestnumbers since 1996according to the USDACattle on Feed report. As November wanesand the festive seasonapproaches, anothermarketplace ramps upwith a plethora of craft fairstaking place in mostcommunities around BC. WhatI have observed at these salevenues is that a good numberof the vendors are agricultural,ranch-based people. Eitherretired producers keepingoccupied with a hobby that issaleable, or those still activelyworking in agricultureproducing a small, saleableniche product that generatesextra income (or acombination). The breadth oftheir imaginations turned intoreality illustrated by theproducts on oer continues tosurprise and amaze me. Evenmore so when I see theagricultural vendorsurrounded by a crowd ofshoppers, all clamouring topurchase the product or item.This past weekend, Iattended several craft marketsand the largest line-ups wereat a booth oering dried fruit,nuts (natural or darkchocolate-covered); oneselling high quality organicproduce (specialty potatovarieties, other veggies); agarlic booth (garlic baseditems, jellies, more) and afarm-based booth sellingnatural apple cider vinegar,produced locally. Supportyour fellow producers bypurchasing their high quality,locally produced items asChristmas gifts.Merry Christmas to you all.Best wishes for a happy,healthy & peaceful new year!An early dump of snow was nomatch for these Alkali LakeRanch cowboys. (Liz Twanphoto)BBCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466 BCHA President Daryl Kirton 604-855-2287 Market MusingsLIZ TWANThe perfect gift for Christmas!Jude’s Kitchen by Judie SteevesAN OKANAGAN INSTITUTE CULINARIA BOOK288 pages, photographs and colour plates throughout, 8x10 inches, paperback, $35With a focus on fresh, local ingredients,Judie’s cookbook will become a staple in your kitchen!Visit www.judiesteeves.com to orderor ask at your favourite bookseller!If you’ve enjoyedJude’s Kitchen inCountry Life in BC,you will enjoy acompilation ofJudie’s recipes inJude’s Kitchen.
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Reading a series of marketreports on lamb and sheepprices across the country maynot be the most entertaining,yet however much interestand enjoyment farmers getfrom their sheep and farm,these prices form the basis forwhat farmers do and worktowards.Sometimes dicult to makesense of, they neverthelessprovide a guide to whatfarmers can expect for theirproduction. Major marketlamb buyers – those whoattend weekly or monthlysales – have a good idea ofwhat they are looking for,what is considered areasonable price, and whattheir customers want.Peering into the stockyardpens at Fraser Valley Auctionsin Langley, November 8 (a fewof them packed), oneobserved a good number oflambs of various breed typesand their crosses, and of quitedierent sizes. Dierentweight groups and breedtypes predictably brought indierent prices. FVA reportedprices ranging from $25.00 to$215.00. Mature rams broughtin $115.00 to $200.00 perhead; ewes were $67.50 to$120.00.Beaver Hill Auctions inToeld, AB sold 1071 head onNovember 2 and reportedprices of $175.00 to $212.00per hundred weight for lambsbetween 70 and 85 lbs, and$160.00 to $175.00 per cwt forthose over 106 lbs. Maturerams fetched $68.00 to$190.00 and ewes $55.00 to$89.00.Ontario Stockyards Inc sold1162 head of sheep and lambsfor the week endingNovember 6. Bidders wentfrom $210.00 to $233.00 percwt for lambs between 65 to80 lbs and from $170.00 to$190.00 for those over 110 lbs.Mature rams and ewesbrought in $85.00 to $110.00per cwt. Stavely, AB saleWarren and Norine Moorehost their annual PoundmakerSale in Stavely, AB, held inearly summer. This sale is foryearlings rams, many with theoption of registration at noextra cost. The Mooresprovide a large number oftheir own rams but extendinvitations to other sheepbreeders in neighbouringprovinces to consign theirsheep, too.This year, they sold108 rams from eightbreeds with ve Ile deFrance averaging$1400.00 per head. 68Suolks averaged$1085.00; eight Dorsetsaveraged $1025.00; oneCharollais sold for $950.00;seven North Country Cheviotsaveraged $800.00; 12Rambouillets went for$780.00; six Hamps, $780.00and one Coloured Romneysold for $600.00.Winnipeg saleThe Canadian SheepBreeders Association’s (CSBA)annual All Canada Classic washeld in Winnipeg this year andis a dierent sort of salealtogether. Yearlings andlambs are eligible; all must bepurebred and sell with theirpapers.Over one third of theentries at the Classic arelambs, many only four to vemonths old. 107 rams and 146ewes were entered and somewere rare breed types whichtend to exert downwardpressure on prices at abreeding animal sale. Conversely, pressure onprices may be exertedupwards if the breed has beenrecently imported intoCanada, has good attributes intheir own right, and few areavailable. Thus, Classic gurescannot be compared with thePoundmaker sale but both area good source of reference forbreeding stock.CSBA secretary Dr. StaceyWhite reported averages forDecember 2015 • Country Life in BC 31Wool GatheringsJO SLEIGHContributors and helpers at the Island and Lower Mainland pick up location for Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers (CCWG) start loading bags of wool, September 26, at Dave and ChristineStephens’ Walnut Hill Farm in Aldergrove. From left to right, : Keith Murray, Nancy Mallinson, RonYdenberg, Sylvia Murray, Barb Ydenberg, and Judy Sands with Dave Stephens (in the truck). Bleu,one of the Stephens’ three dogs, a sociable, blue-eyed Border Collie, Red Heeler and Catahoula cross,sits enthusiastically in front. CCWG reports the initial price payout was 60 cents per pound fordomestic wool and $1.50 per pound for range wool. (Photo courtesy of Christine Stephens.)Good returns form the basis of a sound businessthis years sale, held in June.131 sold for an average of$573.00 while 90 yearlingand ram lambs averaged$648.00. Hobby farmersaside, good returns are whatwill likely determine the longterm continuance of anenterprise and of thelivestock. But if you don’tmake money, takeconsolation; all is not lost. Asthe old timers say, “If youthink you are losing moneyon it all, think of how muchyou would be spending ontravelling, holidays, the skislopes, the theatre, diningout or shopping for the latestgadgets if you weren’t in thebarn.”Wishing you and your family avery Merry Christmas andHappy New Year!MEADOW VALLEY MEATSPROVINCIALLY INSPECTED ABATTOIR BC#3418315 FORD ROAD, PITT MEADOWS, BC V3Y 1Z1604/465-4752 • Fax 604/465-4744 • ashiq@meadowvalleymeats.com
Country Life in BC • December 201532Swath grazing can reduce input costs: forage field dayStories by EMILY BULMERPRINCE GEORGE – Snowand sleet didn’t stop 43ranchers from gathering at theBar K Ranch outside of PrinceGeorge to attend the‘Maximizing Your Forage’workshop and eld dayhosted by the BC Cattleman’sAssociation, October 23. Theworkshop was part of theBCCA’s Technology TransferPilot Program. Dr. Bart Lardner, aresearcher at the Western BeefDevelopment Centre andadjunct professor of theDepartment of Animal andPoultry Science at theUniversity of Saskatchewan,and Dr. Alan Iwaasa,researcher at Agriculture andAgri-Food Canada, spokeabout the latest research inforage-related topicsincluding extending thegrazing season, winter feedingtechniques, managing foragefor drought, bale and swathgrazing, and cattle foragingbehaviour. Highly recommended“These two researcherswere highly recommended tous by the Beef Cattle ResearchCouncil as experts in the eldof forage research,” explainsAmanda White, aspokesperson for BCCA’spublic aairs and marketingprograms. “Dr. Lardner haddone some previous workwith the Bar K Ranch in PrinceGeorge. Although not fromBC, they both did a great jobof linking back to our land andclimate and ways to adapt theinformation provided fordierent areas.” Taylor Grafton, whooperates and manages the BarK Ranch, also provided detailson the benets of swath andbale grazing from his ownexperience. “Swath grazing is when yougrow an annual grain cropand rather than silaging it orhaying it, you swath it andleave it in windrows for thecattle to graze. You get thecost savings of not having tobring it in and store it, andthere are really signicantreturns from the manure andurine going back into the soil– which is a substantialsavings in fertilizer.” He acknowledges thatwaste may be a concern,particularly in years whenSee “GRAZING” page 33BC Cattleman’sAssociation workshoppart of pilot programBar K Ranch, near Prince George, is experimenting with swath grazing to not only reduce input costs of baling and storing but tonaturally fertilize the elds where cattle graze. It’s risky but the cost benets are worth it, according to rancher Taylor Grafton. (Photocourtesy of BC Cattlemen’s Association) for making Ag Days 2015 a success!Leading the way together.BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is a non-profit, non government organization that provides leadership in the advocacy and communication of the collective interests of agricultural producers in British Columbia. Gala2016 BC AGRIFOOD INDUSTRY GALA January 27Ag Day is made possible thanks to the generous contributions of BC Agrifood Industry Gala sponsors and attendees. To reserve your ticket call 1-866-522-3447 fffffffor making ThankYouTo reserve your ticket call 1-866-522-3447Ag Day is made possible thanks to the generous contributions ofBC Agrifood Industry Gala sponsors and attendees.To reserve your ticket, call 1-866-522-3447 for making Ag Days 2015 a success!ThankYoufor makingAg Days 2015 a success!
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 33More workshops on the wayforage volumes are low. “We see maybe 10-20%wastage but in our costanalysis, it is worth it. Dr.Lardner’s costing analysisshows that swath grazing isabout one third of the cost ofsilage. You may get unluckyand get an early, deep snowthat buries it, but you areunlikely to waste money onswath grazing.”Bale and swath grazing alsolls the behavioural need forcattle to continuously graze inthe winter, just as they wouldin the warmer months. Evenwhen fed full silage rations,Grafton recalls his herdsmaking their way over rough,icy terrain to seek out grazingopportunities on older, lessnutritious bales of hay. This type of grazing is a bitof a learning curve for boththe cattle and the humans incharge of their care. “If you are starting up swathgrazing, it is benecial to mix aherd that is experienced witha herd that is not asexperienced. This helps withlearning the behaviours fordigging the swaths under thesnow.KAMLOOPS – The BCCattlemen’s Association isreaching out to its membersvia YouTube and onlinewebinars as part of itsTechnology Transfer PilotProgram. “With signicant cuts toresearch extension previouslydone by government, BCCAidentied the need to provideresearch extension … toensure (members) are up-to-date with the latestinformation, research andtechnology so they can adoptinnovative ideas andproduction practices in theiroperations,” says BCAA publicaairs and marketing co-ordinator Andrea White.A forage eld day at Bar KRanch in Prince George inOctober was one of three face-to-face “traditional” extensionevents (workshops and elddays) being hosted by BCCA,who is also incorporating newtechnologies in order to getthe information out to a wideraudience across the province.The entire eld day at theBar K was professionallylmed, notes White, in order tocreate a series of shorter lmsthat will be available throughthe BCCA website. For those unable to attendthe grazing workshop inperson, BCCA hosted awebinar in late November. Thenal extension event isplanned for late January orGRAZING From page 32early February. For additional informationand to view the videos, visit[www.cattlemen.bc.ca] and theBCCA YouTube channel[BCcattle].Bar K Ranch’ s Taylor Graftonand Dr Bart Lardner, from theWestern Beef DevelopmentCentre in Saskatchewan, areworking on a research projectthat BC Cattlemen’s is lming aspart of a Technology TransferPilot Program. (Photos courtesyof BCCA)Matsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101Huber Farm EquipmentPrince George, BC250-560-5431KuhnNor thAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®Kuhn is committed to helping you succeed by building quality machines for mowing, conditioning, tedding, raking, merging and seedbed preparation.THE HAY AND TILLAGE TOOL SPECIALISTSWishing you and your employees a holiday season filled with peace & happinessCrystal & Barb agri-jobs.ca604-823-6222EMPLOYERS & JOB SEEKERSWE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU GROWVisit our booth at the Pacific Ag Show!
Country Life in BC • December 2015341.866.567.4162Your Game Face for FeedingTo maintain quality feed it’s important to keep air out. When si-lage is faced with a regular bucket, deep cracks and fissures can form. Air can penetrate through these cracks, feet deep into the silo potentially causing premature spoilage and reducing the quality of the feed. One of the best ways to avoid this is to keep a clean, smooth face that doesn’t trap air or moisture. The HLA silage facer is designed to help you better manage your silage and maintain your feed quality. Not only does the facer help you maintain the face of your silo, it also gives you more control of how much feed you remove further reducing waste.Let HLA Attachments help you get your game face on.2000Series Blade3200W Series SnowWing5500 Series SnowPusherScatter Shot Orbital Spreaderwww.hlaattachents.com www.hlasnow.comSWD study provides insight for smarter sprayingby SUSAN MCIVERAGASSIZ – Recentdiscoveries at the AgassizResearch and DevelopmentCentre on the reproductivestate of female Spotted WingDrosophila (SWD) areproviding important insightsinto how this pest of soft fruitoverwinters, and its egg layingcapacity throughout theseason. Information has alsocome to light that promises toenable growers to decidewhen to stop spraying.Sheila Fitzpatrick, a researchscientist at Agassiz Researchand Development Centre ofAgriculture and Agri-FoodCanada, led the investigations.First noticed in BC in 2009,SWD infests a wide range ofcommercially important hostsincluding blackberries,blueberries, cherries,raspberries and grapes. In 2014, Fitzpatrick’s teamused apple cider-baited trapsto collect SWD in raspberryelds at several sites in theFraser Valley. Males, as well asfemales, were attracted to thetraps which were emptiedeach week for 20 weeks.Fitzpatrick notes the iescaught represent only thesubset of the population thatwas hungry. The rst ies were caught inmid-July, as soon as therewere bright red berries in theeld. No ies were caughtearlier in the season in trapsplaced near a variety ofpotential hosts. This indicatesthe ies had overwintered asadults and not developed onalternate hosts, Fitzpatrickexplains. Possibleoverwintering sites of adultSWD is under investigation byother scientists.“There aren’t many femalesaround in mid-July. But theones present are full of eggsand ready to go,” Fitzpatricksays.Colours changeThe abdomens of thesefemales are distended withmature and maturing eggsand the ovipositor is extruded.The July ies are brown tonearly black in colour due tothe presence of melanin whichincreases the impermeabilityof the cuticle.“This means the ies aremore resistant to desiccationduring overwintering,”Fitzpatrick says.In contrast, the ies trappedin mid-August, which are theospring of the July ies, areyellow to tan in colour andhave small abdomens. By mid-September, females are darkerin colour and their ovarieshave a few mature eggs butmost eggs are in the earlystages of formation.“The September ies arecapable of depositing a feweggs if a suitable host is foundwhile they gradually shutdown egg production,”Fitzpatrick says.In July, there are fewfemales packed with eggswhile in September there aremany more females but eachwith fewer eggs.Females trapped in mid-November are dark brown,their ovaries contain onlyimmature egg chambers andthey are well on their way inpreparation for overwintering.“From the perspective ofgrowers, the September iesare the most important. Eggproduction has slowed, buthasn’t shut down completely,”Fitzpatrick says.So, when is it safe forgrowers to stop spraying inlate summer?That depends on the typeof crop and site and will varyfrom year to year, saysFitzpatrick, who hopes toprovide more informationfrom studies planned for thiscoming season.Anyone interested in seeingrepresentative photographs offemale SWD collected in earlysummer, late summer/early falland late fall and theirdissected ovaries should emailFitzpatrick at[Sheila.Fitzpatrick@agr.gc.ca].Fitzpatrick’s work focuseson berries grown in the FraserValley; however, she says, “ Isee no reason why thesendings can’t be extrapolatedto Okanagan cherries.”Sheila Fitzpatrick, a research scientist at Agassiz Research andDevelopment Centre, holds photographs of female SWD trappedin 2014. (Susan McIver photo)
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 35Mike and Gillian Stohler own Summer Gate Winery in Summerland.Above, Gillian, who is winery director and winemaker, shows thepress used for testing small batches. (Susan McIver photo)by SUSAN MCIVERSUMMERLAND – Followingtheir dream of owning awinery and wanting to raisetheir family in a rural setting,Mike and Gillian Stohlermoved from Vancouver toSummerland eight years ago.“We purchased 11 acreswith a 8.5 acre vineyard thatneeded tender loving care,”Gillian says.Today, she and Mikeoperate Summer Gate Winerywhich opened in 2010 andrun a busy household withve children.“It’s very much of a familybusiness. Fortunately, thehouse is next to the tastingroom and cellar,” Gillian says,as she picks up two-year-oldHelena. The other fourchildren range in ages fromsix to 14 years.In addition to being amother, Gillian focuses on herroles as winery director andwinemaker while Mikepursues a full time career as areal estate agent.“Mike is still involved butmost of his work is now in thevineyard,” Gillian says.The Summer Gate vineyardis certied organic.Operating a small winery isrisky, especially for city folkswith no background inviticulture or winemaking.Regardless, she and Mikeplunged head rst into thetask of learning how to growgrapes and make wine.Gillian took a wine makingcourse at Okanagan College inPenticton and subsequentlyworked with experiencedwine consultants to learn thener tricks of the trade.“I never add sugar to thejuice. Instead, I stopfermentation when there isenough natural sweetness,”Gillian says.She does not use glycol tochill the wine. Rather, all tanksare on casters so they can bemoved outside for cooling.Summer Gate received theSustainability Leader Award in2012 presented by theSummerland Chamber ofCommerce.The former owner hadplanted Kerner and MuscatOttonel varieties which theStohlers nurtured to fullproduction capacity.“A German wine, Kerner is across between Trollinger, ared variety, and Riesling,”Gillian explains.The Muscat Ottoneloriginated from cuttings ofvines that originated inHungary.This summer, Summer Gatedoubled its acreage undervine with four leased acresand four operated by the landowners with the grapes grownunder the Stohlers’ direction.“Kerner is our most popularwine, so we planted all theleased land in that variety,”Gillian says.The remaining four acreswere planted in Siegerrebe, aGerman white wine that is across between Madeleine andGewürztraminer, and PinotNoir.“Although we specialize inaromatic whites, we wanted toexpand our portfolio with ared,” Gillian says.She anticipates thatwineries will become morespecialized in their oerings asthe industry matures.The Stohlers use a varietyof approaches to meet theirlabour needs.“Until now, we’ve reliedheavily on WWOOFers (WorldWide Opportunity in OrganicFarms) to do most things untilharvest time,” Gillian says.This year, they hired twofull time employees.Through the wage subsidyplacement incentive ofEmployment BC, a man washired to help in the vineyardand cellar.The other full timeemployee, a woman, is incharge of the wine shop anddoes most of the paper work,which allows Gillian to focuson wine making andspending more time with thechildren.Mike and Gillian continueto rely on volunteers andfamily members forharvesting and bottling.The volunteers, oftenwinery clientele and Mike’sreal estate customers, enjoythe opportunity to see howwine is made and be part ofthe process.“We make sure theirworking conditions are safeand that everyone has a goodtime,” Gillian says.Nurturing grapes and family a dream come trueSummer Gate Winery is an award-winning recent startupUnder the Terms of the Bylaws of the AssociationMembers are Directed to Take Notice of the127th Annual General Meeting of theBRITISH COLUMBIAFRUIT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATIONJanuary 29-30, 2016At the RAMADA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE, KELOWNAFRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 BUSINESS SESSION (1 PM–5 PM)• Annual Report of the Executive; • Financial statements, budget, and any Special Resolutions; • Annual reports of subsidiaries:• BC Research and Development Orchard Ltd. • Summerland Varieties Corporation;• Guest speakers and reports of industry organizations and companies;• Committee reports and resolutions for delegate consideration.SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2016 POLICY SESSION (8:30 AM–2 PM) • Guest speakers and reports of industry organizations & companies; • Special reports; • Committee reports and resolutions for delegate consideration; • Election of the BCFGA Executive at 2:00 pmSOCIAL - A Social will be held on Friday evening. All members andgovernment and industry organization representatives are invited toattend the social from 6 – 8 pm on Friday, January 29 at theRamada Hotel & Conference Centre, Kelowna. BC FRUIT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION office: 880 Vaughan Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4250-762-5226 (T) (250) 861-9089 (F) www.bcfga.comAll members and industry andgovernment representatives welcome.Lunch provided on Saturday.
Thank Youto our Partners of the 2015 BC Dairy Industry Conference.The success of this conference is largely due to their generosity and commitment to the dairy industry.bcdairyconference.caOrganized by BC Dairy Association & BC Milk Marketing BoardESTABLISHED 1970YCountry Life in BC • December 201536
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 37Innovation comes in small packages on Langley farm tourby RONDA PAYNELANGLEY - One of themost agriculturally-centredregions in the LowerMainland, the Township ofLangley held its annual farmtour in late October. Thisyear’s theme, Innovation inAgriculture, provided aninteresting mix ofinformation and discussionamong farmers and farm-friendly guests on the tour. The majority (73%) offarms in the township are 10acres or less. This wasreflected at the three farmstops dotting the tour:Enterra Feeds, Milner ValleyCheese and Laurica Farm.Farming tinyEnterra Feeds is just likeany other livestock operationexcept for one thing. As BradMarchant, the company’sCEO, puts it, Enterra farmstiny animals. Black soldierflies to be exact. The flies arenative to BC and thecompany feeds the larvaepre-consumer waste food tocreate a nutrient-rich feed aswell as an organic naturalfertilizer.It was a conversation withDavid Suzuki that establishedEnterra, Marchant explains.He and Marchant becamepartners after the pair agreedit makes sense to feedchickens bugs since it is whatthey would eat naturally. The black soldier fly waschosen because it is arelatively large insect, is atthe top of its food chain andis indigenous to the region. Pre-consumer wastearrives at the farm in binsfrom multiple sources. It’sthen mulched and fed to thelarvae. Bacteria humansavoid, like E.coli, listeria andsalmonella, etc., are noproblem for these mightyinsects.“Once it goes through thelarvae, they eat it and ingestit,” Marchant says. “They tear(bacteria) all apart.”Making and remaking foodMarchant describes thebioconversion process as“taking food and remakingfood.“If we give them the rightblend of things, they’re quitehappy,” he notes. The facility is designed tohandle 100 tonnes of foodwaste in a 24 hour period.“It’s a natural proteinsource,” says Marchant. “Themost protein is at the larvaestage.”Once the larvae havereached the ideal size, theyare dehydrated (to a moisturecontent of less than 10%from their natural 65%) intofeed for chicken and fish. Thefeed is about 40% proteinand 40% fat and at present isonly available for sale in theUS. Some larvae grow to adultflies which maintain thebrooding stock. Even here,there is no waste. Not only isthe larvae separated from itswaste – which goes into thefertilizer product – but adultflies that die make up part ofthe fertilizer as well. The onlyby-product of the plant iswarm, moist air. The fertilizer, which isapproved for use in Canada,is seeing positive results.Marchant says it can detercabbage root maggot, wireroot maggot and other pests. The Enterra fertilizerproduct has “all the microand macro biology of regularfertilizer” and grows thingsfaster, notes Marchant. After a stop at MilnerValley Cheese, a fifthgeneration heritage familyfarm and goat dairy with awide range of goat cheeseand other products, lunch atthe Langley Golf and BanquetCentre included a discussionby Chris Bodner about theimportance of supportingnew farmers and findingways to encourage theirmovement into the industry. “Accidental farmers”Five-acre Laurica Farm wasthe final stop of the day.Cathy Finley explained thenumerous activities and howshe and her husband Ian are“accidental farmers.”“We found that we couldbuild a farm of reclaimedmaterials,” she says. “About70% of what you see here isfrom reclaimed materials,”including the newgreenhouse. It cost just $100and will be heated by a cobstove.Ian works in commercialconstruction and sometimeshas access to a wide range ofuseful materials in disposalbins. Netting from the formerBC Place roof now encloses asoft fruit orchard which hascreated something of a microclimate.“It’s a great system ofkeeping things organic,”Cathy notes about thevegetables planted in therows between the vines andtrees. “We are putting anemphasis on using animalsinstead of heavy machinery.”At Laurica, pigs andchickens do a lot of the dirtywork of moving the soil,creating fertilizer and eatingwaste foods. Not only do theyeat the waste left fromharvests, additional wasteBlack soldier ies aren’t pest but prot for a farm featured on theTownship of Langley’s annual farm tour. (Photo by Paul Westcourtesy of Enterra Feeds)1-888-770-7733604.574.7333www.qualityseedswest.casupport@qualityseedswest.caQuality Seeds ... where quality counts!Thanks for the support!FARM SALES WORLDWIDE MARKETINGCANADIANFARMREALTY.comSheldon Froese Your Farm Sales Specialistphone: 204.371.5131 email: sheldon@canadianfarmrealty.compecialistmSASKATCHEWAN D 7258• West of Saskatoon•Approximately 800 acres•171.65 kgs dairy quota• Double 10 Westfalia parlour• Newer state of the art barnSASKATCHEWAN D 5425SOLDSASKATCHEWAN D 6793SOLDSASKATCHEWAN D 4047SOLDRECENT SOLDSNew ListingMANITOBA D 5950SOLDCome see us at the Pacic Ag Show January 28-30, 2016 in Abbotsford, BCfood comes to the farm forthe heritage pigs. “What we’re talking abouthere is symbioticrelationships,” she says.“We’ve only got five acreshere at Laurica Farms andwe’ve got 40 pigs.”There is a two-year wait listfor their heritage pig breedpork. “They get no commercially-created feed at all,” Cathynotes. “No grains. What goesto the landfill is fed to thepigs.”Fields are rotatedThe three vegetableplanting fields are rotated toallow two for planting andone to be tilled, rooted andenriched by the pigs. “I don’t know why anyonefarms without pigs,” she says. While Laurica is notcertified organic, they call thefarm “customer certified” sothat customers can see howthings are done and maketheir own decisions aboutwhether this is the kind offood they would choose ornot. Cathy explains it’s a wayto avoid the certificationexpenses and keep costslower for customers. Innovation is everywherein farming. Even the smallfarm lots in the Township ofLangley can teach otherfarmers something in termsof new ways to do things.
Country Life in BC • December 201538by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – Despite being the driest year in the Okanaganin “many, many years,” 2015 was a good year for growing plants“if you had water,” says horticultural consultant Mario Lanthier ofCrop Health & Advising in Kelowna.The key to helping plants survive a drought is to increase thesoil’s water-holding capacity and that means improving itsstructure, he told a well-attended soil management seminar atthe Canwest Hort Show in Abbotsford in September.“If we have good soil structure, it pulls up water to the rootzone,” Lanthier said.Soil structure depends on soil aggregation, i.e., thearrangement of particles in the soil. Good (large) aggregationprovides space for microbes, nutrients and water and makesthem available to the plant. Best is a silty loam, a mix of 25% clay,which has small pores to hold water, and 75% sand, which haslarge pores to hold air and drain water.While humans, through tillage, are destroying largeaggregates, nature’s workers, fungi, are busy repairing the soiland rebuilding soil structure.“Fungi are most responsible for forming large aggregates bygluing lumps of soil together,” Lanthier says, telling growers thatis one of the benets of adding mycorrhizae fungi to soil.“Mycorrhizae fungi are part of the future of horticulture,” hestresses. “95% of plants use fungi but we don’t use them as muchas we should.” Add compost to soilAdding mycorrhizae has been proven to benet containernursery production but has not had as much success in outdoorsettings. Lanthier suggests it may be because those soils do notcontain enough organic matter for the fungi to survive andthrive. He therefore advocates adding compost to soil to increaseits organic matter. “We have one chance to improve soil qualityand that’s at the time of planting.”Good compost should be coarse, dark chocolate in colour andsmell good. “If compost smells good, it is good to use.” Lanthier’s urges growers to mix 10 cm of compost into the top15 cm of the soil and 10-15% compost into the next 8-10 inches.They should then add a layer of compost on the surface andcover it with 5-7.5 cm of wood chips or bark.Not all fungi benet plants, Dr. Drew Zwart of the Bartlett TreeResearch Laboratories in California told over 100 growers andlandscapers who attended his seminar, noting fungi cause “90%”of all plant diseases. One is boxwood blight, the “most impactful”disease in the last 10 years. It has only been in BC for three yearsbut spreads very easily.Underlying issues need to be addressedTo take hold, a disease needs a host, a pathogen, the rightenvironmental conditions and time. Eliminate any one and youare on the way to good plant health. Since many disease andinsect issues are stress-related, usually moisture or soil stress,pesticides and fungicides will only provide temporary reliefunless the underlying issues are addressed. They won’t evenprovide temporary relief if the right problem is not beingtreated.“Know your pests really well so you’re treating the rightthing,” Zwart says. “Watch the spectrum of pesticides you useand rotate products. The more specic the action, the easier it isfor a pest or disease to gain resistance.”Since plant selection and planting methods are responsiblefor almost all issues, Zwart also encourages growers to addorganic matter and mulch at planting. That builds up soilmicrobes, reducing the incidence of phytophthera, which hecalls a “plant destroyer.” He says such things as planting hedgestoo deep and putting rhododendrons in soil with the wrong pHare practices which can lead to disease and pest issues andultimately plant death.He advocates bare-root planting so foreign pests or diseasesare not brought into an environment where they have no naturalenemies. He also reminds landscapers not to plant too deeply.Growers usingmycorrhizae fungito improve soil healthBC Landscapeand NurseryAssociationchief operatingocer HedyDyck (left)describes theBCLNA’s newPlantSomething BCprogram to Joyand JackdeBruynduring theCanwest HortShow inAbbotsford, inSeptember.(David Schmidtphoto)®Whether mowing, baling, loading or pulling, Case IH has the tractor you need to keep your operation running. 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December 2015 • Country Life in BC 39by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – 2014-15was a turnaround year forboth the BC Landscape andNursery Association and itsmembers“We all had a great spring,”treasurer Gareld Marshallstated at the BCLNA annualmeeting in Abbotsford inOctober. “Nothing is better forour association than when ourmembers are making a prot.After several years ofextremely tough times inmost of our sectors, this canonly be taken as a positive.”Growers chair GordMatthies noted pricesstabilized and inventoriesdecreased in the spring,adding the strong US dollarhelped both those growerswho export most of theirplants and those who sellthem domestically.“The US looks north fortheir plants and Canadianslook for local product,” hesaid.Border issuesAlthough US demand hasincreased, both Matthies andBCLNA chief operating ocerHedy Dyck note somegrowers are still experiencingissues when shipping plantsacross the border.“We do a lot of work onborder relations,” Dyck said.She told members BCLNA ison target to meet theFebruary 2014 strategic planand will be giving the plan a“tune-up” in January.“Your concerns are ournumber one priority,” she toldmembers.The strategic planestablished public relationsand promotion of memberbusinesses as the association’srst priority, and Dyck said thejust-launched PlantSomething BC programshould go a long way in thatregard.The BCLNA has hired acontractor to focus onmembership retention andrecruitment, identied as thesecond priority in the strategicplan. With all sectors comingo a successful season, thattask has been made mucheasier.Open communicationsAdvocacy, the third priorityin the strategic plan,continues to be one ofBCLNA’s most signicant rolesas its members face manycollective and individualissues. While BCLNA sta anddirectors attempt to addresseach issue, often with the helpof the BC Agriculture Counciland/or the Canadian Nursery& Landscape Association,Dyck admitted they are notalways successful.“A good part of ouradvocacy is keepingcommunications open anddiscussions ongoing with ourcounterparts,” she added.The BCLNA posted a verypositive balance sheet, helpedin large part by the sale oftheir oce building. Althoughthey will remain in thebuilding for at least anotheryear, Marshall said the boardis already looking for asuitable long-term alternative.Members were clearlysatised with the board, re-electing Foley, Marshall, rstvice-chair Bruce McTavish andsecond vice-chair Len Smit byacclamation.At Canwest, Smit and hiswife, Denise of Bradner’sGrowing Concern inAbbotsford, were announcedas the 2015 growers of theyear. The small four-acrenursery has 14 greenhouses,half of which are heated, andgrow lavenders, rosemaries,ericas and other high-endperennials for local gardenretailers. Wife deserves creditLen gives his wife most ofthe credit for the award,noting the nursery is “herbaby” since he is the full-timeproduction manager of Kato’sNursery.Strong US dollar drives turnaround year for nursery growersColourful displays like this one from Valleybrook Gardens in Abbotsford were the order of the day atthe Canwest Hort Show in Abbotsford. (David Schmidt photo)The BCLNA used the annualmeeting to hand out the restof its annual awards.Recipients included PaulBuikema of Specimen Trees(Garden Communicator),Shelley Murley of KwantlenPolytechnic University Schoolof Horticulture (Educator), C.Y. Grower Supplies (Supplier)Frank Shang of MRDLandscaping (Young Member)and Anna Kulla of HuckleberryLandscape Design (Member).Bill Hardy honouredThe BCLNA’s highesthonour, the Lifetime ofOutstanding Service Award,which is selected by BCLNApast presidents, was awardedto Bill Hardy of NorthwestLandscape & Stone Supplyand Grow & Gather.The BCLNA’s retail chair,Hardy told members he hopesto continue to serve for manyyears to come. He is currentlyfocused on working with theBCLNA and the City of Surreyto develop landscape centreof excellence at Darts HillGarden in Surrey.“This would be a place forus to shine and keep raisingthe bar,” Hardy said.1-888-675-7999www.watertecna.comMerryChristmas!& Best Wishes fora prosperousNew Yearfrom all of usat WatertecSee you at the Pacific Ag Show!February 12-13, 2016 Cowichan Exhibition ParkVancouver Island’s Largest Agriculture Event of the YearOver 60 Exhibitors featuring the latest in equipment and technology in the industry.Plus 2 full days of informative conference sessions, displays and educational exhibits.FEBRUARY 11: CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVE FARM TOUR & PANEL SESSIONREGISTER ON LINE FOR THE FARM TOUR AND PANEL SESSIONFor more information: Shari Paterson 250-748-0822 cowex@shaw.ca or conference registration visit our websitewww.iashow.caNEW!
Country Life in BC • December 201540by CHRIS YATESSMITHERS – The hot dryweather that stunted cropsand forced some ranchers tosell stock in August highlightsthe need for the informationbeing gathered in a researchproject taking place in BC’scentral interior.The $239,000 in seed,equipment, laboratory resultsand analysis for“Demonstrating Innovativeforage production practices toincrease climate changeadaptation” is being shared incash and in kind by the BCMinistry of Agriculture, BCForage Council (BCFC),Omenica Beetle ActionCoalition, and the Nechako-Kitamaat Development FundSociety, with $127,600 comingfrom the Farm AdaptationInnovator Program (GrowingForward 2).Identify and solve problemsThe project will not onlymonitor and assess the impactof climate change on cropproduction but also evaluateattempts to mitigate its eectsby altering ways and means ofproducing forage, accordingto Dr. Catherine Taraso ofAgrowest ConsultingScientists, who isimplementing the researchplan. She says the aim is toidentify and solve issuesaecting farmers in the centralinterior, and to provideinformation and researchtechniques pertinent to allgrowers in BC. Four farmers answeredBCFC’s call for volunteers latelast year to take part in thetwo year “demonstrationresearch” trial. More than 40central interior and BulkleyValley livestock and forageproducers were treated tochilli and hot coee for theirthree-farm visit one rainy dayin October to see thepreliminary results of theresearch.Slow germinationDrought conditions in partsof the central interior thissummer were a factor in theresults from all four projects,slowing germination ratesacross the board.Butch Ruiter fromWhispering Winds Ranch waslooking to improve thenutritional value of his feedand bought forage kale fromAlberta farmer Graeme Finnwho is providing the seed at$5 per pound and promotingits use for extending grazing.Ruiter says he has swath-grazed with oats for ve yearsand that was good, but he waslooking to ensure goodgrowth on his yearlings byadding brassicas. His othergoal is to see if the kale wouldprovide a canopy that wouldretain more moisture in thesoil.He intended to plant twospecies of brassica (Hunter,which is early, and Winfred,which is later) but the Huntervariety didn’t arrive in time. HeExtending the grazing season focus of new research projectForage trials in BC’s central interior will help ranchers undertake their own analysesProudly certifying Producers and Processorswithin BC and Alberta.FVOPA provides year round certification services compliant with the Canadian Organic Standards (CAN/CGSB) and in accordance with the BC Certified Organic ISO 17065 recognized program. Products may be sold Canada-wide and in international markets. FVOPA ensures an efficient, professional certification process for all farm, processing and handling operations. Inspectors are lOlA trained and qualified making FVOPA a leading Certification Agency.Message 604-607-1655Email: admin@fvopa.cawww.fvopa.caPhone 604-789-7586P.O. Box 18591Delta, BC V4K 4V7Phone: 778-434-3070 Admin cell: 604-789-7586PO Box 19052 Email: admin@fvopa.caDelta, BC V4L2P8 www.fvopa.caThe entire BC Livestock Asssociation Team sends Greetings of the Seasonto all of our members, friends and contributors.Thank you for supporting ranching in British Columbia and your dedication to a lifestylethat brings home the true meaning of family and good spirit.BC LIVESTOCK PRODUCERSProudly supporting B.C. Ranching Since 1943planted the Winfred mid-June.He says he seeded ve acres attwo pounds to the acre alongwith oats at 80 pounds peracre.“I wasn’t impressed mid-summer (because of the lackof rain) but in the fall (theWinfred) took o and it’s stillgreen and growing.” He sayshe’s watching to see how longit will stay green and if it willkeep its quality. “Next year, I’ll expand thetrial to the whole eld,” hesays, and include each varietyof brassica.Disease resistance soughtTraugott Klein managescrops for Vanderhoof hayexporter Tophay Agri-Industries Inc. His alfalfa mustbe of the highest quality tomeet demands of customersso he’s looking for varietiesthat have high diseaseresistance and produce highprotein feed. “Protein content must be20% if possible,” he said.“That’s hard to do here.”“I seeded six dierentvarieties at 18 pounds per acrethis spring. Hay samplesshowed protein rates thatvaried from the Hybrid 2410variety at 17.5% with a relativefeed value (RFV) of 119 toWL319 at 21.5% protein withan RFV of 147.” He says although theTopHand variety was middleof the pack in results in thistrial, it performed better in aformer planting in the Caribooand he’s interested in why thatwould be.Jon Solecki of Grassy Plainssays that, like Ruiter andWayne, his goal is to extendhis grazing season with foragethat retains its feed value inmaturity. The summerdrought meant a poorshowing in forage growth, hesays. There was no rain in hisarea from June until mid-August. The seed is just nowgerminating.“I should get somethingnext year,” he says.Solecki planted twoseparate plots each of WesternWheat Grass, Crested WheatGrass, Creeping Red Fescue,Meadow Brome and RussianWild Rye in mid-June. Eachside of the divided eld hadthe ve varieties, and on oneAlfalfa trials conducted by Fort Fraser rancher Wayne Ray (left) had visitors scratching their heads.Dry, hot weather made germination spotty, then the grasshoppers arrived. Back to the drawingboard, says Ray. (Les Yates photo)Please see “LATE” page 41
ConstructionSystemsSupplies38900 No. 4 Road . Abbotsford604.852.4001info@prinsgreenhouses.comwww.prinsgreenhouses.comDecember 2015 • Country Life in BC 41LATE SEASON GRAZING From page 40Research could assist farmers in adapting to potential climate changeof those sides he had winteredhis herd. Solecki says he wantsto measure not only how eachvariety responds to weatherconditions but what eect, ifany, the passive fertilization bycows provides.“I’m looking for late seasongrazing. Range at the end ofSeptember has no quality, so Iwant something that hasnutritional value when it’smature. If I can get an extramonth of grazing, I’ll behappy.”Three of the farmers hadexperienced a hard frost priorto the eld day and Tarasoagreed that frost-hardyspecies are another thing tolook for to extend grazing. Keep cattle growingWayne Ray, who ranches on2200 acres south of FortFraser, wants to know howseeding rates of alfalfa aectyield. He worked up 50 acresof pasture and spring-seededboth Vision and Top Handalfalfa varieties in fourseparate plots at 12.5 and 25pounds per acre in addition toa ve-way blend in two plotsseeded at 12.5 and 25 poundsper acre. Like Ruiter andSolecki, Ray’s goal is to keephis cattle growing well intothe fall.Ray’s results so far areuncertain. The dry, hotweather last summer createdproblems. Then came thegrasshoppers and weeds. “I have never had an alfalfastand this poor before.Usually, there is a green carpetat least eight inches to a foothigh at the end of the growingseason.”Ray says the seed he sowedcontained hitchhikers like ax,oats and night-oweringcatchy which didn’t help andhe will have to start again withhopefully better weather toget a true reading on thepossibilities of his research.Although the catch waspoor overall, he says, the plotcounts showed that higherseeding rates produced moreplants. Dr. Taraso said the farmerswill continue with the researchwith a 2016 planting and theplan is to have another eldday next fall.that by following the stepslaid out, farmers are able to dotheir own research eectively.The manual will be a how-toresearch guide for anyonegrowing forage for theiranimals or forage/produce forsale in the marketplace locallyand abroad. Details of the project arebeing posted on the BCForage Council pages of theFarmwest website.www.JAYLOR.com | 800.809.8224Contact your Local Dealer for a Demo Today...SquareCut AugerRapidDischargeProcessing KnivesUndercarriageOptions Mixer LevelShaker BoxNEW 5000 SERIESIsland Tractor&Supply Ltd.North IslandTractorAvenueMachinery Corp.AvenueMachinery Corp.Duncan, BC250.746.1755Courtenay, BC250.334.0801Abbotsford, BC604.864.2665Vernon, BC250.545.3355by CHRIS YATESVANDERHOOF – Climatechange, regardless of itscause, is rarely debated thesedays, least of all by fourfarmers in the Central Interiorwho are taking part in aproject aimed at helping them(and others) nd ways ofadapting to changes on theirown farm. The demonstrationscale research with whichthey’re involved will beincorporated into a how-tomanual and workbook beingdeveloped by Dr. CatherineTaraso of AgroWestConsulting and BC Ministry ofAgriculture agrologist LavonaLiggins.As time goes on, weatherchanges are adding to thecrop production equation andcreating a variety of soil andseason changes that areimpacting farming outcomesacross the province. In aneort to get out in front of thetrend and to help farmers tocontinue to meet marketdemands, the manual willhelp farmers designexperiments to answer theirquestions and will explainhow to analyze andunderstand their results,explains Taraso. In this project, developedand funded by both federaland provincial agencies, eachfarmer came up with theirown goal for the research andsome of the informationgathered will be incorporatedinto the manual. Liggins notesthe goal is to provide apractical and ecient guide tomeaningful research that canbe done independently on-farm.Demonstration scaleresearch starts with aquestion, explains Taraso,such as how to extend thegrazing season, and takesincremental steps toward ananswer. “It allows producers toexplore new ideas on a smallscale and the results helpthem decide if they want toexpand or change theprocess. The trial can bemodied year to year; smallmodications can make a bigdierence.”Next year, tooIn the fall of 2016, there willbe another eld day includinga workshop introducing thenal draft of the manual.Participants will be asked tocome armed with a questionabout problems orpossibilities on their own farmand Taraso and Liggins willtake them through themanual with an eye to whatcan be done to answer theirquestions. “Everyone will leave withtheir own project,” Tarasosays.Response to the manualwill tell her what needs to bechanged or added to ensureTraugott Klein’s search for highprotein, high disease resistantalfalfa is bearing fruit but needsmore time, he says. (Les Yatesphoto)
to people and it took o.”Keefer says he would be inthe grocery store in his“Yellowpoint Cranberry” shirtand people would come up tohim and say, “Hey, we justvoted for you; we love yourplace.” “People tell people andthey tell other people and itgrows really fast. It’s nice tohear people supporting local,which they do for the mostpart on the island.”“Connections areimportant,” Keefer says. “Weget that when we go to thefall farmers markets and whenpeople come to the farm forour festival in early October.Our tour guides are localretired teachers. Kids from thearea work after school and onthe weekends.” Having other farms in thearea helps, too. “If someone needs anexcavator and I need a tractor,we move stu around,” saysKeefer. The Halloween cornmaze and pumpkin festival atthe McNab’s farm next doorbrings out more visitors.Keefer’s parents have beenfarming cranberries inRichmond since the early1990s. When Grant andJustine were looking to starttheir own farm, they chose theisland, partly because of thehigh price of land in theLower Mainland and they hadenjoyed visiting the island. It’sconvenient to the ferry forshipping, Keefer says, and it’seasy to get back and forth. (Hestill works the family propertyin Richmond.) “It has a good climate forwhat we were looking for andit’s worked out rather well.”They planted in 2003 andhad their rst harvest in 2005.Keefer says he enjoys thechallenge of growingcranberries. “They are not like othercrops where you have a prettygood idea you have to fertilizeon this day. It’s more of anart.” he says. “We rely onscience to tell us the details,but then you really have tohave a feel for your crop, soit’s exciting.” “In general in BC, we have acranberry decline going on.There are some old elds thatare being challenged toproduce what they should bedoing.” BC yields are only half thatof elds in Quebec and themain growing areas in the US.Keefer says the work of the BCCranberry Research Station ishelping with new variety trials. “The long term goal is tokeep increasing the qualityand the quantity of the fruitthat grows here.” “Our rst eld is comingout this winter,” Keefer says.“We are replanting it becauseyou need them to beproducing properly.”Still, BC cranberries areknown for their size andbright red color. “We tend to be the onesthat have the fruit that is bestfor Craisins,” Keefer points out.“They need to be large (to besliced before drying) and nottoo dark, otherwise they canbe confused with raisins.”Co-op key to successThe Ocean Sprayco-operative that owns thetrademark is a key for BCgrower’s success, says Keefer.In a market overowing injuice concentrate, themember-owned co-operativereturns some 35 to 40 cents apound to growers while thoseon the open market may see10 or 12 cents a pound. Keefersays 95% of his crop goes toOcean Spray."Cranberries are a funnycrop,” says Keefer. “Peopledon’t eat them; they are not agrab and go food. You cookwith them, so typically theconsumer just wants a littlebit.”A commercial kitchensupplies the family’s on-farmstore with some 40 cranberrypreserves and baked goods. “People are buying largervolumes at the farmersmarkets,” comments Keefer.“But we could never sell allour crop.”The majority of the Keefer’sproduct is dry picked to go tothe fresh market. The harvestmachines look like a crossbetween a sickle mower and agiant comb. It’s oldtechnology and requiresconstant maintenance. In hisspare time, Keefer is workingat building a better one. Butthat may be a while.“In the next couple ofweeks, I will go over toRichmond and we will dryharvest there and then we willnish up here at home. Then,we will ood everything andclean up the rest for the juicemarket.” The good thing, Keeferpoints out, is that thecranberries keep well in theeld until it freezes; the badthing is, the weather getsworse. “It’s a bit of a schedulingnightmare,” Keefer chuckles.“But there is a method to themadness and it all gets done.”Country Life in BC • December 201542Grant Keefer and his son Jack show some of their harvest sittingadmist their demonstration eld. (Tom Walker photo)by TOM WALKERNANAIMO – The “I HeartLocal” awards are all aboutcommunity and as such, theyreect how the Keefer familyfeels about farming onVancouver Island.“I wasn’t sure about theaward campaign at rst,” saysGrant Keefer, who with wifeJustine owns Yellow PointCranberries near Cedar, justsouth of Nanaimo. “We don’tknow who nominated us, butit was really an interestingpromotion.” “What it did was create a lotof local awareness and that, Ithink, is what is was supposedto do,” says Keefer. “My wifeworked hard at promoting itthrough social media and itwas perfect coming into ourcranberry harvest. We werealready in that mode of talking“I heart local” campaign boostspopularity of Island cranberry farm2016HORTICULTUREGROWERS’SHORT COURSEPh: 604-556-3001growers@agricultureshow.netThis project is supported by Growing Forward, a federal-provincial initiativeHorticulture GrowersShort Course 2016January 28-30Tradex, AbbotsfordIn partnership with thePacific Agriculture Show 7+856'$< )5,'$< 6$785'$< Lower Mainland HorticulturalImprovement AssociationTHURSDAYRaspberries t Strawberries t Vegetables t Potatoes t GreenhouseOpening Reception t Agricultural & Municipal Biogas ForumFRIDAYFarm Business Management t Keynote AddressAll Berries t Vegetables t Direct Farm Markets t WaterAgricultural & Municipal Biogas ForumSATURDAYBlueberries t Organic t HazelnutsUrban Agriculture t Hops/Micro-BreweryREGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.AGRICULTURESHOW.NETRegistration includes Trade Show entry and all Growers’ Short Course SessionsThank you to the 2016 Biogas Forum sponsors: Registration only $20 before January 11th for Farmers & Students The Biogas Forum is proudly presented by ARDCorp & Canadian Biogas AssociationTo sign-up or for more details about the2016 Biogas Forum, please visitwww.agricultureshow.net/agri-energy-forum2016 Agricultural & Municipal Biogas Forum: Closing the Loop January 28th - 29th, 2016 at Tradex, Abbotsford Learn about biogas, potentialnutrient value, and theopportunity to producefuel for machinery2016 Agricultural & Municipal Biogas Forum: Closing the Loop
December 2015 • Country Life in BC 43by GINA HAAMBUCKERSKAMLOOPS – ChrisRobinson of Prince Georgeand Crystal Noel of Fort St.John were the grand prizewinners of the 2015 4-HBritish Columbia GatorLottery. The draw took place onOctober 30 at PrairieCoastEquipment in Kamloops. Thewinning tickets were drawnby Deborah Goertzen, 4-H keyleader of the Kamloopsdistrict.Robinson and Noel haveeach won John Deere XUV550 4x4 gators generouslydonated by BC’s PrairieCoastEquipment dealers. This is thethird time that PrairieCoastEquipment has donated thegrand prizes for the4-H BC Gator Lotterywhich has raisedalmost $100,000 overthree years for the4-H program and 4-Hclubs in BC.Tickets were sold by4-H members and were inhigh demand by 4-Her’s, theirfriends, families andneighbours in communitiesall over the province.Proceeds will be sharedbetween participating 4-Hclubs and the 4-H BritishColumbia Provincial Council.This year, over $29,000 wasraised. The top selling club contestwinner was a tie betweenGabriola 4-H Club fromVancouver Island Region andMilky Way 4-H Dairy Clubfrom Kamloops-OkanaganRegion. Victoria W. of theMilky Way 4-H Dairy Club soldthe most tickets by anindividual member.“On behalf of 4-H BritishColumbia, our sincere thanksgoes out to PrairieCoastEquipment for their mostrecent contribution. Theirgenerous support willcontinue to pave the path toachievement for our youth,”says May-Britt Jensen, 4-HBC’s new fund developmentocer.“Partnering with 4-H BritishColumbia has always been aneasy choice; we appreciateeverything you teach theyouth,” says Carly Clark, PCE’smarketing co-ordinator. “Thisyear’s 4-H BC John DeereGator lottery fundraiser wasonce again a success, thegroup has done a great jobselling tickets and you shouldall be very proud of your hardwork.” Gator draw winnersannounced in KamloopsThe twists and turns on the highway of lifeCountry Ways4-H BC executive director Claudette Martin and 4-H mascot Frisco were joined by “John Deere” DougHaughton and Ryan Johnson of PrairieCoast Equipment when winners of two John Deere Gators weredrawn October 30. 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Asthe guest speaker for awomen's "Harvest Tea" event, Iwas privileged to share all thedelights of their company, thehospitality of my host andhostess and the mouth-watering taste of homemadegoodies that come with such agathering. I can say the timeaway was perfect with oneexception. Actually, therewere two exceptions and bothinvolved travelling to andfrom the event.When I say that I drove thehighway paralleling the WestCoast, what I mean is that Isurvived the gut-churningjourney of a highway thathugs the contours of thePacic shoreline. It's beautiful.Trees and bushes embellishthe sides of the road. Thepavement is well maintained.You'd think I'd have hadnothing but ecstatic sighs ofdelight. Nausea-inducing curvesIn reality, the nature ofthose 84 kilometres,comprised of a series ofnausea-inducing curves andrelatively straight stretches ofpavement, resulted in speedlimits varying from 30kilometres per hour up to 80kph. Over and over and overagain. Winding my wayaround massive rocks, Icouldn't bring myself to roundo those gures – everyfraction of every kilometrecounted. To be exact then,speed limits rangedfrom 18.6411 milesper hour to 49.70970miles per hour,leaving hardlyenough time for mymorning eggs toslide smoothly from thebottom to the top of mystomach and back again.Everything within me criedout for the "ironed" highwaysof the prairies, straight andvery at.Between waves of semi-nausea and a threateningheadache, I couldn't help butmuse on the parallel betweenthis stretch of road linkingSechelt to Earl's Cove and thehighway of life: not everythingthat happens is gentle orenjoyable but without thatstretch, just think of howmuch beauty we would miss.Season of pleasureFor me, this closing monthof the year is one of thosethoroughly delightful times,not without some painfulmemories but still a season ofpleasure. While the act of gift-givingbrings me great happiness,over the years the nancialA Wannabe FarmerLINDA WEGNERPlease see “PEACE” page 47Season’sGreetingsAll the Best of the Season from Our Family to Yours.Thank you for your support in 2015.We look forward to your business in 2016!604-319-0376 Alexis 604-220-4879 Bryan
Country Life in BC • December 201544Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ...When we left o last time,Henderson tries to come togrips with the family history, inparticular the controlling waysof his father. In the meantime,Newt pays a visit to MervDevaney, trying to get him toset his previous horse tradingright. Rural Redemption (part67) continues ...Kenneth Henderson spenttwo days in the city with hismother. They tied up the fewlast niggling details regardinghis father’s estate andKenneth made arrangementsto put most of the mansionfurnishings into storage untilthey gured out who mightwant what. He headed forhome on the third morningand arrived early in theafternoon. Duchess of Fairlawn eyedKenneth suspiciously when hewalked up the front steps andducked away when he tried topet her. He could hear banjomusic coming from thekitchen.Deborah rose with a startwhen Kenneth walkedinto the room. “Oh! You scared me.Why are you homenow?”“Turn o that god-awful racket,” saidKenneth. “What on earthare you listening to?”“It’s some of the music fromLil Abner. It’s for the springmusical they’re putting on atthe hall. I’m in it.”“You’re joking, right?”“No, I’m not joking. Gladdieasked me to play the part ofDaisy Mae and this is one ofthe songs I have to sing,” saidDeborah defensively.Kenneth gave a derisivesnort and poured himself acup of coee. Deborahpaused the video. The roomhad grown suddenly chilly. “What’s new around here?Besides your debut with thehillbilly chorus?” “It’s not a hillbilly chorus.It’s musical theatre and I’mgoing to do it.” Kenneth snorted again. “Well, y at it, Deborah. Icertainly wouldn’t want tostand in your way. I’m sure itwill be the cultural event ofthe backwoods season.”Deborah was about to tellhim he was attering himselfif he thought he could standin her way but she let it go.“Newt Pullman wants totalk to you.”“About what?” askedKenneth.“The horse, I think. Just gosee him.”Twenty minutes later,Kenneth Henderson rangNewt Pullman’s doorbell.“My wife says you want totalk to me.”Newt nodded his head. “It’s actually Merv Devaneythat wants to have a wordwith you. I spoke to him aboutyour horse deal and he askedif I would get you to drop byand see him.”“And just why would mydealings with Mr. Devaney beany of your business?”demanded Henderson.Newt met Henderson’sgaze and thought of the WillRogers saying, “I never met aman I didn’t like.” It was a safebet that Will Rogers never metthe likes of KennethHenderson. “I suppose it’s my businessbecause the horse youbought is in my barn andliving on my nickel, andbecause your wife is justiablyworried about your daughter’ssafety, and because I hate tosee anyone getting therunaround in a shady horsedeal.”“Come on, Pullman. Youdidn’t stick your nose into allof this because you’re worriedI might be getting therunaround.” “Very true,” said Newt. “Idon’t care who gives you therunaround or how often youget it. I was thinking of thehorse. You’ve got Devaney’snumber give him a call.”***Kenneth drove to MervynDevaney’s the next morning.Merv invited him in for a cupof coee.“I’m told your wife isn’thappy with horse youbought?”“Did my wife tell you that?”“No, sir. She did not.”“Then, it’s just hearsay, isn’tit.”“Okay, then. Are you sayingshe is happy?”“I’m saying it doesn’t matterif she’s happy or not. I’m theone who bought the horse.”“Right. So I take it you mustbe happy then,” said Merv. “Oh no, Mr. Devaney. I’m farfrom being happy. Youcheated me and I want mymoney back.”“And how have you gotthat gured?”“You sold me a horse that...”“Hold on, hold on,” saidMerv. “I didn’t sell you a horse.In case you don’t remember,you asked me to buy a horsefor you. I believe I still havethe email in my computer.You’re barking up the wrongtree if you gure on gettingany money back from me.” Kenneth rememberedsending the email. “I’m not so sure that mylawyer would agree but ifthat’s how you feel, why tellPullman you wanted to talk tome?”“Look, Mr. Henderson, I’msorry if you bought the wronghorse. It’s not my fault but I’djust as soon see you gureyou’ve been treated fairly soI’m going to tell you how youcan get your money backyourself.”“How’s that?”“Alright, listen to mecarefully. You bought TinyOlsen’s old place. Tiny had itall worked out so he couldclaim an income from farmingso that he qualied for farmstatus with the tax assessor.I’m betting you aren’t makinga dime from any kind offarming and the assessor willbe taking you for some sort ofcountry gent and he’ll bechanging you to a whole newtax bracket and trust me,that’s not somewhere youwant to be. You need to beathim to the punch by comingup with some kind of plan togross 25 hundred bucks fromsome kind of farming. If youwork it right, you’ll be ablewrite o all kinds of expenseswhile you’re at it and bemaking money three ways atonce.”“What do you mean threeways at once?” asked Kenneth“You’ll be making the 25hundred from farming, savinghalf of your property taxes,and getting a tax write o forall kinds of stu you buy. Youcould even get farm plates foryour truck and run it on boatgas. You’ll make your horsemoney back in no time.” “And just how do youpropose I go about all thisfarming?”“Here’s what I’m going todo for you. I’m going to setyou up in the veal business. I’llbuy you your rst four calvesand a bag of milk replacer,and I’ll take back the Duke ofConnaught.”“I don’t know anythingabout veal.”“Don’t worry. There’snothing to it. The calves canlive in your barn and they’ll beready to sell in three or fourmonths. As soon as they’regone, you buy some morecalves from one of the dairyfarmers and do it all overagain. How hard could thatbe?”To be continued ...The WoodshedChroniclesBOB COLLINSCOUNTRYLifein BCThe agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915PHOTO BY NAOMI MCGEACHY | SWEET IRON PHOTOGRAPHYPETER WILDINGpublisher & editorCATHY GLOVERassistant editor & salesDAVID SCHMIDTassociate editorcontributorsGord BazzanaJoseph BardeckBrenda BirleySage BirleyEmily BulmerLindsay ChungLyonel DohertySean McIntyreSusan McIverPeter MithamRonda PayneLynn ShervillDevon SmithJennifer Smith columnistsBob CollinsGlenn CheaterMargaret EvansLaura RanceJo SleighLiz TwanLinda WegnerJudie SteevesJoan TraskTom WalkerJonny WakefieldChris YatesWebsiteLloyd NevinsFrom everyone at Country Life in BC, may the spirit of the holiday seasonbe yours now & in the new year!Patricia DonahueCam FortemsPhilip GordonGina HaambuckersBrian LawrenceTamara LeighNaomi McGeachy
by LINDA WEGNERPOWELL RIVER – In theirquest to forsake Albertawinters, Marcia and DonNahorney discovered theUpper Sunshine Coast, a placeof natural beauty and acommunity that shared theircommitment to healthy living. “Powell River hadeverything we were lookingfor, including people preparedto go out of their way to buysomething that was grownlocally and organically. It hadto be by the ocean, and wefound it all here,” Marcia toldCountry Life in BC.It didn’t take a lot toconvince Marcia’s sister, GayleKier, and her husband Je, todrive from their home inSeattle to check things out.Another nudge came in theform of an internet search.“Early one Sunday morning,I came across informationabout aquaponics andforwarded it to my wife. I wentout and when I returned laterthat day, she announced thatthis was what we were goingto do,” Je said.The Kiers and theNahorneys never looked back.Don and Marcia moved to theproperty south of town threeyears ago; Je and Gaylefollowed a year later. Thecouple’s vision quickly movedto a successful and growingpart of the local scene. At7300 square feet, SunshineCoast Aquaponics is thelargest commercialaquaponics operation in BC,producing a variety of fresh,organic produce year round.“Our business plan was tosell 70%-80% of our produceto restaurants and the rest towalk-in customers. It’sswitched; now we sell somuch retail that we’re veryshort on product to sell[commercially],” he explains.Drawing on Don’sbackground in Alberta’s oilindustry and Je’s 25 years asa commercial sherman, theygot to work: a nancial planwas created; the couplesdesigned, built and nancedthe entire process bythemselves. Marcia utilizedher Master’s Degree intherapy and counselling toobtain employment in PowellRiver. While the other threeworked in developing thestructure and operations ofthe project, she would bringin the necessary funds fortheir everyday livingexpenses. They were ready togo, debt free.Je explains that whileaquaculture is a familiar termand practice, the science ofaquaponics is unique.“Aqua refers to anythinggrown on land or in tanks orpens, such as farm sh, while“ponics” refers to anythinggrown in water rather thansoil. Aquaponics combines thetwo. The sh have clean water,the plants are getting all thenutrients they need.Everything is happy.”Tilapia are raised in tanks.Ammonia, a by-product, iseaten by naturally occurringbacteria. That processconverts the ammonia intonitrates which, in turn, feedthe lettuce. Solid waste isdropped through a lter andused in outside gardens. “It’s a circulating systemrequiring only about 10% ofthe water used in regularagriculture. As I read thearticle Je sent, it was like alight bulb went o. Feedingthe world and doing itanywhere in the world. Iwanted to be part of this bignew thing,” Gayle says.“There is no country orfamily that couldn’t puttogether a system that wouldfeed their members,” Marciaadds.The greatest challenge thefarm operation faced was theinitial need for a lot of water –30,000 to 50,000 gallons, to beexact. After that, however, ittakes just 1,000 to 2,000gallons per month toreplenish water lost throughplant absorption andevaporation; in the case ofSunshine Coast Aquaponics,that need is met by theregular collection of rainwater.When asked what bringsthe most satisfaction from theventure, the answer wasimmediate and unanimous: tohave local residents come byand tell them that theproduce they purchased was“awesome”. Their greatest source offrustration? Pestilencesincluding aphids, caterpillars,powdery mildew and thewrong kind of bacteria.Sunshine Coast aquaponics operation is largest in BCDecember 2015 • Country Life in BC 4512:6(59,1*7+()5$6(59$//(<:H·YHEHHQSURXGO\IDPLO\RZQHGDQGRSHUDWHGVLQFHRSHQLQJLQ$QGZLWKWZREOHQGLQJSODQWVZH·UHRQHRI%&·VODUJHVWGLVWULEXWRUVRIJUDQXODUOLTXLGDQGIROLDUIHUWLOL]HUV2XUEX\LQJSRZHUDQGSUR[LPLW\WRWKH)UDVHU9DOOH\PDNHVXVWKHORJLFDOFKRLFHIRUWUXFNORDGVKLSPHQWV2.$1$*$1)(57,/,=(5/7' & V¶¶VDGGDDQD& %GHLIILLUULH99H IHH% & V¶¶VDGGDDQD&Producti %GHLIILLUULH99Haon ProgrraProductimpleSied fopvelDe IHH%am ustrTTrcal. ctiar. Pmple, by psruceodpror ed f ed.ust.sroducer, by p 1:hP -866-398w 398- emeltBP@cat V:ilam E8482mthbp./vac.bc.nemelttac.www ac.bc.neLet rkemaonioseb ement pl you imelphusstrke - rds ndatadriven son- ty safed foormfa carlmani a&ty curiiose ement forrds , yy,e car .Natural gas supplymanagementcascadiaenergy.caVanc: 604-687-6663VanIsl: 250-704-4443NEWS & INFORMATIONYOU NEED to GROW!SUBSCRIBE TODAYSEE PAGE 46 FOR DETAILSThe agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915COUNTRYLifein BCAll in the family. Sisters Gayle Kier, left, and Marcia Nahorney with husbands Je Kier (far left) andDon Nahorney pulled up stakes, moved to Powell River on BC’s Sunshine Coast, and created aourishing aquaponics operation that is providing organic vegetable greens to local consumers andrestaurants. (Photo courtesy of Je Kier)
Country Life in BC • December 201546As we end the old year and begin a new one, I always tend tolook back over the previous 12 months – a year of phenomenalchange in my life – and then to focus on some hopes anddreams for the coming year.December is a month of short days; days when there’s not alot of sunshine outside, so we have to keep the res brightinside to make up for it.Since the re’s lit, whynot cook somethingspecial for friends andfamily?Winter is aboutgetting together withpeople you love, whether indoors or out, and food alwaysseems to be at the centre of such gatherings.The bright spot in the month is December 21, the WinterSolstice, when the long nights begin (imperceptibly at rst) toshorten and the hours of daylight slowly begin to lengthen –right up to the Spring Equinox March 19, when the hours of dayare equal to the hours of night.As you consider your plans and hopes for 2016, remember toset the bar high. I hope your 2016 sees those visions fullled.Remember also to continue supporting local farmers,producers, retailers, chefs, wineries and restaurants. Buy localproducts whenever possible.By doing so, you end up helping yourself with fresher,healthier food while helping all of your neighbours who maketheir living by providing top quality food for you.In the process you support your community – and yourself –by helping the local economy stay healthy, too.Happy New Year!Year endersGoat cheese, cream cheese and Craisins make a delightful start to any party. (Judie Steeves photo)Jude’s KitchenJUDIE STEEVESPlease see “PEPPERED STEAK” page 47I was worried they’d find somethingMammograms save lives. Make an appointment, not an excuse. Get expert advice and share your stories atgohave1.comCarmelis Goatgonzola Spread with Cranberries & PecansThis spread is simple to prepare, yummy to eat, and it’s quite elegant. It is excellent pairedwith the award-winning 2014 CedarCreek Platinum Riesling Icewine: a fabulous partner tosee the new year in with.Craisins are an Ocean Spray product. Ocean Spray is a co-operative of cranberry growersfrom throughout North America. Most of BC’s cranberry growers are members.Carmelis was founded by an Okanagan family of cheese makers, who raise their owngoats and make a wide variety of delicious cheeses from goat’s milk (available online).4 oz. (120 g) Carmelis Goatgonzola 1/4 c. (60 ml) toasted pecan pieces4 oz. (120 g) cream cheese Fresh-ground black pepper, to taste1/4 c. (60 ml) Ocean Spray Craisins Coarse-ground sea salt, to tasteGrate or crumble, or a bit of each, the Carmelis Goatgonzola. You may substituteanother blue or Roquefort-style cheese, but this is an excellent local cheese. It’savailable at such shops as Okanagan Grocery and Urban Fare when Carmelis is closed inwinter.Bring the cheeses to room temperature in a medium-sized mixing bowl, then gentlycombine them, leaving a few small lumps of the crumbled Goatgonzola.Coarsely chop the Craisins and toasted pecans, reserving a few larger pieces forgarnishing.Add Craisins and toasted pecan pieces and combine well with the cheese mixture.Season with fresh-ground black pepper and coarsely-ground sea salt.Serve garnished with a couple of Craisins and pecans with your favourite crackers oron crostini slices.Please mail your application to1120 East 13th Ave Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 604.871.0001SUBSCRIBE TODAY!SUBSCRIBE TODAY!The agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915COUNTRYLifeYin BCNAMEADDRESSCITYPOSTAL CODETEL EMAIL(Prices include GST | Cheque or money order only please)PLEASE SEND A ____ YEAR GIFT SUBSCRIPTION FROM TO:NAME:ADDRESS:CITY: POSTAL CODE:o NEW o RENEWAL | o 1 YEAR ($18.90) o 2 YEAR ($33.60) o 3 YEAR ($37.80) Join thousands of BC farmers who turn to Country Life in BCevery month to find out what (and who!) is making news in BC agriculture and how it may affect their farms and agri-businesses!The perfect gift for Christmas!NEWS & INFORMATION YOU (& YOUR FRIENDS) NEED!
PEPPERED STEAK From page 46PEACE, PLENTY AND PROMISE From page 43December 2015 • Country Life in BC 47NAME ____________________________________________OLD ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________PHONE ____________________________________________NEW ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________PHONE ____________________________________________COUNTRYLifein BCCanada Post will not deliver yourCountry Life in BC if they change yourpostal code, your street name and/oraddress. If your address changes,please fill out the form below and mailor fax it to us, or use email.Thank you!1120 East 13th AveVancouver, B.C. V5T 2M1Email: countrylifeinbc@shaw.caPhone 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003Dec 15CHANGE OFADDRESS?Lola!This is an old favourite, but the recipe is simple and delicious, so with a good piece of locally-produced BC beef, it becomes a very special meal, particularly when paired with a ‘beefy’Meritage such as CedarCreek’s jammy, plush 2012 version.2 tender BC beef steaks 1 green onion 1/4 c. (60 ml) beef stock2 tbsp. (30 ml) peppercorns 3 tbsp. (45 ml) cognac 2 tbsp. (30 ml) cream2 tbsp. (30 ml) butterUse a rolling pin to coarsely crush the peppercorns. I generally used a mix of black, white,green and red, but just black is ne.Finely chop green onion.My favourite is a 3/4-inch thick rib-eye beef steak, but a sirloin or whatever your favouritetender steak is, will do just as well.Press both sides of each steak into the cracked peppercorns, then let stand for a half-hour orso.Heat a cast iron pan or other heavy-bottomed frypan over medium-high heat, then meltbutter in it and when it’s sizzling well, add the steaks, cooking for 2-3 minutes each side formedium-rare.Remove to a heated platter and keep warm.Add green onion to pan, turn it about for a minute, then add cognac and ame it. Add beefstock and mix well with all the brown bits from the pan, then simmer until it’s slightly reducedbefore stirring in the cream.Spoon over meat on platter and serve immediately.Serves 2 or so.constraints that resulted in mygiving home made or homebaked gifts brought an evengreater level of satisfaction.Here are my proeredoerings to our world ingeneral and to each of usindividually: peace, plenty andpromise.The thought of attainingworld peace seems impossibleas warring factions continueto wreck global havoc. Itwould be foolhardy, naydownright stupid, to infer thatCanada is without itsproblems or conicts but Ican't think of another countrywhere I'd rather spend myallotted time on earth. We livein a land of relative peace, andattendance at last month'sRemembrance Dayceremonies reminded me ofthe price that was paid and ofthe obligation we have tomaintain that freedom. Mayyou realize quietness of heartin the midst of the twists andturns of your life.Then, there is the matter ofplenty. Depending on ourupbringing, our denition ofenough and our personalcircumstances, the denitionof plenty has as many curvesas that challenging highway.Further, as our nationstruggles to respond to thecurrent Syrian refugee crisiswhile still hopefully ensuringthat we never forget thosestruggling in our own countryand province, the descriptionof "needs" rapidly changes. Finally, there I wish for youan abundance of hopes anddreams for without thepromise of a future, thepresent takes on the nature ofdespair. As 2015 comes to an end, Iwish you the strength tosuccessfully negotiate everytwist and turn of 2016. Maypeace, plenty and promiseaccompany you throughevery kilometre of thejourney.Talk to you next year!CLASSIFIED25 words or less, minimum $10 plus GST • Each additional word: $0.25DISPLAY CLASSIFIED: $20 plus GST per column inch1120 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver V5T 2M1 • Phone: 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003E-mail: countrylifeinbc@shaw.ca • Web: www.countrylifeinbc.comNEW/USED EQUIPMENTFOR SALELOOKING FOR A JOB?NEED EMPLOYEES?WWW. AGRI-LABOURPOOL.COM604-823-6222SINCE 1974NEW POLYETHYLENE TANKS OF ALLshapes & sizes for septic and waterstorage. Ideal for irrigation, hydroponics,washdown, lazy wells, rain water, truckbox, fertizilizer mixing & spraying. 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Introducing Kubota’s All New M-6Join the expanding Kubota family and experience what quality built and precision made mean to your farm. See your dealer for more information on our new hay tool line and be ‘Kubota ready’ this fall.s .EWMOWERCONDITIONERSs $OUBLEROTORRAKESANDTEDDERSs !NDOURNEW"63#3UPER#UT SILAGEBALERWITHTHREEVARIABLEBALEDENSITY OPTIONSkubota.caJoin the expanding Kubota family and experience whatLimited time only.See your dealer for details.Pre-Sellprogram in effect!ABBOTSFORD AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 1521 Sumas Way . . . . . . . . . . . . 604/864-2665 COURTENAY NORTH ISLAND TRACTOR LTD. 3663 South Island Hwy . . . . . . . . 250/334-0801 CRESTON KEMLEE EQUIPMENT LTD. N.W. Boulevard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/428-2254DAWSON CREEK DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 11508-8th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/782-5281DUNCAN ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD. 4650 Trans Canada Hwy . . . . . . . . 250/746-1755 KAMLOOPS DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 706 Carrier Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/851-2044KELOWNA AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 1090 Stevens Road Hwy . . . . . . . 250/769-8700 OLIVER GERARD’S EQUIPMENT LTD. 97 South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/498-2524PRINCE GEORGE HUBER EQUIPMENT Upper Mud River Road . . . . . . . . 250/560-5431 QUESNEL DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT Highway 97 North . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/991-0406 VERNON AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 7155 Meadowlark Road . . . . . . . 250/545-3355 Country Life in BC • December 201548Health & Happinessfrom our familyof Kubota dealersto you & your families in 2016