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Postmaster, Please return Undeliverable labels to: Country Life in BC 36 Dale Road Enderby, BC V0E 1V4CANADA POSTES POST CANADA Postage paid Port payé Publications Mail Post-Publications 40012122Vol. 108 No.1The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 JANUARY 2022 | Vol. 108 No. 1FLOOD Interior ranchers feel forgotten 7 HARVEST Higher grain prices welcome, but harvest falls flat 13 DAIRY Milk marketing board chooses new entrants 39PETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – BC residents suered signicant losses this year as wind, wildre and oods walloped their farms and properties. But insurance payouts will cover just a fraction of these losses. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, total insurable losses as of mid-December totalled less than $650 million. “A brand new farm building should have coverage,” says Rosy Mounce, a commercial risk advisor with insurance broker Capri CMW in Salmon Arm. “But an older one isn’t going to, so it’s a matter of going through and saying, okay, what kinds of coverages are available to you, what do those cost?” The narrowing of options for farm insurance in recent years, largely as a result of the massive wildre seasons of 2017 and 2018, have left farmers exposed. “With farm insurance in general, there’s not nearly as many options for insurance as there is for a house in a subdivision, for example,” she says. “As we see this increase in extreme weather, we have to start looking further ahead and plan how to be smarter about this. How do we prevent claims as much as possible?” She says this may involve taking steps to mitigate risks to property as well as understanding the value that insurance provides. Self-insuring – setting aside cash to cover potential losses – may make sense in certain circumstances. There is some good news coming out of the Sumas Prairie after all. Tracey and Ray Bredenhof of R&T Farms were named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers at a ceremony in Saskatoon last month. The story, and how their poultry barn narrowly escaped being ooded, is on page 11. RONDA PAYNEInsurance under scrutinySee INSURANCE on next page oGrowing more with less waterwatertecna.comttttttttIRRIGATION LTD1.888.675.7999 888 6 9999888669999 Diesel & PTO Pumps PVC & Aluminum PipeIrrigation ReelsDRIP IRRIGATIONCentre Pivots1-888-770-7333 Quality Seeds ... where quality counts!YOUR BC SEED SOURCEKATE AYERS & PETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – The oodwaters have largely receded in the Lower Mainland following the string of atmospheric river events in November, but farmers across southwestern BC now face the monumental challenge of recovery and rebuilding. “People are returning to their homes now and they’re feeling really overwhelmed with what’s before them,” says BC agriculture minister Lana Popham. “The biggest job we have right now is making sure we get the AgriRecovery applications out in the new year.” Sta at the emergency operations centre were organized into teams to assist See FINANCIAL on next page oFlood recovery beginsRelief package coming Outstanding!
INSURANCE is part of risk manangement, not all of it nfrom page 1FINANCIAL support is a work in progress nfrom page 12 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC“The conversation is, ‘What does my coverage look like, and what can I do to protect my property?’” she says. “We can help people have a better understanding if there’s gaps in their insurance or if there’s certain things that they just need to be prepared to protect on their own because there’s not going to be an insurance policy to help them.” She advises people to buy insurance understanding both the cost and the support they’ll receive in the event of a loss. “[This past year] is going to bring to light a lot more demand on farmers and business owners … to really know what they’re covered for and have a good relationship with their broker – that’s what we want,” she says. “Insurance coverage is a portion of risk management. It’s not the whole thing.” The fine print BC Grain Producers Association director Ernest Wiebe told producers following the wild windstorm that destroyed grain bins in Prespatou at the end of June that they need to be aware of what their insurance policies cover. Many were surprised that grain bins were not covered by policies for structures, for example. “When you see out-buildings on your policy, … that’s only something that would be connected to a residence,” he says. “It has to www.tractorparts4sale.caABBOTSFORD, BC Bus. 604/807-2391 email: tractorparts4sale@shaw.caWe accept Interact, Visa and Mastercard FORD 7000 2WD OPEN ST 83HP 540 PTO GD COND . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000 VICON PS602 FERTILIZER SPREADER, 3 PT, 1,000 KG CAPACITY . . 2,200 MASHIO CM4500 14’ PWR HARROW W/ROLLER GD COND. . . . 14,000 VIBRA 8.5 FT 3POINT CULTIVATOR WITH HD SPRING LOAD 22” SHANK. GOOD CONDITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD! 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Vicki Crites, policy director with the BC Dairy Association, pulled 12 to 15 hour days in the EOC, for example, navigating bureaucratic hurdles around re-entry permits and other challenges. Teams also helped producers coordinate feed supplies and on-site care of animals and facilitated carcass disposal. The BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries says 626,000 poultry, 12,000 hogs and 420 dairy cattle perished in the Lower Mainland following the extreme weather of November 13-15. The extent of losses in the Interior remains unknown. Sta from the agriculture ministry are assisting with the removal of contaminated chemicals and other fertilizers, while the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is handling hazardous waste such as drywall. The environment ministry also issued emergency permits for manure spreading – not otherwise allowed in November under the relevant code of practice – to mitigate the risk of contamination from compromised lagoons. But the much larger – and expensive – task of rebuilding farms is just beginning. The provincial and federal agriculture ministers met with producers several times in December to get a better understanding of the kind of support needed. Preliminary support has been through existing programs which don’t require new funding authorizations. The province has opened the AgriStability program to late participants. Producers who were not enrolled by December 1 can now submit claims for 2021 through to the end of 2022. This will provide some advance funding. Similarly, the province staked $1 million to compensate feed mills for extraordinary costs related to the milling of much-needed rations for ood-aected farmers. In mid-December, $1 million was also announced for the Emergency Flood Forage Program to facilitate the movement of hay to aected farms. Farm Credit Canada also pledged exibility with respect to loan payments and will make short-term credit options available to producers who need it. While the federal government has announced $5 billion in recovery funding for BC, the details have yet to be released. A committee that includes eight cabinet ministers each from the provincial and federal governments is developing a relief package for farmers and ranchers through AgriRecovery, a federal-provincial program that helps producers recover from natural disasters. Details are expected in the coming weeks, once a formal tally of costs is complete. It will help producers through the assessment, recovery and reconstruction phases. “It will take many more weeks, and probably months to be really able to evaluate the impacts of this ood,” federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told Country Life in BC. “Our teams are trying to gure what the rst phase should be, what the exceptional costs farmers have to face right now, and how we can support in a really timely manner.” Bibeau says the rapid delivery of $825 million to farmers aected by this year’s severe drought and wildres across Western Canada is an example of how much can be done in a short period when governments work together. “We were very quick at making funds available through AgriRecovery,” she said. “We had to go over and above the budget that was available, and we did it really fast. And I can tell you, particularly with Minister Popham, we have a very good collaboration. Our teams are working very well together. We will make things happen.” be on the farm policy.” Some policies will exclude specic perils, and not all will cover the full replacement value in the event of a loss. Deductibles may dier between policies, too, and incur dierent premiums. In his case, the $2,000 coverage limit for his greenhouse meant he was on the hook for most of the rebuild cost after it was destroyed. Meanwhile, his shop buildings are only covered for re and lightning, leaving him on the hook for damage as a result of other perils. “Go over your policy and have a complete awareness of what you’re paying for and what is covered,” he says. Assessment values There is also the question of the impacts recent disasters will have on property values. BC Assessment Authority notices arrive the rst week of January. The statements reected the value of properties on July 1, 2021, meaning many property owners will see assessed values that don’t reect current realities. “BC Assessment is committed to providing fair, accurate and reliable property assessments,” BC Assessment told Country Life in BC, noting that owners can request amendments within the usual window for appealing assessments. The deadline this year is January 31, 2022. The authority’s page related to weather-related concerns notes that “property owner self-reporting is critical to ensuring 2022 property assessments are fair and accurate.” Properties damaged or destroyed between November 1 and December 31, and which were not repaired by December 31, may be eligible to receive an amended assessment. BC Assessment encourages owners to submit details on the damage or loss, including repair costs (if known) and pictures.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 3www.rollinsmachinery.cominfo@rollinsmachinery.comKATE AYERS ABBOTSFORD – Public support of BC farmers and communities impacted by successive natural disasters over the past year exceeded $26 million as 2021 came to a close. Dozens of registered charities as well as crowdfunding initiatives attest to the generosity, which peaked following November’s devastating mudslides and oods. The outpouring was particularly strong among BC residents, with GoFundMe listing six BC cities – including North Vancouver, Vancouver, Kamloops, Kelowna, New Westminster and Victoria – among the most generous in Canada by number of individual donations. “It’s been a really busy time,” says Craig Toews, vice-president external at the University of the Fraser Valley, which joined forces with the Abbotsford Community Foundation and Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce to establish a local disaster relief fund. “It’s draining because we are doing this above and beyond our day jobs, but it has been exhilarating to be involved.” Signicant personal and corporate donations have poured in from across BC and Canada as well as Germany, Australia and England. As of December 9, volunteers from UFV had helped Abbotsford Community Foundation process 3,500 donations totaling more than $1.5 million. At one point, donations were arriving at a rate of three per minute. “I’d characterize it as a real grassroots fundraising initiative, which is I think why it has gained a lot of momentum,” says Toews “It’s amazing how the initiative has gone far beyond the local region, and we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring. It’s huge and quite frankly, it overwhelmed us.” One generous donor lives in Aldergrove and used to farm on Sumas Prairie. “(He said) ‘My heart goes out to those farmers and people living in that devastation.’ He just wanted to help,” says Toews. Abbotsford Community Foundation is channeling the funds to local not-for-prots on the front lines of relief eorts. “They’re supporting families, providing food and relief, and other areas of need like mental health supports. You can imagine the trauma people are going through with this devastation,” he adds. The initiative is also funding the Langley SPCA, which is taking in animals from ood-impacted areas, and Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue. Though farmers have not received funding directly, the group is leveraging its networks to support the sector. “We’re working closely with BC Ag Council, who’s directly connected to the farming community and farmer associations,” Toews says. “They understand the context of what farmers are facing in terms of what they can access through government aid and where the gaps are.” In addition, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce can assess the needs of impacted businesses. “We are providing a comprehensive type of support for the range of challenges that people are facing,” says Toews. Leadership role Producer organizations are also doing what they can to support their members. BC Dairy set up an emergency recovery fund and is managing donations of all sizes. The association had received more than $647,000 in monetary donations as of December 9, including $100,000 each from Vitalus, WestGen and Agrifoods International Co-operative. Gay Lea Foods also donated 24,000 kg of calf feed to aected BC farms. Several regional producer groups and processors also donated money. BC Dairy estimates recovery costs for the sector will exceed $100 million but producers appreciate the outpouring of support from fellow stakeholders and community members. “We are certainly seeing dairy farmers from across the province pull together to support the people who are in the ood area. No one has not been impacted by what’s happened,” says BC Dairy vice-chair and Rosedale dairy farmer Sarah Sache. “Farmers are rationing grain, taking in animals or disposing of milk. We’ve all kind of been touched by it. But the eorts of people in the community [and farmers] has been pretty amazing to see,” she says. BC Dairy is putting together a committee to determine how funds will be distributed. The group will likely not convene until the new year, but Sache says, “it’s certainly top of mind to [make sure] that money goes directly to farms in need, and we do that in the best possible way.” The BC Agriculture Council is also receiving donations in support of farmers, but it has not disclosed how much has been received. The fund was kickstarted with $30,000 from Scotiabank, $25,000 each from CIBC and Envision Financial and $20,000 from Mertin Auto Group of Chilliwack. BCAC executive director Danielle Synotte says discussions with producer groups indicate that it’s still too early to distribute funds. Two meetings with government and industry representatives have been held to date, and the funds will likely be channelled to meet needs not met by government programs. “We do not have enough information at this time to make a decision on how best to distribute the funds,” says Synotte. “Producers need to make their insurance claims and applications to the Disaster Financial Assistance program. Further, AgriRecovery is working to ll in the gaps that those two areas do not cover.” Synotte says all donations will go to farmers in need through their respective commodity groups. Donations pouring in for flood reliefVolunteers grateful and encouraged by public supportBC Dairy vice-chair Sarah Sache says the association has formed a committee to oversee the distribution of more than $647,000 in donations it has received, promising every penny will go directly to farmers in need. SUBMITTED
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Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 . GST Reg. No. 86878 7375 . Subscriptions: $2/issue . $18.90/year . $33.60/2 years . $37.80/3 years incl GSTThe agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 Vol.108 No. 1 . JANUARY 2022Published monthly by Country Life 2000 Ltd. www.countrylifeinbc.comPublisher Cathy Glover 604-328-3814 . publisher@countrylifeinbc.com Editor Emeritus David Schmidt Associate Editor Peter Mitham news@countrylifeinbc.com Advertising Sales & Marketing Cathy Glover sales@countrylifeinbc.com Production Designer Tina Rezansoff Happy New Year, PW!You won’t get far into any discourse about COVID or climate extremes without running into the phrase “new normal.” It is an oxymoron. Extreme events, like the heat dome in June, the floods in November, or the two-year pandemic aren’t normal at all; they are abnormal. The Oxford English Dictionary defines normal as conforming to a type, standard or regular pattern characterized by that which is considered usual, typical or routine. Only if they persist, will the abnormal weather and public health events of the past year become usual, typical and routine and, ultimately, normal. Rue the day. The word ‘normal’ has become a destination, a verbal safe harbour from the abnormal. Politicians and businesspersons speak of the economy returning to normal, people in general wish for things to get back to normal. Sadly, there is little likelihood of returning to the normal we seek. What is considered economically and socially normal is no longer environmentally sustainable. Without a timely and vigorous effort to rein in climate change, there is no way back to business as usual. Unmitigated climate change will write strict new parameters for all human endeavours and returning to whatever it was we looked upon as normal might not be in the cards at all. What, exactly, is the normal we are searching for? What is considered normal has been in constant change throughout my lifetime. Normal houses used to be small with one bathroom. And not always the bathroom, or even electricity, depending on where you lived. A one-income family in Vancouver could afford to buy a house. Some families didn’t own a car, and none had more than one. A holiday was a week of camping (in a tent!) a day’s drive away and it only happened once a year. A new appliance was purchased with a deposit and not delivered until it was fully paid for. Fresh food was available in season. Often, it grew in your own yard or neighbourhood. Canning was normal. A good fresh cow gave 35 or 40 pounds a day, didn’t see much grain, and lasted for 10 years. You could always play ice hockey outside for somewhere between a week and three months, depending on where you lived. All of this was normal at various times and in various places in my first dozen years. The normal everyone is clamouring to return to today is a far cry from any of this. The size of new houses has doubled and 96% of them have more than one bathroom. The price of a house in Vancouver has increased a hundred-fold and is far beyond the reach of a single-income family. There are two cars on the road for every three people. Most of the tents have been replaced by RVs and a week or two in Mexico. A couple of weekends in Las Vegas wouldn’t seem unusual. Fresh food is available year-round in the grocery store and most of it comes from far away. Canning is something your grandmother used to do. A fresh cow milking 35 pounds a day isn’t going to be around for 10 years, and playing hockey outdoors is something grandpa used to do between canning season and spring planting. There are a lot more people everywhere, leading more and more complicated and expensive lives, with an insatiable appetite for more and more goods and services, requiring more raw materials, global manufacturing and supply chains, an ever-increasing energy supply, dependable profits and the endless economic growth that will finance it all. The single constant between these and the intervening versions of what has passed for normal is that they were never enough. Unfortunately, a return to the socio-economic normal we are accustomed to is at odds with any hope of avoiding abnormal climate change. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were steady at 200 to 250 ppm for most of the last 2,000 years. The level started to increase slowly with the arrival of the industrial revolution in the mid 1700s. In the late 1940s, it reached 300 ppm for the second time in 800,000 years. Since, it has followed a steep trajectory to the current 419 ppm. Unchecked, carbon dioxide will reach a point of no return where changes in the climate will be irreversible for centuries. We’ve had a sobering preview of how that might look. The clock is running. Bob Collins raises beef cattle and grows produce on his farm in the Alberni Valley. The Back 40 BOB COLLINSWhat is normal, anyways?We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.4 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCRegenerative agriculture is the hot topic in policy circles these days, a term that speaks to our aspirations to leave the world better than we found it. Understood as an ideal, it ts well with the goal of continuous improvement and accommodates a broad array of principles. The end justies the means, a regenerative attitude seemingly informing everything from the use of biotech to blunt instruments such as shovels (but not necessarily ploughshares, as no-till proponents will tell you). To date, regulation of the term has been virtually non-existent. Regenerative Organic Certied, which has the USDA Organic standard as a baseline, is a step towards auditing practices, but don’t expect claims to be regenerative to disappear any time soon. The word is working itself into too many policy statements to be discarded, especially after a year like 2021. With so much destruction, we need regeneration. And here lies the power and the pitfall of the word. Regenerative agriculture describes what farming should be, and how it should be practiced. But you can’t (or shouldn’t) get milk from a dry cow. There needs to be something to give before it can be given, a reorientation to the requirements of the task at hand. Before agriculture can be regenerative, it needs to be regenerated for the work ahead. This is very much in the spirit of a new year, the one opening before us especially. The province pledged to build back better in the wake of November’s devastating rainstorms, which washed away existing infrastructure and demanded that we do better. The rains followed aggressive wildres, which in some cases lent power to the waters that rushed down re-sealed hillsides to give rivers a particularly destructive power. Regenerating agriculture will require grassroots investment, spending that lacks the sex appeal of high-tech venture capital money. Basic infrastructure, from fencing to dikes and roads, need attention so that farming in any form – regenerative or otherwise – can resume. New technologies can help make some elements of the new infrastructure more resilient, but clearing debris and renewing pastures happens in the analog world, not the digital. While much has been made of farmers’ resilience, “resilient” shouldn’t be a synonym for “patient” or “long-suering.” Regenerating the sector must be prompt, and adequately funded. The provincial and federal governments plan to announce AgriRecovery funding this month, and know that certainty will support the mental well-being of farmers, as well as their businesses. Regenerative agriculture demands investments that regenerate farmers’ optimism, not just their farms. Regenerating agriculture
Looking ahead with a common purposeThe core of agriculture remains resilient in spite of challengesCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 5is outstanding. What can we learn from a young man in the city with a unique tree? First, we must appreciate that Hussam’s art is not new. Grafting was rst recorded by the Greeks in 300 BC. The Chinese grafted vegetables as early as the 5th century. It was not until after the 13th century that the practice took hold in Europe. Watermelon and cucumber have successfully been grafted in Japan for decades. Popular in fruit and common in the development of owers, scientists now view grafting vegetable rootstock as a key strategy in addressing food insecurity. Commonly grafted vegetables include eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, chillies, melons, sweet peppers and squash. Grafting is also been shown to increase resistance to pests and soil-borne diseases and improve productivity and vigour in fruits, owers and in vegetables. This puts grafting on the table as a consideration for addressing future food security with benets that go beyond the creation of diversity and attracting pollinators. Hussam, however, focused on the purpose of his tree, which is to illustrate diversity nurtured by a single root. On a normal sunny day driving through a rural area in BC, we see a diversity of farms and ranches. Each has a dierent culture, business plan, family dynamic and long-term strategy. They vary in size and in scope and can be found from the ats to the hillsides. Collectively, these farms make a beautiful patchwork working together to grow the best in food for our province and our world. In 2021, extreme heat, raging wildres and ash ooding deeply impacted many farmers. But despite their dierences, farmers helped each other, responding as one community. They were joined by friends and neighbours, rst responders and supporters all who added diversity to the team. Those who jumped in to help exhibited extraordinary acts of courage, kindness, generosity, creativeness and compassion. Certainly, there was frustration and a great sense of loss but they gathered around a common hope for the future of the land, the livestock and people that were aected. Soaked to the skin or exhausted, they continued to labour and plan for the continuity of their businesses to ensure not only themselves but the rest of us could eat. These are our farmers and our farm families. It might have been a record weather year and we did see a few tears in the patchwork of farms that make BC the beautiful and bountiful home that it is, but the core of agriculture remains resilient and open to new technologies and old arts to ensure food security for the future. Together BC growers, farmers, ranchers and food processors are unied on delivering the safest food in the world. The purpose in the development of Saraf’s tree was not solely to set a Guinness record or for the plant to have one function. It was to demonstrate the benet of diversity and to stand as a call for unity as we move forward. When res raged and rains created oods, this was the call that BC growers, farmers and farm families answered. They moved quickly to preserve food production systems and often did so without credit while quietly and diligently displaying to the world all that is possible when we come together around a common purpose. Brenda Schoepp lives on Vancouver Island where she brings agriculture and food leadership to life through stories and conversation. She can be contacted through her website at ww.brendaschoepp.com. The tree that Hussam Saraf cultured in the small city of Kialla, Australia just might be the inspiration for our future. Part story and part passion, the tree bears 10 kinds of fruit. Hussam says it represents humanity. It shows how the world’s dierent cultures come from a single root. We are all one. Hussam’s love for gardening was nurtured during summer holidays on his grandparents’ farm in his native Iraq. Today, he grows a variety of rare plants and, of course, his unique tree of many fruits now holds a Guiness World Record. It’s claim to fame? It supports more species of fruit than any other tree in the world. Although he has other notable trees in his garden, such as the one with six kinds of apples and a tree featuring oranges, lemons, mandarins and limes, this winning tree boasts nectarines, yellow nectarines, white peaches, yellow peaches, apricots, almonds, peachcots, cherries, gold plums and red plums. Not only is the harvest unique, the tree is beautiful to experience when in bloom because each fruit has a distinct ower. Birds and bees love the diversity and, when combined with the other plants in his backyard, the number of pollinators at work Viewpoint by BRENDA SCHOEPP* Enter Grand Prize draw by March 31, 2022. Prizes may not be exactly as shown. No purchase necessary. Get complete contest rules at AgExpert.ca/GearUp or mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Gear Up With AgExpert, 1800 Hamilton St, Regina SK, S4P 4L3.Early Bird Deadline: Feb. 15, 2022 $7,500 Tech Package You could win a $5,000 BEST BUY™ gift card, plus a five-year AgExpert Premium Bundle subscription (valued at $2,500).Sign up, renew or upgrade to enterGear up your farm with AgExpert Field or AgExpert Accounting management software. Get contest details at AgExpert.ca/GearUp.Gear Up With AgExpertYou could win a 2022 Polaris RANGER 1000 Premium382725_E_AgExpert Contest_Print Ad_Country Life in BC_6.083x9.indd 1 2021-12-13 12:11 PMDowntown Realty 4007 - 32nd Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5P2 1-800-434-9122 www.royallegpage.caPAT DUGGAN Personal Real Estate Corporation Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd. Farm | Ranch | Residential Bus: 250/545-5371 (24 hr) Cell: 250/308-0938 patduggan@royallepage.cawww.OkLandBuyers.ca Build your dream home! 44 acres of irrigated property ready for your new home, orchard, cattle or crops. Mostly usable land with shop. All perimeter and cross fenced ready for your ideas. Great valley views from all sides. MLS®10204233 $1,395,000Downtown Realty 4007 - 32nd Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5P2 1-800-434-9122 www.royallepage.caPAT DUGGAN Personal Real Estate Corporation Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 7KATE AYERS PRINCETON – All hands were on deck to help residents in Abbotsford and the eastern Fraser Valley after record rainfall in mid November cut highway connections to the rest of Canada. Repair crews rushed to remove debris from major freight corridors, including Hwy 7, the Coquihalla and Hwy 1. But ranchers in the southern Interior who saw their properties recongured and isolated by the ooding of the Similkameen, Tulameen, Coldwater and Nicola rivers say the province has been slow to help as they face the monumental task of rebuilding ranch infrastructure, rehabilitating pastures and accessing properties cut o by washouts. “We have a lot of clean up to do,” says Catherine Brown, who with her husband Phil manages Copper Creek Ranch just o Hwy 3 on the Similkameen River near Princeton. “The ood waters lifted asphalt and spread it all over the elds.” Water covered about 140 acres following the nal atmospheric river event on November 30, including wintering grounds, summer pastures and a hay eld. They had no warning it was coming. “Princeton was put on a state of emergency, but we didn’t get anything,” she says. “Our ranch road was quickly ooded over, and the cattle were in water well over their bellies.” They had to move about 120 of their top-end purebreds, donor cows and bulls and replacement heifers, which were scattered over the ooded acreage. “The water was too high for us to get much equipment across the road, so Phil had to do the job solo in a high tractor, which was risky. The water was moving the tractor,” says Brown. “The cattle were trying to stay on knolls in the eld and by the fences. And when Phil went to move them, the water would sweep them away and they took out fencing.” She estimates that about 2,500 feet of fencing has been attened. In addition, their elds experienced extensive erosion and sections of Old Hedley Road, their ranch road, Interior ranchers feel forgotten Catastrophic flooding leaves producers without road access PROVINCIAL LIVESTOCK FENCING PROGRAMApplications Close: August 31, 2022View program updates at cattlemen.bc.ca/fencing.htmToll Free: 1.866.398.2848email: fencebc@cattlemen.bc.ca In partnership with:need to be repaired. While they didn’t lose any feed, the damage to their elds means they’ll have to feed the cattle earlier rather than letting them graze into December. The combination of wildre and ooding within a ve-month span means Emergency Management BC has their information, but the Browns have yet to be told what kind of emergency nancial support to expect. “We don’t know how that will play out at all. They say they will be in touch with us,” she says. Waiting to hear Rhonda and Wayne MacDonald of Bar FX Ranch west of Merritt have also been waiting to hear from government. While family, friends, neighbours and the ranching community came together to support them, it took weeks for the province to start paying attention to damage in the Nicola Valley, where the Nicola River washed out 23 sections of Hwy 8, including three bridges. Moreover, at least 87 power poles and 14 transformers were destroyed along the corridor, leaving many residents in the area without heat or running water and no estimated time for restoration. The MacDonalds count themselves fortunate: they had anticipated being without power for most of the winter but BC Hydro was able to reconnect them to the grid on December 5. With many of the roads to their ranch washed out, moving cattle and accessing stored feed has been dicult. There’s also no guarantee that they’ll be able to get back on the land to rehabilitate it. “We have approximately 10 acres of land that are gone, with about another 90 of once-productive hay land that’s now buried in silt and boulders,” says Rhonda. “The government’s response, in our case, has been non-existent.” When they asked EMBC for fertilizer totes to stabilize their riverbanks in advance of the November 30 atmospheric river system, they were refused. “Our house is in danger of washing away should the river rise again, and they have no answers and are unwilling to help in a timely manner to save our house,” she told Country Life in BC. Costly repairs Also west of Merritt, John and Kate Anderson of Kane Lake Ranch are assessing and repairing damages on their ranch, which is home to 250 cattle. Decades of riparian improvements the Andersons have undertaken along the Nicola River protected their property, they say, but will also require costly repairs. The pumphouse for their irrigation system also sustained damage. But John says it could have been worse. “We are in a better position than a lot of people,” he says, noting that between 400 and 500 tons of hay in the Nicola Valley was lost. “People have lost hay that they can’t retrieve … and that’s on top of a drought year.” Anderson says the top priority for government needs to be ensuring local ranchers have access to feed (the province announced a $1 million Emergency Flood Forage Program on December 17). It also needs to streamline regulations governing works in riparian areas that could help make the landscape and ranches more resilient. Government also needs to step up with funding for rural See OFFICIALS on next page oPhil Brown, manager of Copper Creek Ranch in Princeton, surveys the wall of debris that has compromised a fenceline after unprecedented ooding in November. CATHERINE BROWN
8 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCOFFICIALS slow to respond nfrom page 7infrastructure, such as the hundreds of orphan dikes located around the province. Water from the Kettle River breached one such dike In Grand Forks in 2018, and the Similkameen washed out 400 feet from another at the foot of Happy Hollow Farm in Cawston in November. The breach put about 100 acres of alfalfa under water or about a third of the farm, says owner Bev Greenwell, who runs sheep and leases pasture to local cattle ranchers. “We’ve been here for 20 years, and no one has looked at it,” she says, noting that she made calls during a lull in the rains hoping someone would come ll the breach. “I don’t know how many phone calls I made but everyone pointed ngers at other people. … Eventually, the guy who I phoned in the rst place was the one who came out and looked at it.” By December 8, Greenwell had an agreement with the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to repair the dike. Work was set to start immediately. Unprecedented damage The scale of the damage is unprecedented, and will take months to tally. Damaged infrastructure on and o ranches, as well as lost land, will make ranching dicult, if not impossible, without government assistance says Kevin Boon, general manager of BC Cattlemen’s Association. “The damage that is most concerning is the land that has eroded and washed down the river as well as the accumulations of silt and debris that have been left behind,” he says. “In some cases, (ranchers) have lost their entire farm sites.” Boon also notes damages to and loss of corrals, fences, buildings, irrigation infrastructure, roads and feed supplies, but he remains hopeful the AgriRecovery package promised will give ranchers critical support. “We have been working with government to make sure they are getting everything we can included, but until we get an announcement and commitment from the federal government, we won’t know for certain,” he says. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham conrms that there’s been “a soft handshake” with Ottawa on funding, which should be announced this month. “There are major challenges ahead of us as far as infrastructure goes – irrigation, fencing etc – but the thing I think is the most urgent is probably feed,” she says, noting the launch of the Emergency Flood Forage Program on December 17 that will provide interim relief until AgriRecovery funding kicks in. Rebuilding roads and dikes is a larger task beyond the capacity of any one ministry, she says, but notes, “There’s going to have to be some kind of new approach.” “Our main focus is urgency and emergency right now,” she says. “We’re just trying to get things up and working. It’s all hands on deck.” Weather frustrated two attempts Popham made to visit the Nicola Valley last month. While producers have sent her a steady stream of images and information, she looks forward to visiting local farms and ranches and seeing the situation rst-hand. The sheer force of water that ooded Copper Creek Ranch in November lifted chunks of asphalt on the driveway and moved them into adjacent elds. CATHERINE BROWN
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 9Hefty fines levied in chicken abuse caseProcessor, chicken catcher must pay $600,000Done humanely, chickens are gathered quietly in low light and loaded into drawers by weight before being moved by a forklift to a waiting transport truck. FILE PHOTOHave you herd? VBP+ TrainingWorkshops or Webinarsare Free!Looking to learn moreabout how to raisehealthy beef cattle?Open to producers of allsizes!free to all beef producersin bc!www.hlaattachments.com 1-866-567-4162 • Independent grapples for clamping of awkward loads• Tine and grapple tips are AR400 material• Compact models available• 1-1/4” shaft diameter• 2-1/2” spacing between tines• Points are 5/8” thick, 400 Brinell high strength steel• Compact models available• Grapple clamps on to any Class II fork frame with walk through guard Grapple shown mounted on HD55 pallet fork.BRUSH GRAPPLESINGLE ARM LOG GRAPPLESTONE FORKPETER MITHAM CHILLIWACK – Two companies have been ordered to pay $600,000 as a result of the abuse of poultry by employees of a Fraser Valley chicken catching outt in 2017. Both the catching company, Elite Farm Services Ltd., and the processor that received the birds, Sona Foods Inc., plead guilty in September to two of the 38 original criminal charges laid in relation to six chicken catchers physically abusing, sexually assaulting and dismembering chickens. Elite principal Dwayne Dueck was also a party to the charges. Sentencing took place December 14 by Justice Martha Devlin, who felt that nes of equal magnitude were warranted against the two companies because even though Elite’s workers were directly involved, Sona failed to exercise oversight and had a record of animal welfare violations. The charges were a rst for Elite, which immediately terminated the sta involved and took action to improve training and oversight of employees. Sona has strengthened its animal welfare program, including appointing a vice-president of animal care and having two employees certied by the Professional Animal Auditor Certication Organization and 10 trained to PAACO protocols in order to boost its ability to assess in-house practices. Animal welfare practices are also subject to third-party audits. “We expect anyone handling animals in our supply chain to treat them in a compassionate and humane way,” it states on its website. The abuse was lmed by an activist for Mercy for Animals Canada and provided to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which launched its own investigation. Sona and Elite fought the changes until last year, with the legal teams arguing that the video evidence was inadmissible and alleging abuse of process. When the go-ahead was given for the trial, application was made to have the case dropped. Along the way, a publication ban was put in place. Meanwhile, further undercover video showed employees that appear to be from Elite roughly treating chickens during their removal from an Abbotsford egg farm. During the trial for charges in the 2017 incident, Dueck acknowledged that a culture of disregard for animal welfare had developed at Elite and pledged to make further improvements at the company. The nes are notable as they exceed the $345,000 ne levied against Chilliwack Cattle Sales Ltd. and director Wesley Kooyman on four charges related to abuse a Mercy for Animals operative lmed at the farm in 2014. BC Provincial Court Justice Robert Gunnell levied the maximum nes in order to send a clear message that animal abuse was reprehensible. Seven other workers were also charged in the case. The latest nes underscore that message and set a precedent for a case being prepared against the owners of Cedar Valley Farms, an organic dairy in Abbotsford. BC SPCA is gathering evidence related to the abuse of animals at the farm, documented in more than 300 video clips collected by hidden cameras placed by an activist who provided them to Animal Justice Canada. The investigation continued in December as BC SPCA prepares to recommend criminal charges. The BC Milk Marketing Board suspended Cedar Valley’s licence to ship milk on October 27 but returned it November 12 with strict conditions in place. These conditions include the appointment of an independent farm manager chosen by BC Milk reporting directly to the board who “will be tasked with overseeing that the management and employees at Cedar Valley Farms are executing the cultural change in animal care and handling practices required by BC Milk.” Training in cattle handling and animal welfare would be improved, with management and workers required to sign a cattle care commitment subject to verication and review. “This licence is conditional, and if we don’t see the changes happening that we expected to see, then we’ll revisit our decision,” BC Milk chair Janice Comeau told Country Life in BC last month.
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Benipal was elected to the position in late June, narrowly edging out Jason Smith. Smith, formerly vice-chair, now chairs the council, whose 600 growers farm 27,000 acres, primarily in the Fraser Valley. Many were hit hard by ooding in November, and the council is helping coordinate support for their recovery. Benipal cited the demands facing him in his veterinary practice in tendering his resignation. “Being a veterinarian is a very demanding job,” he told Country Life in BC last month, noting that farming was a refreshing change of pace from 10-hour days at his clinic. Building relations with Indo-Canadian growers was a priority for Benipal when he was elected chair. He hoped his knowledge of Punjabi would make them feel more comfortable expressing their concerns in their mother tongue. “They can reach out to me anytime,” he said. Benipal remains a director of the council and serves on its industry relations committee, ensuring growers will be able to continue speaking to him as issues arise. — Peter Mitham BC Chicken picks Siemens Woody Siemens is the new executive director of the BC Chicken Marketing Board, eective January 4. He succeeds Bill Vanderspek as executive director on January 4, who retired from the chicken board August 31 but was appointed a director six weeks later. The new role will come with signicant responsibilities for Siemens, who takes the reins as BC’s poultry growers reel from a year of devastating weather events in addition to market shifts prompted by the ongoing pandemic. Government relations will also be key as the sector advocates for the AgriRecovery funds needed to address the impacts of November’s rain events. There are also changes taking place within the sector. “We are looking forward to working with Woody and initiating work on the key priorities identied in the chicken board’s strategic plan,” says board chair Harvey Sasaki. Siemens was previously supply chain and business development director with the BC Milk Marketing Board and brings strong credentials to his new role. The board selected Siemens after a three-month search process, noting in particular his recent graduation from the MBA program at the University of Guelph’s Lang School of Business in May 2021. Prior to this, he had worked as a feed sales representative with Clearbrook Grain & Milling in Abbotsford and the supply chain division of PepsiCo. The combination of agricultural and supply chain experience made him a leading candidate for a sector facing issues on both fronts. Siemens also holds an undergraduate degree in food market analysis from UBC. The announcement of Siemens’ appointment noted that BC Chicken’s executive assistant, Christine Rickson, Ag Briefs EDITED BY PETER MITHAMhad fullled the role of executive director following Vanderspek’s retirement. BC Chicken lays claim to being the country’s rst poultry marketing board, having been formed 60 years ago on December 12, 1961. It manages the production of 308 registered chicken growers, an output valued at more than $500 million annually. — Peter Mitham Outstanding service acknowledged Dave Woodske’s service to the greenhouse and nursery sector was honoured December 2 at the annual awards of the BC Landscape and Nursery Association. Woodske retired as the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries’ oriculture and greenhouse specialist in March 2020, shortly after COVID-19 hit. The restrictions on gatherings last year led to cancellation of many industry events. The association held its annual awards ceremony online last year, but the loosening of restrictions this year allowed it to express their appreciation in person to Woodske. Woodske spent three decades with the ministry. He became the province’s nursery specialist in 1998. His role was combined with others through several iterations until he was responsible for the oriculture and greenhouse vegetable sectors, too. His career also extended to the cannabis sector, and he was a participant in the rst two Cannatech West events held in parallel with the Pacic Agriculture Show. Personable and knowledgeable, Woodske was a trusted resource for growers. Committed to grower education, he was a regular contributor to the development of programming for the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association’s annual short course. One of his rst tasks as industry specialist was helping the nursery sector navigate Sudden Oak Death. Working with others, he led development of best management practices for dealing with the new pathogen. A collaborative approach led to the industry being able to protect itself and mitigate the risk posed by the disease. Woodske also worked with greenhouse vegetable growers. His contributions to the sector won him the BC Greenhouse Growers’ Association’s Meritorious Service Award in 2016. — Peter Mitham Water quality grants available A third round of grants to protect surface water quality in the Shuswap watershed is now available from the Shuswap Watershed Council. “One of the SWC’s primary objectives is to protect and maintain the water quality in Shuswap and Mara Lakes,” explains SWC program manager Erin Vieira. “In particular, we’re focused on reducing nutrient inputs to rivers and lakes.” The council’s water quality grants aim to prevent nutrient runo from properties within the watershed. They’re available to farmers, agri-businesses, hobby farmers and other landowners. The council notes that excessive nutrient runo, especially phosphorus, can contribute to algal blooms that reduce water quality for drinking and recreational uses. In many cases, the water can become toxic for people, pets and livestock. The program granted $65,470 to ve farm-based water quality improvement projects during its rst round. These included a cover crop project at Lakeland Farms; construction of an engineered berm at Hillside Dreams Goat Dairy; an euent collection tank at Swaan Farms; pipes to a new concrete lagoon for the cheese plant at Grass Root Dairies; and fencing material for a partnership project in the Salmon River valley between the BC Cattlemen’s Association and Splatsin First Nation. The second round granted $26,750 for eld drainage at Trinity Dairies to prevent runo into the Shuswap River and pasture improvements at Hillside Dreams Goat Dairy aimed at reducing the risk of manure entering the Salmon River. The current intake will provide up to $60,000 to selected projects. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2022. Funding will be distributed to successful applicants in early 2022. — Peter Mitham
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 11BC couple win national OYF competitionRay and Tracey Bredenhof flew to Saskatoon for awards They started with chickens, then diversied into hops. The ability to branch out is one of the reasons Ray and Tracey Bredenhof were chosen as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers. RONDA PAYNESuperior Silage YieldstIJHIFSUIBO7JWBStIJHIFSUIBO"$3BOHFSt&YDFMMFOU(SBJO:JFMETt(PPE4UBOE"CJMJUZt4FNJ4NPPUI"XOt(PPE%JTFBTF1BDLBHFLimited quantity, book your ton bags and forage seeds today. 1.800.282.7856PETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – The rst national championship of the Outstanding Young Farmer competition in two years has named Ray and Tracey Bredenhof of Abbotsford this year’s winners alongside Jenny Butcher and Wes Kuntz of Little Brown Cow Dairy in Brantford, Ontario. The awards were presented at an in-person gathering in Saskatoon on December 1-3. The presentations were broadcast online to allow the agriculture sector across the country to participate. “Something that really stood out to me was that all the honourees had such an incredible eye for quality,” says Steve Cooper, chair of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers program. “They all are taking this ability and using it to drive their operations to incredibly high levels.” The citation for the Bredenhofs noted in particular how, over the past 15 years, they have built their broiler operation – R&T Farms – into an enterprise producing 225,000 chickens annually. When a barn re struck in 2020, they rebuilt with a more ecient facility. A similar emphasis on improvement has characterized their hop operation, which began in 2015 with six acres. It now includes 21 acres and contracts with other local growers for an equal amount. The addition of hop harvesting and processing facilities now makes them Canada’s largest distributor of domestically grown hops. “Raymond and Tracey believe in leaving things better than they received them,” the citation added. Bredenhofs’ involvement in the industry won them top ranking in last year’s regional Outstanding Young Farmer competition, and that spirit resurfaced again during the ooding that hit Sumas Prairie, where their farm is located, shortly before the OYF event in Saskatoon. The rising waters briey forced them to evacuate their farm at the edge of Sumas Prairie. “We did leave for a short period of time, but then I ended up just getting back into the farm,” says Ray Bredenhof. “We had animals in the barn and it was driving me crazy being o the farm.” The new broiler barn was protected by berms and sandbags, but the water stopped 30 metres away before receding. Some of Bredenhof’s hopyard was inundated, but it’s too early to tell if the vines will be impacted. “We won’t know for sure until we start seeing plants pop up in the spring if we end up having some plant mortality,” he says. “Hopefully, the plants are more resilient than we give them credit for and they pop right back.” True to the community spirit that gured into his nomination for the award last year, Bredenhof and some of his children pitched in to help as the oodwaters rose. This included assisting with sandbagging the Barrowtown pump station on November 16, when it was in danger of failure. “We lled more sandbags than we ever want to see again in our life, that’s for sure,” he says. “The camaraderie of all working together to save the pump was a pretty neat experience.” Shortly afterwards, his oldest son was among those Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thanked for their part in protecting Abbotsford. While public appreciation is nice, Bredenhof says it’s part of the generosity of the agriculture community. “For me it’s always been about the agricultural community, learning from other people, and being able to call on people when you need to borrow a piece of machinery,” he says. “It’s just a great industry to be involved in.” Speaking to Country Life in BC following their receipt of the BC & Yukon award last year, Bredenhof credited the growth of the farm to community engagement. “By getting involved, opportunities come up. You meet great people and you learn from other people’s experiences as well,” he said. “It doesn’t always have to take a ton of time or a ton of resources. Sometimes it leads down a path you weren’t planning on, and that’s okay.” Besides the Bredenhofs, Butcher and Kuntz, this year’s event included nalists representing the dairy, produce, honey, beef and grain sectors. While some regional competitions had completed prior to public health restrictions against COVID-19 being implemented last year, not all had and the awards event was postponed. Keynote Speaker: Chris Koch - “If I Can....”Chris Koch doesn’t let limitations or obstacles stand in his way. Despite being born without arms and legs, Koch grew up like any other small-town kid — playing road hockey, causing mischief at school, and helping out on his family farm. Today, Koch is a motivational speaker who inspires his audiences to continually challenge themselves and build the life they dream of. An avid traveler, marathoner, and farmer, Koch’s presentation reects his full life. He loves spreading the message of, “If I Can…what’s stopping others from doing the same?”Vancouver Island’s Largest Agriculture Trade Show of the YearShowcasing the latest and most innovative equipment and technology for the Agriculture industry. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 13Peace River grain growers were hammered by weather events this past growing season and harvested far less than expected. FILE PHOTOHigh grain prices welcome, but harvest falls flatWeather cuts yields for the fourth straight yearFarm and Rural Residential Properties in the Peace Country are our specialtyAnne H. ClaytonMBA, AACI P App, RIAppraiserJudi LeemingBHE, AIC CandidateAppraiser250.782.1088info@aspengrovepropertyservices.caPETER MITHAM DAWSON CREEK – This year’s high commodity prices should be good news for Peace River growers but extreme heat cut yields and left some producers with as little as 30% of a normal crop. “The heat dome in southern BC also hit us up north. We broke records and our crops dried right out, and there was far below average taken o this year,” says Malcolm Odermatt, president of the BC Grain Producers Association. “We have exceptional prices, but unfortunately we just have no crop to sell.” Odermatt, who farms in Baldonnel, east of Fort St. John, harvested less than 40% of what he expected. “For us, typically we ll 22 bins and we lled eight this year,” he says. Canola was down by a third while his barley came in at less than 25% of average. BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries says producers have led 382 notices of loss for grain. Its preliminary estimates indicate that yields are about 30% to 50% of average. Odermatt says crop insurance is helpful but may not fully cover the losses, thanks to the idiosyncrasies of grain contracts. “This year, we’ve seen historically high grain prices and lots of farmers went out there and contracted 50% of their expected yields, or maybe 75% – it all depends on their nancials and the amount of risk they want to take on,” he explains. “Then we had an absolute wreck of a crop.” Growers encouraged by high prices this spring and who signed contracts will now have to buy out those contracts at the much higher prices seen this fall. The dierence could be as much as 50%. But insurance is based on crop values in February and doesn’t escalate in step with market prices. This means insured growers will receive payments that are much lower than what they’ll have to pay to buy out their contracts. “It kind of stinks to get a payout by crop insurance for $12 [a tonne] and (if) you actually had the canola, it would be worth $23," says Odermatt. “But on the ip side, the price could go down and it would be a higher price because they locked in in February. So it could go both ways.” This year’s small crop marks the fourth year of weather-related challenges for the region’s grain growers. Snow in September 2018 put an early end to the season’s harvest, which was already late owing to the impact of wildre smoke and other issues that year. A decent crop in 2019 was nixed when autumn rains prevented it from drying out on the stalk and farmers couldn’t access elds to harvest it for drying. Poor weather the following spring meant large tracts of land went unplanted, and rain played havoc with what did get seeded, resulting in one of the worst harvests the region has seen. But there is good news. Recent funding for high-eciency grain dryers will help growers improve grain quality. Odermatt says this year’s high temperatures resulted in uneven ripening in many elds. So much of his barley was green that he ended up drying it. “The heat really messed with the plants’ growth cycle, so we had two dierent stages of crop out there – we had really ripe barley, then we had super green barley,” he says. “We were trying to get both crops o when they’re at two very dierent stages – about a month apart.” In December, the BC Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund awarded $147,000 to three farms for grain drying and cleaning equipment. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 15That’s how high the water got. Curtis Sandhu stands beside one of the tractors that became collateral damage when Sumas Prairie ooded. RONDA PAYNEKuhnNorthAmerica.comVisit your local British Columbia KUHN dealer today!INVEST IN QUALITY®www.kuhn.comMatsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsfordNorthline EquipmentPouce CoupeHuber Farm EquipmentPrince GeorgeSmithersGMD 51 TL SERIES Trailed Disc Mowers9’2’’ - 13’ working widthsLubed-for-life Optidisc® cutterbar provides greater knife overlap for cleaner cut in tough 昀eld conditionsMaintenence-free, Pro-Active Lift® system allows for quick adaptationto abrupt terrain changesConstant Float® suspension closely follows ground countours and reduces amount of missed cropGyrodine® swivel hitch allowsturns in excess of 90° foroutstanding maneuverabilityREDUCE DOWNTIME. MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY.RONDA PAYNE ABBOTSFORD – Berry growers are wondering what their 2022 season might look like as clean-up continues following the mudslides and ooding that hit the Fraser Valley in November. Blueberry growers were hit hardest, with more than 2,500 acres under water. Of these, 1,000 acres were submerged for weeks. “Some of these growers, their homes are ooded and the infrastructure on the farm is ooded,” says BC Blueberry Council executive director Anju Gill. “In Sumas Prairie, the water reached seven to eight feet or more; the plants were completely underwater. Matsqui Flats may have been as high as four to ve feet. We have also received localized ooding reports all the way from Surrey, Langley and Delta.” Damage varied by location. Some, like Curtis Sandhu of Sandhu Farms in Sumas Prairie, had damage to elds, buildings and equipment. Others, like Purdip Sekhon of Karnail Singh Blueberry Farms in Cloverdale, saw damage conned to elds. Raspberries fare better Strawberries and raspberries fared better, with 83 acres of raspberries and just 15 acres of strawberries ooded, says Lisa Craig, manager for both the Raspberry Industry Development Council and the BC Strawberry Growers Association. Sandhu, who grows vegetables, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, says the waters submerged even the poles for his trellising systems. “Our berries are on hills and you couldn’t even see them,” he says. Worker accommodations were the rst thing Sandhu cleaned when the ood waters receded. “Basically, we’re throwing everything out. Today we thew 12 fridges out, eight stoves, box springs, mattresses” he said on December 8. “Tomorrow, we got to go in there and start ripping walls out. We’re gutting everything basically.” It would be hard work at the best of times but Sandhu says when everything is covered in mud, it’s dicult to imagine. “Everything is empty [of water] now. But it’s disgusting. There’s an inch of mud lining every square foot of the property,” he says. “The house smells so bad because the septic backed up. You can’t even breathe properly when you go in there. It’s gross.” The 300-acre farm includes 25 acres in berries with the rest planted in vegetables. He’s not concerned about soil health at this stage, but he suspects the raspberry plants are a lost cause. He expects to have to replant and will do soil testing at that time. “You can already see they aren’t going to make it,” he ays. “They’re done. They have way less tolerance to water than blueberries. They’re way more susceptible to root rot.” If he replants, Sandhu will have to wait three years for full production. This comes on top of losing a signicant amount of equipment. Berry growers face years of lower yieldsNovember’s floods submerged more than 2,600 acresSee BERRIES on next page o
16 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCA restoration company vehicle sits in a ooded blueberry eld on Sumas Prairie, one of potentially thousands of vehicles written off by the ood. REUTERS/JENNIFER GAUTHIERBERRIES flooded nfrom page 15INSECTICIDEMultiple modes of action on your toughest pests. · Broad-spectrum, rapid insect knock-down control combined with extended residual control· Controls all damaging stages of target insects, including eggs, immatures and adults· Easy-to-use, pre-formulated mixture® CORMORAN is a registered trademark of ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Canada Ltd. Always read and follow pesticide label directions. © 2021 ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Canada Ltd.CORMORAN® INSECTICIDESerious Insect Protection “Tractors are a write-o. Water got into the cab of the tractors. We had about six of those,” he says. “The older ones that we have that don’t have any computers, we can maybe salvage those.” Computerized equipment like irrigation pumps are also write-os. Tillers and plows are uncertain at this point, but the toxic waters have led to exponential corrosion. “Things that sit outside for years without rusting and they are already rusting,” he says. In Cloverdale, Sekhon feels lucky by comparison. While his 150 acres of blueberries are still partially ooded, the water didn’t inundate the rest of the farm. He feels high tides contributed to the exceptionally high water in November. He estimates some of the elds had as much as ve feet of water while others had up to three feet. “The elds just couldn’t handle it,” he says. “They were already wet, full of water.” “Once the tide receded, the rivers were able to empty out and the pumps started working and the water gradually came down,” he says. “Surrey has diking and pumps. As more development is happening in traditional farming areas, the city has done a good job, I’d say, with planning and building up the dikes, but it could always be improved.” While standing water isn’t uncommon in some of the elds, Sekhon will have to reapply sawdust around plants. He has done some pruning and is hoping for the best in terms of their long-term health. “We have little windows when we can go in and do the work, but for the most part, we have to wait until they dry out,” he says. Prune har d BC Berry Cultivar Development Corp. breeder and geneticist Michael Dossett agrees that raspberries and strawberries will be more severely impacted than blueberries by ooding. But he notes that many factors determine how blueberry plants will respond. “I suspect that even after three weeks under water, most mature blueberry elds that were healthy going into this will survive, with the caveat that there may be signicant damage to fruiting wood above ground,” he says. “The best course of action for those plants will be to stump the eld at 18 to 24 inches.” This drastic pruning will eliminate the 2022 crop and cut yields through 2023, but he says with nurseries unable to deliver new stock prior to 2023, it may be the best way to stimulate root health and reduce root system stress. “By June or July, it will be apparent which elds have vigour and will bounce back and which ones won’t, but the nature of this sort of vascular and root system stress during the dormant season is that we won’t know how bad it is until the plants wake up,” he says. Dossett adds that there may be cases where the plants survive, but will take too long to recover, making replanting the better option. Weaker elds and younger plants will likely experience the greatest damage. Sekhon says the weather extremes are making farming even harder. “I like being out there. There’s something to working hard and seeing the fruits of your labour,” he says. “But it has to make economical sense at the end of the day and that’s where it’s getting tough.”
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 17Ambrosia council takes growers to court over leviesClaims being pursued as council winds up operationsLevies collected by the New Tree Fruit Varieties Development Council on Ambrosia apples helped fund grants in excess of $850,000 in 2021. MYRNA STARK LEADERServing the Okanagan and Fraser Valley We’ve been proudly family owned and operated since opening in 1976. And with two blending plants, we’re one of BC’s largest distributors of granular, liquid and foliar fertilizers. Our buying power and proximity to the Fraser Valley makes us the logical choice for truckload shipments. OKANAGAN FERTILIZER LTD 1-800-361-4600 or 250-838-6414Founded in 1978, United Agri Products (UAP) is a Product Management company of agricultural and non-crop inputs in Canada, working with world class global manufactures to bring innovative solutions to the Canadian grower. 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UAP offers a competitive compensation package, which will include provision of a company vehicle.We welcome diversity in our workplace and encourage applications from all qualified individuals, includingpersons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.Those interested in this challenging opportunity send your resume to: RecruitNutrienAgSolutions@nutrien.comPlease include this subject: Territory Sales Representative, BCTo view the complete job description visit our web site www.nutrienagsolutions.com job #2021-15527 While we appreciate all applications we receive, we advise that only candidates under consideration will be contacted.PETER MITHAM KELOWNA – While the New Tree Fruit Varieties Development Council is set to wind down, lawsuits over Ambrosia levies are gearing up. The council spent $23,590 on legal actions related to levies in the last scal year, nearly triple the $8,366 spent on legal fees in 2020. The amount was the council’s largest administrative expense after consulting fees in the 2021 scal year. While growers have not been required to submit production levies to the council since 2020, NVDC chair Bruce Currie told the council’s annual general meeting on December 8 that several growers are in arrears. The levy was 2 cents a pound. “There are a number of growers who have not made their payment, for the last two crops in some cases, and so we’re actively going after them,” he says. “It’s going to cost money. It’s going to take money out of the pool. But in order to be fair to all those people who paid up their levies, we’re going to small claims court and we’re going to collect from them.” The council led 17 actions in small claims court on August 12, 2020, and initiated a further three actions against growers on November 29, 2021, according to the BC courts registry. Some growers are the target of more than one claim. Currie said “quite a few more” actions will follow in the rst half of 2022. The recent surge compares to 31 actions the council initiated between July 2012 and July 2020. The actions echo ve lawsuits Summerland Varieties Corp. led against growers over non-payment of Ambrosia royalties in November 2016. One of those les remained active as late as October. In both cases, non-payment is considered robbing the industry of resources that help it stay competitive. Growers who didn’t pay were framed as breaking faith with the rest of the industry. “The rule is that everyone should pay,” former BCFGA president Fred Steele told Country Life in BC regarding a motion put forward at the 2018 convention of the BC Fruit Growers Association (owner of Summerland Varieties Corp.) proposing a halt to litigation. “It would simply not be fair for some to pay and others not.” Ambrosia, a chance seedling identied in the Mennell family orchard in the early 1990s, is now in the public domain in North America and NVDC is set to wrap up operations by the end of March 2023. It continues to administer levies collected, however, disbursing them to projects that support research and promotion of Ambrosia. The council has approved grants totalling $857,600 for projects thi syear by BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, Sandher Fruit Packers, Consolidated Fruit Packers, Costco and Sutherland SA. The projects have helped give Ambrosia a competitive edge in the market. NVDC administrator Jim Campbell said the relationship with Costco has been particularly fruitful. “Ambrosia is a special project for Costco. They’ve essentially developed a national promotional program for Ambrosia,” he says, noting that Costco is paying a third of the campaign’s costs – highly unusual for a retailer – and encouraging sales by accepting a lower markup. “As a result, Ambrosia is the top-selling variety in BC and the Prairie provinces in their retail stores.” “That’s probably one of the best investments we’ve made,” Currie notes. Originally scheduled for November 3, the AGM was deferred due to too few registrations. Twenty-four voting participants attended December 8, many of whom were keen to hear more about the proposal for an apple marketing commission. Currie said those discussions would be held at meetings tentatively scheduled for late January. Most of the feedback the council has received to date regarding the proposal has been negative. “It’s not cast in stone,” notes Currie. “This is a proposal for growers to help themselves and if the growers see that it’s benecial, then they need to get together and work on something.”
18 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCRising food prices unlikely to benefit farmersPast predictions for BC have fallen shortBC farmers aren’t likely to see a bigger pay day, even as food prices are predicted to increase 5% to 7%. FILE PHOTOInsurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc. 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.Financial planning for farm families Farm transition coaching Customized portfolio strategy Retirement income planningDriediger Wealth PlanningMark Driediger, CFP, FEA, Senior Wealth AdvisorBrent Driediger, BAA, CPA, CMA, CFP, Wealth Advisorwww.DriedigerWealthPlanning.com | 604.859.4890 Assante Financial Management Ltd.A Happy and Safe 2022 to Everyone PETER MITHAM VANCOUVER – An annual forecast of food price trends across Canada is once more predicting higher grocery prices in BC, but don’t count on it. The current edition of Canada’s Food Price Report, led by Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University draws on the research of teams at the University of Guelph, University of Saskatchewan and UBC. It forecasts an overall increases of 5% to 7% in food prices, with BC expected to see increases above the national average. Dairy products are set to increase the most, at 6% to 8%, thanks to higher processing and transportation costs. These, combined with the disruptions caused by COVID-19, prompted the Canadian Dairy Commission to recommend an 8.4% increase in farmgate milk prices eective February 1. On the other hand, despite a 9.5% increase in meat prices last year, meat and seafood prices are set to rise no more than 2% in 2022. But Rick Barichello, a professor of food and resource economics at UBC who contributed to the report, urged caution. While food prices are rising, he says BC has dodged the worst of the impacts. The increases have beenHowever, this could be oset by a resilient food system in BC that has continued to deliver aordable food at prices that haven’t escalated last year as fast as researchers expected. According to the report, the average increase this past year was just short of 4%. “When things go up in one area, the supermarkets nd other sources,” he said, noting that the big grocers are good at pinching their suppliers to keep consumer prices in check. “I’m not sure all of what they’ve been doing, but they’ve been quite successful in all this to keep those food prices this past year as low as they are.” But rising consumer prices don’t always benet farmers. Despite the latest increase in milk prices, the BC Milk Marketing Board says producer returns aren’t keeping up with ination. “It was necessary to have an increase to correct, but you’re not fully corrected yet,” the board’s policy and industry aairs director Zahra Abdalla-Shamji told the Mainland Milk Producers shortly after the increase was announced. Guelph-based agrifood consultant Len Kahn says farmers bear the brunt of ination because farmgate prices usually rise in response to other costs rather than ahead of them. “Food ination should benet at the farm level, but … for every percent that food prices go up, you see signicantly less impact at the farm level,” he says. “Prices cannot be passed directly on to the consumer, so the farmer can get hit on both sides.”
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 19Even though only one route was open – and only for “essential” travel – between the southern Interior and the coast for over a month, Okanagan farmers say there was never a risk of running out of food. FILE PHOTOROOHI SAHAJPAL KELOWNA – As farmers in the Fraser Valley begin to rebuild after devastating oods in November, growers in the Okanagan say that the impact across the supply chain with highway closures can’t be ignored. “Transportation has been hell, whether it’s going to Vancouver or going out east because it’s the same trucks going everywhere,” says Daryl Galigan, shipping and receiving supervisor at Sandher Fruit Packers in Kelowna. “You’re calling up trucking companies all over the place and they’re getting stuck behind road closures and that’s not just heading to Vancouver but the Hwy 1 closure going through Radium,” says Galigan. (Hwy 1 re-opened for trac December 6.) “When you add in the fact that the same truck is going from Calgary to here, stopping and picking up and heading to Vancouver, a lot of the trucking companies that are doing both are having to add in an extra day of travel to do the same load.” Galigan says that a quarter of Sandher’s fruit goes to the Lower Mainland with the remainder going east. During this time of year, they send out about ve truckloads a day, each truck with an average of 20 pallets. “There’s been times where we’ve had to wait three to four days before we could get a load out and we’re late on delivering goods to our customers because we can’t get trucks,” adds Galigan. Since the packing house wants to prioritize apple shipments to the Lower Mainland, the impact of highway closures had an immediate impact. “Selling to Vancouver, we’re denitely aected deeply,” he says. “We try to stay loyal to BC as much as we can. Our rst priority is feeding BC before we go to other places. It’s been hard to do when half of the population is down in the Lower Mainland. Getting stu to them has been a pain.” Kevin Day, co-owner at Day’s Century Growers in Kelowna, ships 30% of its pears to the Lower Mainland. It didn’t take a nancial hit from the highway closures, but delays did complicate logistics. “We were slightly aected with a delay which caused us to back up a little bit in packed storage,” he explains. Any nancial hit from the closures will probably hit marketers, who will face higher costs in the form of trucking fees as a result of the extra time spent navigating road closures on highways 3 and 7. “I think the last two years have been an indicator that we need to put thought into shortening the supply chain. There’s stu that we’ll always need from overseas, but I think the supply chain could be shortened for sure,” says Day. Essential routes For growers like Kevin Klippenstein of Klippers Organic Acres in Cawston, getting to the Lower Mainland is an essential part of his business. When reached by Country Life in BC on November 29, Klippenstein was stranded in Chilliwack waiting for Hwy 3 to reopen after a weekend of selling produce and other grocery products at farmers markets in Vancouver. It’s a trip that he makes weekly and usually takes him four hours. This recent trip took him nine. “In 20 years, the rst weekend we cancelled was last weekend. Then I found out the highway opened at 5, so we packed the trailer up and at 8:30 drove all night to get to market this weekend,” says Klippenstein. Klippenstein sells 90% of his farm’s production in the Lower Mainland, either to restaurants or at the farmers markets. But the delays have meant his on-farm store in Cawston is well-stocked. “I saw on the news that shelves were empty in Penticton and Kelowna and we’re showing pictures of our stand – our store is full of food,” says Klippenstein. “We’re harvesting carrots, greens. We have eggs. But we aren’t getting any local people in from places like Penticton or Osoyoos.” Klippenstein opened the farm store in June to serve local residents, but the oods put local demand to the test. While larger stores may have been impacted by supply chain disruptions, local shops like his had plenty. “I don’t know what it was with people freaking out about nothing being on shelves because I know a lot of local growers who still have food,” he says. “There’s no reason why anyone should be worried about food in the Okanagan; we’ve got all of the production there.” Klippenstein says recent disruptions should be encouraging people to start thinking more locally. “Even now to get local foods in big stores like Safeway or Save-On, it has to go through big distribution channels. Twenty years ago, we could go into a Safeway and say that we could sell them Spartan apples and bring them to the store. We can’t do that anymore,” he says. “Now with COVID and ooding, we can see distribution channels having issues. We need to have a way to buy local products. We shouldn’t have to go to the grocery store and buy apples from Washington or California.”Supply chain disruptions put focus on local foodOkanagan growers keep shelves stockedYOURHelping YouDon’t forget to RENEW your subscription toCountry Lifein BCYOURping Youpingpingpping Youription toon toe 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO GO UPVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD.5080T TELESCOPIC WHEEL LOADER
20 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCTHAT’S WHY WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO IS A WAY OF LIFE. OUR ROOTS ARE IN AGRICULTUREKeeping it Simple®We have a team of agribusiness experts here to support you every step of the way, helping to choose the right solutions for your unique needs. Whether you are looking to buy a new piece of land or in much need of new equipment to keep your operation running smoothly, we can help.WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE?― OUR ROOTS ARE IN FISHING, FARMING AND AGRICULTUREOur credit union was founded by the farming community. Over the last several decades, our cooperative has grown to $14 billion in assets, and counting. ― WE ACT LOCALNot only is our team of experts geographically dispersed to serve you where you are; decisions are made locally across the table, not across the country. ― WE HELP OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITIES THRIVEAs a nancial cooperative, a portion of our prots go back to our members and communities. Like you, we live and work here, so investing in our communities is at the cornerstone of who we are. We can’t wait to learn more about your business. Contact your local Agriculture Advisor today: Amrik Gill Agriculture Advisor Serving the Lower Mainland604-309-6513 amgill@envisionnancial.caToby Frisk Director, Agribusiness Serving the Okanagan, Enderby and Similkameen regions778-212-3415 tfrisk@rstwestcu.caCash Reumkens Agriculture Advisor Serving Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island250-701-3426 creumkens@islandsavings.caDivisions of First West Credit Union
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 21Welcome back! The Pacic Agriculture Show is set to be back live in the Abbotsford Tradex, January 27-29. The show features over 250 exhibitors and three days of producer workshops. FILE PHOTO2022HORTICULTURE GROWERS’ SHORT COURSE8KK<E;@EG<IJFEFI9PN<9@E8ICfn\iDX`ecXe[?fik`ZlckliXc@dgifm\d\ek8jjfZ`Xk`fe?fik`ZlckliXc>ifn\ijJ_fik:flij\)'))AXelXip).$)0KI8;<O8YYfkj]fi[#9:?dfWhjd[hi^_fm_j^j^[FWY_ÓY7]h_Ykbjkh[I^emK?LIJ;8PIXjgY\ii`\jJkiXnY\ii`\j=`\c[M\^\kXYc\GfkXkf>i\\e_flj\Dlj_iffdj8cc9\ii`\j=cfi`Zlckli\=I@;8P=Xid9lj`e\jjDXeX^\d\ekCXYfli8^i`ZlckliXcNXk\iDXeX^\d\ek;`i\Zk=XidDXib\k?Xq\celkjM\^\kXYc\:XeeXK\Z_J8KLI;8P9cl\Y\ii`\jFi^Xe`Z?fgjI<>@JK<IFEC@E<8KNNN%8>I@:LCKLI<J?FN%E<KPh: 604-857-0318 | growers@agricultureshow.net?:WdZcWjY^_d]lWYY_d[fWiifehjh[gk_h[Zje[dj[hJH7:;NWdZ7_hi_Z[;l[djIfWY[\WY_b_j_[i$Agriculture show returns to TradexThe province’s biggest farm show is set to resume in-person January 27-29 at the Tradex in Abbotsford, applying what it learned from last year’s online edition to create a brand new experience. While guests and exhibitors will be glad to see each other face-to-face once again, capacity limits will be in place to ensure their safety as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a consideration. But trade show organizer Jim Shepard doesn’t expect the restrictions to limit attendance this year, given that Tradex has a capacity of about 10,000 people and there are seldom more than a couple of thousand visitors at once – well below the 5,000-person limit for the facility. “It’s a non-event,” he says of the restrictions. “You may have one or two thousand people walking around at any given time.” Some of the incentives designed to encourage engagement with exhibitors last year will be repeated this year, including a scavenger hunt. Shepard says the devastating rains that hit the Fraser Valley in November hit many farms hard. The trade show will give many people a chance to check in with each other, socialize and connect with suppliers about plans to rebuild and upgrade their operations. Many farms lost buildings and equipment; others will take the opportunity to overhaul operations as part of the cleanup. “The worst is over and now it’s time to rebuild,” he says. “What better place to come together than the Pacic Ag Show to source all that equipment and products, and the information, technology? And sharing stories about how everyone can help each other as well.” Exhibitors back The show was on track to sell out, with 230 exhibitors signed up as of mid-December. Booths will be the primary contact point, unlike last year when exhibitors had an online presence on the Pheedloop conference platform where all events were streamed. The several educational events that run in conjunction with the show are also gearing up, including the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association’s annual grower short course and Cannatech West. Programs were nalized in December, with plans to oer them both in person and online. All sessions will be streamed live for access from anywhere. Registrants will receive an access code for online viewing via email when they register. To ensure compliance with capacity restrictions, in-person guests are being asked to pre-select their sessions, says short course organizer and LMHIA executive director Sandy Dunn. “Tradex has COVID protocols in place so attendees need to comply with the health orders,” she explains. “All registrants will be able to access the webinars and we are working on plans to have the sessions available for a few weeks after the show.” Several sessions saw higher attendance last year than in previous years, impressing the LMHIA board and session chairs. Some sessions that would typically see a couple of dozen participants in-person saw several times that number when oered online. There was also strong demand for the sessions to be available for more than a few days after the show, and this year’s plans reect that feedback. Proof of vaccination will be required to attend, and masks must be worn indoors. Restrictions on seating are in place for food service areas. While the lunch buet will not be oered this year, food trucks will take their place, oering a taste of Abbotsford’s nest street food. While new variants of the Preview by PETER MITHAM2020 insights guide development of a hybrid programSee TRADE on next page o
22 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCMore than a trade show and educational forum, the Pacic Agriculture Show has become the single largest meet-and-greet for BC producers. MYRNA STARK LEADER PHOTOSTRADE show nfrom page 21CALL FOR AN ESTIMATE LARRY 604.209.5523 TROY 604.209.5524 TRI-WAY FARMS LASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVED DRAINAGE UNIFORM GERMINATION UNIFORM IRRIGATION FAST, ACCURATE SURVEYING INCREASE CROP YIELDS We service all of Southern BCWith the deadline for existing well owners to apply for a non-domestic groundwater licence, this year’s short course sessions on water management are giving growers the information they need and an understanding of why it’s important. During last year’s show, sta from FrontCounter BC made clear there would be no further extensions on the March 1, 2022 deadline for ling an application for existing use. All applications after the deadline will be treated as new applications. Any existing users without a groundwater licence will lose their rst in time, rst in right priority. During the water management sessions on the morning of January 28, FrontCounter BC sta will once again give an overview of the application process and the practical implications of groundwater rights and licences on businesses. Ted van der Gulik of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC will give a history of water allocation as it relates to groundwater licensing applications, and Andrew Petersen of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries will discuss factors to consider when irrigating crops. Every day is berry day Fraser Valley berries are shipped across Canada and around the world, and they also have pride of place at the grower short course every year. Proceedings kick o this year with raspberries and strawberries on Thursday, January 27. Blossom weevil and thrips management in strawberries are the order of the day, alongside managing root rot in raspberries and heat damage, a top consideration of growers in 2021. The annual raspberry market outlook follows. Thursday afternoon is the all-berry session, with a roundup of tips for managing pests, heat stress and soil moisture. Labour is a key issue for all growers but it’s a particular concern for growers of delicate fruits such as berries and grapes who can’t always rely on mechanical harvesting for fresh market fruit. Sessions on Friday afternoon will discuss how to source and retain labour, as well as keep guest workers safe during emergencies such as COVID-19. Saturday is traditionally blueberry day and this year is no exception. A full day of sessions begins with a look at two of growers’ top concerns in 2021: blueberry scorch and its vector, aphids. Growers will also hear how to ace food safety audits, a particular concern as maximum residue limits shift and consumer expectations change. While the all-berry session on Thursday afternoon focuses on ways that growers can encourage and support wild pollinators, Saturday afternoon includes two presentations on optimizing blueberry pollination. Other research-oriented sessions during the day include Eric Gerbrandt discussing work regarding Preview by PETER MITHAMWater management in focus at short coursecoronavirus are keeping organizers on their toes, Dunn is optimistic. She says organizers are monitoring developments and will decide by January 17 if the event once again needs to be held wholly online. She hopes not. “We are condent that things will be manageable,” says Dunn. “So many producers are looking forward to a live event, seeing the exhibits and each other.” The early bird registration rate of $110 is oered until January 10, 2022. After January 10, the fee increases to $140 per person. The rate is the same for in-person and virtual attendees. Special pricing is available for organizations with multiple people attending, if they pre-register on or before January 10. pacicforagebag.com 604.319.0376AlexisPacifc Forage Bag Supply Ltd.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 23reduced nitrogen fertilizer applications and harvest timing for optimal blueberry quality. Saturday closes with Colin Fain of Agronometrics in Mexico City providing an outlook on trends in the global blueberry market and the implications for Canada. Going green in field production The challenges of growing vegetables, including root crops such as potatoes, will be the focus of sessions on Thursday, January 27. The past year served up plenty of issues that growers will be able to discuss with an international assortment of presenters. Walter Hernández of integrated potato producer El Parquet Papas in Argentina kicks o the day with a discussion of irrigation management in potatoes. Sessions on managing soil nutrients and pests such as wireworm and cutworm follow. Marjolaine Dessureault of ES Cropconsult will review the diseases and environmental disorders observed in potatoes in 2021 with an eye to future crop management strategies. Wireworm and cabbage maggot will be in the spotlight Thursday afternoon as vegetable growers hear about managing these pests. Presenters will also discuss ways to support wild pollinators, which are important collaborators in producing cucurbits. Provincial plant pathologist Siva Sabaratnam will oer considerations for eld storage of pumpkins, particularly if fall weather systems deliver excessive moisture. Sessions for organic growers will focus on vegetables and small fruits this year. The two opening sessions on Saturday, January 29, address the challenges of high-tunnel production systems. Three afternoon sessions address weed control, including the use of low-tillage systems in vegetable production, and on-farm composting with a deeper dive into nitrogen cycling through soils. Greenhouse, flower growers focus on pests During the pandemic, plant sales soared. Stuck at home, people looked to ornamentals and greenery to bring life to their living spaces. But a number of insects, fungi and diseases nd those plants equally attractive. Controlling them is a key consideration for commercial growers, and short course sessions planned for greenhouse vegetable and ower growers on Thursday, January 27 are providing the knowledge needed to stay on top of the threats. A key session for greenhouse growers on Thursday morning looks at the use of environmental sensors. Quade Digweed of the Harrow Research and Development Centre in Ontario will explain how sensors can help growers understand what’s going on from the plant’s perspective with a view to addressing threats when they’re a risk to the plant, not just visible to crop scouts. The management of regulated pests such as Japanese beetle and new arrivals like Strawberry Blossom Weevil, not to mention old ends like thrips will be a focus of the oriculture sessions on Thursday afternoon. An Drip TapetPlastic MulchtMulch layerstPTO PumpstIrrigation ReelstDiesel PumpstContact us today to place your order.With a view to re-establishing connections, the BC Agriculture Council is planning to host the BC Agri-Food Industry Gala on Wednesday, January 26 at the Clarion Hotel in Abbotsford. Capacity will be limited, in compliance with public health orders in force at the time. “Given the reduced size of the event, we will not be bringing in entertainment, but we look forward to gathering to celebrate agriculture after not hosting the gala in person since January 2020,” says Amy Dhanjal, communications manager with BCAC. The celebrations will include presentation of the annual Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture award, BCAC’s Award for Excellence in Agriculture Leadership and BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. The silent auction in support of BC Agriculture in the Classroom will receive bids via the digital platform Givergy. The auction is expected to open a week before the gala, around January 19. Last year, the fundraiser raised $13,255, setting a new record. Gala full-steam at limited capacitySee next page o
24 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCMNP is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Pacific Ag Show and we look forward to connecting with you there!When it comes to your accounting, consulting, and tax needs, you deserve an advisor who really gets what’s on the line. It’s more than your livelihood, it’s your lifeMNP.caDenise Parker, CPA, CGA | 604.792.1915 | denise.parker@mnp.caoverview of integrated pest management (IPM) practices as used by growers in Colombia – the world’s second-largest cut ower exporter – will be provided by Fabiola Valcárcel of Sanidad Vegetal Consultants in Bogotá. A session on supply chain issues will oer insights of interest to all producers, not just greenhouse vegetable and ower growers. Cannatech West focuses on sustainability Cannabis culture often emphasizes peace and love, but regenerative agriculture is seldom talked about. Cannabis production can be resource-intensive, but a special session at this year’s Cannatech West conference on January 28 will pay special attention to this aspect of the crop. Che LeBlanc, owner of Rosebud Cannabis Farms in Salmo, will discuss his farm’s use of environmentally conscious practices and systems that mimic the patterns of nature as part of a regenerative system. Other speakers will focus on the threats cannabis crops face from insects, fungi and viruses, including SFU professor Zamir Punja, who will provide his annual roundup of new threats. A presentation on cannabis processing by NextLeaf Labs vice-president Tom Ulanowski will provide a high-level review of common processing techniques, with a particular focus on environmental best-practices. The handling of solvents, wastes, and other by-products will be addressed as well as a brief update on the potential greenhouse gas emissions of indoor cannabis cultivation. Similar to the grower short course, early-bird registration at the rate of $135 for Cannatech West closes January 10. The rate after this date is $160. Short course attendees may attend Cannatech talks, and vice versa. Niche crop opportunities explored The humble button mushroom is one of BC’s top exports, and claims boasting rights as the province’s most valuable vegetable grown outside a greenhouse. The province is also home to an expanding specialty mushroom sector. The opportunities for both types of mushroom growers will be explored rst thing on Thursday. Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs, one of the country’s largest mushroom growers, will give his take on the local button mushroom industry. Chadd Bauman and Kyle Born of Circular Harvest Farm in Abbotsford will discuss how mushrooms t into urban agriculture, while Thom O’Dell of Nature Tech Nursery will oer his perspective on the many opportunities mushrooms oer budding growers, from medicine to materials fabrication. O’Dell will also take to the podium the following afternoon as part of the hazelnut sessions. A key supplier of trees to growers, O’Dell will speak about newly available cultivars and orchard establishment. Speakers from the US will o their perspective on the industry in Oregon and Wisconsin, while Steve Hope, president of the BC Hazelnut Growers Association will update growers on the local industry and trends in the international hazelnut market. Hops get a look-in on Friday morning. BC was historically home to a signicant hops industry, and a number of enterprising growers are reviving the sector today. A special interest is cultivating locally adapted hops, and varieties that oer something unique to the world market. Langara College instructor Ji Yang will present his work on feral hops, including work on the more than 100 strains identied in the Fraser Valley. Eric Gerbrandt, research director with the BC Blueberry Council, will discuss on-farm research, helping build the growers’ capacity to undertake their own work with specialty crops like hops. Since the real test of hops production occurs with consumers, USDA research scientist John Henning will discuss the role public hop breeding programs play in building better beers. With several selections nearing commercialization, he’ll ll in the local industry on what to expect. Growing business opportunities Growers looking to improve, expand or innovate their farm businesses will have plenty of sessions to choose from on Friday, January 28. The day kicks o with a series of sessions discussing farm management in the face of uncertainties and risks, from weather to nancial. Presenters will provide tips to give producers the condence and know-how needed to manage risk, stay ahead of threats and seize opportunities. This year’s direct farm marketing sessions will focus on e-commerce and online marketing, activities accelerated by the pandemic as growers pivoted to new sales channels as foodservice demand dropped in tandem with rising consumer demand for local products. Innovation Day, an annual showcase of tech developments, also takes place January 28. Growers will learn about some of the exciting work being done here in BC to make agriculture more ecient, productive and environmentally sustainable. Organizer Mike Manion is promising two great panels on adopting new technology and understanding how it can further regenerative farming practices. New programs to assist growers with tech adoption will also be featured. —Peter Mitham
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 25Mira Fahrenbruch and Matt McClelland offer weekly produce boxes year-round, growing vegetables and microgreens at Skattebo Acres. BRIAN LAWRENCE Kootenay growers target winter deliveriesBRIAN LAWRENCE CASTLEGAR – With about eight weeks before their inaugural season of weekly produce box deliveries was complete, Skattebo Acres owners Mira Fahrenbruch and Matt McClelland decided to take on a new challenge by launching weekly winter boxes. But space was a bit of an issue. “You can’t just till another 100-foot bed,” says Fahrenbruch. To ensure that the 29-week CSA they started in May would seamlessly transition into a 22-week winter CSA, the couple used the space they had available, converting two bedrooms in their West Kootenay home into growing rooms, complete with shelving, LED grow lights and seed trays. The weekly winter box subscriptions, which include salad greens, microgreens and sprouts, were in such demand they sold out a few weeks before the launch. Subscriptions were capped at 70 due to nite growing space. Pulling the project together in such a short time required a steep learning curve, but provided an opportunity to re-examine winter growing possibilities. McClelland said it was timely in light of recent ooding in the Lower Mainland that led many to question food security. “I’ve always been a big fan of hyperlocal food systems,” says McClelland. “As a young adult, I lived on Vancouver Island and realized there would be three days of food if the boats stopped coming. In the ’50s, they would have been ne.” Strong demand for niche season produce offeringFahrenbruch grew up in Procter, a small community east of Nelson on Kootenay Lake. While her parents were not farmers, their property was home to horses, rabbits, chickens and ducks. “As a kid, I grew up around a farming way of life,” she says. “My family didn’t have a lot of land, but the land we did have was garden.” Fahrenbruch travelled widely in her 20s, but a passion for farming stuck with her. “It has always been a dream, but I wasn’t sure it would ever be a reality,” she says. She and McClelland bought a 3.5-acre property that would become the home of Skattebo Acres in Glade, a community located across a cable ferry between Nelson and Castlegar, at the end of the 12-kilometre Skattebo See WINTER on next page o® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. M05338 (0120)Jeremy Siddall District Vice President - Paciic Agriculture ServicesBritish Columbia2506814656jeremy.siddall@td.comKen Uppal MBA P.AgDistrict ManagerAbbotsford & Fraser Valley6046213350kanwar.uppal@td.comBrad Redekop BBARelationship Manager Abbotsford & Fraser Valley6048702228bradley.redekop@td.comDave Gill Account ManagerAbbotsford & Fraser Valley6048074761baldev.gill@td.comConnor Watson B.CommAccount ManagerAbbotsford & Fraser Valley7782015753connor.watson@td.comRahan Ahmad Account ManagerAbbotsford & Fraser Valley7788471566rahan.ahmad@td.comTed Hallman Account ManagerBC Interior2504707557ted.hallman@td.comAlyssa Barr Account ManagerBC Interior2505755047alyssa.barr@td.comMeet our Agriculture Services TeamWe are dedicated to helping you achieve your business goals and creating a lexible and customized banking solution that is right for your farming operation.
26 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCWINTER boxes nfrom page 25Marketing British Columbia to the World®www.landquest.comToll Free 1-866-558-LAND (5263)“The Source” for Oceanfront, Lakefront, Islands, Ranches, Resorts & Land in BC®NEWLY RENOVATED LAKEFRONT LOG CABIN - NIMPO LAKELOON LAKE RANCHLOON LAKE, BCHISTORIC NUIT TRAILS RANCHTATLAYOKO VALLEY - CHILCOTINPRIVATE RIVERFRONT PARADISE NOT FAR FROM THE OKANAGAN - BEAVERDELL, BCOFF-GRID LAKEFRONT PARADISEREVELSTOKE, BCLOG CABIN PUBSPENCES BRIDGE, BCHATCH A BIRD FARMPOWELL RIVER, BCCAPSTONE MOUNTAIN197 ACRES - BARE LAND732 ACRE TURNKEY BISON FARM WITH STARTER HOME - VANDERHOOF, BCBACCATA RIDGE WINERYGRINDROD, BCNewly renovated, fully service, lakefront, 1,144 ft2 two-storey log cabin on 1.17 acres. recreational getaway on Nimpo Lake in the heart of the Chilcotin. Endless year-round recreational opportunities! $349,0002,277 acres, 12 titles, 1,500± ft lakefront, 3,994 AUM Range permit for 800 head, 496 AUMs for winter grazing. Good water supply for 4 pivot irrigation system, 11 water licences. 4 hours from Vancouver. Ranches with a high carrying capacity for cattle are highly sought after and do not come up for sale often. $4,495,000The historic and unique Nuit Trails Ranch offers 203 acres, a log cabin, water rights and a range tenure. This stunning ranch in the Tatlayoko Valley offers the perfect location for a hobby farm or horse property surrounded by majestic mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and endless wildlife. $980,000306 acres with 1.4 km on the Kettle River. Merchantable timber not included. Little Goat in ALR. Backs onto Crown land. Awesome property. Just over an hour to Kelowna or Osoyoos. $929,000Spectacular and rare lakefront estate on 156 acres with 2 km of lakeshore on beautiful Lake Revelstoke. Only a few private parcels exist on this expansive lake. Glaciated mountain vistas. Log home, cabin, equipment shed. Truly stunning! $5,125,000This property offers opportunities: carry on with the pub business (45+ years), convert to a family restaurant, start a winery, cidery or craft brewery & grow your own fruit / hops on 6.4 acres, convert to an equestrian estate with a 4,000 ft2 log home, create a new licensed event venue 3 hrs from YVR, or … $688,000Well established organic farm on 24.4 acres within the ALR with city services. Includes 5 bedroom main home, 2 bedroom home for farm hand, 2.5 acres of market garden, a market store, 6 greenhouses, pasture for livestock, 2 barns and numerous other outbuildings. $1,599,000South slopes of Capstone Mountain, 197 gorgeous acres with fabulous views of Capstone Mountain, and Moss, Skins and trees - well suited for a home, hobby farm or retreat. $279,000Perfect starter bison ranch with 61 head of bison included. Perimeter game fenced with of hay meadows, rough cleared pasture, coniferous plantation, and wetland. Starter home, outbuildings, greenhouse and corral system. $995,000Established farm produces premium quality blueberries, wines and mead, from fruit to bottle. Exceptional growing methods, mineral rich soil and climate combined with a beautiful home and equestrian infrastructure create the ideal business and lifestyle mix. $4,850,000FAWN GUNDERSON 250-982-2314Personal Real Estate Corporationfawn@landquest.comRICH OSBORNE 604-328-0848Personal Real Estate Corporationrich@landquest.comFAWN GUNDERSON 250-982-2314Personal Real Estate Corporationfawn@landquest.comSAM HODSON 604-809-2616Personal Real Estate Corporationsam@landquest.comMATT CAMERON 250-200-1199matt@landquest.comROB GREENE 604-830-2020rob@landquest.comJAMIE ZROBACK 1-604-483-1605 JASON ZROBACK 1-604-414-5577JOHN ARMSTRONG 250-307-2100Personal Real Estate Corporationjohn@landquest.comCHASE WESTERSUND 778-927-6634Personal Real Estate Corporationchase@landquest.comJOHN ARMSTRONG 250-307-2100Personal Real Estate Corporationjohn@landquest.comVisit our WebsiteReach hiking trail. Vegetables are grown in greenhouses leased from their next-door neighbours, Ruth Fraser and Glen Sorenson of Glade Valley Gardens. Their own land allows them to raise livestock. Their neighbours at Glade Valley mentored them as they launched a CSA program delivering certied organic vegetables to 12 shareholders. They had grown their own food for some time, and saw the CSA as a logical extension. “Part of what attracted us to the CSA was being able to oer food to the community over an extended growing season,” says Fahrenbruch. Regular season deliveries ended December 3. “We started small to allow for a learning curve, with the goal to expand next summer to 40 members,” says Fahrenbruch. While oering vegetables year-round is their top priority, the couple is also considering the possibility of oering meat. They currently have three Tamworth-Berkshire sows and a boar, as well as a small herd of Katahdin-Dorper-cross sheep. “We had laying hens right away, even before the house was built,” says Fahrenbruch. With the development of the winter CSA, she is now able to work on the farm full-time, while McClelland continues his work as a youth substance use counsellor and therapeutic recreation co-ordinator in Castlegar and the Slocan Valley. “We’re community-based and relationship-based, which is a great way to connect with the shareholders,” says Fahrenbruch. “CSA folks become really interested in the entire process, not just the nal product.” The satisfaction that the couple derives from that connection is simply but eloquently stated on their website: “We often remark that our farm feeds us three times: Once while we are growing, once while we are eating at our table, and once when we are able to share the food we have grown with others.” Fahrenbruch appreciates the shareholders’ positive response to their eorts as rst-year, rst-generation farmers. “It’s fun having something I held in my mind and seeing it come to fruition,” says Fahrebruch. “Seeing the interest for local food production is really exciting, and there is potential for it to really skyrocket.” “People are often overjoyed,” says McClelland. Welcome development Winter food production would be a welcome development in the East Kootenay community of Fernie, where growing is a challenge even in the summer. “We only have 90 frost-free days of growing in our region,” says Fernie Mountain Market co-founder Dawn Deydey. “We currently have no year-round farmers. We have heard of a local farmer that is exploring growing microgreens year-round, and Wildsight Elk Valley is currently exploring hydroponic lettuce production.” The market launched in 2001 with the goal of bringing more local food to the community. It is now a project of the Elk Valley branch of Wildsight, an East Kootenay-based organization that works to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities. The market runs Sundays during the summer, with 40-60 vendors attending each week. “We currently only operate outdoor markets, so winter markets don’t work for us,” says Deydey. To ensure food is available year-round, Wildsight launched Local Market in late 2020, opening an online store and physical location in downtown Fernie. Local Market oers honey, meat, baking, sauces and other products sourced from BC and Alberta. The store was an important step, but more help is needed to allow producers to continue growing food through the winter. “Additional infrastructure would be required for year-round growing in our region,” says Deydey. “Funding would be a big help as there is often a large capital expense required to build winter greenhouses or hydroponic growing.” The need for year-round growing was identied in the Fernie Food Action Strategy, a project that surveyed residents and engaged them online in late 2020. “The season is so short! Need more greenhouses,” said one respondent. “We need to educate ourselves on cold-season growing,” said another. Support for growing in general and, considering Fernie’s short growing season, preserving food are also necessary. “I’d love to see a community garden where people could volunteer and take home some of the fruits of their labour as payment, especially locals who don't have a garden to grow in,” said a respondent. “This is something we have moved away from in the last 40 years,” said another. “We are ignorant of how much we rely on the trucks and no longer see canning and preserving as part of our lifestyle. How did we live here year-round 100 years ago? We canned and preserved. Eating local is now considered ‘gentried’ almost and a lifestyle choice, instead of simple good security.” It all points to one thing. “Year-round food production is key to strengthening our local food system,” says Deydey. —Brian Lawrence
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 27New growers bitten by the farming bugOkanagan insect farm seeks to overcome the ick factorScott Jackson is the farm manager at The Bug Farms near Kelowna. They produce live insects and insect ours for poultry, pets and people. SUBMITTEDFOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERSDarren Jansen Owner604.794.3701organicfeeds@gmail.comwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comCertified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.“Serving and Supporting the Community Together”PROVINCIALLY INSPECTED ABATTOIR B.C. #34ALL SIZES MARKET GOATS & LAMBS604.465.4752 (Ext 105)FAX 604.465.4744 ashiq@meadowvalleymeats.comSANDRA TRETICK KELOWNA – It’s been a whirlwind year and a half since The Bug Farms rst hatched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Jo Campbell bought a 10-acre property in the Ellison neighbourhood of Kelowna in July 2020, she and her son Scott Jackson immediately set to work retrotting four outbuildings that had previously been used by a dog breeder. They replaced heaters and installed thermometer probes, including smart thermometers that could be monitored remotely. Within a month, they were ranching insects in three 1,500-square-foot outbuildings, one each for mealworms, black soldier ies and crickets. They brought in breeding insects from various sources in the Lower Mainland. The insects are raised in totes and Jackson says they need a surprising amount of space to provide good air ow. A fourth smaller building is the cricket incubator, which is kept at a higher temperature and humidity than the others. They are now on the seventh generation of their own crickets. Campbell, the managing director, handles administration and their online presence. Jackson is the farm manager. They are helped at times by Campbell’s husband and another son, who both have rotational jobs o-farm. They also employ a recent high school graduate from the area. The Bug Farms produces y larvae, which are a popular feed for chickens, and live insects for reptiles, exotic pets and home breeders. They also make their own mealworm and cricket ours, most of which go into pet food products. The most surprising market for their products has been the local clients that purchase their insect ours for baking. Jackson says they already treat everything as if it’s for human consumption. At present, however, just 10% of insect ours sold are destined for human use. If they have their way, that will increase, but they may have their work cut out for them. Nicole Kilburn, an anthropology instructor at Camosun College in Victoria and the creator of Pestival, a biennial event featuring edible insects, believes that interest in edible insects has lost its wings in North America. “Initially there was a lot of interest, a real sense of urgency in terms of addressing sustainability issues by our food choices and then, I don’t know, I think people maybe got a little overwhelmed, got tired of that message,” says Kilburn. “Availability was a problem and things just kind of stalled. We still have to decide that it’s food.” Safe Food rules In Canada, edible insects must meet the same requirements as other foods sold online or in store to consumers. Manufacturers need to follow the Safe Food for Canadians regulations when importing, exporting or selling insects inter-provincially. Enterra Corp., which pioneered the approval of insects in animal feed in North America, has temporarily backed away from its own pursuit of food-grade certication for edible insects from the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), although Bruce Jowett, the company’s director of marketing, says it hasn’t dropped the idea altogether. Enterra moved its insect farm to a new facility on the outskirts of Calgary last year after outgrowing its original facility in Langley. In most of the world, eating insects isn’t weird. The United Nations estimated in 2013 that insects are traditionally eaten by two billion people worldwide. More than 1,900 species are used as food. But it hasn’t yet caught on in North America and Europe. “The ick factor would probably be one of the biggest challenges,” says Jackson. “We want to get into the local farmers market next year just so we can meet more people. We just didn’t have the chance this year.” You won’t nd The Bug Farms ours for sale online just yet, because it is having a hard time keeping up with existing demand. “We’re just in the process of putting together a new plant because we need more space,” says Jackson. “Right now we really don’t have the capacity to up our cricket our [production] until we get the new shop nished.” Jackson would eventually like to see the farm’s cricket our in stores. A cricket protein powder is another idea. At some point he would also like to put up a webcam and make a visitor centre so people can learn how insects convert food waste into protein. They recently launched a program to collect local food waste. Renewed interest in EU While North American demand may be stalling, Kilburn says there are some interesting things happening in Europe. Earlier this year, the European Food Safety Authority declared mealworms safe for human consumption. It is the rst of many insects likely to be approved under a “novel food” regulation that came into eect in 2018. According to the CFIA, the European Union introduced a new export certication for commercial food and animal commodities to their member states under their new Animal Health Law that came into force last April. The EU has provided a transition period until mid January, after which Canada will be required to use the new certicate for all exports, including edible insects, to EU member states. In mid December, CFIA published industry guidance on how to use the new certicate It’s a world away from the oil and gas industry in northern Alberta, where Jackson worked before coming to BC. Campbell, who is a professional biologist, previously had an environmental services business in Grande Prairie. Jackson hasn’t looked back. “I love all of it so far,” he says. “It’s been a big change, but I enjoy it.”
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 29See MENTAL on next page oFarmers face new challenges as water recedes Recovery efforts must pay special attention to mental wellness Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, centre, and BC's Lana Popham, right, were in Abbotsford, December 10, to witness ood impacts on Sumas Prairie. The toll on farmers’ well-being is a priority for both levels of government. AAFCKATE AYERS ABBOTSFORD – As farmers waded through water to access their homes, barns, elds or greenhouses over the past two months, they considered what jobs were a priority – what needed to be done that day to ensure animals were cared for and necessary repairs continued. But what will happen as producers shift out of emergency mode and into their new normal? When the water is gone and media coverage subsides, how will farmers cope and adapt with the day-to-day implications of the damage? Up to this point, farmers really haven’t had a chance to think more than a day or so ahead at a time, says BC Pork Producers Association president and former hog farmer Jack DeWit. He acted as the liaison between a severely impacted hog producer, industry and government during the four atmospheric river events in November. There could be a greater realization of operational impacts once the water recedes, he says, and that includes the mental health impacts. “We won’t know the extent of the damage until the water clears out,” he says. “It’s a dicult time for everybody … and we’re not out of the woods yet.” Resilience has its limits While many BC farmers demonstrated resilience as they worked to protect animals and maintain production through the rush of water, evacuation orders, power outages and clean up, it was undeniably a stressful time. The stress continues as they wait for insurance payments as well as government assistance. “It’s important to recognize farming is associated with a unique set of characteristics and conditions that are potentially challenging with regard to mental health,” says Jonny Morris, CEO of the BC division of the Canadian Mental Health Association. “What we’ve seen here in BC over the last few weeks is incredible upheaval and unprecedented disruption in people’s lives. We’ve heard of … loss of homes, security, livelihood, livestock – profound levels of loss.” While a comprehensive relief package for farmers is worked out, the federal and provincial governments have made a point to foreground supports for mental wellness. “This crisis has taken a toll on many farmer’s livelihoods and their mental health, and they need to know we are here for them,” federal agriculture minister Marie-FCC.CADREAM. GROW. THRIVE. We’re FCC, the only lender 100% invested in Canadian agriculture and food, serving diverse people, projects and passions with financing and knowledge.Let’s talk about what’s next for your operation.You’re b ehind Canadian agriculture and we’re behind you79493_FCC_2022_AP_Blueberry_EN_8-167x9.indd 1 2021-11-26 8:35 AM
30 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCMENTAL health prioritized in flood recovery nfrom page 29You do hard work, under hard conditions. You are reliable at all times, no matter what is thrown your way. You act as the underpinning for the economy and society as a whole, yet we neglect to say it enough; Thank You Farmers! THANK YOUFARMERSABBOTSFORD1-888-283-3276VERNON1-800-551-6411KELOWNA1-800-680-0233Claude Bibeau said in a statement following a roundtable by videoconference with BC agriculture minister Lana Popham and sector representatives on December 2. Bibeau followed up with a visit to the province on December 10. “It was impressive to see their strength, considering what they’re going through right now,” she told Country Life in BC. Suppliers to the sector have also been reaching out to affected farms. “If we have a client that’s been put under an evacuation alert of some sort, we reach out to them just to check in,” says CapriCMW commercial risk advisor Rosy Mounce, based in Salmon Arm. “It’s not like we can change coverage at that point ... We just want to make sure people are doing okay. And that kind of seems to be when insurance isn’t on anyone’s mind.” Mounce spoke with some clients during the wildfires this past summer and again when floods hit Merritt in November. Many appreciated hearing from her, knowing that the company was looking out for them even if not all losses were insurable. Residents who do not have flood coverage, for example, can review their policies for potential benefits. “Just revisiting that with people, and just giving them support. [There’s] nothing worse when you do need help, times like right now, feeling like people don’t care – that insurance companies don’t care,” says Mounce. The cumulative effect of the various challenges producers have faced as a result of COVID-19, the heat dome, wildfires, smoke and flooding can’t be underestimated. “There is a compounding effect there that we absolutely need to pay attention to,” says CMHA’s Morris. As a result, ongoing support from government and industry with an emphasis on mental health must continue in the short and long-term. Many farmers have to worry about feed availability and where they are going to source the ingredients, says DeWit. Animals also face potential health impacts from water that Abbotsford authorities told people was toxic. The full implications for animal performance and soil health are unknown. The long-term effects mean that recovery could take years for many farms, says DeWit, adding to the regular uncertainties farmers face in a given season. Morris agrees. “Many recognize that natural disasters have an immediate impact or a response phase, but there is the recovery phase afterwards,” he says. “As the water recedes … that is when some of the mental health challenges will likely start to happen. We need to be prepared with resources three months from now, six months from now, as well as right now, to make sure help is available when the dust settles on all of these implications.” Financial supports and community networks are like lifelines for producers throughout the recovery phase, notes Morris. “Folks will be experiencing grief, loss, stress, anxiety, symptoms related to depression and mood, and impacts related to isolation. All those pieces, we need to be on the look-out as we head into the next few weeks and months,” he says. Significant changes in the behaviour of family or community members, colleagues, neighbours or friends can be red flags for someone in need of outreach, he notes. Staying in touch with people who have shared that they’re experiencing a lot of stress and even those who haven’t but may be keeping to themselves more than usual is important. “Reach out and say, ‘I’m worried about you, I care about you,” says Morris, “You’re building an informal network of supports around people. I think making it as easy as possible to make people feel supported is so important.” Farmers who are usually quiet or private in nature, may need more frequent check-ins to ensure they’re adequately supported during tough times. Morris mentions that if you are worried for someone’s safety or someone is in an immediate crisis, 9-1-1 is the number to call. Producers can also seek confidential support over the phone by calling 310-6789, a mental health line available 24/7 to BC residents. In addition, AgSafe BC has a team of regional safety consultants who can also help producers access appropriate resources. Their office number is 1-877-533-1789. Producers can also visit online resources including Farm Credit Canada’s Rooted in Strength Initiative, the Do More Ag Foundation and Wellness Together Canada for information. With les from Peter Mitham“As the water recedes … that is when some of the mental health challenges will likely start to happen. We need to be prepared.” JONNY MORRIS CEO, BC division, Canadian Mental Health Association
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 31www.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613@TubelineMFGFind us onSPREADERSACCUMUL8 & BALE GRABSBALEWRAPPERS SILAGE RAKESANDRA TRETICK DENMAN ISLAND – The Denman Island local trust committee (LTC) is reviewing local farming regulations first recommended in the community’s 2012 farm plan, but at least one area farmer says some of the original intent has been lost over the years. The committee identified farm plan implementation as a top priority in 2016 and took some steps during the next three years but a shift in staff priorities in 2019 stalled the process. The delay has tested the patience of third-generation Denman farmer Doug Wright of Lone Pine Farms, who was a member of the original farm plan steering committee. “Because of their agenda and their timeline, they couldn’t really deal with the farm plan, per se,” says Wright, who raises cattle, grows corn and has a shellfish operation. “It’s been frustrating that it’s taken this long to get to this point and it’s good we’re back to talking about it again.” Wright is concerned the trust’s support for farming doesn’t focus enough on local food production. “When we first started talking about the farm plan, we were talking about providing employment, developing a lifestyle for young farmers,” says Wright, who currently sits as a director on the Denman Island Growers and Producers Alliance. “A big part of what we were trying to promote originally was bringing in young people. A whole bunch of people worked really hard on the farm plan, and it just got diluted and watered down.” 14 recommendations The farm plan included 14 recommendations aimed at supporting farming on Denman, ranging from educational opportunities to infrastructure support, but the LTC is focusing on three that fall under its jurisdiction –zoning updates, amending the official community plan and addressing the need for on-farm housing – with the help of an $18,000 grant from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. These three recommendations from the farm plan aren’t the only items up for consideration. The project will also include a review of changes and updates to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and other provincial legislation and regulations. This will culminate in draft bylaws that update Denman’s official community plan and land use bylaw. New ALC options for secondary dwelling units that took effect December 31 will also be considered. Secondary residences Some hope the new options for secondary dwellings in the Agricultural Land Reserve will help alleviate Denman’s housing shortage. Affordable housing is in short supply on Denman and other Gulf Islands. A housing needs assessment completed for the northern region of Islands Trust in 2018 identified a gap on Denman of 165 housing units over the next 25 years, including 80 affordable housing units. That translates into three or four new affordable housing units per year. The ALR changes can’t come soon enough for Denman resident Riane da Silva. She wants the bylaws to reflect the new provincial regulations. Faced with eviction herself in 2020 she sees this as one of the solutions to improving housing availability on the island. To garner support for her recommendation, da Silva created a petition on Change.org last month that had attracted more than 280 signatures. Wright says the focus should be on how secondary dwellings support farmers. “Housing for farm workers is probably our main concern,” he says. “The second part of it is looking at it from a tourism perspective, a revenue generator for farmers.” Islands Trust planner Marnie Eggen says a land use planning consultant has been hired to lead the project. She says the LTC wants drafts of the community engagement plan and community survey topics to be referred to the Denman Advisory Planning Commission and the Denman Growers and Producers Alliance for input. Wright acknowledges that Denman trustees are trying to do the right thing. “I totally respect our trustees, and I know they’re dealing with a lot of different things and a lot of competing interests,” he adds. “We can all disagree and still like each other.” Part of Islands Trust One of the northern Gulf Islands, Denman Island is part of the Comox Valley Regional District and one of 13 island groupings that falls under the Islands Trust. At the time the farm plan was released in 2012, 46% of the island’s 51 square kilometres were in the ALR and there were just over 1,000 full-time residents. The 2016 census puts the population at 1,165. Denman’s agricultural inventory will also be updated as part of the scope of the project. Wright says the regional district has been a big supporter of Denman’s growers and producers. “Some of the local success stories for Denman are a juice pressing business complete with pasteurizer, an award-winning winery, two tree nurseries and a supportive farmers market,” he says, noting that there are also more produce growers in the last 10 or 15 years, growing interest in nut farming and a potential cidery in the works.Denman Island initiates review of farm regulationsHousing shortage a key issue for local farmersHelping load the wagonFor over 100 years, the Blair family owned and operated the Langview Farms dairy in Langley. In November, three members of the Blair family – John Blair, far left, his brother Doug, second from right, and Alan Gregson, husband of Jean Blair – toured the BC Farm Museum in Fort Langley with museum director Grace Muller and presented the museum with a $10,000 donation to its Help Load the Wagon fund. The gift from the family, which also includes Jim and Marilyn Blair of Norway, AB, Terry and Lynne Blair of Brisbane, Australia, John and Sonya Blair of Langley and Gordon and Cindi Blair of Salmon Arm, will be used for museum expansion. SUBMITTED
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 33Blueberry growers are being encouraged to take steps to support the health of bee colonies and native pollinators, practices that can result in better berry yields. MYRNA STARK LEADERTOM WALKER ABBOTSFORD – The BC Blueberry Association’s virtual eld day November 30 was all about pollination, one of the top three growers concerns alongside labour and scorch. “Pollination is one of the top challenges for BC blueberry growers,” says BC Blueberry Council research director Eric Gerbrandt. “When you add the heat damage this summer and the devastating ooding [In November], there are a lot of challenges for the industry.” Presenters discussed successful pollination practices, sourcing bees, timely control of aphids (a key vector of blueberry scorch virus) and ways to encourage native pollinators to complement commercial honeybee hives. Pollination is essential to a successful commercial blueberry crop. Blueberries have the potential to set 100% of their owers with sucient pollination, resulting in better fruit set and improved fruit size and weight. Potential harm But bees and blueberries have a complicated if mutually benecial relationship. Bee colonies must be strong and healthy going into the elds. Blueberry owers are dicult for honeybees to access, the nectar is not a strong nutrition source for the bees and the use of chemical inputs in elds has the potential to harm the colony. BC Honey Producers Association members frequently speak of withdrawing their pollination services, believing the risk of colony losses to be too great. “If the bees in a colony get sick, I can lose anywhere from $250-$500,” explains Lee Gibeau, manager of beekeeping operations at the Honeybee Centre in Surrey. Gibeau gave a honey producer’s perspective at the workshop. He outlined best practices during pollination and gave tips to improve communication between the beekeeper and the blueberry farmer. The demand for pollination remains high, notes provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp. “If we estimate 25,000 to 30,000 acres of blueberries in the Lower Mainland, needing at least two colonies per acre, we are looking at a minimum of 50,000 colonies. We only have some 62,000 bee colonies in the province and the majority of those are managed by small operators who do not provide pollination services,” he explains. Prairie beekeepers have provided a signicant service by moving their colonies into BC blueberry elds in the spring before taking them home for the summer, but they are increasingly staying home, citing both the risks to colony health and the costs and logistics of moving colonies across provinces. “Most Prairie beekeepers will not come to BC at any price. This is the hard reality,” says Gibeau. The shortage cannot be made up by bringing in American bees. Canada’s so-called “no comb” laws prevent US colonies from entering the country to pollinate crops, forcing the beekeeping and blueberry industries to work together to develop successful practices for maintaining pollination services. One of the most important practices to protect pollinators is to not spray insecticides during bloom. While aphids have a serious impact on blueberries, stunting bushes and serving as a vector of scorch, bees shouldn’t be collateral damage. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada berry entomologist Michelle Franklin covered the lifecycle of blueberry aphids and explained that pre- and post-bloom are when growers should focus control eorts, rather than when bees are present. Provincial entomologist Tracy Hueppelsheuser of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries reviewed the foliar sprays available to growers. She stressed the need to consider the impact on benecial insects such as pollinators when selecting insecticides. Scouting elds is essential to understanding when sprays are needed. To supplement honeybees, native pollinators such as the Western bumblebee are an option. In fact, bumblebees are much more eective pollinators than commercial honeybees as they are able to reach further into blueberry blossoms and shake the owers while sipping the nectar. They are also more adept at working in poor weather. Greg Welng from Biobest Group covered the costs and benets of purchasing packs of bumblebees. But if blueberry growers are looking for a more integrated approach, they need to develop places for native insects to thrive. That’s something that’s often missing, as a glance at an aerial photograph of blueberry farms in Delta shows. Michigan State University entomology professor Rufus Isaacs outlined strategies for enhancing native pollinator populations. “Feed them, provide them a home and don’t kill them,” he stresses. “Habitat enhancement can start small. Something as simple as not mowing between rows or planting owering bushes around the perimeter of your elds can provide food and nesting habitat for benecial insects.” A dedicated pollinator garden is the next step for growers who are serious about supporting native insects. Habitat project ES Cropconsult is coordinating a pilot program sponsored by Syngenta to help growers get started, says the rm’s soft fruits IPM supervisor Dee Gorn. “As far as I am aware, this might be the rst time the practice of bringing a pollinator habitat establishment into commercial blueberries in the Pacic Northwest has been done,” says Gorn, noting that the project was at the invitation of industry. The idea is simple. “All we will need is a minimum of two 40-metre-square plots that you have cleared,” she says. “We will have a variety of suitable plants available for pick-up in March. You will need to plant them, give them some fertilizer and mulch and nature will do the rest.” Gorn says the initiative aims to increase bee diversity in local elds. “If we promote bee health, we increase pollination services,” she says. Bees shouldn’t become collateral damageBlueberry field day focuses on pollination and working with beekeepersK_\9:=il`k>ifn\ijË8jjfZ`Xk`fejlggfikji\j\XiZ_gifa\Zkj]fik_\ki\\]il`kj\ZkfiYp1Z_h[YjYedjh_Xkj_edijefhe`[Yji"'$fWhj_Y_fWj_d]_dj^[dWj_edWb($h[i[WhY^Ybkij[h"WdZfbWdd_d]\ehfWhj_Y_fWj_ed_d)$j^[d[m7]h_Ykbjkh[9b_cWj[Iebkj_edifhe]hWc;`[pflbefn69:=>8jlggfikji\j\XiZ_gifa\Zkj`eZcl[`e^1F[WY^j^_dd_d]Feij^Whl[ijijehW][Efj_c_p[Zd[jj_d]ioij[ci\ehbemf[ij_Y_Z[_dfkjiCed_jeh_d]f[iji_dYbkZ_d]8hemdCWhcehWj[ZIj_da8k]"7ffb[9b[Whm_d]Cej^";o[Ifejj[Z8kZCej^"_dYbkZ_d]j^[Z[l[befc[dje\:[]h[[:WoCeZ[bi9:=il`k>ifn\ijË8jjfZ`Xk`fe($/''$-(0$0'))r`e]f7YZ]^X%Zfdrnnn%YZ]^X%Zfd
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 35Beekeepers urged to grow their ownBut it’s not for everyoneA series of webinars over the next several months will help beekeepers make informed decisions about whether they should be breeding and raising their own queens and nucs. FILE PHOTO34511 Vye Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 8J7 604-864-2273 www.caliberequipment.ca See us at the Pacific Ag Show TOM WALKER GRAND FORKS – BC apiarists have long faced challenges importing honeybees to restock their hives each spring, but the BC Bee Breeders Association (BCBBA) says there’s a local solution and a business opportunity for its members. Grand Forks beekeeper and BCBBA past-president Liz Huxter says the association is planning a series of webinars over the next few months to help BC beekeepers grow their own. “It seems like a no-brainer to me,” says Huxter, who with her husband Terry has been raising and selling queens and nucleus packages through Kettle Valley Queens for some 40 years. “In the early 1980s, we had a bad shipment of bee packages come in from Texas. We thought, well, let’s see if we can do it on our own, and now it is the focus of our business.” Situations similar to what Huxter describes have been a regular topic at the BC Honey Producers Association’s meetings. Sourcing queens and bees for spring delivery from New Zealand and Australia has been inconsistent and unreliable. It has been dicult to secure temperature-controlled cargo space, and some shipments have arrived in poor condition or even dead. Huxter adds the risks of importing pests and diseases as well as Africanized bees are also real. “With Africanization, there is the possibility of more aggressive behaviour, bees that produce less honey, have a greater tendency to swarm and do not winter well,” she said. Importation can still be part of a successful business model, explains Huxter. “But more and more, we are hearing that producers are interested in either growing their own or sourcing local stock,” she says. This presents an opportunity for BC bee breeders to supply domestic markets. “The economics are fabulous, and the potential is fabulous,” Huxter says. BCBBA recently surveyed its members and heard that raising quality stock was a top interest. Huxter says they have planned a series of workshops to answer that need. Speakers at a November 24 webinar the association hosted shared important considerations when sizing up an operation from hobbyist/sideliner to a commercial rearing operation. This month, the focus will be on breeding, with three Wednesday evening workshops planned. February will cover grooming traits, a valuable characteristic that sees bees remove and kill varroa mites. “March is our AGM and then we are away to the elds as our bees start to wake up and begin spring feeding. But we have planned other regional workshops on queen rearing and nucleus building,” she says. “By then our technology transfer program will be up and running and I know that Nuria (Morn) will be able to assist with those workshops through the summer.” Growing market November's webinar emphasized the business opportunities for growers who raise bees for sale. “There is so much opportunity in the industry,” beekeeper Bill Stagg of Sweet Acre Apiaries in Tappen told participants. “We do well for ourselves and I’d love to see more people selling nucs and queens. The market is there.” Stagg’s operation specializes in raising local honeybee stock, selling both mated queens and nucleus colonies, as well as honey, pollen and pollination services. “It pays the mortgage,” says Stagg, who is also known for hosting beekeeping courses and mentoring other beekeepers. But raising your own stock is not for everyone. “It takes a certain personality,” says Stagg. “Stock production has to be very organized and very well executed. If you graft 300 cells they are going to hatch in 10 days and you have to be ready regardless of the weather.” Co-presenter Emily Huxter (daughter of Liz and Terry) echoes that sentiment. She manages 900 colonies with her partner Shayne Doerksen and knows something about being organized. “The bees come rst. You plan your day and even your year around them, and you might not have time to cut the grass,” she says. But she sees possibilities, too. Emily gave the example of recently posting and selling 400 nucleus colonies through the Alberta Beekeepers Commission classieds. They sold in 48 hours. “There is so much potential. We could make BC the place for stock production in Canada,” she says.
36 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCBC scientists ready to assess flood-affected soils Data has yet to be gathered on the impact of November’s floods The devastating atmospheric river events in November caused unprecedented destruction in the Fraser Valley and beyond, sweeping away farmland, roads and rail connections to the rest of Canada. The monumental task of cleaning, restoring, repairing or rebuilding homes, barns, structures, equipment and fences will take months, if not years. The nal cost is likely to be in the billions, making it the province’s most costly natural disaster on record. But equally devastating could be the impact on soils, and it will be months before farmers know how much topsoil has been lost, how much soil has been scoured out, how much debris has mixed into the base, and to what degree soils have been contaminated by manure, oil and diesel, or deposited elsewhere. Any profound disturbance or removal of soil will have a deep impact on agricultural productivity even as berry, vegetable and forage producers are assessing the immediate complications for the 2022 planting season. Soils support 95% of the food we eat and are one of the most ecient and cost-eective reservoirs for holding carbon. Soil microbes and bacteria convert plant biomass into organic matter which is the basis of soil fertility, and which holds three times more carbon than the atmosphere. Every tonne of organic carbon is the equivalent of some 3.67 tonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide. And, according to the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, one teaspoon of healthy soil contains more organisms than there are people on Earth. But exactly how much these rich microscopic life cycles have been disrupted from the oods is unclear. Speculation “At this point what I would be saying is mostly speculation as I don’t have any evidence of what has been done so far,” says Sean Smukler, associate professor, Applied Biology and Soil Science at the University of British Columbia. “It is entirely possible that there have been some severe impacts to the soil. The topsoil could have MANUFACTURING A VARIETY OF ATTACHMENTS INCLUDING BRUSH MULCHERS | ROTARY BRUSH CUTTERS | PTO GENERATORS | AUGER DRIVESDRAINAGE PLOWS | TREE SPADES | TREE SAWS & SHEARS | BOOM MOWERS | TREE PULLERSFELLER BUNCHERS | EXCAVATOR ADAPTERS | SCREW SPLITTERS | TRENCHERS | STUMP GRINDERSsales@baumalight.com | BAUMALIGHT.COMDale Howe 403-462-1975been taken away but at the same time there might be some farms that have benetted from some new silt deposits from the way the waters have moved soils from one area to another. It will be really interesting to see what the movement has been in terms of soil organic carbon.” One of the primary ways to lose soil organic carbon is through erosion but, as Smukler says, farms on the Sumas Prairie sit on basically at land so most erosion in that landscape would be the result of wind. But the force of the oodwaters may have changed things. “This event could transform the landscape in terms of where that carbon is, moving it from one place to another. Eventually, it could be moved to a place where it gets oxidized and goes back into the atmosphere. That is not what we want,” he says. To try and figure out what has happened, the first step is to take stock of what the situation is and not to jump to conclusions on the status of soils. Smukler says farmers will need to do soil sampling to find out how much organic matter or topsoil has been gained or lost and to what extent the flood has affected soil productivity. “An added danger is that manure could have spread in higher concentrations to the extent we have microbial contaminants,” he says. “Petroleum products may have leaked into the soils. That could be long-lasting, and those soils would certainly need a strategy for remediation.” He stresses that any remediation of soils and infrastructure requires building and restoring for the climate of today and the future, not the climate of the past. The force of those atmospheric rivers was like no other and climatologists predict they will repeat in the future. “If this wasn’t a wake-up call for all of us to start preparing for what’s now on us, I don’t know what is,” he says. “The scientific community has been warning of things like heat, drought, fires and now this for a long time. We need to be thinking about how to improve our soils [so that] they are here for generations to come as a resource that everyone will need. We have to share in the responsibility of making sure the resource is maintained.” Research by MARGARET EVANS“If this wasn’t a wake-up call for all of us to start preparing for what’s now on us, I don’t know what is.” SEAN SMUKLER Associate Professor, Applied Biology & Soil Science, UBC
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 37Trident Processes CEO Kerry Doyle and special projects manager Chris Bush received $15,000 from Abbotsford Community Foundation in June to further work to upcycle livestock waste. SUBMITTED Proudly offering quality farm equipment and wholesale farm product delivery across BC.Call, email or visit us onlineinfo@reimersfarmservice.com855.737.0110reimersfarmservice.comCheck out our Einbock Tillage Equipment For Organic FarmingTine Weeders t3PX$SPQ$VMUJWBUPSTr3PUBSZ)PFT $BNFSB(VJEBODF4ZTUFNAND On In StockAEROSTAR Tine WeedersDELTA Drain Tile Cleaner *NQSPWFT%SBJOBHFr$POEJUJPOT4PJMr&DPOPNJDBM 3FMJBCMFr-PX.BJOUFOBODFr4BGFBOE1SPWFOSPECIAL PRICING On In Stock KATE AYERS ABBOTSFORD – Growing pressure on farmers and other players throughout the food supply chain to produce more with less has triggered a ood of investment from government and other funding agencies keen to support innovation in systems that upcycle farm and food industry waste. One beneciary is Coquitlam-based Lucent BioSciences Inc. Lucent created Soileos, a highly bioavailable micronutrient fertilizer that binds zinc, iron, boron and manganese to cellulose substrates derived from pea, lentil, wheat and oat hull processors’ discard. Soil microorganisms work on the substrate to release the micronutrients throughout the growing season, allowing for uptake by plants. The timing of nutrient release from the substrate is dependent on many environmental factors, including moisture and heat. “The microbially activated mode of action is something that is pretty novel about the product and makes it dierent,” says Lucent’s business development associate Bryan Wattie. Many commercial fertilizers are synthetic and don't always mix well with other farm inputs, reducing their eectiveness, he explains. “With Soileos, as the cellulose is broken down by the microbiome, the nutrients are also mobilized and utilized by microbes. Some of those nutrients become available immediately,” he says. “As microbes are themselves consumed or otherwise reach the end of their lifecycle, the nutrients can be re-released.” The carbon-based nutrient delivery method also improves soil health by increasing microbial biomass and reducing the potential of nutrient leaching. “[Soileos provides an] opportunity to add enough value to food processing residues that they are worth taking back and spreading onto the eld to create a circular economy,” says Wattie. “The food processor has something to sell back to the farmer. The circular economy piece is something that is prominent in a lot of our conversations.” The company now has two years of eld testing under its belt. Partners will continue with trials through next year’s growing season. Research trials Small plot research trials in 2020 showed average yield increases of 54.9% in cabbage, 11.9% in corn and 8.6% in wheat. Blueberries also had improved quality grades. In 2021, Lucent worked with 35 farms. It undertook 20-acre strip trials of canola, corn, soybeans, wheat and lentils on 40 elds. All told, Soileos was applied across 1,000 acres last year. “Those trials are from Alberta to Ontario in Canada and there’s also a few people in Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana,” he says. Lucent is also working with partner IN10T (pronounced ‘intent’) to collect soil, tissue, weather and yield data and thereby accurately measure return on investment values in a real-world farming context. On September 22, Lucent announced the start of commercial production of Soileos in Coquitlam. It will hit the market this year through four North American distributors. “We will be producing 300 tons of material for the 2022 growing season. If things go well, it might be more. It should cover between 40,000 and 50,000 acres depending on the application rate,” says Wattie. “The team is really excited to bring this product BC tech companies give ag waste a new lifeSoil amendments, gas production attract grant awardsto market, further quantify the benets being observed in our trials and oer a novel product for growers to grow healthy nutritious crops with good yields and keep their operations sustainable and protable.” Lucent BioSciences has received a total of $2.9 million in support from Protein Industries Canada, AGT Foods of Regina and several investors. The company also received $245,000 from the BC Agritech Grant program last spring as well as support from Innovate BC and the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance program. Salmon Arm’s Valid See PILLARS on next page o
38 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCPILLARS of sustainability nfrom page 37Manufacturing Ltd., another BC Agritech Grant recipient, received $320,000 towards its work to transform dry-cake dairy livestock waste into non-polluting, safe and eective fertilizer. Lucent has identied the potential to use manure as another viable micronutrient substrate. Protein Industries Canada CEO William Greuel says all pillars of sustainability need to be a part of the discussion when it comes to developing and amplifying innovative farming practices. “If you think about sustainability from an environmental perspective, it is critical to support this type of innovation in the agricultural sector because we rely heavily on the natural world: the environment, soil, water, air quality,” he says. “The other piece is around economics. … With this process, we use what is considered a waste from a value-added process.” Since Lucent uses the bre from the outer seed hull that would otherwise be discarded or used for livestock feed, this “waste” product is upcycled “as a carrier for nutrients,” Greuel says. “It’s an elegant example of circular economy and nexus between sustainability and economics.” Another innovative company, Trident Processes of Abbotsford, looks to extract nutrients from liquid manure and separate the euent into valuable component parts to help reduce farmers’ costs for manure transport and storage. Trident received a $410,000 grant from the BC Agritech Grant program last year and $15,000 from the Abbotsford Community Foundation for its work in recycling, reusing and upcycling livestock waste. The company develops and automates processing systems for liquid and solid separation of agricultural wastewater into biomass, nutrients and water. “We process manure that is generated on livestock operations, predominantly dairy farms,” says Trident’s executive director of global marketing Frank Engel. Seabreeze Farms Ltd. in Delta was its rst commercial-scale project in 2015. “That is really what kickstarted the whole nutrient recovery and manure treatment technology aspect of Trident,” he says. A series of steps separates manure into several components for reuse. The euent water can be sent back to the barn for ushing or irrigation. Dry organic bre can be used as bedding. And, on the nutrient front, NPK is extracted and made available in a concentrated form. “The transportation and storage aspects become much easier,” says Engel of the various components. Through Trident’s team of wastewater treatment experts, the company renes its existing technology and equipment to best suit stakeholders. “The technology that we use is not uncommon from what you’d see in municipal wastewater treatment plants. But they have lots of sta members, so our focus has always been to make it work on dairy farms where producers have limited sta to look after things,” Engel says. As a result, Trident has an automated system that is designed to run unsupervised 24/7. The system is enabled to send notications to farmers’ phones to ag certain events. “Not a lot of intervention is required from the operator. The maintenance and operations aspects don’t require a lot of time. We’re trying to set ourselves apart in terms of system eciency,” Engel adds. Trident strives to make zero-waste manure management available for all farms. The company’s system is traditionally used for larger operations with a few hundred or thousands of cows, but Engel says Trident is working on a turnkey modular treatment system that can reclaim water and NPK nutrients from pretreated manure. “It will make state-of-the-art treatment solutions available in an aordable and eective fashion and support the long-term goal of advancing regenerative agricultural practices in our community,” he says.Manure recycled into beddingToronto-based Point 3 Biotech Corp. is looking to add more value to livestock waste and strive towards zero-waste agriculture through bacterial fermentation. Point 3 received $255,000 from the BC Agritech Grant program and $40,000 from the Abbotsford Community Foundation last year towards the development of a community-scale manure management system. This approach would use manure from multiple farms to achieve economies of scale. The system uses anaerobic digestion, which turns livestock manure into biomethane and organic fertilizers. The company uses bacteria to convert the resulting methane and carbon dioxide into single-cell proteins and other nutrients through fermentation. “We’re focusing on anaerobic digestion as a cornerstone for recycling and sustainability,” says Point 3 CEO James Irwin. “We’re optimizing the [renewable natural gas] process so we can maximize gas production, remove all the energy from the waste streams and isolate specic compounds out of them like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.” Point 3 Biotech Corp. works with Bakerview EcoDairy in Abbotsford . The agritech grant supports the company’s plans to upcycle dairy manure bre in place of using imported wood bre for shavings, sawdust and compost. The project will use dairy manure from various bedding types and the nished product will be used in poultry barns and mushroom farms after contaminants and biosecurity threats are removed. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 39Milk marketing board chooses new entrantsTorenvliet family looks forward to launching dairy in FebruaryPeter and Debby Torenvliet are starting off the year off as one of three dairies in the BC Milk Marketing Board’s New Entrant Program. Their names were chosen from a shortlist of 10 applications. RONDA PAYNESee NEW on next page oKATE AYERS ABBOTSFORD – Peter Torenvliet grew up in the suburbs of Abbotsford where his only exposure to animal care was looking after his pet goldsh and family dog. But a landscaping job in 2010 introduced him to farming and he hasn’t looked back since. “I was asked if I would be interested in a job at Bakerview EcoDairy. I had zero farm experience and I told them that,” says Torenvliet. But owner Bill Vanderkooi was willing to oer on-the-job training and support, noting Torenvliet’s interest in agriculture, excellent work ethic and friendly personality. “He’s a smart guy and articulate,” says Vanderkooi. “We thought he could learn fairly quickly in the right environment, and he proved to be really great in terms of our company culture. He has a great sense of humour and got along with everyone.” Torenvliet spent seven years looking after the EcoDairy’s milking herd of between 30 and 50 cows, the research ock of laying hens, warehousing, as well as repair and maintenance work. Then, in 2016, Torenvliet, along with his wife Debby and business partners Brian and Audrey Janzen, bought PC Dairy in Greendale. Brian was a participant in the BC Milk Marketing Board’s former graduated entry program. They renovated the barn and Brian’s quota has been milked there for the last ve years. Torenvliet handles morning milkings and other tasks around the farm. But after a year, he found that raising a young family in Chilliwack and working in Greendale as well as answering 3 a.m. calls from the robots at the Bakerview EcoDairy was too much. “It got too tough to handle, so I was looking for something closer,” he says. In 2017, Torenvliet got a job at Southern Irrigation, a convenient 11-minute commute from his house. The o-farm job and PC Dairy kept him busy but Torenvliet longed to have his own dairy farm. Earlier this year, he and Debby applied to the BC Milk Marketing Board’s New Entrant Program in hopes of turning their dreams into a reality. In July, the couple were selected to enter the dairy industry and begin production in 2022 under the board’s NEP. They, along with Kristopher Heppner of Chilliwack and Henry Veldhuis of Vernon, were chosen from a shortlist of 10 candidates selected in a random draw from a pool of 79 applications. www.bcfarmandranch.com 604.852.1180 | 1-888-852-AGRI (2474)
40 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCNEW entrants must have a solid business plan nfrom page 39Candidates were selected following interviews this summer after the marketing board reviewed their business plans and other documentation. Torenvliet says the selection process “was quite rigorous.” “I was quite surprised when Debby and I came into that room for the interview. There were a lot of people there. A lot of professionals,” Torenvliet says. “They have a lot of hard questions about your business plan.” Torenvliet cautions future applicants to respect the NEP process if they want a chance at selection. “You cannot fool around if you are serious about dairy farming and are interested in the new entrant program. You really have to have your ducks in a row, and you need to be really realistic,” he says. He expects to make a prot of $83 per month in his rst ve years of farming, after all expenses are paid. “That’s a really conservative business plan but we’re certainly not planning on becoming rich from dairy farming. We have no illusions about that,” he says. Financial reality Before applying for the NEP, the couple sat down with their banker and discussed the nancial reality and feasibility of farming. They also had discussions with a neighbour to see if they could start their operation in his heifer barn. “Then we started building the business plan based on those conversations. It comes down to building a proper nancial balance sheet. If it pencils out and you love doing it, you go for it. And that is what we based (our plans) on,” says Torenvliet. “We’re doing it because we love the dairy industry, and we think it’s a great way to live and to raise your family. It’s been good to us the last 10 years. This opportunity came up and we thought it would be a good way to get involved.” Torenvliet and Debby factored short-and-long-term goals into their business plan and future aspirations. “Here we go on this adventure because at the end of the 10 years, two of my boys will be 21 and 22,” Torenvliet says. “It’s too early right now to tell what their interest levels really are, but by then I’ll be able to know who wants to run with this. … It’s such a great opportunity for a young guy to take it and grow it. So, I’d be more than willing to pass the torch at that point.” But for now, the couple are working out the logistics of starting up their 20-cow dairy venture next month. The capital-intensive nature of farming means that the family must consider all cost-saving options for farm operations. “We can’t aord to buy a brand-new John Deere tractor and mixer wagon. We can’t aord to buy a farm with land prices at $100,000 to $130,000 per acre, so you have to get creative on how you’re going to feed your animals and purchase animals and how you’re going to keep your costs down,” says Torenvliet. “The challenge is how to work around obstacles like the amount of money you need to borrow to make 31 kilograms of quota go. It’s not a very idyllic picture nancially, so you have to nd ways to make it work.” Fortunately, his network of experienced and knowledgeable producers has provided insights into how to make the nancials go round. “We throw around ideas. It all adds up to not going it alone but rather getting good ideas from other people and putting them into place,” says Torenvliet. Overall, the Torenvliet family is excited for the potential of their dairy and doing “a bit more of what we’re already good at; we’re looking forward to getting going on it,” he says. The Torenvliets will set up their new dairy in a neighbour’s heifer barn. They readily admit it’s more of a lifestyle choice – it’s a great way to raise a family – than a nancial one. RONDA PAYNEAgricultural Grade Products - Made in the U.S.A. Contact your local Nelson Irrigation dealer today!NEW HANGINGSPRINKLER SOLVESPROBLEMS FORORGANIC GROWERS15-50 PSI8.5-75 GPH9-16’ RAD.PREMIUM PERFORMANCE ON HOSE REEL TRAVELERSIntroducing the S7 Spinner - a new Nelson innovation designed to combatrising energy and labor costs. The S7’s modular design allows quick and easynozzle exchange - and the Quick Clean (QC) technology reduces irrigatorhours — simply turn, flush and reconnect. Special insect protection helpsprevent plugging or stalling. Find out more at WWW.NELSONIRRIGATION.COM®
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 41RONDA PAYNE LAKE COUNTRY – The apricots ripened two weeks early and fell o the trees around July 1 at Claremont Ranch Organics in Lake Country, where agrologist Molly Thurston farms with her husband Matt. The bright orange fruit was too damaged to pick, with the trees hit by a late frost in mid-April, followed by a dry spring and then intense heat at the end June. Thurston doesn’t normally move to full irrigation in her orchard until July or August, but this year it was necessary by mid-June. Water use in the 7.5-acre orchard rose by about 35% as temperatures soared past 40°C. “We were very concerned about the dry soil conditions heading into this,” says Thurston, who operates Pearl Agricultural Consulting. “We were doing pre-emptive watering … heading into the heat dome but we just couldn’t keep up. We are probably not as ecient irrigators as we should be in tree fruit as a whole.” Then the insects moved in. “Post the heat dome, we had a lot of insect pressure,” says Thurston. “We also saw many pests had additional generations or partial generations.” Thurston shared her experience as part of a panel discussion about extreme heat and drought during a virtual workshop the BC Agricultural Climate Adaptation Research Network hosted, December 7. Drought and extreme temperatures are making farming harder and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada agroclimate specialist Trevor Hadwen says 2021 conditions were the most severe on record since the Canadian Drought Monitor was launched in 2003. He doesn’t think it will be the last. A signicant heat event is bound to happen again, he says, even though historical data would suggest otherwise. Given her experience, water is a key issue for Thurston, who says this winter may not deliver enough precipitation to compensate for last summer’s dry weather. “Are we going to start next season in a decit? I have some concerns when I’m digging soil samples right now,” she says. She wonders if dwarng rootstocks may be contributing to the problem. While they allow for productive, compact orchards, they may increase water demand. “It’s not necessarily the variety, but it’s the rootstock that we’re using,” she says. “The risk may be less canopy, more exposure. Also, some of these rootstocks are really shallow-rooted. Are they able to get enough water as well as nutrients?” Thurston uses cover crops in her orchard to help keep moisture in the soil, although it eventually looks like a jungle. Some growers she works with have tried shade cloth to help reduce sunburn damage. Calcium sprays to help prevent sunburn weren’t eective this summer. She encourages growers to better understand their soils, especially when dealing with perennials such as fruit trees and bushes. “There’s lots of work that I think has been done in other sectors that I think we can pull from and integrate,” she says. “We’re trying to keep on top of our mowing and mulching to keep feeding back into the soil.” Warning signs Spring will tell the full story of tree health after the extreme temperatures, but Thurston has already seen some warning signs. “We didn’t see the vigour in some of the plantings that I would have liked to have seen,” she says. “There was an absolute stop to the growth of young trees in June and into mid-July. I’m worried about the winter hardiness. There was a late dormancy.” Tools like climate and weather stations, data and modelling will become increasingly necessary for growers to manage drought and extreme heat. “Being able to look at models for pests and disease and changing up your spray timings or control timings to match. There are irrigation models out there as well,” she says. “As things change, it’s very likely the models will need to change.” To address the irrigation issue, Mark Ricka, a dairy farmer at Brooknook Farms in Chilliwack, would like government grants to help producers adopt more ecient irrigation practices. Thurston recognizes that the changes needed may force growers to change their practices. “We’re at a point now where we have to use all the tools we have available to us,” she says. “Accessing a tool and being able to interpret the output of that tool and translate that into management practices is really important.” Drought management requires new strategiesGrowers need to use all the tools to build resilienceAg consultant and fruit grower Molly Thurston says it’s too soon to really know the impact of last summer’s heat dome on the trees in her orchard. 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42 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCInstagrammable garlic? We’d rather less fussThere’s picture-perfect farming; then there’s usIt was raining when we planted the garlic, it has rained ever since, and now it is freezing. The poor garlic. I expect the snow will soon fall, and it will be decently shrouded. The garlic crop on the Helmer Farm is getting the bubble crop treatment. I see pictures on social media all the time of garlic planting on other farms. The pictures depict and suggest a very labour-intensive and careful process; the nal shot is of a very cozy-looking eld, all tucked in under a thick hay mulch duvet. In due time, there will appear pictures of truly magnicent garlic. I have done it that way myself, so I know what I am looking at. Unfortunately for the garlic on my farm, the fuss-fest that is garlic planting has come to an end. I am not sure to what end it has arrived as we still nd fuss to reduce. Already we use the potato planter, last year we dispensed with the hay mulch, and for quite some time no-one has worried about getting the seed right way up. This year, I planted into thick mud, smeared into rather large hills by the improperly adjusted potato planter discs, with a low-eciency, unpaid crew. The garlic is a bubble crop, commercially speaking. Bubble crops are identied when a grower adopts a more hard-hearted approach to crop evaluation and notices that the sales revenue inadequately covers the costs associated with raising and selling it. Often these crops are the subject of an unreasonable number of requests from customers, and the farmer has not had the heart to cut them from the commercial crop roster. I have been ruthless of late: I didn’t plant celeriac last year, and the parsnips were plowed under with only a slight pang, guilty of nothing but slow germination. Of course, the presence of bubble crops in the rst place indicates 20-odd years of weak crop selection decision-making. I really like to grow all kinds of things other than potatoes. Garlic is next on the block. We aren’t going to plant it commercially anymore if it can’t handle a further reduction in planting fuss. This year, we dispensed with the remaining niceties: regular spacing, uy loam seed bed and planting depth. All we wanted was seed into soil. This past October day, as I contemplated my sketchy volunteer crew perched up behind me on the potato planter, one of whom had just demanded the umpteenth unnecessary stop, even that seemed a lofty ambition. I eased my foot o the clutch, and we set o again in the low rst gear, at full idle – a nod to crew safety rather than planting quality, although I really thought the creeping pace would allow them to keep up. The rain was ramping up again and the row stretched long ahead. Adding to my thoughtfulness, the moisture-laden soil was failing rather spectacularly to ow. Adjustments were necessary, but I fought o the urge. The crew would likely not stick around for adjustments: the garlic would have to cope. The results will not be available for evaluation until spring. In the meantime, I nd it hard to look at the eld – all bare and unevenly sown with seed in hills of frozen mud. I think there is a slight possibility that everything will turn out okay, and the high hills probably prevented the entire crop from getting washed away in one deluge or another, but it’s not a good look for a garlic eld. Regardless, that’s how we plant it now: no fuss. If it drops o the commercial roster, I’ll be the only one with regrets. The bottom line certainly won’t notice. Sigh. Anna Helmer farms in the Pemberton Valley and incorrectly fancies herself quite the mixed vegetable grower. Farm Story by ANNA HELMERINTRODUCING THE 20226R Series TractorWhat’s New:• Two new 6R Models (140 & 165) that expand the line to 12 Models• New name and numbering with updated hood design and styling• New Standard, Premium, and Ultimate cab packages• New Hydraulic Intelligent Power Management (IPM)• New reversible fan• New Cornerpost display that provides critical machine functions• New electronic loader control with integrated reverser• New 1000E power take-off (PTO) availability (6R 110 to 6R 165)The updated power-dense lineup maximizes productivity and ef昀ciency.TOLL FREE: 1-877-553-3373 WWW.PCE.CAPRINCE GEORGE | KAMLOOPS | KELOWNA | CHILLIWACK | NANAIMOORDER YOURS TODAY!LOCK INPRICE & FINANCING
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 43Mark Smith aims to provide last-mile distribution services as a "hyper-local Amazon" serving Vancouver Island. SUBMITTEDProudly 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 202-4841 Delta Street admin@fvopa.ca Delta, BC V4K 2T9 www.fvopa.ca Proudly certifying Producers and Processors across CanadaFraser Valley Organic Producers Association (FVOPA) offers year-round certication services for producers, processors, packaging and labelling contractors, retailers, distributors and various organic service providers. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and are always happy to welcome new members. FVOPA certies to the Canadian Organic Standards and to the Canada Organic Regime (COR). Certied products may bear the Canada Organic logo and be marketed Canada-wide and internationally. New initiative supports local food, businessesTastes Local aims to showcase everything Islanders produceKATE AYERS VICTORIA – A new social enterprise will help farmers and local businesses bridge the “last mile” in the delivery chain that puts goods in the hands of customers. Victoria tech entrepreneur Mark Smith launched Tastes Local in fall 2020 to solve the challenge small businesses, including farms, face distributing their products to a dispersed customer base. Most are too small to have their own distribution service, so Smith took his experience improving container ship logistics during the pandemic to create what he calls “a hyper-local Amazon” in partnership with the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance. On October 14, Tastes Local was retained to act as the logistics provider for Deliver Vancouver Island (DELVI), a 15,000-square-foot distribution centre the Parksville Chamber of Commerce has launched to serve as the online sales, warehouse, and distribution solution for small and medium businesses. The following week, it opened its rst Tastes Local+ location, a micro-retail centre that serves as a pick-up location for purchases at the Dock+, the new food hub in Port Alberni. “In November 2020, we did a pilot project and partnered with the Island Good brand,” explains Smith. “We got about 30 local vendors and put together boxes of local goods and services, called Island Good Boxes. Magically, they started to sell. Out of that, we are moving to a much larger scale.” Since the onset of the pandemic, e-commerce has surged, with online orders of groceries now accounting for about 3% of total e-commerce sales in Canada. Consumer use of the option has doubled since 2019. Businesses large and small have seen growing interest in online ordering, but the shift has put pressure on farms and other small businesses to deliver. “We want to help producers gain new markets and help them scale up their businesses by helping with product delivery,” says Smith, who is also president and CEO of Victoria tech services company Query Fusion. The precursor to Tastes Local was Query Distribution, which Smith launched at the beginning of the pandemic to address large-scale distribution challenges, such as enhancing transportation connections to Vancouver Island. Tastes Local brings together a small team of experienced people who share a passion for Vancouver Island and local products, but it’s not the rst company to see the need. FoodX Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Inc. (SPUD), launched an e-commerce and fullment platform in 2018 to help large and small grocery retailers meet online grocery demand. The company predicts that online sales will be 25% of the global grocery category by 2025. In 2020, it signed a licensing agreement that will see its system deployed in Belgium. This past September, SPUD went public in a move that allows it to tap the public markets for nancing as it grows. Smith, for his part, is focused on Vancouver Island. Centralized concept Right now, Tastes Local is live with an online platform [tasteslocal.ca]. The website includes food and wellness products for purchase but “will include breweries, wineries, vintners, artists, and musicians,” Smith says. Tastes Local is “about bringing local goods and services on the Island into one central place.” This centralized concept is key to the success of home delivery models, says Greg McLaren, managing director and chief strategist of Nanaimo consulting rm Farm Food Drink Inc. “I’m a strong proponent that local food is better for local economies, communities, health and the environment,” he says. However, food suppliers face many hurdles when delivering their products from farm gates to dinner plates. Capacity is one issue. “Farmers and business owners need enough product and demand to make delivery worthwhile,” says McLaren. Producers must also manage the “logistics of a nding eciencies and changing their business models to include delivery,” he says, which come at a cost and require specic skillsets. Perhaps the biggest challenge that producers face in this space is sucient marketing. “Consumers have to know about you in the rst place,” he says. “Most of the successful businesses look strongly at how they market themselves. They do a better job online through social media, branding and labelling. They are better understood by the consumer. Folks can’t try things out before buying them anymore, so artisanal vendors, for example, need to explain their products and how it will look and taste.” Successful businesses also make it easy for consumers to get to their locations or pick up products, he adds. The Tastes Local initiative will be a combination of small brick-and-mortar spaces and community pick-up centres. The team is developing relationships with local communities and businesses that can serve as pick-up points for remote locations, Smith says. Community partnerships and inclusivity are incredibly important in this venture, he adds. They are consulting Indigenous communities and are collaborating with associations that specialize in special needs employment opportunities. To help producers with further product development, Smith is bringing in subject matter experts in consumer-packaged goods, cuisine and food trends. “If we can get the right eciencies and build a solid foundation, we can help it grow and support farmers,” he says. 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44 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCThousands of BC farmers and ranchers turn to Country Life in BC every month to nd out what (and who!) is making news in BC agriculture and how it may affect their farms and agri-businesses! www.countrylifeinbc.com/subscribeCREDIT CARD # _________________________________________________________________ EXP _____________ CVV _____________ o NEW o RENEWAL | o ONE YEAR ($18.90) oT WO YEARS ($33.60) o THREE YEARS ($37.80) Your Name ____________________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________ Postal Code _______________________________________ Phone _________________________ Email _______________________________________________________________ MAIL TO: 36 DALE RD, ENDERBY, BC V0E 1V4 subscriptions@ countrylifeinbc.com Please send a _______ year gift subscription to ______________________________________________________________ Farm Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________ Postal Code ________ ______________________________ Phone _________________________ Email _______________________________________________________________ Ashley’s ready and the party’s about to beginWhen we left o last time, Lois had come to Susan’s rescue and enlisted old Jimmy Vincent to spread the word about an alternative grad party. Rural Redemption, Part 142, continues. Jimmy Vincent had no sooner agreed to the suggestion that he start spreading the word about the community graduation barbeque than he was out the door and gone. He was back 30 seconds later. “Lois, I’ve been thinking.” “That was mighty quick thinking, Jimmy. What’s on your mind?” “How do you gure I should go about telling everyone.” “A couple things, Jimmy. First of all, don’t waste any time going on about Newt’s party. Pretend his party’s not even happening and tell folks about the one at the ball eld on Sunday. Second, you’re in charge of getting the word out so don’t be afraid to delegate.” “Delegate?” asked Jimmy. “Get some folks to help you. Ask them if they want to be delegates on the organizing committee, then put them in charge of helping you.” “Delegates, eh?” mused Jimmy. “How about you? You feel like being a delegate?” “Sure,” said Lois. “How about I organize the hotdogs and hamburgers?” Jimmy asked if it would be okay to put a sign-up sheet by the mailboxes. Lois said she didn’t think there would be enough time for that. Jimmy asked if she could think up anybody to be a delegate. Lois said he should go to see Junkyard Frank. “Just tell him I told you there wouldn’t be much chance of pulling it o unless you got Frank to be a delegate on the organizing committee.” Frank and Jimmy marched back into the store 45 minutes later. Frank told Lois he intended to show Newt Pullman a thing or two about organizing things proper and Jimmy and him were going to set up shop at the coee club table in the corner of the store because it was the nerve centre of the whole community. Lois said they couldn’t start before nine in the morning, and they had to skedaddle by four. And they couldn’t bother folks at the mailboxes. vvv Susan noticed the phone calls about the party start to dwindle. They stopped for a half hour before it rang again. “I hope this is you, Susan. This is Yvonne from Vivienne’s Fashions.” “Hello, Yvonne. Yes, it’s me. Are you phoning about Ashley’s dress?” “Yes. I just nished it 20 minutes ago. I’m calling to say Iris and I are planning to deliver it tomorrow. How will we nd you?” Susan apologized for putting them to so much bother. “No bother at all,” said Yvonne. “It’s the perfect excuse to get Iris out of the store for a day and neither of us can wait to see Ashley in this dress. I’ve had such fun with it.” “How does it look?” “Fabulous and glamorous wouldn’t begin to do it justice. We should get to you about noon and if Ashley is available, I would like her to try it on just to see if it needs any little tucks or easing.” Susan said she could hardly wait and promised to have Ashley standing by. Susan sent Newt o to town with a long shopping list and instructions not to be back before 3. Deborah and Ashley were waiting with Susan when Iris and Yvonne arrived. They all wanted to see the dress but Yvonne said it was made specially for Ashley and couldn’t be properly appreciated on a hanger. She took the dress and followed Ashley to the guest bedroom down the hall. She came back into the sitting room 15 minutes later. “Ladies, it is my distinct pleasure to present Miss Ashley Henderson.” There was a moment of silence when Ashley came into the room with a twirl. Susan was the rst to nd her voice. “Oh, Ashley, you look absolutely stunning. Yvonne, it’s magical. I don’t know how you could even imagine this, let alone make it.” Yvonne blushed. “It was Ashley who inspired it. Such a beautiful young woman deserves a dress just as beautiful, no?” Ashley said it was unbelievable. Yvonne explained she had made some changes from what they had discussed at the shop: stayed with the 20s theme but modernized the t, no sleeves but wide straps and a scoop neckline. Knee length with fringed hem. “And she wears it perfectly. She has made it easy for me.” Deborah was speechless. Such a beautiful young woman. Eighteen and graduating from high school. Images from those 18 years ashed through her mind. It had all happened so quickly. She hadn’t been very much older herself when Ashley was born. And now, such a beautiful and eervescent young woman. So condent, kind and sensible, with her wings spread wide. Ready to y. There were tears on Deborah’s cheeks. “Are you okay, Mom?” Deborah could only snie and nod her head. Ashley crossed the room and wrapped her in her arms. “I love you, Mom.” “I love you, too,” whispered Deborah. Susan started tear up, too, and Yvonne said it might be best to change and hang the dress up. vvv The next morning Deborah took Ashley to get her hair done at the Hair by Gwen salon in town. Clay took Newt and the Packard out for one last spin before the afternoon ceremonies. Shortly after noon, Ashley was dressed and waiting for Clay. There was a blanket folded over her arm. “What’s the blanket for?” asked Deborah. “For the truck seat. I don’t want to take any chances with this dress.” Deborah smiled and said she was certain Clay had thought of everything and the blanket wouldn’t be necessary. The Packard caught Ashley’s eye as soon as it turned in the driveway. “Mr. Pullman is here in the old car he took Grandma out in.” “Maybe,” said Deborah. Clay tooted the horn and waved as he pulled to a stop. “Well, look at this handsome young man,” said Deborah. Clay walked up the front steps and met Ashley on the porch. They stood looking at one another from top to bottom. “Wow, Ash. Look at you.” “Wow, yourself,” said Ashley. “Where did you get that car, stranger.” Deborah took their pictures: on the porch, on the lawn, beside the car, inside the car, and leaving down the driveway. Ashley reached for Clay’s hand, but he needed it to shift gears. “I can’t believe how great you look, and that dress,” said Clay. “Yeah? Well, I can’t believe how good you look in this car.” Ashley glanced at the silver wristwatch Susan had loaned her. “We’re going to be really early,” she said. Clay said he’d planned it that way so they could take a little tour before they went to the school. “There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he said. “I already know about the party I’m not supposed to know about if that’s it” “Good to know, but that’s not it.” ... to be continued Woodshed Chronicles by BOB COLLINS
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 45Self-care can help women focus on their goalsSelf-awareness, personal branding are critical skillsTomina Jackson, co-founder of Rolling D Workwear, says not to be discouraged when people say no. “You just haven’t found your people yet; keep asking,” she told delegates at the Advancing Women conference. SUBMITTED2019 suncatcher: $82020 suncatcher: $82021 suncatcher: $10Start Your OwnCollection!This Collectable Keepsake Ornament setfeatures three custom 4-H themedsuncatcher ornaments designed by 4-H BCmembers. Start collecting your ornamentsthis year and support 4-H in BC.Visit www.4hbc.ca/STOREMYRNA STARK LEADER CALGARY – Given the challenges Canadian agriculture faced in 2021 – heat, oods, the ongoing pandemic and more – this fall’s Advancing Women in Agriculture conference sought to recharge and reinspire more than 600 registered participants. Dozens of speakers from across North America addressed the online event, sharing insights about career, leadership, self-condence and self-care. Scotiabank vice-president and national head of agriculture Janice Holzscherer, of Oxford, Ontario, drove home the importance of fostering informal networks to support professional development and success. Although she’s held various roles, she only formally applied for one. The rest have come through the recommendations of others. To increase the likelihood of referrals, Holzscherer advised participants to know their personal brand. “How are you viewed by colleagues, bosses, partners, associates, friends and even family?” Holzscherer asked. “How would they describe you, your talents and skills, and what you are looking for or passionate about, and if you’re open to new opportunities?” Holzscherer says everyone should be able to explain their personal brand quickly. If you don’t know, ask those around you and listen to get a starting point, she says. Conversely, increased self-awareness was also a conference message. Roxanne Derhodge, a mental health and wellness specialist from Niagara Falls, says most people know their emotional intelligence (EQ), their emotional strengths and weaknesses, but they’re less aware of their authenticity quotient (AQ). She says many people think they’re authentic, but on a deeper dive nd out otherwise. Personal AQ matters more now since people increasingly want to do business with and work for companies with leaders who focus on relationships and not just the bottom line. Derhodge suggests improving authenticity by examining how one makes decisions under pressure, whether or not you can show vulnerability in your decision-making and how you communicate and connect not just with people like you but those who aren’t. She encourages scoring each area on a simple scale, then focusing on bettering the lowest one. Another way to think about authenticity is to consider how others describe you after you’ve left an environment or situation. Were you a champion of others, a mentor and someone not afraid to show their emotions or vulnerability, for example. To oer inspiration to the two-day event, fashion host and journalist Jeanne Beker shared her career journey. Beker advised participants to have a career goal, keep an open heart and mind, not be married to the destination and remain relevant in an ever-changing world. She also suggested getting over being afraid and instead push to nd a way to stand out. “Open your minds and eyes to possibilities, keep yourself engaged, have faith in your ideas, don’t be afraid and never give up!” said the daughter of Holocaust survivors from Poland, who with no fashion background created a niche for herself, shifting career paths several times. Listen to your intuition Beker’s message was echoed by Lauren McCreery, a professional life coach at Swerve Coaching & Consulting in Canmore. She advised participants to listen more to their intuition, warning against overanalyzing decisions until fear or societal pressures prevent action. McCreery said solo, silent walking for 10-30 minutes a day is a way to slow down and get more in touch with body, mind and spirit. Another tactic is asking yourself how you are feeling. If there are feelings you are trying to avoid, ignore or seek, dig in further. More specic to agriculture, Lori Robinson, farm manager at Eric C. Robinson Inc. in PEI shared how she became the head of a sixth-generation farm with 2,600 acres of soybeans, barley and forage as well as a crop protection business employing up to 90 people. Robinson had a desire to run the farm in high school, even though she didn’t know of any farms on PEI run by women. Then, three months after joining the family business to learn more, her father died in a vehicle accident. She was in her 20s. “Life is full of challenges and at a young age, I learned that how I chose to face life's challenges would either make me or break me,” she said. She has managed the farm for 27 years and now shares her experiences to be a model for others. People are good Tomina Jackson, co-founder of Rolling D Workwear in Russell, Manitoba, shared three pieces of advice for entrepreneurs that drove home Robinson’s point. Rolling D makes workwear for women. First, ask and you shall receive. Jackson says her mom always said people are good. They want to see you succeed, see you do good and they want to help, so just ask. “If someone is telling you no, you just haven’t found your people yet; keep asking,” said Jackson. Second, women need to embrace who they are and make their own authentic path. Lastly, she encouraged women to challenge themselves to do something they are afraid to do. For a self-declared introvert like her, it’s presenting in public. “Be brave for ve minutes at a time,” said Jackson.
46 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCThis is light and lling so would make a great brunch dish or a dessert. I bet it would be good if pears or peaches were substituted for the apples, too. 2-4 apples 2 tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil 2 tbsp. (30 ml) butter 2 tbsp. (30 ml) brown sugar 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) cinnamon 1/4 tsp. (2 ml) nutmeg 4 egg whites • Pre-heat oven to 400° F. • Prepare apples by peeling, coring and slicing evenly. • Heat a 10-inch oven-proof frypan over medium-low heat and melt the butter in the oil. Combine the sugar with the spices and sprinkle it evenly over the butter and oil mixture in the pan. • Lay apple slices in an attractive pattern on top of the sugar mixture in the pan and cook over low heat for about 6-8 minutes, or until the fruit is nearly translucent. • Separate eggs, putting whites into a larger bowl and yolks into a small bowl. • Use a balloon whisk to whip the whites, adding the cream of tartar once they are foamy. Continue beating, gradually adding the white sugar until the whites form sti peaks. • Add milk, baking powder, salt and our to mixed yolks and beat in well. • Incorporate gently into the egg whites, folding it in carefully so the volume doesn’t diminish too much. • Spread egg mixture over the apple slices and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. • Loosen the edges of the pancake and put a warmed serving plate on top of the frypan. In one quick motion, ip the pancake onto the plate so the apple mixture is on top. • Cut into generous wedges to serve. • Serves 4 or more. JAN’S APPLE PANCAKEJan’s apple pancakes make a great brunch dish, or even dessert. JUDIE STEEVESGetting the new year off to a healthy startEmbarking on a new year tends to make us think about ways in which we can start fresh to lead healthier lives. Often that begins with a closer consideration of what we eat. It’s an interesting exercise to jot down everything you eat from when you rise in the morning to when you hit the pillow at night. If you’re completely honest, it can be extremely revealing. (I had no idea I snacked on that many nuts during the day, for instance, or I really thought I ate more vegetables than I actually do!) While salt is one of the minerals that’s essential to our bodies, it’s also critical that we control the amounts of it we eat. Sodium is an essential mineral in our diet, but too much of it can cause a variety of health problems. For instance, no more than six grams of salt a day should be consumed by adults, or about a teaspoon. And, lots of the salt we consume is hidden in prepared foods, like takeout. Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the dangers of a high salt intake, as well as generally poor heart health. It also does no favours for kidney function, Jude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVESdiabetes or obesity. You can start by simply reducing the amount of salt you cook with and by eating fresh, whole foods instead of those prepared for you by someone outside your home. This is a more than you would need for a single dish so keep unused amounts for another day. Delete or reduce the chill powder or cayenne pepper for a less spicy mixture. 1 tbsp. (15 ml) black pepper 1 1/2 tsp. (8 ml) ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp. (8 ml) dried oregano 3/4 tsp. (3 ml) ground dried thyme 3/4 tsp. (3 ml) ground dried rosemary 3/4 tsp. (3 ml) chili powder 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) garlic powder 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) cayenne pepper 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) paprika 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) ground, dried bay leaves 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) dry mustard powder 3/8 tsp. (2 ml) celery salt • Combine all together in a spice jar and shake well. Although I barbecued this, you could probably fry it or roast it in the oven instead. 12-oz. (340 g) llet of fresh, wild, Pacic Sockeye Salmon 1 tbsp. (15 ml) lemon juice 1 tsp. (5 ml) olive oil 1 1/2 tsp. (8 ml) Spicy Salt Substitute • Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the salmon llet and drizzle a smidge of olive oil on top. Sprinkle with the Spicy Salt Substitute. • Grill, fry or roast the salmon over medium-high heat for about eight to 10 minutes, or until just done and opaque-looking. SPICY SALT SUBSTITUTEBARBECUED SALMON FILLETThere are lots of avourful substitutions for salt in the food we eat, from lemon to garlic, ginger to spices. In the interests of eating food with lots of avour, but less salt, I’ve come up with a delicious spice mix which is great on all sorts of foods, from chicken or pork to sh. February is apple month, so enjoy these local keepers when most of the other BC-grown fruit is only available frozen or dried. Apples are a great storage fruit, kept under ideal, controlled conditions to maintain their crispness and avours, and they make wonderful snacks and lunch-box sweets, as well as serving well for desserts and fruit plates with cheese. Try this great recipe for an apple breakfast, brunch or dessert. 1/4 tsp. (2 ml) cream of tartar 2 tbsp. (30 ml) white sugar 4 egg yolks 1/2 c. (125 ml) milk 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) baking powder 1/4 tsp. (2 ml) salt 1/2 c. (125 ml) our
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2022 | 47ZcXjj`Ô\[j7Zflekipc`]\`eYZ%ZfdfiZXcc1-'+%*)/%*/(+C@E<8;J1),nfi[jfic\jj#d`e`dld(*gclj>JK#\XZ_X[[`k`feXcnfi[`j%),;@JGC8P8;J1),gclj>JKg\iZfclde`eZ_M[WYY[fjcW`ehYh[Z_jYWhZi$TRACTORS/EQUIPMENTTRACTORS/EQUIPMENTREAL ESTATEFOR SALEHAYSEEDBERRIESFor Tissue Culture Derived Plants of New Varieties of Haskaps, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Saskatoon Berries and Sour Cherries, Please Contact:DISEASE FREE PLANTING STOCK OF NEW BERRY CROPS 4290 Wallace Hill Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 4B6info@agriforestbiotech.com250.764.2224www.agriforestbiotech.com NEW POLYETHYLENE TANKS of all shapes & sizes for septic and water storage. Ideal for irrigation, hydropon-ics, washdown, lazy wells, rain water, truck box, fertizilizer mixing & spray-ing. Call 1-800-661-4473 for closest distributor. Manufactured in Delta by Premier Plastics Inc. premierplastics.com. Feeders & Panels that maintain their value!ROUND BALE FEEDERS BIG SQUARE BALE FEEDERS FENCE PANELS CATTLE & HORSE FEEDERSHeavy duty oil field pipe bale feeders. Feed savers, single round bale feeders outside measurement is 8’x8.5.’ Double round bale feeder measurement is 15’x8’. Silage bunk feeders. For product pictures, check out Double Delichte Stables on Facebook Dan 250/308-9218 Coldstream DON GILOWSKI 250-260-0828 Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd BUYING OR SELLING OKANAGAN FARM, RANCH OR ACREAGE? COURTENAY HEREFORDS. Cattle for Sale: yearling bulls and bred heifers. John 250/334-3252 or Johnny 250-218-2537.PYESTERDAY’S TRADITION - TODAY’S TECHNOLOGYMANAGERS Phil Brown 250-293-6857 Catherine Brown 250-293-6858 ccr.princeton@gmail.com www.coppercreekranch.com PRINCETON, BC Raising registered polled & horned Herefords & F1s. BREEDING BULLS FOR SALE.RAVEN HILL MEADOWS: Coneygeers bloodlines - call for seedstock. 250-722-1882. NanaimoLIVESTOCKIt’s the top linethat makes the Bottom LineBC SHORTHORN ASSOCIATION Scott Fraser, President Bob Merkley, BC Director 250-709-4443 604-607-7733FEBRUARY DEADLINE JAN 22IF YOU’VE BEEN AFFECTED BY FLOODS OR FIRE AND NEED HELP FINDING PARTS, CALL ME! • FORD 4610 TRACTOR, 60HP, Nar-row, Low Profile 2wd, Nice Cond, $11,500. • CATERPILLAR 215 EXCAVATOR, Mechanical Thumb, Caged all around, $22,000. • NEW HOLLAND 8 row hyd fold corn head for a self propelled harvester, Claas style, can be fitted to JD, $12,500. • IH, GEHL, NH, JD,1 to 3 row corn heads, $750 to $3500 each. • FELLA TEDDER 6-Star, folds back, low acres, $5500. • KUBOTA FLAIL MOWER, 50” 3ph, $1950. • KHUN GC300G Disc Mower Condi-tioner, 10’ cut, low acres, $12,500. • NH 258 and 260 Rakes with tow bar, V-Combo set, $5900. • VICON WHEEL RAKES, 4 to 8 wheel, 3ph, drawbar and V Combinations, $350 to $2200. • HAY WAGON and Utility Trailer Chassis, $200 to $2000. • WELDERS and Air Compressors, all types and sizes. • HYSTER 3PH FORK-LIFT, Heavy Duty, $2300, Other Fork-Lifts and at-tachments. • JIFFY/CRAWFORD HYDUMPS, 14’, $2500 to $6000. • Fixer-Uppers and Antique Tractors, Massy, Fordson, Kubota. • LOADER ASSEMBLIES, FORD/NH, CASE/IH, ALLIED, TIGER. • HAY, 400-16X18 Bales on trailers, can deliver, OFFERS! CALL JIM FOR ANY HARD TO FIND ITEMS ABBOTSFORD 604-852-6148DeBOER’S USED TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT GRINDROD, BCUSED JD TRACTORS 60-100 HP JD 7810 75,000 JD 5105 2WD, 2006, 1,400 HRS 15,000 [ADD LOADER TO 5105 3,500 JD620 21’ disc dbl fold 20,000 KVERNELAND 7512 round bale wrapper w/3 spool valve 4,500 ED DEBOER 250/838-7362 cell 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/838-9612 cell 250/804-6147• ROCK PICKER converted potato harvester. Asking $2,500 • MF 12’ disc harrow, $3,500 Contact Carl 604-825-9108 or email ourgoodearth@live.com1-888-770-7333Excellent ROUND BALES, grass mix haylage. 800 lb bales. 604-220-4903Two three-year-old purebred SHORTHORN COWS, bred for March calving. Call Bob 778-240-7233.25 KW PHASE 1 pto-driven GENERATOR, AGtronic, Chilliwack, $650. 604-799-0576Carrie Nicholson PREC* 250-614-6766 DISCOVER PRINCE GEORGE PRINCE GEORGE & AREA SUBDIVISION LOTS: PARADISE ESTATES: R2628217; R2628221; R2629299 and more lots available in this subdivision. GLADTIDING ESTATES: R2598853; R2598860; R2599054 and more lots available in this subdivision. SAXTON LAKE ROAD: R2610535 R2610527; R2610554 and more lots available in this area. EQUESTRIAN/CATTLE RANCH. Out-standing 445 acre property w/~250 acres in hay/pasture, updated home, MLS R2604494 $1,650,000 CRANBROOK HILL 77 acres w/dev potential minutes from UNBC. MLS R2599818 $1,500,000 HART HWY 54.95 acres. MLS R2598804. $750,000. STUNNING LAKEFRONT Year-round home with over 1000’ of shoreline on Francois Lk. MLS R2605976 $399,900 CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN 8.3 acres. MLS R2610880 $295,000 160 ACRE parcel near Fraser Lake. MLS R2610887 $294,900 310 ACRES on Leg Lake (Fort Fraser). MLS R2610870 $374,900 LARGE 5 bed/2 bath home on 1.6 acres. MLS R2601948 $370,000 74 ACRES w/ 20,000 sq ft bldg., 40 acres cultivated. MLS C8041167 $1,700,000 ESCAPE the city. Two lots in Willow River, 22,500 sq ft. MLS R2591708, $44,900 69+ ACRES ON RIVER Approx 50 acres in hay. River, road access. MLS R2569334 $785,000 RANCH PARADISE 700 acres, 5 titles, 160 acres in hay. MSL C8038028 $1,244,421 VANDERHOOF 5.15 building lot. R2575990 $64,900 55 ACRES Dev potential close to airport. MLS R2435958, $599,900 112.02 ACRES IN CITY LIMITS. Potential for development. MLS R2435725. $1,300,000 REID LAKE Sprawling 2,100 sq ft rancher on 16 acres. MLS R2634309 $275,000 VANDERHOOF 2 homes on 160 acres (95 in hay) MLS R2615764 $899,900 PRINCE GEORGE & AREA RURAL LOTS see MLS: R2531431; R2531443; R2603761; R2603767; R2603772; R2603775 TREED LOT on edge of the Fraser. MLS R2622560 $250,000 160 ACRES waiting for ideas. MLS R2622568 $ 229,900 2 LOTS IN ONE PKG! 3.55 acres residential Quesnel R2628232 $199,000 78 ACRES of PARADISE 5 bed/2 bath home, 180’ pole barn, 4 stall barn, gh, woodshed & more. R2631212 $1,449,000 WRIGHT CREEK RD 323 treed acres with tons of potential. Zoned Ru3. R2638019 $999,000NEW HOLLAND STACK LINER 1033 for sale. In working condition, does need tuning. $4500. Worn hoses replaced, new oil . Text Noah 604 7915314couNEXT MARKETPLACE DEADLINE JANUARY 223-D-L BULLS FOR SALE 6 Yearlings | 1 2-year-old Light birth weights and lots of milk Select now Will deliver April 1 after semen testCall Daryl 604-855-2287
48 | JANUARY 2022 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCFrom clearing the snow to working the jobsite in freezing conditions — winter comes with plenty of demands. Kubota meets those demands with the power and comfort you need to get more done. Whether it’s to clear the way or to get the car out of the garage — Kubota has blowers, blades and sweepers built as tough as any Canadian winter.WINTER-TESTED CAPABILITY.WINTER-READY COMFORT.kubota.ca | 1521 Sumas Way, Box 369Abbotsford, BC V2T 6Z6(604) 864-9568avenuemachinery.caAVE010OLIVER GERARD’S EQUIPMENT LTD 250/498-2524 PRINCE GEORGE HUBER EQUIPMENT 250/560-5431 SMITHERS HUBER EQUIPMENT 250/847-3610 VERNON AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 250/545-3355 ABBOTSFORD AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 604/864-2665 COURTENAY NORTH ISLAND TRACTOR 250/334-0801 CRESTON KEMLEE EQUIPMENT LTD 250/428-2254 DAWSON CREEK DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 250/782-5281 DUNCAN ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD 250/746-1755 KAMLOOPS DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 250/851-2044 KELOWNA AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 250/769-8700 PROUD PARTNER OF