CLBC January 2024 : simplebooklet.com

Postmaster, Please return Undeliverable labels to: Country Life in BC 36 Dale Road Enderby, BC V0E 1V4CANADA POSTES POST CANADA Postage paid Port payé Publications Mail Post-Publications 40012122Vol. 110 No. 1The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 JANUARY 2024 | Vol. 110 No. 1DAVID SCHMIDTBC agriculture loses a champion 3 DISASTER Erosion claims dozens of acres of farmland 7 DAIRY Remuneration to increase for dairy directors 13 PETER MITHAM ABBOTSFORD – The latest wave of avian inuenza cases levelled o in December, coming in slightly below last year’s count at the same time. “This year’s fall wave started approximately three weeks earlier than in 2022 and started to slow down a few weeks ahead of the 2022 wave,” said Steve Heppell, president of the BC Poultry Association and a turkey grower in Abbotsford. “While the overall number of cases and the duration of the fall waves are approximately the same, the 2023 wave started and is coming to an end earlier than 2022.” Canadian Food Inspection Agency statistics indicate a total of 53 premises in BC were infected with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian inuenza between October 20 and December 18, primarily in the Fraser Valley. Of these, ve were non-commercial operations. Commercial farms have not reported an infection since December 9. A year ago, the tally stood at 56 farms between November 16 and December 18, with all but two premises being commercial farms. But if the ight paths of wild birds and conditions on the ground play a role in which premises become infected, biosecurity is also key. The industry has touted the success of its red level biosecurity measures put in place to keep the highly contagious disease in check. The province’s top vet, Dr. Theresa Burns, reinstated orders this fall requiring ock Grant Sauer, vice-president of the BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation, makes a bid during the silent auction at the PNE's Evening for Agriculture event, December 9. While the weather outside was frightful, more than 60 people gathered at the PNE fairgrounds to raise $18,000 for the foundation, which supports 4-H BC, Agriculture in the Classroom projects and other endeavours as it lays a foundation for the future. Read more on page 41. ANNA KLOCHKOAI case count slowingTOM WALKER & PETER MITHAM DUNCAN – BC signed an historic watershed planning agreement with the Cowichan Tribes last May that set the stage for the province’s rst water sustainability plan, but local farmers say the pressures on the region’s farms can’t wait. Water plans kick offFarmers want actionFor a good causeNo quick fix u1-800-661-4559www.tlhort.comForage & Turf Seed • Plant Nutrition Crop Protection•Supplies•ServiceRooted in your community® since 1973Retail supplies u

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2 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCBeginning in the mountains southwest of Duncan and owing 44 km northeast towards the city, the Koksilah River eventually joins the Cowichan River just before it empties into Cowichan Bay. According to a 2020 study, 30% of land use and 65% of water use within the watershed is for agriculture. But agricultural water users have been cut o three times in the past ve years when late summer ows in the Koksilah dropped to levels the province said endangered sh populations. “It has resulted in a major crop loss for us,” says Duncan dairy farmer Ben Vanden Dungen. Vanden Dungen and other local farmers banded together in 2020 to develop an irrigation schedule that aimed to limit their impact on the river, and with the new planning process he was invited to join the collaborative community advisory table (CCAT) that will advise on the Koksilah plan’s development. But the province says the plan’s development will take three years, a long time for farmers who are running out of water today. “I appreciate that these things take time, but three years for a business of our size could be hugely detrimental,” he says. “While we are setting things up for the future, we need to gure out ways to support the people who need it now.” The table’s initial meeting took place November 6. Vanden Dungen is optimistic that it will make a dierence, but remains concerned about the near-term, given the failure to implement past studies and plans. “Why aren’t we doing things now when we have this research and examples from other streams as well?” he asks. Katy Ehrlich of Alderlea Farms, which was hit with nes last summer after the province couldn’t nd a record of its groundwater licence application, shares Vanden Dungen’s concerns given the entrenched attitudes among provincial sta. Alderlea is ghting a cease-use order issued against its water use, and Ehrlich is worried about what this summer will bring for other growers if the province continues to shut down users in a watershed that a lack of provincial regulation allowed to become over-allocated in the rst place. “I really have hope that WLRS is in the process of developing an interim policy and hitting a reset on the licences,” she says, referring to the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship handed responsibility for water management in November after years of being part of Forests. Solutions may be forthcoming, according to the BC Cattlemen’s Association. “We have been told by inside sources that Premier Eby has told his sta that he does not want any curtailments in 2024,” says BC Cattlemen’s vice-president Werner Stump. “How that plays out, we are not sure.” Streamows are not a new issue in the province. Reports stretching back to the 1970s show concern with the need to manage water levels in streams across the province for the good of society and wildlife. “Just like the wildre hazard situation, streamows are problem that has been building for years,” says Stump. But the province’s pledge to “co-manage the watersheds in BC” with First Nations, leaving only a marginal role for the agriculture industry, means agriculture isn’t likely to have much direct input into the planning process despite “Indigenous and local food security” being one objective. Moreover, agriculture accounts for about half the province’s water demand and has been the industry most impacted by sh protection orders. A government estimate based on 2019 data of a 60-day curtailment order for users in the Koksilah watershed pegged crop losses at $500,000. Angela Boss, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s representative to the Koksilah planning process, said farmers were invited to sit at the community advisory table. Seven of the table’s 19 members are farmers, representing the dairy, horticulture and winery sectors. “That table helps to assist with the planning process. At least seven of them identify as u No quick fix as government pursues planning processu Retail supplies uninterruptedfarmers out of the 19, which is a pretty substantial number of folks,” Boss claims. “They will be working alongside of the planning table to review the recommendations, the pieces that come forward in the plan.” However, government documents indicate that the advisory tables have no role in actually developing water sustainability plans. Instead, the planning team comprises members from the province, the Cowichan Tribes as well as the Cowichan Watershed Board, working under an executive director. “This is a government-to-government process,” Boss conrms. Even so, there is no representation from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, despite the fact that provincial curtailment orders were issued to protect spawning chum salmon, Coho and steelhead. “No one in the room identied as being from DFO,” Boss says of the November 6 meeting, which was closed to media. DFO’s absence doesn’t make any sense to BC Cattlemen’s general manager Kevin Boon. “When I met with federal agriculture minister MacAulay [in October], I made it clear to him that the sh protection orders that the province invokes are at the insistence of the federal government and that the federal government must get involved in planning to support the sh,” Boon says. owners to keep their birds inside and also banned the co-mingling of poultry. Growers have also practiced social distancing, shifting their meetings online and limiting access to barns. To address the situation, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food scheduled a webinar with producers for December 19 to update producers on the outbreak and discuss biosecurity measures, public health implications and information about income support through AgriStability. All segments of the industry have been hit by the current wave, including hatcheries. This has jeopardized the replenishment of barns that are able to receive chicks, threatening to prolong the downtime of operations in the Lower Mainland and across the province. The concentrated nature of the poultry industry in BC means any disease outbreak or disruption in the Lower Mainland is felt across the province, prompting eorts to increase the distribution of production across BC. To date, however, few impacts have been seen on the supply of products to markets. While the depopulation of Meadowridge turkey farm in Surrey made mainstream media headlines in late November, just in time for Christmas, Heppell says retail supplies are in good shape. “There have been no shortages of poultry products such as chicken and turkey meat or eggs in the grocery stores,” he says. Family Farm Friendly Financial Planning Services.Holistic ﬁnancial planning for your family farm now and into the future. Patrick’s proven ﬁnancial and estate planning program provides income, security, and tax minimization to help ensure the most effective decisions are made now, and on an ongoing basis.Please contact me to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation discussion at 604.467.5321 | patrick.obrien@rbc.com References are available.1.877.272.2002 | www.patrick-obrien.ca#200-11980 227th St. Maple Ridge, B.C. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 3David Schmidt (1950-2023) PETER MITHAM CHILLIWACK – Veteran farm journalist and Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt is being remembered for his depth of knowledge of BC agriculture and his love of the farmers and people who make up the sector. Schmidt passed away unexpectedly in Chilliwack on November 20 at the age of 73, closing a long career that saw him rise to be the senior statesman of BC farm journalists. Raised on a mixed farm in Chilliwack, Schmidt was the face of Country Life in BC for decades as he diligently covered producer meetings across the Fraser Valley and beyond. “David was able to capture a big story in a few meticulously chosen words,” says Cathy Glover, publisher of Country Life in BC. “He knew the history. He knew the people. He knew the backstory. He was, as former ag minister John van Dongen told a room of national farm writers way back in 2003, the ‘encyclopedia of BC agriculture.’” Schmidt’s rst-hand experience of agriculture contributed to insightful reports as the industry evolved from the small holdings that dotted the landscape in the 1950s to the major commercial operations that characterize the sector today. “It always fascinates me that mixed farms like ours were considered conventional in the 50s,” he told the BC Dairy Industry Conference in 2018, when he was honoured with the BC Dairy Achievement Award. “Today, small farms which often grow a multitude of crops and livestock, many organically, like our farm in the 50s, are now considered specialty farms.” An avid reader, Schmidt grew up reading every issue of Butterfat and Country Life in BC, never imagining he would one day become an integral part of the latter. He began writing for Country Life in BC in 1985, eventually growing his roster of outlets to include Western Dairy Farmer, Prairie Hog Report, Greenhouse Canada and Canadian Poultry. Schmidt also served 10 years as agriculture writer for the Pacic National Exhibition (PNE) and 15 years as media relations ocer for the Abbotsford Agrifair. He also supported the BC Outstanding Young Farmers program with his writing. Stepping into semi-retirement in 2017, Schmidt continued to enjoy attending the annual dairy self-tour and old-time plowing matches in the Fraser Valley. When the pandemic hit, and gathering shut down, he went into full retirement but remained the living memory of farm journalists in BC and across Canada who could always be counted on for direction. “Farmers are my audience and the fact they tolerate and even appreciate my eorts is extremely gratifying,” he said in 2018. That appreciation was shown on a number of occasions, including the 2018 Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture Award, a 2017 lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Farm Writers Federation and the 2000 BC Agriculturist of the Year Award from the BC Institute of Agrologists – the rst time the award was presented to a non-agrologist. Schmidt also received several awards for his reporting from the Canadian Farm Writers Federation, of which he was a senator. His commitment to the organization included serving as president from 1997 to 1999 and the BC regional director for many years following his revival of the BC chapter in the early 1990s. Under his leadership, the BC Farm Writers Association organized and hosted several national conferences for its counterparts across Canada. This past summer, Schmidt led a bus tour for international delegates to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists conference taking place in Alberta. For many, it was their rst experience of Canada. “Dave's introduction to Canada is the most incredible experience I've ever had with any IFAJ congress,” said Carolyn Martin, marketing and communication manager at Australia’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. “He was so full of life, dogged spirit and knowledge. A true inspiration,” added British agricultural communications professional Jane Craigie. “I learnt so much in that short time with him.” Schmidt never married, but is remembered by his siblings, as well as nieces, nephews and countless friends within the agriculture sector and beyond. A simple memorial service was held December 1 at Sardis Community Church in Chilliwack. The family shared memories of Schmidt, always their eldest brother, and his knack of delegating tasks with the skill of Tom Sawyer whitewashing his aunt’s fence. But he was always there for family and friends, showing up to help or simply be present. Donations in Schmidt’s memory may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee [mcc.org/donate]. David Schmidt, right, doing what he loved best. David died suddenly November 20. MYRNA STARK LEADERBC agriculture loses a champion 25.61 Acre Blueberry Farm | $2,150,000 23.85 Acres | $2,470,000595 Acre Active Ranch | $3,500,000 34.8 Acre Cranberry Farm | $3,750,0004184 Humphrey Rd, Agassiz, BC2689 Sutherland Road Agassiz, BC 5770 Spring Lake Rd, 100 Mile, BC 8450 Gibson Rd, Chilliwack, BCLEADER IN AGRICULTURAL SALES IN THE FRASER VALLEY WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE4323 Humphrey Rd, Agassiz, BC 92.95 Acre Blueberry Farm | $4,825,000T 604 793 8138 | bryanvanhoepen.com |SOLD1.800.282.7856 Now is the time to over-seed those worn out hay elds and pastures. Discover this nitrogen xing cover crop & forage, and what makes Frosty such a unique legume.Find out more at terraseco.comLow hard seed counts allows for quick establishment.

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Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error which advertises goods or services at a wrong price, such goods or services need not be sold at the advertised price. Advertising is an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. All advertising is accepted subject to publisher’s approval. All of Country Life in British Columbia’s content is covered by Canadian copyright law. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Country Life in British Columbia. Letters are welcome, though they may be edited in the interest of brevity before publication. All errors brought to our attention will be corrected.36 Dale Road, Enderby BC V0E 1V4 . Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 . GST Reg. No. 86878 7375 . Subscriptions: $2/issue . $18.90/year . $33.60/2 years . $37.80/3 years incl GSTThe agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 Vol.110 No. 1 . JANUARY 2024Published monthly by Country Life 2000 Ltd. www.countrylifeinbc.comFelis catus has been the scientic binomial name for the domestic cat since Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus deemed it so in 1758. Prior to that it was likely called pussy cat, or pusskatte (Germany), pusekatt (Norway), or several other European variants. The exact origins are unclear, but it has been proposed they were derived from the sound made to attract a katte: as in, here puss, puss, puss – a tactic still popular today. I learned all of this on the Internet, which turns out to be a veritable cornucopia of cat and cat-related information. There are an estimated 373 million domestic or house cats kept as pets worldwide and as many as 400 million living in the wild. The Internet doesn’t say who made the initial estimates, but similar numbers showed up on several websites which indicate that: a) many sources of in-depth research reached similar conclusions or b) someone took a wild guess and everyone else took their word for it. But wait! There is more. So much more. There is archaeological evidence of domesticated cats in Cyprus dating to 7,500 BC. No one knows for sure what those cats were up to, but the most popular proposal is that 9,500 years ago agriculture was just getting started and those clever cats realized that once the rst farmers started harvesting crops, they would have to store them and wherever they did that, there was bound to be a tasty surplus of well-fed rodents waddling around. There was no Internet back then, but those early farmers probably connected the dots and welcomed the cats to stay on. Hence the rst farm – or barn – cats. The Internet recognizes farm cats as a feline distinction between house cats and wild cats, but isn’t willing to hazard a guess of how many there are. All I can say is that I know with absolute certainty there are at least two. Closer to home, the Internet claims there are 8.5 million house cats in Canada, and anywhere from 1.5 million to 4 million living in the wild. No mention of barn cats or those living in shelters. The 1.5 million to 4 million spread sounds to me like you can just make stu up and put it on the Internet as long as you claim it is an estimate. Some people don’t trust the Internet (true story). If you are one of them and you’d like to do your own cat population research, I would suggest a visit to your local feed store or pet food outlet at the mall. If the mind-boggling variety of cat food on oer is any indication, the populations on the Internet could be wildly underestimated. I wonder if those rst cats nailing free rats outside the grain bin in Cyprus could ever have imagined the day the average Canadian cat owner (perhaps personal care provider would be more accurate) would be spending an estimated $550 annually to buy each and every one of them din-dins. The ingredient choices are endless: everything from generic corn and feathers to a gluten-free, non-GMO, certied organic, ethically harvested, nutritionally balanced and holistic blend of fair-trade chokecherries and free-range camel spleens. (Okay, I made up the ethically harvested part.) Other cool stu I learned about cats on the Internet: yes, everyone knows a male cat is a Tom, but I didn’t know a female is a Molly, a group of cats who know each other is a clowder, and a group of cat strangers is a glaring. I would propose that glaring would also be appropriate to describe a barn cat in the proximity of someone not bearing the aforementioned din-dins. As interesting as all of this might be, the Internet saved the real gob-smacker for last: Taylor Swift likes cats! Not only likes, but she is also Mom to three of them. And believe it or not, the one named Olivia Benson (yes, after the Law and Order Olivia Benson) is a celebrity in her own right and has amassed a personal fortune estimated at more than $97 million! This makes Olivia the third-richest pet in the world! Hey, you can look it up for yourself on the Internet. Surf on over to [https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/everything-know-taylor-swifts-three-223600204.html]. I’m o to the barn for a Glaring with Mowse and Clarence. Happy new year to you all. Bob Collins raises beef cattle and grows produce on his farm in the Alberni Valley. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.4 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCYes, yes, YES! Nothing seems to bring out the desire for change in people than a new year. But as much as we say “yes” to making improvements, most of us lack the actual resolve to carry through on our resolutions. Various studies indicate that 81% of people abandon their resolutions by mid-January. The most optimistic of studies suggest a self-reported success rate of 55%, with goals that elicit positive feedback having a success rate of nearly 59% while avoidance-oriented goals were less successful at 47%. The challenge continues through the rest of the year. A deepening issue in rural communities is the lack of volunteers that make local community life possible. This extends to various other voluntary organizations, where the 80-20 rule has shifted towards 95-5, with 95% of the work shouldered by 5% of the members. This has been an acute problem for agricultural fairs since the pandemic, and the BC Dairy Association has run into similar challenges. Recognizing that time is money for many farmers, the association has adopted a new compensation schedule for directors, volunteers and others who take time from their schedules to serve the industry. It wasn’t always this way, in part due to the more relaxed pace that prevailed before any of us were available anytime at the ping of a text. The immediacy of other demands has distracted us from the fundamental act of community – presence. Presence is something for which former Country Life in BC editor emeritus David Schmidt was praised as family and friends gathered December 1 to give thanks for his life. He made an eort to show up, not only for family but industry meetings and national conferences – and almost always driving. When the US went on a war footing following the attacks on New York and Washington on September 2001, he was already en route to that year’s Canadian Farm Writers Federation conference in the Maritimes. The fact no one else might show up never occurred to him, and he denitely wasn’t picking up e-mails on the road back then, let alone being pinged by text alerts. The gift of presence is worth regifting this year. It’s what makes families, friendships and communities possible. It might mean resolving to rejig our priorities, saying “no” to some things so that we can say “yes” to what matters. When the good of our selves, our neighbours and our communities depends on it, why wouldn’t we say yes? As the poet Douglas Lochhead wrote in his chapbook Yes, yes, YES! – yes is enough, a warm reason for now The Back 40 BOB COLLINSPublisher Cathy Glover 604-328-3814 . publisher@countrylifeinbc.com Associate Editor Peter Mitham news@countrylifeinbc.com Advertising Sales & Marketing Cathy Glover sales@countrylifeinbc.com Production Designer Tina Rezansoff C'est la vie, PW.Glaring observations about (barn) cats

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Site C's long-term costs are becoming clearerFarmland is just one casualty of the $16 billion hydro projectCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 5mitigation, but I digress! However, this was all interrupted by the abrupt announcement on November 14 that ooding would be put o till fall of 2024. That announcement seemed to come as a surprise to many working on the project, and even to BC Hydro themselves. For instance, on November 6, BC Hydro put out a newsletter titled, “Site C earthll dam is complete: bring on the water.” What happened? Ocially, BC Hydro stated that critical work remained on the “approach channel, spillway gates and powerhouse intake gates.” Unfortunately, both our government and BC Hydro have kept an incredible cloak of secrecy over the Site C project, and disclosure and information on serious problems have been either withheld or diminished in the past. Perhaps most striking was when the Horgan government withheld knowledge of a serious dam foundation problem from the public until after winning re-election in 2020. That track record of non-transparency has naturally led to a high level of skepticism for many when it comes to what we are told, or perhaps more importantly, what we are not told. So not only will we perhaps never know why this one-year delay is happening, but it also raises the question of how much will this delay cost? Back in 2017, when the soon to-be-governing NDP indicated they would send Site C to the BC Utilities Commission for a review, the then-BC Liberal government and BC Hydro claimed that a one-year delay would cost $630 million. Some of that was likely political wrangling and perhaps exaggerated, and the situation is dierent now, but this one-year delay will come at a cost. However, for a project that started at $7.9 billion, and is currently at $16 billion, the driving force behind Site C has shifted from “get it past the point of no return” to “keep building at all costs.” Not surprisingly, that is the fate of many ill-advised publicly funded mega-projects. The path towards ooding this valley has taken a very long time. The ood reserve was put on the Peace River in 1957, with serious attempts at moving Site C forward There was anticipation in the Peace River country that the ooding of 8,000 acres of prime farmland for the Site C reservoir would start in fall 2023. BC Hydro had been saying so since spring, provided all necessary works were done, and that seemed to be happening. Construction of the earth-lled dam was complete and the conversion of the diversion tunnels required for ooding were also complete. The unocial word seemed to be that although it was a little later in the fall than they had hoped for, ooding would still start in November. From what we could see from our farm at Bear Flat, last-minute minor works were being wrapped up in the valley with a looming deadline drawing near. Perhaps most notable due to media coverage was the scramble to deal with bears in dens that were within the inundation zone. That started with crews trying to locate dens and lling them in with dirt early in October, and was followed by a plan to tranquilize any bears still found in their natural dens, and stu them into temporary straw-bale dens. With more “signicant harms that cannot be mitigated” than any previously reviewed project in Canadian history, there have been many bizarre and often feeble attempts at mitigation on the Site C project, but perhaps that one took the cake. One could say this was literally “the last straw” when it comes to Viewpoint KEN BOONstarting in the mid 1970s. Somehow, the valley survived all eorts until a ‘perfect storm’ of bad luck and BC politics managed to get construction underway eight years ago. However, it does seem true to its nature that, once again, the valley has dodged the bullet, even if just for one year. Meanwhile, those of us left living in the valley will get at least one more year to see a owing river without a bloated reservoir that will undoubtfully be full of oating debris and creating landslides for some time. The reprieve is somewhat bittersweet, as the current valley is not the same as before the destruction to prepare for ooding took place. However, it is amazing to see how nature is hard at work reclaiming the valley from man’s folly with trees growing back in the logged sections. So, while it seems inevitable that the ooding will come at some point, we will appreciate and enjoy what is left of the valley till then. Ken Boon is president of the Peace Valley Landowner Association. He and his wife Arlene farm in Bear Flat on what remains of their original place. “This was all interrupted by the abrupt announcement ... that ooding would be put off till fall of 2024.” KEN BOONBC AGRICULTURE COUNCIL INVITES YOU TO THEBC AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY GALATickets on sale November 8, 2023www.bcac.caJanuary 24, 2024Abbotsford, B.C.www.bcac.ca%PXOUPXO3FBMUZtOE4U7FSOPO#$t0óDFPat | 250.308.0938QBUEVHHBO!SPZBMMFQBHFDBThea | 250.308.5807UIFBNDMBVHIMJO!SPZBMMFQBHFDB6475 COSENS BAY RD, COLDSTREAMwww.FarmRanchResidential.ca “Farmers helping farmers with their real estate needs”36 acres, 4 titles w/2 major parcels (31 & 5.20 acres) just outside Sicamous. Mostly open, flat, useable land bordering Eagle River. Former 1,560 sq ft shop converted to LQ, 24x50 pole barn w/metal siding. BC Hydro, drilled well. 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 7The landowner is still paying taxes on her original deeded acres although nearly half has sloughed into the North Thompson River. SUBMITTEDServing the Okanagan and Fraser Valley We’ve been proudly family owned and operated since opening in 1976. And with two blending plants, we’re one of BC’s largest distributors of granular, liquid and foliar fertilizers. Our buying power and proximity to the Fraser Valley makes us the logical choice for truckload shipments. OKANAGAN FERTILIZER LTD 1-800-361-4600 or 250-838-6414KATE AYERS WESTSYDE – Dozens of acres of productive farmland have been lost to the North Thompson River in Westsyde over the past 14 years, and now it’s claimed the local irrigation system. “She’s lost a chunk of about 300 feet by close to 200 feet. And it’s not the end yet, there’s more to go,” says hay and beef producer Gerd Dessau of his neighbour Wendy Robertson’s property. “There are big cracks all over the place.” Robertson’s property was originally 14.7 acres, but Dessau suspects she’s lost at least seven acres to erosion. Three historical grave sites from the 1800s are now only 50 feet from the river. Robertson still pays tax on the full deeded amount, however. She used to grow horse hay on land that has now slid down a 90-foot riverbank. Dessau has harvested and stored the crop for her over the last few years. “There's a big chunk that I cut last summer that [recently] went into the river,” Dessau says. “It's cutting off about a third of the river right now. It's making a big back eddy where it’s swirling and it's going to eat more [land].” The erosion has led to decommissioning of the Noble Creek Irrigation System that supplies water to 41 local properties, including ranches, wineries and cideries. “We lost the whole pumphouse on account of [erosion],” Dessau says. “They’re just in the process of dismantling our irrigation system. We lost it because of the incompetence of the city running it and the river is taking so much now.” Riprap was installed ahead of the spring freshet last year to mitigate further erosion. “The province assisted on installing riprap on the banks of the North Thompson within Kamloops city boundary to protect the water system intake during freshet, which remains in place at this time,” says the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship in an emailed statement. “We will continue to work with and support the City of Kamloops on this matter as they review options for addressing erosion along the Thompson River within city boundaries and determine if they want to keep the riprap permanently.” However, the pumphouse has been taken apart and the structure is being removed. “We just had to take out the structure because we didn’t protect the riparian area. We’ve just taken out a source of irrigation that [impacts] a lot of farmland and food security,” Kamloops mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson says. While erosion has reached a critical point, it has been a contentious issue since 2009 when the City of Kamloops walked away from a riprap project that was intended to protect the west side of the North Thompson River from further erosion. It's a safety issue now, too. “People’s lives are at risk. … it’s a very insecure area,” Hamer-Jackson says. “[Robertson] could be out riding her horse and end up at the bottom of a big landslide or mud pile.” Dessau attributes the trouble to logging practices “everywhere,” he says. 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8 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Governments need to help shore up river banks Save water, save energy, save labor and do a better job of irrigating. NELSONIRRIGATION.COM Automatically change the arc of throw on traveling Big Gun® sprinklers. The “Windghter” is the highest uniformity/ best germinating sprinkler on the market. R2000WFROTATOR®ORIGINALBIG GUN®SR150BIG GUN®ARC TIMERIRRIGATIONTECHNOLOGYFOR THE FUTURECONTACT YOUR LOCAL NELSON DEALER TODAY!Recognized the world over in high-volume as the leader in quality, performance & support. forest lands decimated, so much so that the area “looks like Saskatchewan up there,” Dessau describes. Big fir and spruce trees that used to act as a slow-release system for rainwater and run off are gone, causing sediment to enter creeks, which make its way into the North Thompson River. A buildup of silt and gravel on the east side of the river has created a large gravel bar that is pushing the river towards Westsyde properties. “The government gave forestry companies these contracts and 10 years to replant it. Well, lots of those companies are gone,” Dessau says. “Who is going to do the replanting? It’s like a snowball and has a real galloping effect now. There used to be sustainable forestry but there’s not anymore, and we’re paying the price for it.” Governments are sitting on their hands, he says. “It's a provincial issue and they don't want to talk about it. It needs to be addressed and their position of doing nothing, it's not possible anymore,” Dessau says. “The way the government is thinking right now, they always say, ‘It's nature's way.’ Well, it's not nature's way anymore.” The freshet season has shifted from mid-June to mid-May each year and the nearby cut blocks have altered the natural course of the river, he adds. Dessau would like to see the gravel bars removed from the river bottom. He fears that if the issue is not addressed, more damage will ensue along the river and continue to damage properties. “That river is not going to quit, unless they do something drastic and take these gravel bars out,” Dessau says. ‘’That river is going to move in, erode a lot of people's properties and eventually it's going to make an island out of the whole thing.” The repairs need to be a collaborative effort and professionals would need to be consulted to develop the best plan moving forward, Hamer-Jackson says, with provincial and federal funding made available. “If it was a bridge or water intake in town, the riparian area would be protected, or if it was a train track or anything like that,” Hamer-Jackson says. “I will be having a meeting with one of the federal ministers to chat about it and see if there’s anything we can do. But we need to be more proactive in protecting these at-risk areas.” Moving forward, Dessau is working to install a personal irrigation system for himself and a couple of neighbours. “If we can’t get that done, I guess our fields are going to be brown,” he says. “That’ll be the end of the farming industry here. … It’s all hanging in mid-air right now and we’re trying to keep on going. A lot of smaller acreages here are going to be hooped.” Kamloops hay farmer Gerd Dessau is taking all levels of government to task on behalf of a neighbour whose pasture land is falling into the North Thompson River. MURRAY MITCHELL

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 9Finances trigger relocation plans for nursery groupBoard changes address continuity issuesBCLNA growers chair Robbie Wein, right, presented Country Life in BC writer Ronda Payne with the association’s Communicator of the Year award at the BCLNA gala, December 7. BCLNARONDA PAYNE BURNABY – The British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA) will be moving from its Langley oces this spring, though the new location hasn’t been nalized. This and other cost-saving measures were announced at the organization’s annual general meeting in Burnaby, December 7. “We’re going to have a decit this year,” says the association’s outgoing treasurer Brent Mooney, estimating it at close to $200,000. “We’re fortunate, however. The board recognized the situation coming and made some changes.” While the world has begun rebounding from the pandemic, participation in landscape and nursery events and programs has been slow to recover. Additionally, memberships have been sluggish and grants are only now beginning to return. Downsizing to a smaller oce, continuing with a hybrid oce model for sta and restructuring the operation’s sta structure are part of the plan. The shifts included moving Coreen Rodger Berrisford into the chief operating ocer role in November, succeeding Virpi Kangas. Mooney says the association’s legacy fund will help it cope with its nancial challenges, but no one wants to see a reliance on it. Mooney handed control of the organization’s purse strings to Simon Traskey, who was elected treasurer by acclamation. Traskey and other members of the board were still nalizing the current year’s budget in consultation with Rodger Berrisford, so it was not considered at the meeting. BCLNA growers chair Robbie Wein reported on industry advocacy on issues including access to water, pest management (including the Japanese beetle), rising input costs and labour during the year. “BCLNA also participated in a project led by the BC Greenhouse Growers and United Flower Growers to review energy options and to change the carbon tax to a point-of-sale system and supported growers with their requirements to take advantage of the change,” his report noted. One of the organization’s events that grew in 2022 was the Grow West Horticulture Trade Show. Tradeshow committee chair Cable Baker says the seminar series was expanded from the 2021 event with 26 local speakers. While the 2023 event was skipped, planning has started for 2024's event. Three special resolutions were presented to the membership. The rst, which was carried, was to add an alumni class to the membership options. This allows previous industry participants and previous members to stay part of the association. The second resolution, also carried, was to add the roles of past president and director at large to the board to increase it from seven to nine. “The board is actually pretty small,” says interim chair Paula Baxter. Adding two members also ensures there won’t be ties during board voting. The third resolution was to include remote or virtual voting as well as face-to-face voting, which was also carried. There were no elections as all roles were lled by acclamation. In addition to Traskey, the other directors are: Baxter as chair, Victor Kulla as rst vice-chair, Michelle McEachern as second vice-chair, Jason Carton as director at large, Chris Draaistra as landscape chair, Wein as growers chair and Heike Stippler as past chair and BC representative to the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association. The retail chair remains vacant. The BCLNA Industry Development Council approved four expenditures from the IDC investment fund at its January 13, 2023 meeting. These were BCLNA administrative fees, auditor fees, and the Japanese beetle eradication and box tree moth surveillance programs, totalling $47,100. The evening took on a festive air following the meeting for the annual gala and award presentations. Some of the award recipients included KPU Institute for Sustainable Horticulture director Deborah Henderson, who was named Educator of the Year. Fellow KPU faculty member Jamie Lamont, chair of the KPU School of Horticulture, was awarded Member of the Year. John and Maria Byland received the 2023 Lifetime of Outstanding Service Award, while Denbow received Supplier of the Year. FOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERSDarren Jansen Owner604.794.3701organicfeeds@gmail.comwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comCertified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.

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10 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCView over 100 listings of farm properties at www.bcfarmandranch.comBC FARM & RANCH REALTY CORP.Buying or Selling a Farm or Acreage?GORD HOUWELING Cell: 604/793-8660GREG WALTON Cell: 604/864-1610Toll free 1-888-852-AGRI Call BC’s First and Only Real Estate Office committed 100% to Agriculture!PROFESSIONAL SERVICESRangeland forage allocation studiedthat the government does not have accurate wildlife inventories. And, of course, we're supposed to be managing the forage out there for domestic stock and wildlife. It's very hard to do when you don’t know how many wildlife you're supposed to be providing feed for.” The report also noted high sta turnover in nine of the 10 regional districts with the most Range Act agreements. “We don't have a real good provincial forage inventory system and then you overlap that with high turnover of young and relatively unexperienced sta who are trying to deal with an annual crop,” McConnell says. “When you have a revolving door of young sta, it's hard [if] they don't have the background.” Each range sta member in the 10 districts are responsible for 1.3 million hectares. Most of the ministry’s range monitoring relies on visual approximations for forage use and availability and few have written procedures for how their district measures forage, the report notes. Expert farm taxation adviceApproved consultants for Government funding throughBC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramEnderby 250-838-7337Armstrong 250-546-8665 |t1VSDIBTFBOETBMFPGGBSNTt5SBOTGFSPGGBSNTUPDIJMESFOt(PWFSONFOUTVCTJEZQSPHSBNTt1SFQBSBUJPOPGGBSNUBYSFUVSOTt6TFPG$BQJUBM(BJOT&YFNQUJPOT$ISJT)FOEFSTPO$1"$"-PSFO)VUUPO$1"$"5PMM 'SFF1-888-818-FARM |www.farmtax.comRossworn HendersonLLPChartered Professional Accountants - Tax Consultantsartered Professional Accountants - Tax ConsultanCALL FOR AN ESTIMATE LARRY 604.209.5523 TROY 604.209.5524 TRI-WAY FARMS LASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVED DRAINAGE UNIFORM GERMINATION UNIFORM IRRIGATION FAST, ACCURATE SURVEYING INCREASE CROP YIELDS We service all of Southern BCOverall, BCCA was pleased with and supports the board’s report as it highlights issues ranchers have underlined for a number of years. “We were happy with the report,” McConnell says. “It was accurate and pointed out a number of these issues that we've been talking about for a while.” —Kate Ayers Wise water management funded A new round of funding for projects designed to improve the quality of water in Shuswap and Mara lakes opened December 1. Up to $55,000 is available to landowners, farms and businesses as well as stewardship groups through through the Water Quality Grant Program administered by the Shuswap Watershed Council. “In particular, we’re looking to partner with and support Shuswap-area farms to introduce new nutrient management strategies,” program manager Erin Vieira says of the current intake. Since the Water Quality Grant Program began in 2020, the SWC has awarded 13 grants worth a total of $178,169. The last round of awarded $53,004 to ve projects, including upgraded irrigation at Rivershore Nursery in Mara that will reduce water use and decrease run-o. Other projects funded included the construction of livestock control fencing along the Eagle River at Crystal Lake Ranch in Malakwa; the planting of cover crops at Shuswap Organics in Enderby to build the farm’s soil health and improve nutrient retention; construction of a Rova Barn at Fresh Valley Farms north of Armstrong to automate management of pastured livestock, build soil health, and protect sensitive and wet areas on the farm; and new riparian fencing and o-stream watering for livestock at Iron Horse Ranch in Celista. The grant program provides up to 50% nancial assistance for projects and land management practices that keep nutrients on the land and in the soil, being used by crops and vegetation rather than washing into watercourses through rain, snowmelt or ooding. Together with other funding sources and in-kind donations, the ve projects awarded funding earlier this year have a combined value of $109,629. Funding from the current intake will be distributed to successful applicants in early 2024. —Peter Mitham Mushroom harvester commercialized A homegrown mushroom harvesting robot made its commercial debut, marking a milestone for ag tech in BC. Commercialization of the fully autonomous, vision-guided mushroom harvester is the next step for 4ag Robotics Inc. of Salmon Arm, which began life as Techbrew Robotics Inc. The company won the BC Agritech Challenge in 2019 and the following year developed an initial prototype. It began eld trials at Fraser Valley mushroom farms in 2021, supported by $500,000 from the province’s agritech grant program. The robots use suction cups to gently handle each mushroom, which is then trimmed, cleaned and packed at peak freshness. This maintains quality while improving eciency and reducing waste. The leap to manufacturing will benet from $4 million from InBC Investment Corp., announced November 16. It received $13.5 million from BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund and a selection of angel investors from across Canada the same week, positioning it for growth. In October, 4ag said it was working to fulll purchase orders from mushroom producers in Canada and Europe. It anticipated the rst commercial robots being in operation this month. The funding announcements in November came as company founder Mike Boudreau handed the reins of the company to Sean O’Connor, formerly a board member representing venture capital fund Emmertech and now CEO. A division of Regina-based Conexus Venture Capital, Emmertech had invested $2 million in the company in 2020. Boudreau remains president of 4ag, which he founded in 1999. —Peter Mitham A new report from the BC Forest Practices Board has identied opportunities to improve range management through forage measurement and allocation across the province. “Government has developed good guidelines for measuring forage, but they aren’t consistently used,” FBP board member Gerry Grant said in releasing the report on December 5. In addition, the province lacks an accurate inventory of forage in some districts. “There is no province-wide inventory or even real good system for inventorying range and forage,” says Dawson Creek rancher and BC Cattlemen’s Association land stewardship committee chair Mike McConnell. “Another thing the report points out is Ag Briefs PETER MITHAM

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 11Hopcotts win OYF Canada with sustainable practicesFamily-run operation committed to communityDressed to impress, brothers Travis (left) and Brad Hopcott of Pitt Meadows were named Outstanding Young Farmers Canada award recipients in Laval, Quebec, at the end of November. OYF CANADABC United’s tax reforms will make farming more affordable As the cost-of-living continues to skyrocket, many people across this province are living paycheque to paycheque, with over 50 percent of British Columbians less than $200 away from not being able to pay their monthly bills. e NDP’s policies have only added to the nancial strain, making life more unaordable for British Columbians. Farmers and ranchers in particular have been feeling the strain of rising costs. We know that severe weather, rising costs, and economic pressures are impacting the agricultural sector. It’s a crucial time to recognize the unwavering determination of our farmers and ranchers and, more importantly, to address their concerns. e agricultural industry plays a vital role in ensuring food security, supporting local economies, and fostering community resilience. However, the hurdles faced by our farmers are substantial, from unpredictable weather to the increasing costs of feed, fuel, fertilizer, labour and rising interest rates — these are some of the barriers that dene their challenges. Operating a farm in B.C. has become increasingly unaordable, with farmers grappling with the burden of 30 new and increased taxes introduced by the NDP and a myriad of other challenges. In response to these concerns, BC United has put forward a slate of bold tax reforms aimed at providing immediate help to those grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, including farmers and ranchers. Among these wide-ranging reforms, the key proposals for the agriculture sector are the removal of the carbon tax on on-farm fuel use and the elimination of the provincial sales tax on gasoline, saving people up to 15 cents per litre of fuel. ese measures directly address some of the signicant nancial pressures on farmers, making it more cost-eective to fuel machinery, heat barns, green houses and operate grain dryers. Lower operating costs for farmers translate into lower costs for food production, contributing to more aordable groceries for British Columbians. Consider any farmer in British Columbia who is battling with dicult decisions when it comes to the cost of production, feeding their families and doing everything they can to hold on to their livelihood. For them, the elimination of both the carbon tax for farm use and the provincial fuel tax is not just about cheaper gas; it’s a very real reduction in operating expenses. ese proposals are tangible changes that would reach every dinner table in British Columbia. While BC United's proposed tax reforms aim to provide immediate relief, we also understand the challenges of farmers and ranchers extend beyond operating cost pressures. e agriculture industry needs comprehensive support, including measures to address housing aordability, enhance the cattle industry, combat climate-related disasters, and improve legislation against trespassing on farms. Farmers deserve better access to water for livestock and irrigation to weather droughts that threaten their herds and products and the ability to build additional dwellings on their properties to preserve their multi-generational farming traditions. Farmers are not isolated from the broader cost-of-living crisis. e BC United Caucus recognizes that farmers, like all British Columbians, need results, not just promises. As we look forward to the future, our caucus knows these initiatives can address some of the key challenges our agriculture industry faces. We hear the concerns of our farmers and ranchers and are committed to taking decisive action to create a more aordable future for all British Columbians. SPONSORED CONTENTIan Paton MLA for Delta South 604-940-7930 ian.paton.MLA@leg.bc.caPETER MITHAM PITT MEADOWS – Third-generation farmers Travis and Brad Hopcott of Hopcott Farms in Pitt Meadows took top honours at the Outstanding Young Farmers Canada event in Laval, Quebec, November 22-26. “We are so excited to receive this award,” says Brad Hopcott. “The judges had an extremely hard decision to make with all of the fantastic honourees. We would like to thank our families and our team for all of their support because without it we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.” “This award, ultimately, recognizes all of the amazing young farmers across all seven regions of this country,” adds Travis. “Each had to overcome trials, maintaining a drive to continue improving and displaying pride in producing a safe high-quality product to feed people. It is truly an honour to be recognized among this class of young farmers.” The brothers won the OYF BC & Yukon title in March, which allowed them to advance to the national finals. During the regional event, the brothers’ stewardship and development of their grandfather’s farm won out against strong showings by Johannes and Julaine Treur of Creekside Dairy in Agassiz and Matthew Carr of Linden Lane Farms of Krestova. Originally a dairy operation, Hopcott Farms has diversified since its start in 1932 with the addition of a feedlot operation in 1957 and 72 acres of cranberry bogs in 1996. The original 105 acres is now 185 acres, including 55 leased acres. In 2000, an agritourism dimension was added with a corn maze followed by a farm shop in 2006. The corn maze became a wedding and events venue in 2018, and in 2022 the farm opened a provincially inspected abattoir. All this has happened despite being in the middle of a rapidly urbanizing region home to 2.5 million people. The family-run operation sees Brad steer the beef side, Travis oversee the cranberries and their sister Jennifer running the retail and wedding venue. “We are siblings working together on the same property, same business. It’s pretty unique,” Travis told the judges at the regional event in March. “We’re really proud of that success and we think it really adds to the sustainability story.” Sustainability is a key criteria as both local and national judges assess the excellence of nominees. Speaking in Laval, the Hopcotts noted their efforts to renovate 20% of their cranberry acreage with new varieties that make them more efficient while a reservoir allows them to recycle 30 million gallons of water through the cranberry bogs during harvest. To allow for full integration of the beef operation and reduce the farm’s carbon hoofprint while also addressing animal welfare and quality issues, a $5 million abattoir was added to the operation in 2022. Utilizing waste tissue composting units has allowed for the integration of animal waste back into the forage fields, further enhancing the farm’s sustainable credentials. Having receiving support as they assumed full management of the operation, the brothers hope to return the favour and mentor future BC farmers. The Hopcotts were selected as winners alongside Alberta seed producers Greg and Sarah Stamp, beating out five other finalists from provincial programs across Canada. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, OYF competitors must derive the majority of their income from agriculture.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 13Remuneration to increase for dairy directorsWork to strengthen the industry has value, BCDA says Holger Schwichtenberg is stepping down as chair of BC Dairy as the board makes changes it hopes will encourage more producers to step up into leadership roles going forward. RONDA PAYNEEinbock Tillage Equipment For Organic FarmingEconomical Reliable Low Maintenance Safe and Proven Order now for guaranteed next season delivery.Tine Weeders Row Crop CultivatorsRotary Hoes Camera GuidanceSystemsOrder now forguaranteed next season delivery.DELTA Drain Tile CleanersImproves Drainage & Conditions SoilEmail us today at: info@reimersfarmservices.com2023 Corn Hybrid Results PETER MITHAM BURNABY – A new compensation structure for BC Dairy Association directors and volunteers was the key outcome as dairy producers met for a trio of industry AGMs on November 21. “The work has been evolving and is increasingly complex,” Holger Schwichtenberg told the BC Dairy meeting in his chair’s report. “BC Dairy directors are now participating in more regional and national forums, representing BC dairy producers’ interests. This includes a greater level of travel for directors.” A typical meeting requires four to six hours of preparation, while a full day meeting can require eight to 10 hours of prep. Directors are also called upon to engage with other producer organizations, all levels of government and various committees and the media. The previous year saw directors attend 21 days of meetings, many of which took them off their farms for several days. This doesn’t appeal to everyone. The compensation proposals presented by BC Dairy treasurer John Kerkhoven represented significant increases in board remuneration. The chair’s monthly stipend will rise to $3,000 a month from $1,250, set in 2021, while the vice-chair and committee chairs will receive $2,200. Directors will receive stipends of $1,925 a month. “Current directors filling these roles are finding it difficult to justify doing this work away from the farm. That is creating a significant recruitment and succession challenge,” Kerkhoven said, noting that just one nomination was received for board membership last year. Higher per diems were also proposed for meetings outside of BC Dairy, and a new compensation schedule offering volunteers up to $350 a day for their services to the sector. Those hosting farm tours at BC Dairy’s request would be eligible for up to $2,000 a day for related expenses. The proposals required a simple majority to pass, which they did easily. “It will go a long ways towards helping with retention and succession, and convincing people to put their time in BCDA,” said Schwichtenberg, who also announced that he was stepping own as chair of BC Dairy, for personal reasons and to recover what he called “work-life balance.” John Kerkhoven of Deroche, who has served as treasurer for nine years, also stepped down in what amounts to a changing of the guard as the association shifts towards a new governance structure. The board has been reduced from 11 to eight members in 2024, which will mitigate the impact of the increased compensation for directors while streamlining operations. “As we’ve gone through this year and continued to evolve into a true governing board rather than an operational board, we have questioned whether or not there should be 11 directors at BC Dairy,” Schwichtenberg explained. Despite significant work with external organizations, the association’s governing board decided it doesn’t require 11 members and will discuss options for the future as it integrates with the Western Milk Pool. The current board includes seven directors from four regions and one member-at-large. More meetings The annual meetings of the Dairy Industry Development Council and BC Milk Marketing Board preceded the BC Dairy meeting. Producers received an update on Dairy Innovation West during the DIDC meeting. The innovative milk concentration plant is 35% owned by BC producers in partnership with those across Western Canada. DIDC holds the shares related to BC producers’ interest. The project broke ground in August at a 15-acre site in Blackfalds, Alberta, and will be able to process up to 300 million litres of milk a year on completion in 2025. It will cut transportation costs for producers, who spend $100 million annually on shipping. Of this, BC pays $35.2 million, up $3.4 million from 2022 according to nancial statements presented at the BC Milk meeting that kicked o the afternoon. The cost eats into producer revenue, which was a hot topic at all three meetings. BC Milk reported producer revenues up by 5% to $52 million in 2023, mainly due to an increase in the blend price and to a lesser degree increased consumption. However, BC producers are currently losing money, something Schwichtenberg noted in his comments. “You can’t sugar-coat it; dairy farming in BC is a tough road right now,” he said, noting the urgency of the issue. “There will be no quick x, but we’re working across numerous fronts to help the industry come back to protability, pursuing projects like Dairy Innovation West that will move the needle on transportation costs.”

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14 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC*Offer valid with 20% of purchase price down. Loaders are factory installed. Items may not be exactly as shown, accessories, attachments, and implements cost extra. taxes, set-up, delivery charges not included. Prices are based on the US exchange and may be subject to change. A documentation fee of up to $349 will be applied to all ﬁnance offerings.Additional fees may apply. Programs and prices subject to change without notice. See PrairieCoast equipment for full details. Some restrictions apply. Offer valid until January 31, 2024while supplies last. Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only. Limited time offer which may not be combined with other offers. QID#29881182 1023E w/loader. RESERVE YOURFACTORY ORDERDURING OURWINTER GREENSALE TODAY!1023ECOMPACT UTILITYTRACTOR WITH LOADER0% FOR 84MONTHS $246PER MO $25,995$27,995+REGULAR PRICE OR SAVE AN EXTRA $1,000 WHENYOU TAKE THE 0% FOR 60 MO PLAN| PRINCE GEORGE | KAMLOOPS | KELOWNA| CHILLIWACK | LANGLEY | NANAIMO WWW.PCE.CA | 1-877-553-3373PETER MITHAM VANCOUVER – The challenging times facing the BC dairy industry from the unprecedented rise in interest rates has members pulling out all the stops to stay viable. This includes the potential to tap into markets for specic milk components – and it owes no small debt to the foundation of industry veterans such as Ben Janzen, who was honoured with the BC Dairy Achievement Award at the BC Dairy Industry Conference on November 23. Janzen retired as chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board on July 31, 2021 following a ve-year term that capped 21 years of service to the sector both as a director of BC Milk and before that as a member of the rst producer-elected board of Agrifoods International Cooperative in 1996. Jim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society hailed Janzen’s seless work on behalf of the industry as he presented the award. “Ben has always put the dairy industry ahead of his personal agendas, and has fought extremely hard for the BC dairy farmers in the national scheme,” he said. “His thoughtful, persuasive attitude won us a lot of battles and bettered the BC Dairy industry.” This includes an allocation policy within the Western Milk Pool that ensures a steady supply of milk to processors, giving them the certainty needed to make further investments in capacity. One example is the opening of Saputo’s uid milk plant in Port Coquitlam in 2021. “These successes have allowed the industry to increase processing capacity and develop initiatives that, when completed, will provide processing for growth for many years to come,” Byrne said. In response, Janzen expressed gratitude while emphasizing producers’ determination and resilience in the face of challenges. “This industry is not all one person, it never has been. It takes a lot of time to serve as a member on a board, and I want rst of all to acknowledge the support of my wife and family,” he said. “It is certainly an honour and a privilege to receive this, but actually, I think it belongs to all the producers of British Columbia. You’re the ones who make this industry great.” Dairy achievement is built on resilience BC Dairy honours Ben Janzen’s achievementsJim Byrne of the BC Dairy Historical Society (left) presents Chilliwack producer Ben Janzen with the BC Dairy Achievement Award on November 23. JON BENJAMIN

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 15Educational Workshops | Trade Show | Young Farmers Day | Exhibitor packages available at www.iashow.caFarmers and producers large and small serving Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands gather to promote professional development and the latest technology and innovation in the agriculture industry.learnconnectengageNecessity is the mother of innovation.PETER MITHAM VANCOUVER – Times are tough but the future for BC dairy is bright. That’s the message industry leaders brought to producers who gathered for the annual BC Dairy Industry Conference in Vancouver on November 23. “There is one key country, Canada, that can grow milk collection,” Christophe Lafougère, managing director of Gira Group, said in his overview of global markets. While countries such as New Zealand and the Netherlands face restrictions on production driven by environmental policies, and the economics of production in France have put in track to be a net importer of milk, Canada has several advantages. It has land, green electricity that checks the requirement for sustainability as well as animal welfare policies that consumers seek. While labour is a hurdle, it’s less of an issue than the issues facing other countries. But the economic health of the sector is agging here, too. While representatives of the Western Milk Pool drove home an upbeat message of strength in unity (the BC Dairy Association’s tag line is “better together”), no one was downplaying the nancial issues facing the sector. A pre-conference meeting of producers with national industry representatives – including Benoit Basillais, CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission, David Wiens and Jacques Lefebvre of Dairy Farmers of Canada, and Henry Holtmann, chair of the Western Milk Pool – underscored the severe challenges the BC industry is facing as incomes fall short of production costs and interest rates show no sign of abating in any signicant way before 2025. “It was a profound day for me to hear what is going on,” Nolan Berg, CEO of the Western Milk Pool, told the conference as he updated them on how the Western Milk Pool is working to eect change. A panel discussion during the conference put a face to some of the concerns. “Labour, interest rates, ination, they’re hurting us,” says Mark van Klei, who produces blueberries and milk in Abbotsford. “Our income’s up about 12%, but a lot of the costs are up around 20% to 40%.” Supply management on the dairy side has helped stabilize van Klei’s operation, but Farm Credit Canada vice-president and chief economist JP Gervais, says growing demand will help move the industry forward. “If we can grow consumption, I think that would alleviate some of the issues on protability,” he says. Dairy producers discuss concerns at conferenceBoosting demand a key challenge for industry as it looks aheadDairy products haven't seen the same ination pressures as others, Farm Credit Canada chief economist JP Gervais told the BC Dairy Industry Conference. This makes them a competitive option for consumers. JON BENJAMIN

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 17Road rage in the PeaceStakeholders call for better maintenance, year-round accessNight moves. Peace farmers say the Taylor Bridge, south of Fort St. John, needs replacing. BCMTI / FLICKRFarm & Rural ResidentialProperties in the Peace Country are our specialtyAnne H. ClaytonMBA, P App AACI, RIAppraiserJudi LeemingBHE, P App CRAAppraiser250.782.1088info@aspengrovepropertyservices.ca www.aspengrovepropertyservices.cav4200W Model ShownDESIGNEDFOR HARSH CONDITIONS• 34” high mouldboard• Spring trip on cutting edge• Bucket edge mount or Qtach available• Replaceable, reversible steel cutting edge• Replaceable, reversible rubber cutting edge (OPTIONAL)• Skid shoes optional• 36” deep ﬁxed endplates• Available in 10’ 12’ 14’ widths• 2 Year Commercial WarrantyMax Operating Weight 25,000 LB.• Spring trip on cutting edge• 34” high mouldboard• Lateral ﬂoat• Two angle cylinders• Hydraulic 35º angle either direction• Replaceable, reversible steel cutting edge• Replaceable, reversible rubber cutting edge (OPTIONAL)• Skid shoes• Cross-over relief valve protection• Heavy duty construction• Available in 9’ 10’ 12’ 14’ widths• 2 Year Commercial WarrantyMax Operating Weight 25,000 LB.1.866.567.4162 www.hlasnow.comKATE AYERS MONTNEY – Peace Region grain producers are calling on the province to invest in better road management to ensure business eciency and viability. “The state of our Peace roads is terrible,” says grower and BC Grain Producers Association director Ernest Wiebe. “Right now, we have some serious challenges with our current road maintenance outt, particularly in the North Peace.” BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure contracts private maintenance companies to maintain over 48,000 kilometres of highways and sideroads across BC, including 3,000 bridges. “In addition to winter maintenance, the maintenance contractors are responsible for maintaining the driving surface of roads and highways, ensuring a safe and reliable transportation network,” the ministry says. “Some of this work includes pothole patching, maintenance of gravel roads, signage repair, bridge repair, drainage management and trac management.” The province is divided into 28 service areas, each with its own service contract awarded by the transportation ministry. The Peace Region includes 5,480 kilometres of road and 208 bridges. It is split in two, with service area 22 lying north of the Peace River from Dawson Creek to the Yukon border. It is maintained by Dawson Road Maintenance. Service area 21 lies south of the river and is served by Argo Road Maintenance. Both are under 10-year service contracts signed in 2019 following a competitive bid process. Wiebe says the bid process was awed, leading to the current issues. “[Dawson Road Maintenance] came in with a bid that undercut everybody by a lot,” Wiebe says. “The amount of kilometres of road that are up here, they very clearly underbid. … And my personal view on that is they have found themselves in a bit of a pickle.” Industry and producer groups, including the BC Grain Producers Association and North Pine Farmers Institute, have held various meetings with transportation ministry ocials in Fort St. John to raise awareness and highlight areas that need improvements and repairs. A contactor that cares “First and foremost is we need a maintenance contractor that actually maintains the road,” Wiebe says. “Our roads have never been in a state of disrepair, just on the maintenance side, as they are now that we have this maintenance company.” Dawson Road Maintenance did not respond to requests for comment before deadline. However, Peace River North MLA Dan Davies spoke with the operations manager in November and the company is committed to improving area maintenance with the purchase of three new trucks, he says. While additional trucks are nice, roads need to be kept open. This hasn’t happened in recent years. “We have been ghting to Weight restrictions u

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18 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Weight restrictions on Peace roads are affecting the region’s economy Elevate Your Operations With Dependable and Ef昀cient Kubota Farm Solutions.ABBOTSFORD1-888-283-3276VERNON1-800-551-6411KELOWNA1-800-680-0233keep the roads in good enough condition that we’re able to keep our legal load limits even through spring, at least on the main arteries into the north,” Weibe says. Over the last few years, the province has instated weight restrictions on roads that are supposed to be at 100% capacity, Wiebe says. When load restrictions are in place, trucks run at 70% capacity, which results in extra costs to many industries in the region, including agriculture, construction and oil and gas. “It affects every industry in the north,” Wiebe says. In the North Peace, all supplies come in from and most commodities go out to Alberta, Wiebe says. “Very little of our grain gets put on the elevator in Fort St. John. A lot of it goes to Dawson Creek and beyond,” he says. “Most of the cattle gets shipped to the auction yard in Dawson Creek, and so our main artery on the Alaska Highway, in particular the Taylor Bridge, is in dire need of an upgrade. And even here, a couple weeks ago, trucks had to wait to cross until they had finished welding some repairs on there. It’s unbelievable.” The Taylor bridge spans 712 metres across the Peace River between Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. A report states that the bridge, built in 1960, reached the end of its life in 2017 and a replacement is not budgeted. Engineering and geotechnical investigative work has been underway since spring 2021. The bridge now requires nearly weekly maintenance, Davies says. He has written to government on numerous occasions, including Alaska and Yukon in the conversation. “There's nothing in the long-term capital plan right now by government,” Davies says of a Taylor Bridge replacement. “We're just trying to get them to … put it in the 10-year capital plan, so at least we know it's in the books, but still nothing.” Beyond the Taylor Bridge, many rural roads on either side of the Peace River are in poor condition. “They go through valleys that are continually moving. The Cecil Lake hill is one of the big hills that we are constantly hearing about. Of course, it is the main road out to the farm communities in Cecil Lake and Goodlow,” Davies says. “The road slid in a couple of years ago. … There needs to be a long-term plan done to get that hill stabilized and get that road through there.” In addition, Highway 29 through Hudson’s Hope has regularly seen slides, floods and closures, Davies says. “It's the ministry’s lack of investment in road infrastructure, which has certainly been declining over the last seven years,” Davies says. “All the roads outside of the municipality of Fort St. John, are all rural roads that connect our farmers and ranchers in our communities and you know, to a greater extent to the rest of the province and country to get their goods out. And when these roads are failing, that's not good.” Many roads have not been repaved in at least 20 years, Davies says. “There's a lot of work yet to be done and unfortunately the Northeast has been neglected by the NDP for far too long now,” Davies says. “The rural road task force has sent out very formal invitations to the former [transportation] minister as well as the present minister. We have a helicopter; we’ll fly you around and show you the issues and we’re still waiting for that one to happen.” Feeling ignored Many residents and community leaders feel ignored by the province. “We're a significant piece of British Columbia's economy,” Davies says. “You know, 95% of all grain in British Columbia is grown in the Peace Region. … Significant ranching, all the natural gas in British Columbia is up in the Northeast, forestry, mining. We're just asking to be recognized for what we're contributing to the rest of the province and one of the things that we're desperately in need of is infrastructure.” While many stakeholders would argue that current infrastructure needs attention, road maintenance has been a long-standing point of contention for residents in the region. The Peace River Regional District began advocating for rural road improvements in 1987. Between 1997 and 2003, the Rural Roads Task Force lobbied for improvements, which was established through the North Peace Economic Development Commission. In 2003, the BC Ministry of Transportation established Regional Transportation Advisory Committees, in part due to the success of the earlier task force. The committees continued through to 2008. In 2017, the PRRD revived and funded the North Peace Rural Roads Initiative on the recommendation of the directors for electoral areas A and B as well as the mayors of Taylor and Hudson’s Hope. Jackie Kjos of JK Solutions Ltd. was the lead consultant of the initiative along with Bruce MacKay and Steve Nicol. In 2021, the District of Taylor, PRRD and District of Hudson’s Hope signed a memorandum of understanding for the North Peace Rural Roads Coalition. However, the coalition is currently at a standstill due to funding shortfalls. —Kate AyersRural road coalition out of commission

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 19Diverse weather, shared hopes unite Peace Peace forage producers experience patchy rainfall KATE AYERS TAYLOR – Optimism was strong at this year’s Peace River Forage Association annual general meeting, with producers sharing concerns, hopes and electing a new generation to lead the association. Weather was a leading topic, with no two areas alike in the meteorologically diverse region. “It's hard to kind of say an overall statement because the Peace Region is not a small region, but even within [localized areas], we have such variability in weather,” says PRFA coordinator Nadia Mori of the forage crops this year. “For example, in the South Peace some of the folks experienced extreme drought and in the North Peace, it was still dry but denitely a little bit more moisture. And then you would still have pockets where maybe somebody got a whole bunch of rain in a very short period of time or somebody who never got any rain. So, it's extremely patchy.” As a result, yields were quite variable, depending on the location and crop. “[Some] were happy with the amount of rain because their soils are so heavy and clay that it can get too much moisture and be very unworkable. So, for them it worked out,” Mori says. “I also talked to other people, and they absolutely had crop failures and nothing was growing. It was a really diverse experience.” More than 40 people attended the December 1 event at the Tower Lake Community Hall. A year ago, PRFA members trudged through -33°C temperatures to get to the meeting. This year, it was a comparatively mild -9°C and the region remains at Level 5 drought. “Right now, we're experiencing Chinook winds. The little bit of snow that we had is going away,” Mori said on December 6. “Soil moisture is very low. So, we're kind of all waiting for a replenishment to happen but a lot of people are concerned that we're not going to have a lot of moisture this winter, or if we do have a lot of moisture, it might just evaporate rather than inltrate, depending on how the melting goes.” Producers attending the December 1 meeting expressed their appreciation for PRFA’s work, particularly bolstering grower protability and sustainability. “People were really excited with what the forage association had accomplished,” Mori says. “I really felt a sense of appreciation for all the events that we put on and all the projects we were involved with to try and help folks with more information and more eld demonstrations and research.” Limited feed Guest speaker Barry Yaremcio, a beef nutrition specialist from Yaremcio Ag Consulting in Stettler, Alberta, spoke to feeding through the winter on limited feed supplies. “There were quite a few questions from the audience,” Mori says. “It was great to see some engagement and people sharing their specic examples.” Yaremcio also sensed producer optimism for the upcoming season. “There were a lot of good questions, a lot of people that were looking forward to a good year,” he says. Producers acknowledged the additional expenses of feeding cattle this winter but look forward to another year in the beef sector. “They're optimistic about getting animals back on grass next year and the potential market conditions and good prices for the fall of 2024,” Yaremcio says. The meeting elected hay and beef producer Brian Gilbert of Baldonnel as the association’s new president, succeeding Neil Ward of Fort St. John. “What I'm looking forward to most is the interactions with the producers there. It's just made up of a special group of people, and I'm hoping to bring new ideas to the table,” Gilbert says. “As with all these industries, not just farming and ranching, the older generations are retiring and I, being the younger face in it, I’m hoping that I’ll get more younger members involved.” Five swans a-grazingOverwintering waterfowl as well as migrating ones are a concern for Fraser Valley poultry growers this year as highly pathogenic avian inuenza becomes endemic among local wildlife. These ve swans weren't paying much attention to the concerns as they grazed this eld near Chilliwack last month. MYRNA STARK LEADERTRACTOR TIME VICTORIA 250.474.3301 4377C Metchosin Rd. 30 mins from Victoria and 15 mins from Hwy#1 in Metchosin.HANDLERS EQUIPMENTABBOTSFORD 604.850.3601 339 Sumas WayHOUSTON 250.845.3333 2990 Highway CrescentMORE Built-in WeightFinancing programs are subject to change at any time..eMAX 20S with backhoe

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 21Crowd pleaser. The Pacic Agriculture Show is host to an impressive farm trade show, an equally impressive hort forum and thousands of guests as it kicks off show season, Janaury 25-27 in Abbotsford. MYRNA STARK LEADERWith its 65th anniversary behind it, the long-running Lower Mainland horticultural growers’ short course has been rebranded as the province steps in as lead funding partner for it and the province’s two other major farm shows this year. Scheduled to run January 25-27 alongside the Pacic Agriculture Show at Tradex in Abbotsford, the Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference will be the rst delivered this winter by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food in partnership with local organizers. Conference funding will come in part via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative which will also support the Islands Agriculture Show at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds in Duncan, February 2-3 and the Southern Interior Horticultural Show, at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, February 16-17. The success last year of the Lower Mainland conference led the province to pick up the shows in Duncan and Penticton, recognizing their important role in knowledge transfer and extension work. “Registration is strong and we expect a similar turnout to last year," said trade show organizer Jim Shepard, who estimated last year's attendance at between 5,000and 6,000 people. Trade show space is also sold out, promising plenty of networking opportunities. Shepard estimated attendance at between 5,000 and 6,000 people last year, on par with pre-pandemic numbers. Growers were happy to come together again last year, free of the restrictions that disrupted the previous two events. While the 2022 show was held in person, sessions were also live-streamed, a nod to the lingering presence of COVID. This year’s short course will be fully in-person, however, with the virtual component of recent years dropped. Registrations hit a record high of 1,100 last year, thanks in part to a provincial subsidy that reduced the registration fee to an aordable $15. Organizers opted to keep the fee low again this year rather than implement the signicant increase needed to fund a hybrid format. The registration fee is $25. The Southern Interior and Islands shows, while smaller in terms of duration and attendance, will follow a similar model and registration has also been set at $25. Some organizations like the BC Fruit Growers Association have oered to cover registration fees for members. Gala kick-off The Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference will be preceded by the annual BC Agriculture Gala on January 24 at the Clarion Hotel in Abbotsford. Similar to last year, it will be a stand-up event allowing attendees to mix and mingle with others in the industry. Besides interactive food stations and live entertainment, the event will oer a silent auction raising funds to support BC Young Farmers’ programming in governance and farm nancial literacy as well as travel to advocacy-related events such as Ag Day in Victoria and those organized by the Canadian Federation of Show season kicks off with the Pacific Agriculture ShowWinter shows support knowledge, tech transferAgriculture. Bid items will be located throughout the event oor as well as online, opening a week before the event. Outstanding contributions to the sector will be honoured, too, through a variety of awards including the Scotiabank Champion of Agriculture, Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation’s Outstanding Teacher Award and the BCAC Excellence in Agricultural Leadership Award. Special events during the show include the BC Dairy lunch on Thursday and the Ag Innovation Forum, which takes place Friday morning. With the role of agritech and innovation running through most sessions, a new feature this year will be Farmers Den, a pitch competition for agribusiness organized by the Abbotsford Tech District. The event will feature two pitch categories, one for Seedlings, students or recent graduates launching or hoping to launch companies who will compete for a $10,000 prize, and Agripreneurs, entrepreneurs with established agricultural or agri-tech companies who will compete for a $50,000 prize. Preview by PETER MITHAM

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22 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCKEY FEATURES• ActiveDrive 8 dual-clutch transmission delivers a wider range of working speeds without torque interruptions• Advanced technology of MultiControl Armrest and MultiFunction Handle places most-frequently used functions in one hand for easy operation• Shift gears and change direction from the optional advanced loader joystick• ActiveClutch II technology allows you to easy stop without using the clutch pedalADVANTAGES• Smooth shifting and fast direction changes• Operate your loader with ease for better accuracy and less fatigue • Push button shifting• No mechanical range changesSCAN TO SEE THE MAXXUM IN ACTIONView videos to learn more about the features that make the Maxxum with ActiveDrive 8 your ultimate taskmaster.All rights reserved. Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or afliates. www.caseih.com 123 PLACEHOLDER STREET, PLACEHOLDER SUBURB, ZIP+02 123 456 789 - WWW.DEALERSITE.COMMAXXUM® ActiveDrive 8860 Riverside Rd. Abbotsford V2S 7P6 604-864-2273 | caliberequipment.ca See us at the Pacic Ag ShowThe Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference is all about making connections, between what growers know and what can address the unknowns of their business. It’s also about connecting with people, both old friends and fresh faces who can help steer things forward. Both are in play following the introductory remarks from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food on January 25, as executive coach Kelly Dobson, leader of a fourth-generation farm in Fairfax, Manitoba discusses the “partnership of personalities” that make a farm successful. Commodity-specic sessions begin following the opening keynote, with sessions on water and climate management and eld vegetables. Vegetable growers will be treated to sessions on managing common issues like weeds, clubroot and cabbage root maggot, from both the local and national perspective. The weeds session will be of interest to a range of growers as Jichul Bae, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Agassiz will look at the state of herbicide resistance in BC. This will include a discussion of tools and mitigation strategies in BC cropping systems, including what’s being learned about herbicide resistance in the FV. Sessions the rst afternoon will dive into berries and potatoes. Strawberries and raspberries kick things o as usual, with Darragh Redfern of Star Produce discussing greenhouse strawberry production followed by James Bergen and David Klyn-Hesselink discussing long-cane raspberries. But pests remain an issue, warranting sessions on strawberry blossom weevil and parasitic nematodes. Strawberry blossom weevil has come to the fore in recent years, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist Michelle Franklin will present ndings from the 2023 season that will help growers understand this new interloper. If pests weren’t frightening enough, the berry sessions for the day wrap up with the market outlook for red raspberries from Ben Klootwyk of Pacic Coast Fruit Products. Potato growers have their own pests to deal with, and a diminishing set of tools to ght them. However, there’s hope: a new tool for wireworm control is on the horizon, and growers will get all the details in a 20-minute presentation from Wim Van Herk and Bob Vernon that asks, “What could go wrong?” Later in the afternoon, Megan Gray of ES Cropconsult and provincial pesticide specialist Ken Sapsford will round up observations from the 2023 crop year and review recent decisions aecting pest control materials. Sandwiched between the two pest management sessions will be an hour of presentations on water. These will assist growers facing drought but also help them to know how to assess plants to determine what their needs are. Making connections helps hort forum off to strong startThe second day of the show will see conference sessions shift into high gear. The annual innovation forum takes place in the morning with a panel discussion led by Laila Benkrima of the BC Centre for Agritech Innovation at Simon Fraser University. Panellists will discuss some of the practical innovations incorporated within their farms that help them to farm smarter, drawing insights from the greenhouse and berry sectors. With labour issues driving the adoption of new technologies, Woo Soo Kim of the BC Centre for Agritech Innovation will discuss how this is playing out in BC. Neupeak Robotics and Haggerty Robotics will discuss homegrown innovations that are helping farmers weed and harvest their crops. The greenhouse sessions in the afternoon will pick up the technology thread with a panel discussion of the collaboration between BC and the Netherlands led by Seychelle Cushing, executive director of the BC Center for Agritech Innovation. Pieter Kwakernaak, general manager of Hoogendoorn Growth Management, will discuss how agritech can be a tool to empower plants, not just people. No hort session would be complete without a discussion of pests and disease, which can be the nemesis of a crop. Greenhouse growers will get their ll with a discussion of stink bugs, fusarium in peppers and tomato brown rugose virus. Concurrently, the all-berry sessions will be covering a host of wee beasties including thrips, Japanese beetle, spotted lanterny and stinkbugs. While a bug zapper would be nice, it’s a reality for weed management and Marcelo Moretti of Oregon State University will discuss electrical weed control in highbush blueberries. Trends in global production, seasonality of supply and consumption of caneberries and blueberries will be the focus of David Magana, a senior horticulture analyst with Rabobank, helping growers understand the outlook for the year ahead. Growth in cut ower demand during the pandemic may have dropped o, but ower growers will get the scoop from a Friday morning panel discussion of marketplace trends in the oriculture world. It will be followed by sector-specic insights on new technologies to facilitate autonomous growing. And yes, pest management will feature here too with a review of biocontrol options. Friday will also feature a full day of hazelnut information. The sector’s recovery from Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) is in full swing, and growers will hear the latest on market trends and orchard management from some of the best. Giuseppe Rosati, development manager with Italy’s Ferrero Hazelnut Co., will discuss innovations in South America while Nik Wiman of Oregon State University will brief growers on the latest research out of the renowned Willamette Valley. On Friday afternoon, the threats to hazelnuts from weeds and wildlife will be covered. UBC researcher Thorsten Knifer will sharpen growers’ understanding of water stress by discussing how the Yamhill and Jeerson varieties respond to drought. One of the most arid parts of the region is Eastern Washington, and many of the day’s themes will feature in a presentation by Jim Canaday, president of the Eastern Washington Hazelnut Association, who will discuss how his members are faring. Gathering momentumWidest variety of EFB Resistant Hazelnut Cultivars in BC.info@naturetechnursery.comeXkli\k\Z_elij\ip%Zfd../%/*,%(+''Naturetech Nursery is BC’s ﬁrst & largest producer of blight resistant Hazelnut cultivars.Accepting Orders for Spring or Fall 2024 Planting

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LangleyChilliwackWilliams LakeLyndenCome and see us at Pac Ag!Tradex will see plenty of connections made during the Pacic Agriculture Show. MYRNA STARK LEADERBlueberries and more Just as in previous years, the closing day of the Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference will be the day for blueberries. While some growers nd themselves in a jam from the twin pressures of scorch and slack prices, this year’s conference oers tips that will help them prepare for the season ahead. While aphids are adept at spreading scorch, the benets of good management will be discussed in the opening session, followed by a discussion of the pitfalls of current testing methods and a new, universal method developed for the detection of the virus. Keeping plants cool and fruitful are two other major concerns of blueberry growers. Rufus Isaacs of Michigan State University will share the impacts Michigan growers have observed from extreme heat during bloom and pollination, while Wei Yang of Oregon State University will discuss the use of evaporative cooling. USDA researcher Dave Bryla will discuss decit irrigation as a way to improve water use. On the pollination front, Lisa Wasko DeVetter of Washington State University and Chilliwack beekeeper Peter Awram will weigh in on how to maximize pollination for the benet of bees and berries alike. While Cort Brazelton won’t be providing his usual comprehensive overview of world markets for blueberries, chartered accountant Scott Beaton will deliver an overview of blueberry market demand, current BC acreage and a nancial analysis to guide growers’ decisions around replanting. Practices for a successful replant program and a report on variety development work in BC will complement the discussion of market opportunities. The organic sector will also be treated to a full day of sessions on January 27. Marjolaine Dessureault, research director at ES Cropconsult, will facilitate a discussion among ve organic producers regarding several farmer-led demonstration research projects. Soil health and go-to pest control products will be among the shorter sessions during the day, but the use of agritechnology to advance regenerative agriculture goals will come into focus as one of the day’s longer sessions. A ve-member panel will give an overview of weeding trials happening across Canada, including weed zappers, autonomous weeders, weed seed head crushers, laser weeding, and more. Mindful of the challenges organic and other growers face in the current environment, Matt Treble, a counsellor with AgSafe BC, will discuss mental wellness with growers. Rounding out Saturday, a morning session will update growers on hops research in BC, with a particular focus on harvest timing. Growth in the sector has attened, and some operators are nding themselves in a nancial pinch post-pandemic. Ken Beattie of the BC Craft Brewers Guild will update growers on the state of the sector giving insights into market opportunities. Prospects for the new publicly available variety Vista from the USDA breeding program will be discussed by Eric Sannerud of Sannerud Hop Consulting in Minnesota. COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 23FOR PERFECT SEEDBED PREPARATIONLOOK TO LEMKENSYSTEM-KOMPAKTOR Optimum crumbling and reconsolidation Even working depth Perfect levelling Safe road transport4eedbed preparation for optimBM germination.The System-Kompaktor creates a nely cultivated, reconsolidated seedbed of uniform particle size and even depth. 3.99% Financing. Certain Conditions ApplyStable spring-steel supporting arms Uniform levelling Variable track looseners @strategictill | lemken.caVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989)LTD23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604-463-3681 | vanderwaleq.comQuality Pre-Owned Tractors & EquipmentCHALLENGER MT545E full load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140,000 JAYLOR Mixer Wagon 4575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 MF 1742 tractor, AWD with cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,500 MF 4609 tractor with 931 loader, 2215 Hours . . . . . 49,000 MF 4707 4WD, LDR, LOW HOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70,000 MF 4708 tractor/loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,500 MF 6713 tractor, cab, AWD, 207 hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,500 MCCORMICK X5.40 cab tractor, low hours . . . . . . . 60,000 TURBOMATIC 600 lt sprayer with side cannon . . . . 8,500 VICON fertilizer spreader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 WALLENSTEIN M130 manure spreader . . . . . . . . . 17,500 WN WL60T articulating loader 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,000See us at the PACIFIC AG SHOW

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Beyond the Lower Mainland Vancouver Island The annual Islands Agriculture Show at Cowichan Exhibition Park in Duncan, February 2-3, remains largely unchanged by this year’s new provincial sponsorship arrangement. The conference registration fee of $25 includes trade show access; the trade show alone is $5. The conference’s rst day focuses on pests and soils. Conrad Berube, senior IPM ocer with the BC Ministry of Environment, will discuss rat and goose management, the latter being of special interest to poultry growers in view of avian inuenza. In the afternoon, Kristin Miskelley will moderate a panel discussion regarding hedgerows for managing pests and pollinators. Soil health, nutrient management and irrigation will be the focus of other sessions during the day, reecting several current concerns regarding land and water stewardship. Keynote speaker Curtis Grainger, director of lending and sustainability programs with Farm Credit Canada, will discuss the economics of innovation on the rst day with a look at how lenders are working with farmers on sustainability initiatives. Jared Williams will be the keynote speaker on the second day, providing an overview of Indigenous food systems. Climate-adapted farming and pest management will kick o the second day, but a key focus will be meat production, with panel discussions of on-farm meat processing and scaling up poultry production. But farming isn’t always about growth; to help farmers address the challenges, presentations are also planned on preventing burnout and the business of running a farm, starting with budgeting basics and understanding costs of production. Southern Interior The Southern Interior Horticultural Show at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, February 16-17, is a new event that combines a two-day conference and trade show focused on the tree fruit and grape sectors. The event kicks o with keynote speaker Mo Dhaliwal, CEO of Vancouver marketing agency Skyrocket Digital, inspiring growers with “Cultivating Strength: Growing Resilience through Community and Culture.” It will be followed by a discussion of soil health, with a special focus on setting up growers for success as they move forward with orchard and vineyard renewal. Afternoon sessions on the rst day include three streams specic to the apple, cherry and grape sectors. Grape growers will dive into pruning, pest and powdery mildew management. Apple growers will discuss rootstocks and crop load management. The cherry session will be a mash-up of the two, concluding with a panel discussion aimed at connecting the day’s lessons. An evening social will give growers a chance to relax, socialize and network prior to the second day, which will continue the commodity-specic streams of the previous day. Grape growers will hear not only about managing challenges but preparing for future opportunities with sessions on the economics of replanting vineyards and a discussion of the most suitable varieties. Water management and extreme weather will grab apple growers’ attention, with a bonus session for peach growers looking at recent rootstock trials. Cherry growers will receive their own research update with a summary of recent variety development work at Summerland as well as research on Western X and Little Cherry Disease from Washington State University. A general session on water management in the afternoon will wrap up the conference. 24 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCVancouver Island growers will gather for the Islands Ag Show, February 2-3. SUBMITTEDMNP is a proud Platinum Sponsor of the 2024 Paciﬁc Ag Show. We look forward to connecting with you there!Your bottom line isn’t just a number on a balance sheet. It’s everything you have – and have invested a lifetime to build. Our local Agriculture practitioners understand the challenges you face and can help manage your tax exposure while optimizing your operations and results.It’s more than your livelihood, it’s your lifeYou deserve an advisor who gets what’s on the line.Denise Parker, CPA, CGA | 604.792.1915 | denise.parker@mnp.caMNP.ca

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 25BC Fruit Growers’ AssociationRepresenting Fruit Growers With Active Involvement In:Representing Growers Since 1889U Fruit and Vegetable Growers Canada (formerly CHC) - and 5 sub-committeesU FVGC Apple Working GroupU Canadian Federation of AgricultureU BC Agriculture Council (founding member)U Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (founding member)U Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (founding member)U Okanagan Water Stewardship Council U SIRU Starling Control CommitteeU Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan and 6 sub-committeesU Tree Fruit Production Insurance Advisory CommitteeU Business Risk Management Advisory Committee1.800.619.9022 info@bcfga.com www.bcfga.com Proudly 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 Organic Operators across Canada Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association (FVOPA) offers organic certication services for producers, processors, packaging and labelling contractors, distributors, and various organic service providers. We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service and we welcome new members year-round. FVOPA certies to the Canadian Organic Standards and to the Canada Organic Regime (COR). Certied products may bear the Canada Organic logo and be marketed Canada-wide and internationally. TOM WALKER KELOWNA – It’s been 25 months since former agriculture minister Lana Popham released The Path Forward: A Blueprint for BC’s Tree Fruit Industry, a report intended to stabilize the windfallen sector. Nineteen recommendations on how to revitalize the industry came with some 60 government staff and $2 million to begin the work. “Those 19 points were identified as priorities by industry and many groups involved with the industry,” notes provincial tree fruit and grapes specialist Adrian Arts. There has been progress on many recommendations but more work needs to be done, he says. Several competing priorities for both government and industry over the past years have slowed the work. Arts was seconded to Abbotsford for four weeks in 2021 for flood recovery work, just as the program was launched. Wildfires, drought, heat domes, deep freezes and frosts have all had an impact on the tree fruit and grape sectors. “Despite all these challenges, I would say that many of the recommendations are well underway, so I am feeling good about the progress that has been made,” he says. Some stakeholders were looking for immediate solutions, Arts says, but meaningful change takes time. “We intentionally dug deep into root causes,” he says. “We came into this very clearly, saying we were not looking for Band-Aid fixes.” The work is starting to bear fruit, largely as a result of renewed collaboration. “I would call it astounding,” he says. “We have never seen this collaboration amongst industry groups before. We have fruit growers, the cherry association, grape growers, the wine grape council and our apple packers all having regular meetings together.” Labour app The successes include the BC Fruit Works app, which launched two years ago and is helping with labour issues. The apple data sharing project sees eight packers submit their weekly sales and storage data. “We now have a firm understanding of the size of the apple crop, how much is in storage and how much each packer will have to move,” he says. The data sharing has attracted the attention of the blueberry industry, pointing to the broader impact of the initiative. “They heard about it and reached out to see if it could be used in the frozen blueberry market,” Arts says. A team is working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and partners across the US border for better access to newer rootstocks and improved treatment protocols. Meanwhile, the extension team has delivered numerous workshops on improving apple quality, size and colour, and demonstrated the use of leaf-removal machines and picking platforms. The marketing team also received $250,000 for domestic and export market development opportunities that was fairly well received by packers, Arts says. “The follow-up to that was for the ministry to do a two to five-year domestic marketing strategy for apples and we have 11 packers signed on for that,” he notes. “And the orderly marketing secretariat for apples is continuing to consider either a marketing commission or an apple association.” The new varieties group has 10 club apples they are considering, and some could be introduced as early as 2025. To no one’s surprise, the first phase of the Perennial Crop Renewal Program was fully subscribed across the fruit industry, including tree fruits, grapes and berries., with $8 million allocated to pull-out last year. Sector development projects, including sector opportunities assessments, received $875,000, leaving just $6 million for replanting. “The individual sector opportunities assessments have all been submitted, and IAF is just reviewing them to figure what is in and what is out,” Arts says. “We are hoping to get some trees going into the ground this March.” Waiting on replant BC Fruit Growers Association president Peter Simonsen says the successes don’t fully offset the slow rollout of initiatives such as the renewal program. “We had a replant program that was successful; the government could have continued on with it while they made some adjustments,” he notes. “It’s been three years since we have had replant support.” And even if monies are forthcoming for planting this spring, Simonsen says there may not be enough grafted trees available and growers will still have to wait three more years for trees to attain full production. “Growers who pulled out in 2023 will be without full income for a four years,” he says. But if they can stick it out, the orderly marketing proposal will benefit them. “The communication and transparency that an orderly marketing system will provide can only help growers,” he says, going so far as to say it will save the industry. “We have too many growers who are getting $200 a bin when it should be closer to $600 and that is not because of poor quality fruit.” BCFGA had hoped orderly marketing could be in place last year, but the expectations is now for a debut in 2024. A key disappointment has been provincial silence on a one-time support payment, a recommendation of The Path Forward report. "That has been a key ask for the BCFGA,” Simonsen says. To sustain the momentum built to date, Kellie Garcia has been hired to coordinate a Cross-Commodity Leadership Support Project. “That group of people continuing with the hard conversations, that is the one to watch,” Arts says. “They are in the long game.” Collaboration at record levels in fruit sector Leadership key to sustaining stabilization initiative's momentum to date

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26 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCCohortWholesale.comTechnical and sales support provided byCrack the cherry cracking code!Lalstim Osmo • Minimizes yield losses caused by rain-induced splitting• Works quickly and provides protection for several weeks• Excellent tank-mix partnerAlways read and follow label directions. Lalstim Osmo is a registered trademark of Lallemand Plant Care. Copyright ©2023 Lallemand Plant Care. CRACK THE C DElallemandplantcare.com TOM WALKER KELOWNA – BC cherry growers took a beating on price last season due to the market being ooded with cheap California and Washington fruit. The BC Fruit Growers Association and the BC Cherry Association are considering an anti-dumping claim to prevent it from happening again. “Prices really crashed last July,” explains BCFGA general manager Glen Lucas. There was stock from California and Washington in the system and BC fruit came on early, he notes. “We suspect that American fruit was being sold into Canada for less than our cost of production, which is against trade regulations,” he says. BCFGA approached the Canadian Border Services Agency to understand the process to initiate trade action. “Years ago, there was an anti-dumping tari in place for apples that lasted 15 years,” he notes. “But we have not had a trade issue recently.” CBSA’s rst response was that nothing could be done quickly during the cherry season, Lucas explains. “We haven’t done anything yet as we understand that any action can take from three to six months to submit and be extremely costly in legal fees,” he says. Before NAFTA, a quick short-term solution, colloquially known as a “snap-back” provision, existed. It allowed the US or Canada to apply a temporary duty on certain fresh fruits and vegetables originating in the other country. “The snap-back was a good short-term measure that could give immediate protection of just a week, but could be extended. It was ideal for the fresh fruit and vegetable market,” Lucas explains. “But it was phased out as part of NAFTA.” Lucas says it is unfortunate that the short-term snap-back was done away with. “It was something that could be used to respond to an issue during a growing season. It’s very hard to know what will happen next year, let alone for ve years, which is the length of a tari now, he says. Representatives from the associations met with a lawyer who specializes in trade actions and he agreed to supply them with a proposal. “It is called an assessment and it would cost $30,000. But even before doing that, you need some sort of plausible commitment to the $1 million eventual cost,” Lucas explains. BCFGA and BC Cherry have discussed the pros and cons of undertaking the assessment, and also how the million-dollar cost would be funded. The two groups will now take the ideas back to their directors for discussion. Lucas says he believes there are three options to be discussed at the board levels. “One is don’t do anything,” he says. “Don’t spend $30,000 on the assessment; don’t try and gure out where the million dollars would come from.” Wait and see The second option discussed was wait and see what happens next year and review it at the end of next season. “That doesn’t give any relief for next year but we don’t spend any money,” Lucas says. The third option would be to go ahead with the trade action, but the drawn-out process makes a timeline uncertain, Lucas says. Organizing payment for the action could also be problematic, Lucas notes. “We don’t have one centralized authority,” he explains. “Not every producer is a member of the cherry association and not all members of the cherry association are members of the BCFGA or vice versa, so we don’t have a way of having it assessed fairly. That’s a big hurdle.” Waiting to see how the next season unfolds may be the best option Lucas says. “It is such a huge cost and it will be dicult to pay it fairly,” he says. “And the last time we saw a similar overlap in the market conditions was 10 years ago.” But if it does happen again, something must be done. “We would have to have a process to get everyone to pay fairly,” Lucas says. It may not all be about international trade. “We saw some positive results from our promotions for consumers to buy local cherries last year,” Lucas says. “There is more that could be done and it would really improve things in the long run.” BC growers weigh trade complaint against US cherriesBoosting domestic marketing might be a better use of dollars

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 27Meat, veg prices rise sharply as inflation slowsCost-conscious consumers force narrower margins on suppliersConsumers will still be doing doubletakes on their bills in 2024 despite lower food ination. Many of the increases are attributable to the higher cost of everything rather than on-farm costs. FILEGreenhouse Ground CoverGreenhouse FilmProtection NetsMulch Film Landscaping FabricsShade Nets Bale WrapsBunker CoversSilage BagsTwine & Net WrapsHay TarpsForage & Grain Seed1.800.663.6022ofﬁce@silagrow.com5121 - 46 Ave S.E. Salmon Arm, BCPick Up & Delivery Only 112-18860 24 Ave. Surrey, BCVisit our website for informative content and detailedproduct descriptions.silagrow.comPETER MITHAM VANCOUVER – Canadian food prices will continue to rise this year, with meat, fruit and vegetables once again leading the charge. Whether you like meat and potatoes, or just the potatoes, meals will be a lot more expensive as persistent ination and costs from retailer back to the farmer continue to climb. “Aordability is getting better, calming down, still increasing but at a lower rate,” says Kelleen Wiseman, a co-author of the report and academic director for the Master of Food and Resource Economics program in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. She worked with researchers at Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph and University of Saskatchewan to prepare the report, which forecasts an increase of 2.5% to 4.5% on groceries in 2024. This is down from an increase of 5% to 7% last year, with the actual rate coming in at approximately 6%. The most signicant increases this year will be seen on meat and vegetables, according to the report, rising 5% to 7%. The factors contributing to higher food prices are many, including routine increases to supply managed products driven by cost of production formulas as well as federal levies such as the carbon tax. A bill to expand the range of on-farm fuels exempted from the carbon tax was passed in the Senate on December 12, for example, but amendments driven by Liberal senators stripped greenhouses and barns of the proposed exemptions. Wiseman said structural issues within supply chains also add up to higher prices. If a produce item increases 10% and the farmer receives just 2% more, she says the middle player is likely claiming markup to cover their own added costs. It’s a raw point for producers, especially in the supply-managed sector, who are often blamed for being pricetakers. During the BC Milk Marketing Board’s fall producer meeting in Abbotsford, one producer asked how the retail price of milk could be up 17% to 20% while producers were losing money. BC Milk Marketing Board director Kevin Mammel replied that producers were still going to benet from the 1.8% price increase that takes eect this May, but said this didn’t limit the margin added by wholesalers and retailers. “The processors are going to pay that much more for the milk,” he said. “Where the rest of the margin goes is their business.” Most producers don’t have the same luxury unless they’re selling direct to consumers, and even then they can only charge what the market will bear. In some cases, they may need to settle for lower margins to accommodate a cost-conscious consumer. While the major grocers have taken plenty of heat over the past year for their pricing practices, smaller retailers like Kin’s Farm Market, which operates 23 produce stores across BC’s Lower Mainland, say a nimble approach to purchasing that balances all sides is important for everyone’s success. It can not only keep costs in check, but ensure suppliers also remain nancially viable. And local farmers are a key part of the equation. “We’ve actually found prices, on have average, have come down,” says Kin’s chief operating ocer Victor Lau, who works with Emma-Lea Farms and other BC suppliers. “We know there is food ination, but the way we purchase things, through our procurement, we’re able to mitigate a lot of those cost increases.” The price farmers receive has to translate into something that works for Kin’s and its customers, but the reverse is also true – the farmer needs to receive a price that keeps them in business. “We work with them to understand what kind of volume they need to move, and then try to meet that demand with the market to nd a price that works for them,” Lau says. “You can’t squeeze the growers too much or else there’s no business case for them to continue to grow.” Kin’s sometimes accepts a lower margin to keep both its suppliers and customers happy. “It’s quite an interesting balance that we have to strike,” he says. “Sometimes we just have to absorb.” LANGLEY CHILLIWACK CHEMAINUS KELOWNA rollinsmachinery.com 1-800-665-9060NEW! 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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 29Spallumcheen cuts, wraps deal for butcher hub Centre aims to fill a critical need in local meat productionArmstrong livestock producer Emily Robertson says the promise of increased processing capacity in the North Okanagan will allow her to expand her operation. CATHY GLOVER“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.comwww.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613@TubelineMFGFind us onTL360BF8000The TL360 high speed individual wrapper, is designed to wrap on the move. The TL360 allows operators to pick up and carry another bale while one is still in the chamber. The BF8000 SL is equipped with a loading arm and has a bale capacity of 2,500 lbs. The Bale Feeder can carry two bales, one on the table and one on the loading arm maximizing each trip to the field.Visit us online for complete listing of features and options.TOM WALKER SPALLUMCHEEN – Merritt’s loss is the North Okanagan’s gain as the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association shifts its focus from a Nicola Valley abattoir to a butcher hub based in Spallumcheen. “We were able to pivot funds from the Nicola project to invest in the North Okanagan,” says SSMPA executive director Julia Smith. “This will be an actual building that will complement the on-going cooperation, collaboration and knowledge-sharing of our butcher hub network.” An October meeting at the Silver Creek Community Hall south of Salmon Arm gave a thumbs-up to the new processing facility. Emily Robertson of True North Farm in Armstrong says more processing capacity is a key to her expanding her operation. It’s been lacking since provincial meat licensing regulations were overhauled nearly 20 years ago. “Much of the small-scale processing capacity was lost,” Robertson notes. “There has been very little replacement of that capacity.” While her pastures can support more animals, she lacks a reliable way to process them without local services. “I really support the SSMPA with establishing a butcher hub so that people who want to can kill on farm and have their meat hung and butchered at a place that is not 500 km away,” she says. “This is very much needed.” A butcher hub ts with small-scale local processing, Robertson says. “I like the way they have gone about doing this and integrating it with the farmgate licensing program,” she says. “They are building the knowledge of people who get involved with this which is really the way to go forward.” Smith notes that recently opened Yankee Flats Meats is a big boost for the local farming community, oering slaughter and cut-and-wrap for pigs, lamb, and chickens as well as cut-and-wrap beef. “But the bottleneck is in cut-and-wrap and value-added, and that’s what we hope to build,” Smith says. SSMPA is looking to provide a smoker and top-level sausage-making equipment so producers can have their meat slaughtered on-farm, at Yankee Flats Meats or at Meadow Valley Meats in the Fraser Valley, and then use the butcher hub. Robertson prefers to have her animals slaughtered on farm, but has struggled to nd a reliable company to do the work. SSMPA has a solution for that. “We have been able to use part of our Nicola project funding to purchase two more slaughter trailers,” Smith explains. “We have our original one up in the Peace and we have ordered a second one to be placed in the Kootenays and a third will go to the Spallumcheen and will be able to do on-farm kills in the area.” The slaughter trailers will be able to hang, cool and transport the meat, Smith explains. “We will have locker space for producers to hang their animals while they are accessing the butcher hub,” she says. SSMPA is looking at a parcel of land in the Agricultural Land Reserve as part of Spallumcheen’s agri-industrial zone for the facility. Spallumcheen will take the application to the Agricultural Land Commission and oer a long-term lease to SSMPA on approval. “We are cautiously optimistic about getting approval fairly quickly,” Smith says. Smith says the vision is for an 80x100 steel-frame building that will serve current needs and accommodate future growth. “We are really hoping that down the road it will become a provincially inspected abattoir,” Smith says. “This is all part of our bigger picture view to open opportunities for growth in the industry.” Sta will include trained, local butchers. “We have a butcher that works with a small abattoir right now and they would be happy to move their operation, and we have a couple of other options,” Smith says. “Ideally, we want to lease it to an operator and we hope to be able to pay a decent wage for workers. There are no plans for a storefront operation at this time. “I don’t think the ALC would want that,” Smith says. “And most of the producers who will use it are doing their own direct marketing.” Robertson captures the feelings of many small producers in the province. “I don’t know how we’ve allowed ourselves to get into the situation where most of the meat we buy in our stores comes from another province,” she says. “The carbon footprint just from the transportation is horric and the stress on the animals is huge.”

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TOM WALKER VERNON – RCMP Corporal Cory Lepine is once again working with farmers full-time following a secondment to Ashcroft, and he spoke about his role as provincial livestock investigator at the North Okanagan Livestock Association AGM in Vernon. Lepine provides operational support for local detachments. While he invites producers to contact him, he says some les are best handled by local detachments. “Don’t be oended if I tell you after we speak that you should call your local detachment to make a report,” he explains. “If they require my assistance, I will help them. I have an open policy. I am available. But a lot of times, because of jurisdictional things, your local detachment is going to be the ones to deal with it.” Despite the high price of cattle and feed, Lepine says there hasn’t been the usual uptick in cattle theft. “I don’t know if it’s because we’ve had pretty good weather and maybe we are assuming there are still animals up on range, but I haven’t had any stolen cattle reported to me,” he says. However, livestock investigators in other provinces are seeing an increase in fraud in cattle nance, Lepine warns. “I have worked on two les from Manitoba in excess of almost $20 million that were nancing cattle that were paper cows,” Lepine says. “A gentlemen that I interviewed in Fort St. John was almost a victim of one of the frauds because he marketed his cattle on Kijiji.” Lepine says it’s understandable that people are looking to stretch their dollar, but marketing outside of traditional venues carries risk. “This gentlemen had 350 mother cows and calves that he posted on Kijiji,” Lepine explains. “A buyer approached him over the Internet and tried to make a deal with him. Had he gone through with it, it would have put him out of business and their family would have lost the ranch.” A handshake used to seal the deal in agriculture, Lepine says, “But you can’t do that anymore.” Yet a handshake led to a lost sale and a lost horse for a woman in northern BC, Lepine reports. ”A lady had a real nice registered Quarter Horse that she wanted to sell at the Billings horse sale. She found a guy in Alberta that was willing to take it down for her. She dropped the horse o and handed him the Coggins, all the paperwork,” Lepine says. “The guy didn’t take it to the sale, but kept it at his own place. When the health papers expired, he got them redone in his name, sold it in Billings under his own name, and the lady never saw a dime.” Feral horses were the last issue that Lepine touched on. “[They’re] going to be a massive issue for anyone who has range that is adjacent to, or near, a feral horse population,” he says. “The kill plant in Alberta is no longer processing horses, leaving no option for those looking to give up a horse.” Lepine says he has already seen two occasions of owners turning domestic horses out with wild horses. A growing feral population will aect a rancher’s grazing capacity and the whole ecosystem. “It is going to get worse because we are not going to be rounding them up anymore,” he explains. “I’m already seeing the eects of it. I am getting calls.” 30 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCMarketing 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®Visit our WebsiteLOG HOME WITH GUEST RESIDENCE ON 160 ACRES - BURNS LAKE, BCCHEZACUT RANCH & BIG GAME OUTFITTER TERRITORY SLAM BANG LODGE - THE ULTIMATEWEST COAST FISHING LOCATIONFAMILY CAMPGROUND ON LINK LAKEPRINCETON, BCAFFORDABLE RIVERFRONT FARMTELKWA, BCSTARTER CATTLE FARMFORT ST. JAMES, BCTROPHY ALBERTA ESTATENEAR WHITECOURT, ABBACKCOUNTRY LAKEFRONT ACREAGETROUT LAKE, BC2 $775,000      $10,500,000 includes equipment and livestock $995,000     2 $1,500,000   $899,000 $895,00022 $2.160,000         $275,000CHASE WESTERSUND 778-927-6634Personal Real Estate CorporationWESTERN LAND GROUPRICH OSBORNE 604-328-0848Personal Real Estate Corporationrich@landquest.comJAMIE ZROBACK 1-604-483-1605JASON ZROBACK 1-604-414-5577BC LANDPRO GROUPKEVIN KITTMER 250-951-8631kevin@landquest.comSAM HODSON 604-809-2616 Personal Real Estate Corporationsam@landquest.comJOHN ARMSTRONG 250-307-2100Personal Real Estate Corporationjohn@landquest.comKURT NIELSEN 250-898-7200kurt@landquest.comMATT CAMERON 250-200-1199matt@landquest.comSKI SEASON IS HERE! INVEST AT MT BALDY IN THE SOUTH OKANAGAN, BCLAKEFRONT ACREAGE AND CUSTOM BUILT LOG HOME - CANIM LAKE, BC $129,900 $719,000ROB GREENE 604-830-2020rob@landquest.comFAWN GUNDERSON 250-982-2314Personal Real Estate Corporationfawn@landquest.comCattle theft non-existent despite high pricesProducers warned about sophisticated buyer scams Werner Stump and Brett Squair listen as provincial livestock investigator RCMP Corporal Cory Lepine addresses the North Okanagan Livestock Association’s annual meeting. TOM WALKER

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 31Water continues to be top issue for OK ranchersDrought recovery, future planning on tapA hay shortage that affected much of the province and an increasing threat of water curtailments kept North Okanagan producers on the defensive last year. CATHY GLOVERProducer Check-o Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333TOM WALKER VERNON – The North Okanagan Livestock Association’s annual general meeting December 5 was a well-attended aair with some 70 participants. “I think it shows the concern that our members have for the issues in our industry,” says NOLA president Lani French. NOLA hosted a very successful BC Cattlemen’s Association convention in Vernon last June, but then drought began hitting ranchers hard. “The drought took a toll on the water systems,” says French. “Many of our members had major issues on the Salmon River, but with the help of BCCA general manager Kevin Boon and other key individuals, resolutions were addressed to the government, and hopefully water complications can be prevented in the future.” BCCA vice-president Werner Stump delivered an update from the provincial association on behalf of Boon, who was ill. “I want to express how big a deal it was this year in the province dealing with the drought,” says Stump. “Things might not have always seemed timely but there was an intense eort from BCCA trying to help resolve the wildre, drought and water curtailment issues.” Stump says whatever the impacts in the North Okanagan, other regions suered more. “Some parts of the province only saw 20% to 30% of normal forage production and are scratching their heads as to how to move forward,” Stump says. BCCA was proactive in speaking with the province about drought and wildres early in the season. “The Ministry of Agriculture worked with the federal government and that put us in a better position than Alberta and Saskatchewan,” Stump maintains. “There was a targeted advance payment of $150 per breeding animal, that came through in July against the 2023 AgriStability payment that some producers chose to take.” The Canada-BC Wildre and Drought AgriRecovery Initiative was announced in October and provides a variety of supports for ranchers. “Please make sure you are aware of those programs,” Stump stresses. “And I would encourage you to enroll.” Some issues are covered o Ranchers want long-term uFOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO GO UPVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD.3080T TELESCOPIC WHEEL LOADER 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com

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32 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Ranchers want long-term solutions to water issuesby both drought and wildre and some challenges by wildre only, Stump explains. Both disaster events triggered partial coverage for feed and transportation assistance, pregnancy checking and extraordinary costs. However, the wildre coverage addresses costs related to re clean up, establishment of safe livestock handling facilities, mustering and handling costs, vet costs, private fencing, loss of breeding stock, irrigation system repair, replacement of perennial forage and incremental grazing costs incurred after June 1, 2024. The program’s regional approach is unique. “There are dierent program caps that are available depending on how your region faired on average,” Stump says. Funding is also available for ranchers whose irrigation was cut o under curtailment orders issued in August under the Water Sustainability Act. “It is an important point to remember that you have a form in front of you to ll out, but it is not necessarily that cut and dried,” Stump says. “You should always investigate Are you looking for Sales or Service for your Lewis Cattle Oiler?Contact Steve Major to reserve a date: majorss@telus.net | 780.524.8880We are planning a trip through your area in the near future.further and ask questions to see what allowable expenses might be covered in your situation.” Salmon River rancher Trudi Schweb says it’s always important to keep receipts and explanatory notes to help with the overwhelming paperwork. “We had to move a lot of cattle around this summer, and I always made a note of which day, who hauled them, how many cattle were on the liner and where they were going,” Schweb says. “You need to make sure that the people who are helping you ll out your AgriRecovery paperwork know exactly what went on. Sometimes they are going to pick up on things that will help you.” Stump gave a nod to the business risk management programs the ministry put together this year. “They really stepped up and dealt with the federal government, but we can’t count on this level of assistance in future years,” he cautions. Mother Nature helped a bit with the drought as well, but Stump is worried if there’s a repeat in 2024. “This year there was a lot of feed in northern Alberta and Washington that really got us out of hot water,” he says. “And cattle prices were strong so if you had to sell, markets were favourable.” BCCA executive and committee members mount an ongoing eort to keep rancher’s priorities in front of the provincial government, Stump notes. “Water was obviously foremost in our area where we experienced shutdowns as did other areas of the province,” he says. “We tried to have a consistent message that we have to prioritize water for agriculture. We maintain that FITFIR needs to be upheld, and the ALR must have water to go with it. We encourage the establishment of an agriculture water reserve, and that would likely be part of the water sustainability plans developed through the [Water, Land and Resource Stewardship] ministry. And part of the solution must include increasing water storage on the land base.” Agriculture cannot continue to bear the burden of maintaining streamows, says Stump. There needs to be both short and long-term planning to x the problem. “We are blessed in BC in that we have lots of water, but it tends to come at the wrong time and we need to be able to store it for times of shortfall,” he says. “If curtailments are required, it has to be done a lot better than our local example. Show us the science and technical stu so that we can discuss it and understand it. And if there are licences involved, there needs to be compensation.” Better planning and communication is needed, says Stump, as demonstrated by the situation in Westwold when the curtailment order was issued for the Lower Salmon River. “There is pretty widespread understanding that our example wasn’t one that was stellar in terms of what we need to be doing in the future,” he says. There was also discussion at the meeting about future water sustainability plans that will be developed across the province. The rst plan is underway for the Koksilah River in the Cowichan Valley. “Ranchers will need to be involved in these planning sessions, similar to the work that is being done with forest landscape plans,” Stump notes. NOLA director and BCCA environment committee member Brett Squair spoke of the committee’s work on elk issues. “We are focusing our eorts on mitigating the impacts of elk on cattle,” Squair says. “Our recent meetings with the provincial ungulate specialist have been positive and we have been discussing population control through modifying hunting regulations, exclusionary fencing, hazing and creating alternate habitats.”

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 33Set your wheels in motion Accelerate toward your fruit and vegetableproduction goals and navigate the season’s twistsand turns with trusted top-tier products backedby industry-leading service from Syngenta. Hard work deserves reward We’re giving away a pair of Trek e-bikes and helmets to one lucky horticulture grower through the Pedal to the Metal Contest. Register between January 8, 2024, and May 17, 2024, for a chance to win!Scan the QR code to get started!KATE AYERS PORT ALBERNI – BC farmers’ institutes are calling on the government to review the legislation governing them to ensure it stays responsive to the evolving needs of local farm organizations and rural communities. Twenty-eight attendees representing 14 farmers’ institutes gathered online for Farmers Institute Day on November 30. The event was organized as part of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District System Change Project. Meeting participants discussed the opportunities and challenges institutes face and how the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and other funding organizations can better support them. “Under the Farmers’ and Women’s Institute Act, farmers institutes have a unique and important ability to advise the Minister of Agriculture directly on matters of interest to them,” says project coordinator Heather Shobe. “Local Institutes are cross-sectoral and regionally focused. When they come together from across BC, they can explore and understand more about the issues and opportunities common to all. These are highly important themes that need support from the province.” About 40 local and three district institutes are incorporated or continued under the farmers and Women’s Institutes Act and subject to the act’s regulations. Some date back to the 1890s while others were formed just this year. As the province enacts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, all provincial legislation is undergoing modernization, which could benet farmers institutes if a collective voice is at the table to bring issues and solutions forward from across BC. Priorities Throughout the meeting, participants also discussed priority areas and what changes they would like to see moving forward. For example, Clause 26 of the act allows farmers institutes to advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Food directly through an advisory board, but currently no advisory board exists, and the act includes non-descript language around meetings with the minister and allowances for members to attend these meetings. “The farmers and Women’s Institutes Act already includes a means and mandate to meet directly with the Minister of Agriculture and Food,” Shobe says. “Caution is urged in making changes that would negate that and there needs to be secure structures in place to ensure those meetings happen annually.” Some farmers institutes would like to see the provincial superintendent of institutes attend their annual meetings. Former agriculture minister Lana Popham convened two in-person summits of farmers institutes prior to the pandemic, and they have not resumed since. The current superintendent, Angela Boss, is also steering the province’s consultations with water users, but plans to hold a virtual meeting with all farmers institute members in late February, according to the agriculture ministry. In addition, farmers institutes want funding and capacity to address their unique regional priorities, not just projects outlined in provincial mandates. “Current funding streams do not support the regionality of agriculture, and it is critical that a funding stream be open to farmers institutes to have the exibility to meet the needs of their farmers within their regional context,” says South Island farmers Institute president and agricultural consultant Shellie MacDonald. “For the South Island, that would be land access, farm succession, raising the basic knowledge and skills of emerging farm businesses and expanding market streams.” Many institutes would like to be more involved in emergency planning and preparedness. Another common thread raised during the meeting was the lack of communication and collaboration across farmers institutes. The province hosts [bcfarmersinstitutes.ca], but it is largely out of date, Shobe says. However, as institutes historically rooted in the agricultural industry, some aspects may not need to change, but could simply use a refresh. “More information is needed about the rights and structure of farmers institutes,” Shobe says. She explains that members need to know how they should behave while the public should know how to support and engage with the institutes. Granting organizations need to recognize them as eligible applicants, something that has not always happened. A how-to document for new institutes could save members a lot of time, MacDonald says, as she recently discovered establishing a new group is not straightforward. “We really think new and established farmers institutes could benet from an onboarding document from the ministry, a history of farmers institutes and a copy of the legislation, to give a deeper understanding of the district structure and how they interact with the ministry,” MacDonald says. “We have met some challenges and invested quite a bit of time in discovering the ‘work arounds’ to get to successful outcomes.” Challenges, opportunities ahead for farmers institutesDemographic, legislative changes prompt organizational review

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 35The Voth family of Salmon Arm knows that taking time to heal after making tough, life-changing decisions is critical to their mental wellness. SUBMITTEDProducers struggle to talk about mental healthGrowing awareness not matched by opennessBut the toll on their mental wellbeing was also key. “The healing will take time,” says Voth. Although she works as a professional counsellor, she says talking openly about their situation is very dicult. “The pressures we have faced at times have driven us to our greatest opportunities for learning but at times it felt so lonely and discouraging. I found it dicult to be in a constant state where we are required to create, regenerate, innovate, market … It's hard to be creative when you're really stressed out,” says Voth adding, “I am so grateful to be married to a partner who was willing to hear me say ‘let's stop before this breaks us.’” Many farmers don’t allow themselves the same vulnerability. MYRNA STARK LEADER SALMON ARM – Although causes and organizations have tried to encourage producers to speak up about their mental health over the past decade, reservations remain. While 65 farmers accessed no-cost counselling in English, Spanish and Punjabi during the last growing season that AgSafe BC makes stats available, producers still need to be convinced to reach out. During a free online presentation Farm Credit Canada hosted November 21, executive leadership coach Dale Curd pointed out that agriculture has yet to fully normalize mental wellness the way law enforcement and other sectors have. “We have tried isolation, and ‘suck it up buttercup’, and ‘just get o the farm’ without much success, so let’s try doing something dierent,” he said. Merel Voth agrees. She and husband Barrie sold everything, including their home in Enderby, to start Hillside Dreams Goat Dairy in May 2014 on leased land near Salmon Arm. The outlook for goat milk was positive and Barrie had passion plus signicant cattle and goat dairy experience. In ve years, their business expanded to a milking herd of 160, selling breeding stock across Canada, plus goat compost sales. In 2019, with help from a private investor and FCC, they bought the farm. But in 2022, after much deliberation and counselling, they made the dicult decision to close the dairy due to rising costs and the failure of sales – both the volume sold and price received – to keep up. “Taking problems outside of the family is often not okay,” she says. “In other groups, everyone has a therapist and is proud about it. In the farming community, there’s still so much stereotyping and shame.” While farmers are hailed as feeding the world, she wonders how farmers can nd support. “If I see a farmer that's in huge stress around nances, I can provide resources, which maybe changes the way they conceptualize it, but I can't change the interest rate,” she says. “I can't change the reality Added responsibility uExtreme High DigestibilityHigh Disease ResistanceBranch & Tap RootedPerforms in Heavier SoilsRapid Re-GrowthVery High QualityExtreme High DigestibilityHigh Disease ResistanceBranch & Tap RootedPerforms in Heavier SoilsRapid Re-GrowthVery High Quality1.800.282.7856 terraseco.comTerra Seed Corp Tap Root with Branch Root

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36 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Added responsibilitySee a list of Mini Skid Steer Attachments OnlineMFG OF MINI SKID STEERS AND A VARIETY OF ATTACHMENTS INCLUDINGTREE SPADES | TREE SAWS & SHEARS | BOOM MOWERS | PTO POWER PACKSBRUSH MULCHERS | ROTARY BRUSH CUTTERS | PTO GENERATORS | AUGER DRIVES | FLAIL MOWERSTREE PULLERS | FELLER BUNCHERS | EXCAVATOR ADAPTERS | SCREW SPLITTERS | TRENCHERS | STUMP GRINDERSBAUMALIGHT.COMAdair Sales & Marketing Company Inc. 306-773-0996 | info@adairreps.comLocate A Dealer Onlinethat you may need to sell the farm or consider working o the farm.” She wonders if helping people cope ignores the mounting expectations of farmers to provide cheap, safe food as the cost of land and equipment that makes it all possible continues to rise. Meanwhile, they’re held to a high standard of land stewardship, expected to be sustainable while at the same time vilied – especially livestock farmers – for contributing to climate change. “Someone commented last week how wonderful it must be for second, third and fourth-generation farmers, the wealth they’ve acquired and the opportunity to join their family farming enterprises,” says Voth. “I see it dierently. There are high expectations of maintaining standards and traditions of farming practices. There are denite power dierentials between generations, and too often the younger people lack autonomy to decide how they want to live and how they want to earn money.” Feeling trapped She says farmers often feel trapped, unable to easily talk about their situation or their feelings because they don't want to throw family members under the bus. Voth says one of things she’s had to let go is her belief that if you want something badly enough, it'll happen if you just work hard, work smart, and look for opportunities. “There’s shame, judgement and blame around thinking about letting go of the farm, trying to make the right choice, especially multi-generational farms. It can impact a person’s sense of identity, their self-condence, and their mental and physical state,” says Voth, adding that there is very little wiggle room for mistakes in today’s farm economy. Curd said farmers are very resilient but that often means a xed mindset or stubbornness to see their own challenges, or to change. He added that seeking help with mental, physical or emotional challenges is scary because people often sense their own vulnerability. One thing healthy people in agriculture can do is model positive behaviour when it comes to dealing with emotions. “The more aware we can become about what’s going on, what’s inside our heads – our mood – the more choice we have about what we do about that,” said Curd. AgSafe BC executive director Wendy Bennett says the number of people accessing through her organization’s program is growing, and she hopes the free service removes a barrier to accessing care. The one barrier AgSafe can’t eliminate is the time commitment mental wellness requires. “Everyone needs to recognize that taking time to care for your mental health is an investment in your future and not a cost that removes other opportunities,” she says. “Seeking support before challenges arise can mean the dierence between managing a challenge or having that challenge become a crisis.” Dale Curd, an executive leadership coach based in Ontario, shared tips for helping those facing mental wellness issues during an online presentation hosted by Farm Credit Canada, November 21. Curd says the way to be helpful to someone experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts is to be the safe person they can talk to. “A person on this path is very much alone in their thoughts and in those moments, their emotional logic is that ‘the only way to end the feelings is to end my life,’” he says. “It’s very deep set.” He suggests opening a discussion, framing the concern as care rather than judgement: “I really care about you. I’m concerned. I’ve noticed a change [insert observation]. I love spending time with you and I wonder if you’ve noticed any dierence in your patterns/feelings.” “It might be slow, and it might seem like you are not making any signicant change, but keep letting them know how you feel,” he says. For those feeling depressed or considering suicide, Canada launched its 988 suicide crisis line at the end of November. Similar to 911, anyone can dial for crisis support, 24/7. Statistics Canada gures show suicide claims about 12 people every day and those in agriculture aren’t immune, though farm-related statistics aren’t kept. Warning signs of mental unwellness • Sudden or extreme shift in mood, long sadness, prolonged period of frustration • Changes in sleep, too much, too little, insomnia, oversleeping. • Appetite changes, eating more or less • Social withdrawal or isolating • Loss of interest in activities, general apathy • Increased anxiety, excessive worrying • Poor concentration • Physical symptoms, aches, pains, soreness, stiness • Substance misuse, abuse • Changes in self-care —Myrna Stark Leader How to helpYOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATEScountrylifeinbc.comSign up for FREE today.YOURping Youpingpgpping Youc.comSignupfor

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 37 PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT CLAAS 4000 LINER 4 BASKET ROTARY RAKE JUST IN CALL FOR DETAILS CLAAS AXION 920 MFD TRACTOR CONSIGNMENT UNIT CALL FOR DETAILS CLAAS AXION 930 MFD TRACTOR CONSIGNMENT UNIT CALL FOR DETAILS CASE IH FARMALL 95A MFD ROPS TRACTOR WITH LOADER CALL FOR DETAILS CLAAS JAG 870 SP FORAGE HARVESTER 10’ PICKUP & 6-ROW CORNHEAD CALL FOR MORE DETAILS/PRICING CLAAS ORBIS 600 CALL FOR DETAILS CLAAS 970 SP FORAGE HARVESTER 10’ PICKUP & 10-ROW CORNHEAD CALL FOR MORE DETAILS/PRICING KUBOTA DMC8536T MID PIVOT MOWER CONDITIONER $31,900 KUHN GF7802THA TEDDER $18,700 NH T4.75 TRACTOR ROPS MFD WITH LOADER $47,500www.caliberequipment.ca STORE HOURS MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5 CLOSED SATURDAY604-864-2273 860 RIVERSIDE ROAD ABBOTSFORD More Crops. Less Ash.See us at the Pacic Ag Show | January 25-27Sweet rewards for Chilcotin rancherBees benefit bottom line in changing climateKELLY SINOSKI HANCEVILLE – It was a tough beef year for Juri Agapow, but his honeybees stepped up to help sweeten his summer. The co-owner of Hanceville Cattle Co. in BC’s Chilcotin said he didn’t expect a huge harvest from his hives this year, as he’d had to buy several bee nucleus colonies, or “nucs,” following a low survival rate over the winter. Fluctuating temperatures meant more condensation in the hives, a killer for bees. It was the same all over the country. Nationally, overwintering losses this past spring were at 45.5% of all colonies, according to the BC Honey Producers’ Association. In BC, 17,436 colonies out of an estimated 64,000 did not survive, or about 27%. But Agapow’s bees performed exceedingly well. Beekeepers don’t usually expect much, if any, honey from new colonies in the first year but most of his hives – he has about 18 colonies – each produced 100 pounds of honey. The flow was so heavy, some hives had up to nine honey boxes during the summer. A second alfalfa bloom in September meant Agapow didn’t even harvest until early October, late for most beekeepers. Overall, his harvest netted the company more than $18,000 in honey sales at Lower Mainland farmers markets. “I expected zero from them,” says Agapow, who runs the cattle and bee operations at the ranch. “It was a nice surprise.” Bees have become part of the business model at Hanceville Cattle Co., which started four hives in 2019 to pollinate its alfalfa fields. The idea took off, Agapow said, as they quickly realized how well bees and beef work together. Bees pollinate the fields, the plants reseed themselves, and the cows fertilize the land once the hay is off. The cycle repeats itself year after year with little human intervention. “They did extremely well for us,” Agapow says of his initial four hives. “Now we can take the honey and sell it at farmers markets together with the beef.” The company expects to double the number of colonies next year, splitting up the apiary between two properties. On the other hand, it sold 120 head of red and black Angus this year because they didn’t have Juri Agapow, co-owner of Hanceville Cattle Co., is nding a good balance between bees and beef. SUBMITTEDBees u

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38 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu BeesThrough the Agritech Development Program, the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI) oﬀers funding, expertise and project support for your agritech business or farm, increasing your productivi, proﬁtabili and sustainabili. Visit sfu.ca/agritech-innovation to learn more. WE GIVE YOU THE POWER TO GROWGET SUPPORT FOR YOUR INNOVATIONAchieve your business goals by co-creating your project with partners, accessing leading expertise and getting critical support for innovative technologies and tools.Expert Connections Engage subject-matter experts, including agri-producers and processors, industry, government, Indigenous partners, not-for-profit organizations and researchers.Fund-Matching Access financial support through dollar for dollar (1:1) cash matching funds of up to $250,000* for your project.*funding rate at the time of project selection and/or during contractingCommercialization Guidance Receive end-to-end support to develop, test and pilot your product in a simulated and real-world environment so it is ready for market sooner.Here’s a sure sign that I am working too much and failing to value the enjoyable opportunities of winter farming: I am irritated at the rst snowfall. When all is in balance, the snow is welcome and relaxing, magically covering up undone jobs and even making them disappear – at least until spring. Pleasant hours beckon on the big, easy snowblower or, if the bucket loader and blade is preferred, driveway sculpting is a perfectionist’s dream-come-true renewed with every new snowfall event. Frequent breaks from the almost optional work are taken, many spent on impulsive cross-country ski jags or poking at the bonre. Snow is fun! But right now, it is not. In fact, it hasn’t even snowed yet and the resentment is building. When it happens, I am going to have to spend precious time hand-shovelling out the tote-dumping equipment and the cooler doors so that the potatoes can get run through the washer and sizer. I’ll have to mess around clearing the yard, and there won’t be as much room to manoeuvre. The greenhouses will need clearing and it’s possible I’ll fail to locate the Avalanche 2000 greenhouse-clearing shovel because it will be in pieces in the forgotten place I put it last year. Shoulder-blowing, nger-freezing, plastic-ripping greenhouse clearing is no longer necessary on account of this wonderful piece of equipment, but where the heck is it and why do I have to be so busy with potatoes that I can’t spend some time to locate it in advance? I obviously need to chill out and enjoy the coming of winter. Enjoy? I would settle for accept. The other thing bugging me is that I am waiting for something to break down. I made the grievous error of mentioning that nothing had broken down lately. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time before something happens, and when it does, a carefully scheduled day will be thrown into disarray. I even know what’s going to break. It’ll be the Shaker Sizer, upon which we heavily depend. This antique piece of equipment has been with us for literally decades, and we don’t know how old it is. It has wooden features that might be mahogany. When did they stop using wood on potato equipment? Possibly in the 1800s. The CanadaGAP people were not too impressed, but I think it is a total marvel. This winter we intend to rebuild it and make it shiny. In the meantime, it’s going to break down. A potato is going to somehow get into the sprockets and cause a few of the virtually irreplaceable rollers to jump o and they’ll break. I’ll tape them up. Furthermore, an ongoing problem that I have been “xing” by jamming a hockey stick against the belt until everything resolves (and revolves) is going to come to a head. There’s a bearing deep within that is being held together by a strong, but clearly temporary, bond of grease, dust and my wishful thinking. I am almost certain we are going to take it all apart to get at that piece and not be able to get it back together again. Inevitably, we’ll discover further issues. How could we not? The whole thing is just such a bore. I happen to know that my neighbour has a few rollers kicking around and possibly even the critical rose joint rod end bearing. He used to use a similar machine. Unfortunately for me, his has been repurposed into a very fetching and impossibly cool bar table and I am not welcome to pry ttings o it. Life seems very unfair right now. You know what? It has started snowing! Finally! How exciting! I’ll go grab the varnish and rust paint and we’ll make our relic break down in style. Anna Helmer farms in Pemberton with her family and friends and dramatic mood swings are not her only party trick. Give me a break; let it snowFarm Story ANNA HELMERenough feed for all of them after a Level 4 drought wreaked havoc on hay production. “This year was quite tough for us. The beef prices are good, cow prices are good, but the hay production dug us into a hole,” Agapow says. “(Despite the) problems we had on the beef side, the bees did amazing. They are not big money-wise like beef, but they paid a couple of bills this year, which was helpful.” According to a BC government summary report, filed after surveying beekeepers for the farm gate value, the estimated market value for honey in 2022 was $6.5 million wholesale and $10.6 million retail. A retired forester, Agapow says it makes sense to diversify the ranch given the changing climate. He doesn’t mess much with his bees when they’re busy working in summer or resting in winter, noting they have been taking care of themselves for tens of thousands of years. “On the one hand, you have not a good year – you have losses on one side – but if you diversify you can somehow make up a little bit,” he says. “We’ll see what the future brings.”

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 39TOM WALKER HARRISON HOT SPRINGS -- Frank Mitloehner wants to help farmers improve how they communicate about global warming by giving them the facts. “We in agriculture are not good at communicating with the people who eat our food,” says Mitloehner, keynote speaker at the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association annual conference in Harrison Hot Springs, November 28-December 1. “But I’m not talking about greenwashing. I want to give you technically based reporting that will help you tell your story.” Mitloehner, a professor and air quality specialist at the University of California Davis who leads the university’s Clarity and Leadership for Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR) Center, laced his talk, “Livestock’s contribution to climate change, fact and ction,” with humour and relevant facts. One concept that will stick with the 120 conference attendees is that vegans will not save the world from a climate disaster. “We can’t eat our way out of climate change,” Mitloehner stresses. “If an omnivore changes to a meatless diet, they would keep 0.8 tons of CO2 equivalents from the atmosphere,” he notes. “But one transatlantic ight passenger is responsible for 1.6 tons of carbon being put into the atmosphere, so you would have to go vegan for two years to balance just one airline ight.” It's important to keep an eye on the major source of carbon in the atmosphere, Mitloehner says, and that’s fossil fuels. “The energy sector in 2016 accounted for 73% of global greenhouse gas emissions,” he explains. “Livestock and manure together contributed just over 5%.” While livestock’s eect on atmospheric carbon may be small, it is important to understand the signicance of this contribution from methane, how it works and to consider ways to reduce the role of livestock in climate change, Mitloehner says. Critics of animal agriculture point to methane’s potency, which is 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. “Methane is like carbon dioxide on steroids,” Mitloehner says. But what critics of methane often fail to acknowledge is the gas has a relatively short life as a pollutant. The half-life of methane in our atmosphere is between 10 and 12 years. “That is an important point to consider,” says Mitloehner. “When you realize that the cow herd numbers in North America have been constant over the last 50 years, and that methane dissipates in the atmosphere, the methane from cows has remained at a constant level. They are not putting any additional methane into the atmosphere that hasn’t been there for the last 50 years.” Despite cows not contributing additional methane, it is important to look for ways to reduce their impact. “We need to do our part to manage methane,” Mitloehner says. He cites the work that dairy producers have done to reduce emissions from manure pits, including the use of covers and anerobic biogas digesters. “In California, they used the carrot approach and paid producers to reduce their methane emissions, and it worked. They have reduced their emissions by 25% since 2013,” Mitloehner says. By contrast, New Zealand has introduced a tax and the Dutch are closing down dairy farms but “so far they have not been successful in either country,” he says. Mitloehner says there is work being done to improve the emissions from beef cattle. “We are looking at feed additives, with seaweed and fatty acids being the top two prospects,” he says. Breeding programs are also being explored, as well as a vaccine. One of the key issues for animal producers is a lack of data. “We need to know more about the role of carbon sequestration in grasslands,” Mitloehner says. Given the meagre contribution veganism makes to addressing climate change, Mitloehner worries that the true agenda is driven by animal rights activists. “It’s not about reducing greenhouse gasses. These people want us to stop killing animals for food,” he says. Mitloehner left the CFGA conference to present at the COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai that began November 30. “I’ve heard that the majority of the meals served will be vegan,” he says. “I’m worried about what I am going to be able to eat.” Vegans won’t save world from climate changeManaging methane emissions is more important than eliminating cattleFRANK MITLOEHNER !"#$%&'%(()!*)FAN FRIEND+,,-,./../,.011234-FARM FEST   +-.,12455+3

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40 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCKenneth faces the truth or suffers the consequencesWhen we left off last time, Kenneth Henderson was livid about a photo Junkyard Frank had taken that appeared in the local paper. (He failed to read the fine print.) When Delta suggested he set the record straight with the paper’s editor, Kenneth faced a moral dilemma. Rural Redemption, Part 166, Consequences Kenneth stared at Delta, and she stared back until he became uncomfortable. “What consequences are you talking about?” he asked. “That’s a question you should be asking yourself,” said Delta. “I’m not a mindreader. How should I know what other people are going to do?” “Start by asking yourself what you want, then figure out what choices you think you need to make so that will happen, then think it through: is there any chance at all the choices you are making are likely to get you where you want to be?” “If I get it right will you come away with me?” “No, that scenario is off the table, so if what you think you want includes me you’ll have to change what you want.” “You said ask myself what I want, and I want to leave. With you. Us together. I don’t know how to make you understand that.” Delta took a deep breath. She was starting to wonder if Kenneth Henderson was really worth the effort. “Look, Kenneth, you’re going to have to figure this stuff out for yourself. The Rolling Stones covered all this, years and years ago: You can’t always get what you want. If you want to leave, it’s simple. Just pack up and get on with it. If that’s not what you want, it gets a lot more complicated. Especially if I figure into your plans. You can’t just choose to be with me. You need to figure out what you can do that would make me want to be with you.” “You’re kidding, right?” Delta looked at him sternly and shook her head. “Here’s what I see. You’ve spent most of your life getting what you want by forcing your decisions onto other people. Deborah didn’t want to move here in the first place, but apparently you didn’t even ask her about it. You just issued the marching orders. The same with your kids. It worked out great for them because they found out who they really were when you weren’t around telling them what to do all the time. “I don’t intend to make the same mistake she did so if there is any chance of me being a part of whatever you decide to do, you need to spend less time thinking about what you want and more time figuring out who you need to become. Because who you are right now isn’t doing it for me.” Kenneth felt confused and insecure and a little angry. (Anger had always been his emotional shield.) He was about to launch a rebuttal when Delta stopped him with a raised index finger. She said he had a lot to think about and it would be best if he found some time to be by himself so he should be on his way. As he was leaving, he asked if her refusal to go with him to the city had anything to do with her horses. She said none whatsoever and wondered what twisted train of thought could possibly have taken him there, then realized it was the other side of his emotional defense mechanism: blame someone, or something else. ttt Kenneth Henderson was awake for most of the night. He fell asleep a little before 5 and woke up just after 8. He could hear a tractor running, his head was aching, and there was half a glass of scotch on the bedside table. He had slept in his clothes. He went downstairs and found his mother reading at the kitchen table. “Good morning, Kenneth.” “Morning.” “Are you feeling alright?” “Fine.” “Would you like some breakfast?” “No.” “Are you sure you’re alright?” “I said I was fine. Why can’t we just leave it at that?” “Because you don’t look fine. You were up half the night hiking around upstairs, and by the look of it, you’ve slept in your clothes. You’re not hungry and judging by the tone of your voice, you’re hung over. Nothing about any of that looks very fine to me. “Unless you intend to have a civil conversation, why don’t you go back up to bed and get some sleep?” Kenneth was taken aback by the sharp edge in his mother’s voice. He apologized and said he had a lot on his mind, that was all. Susan suggested he get a cup of coffee and sit down. Kenneth asked if he could stay with her until he could sort things out. Susan said it would be fine with her, but he should probably ask Newt. “You and Delta aren’t planning to be together then?” “I don’t know. I want to be with her but she’s putting the brakes on. I don’t get it.” Susan sighed. “Do you really not get it? You still have no idea why Deborah divorced you? “ “What has that got to do with Delta?” “It has nothing to do with Delta, Kenneth. It has everything to do with you.” “What about me?” “You are self-centered and controlling and dismissive, you’re constantly losing your temper, and it’s always someone else’s fault when things don’t go the way you want them to. You are disrespectful and ungrateful, and unkind.” “Really? Is that all? “There’s that annoying poor-little-me self-pity thing.” “I see. So it sounds like everyone would be a whole lot better off if I packed up and left.” “Did anyone say that to you? None of this is really a big surprise, Kenneth. Except for the poor-me bit, you are just like your father. Without the cruel streak, I’m glad to say.” “So, if he was as bad as you say, why didn’t you divorce him?” “If there was one thing I could go back and change, that would be it. We all make mistakes, Kenneth. The trick is to learn something from them. I don’t know what has happened between you and Delta but if you are genuinely fond of her, go back and be honest with her and see if she is interested or not. Either way, you need to start being a little more tolerant and a lot more considerate.” to be continued ... Woodshed Chronicles BOB COLLINSThousands 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 _______________________________________________________________

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 41PNE fundraiser supports youth in agriculture4-H, education programs are key beneficiariesA volunteer holds up a gift basket donated by BC Dairy during the live auction at the PNE's Evening for Agriculture fundraiser, December 9. ANNA KLOCHKOPETER MITHAM VANCOUVER – BC’s biggest agricultural fair, the Pacific National Exhibition, may be best known for its midway and concert venues these days, but it maintains close ties to the province’s agricultural community through its support of 4-H. A key initiative is the BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation, administered by a committee of the PNE, which funds a variety of programs in support of 4-H and student awareness of agriculture. This year’s annual fundraising event, An Evening for Agriculture, took place December 9, coinciding with the opening weekend of the PNE Winter Fair that offered family-focused fun, bright lights and performances such as the popular Nutcracker on Ice. Poor weather meant a sparse turnout compared to the traditional Labour Day weekend date, but about five dozen people turned out to bid $18,000 in live and silent auctions for lots ranging from gift baskets to a guitar signed by legendary rocker Billy Idol, who played Hastings Park this past summer. Veteran auctioneer Ken Pearson of Fraser Valley Auctions in Langley called the sale, warming up the crowd as a mix of wet snow and rain fell outside. While the event didn’t set new records, it promises to set youth from around the province on a firm footing for the future. The BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation disbursed $44,000 to various projects over the past year. These include $12,000 to the 4-H BC Provincial Council for its activities as well as $10,000 for the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation’s programs, two groups that have been cornerstone causes for BCYAF. PNE director fair operations and foundation president Christie Kerr em-ceed the event, pointing out the foundation’s support for individual youth, too. A total of $16,000 was granted to assist 4-H members travel to Vancouver and show at the PNE this summer, for example. The foundation also supports two $2,000 scholarships to 4-H members in post-secondary studies. This year’s recipients were Jessica Tritten and Beck Brown. The BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation was established in 1959 with the assistance of George Norgan, president of Lucky Lager Brewing Co. Known as the Norgan Foundation until 2004, its name was changed to reflect its mission rather than its origins. The foundation’s board includes representatives of the agriculture community, including dairy farmer Bob Brandsma and Delta South MLA Ian Paton, as well as PNE staff. In addition to the foundation, the PNE convenes a 4-H Youth Advisory Council each year. This year’s council included Chelsea Frose, Mathew Hergott, Sarah Maloney, Vesper Parkinson and Victoria Pitsilaeli. “These five were a tremendous help in making the 4-H festival run smoothly this year,” said Tanya Schwaerzle, agriculture manager for the PNE. “They helped with various shows as well as helped the PNE ambassadors with the special events.”Sign up to receive WEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESceiveYNEWS TEScountrylifeinbc.comYou shouldn’t have to worry about the longevity of your fence and wood infrastructure. 250.295.7911 TF 1 877.797.7678 bill@pwppost.com www.pwppost.com 1821 Crowsnest Hwy. Princeton, BC V0X 1W0 PWPSuperior quality fencing products for all types of farm and agriculture applications.fence posts polesgrapevine stakes tree stakes trellising doweled post & rail fencingrewoodThe PWP process penetrates and retains in the sapwood layer and the heartwood is untreated as it should be. As a food source for bugs and fungus, the sapwood layer must draw and retain the treatment process to meet quality standards. Unlike our competitors product showing very little treatment penetration or retention.Preferred Supplier for British Columbia Ministries and Parks Canada.Bill Everi“ You shouldn’t have to worry about your treated wood infrastructure.”Black CreekAsk For Us By Name PWP Premium & PWP Select at the following trusted dealers.The PWP treatment process achieves a far superior penetration and retention quality, increasing the lifespan of vineyard, orchard, fence line posts and poles 2-3 times longer.Our Competitor’s Product.We look forward to seeing you at the Pacic Ag Show.Stop by to discuss upcoming fencing needs, view samples and learn about choosing the right treated product for your next project.

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42 | JANUARY 2024 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCToday, we tend to cook more exotic foods, using spices that we never tried when we were kids because the world has become a much smaller place since then. It’s certainly enlivened our dinner table and our taste buds—but there is still a place for the tried and true, for comforting food. I must admit that I’m always on the lookout for inspiration, so cooking columns and recipe books attract my attention without fail. While I like simple cooking, too, I love to intersperse plain cooking with exotic combinations of avours –often the avours from around the globe that are so accessible now with the Internet and easy air travel. On busy days, meals that go together in one big pot or roasting pan are so easy to serve the family and often they reheat well, so you have a couple of dinners made in the same time it takes to make one. There’s more time on weekends to try sophisticated meals that are a bit more challenging. In both types of cooking, Comfort food makes families happyIt doesn’t come any more comforting than John’s homemade spicy shepherd’s pie. JUDIE STEEVESJude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVESJOHN’S SPICY SHEPHERD’S PIEThis was made using venison, but lamb or beef would substitute. My mom used to grind up the weekend’s leftover roast of beef, along with the veggies that were roasted with it, to make the body of this traditional British favourite. • Preheat oven to 350° F. • Peel and gently boil cut-up potatoes in lightly-salted water until just cooked. Drain and mash with butter and salt and pepper, to taste. (To reduce our use of salt, just pepper was added). Reserve grated, sharp cheddar and melted butter for drizzling over the mashed potato top. • In a large frypan, brown the ground meat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. • Meanwhile, chop a large onion, carrots and celery. Finely dice peppers. Mince garlic, ginger, rosemary and oregano. • Push meat to the side of the pan, or set aside in the casserole dish you’ll cook the pie in, and add a drizzle of oil to the pan to sauté the onions. Add the other vegetables, garlic, ginger and herbs and stir occasionally until they’re all a bit soft and well-mixed. • Return the meat to the pan and add the liquids, mixing well and bringing it all to a bubble. • Scrape the lling into a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the mashed potatoes, dot with grated cheddar and spread a drizzle of melted butter over the top. • Place in a pre-heated oven for about an hour. If the top is not browned, turn the heat up to 375° F for a few minutes before serving. • Makes 6 servings. SQUASH STUFFED WITH PORK1 winter squash 1/2 lb. (250 g) ground pork 2 tsp. (10 ml) butter 1 onion 1 c. (250 ml) chopped cabbage 1 apple 1 knob ginger 2 tsp. (10 ml) thyme 1 tbsp. (15 ml) sage 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) cayenne salt and pepper to taste • Preheat oven to 400° F. • Cut a washed four or ve-pound squash (or a couple of smaller ones) in half and scoop out the seeds and membranes, leaving the meat and shell intact. • Set face down in a roasting pan with just a half-inch of water and bake for about 20 minutes while you prepare the lling. • Cook ground pork or sausage meat in a deep frypan or wok until all pink is gone, draining o any excess fat. Remove pork. • Add butter or oil to pan and stir fry a large chopped onion; shredded, chopped cabbage; cored, chopped apple; and a spoonful of minced ginger, cooking until the onion and cabbage are just limp. • Season with salt and pepper, fresh herbs, or half again of each if dried, and return pork to pan, mixing it all together well. • Remove squash from oven and turn over, lling each with the pork and cabbage mixture. • Return to oven for a further half hour. • Serves 4. taste and nutrition come rst. But presentation, including contrasting colours and an attractive look and smell are irresistible. So, don't hesitate to add a sprig of fresh parsley or any other herb you grow inside or have available. Even freshly dried herbs, crumbled and sprinkled on a dish can make all the dierence in presentation. Buttered crumbs are a good addition to some dishes, such as a simple steamed broccoli or cauliower, or a bit of grated cheese. Here are a couple of very special tasting dishes, which are easy to put together, and make a satisfying and healthy meal in one container. Topping: 8 medium-sized Russet potatoes 2 tbsp. (30 ml) butter salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 c. (60 ml) sharp cheddar, grated drizzle of melted butter Filling: 1 1/2 lb. (700 g) ground meat drizzle of oil 1 large onion 2-4 carrots 2-3 celery stalks 1/3 of a red pepper 1-2 jalapeno peppers 1/3 chili pepper 3 garlic cloves one-inch thumb of fresh ginger 1 tsp. (5 ml) fresh rosemary 1 tsp. (5 ml) fresh oregano 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) black pepper 1/4 tsp. (2 ml) seasoning salt 1/2 c. (125 ml) beef stock 1/2 c. (125 ml) dry red wine 1 tbsp. (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. (5 ml) hot sauceThis is a whole meal stued into an acorn or other winter squash, and it's just delicious as well as looking attractive. Toss a few baking potatoes in the oven with the squash for a side.

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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JANUARY 2024 | 43TRACTORS/EQUIPMENTTRACTORS/EQUIPMENTREAL ESTATEFOR SALEFOR SALEHAYHAYBERRIESIRRIGATIONFor Tissue Culture Derived Plants of New Varieties of Haskaps, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Saskatoon Berries and Sour Cherries, Please Contact:DISEASE FREE PLANTING STOCK OF NEW BERRY CROPS 4290 Wallace Hill Road, Kelowna, BC, V1W 4B6info@agriforestbiotech.com250.764.2224www.agriforestbiotech.com NEW POLYETHYLENE TANKS of all shapes & sizes for septic and water storage. Ideal for irrigation, hydropon-ics, washdown, lazy wells, rain water, truck box, fertizilizer mixing & spray-ing. Call 1-800-661-4473 for closest distributor. Manufactured in Delta by Premier Plastics premierplastics.com DON GILOWSKI 250-260-0828 Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd BUYING OR SELLING OKANAGAN FARM, RANCH OR ACREAGE? COURTENAY HEREFORDS. Cattle for Sale: yearling bulls and bred heifers. John 250/334-3252 or Johnny 250-218-2537.PYESTERDAY’S TRADITION - TODAY’S TECHNOLOGYMANAGERS Phil Brown 250-293-6857 Catherine Brown 250-293-6858 ccr.princeton@gmail.com www.coppercreekranch.com PRINCETON, BC Raising registered polled & horned Herefords & F1s. BREEDING BULLS FOR SALE.LIVESTOCKDeBOER’S USED TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT GRINDROD, BCJD 6300 4WD OPEN PLATFORM W/640 LDR $36,000 JD 1630 W/LDR 15,000 MF 165 DSL W/LDR, CANOPY 9,000 JD 5500 4WD, DSL, ROLL BAR & CANOPY W/LDR, 5,200 HRS SOLD! JD 6400 W/CAB & LDR SOLD! JD 1630 W/LDR 16,000 ED DEBOER 250/838-7362 cell 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/838-9612 cell 250/804-6147CUSTOM BALING 3x4 BIG SQUARES SILAGE BALING/WRAPPING ED DEBOER 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/804-6147EDVENTURE HAY SALES ENDERBYZcXjj`Ô\[j7Zflekipc`]\`eYZ%ZfdC@E<8;J1),nfi[jfic\jj#d`e`dld(,gclj>JK#\XZ_X[[`k`feXcnfi[`j%),;@JGC8P8;J1*'gclj>JKg\iZfclde`eZ_M[WYY[fjcW`ehYh[Z_jYWhZi$EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL • CARRO IRRIGATION REEL 110/400 (3.8” x 1300 ft hose). Honda motor drive. Nelson 150 gun. $12,500 • NH 520 manure spreader, c/w end gate, rear pan & top beater, side extensions, mint condition, $13,750 • FIRESTONE radial 8000, 460/85R38 (18.4/R38) 70% tread, $950 • LOEWEN BOX SCRAPER, 3 pt, with rubber, like new, $800 • JD CLAMP-ON DUALS 18.4-38, $2,500 TONY 604-850-4718Craig Elachie ShorthornsGrant & Barbara Smith | Balmoral Farms 250.835.0133 craigelachieshorthorns@gmail.com 1802 Tappen-Notch Hill Rd Tappen BC V0E 2X3RINIER EL 140 IN-ROW TILLER SN 17859 $8,500 Call 778-241-1665 FEBRUARY DEADLINE JANUARY 20ADVERTISING THAT WORKS!2013 KUBOTA MX5100 850 hours. Has front loader & standard loader bucket. Tractor is in good working shape. Also has 84” HLA manual angle snow blade, Land Pride RCR 72” rough cut mower, a 3point rear blade & pallet forks for additional costs. Asking $32,000 for tractor & loader. Will-ing to entertain reasonable offers. Located in the Peace. Delivery possible. michelle@whiskeycreekranch.ca Available now, 4- 1/4 mile Used VALLEY, ZIMMATIC, T.L. PIVOTS, 3- Used 1,000 ft, 1,250 ft Hose reels, 10,000 ft 12 in 8,000ft 10 in HDPE, Steel pipe in all sizes used. Dealer for Pierce Pivots, T.L Piv-ots, lease your new or used pivot, Hose reels, RM, Idrio, diesel pumps, centrifugal, submersible, freq drives, pump stations, 30 years experience. Talk to Brock! 250 319 3044FEEDERS & PANELS that maintain their value!ROUND BALE FEEDERS BIG SQUARE BALE FEEDERS FENCE PANELS CATTLE & HORSE FEEDERSHEAVY DUTY OIL FIELD PIPE CRADLE FEEDERS. Single big square or 2 round bales Outside measurement is 8 feet x 12 feet Silage bunk feeders For product pictures, check out Double Delichte Stables on Facebook www.doubledelichtefarms.ca Dan 250/308-9218 ColdstreamROUND BALED HAY HAYLAGE & SILAGE All good quality feed, tight well wrapped bales. First cut harvested in early May: $110/bale. Second cut sold out. Third cut: $120/bale. No rain. Volume discounts. Selling fast. CARL 604-825-9108 ourgoodearth@live.com LIVESTOCKDEAN SPADY, Presidentspadylivestock@gmail.comGARY WOOD, Vice Presidentsemiahmooshorthorns@shaw.ca• TOYOTA 8FGU18 FORKLIFT 2014, propane, SAS w/3 masts. Tilted, side side, ~15’ lift. 2,700lbs lift. Only 742 hours. Excellent condition. $30,000 • BREVIGLIERN BE-MG4N row crop rototiller w/12" heads. Purchased new in 2019. C/w spare till blades. Less than 50 hrs. $8,500 • NH 185 manure spreader w/hydraulic driven floor. Purchased new in 1992. Floor in like-new condition. Very little rust. 16.5L-16.1 tandem tires have very little wear. $14,500 • M.K MARTIN LAND LEVELER LLT-10. Purchased new in 2020. Excellent condition. $4,000 • FERRI DITCH SIDE MOWER ZE20ROD ZMFE200 8’ head. Pur-chased new in 2020. $4,000 • FREIGHTLINER FL 106 tandem 26' reefer van box c/w power gate. Pur-chased new in 1996. New back door on van box. New ft tires 385/65R 22.5. GVWR 58,000 lbs. 18,000 lbs Ft, Rear 40,000lbs. Detroit eng. 315hp. 296,561km. Eaton Fuller trans. 8 spd plus additional 5 creeper gears. A/C lots of options. Excellent running condition. Well maintained No body rust. Polish Aluminum wheels. Pass MVI 2023. Asking $38,000 • INTERNATIONAL 4300 DT 466 2006, 250hp, 6 spd. 286,005 km A/C 18' dry van box with power gate. Alu-minum wheels. New tires. No body rust. Excellent condition. Well main-tained, bought new. Ft 12,000lbs Rear 33,000lbs. Pass MVI 2023. ask-ing $36,000 JAMES 604 202 0428 YOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESURg YougYouWSHappy New Year!email your updated to subscriptions@countrylifeinbc.com

CLBC January 2024

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