Return to flip book view
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. 109 No.7The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 JULY 2023 | Vol. 109 No. 7WATER Kamloops decommissions farm irrigation system 7 ALR Cowichan Bay project set to swamp farmland 11 FORAGE Paradigm shift required for intensive grazing 23 RONDA PAYNE ALDERGROVE – A blast of summer-like weather in early May has BC strawberry growers in a jam. The heat ripened strawberries about two weeks earlier than expected and pushed all varieties to harvest at the same time, causing a labour crunch for picking. “It came on two weeks sooner than estimated because of that fantastically unbelievable May,” says Alf Krause of Krause Berry Farms and Estate Winery in Aldergrove, who describes it as “the shortest season ever.” “Nobody was ready, so the market was soft, but it came on like gangbusters,” he says. Rhonda Driediger of Driediger Farms in Langley says the size and quality of berries was good up until the rain began, essentially ending the June-bearing and rst harvest of day-neutral berries. Yields were down for both growers, with Krause noting that some growers saw less than two-thirds of their usual crop. Others saw just half. Krause says the fruit was nice, but smaller in size than usual and the volume was denitely “light.” “It’s not a great year,” adds Driediger. “I haven’t done the calculations yet, but it’s down.” Statistics Canada reports BC harvested 1,466 tons of fresh-market strawberries last year. The season’s initial crop will be followed by a second pick of day-neutral berries later this summer. “We have a new eld we’ll be picking in about two weeks,” says Driediger. “Then Jesse Johnston-Hill of First Light Farm in Revelstoke harvests produce for sale at farmers markets and donation to the local food bank, which in turn crowdfunds community donations that help defray the farm's production costs. The model is community-supported agriculture at its best, part of how the farm sees itself operating in community. Read more on page 29. BRUNO LONGBerries feel the heatPETER MITHAM LANGLEY – Pronvicial sta have staged a "compliance blitz" targetting Fraser Valley farms following US complaints over high E. coli counts in water owing south. US testing in December and early January detected fecal coliform counts in the tens of thousands where Langley’s Pepin Brook enters Whatcom County. An acceptable fecal coliform count is 100 units per 100 ml. “When you’re getting 10, Water blitz in FVUS farmers want BC action on E. coliPick of the cropForage Seed1-800-661-4559Produced by & available atWashington farmers uWarm weather u
2 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCwe’ll see what happens during July, August and September.” Thrips were a larger issue than usual this year for Driediger, while Krause says the relatively new strawberry blossom weevil continues to make inroads. May’s warmth gave way to cool, wet weather in mid-June, but cane berries were moving quickly toward harvest by late month. Some varieties had already had their rst pick in the last two weeks of June. “I think overall the raspberry crop looks good,” he says. “We’re happy with how things are shaping up.” Krause’s one concern is that conditions could result in a compressed season, similar to strawberries. He has three varieties of raspberries that are supposed to have staggered harvests, but two are coming on at the same time with the third close behind. “Both raspberries and blackberries are looking good,” says Driediger. “We lost a lot last year with that late frost, but this year, we’ve already started picking.” The rain that ended the strawberry season came just in time for raspberries, providing much-needed moisture as the fruit began to colour up. While strawberry weevil is a problem in raspberries too, according to Krause, hopes that the season will come o without a hitch to meet or exceed the 5,290 tons Statistics Canada reported for BC in 2022. Blueberries are close behind, according to Krause, which may lead to stress over pickers for farmers.20, even 50,000 – that’s a major pollution event,” says Fred Likkel of Whatcom Family Farmers in Lynden, WA, which represents 300 farmers and stakeholders in the broader community. “It says there’s something serious going on.” The counts were notable because of the lack of precipitation, meaning runo wasn’t the source. Moreover, counts remained stubbornly high even downstream. “Fecal coliform levels in Pepin were so high that the addition of Fishtrap Creek had no dilution eect as far as seven miles downstream,” states a summary of test results from the Washington State Department of Ecology and Whatcom Clean Water Program. While the issue isn’t new, it’s a critical one for Whatcom dairy farmers, who faced pressure a decade ago to clean up their act after the shellsh harvest in Portage Bay was closed. This aected the indigenous Lummi people, for whom the shellsh harvest was both a traditional and essential part of life. “This is where you see some of the poorest of the poor, and they’re harvesting this literally to survive,” says Likkel. The termination two years ago of the Nooksack River Transboundary Technical Collaboration Group resulted in BC reducing the resources allocated to the issue after ve years of progress. “It was pretty clear from talking to the regulatory people here, at least unocially, that they were frustrated with just not being able to connect with anybody who could give them any answers in Canada,” Likkel says. The frustration prompted Likkel’s group to write Washington governor Jay Inslee and BC premier David Eby on June 5 in partnership with the North Lynden Water Improvement District, urging them to take a renewed interest in the issue. “We see this as part of the larger issue of clean, sustainable, and certain water for the future of our farms,” states the letter. “Instead of responding to immediate threats such as this, we see slow bureaucratic processes such as the international task force on ooding, or a water rights adjudication. … This is not the leadership we expect from our elected leaders.” The province recently undertook “a compliance blitz” in the Fraser Valley focusing on agricultural operations. The results of the compliance blitz will be available later this summer. BC says water tests occur through its partnership with Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS), which received $97,000 in 2021 for work on the Collaborative Transboundary Water Quality Improvement Project. A successor to the earlier initiatives, the water quality project supports eorts by property owners in south Langley and Abbotsford to reduce their impact on water quality and comply with the four-year-old Agriculture Environmental Management Code of Practice (AEMCoP). The work is undertaken in partnership with the Shared Waters Alliance, which includes Whatcom County. But the county’s environmental programs manager says more needs to be done. “Water quality improvements need sustainable resources to monitor and respond to emerging issues,” says Erika Douglas, environmental programs manager with Whatcom County Public Works in Bellingham. “It is essential to have systems to help track and respond to acute problems like those we observed this winter.” Right now, Washington ocials have to report issues through BC’s Report all Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) complaint line just like everyone else. Once a complaint is led, it’s very dicult to track follow-up measures. “Very limited resources are available to identify and x the source,” the memo summarizing test results states. “Without bracket sampling or comprehensive Pollution Identication and Correction (PIC) work, it is unclear whether these facilities are contributing to this discharge.” Eby’s oce has promised Likkel that the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy will be in touch. Ministry sta told Country Life in BC that BC continues to share information annually with Washington through a technical collaboration working group. The latest meeting took place June 1, with BC pledging to continue monitoring water quality through LEPS. (LEPS did not respond to requests for comment.) But Likkel says the province needs to be more diligent about its monitoring activities, noting that farms often have a better handle on issues than other property owners. Urban development has also intensied some of the issues. “It’s not just about the farms. You really need to go looking and nd out where the issues are,” he says. “It’s absolutely critical that we all work together collaboratively, because water knows no boundaries.” During a June 20 press conference to announce $15 million in funding for community-oriented projects to address ecosystem health in the Fraser Valley, BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis said she hadn’t been briefed on the issue and referred questions to Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens. “We are still working on the framework of what that collaboration is going to look like,” Siemens says. “But I can tell you that water quality is very important to First Nations and very important to the city of Abbotsford.” u Washington farmers frustrated with slow response to water contaminationu Warm weather compresses harvest Family Farm Friendly Financial Planning Services.Holistic financial planning for your family farm now and into the future. Patrick’s proven financial and estate planning program provides income, security, and tax minimization to help ensure the most effective decisions are made now, and on an ongoing basis.Please contact me to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation discussion at 604.467.5321 | patrick.obrien@rbc.com References are available.1.877.272.2002 | www.patrick-obrien.ca#200-11980 227th St. Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 6J2Prudent | Practical | ProfessionalDr. Patrick O’Brien, DVM, FMA, CIMSenior Wealth Advisor | Financial Plannerwww.tractorparts4sale.caABBOTSFORD, BC Bus. 604/807-2391 email: tractorparts4sale@shaw.caWe accept Interact, Visa and Mastercard FORD 755 BACK HOE LOADER, 100 HP, FWD REV, POWER SHIFT TRANS GOOD CONDITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,500 FORD 7000 2WD OPEN ST 83HP 540 PTO GD COND . . . . . . . . . . . 7,000 VICON PS602 FERTILIZER SPREADER, 3 PT, 1,000 KG CAPACITY . . 2,200 MASHIO CM4500 14’ PWR HARROW W/ROLLER GD COND. . . . 11,500 NH 256 ROLLARBAR 10 FT SIDE DELIVERY RAKE, GROUND DRIVEN, PULL TYPE, GOOD CONDITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200 JOHN DEERE HD BALE CONVEYOR 40FT ON ADJ FRAME WITH AXLE, PTO DRIVEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD! 1,200 MF 1135 WITH CAB, 6 CYL TURBO, 2WD, DECENT RUBBER . . . . . 6,500 JOHN DEERE 510 WITH LOADER, COMPLETE OR PARTS . . . . . . . . . CALL WINPOWER PTO DRIVE GENSET 80KVA, 200 AMP BREAKER SINGLE PHASE .4,000 NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS for MOST TRACTORS & FARM IMPLEMENTSGD Repair LtdTractor/Equipment Repair Mobile Service Available
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 3Wine industry faces long road back after extreme coldPETER MITHAM KELOWNA – Standing against a backdrop of lush but injured vines at SpearHead Winery in East Kelowna, representatives of BC’s wine industry made a plea for federal support as they recover from the eects of a devastating blast of cold weather in late December that saw temperatures reach towards -30° Celsius. “I have a combination of dead vines, some top death,” said SpearHead general manager and winemaker Grant Stanley, waving to the vineyards behind him. “We have to get the feds to step up and understand this is a really catastrophic situation that needs some bridging to get to the next cycle.” The press conference took place in advance of a visit June 27 by provincial agriculture minister Pam Alexis, who growers hope will ask Ottawa for AgriRecovery funding. A similar measure was recently approved for Ontario growers that suered extreme cold in 2021-2022. The scale of the unfolding disaster, which threatens to eliminate the 2023 vintage for many growers, is detailed in a Cascadia Partners report for Wine Growers BC that indicates 98% of growers saw at least 10% of their vines damaged. This puts the 2023 vintage on track for 20,000 tons, down from 43,825 tons last year, and a 54% reduction in wine production. Lillooet’s crop is totally wiped out, while the Similkameen Valley faces an 88% reduction. Some wineries have advised customers to expect no wine this year. Oliver and Osoyoos claimed 64% of tonnage last year but face a 60% reduction in production this year. Replanting a reasonable proportion of BC's 12,682 acres under vine is well beyond the scope of the provincial replant program announced this spring, which has paused applications due to strong demand. “It is estimated that 45% of the industry’s total planted acreage will suer long-term damages and 29% will need to be replaced entirely,” the report says. “The latter will require signicant nancial investment by businesses and take at least three years to reach maturity.” The long-term eects make nancial support now critical for wineries to rebuild. The survival of the larger economy that’s blossomed around the sector also hinges on support. “The industry isn’t just a bunch of little wineries,” says Stanley. “It’s tourism, restaurants and everything that goes along with the wine community, which is huge. It’s a massive industry in the valley, and the if people don’t have the juice and the grapes, then all that’s at risk as well.” Besides rehabilitation and replanting costs, the report estimates that industry and government will lose $341 million in revenue as a result of vine damage, a 43% reduction. More than 380 jobs, or 20% of sector employment, are aected. The hit couldn't come at a worse time for SpearHead, which has seen strong demand for its wines following national wine competitions last year. Production should be increasing, but instead it will fall from close to 7,000 cases to less than 2,000 cases this year. “We had a hail event in 2013 that wiped out the crop in eight minutes,” he told Country Life in BC. “In that situation we were able to go to other vineyards and negotiate to buy grapes to cover our production commitments. In this situation, we’re not able to do that. We haven’t got another option to supplement our losses.” While there’s been talk of letting growers source grapes from Eastern Washington and elsewhere, local fruit will be snapped up quickly or command high prices. Stanley says this has been happening in the wake of the short crops the industry has been experiencing since 2018. “We’re having to farm in much more detail with much more labour along the way to hopefully get back to where we were,” Stanley said. “The growers have every right to raise their prices because costs, even before frosts and what not, have grown substantially because of labour.” Pinot Noir that cost him $2,800 a ton to grow ve years ago is now closer to $5,000 a ton, and he’s not alone in seeing higher costs. The annual crop report indicates that most varieties saw double-digit price increases last year versus 2020, with steep rises at the top end. Two years ago, the range for all varieties was $1,199 to $5,000 a ton, consistent with 2018. By last year, it had increased to $1,336 to $5,501 a ton. SpearHead Winery general manager Grant Stanley is hard-pressed to see grapes on his Wast Kelowna vines this year following a devastating freeze last December. MYRNA STARK LEADER Grape growers seek federal assistanceBROILER/BREEDER CHICKEN FARM ON 6.8 ACRESr%FUBDIFE4IPQTr#JSERVPUBr#BSOT&RVJQNFOUr3FOPWBUFETRGU#FESN)PNFr3PPNGPSGVUVSFGBSNFYQBOTJPO8310 PREST ROAD, CHILLIWACK, BCHow much is your home worth... get INSTANT PROPERTY VALUE now!www.yourpropertyvalue.net
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.109 No. 7 . JULY 2023Published monthly by Country Life 2000 Ltd. www.countrylifeinbc.comComedian Red Green often mused about the travails of middle age and always ended by saying, “Remember, I’m pulling for you. We’re all in this together.” I harbour the same thought regarding agriculture every month when I write this column. For all of our dierences – big farm, small farm; big ranch, small ranch; dairy farm, berry farm, beef ranch or greenhouse, hazelnuts or hatching eggs; Creston Valley, Comox Valley, Bulkley Valley or Fraser Valley; Peace River or Cariboo, and hundreds more crops in hundreds more places, – we are all in this together, perhaps most closely knit together by climate change and the extremes of weather that come with it. Few, if any, of us have been spared recent experience of ood, or wildre, or drought, or landslide, heat dome or atmospheric river. Some have been directly impacted by them all, and some by several in quick succession. Most of these weather events are interrelated, one leading to another, with cascading consequences for producers all across the province. Two years of dramatically increased temperatures and unusual rainfall patterns result in record numbers of wildres that are occurring earlier, spreading faster and lasting longer. Farms in the Alberni Valley are 30 km west of the Cameron Blus wildre above Cameron Lake. The re started on June 3 and spread rapidly. On June 6, falling rock and trees closed Hwy 4, which links the Alberni Valley, Ucluelet, Tono and Bameld to the rest of Vancouver Island. Single-lane alternating trac resumed June 23 with and a full reopening set for mid July. It all comes with a big question mark. Any opening depends on the safety and stability of the burned slopes above the highway. The re is under control and BC Ministry of Transport sta are working to identify and mitigate the ongoing threats to the highway. Once the assessment is complete, a more accurate opening date should emerge. In the interim, an alternative four-hour gravel detour route via Youbou on Lake Cowichan has been established and critical supplies are being delivered. After initial on-farm dumping, milk pickups have resumed, and grain deliveries are being made by this route. Fertilizer and horticultural supplies are awaiting the Hwy 4 reopening. Livestock producers have missed hard-to-come-by slaughter dates in Courtenay, opting not to turn what would usually be a two-hour trip into a dust-choked seven-hour one-way trip via the detour. Though inconvenient, these circumstances pale in comparison to what other producers have endured over the past few years. No livestock died, no homes or buildings burned, no farms were ooded, no crop land or buildings were damaged by landslide, and no one was forced to evacuate. The only physical damage was to Hwy 4, several kilometres away. The route will be fully closed for three weeks and fully open again in six weeks. The ultimate extent of damage may not be evident until the next big wind or rainfall event (hours after opening on June 23, high winds temporarily closed the highway again). A 1.5-km Hwy 4 improvement project in a similar location west of Alberni opened this spring. Due to unforeseen geology, it cost 40% more than budgeted and took ve years to complete. Agriculture in BC happens in many locations, often geographically and climatically distinct from one another, like Dawson Creek and Duncan. There are few farmers or ranchers in the province who can raise their heads on a clear day and not see mountains of one size or another. All of those mountains make for some extreme weather dierences and some formidable transportation challenges. The average annual rainfall in Alberni is 1,700 mm a year; 30 kms NE in Comox it is 926 mm while 30 kms SW at Henderson Lake (the wettest location in North America) it is 7,296 mm. Transportation infrastructure choices in BC have been dictated by terrain and weather. Most often, whatever was the simplest at the time. As extreme weather events become more frequent, more infrastructure failures will be inevitable. There are roads like Hwy 4 all over the province; narrow twisty roadways cut into steep slopes beside rivers and lakes, through forests and over creeks and rivers. None of them are immune to wildre, atmospheric river ood or landslide. What that would mean to your farm or ranch and family should be considered and planned for. Talk it over with your neighbours. We are all in this together. 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 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCWater securityWater issues seem to be everywhere this summer. This issue goes to press as northeastern BC has returned to Level 4 drought, months after ending last year at the most extreme Level 5. This is the earliest it’s been in years, and the province advises that adverse ecosystem impacts are likely. A further 18 basins, including those where municipalities restricted farmers’ access to water last fall, are experiencing Level 3 drought, guaranteeing that water management will be grabbing headlines in BC’s biggest cities as summer heats up. But as Whatcom Family Farmers point out in a June 5 letter to Premier David Eby, urban development often impacts both the quality and quantity of water available to farmers. While high E. coli counts in water owing south from BC triggered the letter, it also notes the Fraser Valley development boom that’s gobbled up former farmland has depleted irrigation ditches on both sides of the border. It’s a phenomenon not unique to the broad and fertile plain irrigated by the Fraser and other rivers owing west to the Salish Sea. California and the Southwestern US are facing dicult decisions around water management and the recharging of their aquifers. Renaturalizing areas diked and dammed to manage water ows is much in vogue, but as Russia’s bursting of the Nova Khakhova dam in Ukraine on June 6 shows, dams also play an important role in harnessing water to feed the world. Nova Khakova’s destruction threatens to deepen the food crisis unleashed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. “Whiskey’s for drinking, water’s for ghting over,” goes the old saying. Well-intentioned eorts to restore ecosystems and protect water for the full spectrum of users threatens farmland on Vancouver Island, while the ght over damming the Peace River for Site C saw an ecosystem destroyed, also at the cost of farmland. While essential domestic water use is often put at the forefront of municipal water management, food production also needs to be taken into account by all We’re all in this togetherBack 40 BOB COLLINSPublisher Cathy Glover 604-328-3814 . publisher@countrylifeinbc.com Editor Emeritus David Schmidt Associate Editor Peter Mitham news@countrylifeinbc.com Advertising Sales & Marketing Cathy Glover sales@countrylifeinbc.com Production Designer Tina Rezansoff Happy Canada Day, PW!levels of government and society. Because without food, none of us will have strength to debate how best to use the water that makes it all possible.
Disasters bring closures and opportunitiesRelocalizing food systems can prepare communities for recoveryCOUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 5chain delays mean farmers can’t get the machine parts, fertilizer and labourers needed to operate as usual. Costs rise and production and crop quality suer. Pasture becomes invaluable. A small farm operator, faced with a rocky four-hour detour to haul chicks into town, questions the viability of raising chickens for sale. Small suppliers, afraid of damaging their shipping trucks, stop bringing in feed. It’s not only producers who suer from a broken or unhitched food system. Donations to the local Salvation Army from grocery stores were down over 25%. Fresh produce was harder to come by and agencies were digging into their potato stores. That residents were experiencing stress was clear in the toilet paper, gas and food hoarding reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic. And food security isn’t just about agriculture. The Cameron Blus wildre started around the same time as the local sockeye run in the bonade “Salmon Capital of the World.” The First Nations catch in 2022 was over 120,000 sh, most of that part of their Economic Opportunity (EO) shery. This year, the EO opened on June 13, and roadside stands popped up immediately, with hand-drawn signs announcing 'fresh salmon on ice!' Typically, this annual bonanza lls freezers around Vancouver Island. But when I stopped to pick up a fresh sh for dinner, a dejected-looking sher reported sales were way down because of the closure. So what does a community do with tens of thousands of sh that they can’t sell for lack of their normal market? There is hope. A networked and empowered community has the opportunity to regain some resiliency, proactively. This past winter, the Hupacasath First Nation partnered with Canadian Seafood Processing in a holiday scramble to write a grant for a full-scale sh processing line. The line had to be modied to meet the small size of the space available within the Dock+ facility, part of the provincially funded BC Food Hub Network. The application was successful. While it wasn’t built in time to ease disruption from the re, in future it could serve a similar purpose. But both the Dock+ and the sh line would have been impossible without a local, concerted eort to enhance the region’s agri-food community. Programs like the province’s Extreme Weather preparedness for Agriculture initiative are important, but supporting individual farms will only go so far in keeping people fed. The entire food chain needs a boost and local resources help connect people with external opportunities. I know from experience that navigating the current bureaucracy alone is draining and, eventually, almost detestable. Relocalization is starting to take place, however. The BC Ministry of Health provides funding for regional food system work. The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District just moved oversight of its agri-food portfolio to a dedicated sta position. Its new sustainability planner is a professional agrologist with a degree in agriculture. Regional organizations like farmers institutes also have an important part to play in ensuring relevant work happens on the ground. All this, in a region with just 76 farms reporting revenues totalling $5 million. One could argue that there’s not enough money or human capacity for the work required. But the trick is not only to nd more money. It’s to do things dierently with the money we have. Provincial response to disasters and a hungry population (whether people or cows) is not a cheap alternative. Like it or not, our community’s food resiliency is a shared responsibility. There’s a lot of talk about how communities band together during emergencies. Let’s try to be a bit more proactive. Heather Shobe runs a teeny-tiny farm in the Alberni Valley and works on contract as Agricultural Support Coordinator for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. On June 6, the Cameron Blus wildre closed Hwy 4, yet another example of the increasing prevalence of natural disasters and a changing climate. But empowered communities and localized infrastructure can help mitigate the impacts when disaster strikes. The re drastically reduced the movement of food and essential goods to three municipalities, six electoral areas and 10 First Nations. It was four days before a piloted convoy for commercial vehicles was established. The detour route, over a private forest service road, extends travel by a gruelling four hours each way. A full reopening of the paved road isn’t expected until mid-July. At some point, a disaster will aect us all. The heat, res and oods of 2021 prove it’s not just small and remote communities that are at risk. Flooding on the Sumas Prairie caused $2 billion dollars of damage when successive atmospheric rivers dropped between 200 and 300 mm of rain on the populous region. Residents went without milk in the highest-producing region of the province. Authorities rationed gas across southwestern BC and evacuated entire communities. The impacts of these events are signicant. There’s no milk processing facility in the Alberni Valley, and milk gets dumped when it can’t be transported. Supply Viewpoint HEATHER SHOBE%PXOUPXO3FBMUZtOE4U7FSOPO#$t0óDFPat | 250.308.0938QBUEVHHBO!SPZBMMFQBHFDBThea | 250.308.5807UIFBNDMBVHIMJO!SPZBMMFQBHFDB6475 COSENS BAY RD, COLDSTREAMwww.FarmRanchResidential.ca “Farmers helping farmers with their real estate needs”Live off the grid in twin log cottages on 80 acres. Solar, propane generator power. Gentle rolling terrain w/mostly open pasture. Well at 6.42 US gal/min. This property offers the peace and quiet you’ve been looking for, only 15 minutes to Lumby. MLS®10276930 $1,295,000411 BEAR VALLEY RD, LUMBYPERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION Quality Pre-Owned Tractors & EquipmentANDEX 773 Rake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 BOBCAT 751 Skidsteer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coming soon JAYLOR Mixer Wagon 4575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 JD 348 Baler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,500 MF 1725M tractor, loader, backhoe . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,000 MF 1742 tractor, AWD with cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,500 MF 1835M tractor, loader Backhoe, 40 Hours . . . . 52,000 MF 4609 tractor with 931 loader, 2215 Hours . . . . . 49,000 MF 6713 tractor, cab, AWD, 207 hrs . . . . . . . Coming soon TURBOMATIC 600 lt sprayer with side cannon . . . . 8,500 WN WL60T articulating loader 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,000
6 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC73,000+ acre Ranch, Selling August 14thLocated an hour’s drive from Kelowna International Airport, this remarkable property o ers a haven for entertainment and relaxation, a magnifi cent residence designed to exceed your expectations with exquisite craftsmanship, lavish amenities,and luxurious attention to detail.STARTING BID $5.9MLEARN MORE+1 (866) 263-7480 | info@clhbid.com
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 7Gerd Dessau says Kamloops plans to decommission the Noble Creek Irrigation System will push farmers like him out of business. MURRAY MITCHELLJACKIE PEARASE KAMLOOPS – A recent city decision to decommission a local irrigation system has some local farmers feeling like they’ve been hung out to dry. About 40 users of the Noble Creek Irrigation System left a public information meeting June 19 with more questions than answers after coming to learn more about Kamloops’ decision at an in camera meeting May 30 to decommission the system this fall. Users were informed via email June 12 of council’s decision and invited to attend the meeting “to gather information and ask questions to staff and Council about how the directive will be implemented.” “It kinda came to us out of nowhere. We weren’t expecting this at all,” says Adam Woodward of Privato Vineyard & Winery on Westsyde Road. He was frustrated by the meeting structure, which included a presentation by city staff followed by small ad hoc group discussions. “There was no opportunity for engagement afterwards. There was no dialogue directly, back and forth,” he says. Councillor Katie Neustaeter says the goal was for council to hear people’s questions and concerns then have staff provide answers and help users meet their irrigation needs. “This is a council that is committed to walking with these folks through whatever comes next,” says Neustaeter. “We will have those conversations with staff about what was heard tonight, what matters to the community, what their fears are and find out how we can best serve them.” She would not comment on whether those questions should have been asked and answered prior to the decommission decision. Woodward and other NCIS users have been part of a city task force to explore funding options to keep the system viable. The group formed in 2020 after that council backed down from a proposal to undertake a $14 million upgrade that would see users on the hook for 80% of that cost. In 2022, the city earmarked $3 million to upgrade the system with the goal of www.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613TL1100RTL1700SRWraps round bales up to 6’ in diameter. Runs in automatic mode using either tractor hydraulics or as a standalone wrapper with the optional power pack. Wrap round or square bales in either manual or fully automatic operation when equipped with required options. Standalone operation with available power pack.Visit us online for complete listing of features and options.Kamloops decommissions farm irrigation City provides three months notice keeping it operational until 2028. Things changed May 12 when the city declared a local state of emergency after extreme high water levels caused erosion that threatened the NCIS intake. The city riprapped a section of riverbank through the Emergency Program Act to protect the infrastructure but told users that it may have to be removed at the direction of the province. Historic lows The North Thompson River hit a historic low prior to the spring freshet and again after, making water scarce in the Thompson region. A decision to shut down the irrigation system came soon after. “When we look at how quickly the erosion has been happening in that area and that water intake, the cost of the other options presented to us to make the NCIS more sustainable, council decided that this was the route we wanted to go,” explains councillor Mike O’Reilly. “That makes it challenging when users are expecting a service that we simply can’t provide based on Mother Nature.” The system provides irrigation water to properties along Westsyde and Dairy roads, about half of those without direct access to the North Thompson River. Gerd Dessau and his wife Pat have farmed about 67 landlocked acres for 35 years and her father farmed there before them. They have a few cattle and grow hay for other producers, with the irrigation system critical to their success. Turning off taps u
8 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Turning off taps will leave farms parched and unproductiveSave 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. Low pressure R2000FX Rotator® has unparalleled radius of throw. Maximize radius and uniformity with the R3030 Pivot Rotator®. R2000FXROTATOR®R3030ROTATOR®SR150 BIG GUN®ARC TIMERIRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY50 YEARSFIELD-PROVEN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL NELSON DEALER TODAY!“If they shut it down, we’re done,” he notes. “They’re going to take quite a few people out of the farming business.” Danielle Wegelin and her husband recently experimented with dryland hay on about 14 acres, with decent results the first year but this spring was disastrous. “I couldn’t have gotten more than 100 bales off my fields where normally I could do 500-600,” she says. They also rely on small crops like garlic and asparagus to maintain their farm status and reducing the growing area for those crops has only created more physical labour. “So it’s a huge impact trying to figure out how we’re going to have water,” Wegelen adds. Woodward, whose family also runs a cidery and grows Christmas trees, says dryland farming is not an option for many in the area. “There’s other crops out there, such as mine, if it doesn’t get water, it’s going to die. If we don’t get water, we’re not farming anymore. Plain and simple.” The city presented a draft compensation plan for users at the meeting but Woodward doubts it will be sufficient. “We’ve got some ballpark numbers of what it would cost us for our farm and what they’re offering is nowhere near what we would need for our own properties,” says Woodward. Compensation depends on the parcel size of irrigable land, ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson says the compensation cost has ballooned from about $450,000 that was initially presented to about $1 million. He says there should have been more discussion before making such an important decision. “Since our meeting, I’ve learned a lot of different things that I wished I would have known at the time.” Should be a water utility Civil and water engineer Jeremy Cooke, hired by the user group to provide advice on a way forward, says NCIS users should become a water utility despite the province’s reluctance to create such entities. “I think it’s been grandfathered in the sense that these guys have been a water utility all this time, just under the municipality,” he explains. The irrigation system was originally constructed in 1903 and some of the current infrastructure dates back to 1968. North and south Kamloops amalgamated in 1967 and added other areas including the unincorporated area of Westsyde in 1973. The city then took over the NCIS. Wegelin, who was involved with a community water system in Pritchard, has concerns about how much work they would be taking on. “We’ve asked for preventative maintenance numbers and nothing’s :een provided to us in all of the meetings,” she notes. “They want us to take over a system that’s busted.” Cooke says the system could be viable with the right amount of funding. He thinks the pipes would work for another 50 to 100 years and historical dams in the area could be rebuilt to serve the system. “Individual pump systems out of the North Thompson River is not going to work,” he adds. He also suggests that upgrading the irrigation system would cost upwards of $3 million if done “ranch style” – for agricultural irrigation purposes only. The city’s 2020 proposal called for a potable water system that cost $14 million. That is now estimated at about $70 million. Cooke and Woodward agree that the key is to find an equitable way to make the transition to a community water utility. “I think we need to find a solution that will make both parties happy. We need to get away from each other but the city needs to be a part of that solution to get away,” says Woodward. Cooke says agritourism is a viable funding avenue, with ample federal funds currently available to grow food. “They should be selling it to the users for $1. Farming doesn’t make money on its own,” he says. “Agriculture needs to be subsidized. Otherwise we’re not going to eat.” Compensation outlined The City of Kamloops presented a draft compensation plan for Noble Creek Irrigation Services users at a public information meeting June 19: • Maximum of $250,000 and minimum of $100,000 for any parcel over 3 hectares of billed irrigable land. • $75,000 for parcels less than 3 hectares but more than 1 hectare of billed irrigable land. • $25,000 for parcels with less than 1 hectare but more than 0.5 hectare of billed irrigable land. • $5,000 for parcels less than 0.5 hectares of billed irrigable land. Compensation rates are based on currently billed irrigable land, and payments come with conditions. The city says it will strive to address decommissioning challenges with unprotected infrastructure. —Jackie Pearase
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 9Greenhouses pitch marketing commissionGreenhouse growers continue to add acreage across crop typesPETER MITHAM SURREY – A greenhouse vegetable marketing commission is on the table as the BC Greenhouse Growers Association looks to the sector’s future. Right now, the marketing of greenhouse vegetables is regulated through the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission, which also oversees a range of storage crops. “The relationship has been ne, except our two industries are so diverse and so dierent there’s no commonality between the two at all,” BCGGA president Armand Vander Meulen said in broaching the idea at the association’s annual general meeting in Surrey, June 8. “It’s our belief as a board that we should work towards our own unique commission that is strictly with greenhouse crops.” A key concern is that while entry to the greenhouse sector is regulated, its products compete on the open market against those from other provinces and countries. “We are at the whim of the general market; we are not controlled or protected by anything,” Vander Meulen says. “As a regulated industry, that makes us unique and that is why, as a board, we believe the biggest driving force should be to have our own group focused exclusively on issues as they relate to greenhouse.” But plenty of details have yet to be worked out. The cost of running a separate commission from BC Veg hasn’t been determined, but it was one of the big questions on growers’ minds. Vander Meulen said the new commission aims to make better use of growers’ funds rather than increase costs, but detailed research on set-up and operating costs has yet to be done. “We’re merely at the talking stage at this point in time, but we want to move it forward,” Vander Meulen said. A study by Vancouver consulting rm Ference & Co. in 2021 regarding the feasibility of establishing an apple marketing commission estimated startup costs at $1.1 million. It pegged the annual operating budget at $1.75 million to support ve sta, six commissioners and a chair appointed by the lieutenant governor. It cited the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission among its models as well as the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission, BC Hog Marketing Commission and BC Broiler Hatching Egg Commission. “These commissions have been successful in stabilizing grower returns,” Ference & Co. noted. The association’s own nances were stable in 2022. Revenues were up 19% in 2022 thanks to increases in both grower levies and funding for projects, such as a study supporting advocacy for a point-of-sale rebate of carbon taxes. Production area increased to more than 3,413,438 square metres, which combined with a one-cent increase in the levy rate to yield a 9% increase in levy revenue to $482,920. The association sees no need for a further increase in the levy rate, which will generate a projected $539,400 on a production area of 3,596,050 square metres this year. The budget for the current year will fund the part-time hiring of Gary Jones, now retired from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, to succeed Heather Little as program manager, industry development and sustainability. “His knowledge base and experience and relationships with many of our growers will be a huge asset to our organization,” BCGGA executive director Linda Delli Santi says. Delli Santi’s own work plan calls for ongoing eorts on the labour and crop protection les. On the latter front, the greenhouse sector faces the potential loss of access to materials at the end of this year unless growers hold a certicate of compliance from CropLife Canada, which represents suppliers. Producers say CropLife’s stewardship standard doesn’t reect their realities. Recent amendments now propose two options, one being the certicate of compliance and the other ad hoc certication for specic materials. Delli Santi will also be assisting eorts to incorporate greenhouse products within Canada’s organic standard. LANGLEY CHILLIWACK CHEMAINUS KELOWNA Committed to agriculture in British Columbia rollinsmachinery.com 1-800-665-9060NEW! SUPREME 700T feed mixer (N32578)................................................... $69,500 CUB CADET lawn tractors, 2023 units, ride-on, o-turns ......................... CALL USED TRACTORS KUBOTA BX1860 no loader (CNS816).................................................. $13,015 KUBOTA L3901 STRC w/loader, 1310 hrs (CNS815)............................ 28,000 KUBOTA M7060 2019, cab, no loader, 200 hRS [U32830].................... 67,000 KUBOTA M6-141 1755 hrs, 2018, ldr w/3rd function (CNS820) .......... 98,000 NH T3.80F orchard tractor, 25 hours (U32843) ...................................... 45,000 NH WORKMASTER 105 cab, loader, low hours (U32946) .................. 87,000 QUALITY USED EQUIPMENT MCHALE FUSION VARIO 2017, 14,000 bales [U32135] ....................... 85,900 MASCHIO 105 Rototiller, like new (CNS810) .......................................... 3,750 FANEX 500 Tedder (CNS798)..................................................................... 3,500 WALLENSTEIN MX50G Manure spreader (CNS813) ........................... 4,800 BUHLER Triplex mower 18’, like new [CNS794] .................................. 19,900 KVERNELAND 9084C Rake, 26’ (U33029) .............................................. 18,900 KVERNELAND 9476C Rake 2017 (U32957)............................................. 33,700 NH L170 Skidsteer, hand/foot controls, Open Cab (CNS796) .................. 25,000 NH FP240 Chopper 29P Grass, 3PN Corn Crop Proc (CNS786) .......... 47,500 Ready to rollEd DeBoer was elated to be taking the rst cut off this alfalfa eld in Enderby before the end of May, thanks to an early stretch of dry, hot weather that lingered over much of the province for several weeks. A cold, damp spring last year prevented many forage producers from seeding corn until June, and hay growers in the Shuswap didn't take a rst cut until early July. This year is shaping up to be better, but many growers hope dry conditions don't cut off late-season water supplies. CATHY GLOVER
10 | JULY 2023 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 SERVICESDelta cannabis venture smoked by lossesThe first 350,000 square feet was set to begin operation in spring 2019. "The economics of a 2.2 million-square-foot greenhouse complex producing approximately 0.12 kilogram per square foot of cannabis flower is staggering,” Agra stated at the time. But the venture never lived up to its promise, with just 130,000 square feet coming into production. “[Houweling’s] talented team proved that it was able to successfully grow and process the high-potency Mimosa strain of cannabis using approximately 130,000 square feet of the 2.2 million-square-foot greenhouse complex. “[But] declining market prices, combined with high operating costs, prevented the [joint venture] from being profitable at any time.” When Boundary Bay Cannabis launched, University of Guelph research had suggested a square foot of cannabis could generate annual revenue of $1,858. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada. Health Canada was required to review the Cannabis Act on the third anniversary of its taking effect, with Parliament to deliver a report to parliament within 18 months of the review’s start. The review committee was appointed last November, meaning recommendations will not be delivered until mid-2024. — Peter Mitham BC Milk, Dairy grow closer Western Canada’s dairy associations continue to grow closer following a June 13 announcement that the BC Milk Marketing Board and BC Dairy Association will move in together next summer. “The two boards are taking steps to function together under a single strategy, and over the next 12 months operations will be coming together to create a new shared office space in Langley,” the board told producers. “While the organizations will be working more closely, and sharing an office beginning in the summer of 2024, they remain independent organizations.” BC is the last province in Western Canada with a dairy association separate from the provincial milk board. Both associations have representation within the Western Milk Pool, which is working to harmonize operations of the five dairy organizations in Western A long-standing joint venture between Houweling’s Group and publicly traded cannabis company Agra Ventures Ltd. has ended. A blunt press release from Agra Ventures dated June 16 announced that it had “amicably” sold its 70% interest in Propagation Services Canada, which operated as Boundary Bay Cannabis, to Houweling’s Group for $250,000. Production ceased at the end of 2022. The move promises to stem the financial losses accruing to Agra as a result of the venture, which had lost $25 million since inception in December 2018. The partnership had ambitiously set out to convert 2.2 million square feet of greenhouse to cannabis flower production. Expert farm taxation adviceApproved consultants for Government funding throughBC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramEnderby 250-838-7337Armstrong 250-546-8665 |t1VSDIBTFBOETBMFPGGBSNTt5SBOTGFSPGGBSNTUPDIJMESFOt(PWFSONFOUTVCTJEZQSPHSBNTt1SFQBSBUJPOPGGBSNUBYSFUVSOTt6TFPG$BQJUBM(BJOT&YFNQUJPOT$ISJT)FOEFSTPO$1"$"-PSFO)VUUPO$1"$"5PMM 'SFF1-888-818-FARM |www.farmtax.comRossworn HendersonLLPChartered Professional Accountants - Tax Consultantsartered Professional Accountants - Tax ConsultanCALL FOR AN ESTIMATE LARRY 604.209.5523 TROY 604.209.5524 TRI-WAY FARMS LASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVED DRAINAGE UNIFORM GERMINATION UNIFORM IRRIGATION FAST, ACCURATE SURVEYING INCREASE CROP YIELDS We service all of Southern BCAg Briefs PETER MITHAMCanada under a single governance structure. The closer ties between BC Milk and BC Dairy reflects this. “BC Dairy and BC Milk are moving forward with plans to bring our organizations closer together to better serve BC dairy producers and other industry partners including dairy processors as part of the Western Milk Pool,” BC Milk said. The ongoing independence of the two BC dairy organizations mean that no jobs will be lost at either organization as part of the new partnership. Both organizations will also retain their representation on the WMP board, where BC Dairy has one representative (Holger Schwichtenberg) and BC Milk has two representatives (Janice Comeau and Jeremy Wiebe). The organizations declined further comment on the closer relationship, their continued independence or the prospect of staffing changes. — Peter Mitham Foreign worker consultation planned BC Agriculture Council and the Western Agriculture Labour Initiative are preparing to survey temporary foreign workers this summer in an effort to understand how employers can improve workers’ experience and reduce complaints. “The goal of the work is to collect anonymous information directly from workers on their experience in BC,” the BC Fruit Growers Association has advised its members, which are the largest employers of seasonal agricultural workers in the province. “At the end of the project, BCAC will prepare a summary report highlighting best practices and ideas to implement on farms.” The survey comes on the heels of a Jamaican government report released in April praising the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program following allegations of “systematic slave-like conditions” on participating farms. A fact-finding mission found this was not the case, noting that most workers from Jamaica were proud to participate. “The overall assessment of the conditions of the Jamaican farm workers were described as ‘good,’” the report states. “However, the team discovered pockets of poor labour and industrial relations conditions, particularly in provinces outside of Ontario.” This includes BC, where worker satisfaction was particularly low. Summarizing the report’s findings in Jamaica’s House of Representatives, Jamaica Labour and Social Security Minister Karl Samuda said that worker liaison services in Ontario enjoyed a 74.4% satisfaction rate versus a 6.6% negative rating. However, only 11.3% were satisfied in British Columbia, which had a 38.7% negative rating. “That has to be addressed and we have already taken steps to deal with that,” Samuda said. — Peter Mitham BC Tree breaks ground BC Tree Fruits Cooperative has broken ground for the expansion of its plant in Oliver. The expansion will include a new pregrade line, packing line and cold storage facility. It will boost the footprint to 220,000 square feet, up from 120,000 square feet today. Prep work began earlier this year, with removal of the old pregrade line in anticipation of the new equipment, which is set to be operational this fall. The expansion is part of the co-op’s plan to consolidate its packing operations in the South Okanagan and abandon a new state-of-the-art plant in Kelowna. “We are taking the fiscally responsible path to modernization which allows us to reinvest funds toward our growers and diversification at the same time,” co-op president and CEO Warren Sarafinchan said when plans for the project were announced last August. The plans reflect feedback received over the past year, following pushback from growers who felt they hadn’t been consulted. Several launched a petition that triggered a special general meeting of co-op members in the hope of stopping the plans. That didn’t happen. Sarafinchan feels the decision to consolidate operations in Oliver is in growers’ best interests. “What we have seen with the increase in construction costs, the increase in interest rates, we had to rethink where we made those investments,” he said following November’s meeting. “We felt that investing in Oliver was best for the growers and best to move the business forward.” — Peter Mitham Helping you grow your business. you ours.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 11Plans to restore the Cowichan estuary could have several benets, but those will come at the expense of local farmland and the food and habitat it provides for people and wildlife. SUBMITTEDEngineer Bert R. Benjamin had a vision: an all-purpose tractor that could serve the growing number of farms across North America. With that, in 1923, the rst Farmall prototype was born.CHECK OUT WHAT CAN-DO CAN DO FOR YOU AT FARMALL100.COMImages courtesy of the Wisconsin Historical Society.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 afliates. www.caseih.com860 Riverside Rd. Abbotsford V2S 7P6 604-864-2273 www.caliberequipment.caKATE AYERS DUNCAN – The province’s emphasis on food security is being undercut by competing interests that, in the most recent case, threaten to literally swamp a productive farm in the Cowichan Valley. A watershed planning agreement the province signed in May with the Cowichan Tribes will see Cowichan Bay’s historic Dinsdale Farm become a marsh. The property is located within the Agricultural Land Reserve but the province’s reconciliation eorts with First Nations trumps its protected status. “It’s a shame. For me, it gets to the point of being emotional,” says long-term tenure holder and owner of Sunny Vale Farm Ltd. Gerald Poelman. “It’s a big part of my life and to see it just get destroyed, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth about agriculture in this province.” Poelman has farmed the 100-acre property for at least 28 years under a long-term lease from the Nature Trust of BC and Ducks Unlimited Canada, which have owned it since 1990. The hay and corn he grows in its rich soils supply his dairy herd and other local livestock operations. Now, the Nature Trust and six partners are embarking on a project heralded as Vancouver Island’s largest estuary restoration eort. The two-year, $3 million project will see the restoration of 70 hectares of natural estuarine marshlands, which will ood out the Dinsdale property. Poelman was made aware of the project in fall 2021 when he was approached regarding a new lease. “They sort of bullied me into signing a new lease with a lure of two years of free rent,” Poelman says. “That’s the carrot they were dangling in front of me.” Poelman renewed his lease on the property last summer, hoping the project wouldn’t come to fruition. He believed farmers and trail users alike would oppose such a drastic change to the land. Unfortunately, area residents weren’t given the chance to voice their concerns, Poelman says. “How does this just all happen without any public knowledge or consultation?” he asks. On June 6, the Nature Trust made public plans that call for the “removal of over two kilometres of dikes at the Dinsdale farm and Koksilah marsh, the creation of intertidal channels and salt marsh habitat, the restoration of marine riparian and ood fringe forests, and the reconnection of areas that have been historically cut o from tidal inuence.” It says the project aims to “restore vitally important estuary habitat and enhance estuary resilience against rising sea-levels” and rejuvenate habitat crucial to key sh and wildlife species. Nature Trust of BC program manager Thomas Reid says community engagement has been ongoing for a “few years now” but the scope of the project nevertheless caught the community o-guard. “Neighbours are completely unaware of this project – no public inquiry or public meeting explaining what they’re doing,” Poelman says. “Our local [Cowichan Valley Regional District] is just basically tight-lipped. They seem to have all agreed on this project. Same as the minister of ag.” In a statement to Country Life in BC, the ministry said plans for restoration of the estuary date back to 1985. It also claims farmland will be less susceptible to ooding. "In removing the dikes, a persistent ooding risk for this farmland will also be addressed," the ministry says. "No land is being removed or lost from the Agricultural Land Reserve – it is being Cowichan Bay project set to swamp farmlandWatershed enhancement trumps local food on IslandFarms provide habitat u
12 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCDelta South MLA Ian Paton told a rally in Duncan on June 14 that the province needs to respect the habitat value of farms to waterfowl. KATE AYERSu Farms provide habitatrepurposed for ecological restoration and ood mitigation to protect vital habitat for salmon, shellsh and other aquatic wildlife." Delta South MLA and BC United agriculture critic Ian Paton opposed the project during a June 14 rally in Duncan. He believes farmland has an important role in supporting local wildlife in its own right. “These folks want to create a swamp, and let me tell you something – because I have a farm in Delta – the ducks and the geese and the swans, they’ve got no interest in salty, marshy grassland. There's nothing to eat there,” Delta South MLA and BC United agriculture critic Ian Paton said at a rally in Duncan on June 14. “But I'll tell you, if you've got corn or potatoes or grasslands, that's where the birds go. So why wouldn’t you allow that 100 acres to stay there. The best thing for ducks, geese and swans is the farm that Gerald is growing his feed on.” Ironically, Poelman has long collaborated with the Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited and the local community to ensure responsible use of the Dinsdale property. In fact, Reid defended Poelman’s management of the land in a 2015 Cowichan Stewardship Roundtable report in response to concerns over manure applications. “The Dinsdale farm property is an active farm and is managed to provide habitat to migratory and wintering waterfowl, avian insectivores, raptors, owls and shorebird species and, to continue to produce high quality food/crops for our local farmer,” Reid said at the time. Reid also mentioned that Poelman’s management had increased the bird use days, density and overall native ora and fauna diversity in the area and disputed claims that the farm contributed to fecal coliform levels in the estuary. The farm’s loss means all that wildlife will likely be squeezed onto whatever farmland is left in the area, Poelman says. This situation is not unique as the province tries to balance competing interests, especially the need to advance reconciliation with First Nations. In North Saanich, the use of 193 acres at the historic Woodward farm, which Bryce Rashleigh has farmed for over 30 years, is up in the air following its transfer to the Tsartlip First Nation. “It is their intention now, to apply to have it removed from the ALR and add it to their Tsartlip land,” Rashleigh says. “Then they can do whatever they want with it.” For now, he can farm it with a year-to-year lease, growing grain and hay. He’s oered to help the First Nation community get more involved in the farming of this land. Rashleigh would like to see one of the biggest tracts of land in the Saanich Peninsula remain as farmland. “There's nothing more than like 50-acre pieces. So, it's signicant. It's a signicant place,” he says. “The land freeze isn't as rock-solid as we thought. Kind of shocks me that the NDP, who were the heralders of the ALR, that under their watch, this is going down.” The future of 600 acres of potato elds at Brunswick Point in Delta to which the Tsawwassen First Nation has rst rights is also uncertain, Paton says. “We cannot aord to lose big tracts of land,” he says. “The [government] talks about food security and I said what a pile of crap that is. They can talk food security out of one side of their mouths, but they are quite willing to get rid of beautiful prime pieces of farmland in this province on the other side of their mouths.” The Agricultural Land Commission and Cowichan Tribes did not respond to requests for comment prior to deadline. PRE-OWNED EQUIPMENT CLAAS ORBIS 750 CORNHEAD 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 970 SP FORAGE HARVESTER 10’ PICKUP & 10-ROW CORNHEAD CALL FOR MORE DETAILS/PRICING JD 956 MOWER CONDITIONER $32,900 KUHN GF7802THA TEDDER $18,700 NH T4.75 TRACTOR ROPS MFD WITH LOADER $47,500 www.caliberequipment.ca STORE HOURS MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5 OPEN SATURDAY 8-12 604-864-2273 860 RIVERSIDE ROAD ABBOTSFORD More Crops. Less Ash.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 13Peace ranchers battle wildfire falloutProvince, BC Hydro response questioned as fires burnThe province and BC Hydro should have anticipated the early start to the 2023 wildre season, say ranchers in the Peace, instead of playing catch-up with res that have taken a signicant toll on ranch infrastructure and the landscape. THOMAS STAHLFarm & Rural ResidentialProperties in the Peace Country are our specialtyAnne H. ClaytonMBA, AACI P App, RIAppraiserJudi LeemingBHE, CRA P AppAppraiser250.782.1088info@aspengrovepropertyservices.ca www.aspengrovepropertyservices.caUSED EQUIPMENT KUBOTA K76249H 76” SKIDSTEER SNOWBLOWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 KUBOTA AP-SC2572, 72” SKID CUTTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 DAN SM40, S/S POST DRIVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,500 KUB DMC8032T, 2022, MOWER-COND, AS NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36,000 KUB RA1042, 2022, TRAILED RAKE, AS NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,995 KUB RTV-X1100C, 2021, V-BLADE, SANDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45,000 NH 1033 BALE WAGON, 105 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,500 NH 1036 BALE WAGON, 70 BALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,500 USED TRACTORS KUBOTA T2380 2017, 48” DECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,500 KUBOTA BX2360 2010, 1,900HRS, TRAC/MWR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,750 KUB F2880 2006, 1,411HRS, 60” REAR DISCHARGE . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,500 KUB F3990 2015, 72” SIDE DISHARGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,500 JD 4700, 2000, TLB, 2,735HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,500 KUB M5-111HDCC24, 2021, TRACW/ M32 LDR, 35HRS 115,000 KUB GF1800-4W, 2010, 1,100HRS, NEW 60” MOWER DECK . . . . . 16,900 NEW INVENTORY NEW GREENWORKS COMMERCIAL CORDLESS BLOWERS, CHAINSAWS, STRING TRIMMERS, HEDGE TRIMMERS, LAWNMOWERS. 82/48 VOLT KUBOTA RAKES, TEDDERS, MOWERS, POWER HARROWS - CALL! RAIN-FLO MULCH LAYERS, MULCH LIFTERS & TRANSPLANTERS, IN-STOCK OMH PROSCREEN, TOPSOIL SCREENERS. 68”, 78” AND 108” MODELS CONSTRUCTION KUB K9980FR 2020, FROST RIPPER FOR KX080 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,800 KUB SVL75-2HWC 2016, CAB, HYD CPLR, 2,000HRS . . . . . . . . . . 63,500 KUB SSV65P 2021, CAB, HYD CPLR, 130HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,850 KUB SSV65HFRC 2015, H&F, CAB, HYD CPLR, 350HRS . . . . . . . . 47,500 TORO TX1000 2017, MINI TRACK LOADER, 300HRS . . . . . . . . . . . 29,500 TORO 22473 TRENCHER, 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,500 TORO 22805 HYD AUGER DRIVE W/ BIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,500 KATE AYERS MONTNEY – Peace ranchers directly impacted by the Red and Stoddart Creek res are now working to replace critical infrastructure on their private lands. The Peace River Regional District’s wildre season got o to an early start with the rst evacuation order released on May 5 for the Boundary Lake re. Since then, alerts and orders have expired for the Red and Stoddart Creek res while the Donnie Creek re has become the province's largest ever and is set to burn until fall. At Dave and Helen Harris’s, the family needs to replace about a kilometre of fencing after the Montney Creek re reached their property on May 14. Even when the fence is rebuilt, it will take years of extra maintenance, Dave Harris says. “We're going to have the usual business of falling trees on it and burnt snags falling on it for a few years down the road,” he says. There’s also damage from the Cats that rolled through the fences in the process of making re guards. Two equipment operators worked for four days at the Harris ranch to make re guards. “We didn’t have any fence cutting materials, so just a lot of fence damage here,” he says. The family also lost fencing around their Crown land grazing tenures. As Harris plays catch up on regular ranching operations, he recognizes the situation could have been much worse. “There are people that have lost more. In Goodlow, people lost some outbuildings and four or ve miles of fencing and things like that,” he says. “A number of people have lost at least a mile to a mile and a half of fence in the Stoddart Creek re.” His neighbour plowed up about 200 acres of fescue to make a re guard. “But the good thing about this re is that the fuel load is gone now,” he says. Another Peace rancher, Wendy Bahm, was able to protect her family’s house and herd but also lost about two kilometres of fencing and hay. And without proper fencing, cattle cannot be turned out to summer range and ranchers are forced to tap into their winter feed. Waiting game Ranchers are waiting to see if AgriRecovery funding will be oered to help with repairs. “A state of emergency should have been called and should be called. You would think they would with Tumbler Ridge being on re right now,” said Montney rancher and Stoddart Creek Water Services CEO Thomas Stahl on June 9. A state of emergency would allow a disaster relief fund to kick in, allowing ranchers to get the compensation that they need to rebuild their fences. “It just never happened,” says Stahl, who along with other area ranchers, is frustrated that the province isn’t coming to the table to discuss recovery options. “There was essential infrastructure that was burned that never even made it onto the news and we lost our power grid up here,” he says. “Fences got burned, farm buildings got burned. And overall, the province and Minister of Forests, the Minister of Agriculture, they're not … giving us the answers that we're looking for, which is to say, ‘hey, we’re going to look into this, the magnitude of this, we're going to work towards giving the relief funding that is needed for the area.” Along with Stahl, who was without power for two days, rancher Neil Ward experienced an eight-day power outage at his operation northwest of Fort St. John due to the Stoddart Creek re that came within six kilometres of the ranch. Being without power was more impactful for ranchers in his area than the re itself, Ward says, and BC Hydro’s slow response to restore power has been frustrating. Ward adds that better infrastructure maintenance could have prevented some of the Peace res. “The res that we had in the valley, a couple of them were denitely caused by hydro,” Ward says. “I was directly witness to one of them where the neighbours had called because there was a tree leaning on the line and hydro said to hire an arborist because it wasn't their problem. Two days later, it lit a 20-hectare re in the valley.” BC Hydro did not conrm nor deny the possibility of live lines causing res in the area. It claims preventive maintenance and safety are top priorities. “When it comes to our infrastructure, trees and other Damaged fencing u
14 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Damaged fencing another hurdle for ranchersAlways read and follow label directions. Gatten® is a registered trademark of OAT Agrio Co., Ltd. Copyright ©2021 Nichino America, Inc. Worried aboutPowdery Mildew?Get Gatten!Gatten® fungicide Gatten®acts on multiple stages of powdery mildew development, delivering both preventative and post-infection control.vegetation pose the biggest risk. That’s why we work closely with other agencies to monitor and manage forest re risk,” says BC Hydro manager of northern community relations Mike Kellett, noting that the Crown corporation spends tens of millions of dollars a year trimming and removing vegetation that could pose a risk to the system. During active res, Kellett says BC Hydro response times depend on the volatility of the situation. “BC Hydro works closely with the BC Wildre Service to determine when it is safe for crews to enter any area aected by wildre,” he says. “Once our crews are allowed to enter an area, crews must rst assess any damage to BC Hydro infrastructure and then craft a plan to restore to any customers who have lost power.” Utilities elsewhere have been held to account by the courts with respect to wildres. Pacic Gas & Electric, the largest utility in the US, has been held criminally responsible for res in California and Oregon attributed to a lack of maintenance on its aging power grid. In 2019, PG&E reached a settlement totalling US$13.5 billion with victims of California’s massive wildres of 2017 and 2018. In 2020, it pleaded guilty to over 80 counts of manslaughter for its role in the 2018 Camp re in California. Closer to home, Lytton led civil claims against railways CN and CP as well as Transport Canada last month, alleging negligence in the 2021 wildre that destroyed the village. Heel dragging With no additional government support announced for ranchers, Stahl has taken matters into his own hands. As a board member on the Northeast Community Foundation, he is working with non-prots in the area so that the foundation can accept donations and then a non-prot can disburse funds to ranchers for repair costs. “We're working with priority ranchers who are facing losses who may not get insurance coverage from their insurance company and may not get any funding from agriculture because this disaster relief fund hasn’t triggered yet,” Stahl says. “We're raising money in the short term to get these people who are absolute top priority to get cattle o hay, back on grass and x their fences so we can keep their livestock in.” In addition, Stahl reached out to BC Ministry of Forests range ocer Tanya Sharko to make temporary fencing available to ranchers. So far, four ranchers have been able to install solar-powered electric fences. But he hopes that with further donations, the community will be able to support more ranchers in need. Proactive measures needed Stahl believes much of the destruction in the area could have been mitigated and even prevented. The provincial government knew the Peace Region was in extreme drought going into the winter and Stahl says it should have anticipated an abundance of dry fuels this spring. “We had a dry fall last year. It's not like they didn't know the data. … They should have planned for these wildres because we were heading into a spring that looked really dry,” he says. When res did start breaking out, the government didn’t respond as quickly as needed to get ahead of the situation. “There were so many things that happened on that [Stoddart Creek] re that were not necessary,” says Stahl. “It could have gotten under control had government responded the way it should respond to res. But it didn’t. … Now here we are with the repercussions of it all.” The Stoddart Creek blaze is currently being held after growing to more than 72,200 acres. There were 63 active res burning across the province as of June 21. The majority are in the Prince George re centre, where 1.9 million acres have burned this year. The largest is the Donnie Creek re north of Fort St. John, at 1.3 million acres, which made a 30km run in just ve days. “This might be typical in a really dry fall, but to see this showing up in early May and June is very anomalous,” says predictive services unit superintendent Neal McLoughlin of the BC Wildre Service, who worries about what’s to come. The buildup index, which represents the total amount of fuel ready to burn, shows above-normal values for this time of year for parts of the coast, western Cariboo, Northern Interior and northeastern BC. Looking ahead, Environment and Climate Change Canada indicates a high probability of summer temperatures being above normal with little rainfall to mitigate the dry conditions. “There are three main ingredients when it comes to extreme re behaviour. One is that fuels are available to burn, two is that we have strong winds and three … is that we get ignitions,” McLoughlin says. “When we put the three of those together, it’s a very challenging re season outlook.” “Government really needs to step up their game; they need to pay attention.” THOMAS STAHL MONTNEY RANCHER
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 15Quinn and Michela Palmer have focused on sourcing local and been rewarded with a strong local following as well as recognition as having some of the world's best vermouth. SUBMITTEDThe BC Fruit Growers’ AssociationDID YOU KNOW?supports research projects for the tree fruit sector:BCFGA funds research projectsApple Pests and Alternative Control StrategiesUÊApple Crop Load Management: Enhancing UÊThinning Predictability and Tree ResponseExtending Storage Life and Maximizing UÊQuality to Reduce Post-harvest Apple LossIntroducing our new Horticulture and Research Project Manager, Gail NelsonResearch funding:Effect of water stress on Ambrosia fruit.UÊCover crops for drive alleys.UÊHot water fumigation of fruit trees.UÊMolecular markers in cherries.UÊDetection of Little cherry disease.UÊCherry fruitlet nutrient analysis.UÊ 1.800.619.9022 info@bcfga.com www.bcfga.com World’s best vermouth from Vancouver IslandLocal products and experts contribute to meadery’s successKATE AYERS ESQUIMALT – A taste for local has won a Vancouver Island business global attention at the 2023 World Vermouth Awards in London, England. Michela and Quinn Palmer of Esquimalt Vermouth and Apéritifs (formally Rootside Provisions Ltd.) create wines that have unique regional taste proles thanks to growers and foragers across the province. “We're working with producers who are experts in their eld and whose knowledge and experience really come through in the exceptional ingredients they provide. We couldn't make what we do without incredible inputs from other local producers,” Michela Palmer says. The couple sources honey for its wines, which start o as mead, from Paradis Apiary in Fort St. John. It’s the latest in a line of suppliers including apiaries on the Saanich Peninsula and in the Fraser Valley. Palmer turned to the Peace because bees there produce 10 times what Island bees can make per hive, she says. “Bees are solar-powered, meaning when the sun is up, the bees are busy. As we approach the summer solstice, the days extend to upwards of 20 hours of busy time. So, they get a lot done,” says Paradis Apiary owner Claude Paradis, who is excited to be supplying the Palmers with honey this season and their commitment to local sourcing. The honey’s quality and taste showcases the region’s bounty. “We just got some samples not too long ago and it's just beautiful honey that we're getting from up there,” Palmer says. “Depending on what the bees pollinate, it'll taste slightly dierent.” The honey adds to that sense of place – what grape wineries call terroir – that’s at the heart of what the Palmers are striving to deliver. The couple also work with Forest for Dinner in Port Alberni. “Ben and Celia are the ones who forage some of our local seasonal ingredients like elderower, Sitka spruce tips, and salal berries,” Palmer says. These ingredients allow the Palmers to venture outside of the more traditional apéritif avours, such as sweet Italian classics that have notes of clove, cinnamon and caramel and introduce the Island’s more unique tastes. “We're just starting the research on it right now, but we want to do a couple dierent iterations of a 100% native botanicals apéritif just to kind of highlight what's here,” Palmer says. “Salal is something that a lot of people haven't tried, and it's just so abundant here and really, really delicious. … You know, there's so much good stu here and so to be able to share it is really exciting.” Side hustle What started as a side hustle resulted in high-quality award-winning beverages. During the 2023 World Vermouth Awards, the Palmers won World’s Best Dry Vermouth for their Rosso (red) product and their Bianco (white) vermouth was named second-best in the semi-sweet category. “I’m sure there are a lot of people who don't even know what vermouth is so, hopefully, they'll go and taste it and see it's so easy to drink on its own,” Palmer says. “I think if the one thing we can do through this award is to encourage more people to just try it and sip on it on its own is the best thing we can ask for.” In May 2016, the Palmers established Rootside Bitters and Mixers in Vancouver, selling non-alcoholic tonic syrups and mix concentrates to bars and restaurants. They moved to the Island in 2018 and began exploring the alcoholic beverage space, launching their Rosso sweet vermouth in July 2019 and a dry version in February 2020. The couple weathered the pandemic storm, thanks in part to the buy-local movement among consumers. “The community on Vancouver Island is just so incredibly supportive. It feels a little bit more, kind of like you're not such a tiny, tiny sh in a big pond as you are on the Mainland,” Palmer says. But like many other businesses, they have experienced supply chain issues and increased production costs. Rising costs “Looking back, every single year since 2019, there's just been zero consistency year to year. It's just kind of changed every single time,” Palmer says. Not only has the price of honey, the meadery’s main input, increased by 30%, the cost of packaging and bottles has also risen, which impacted such business decisions as ordering custom bottles and altering bottle size. “We really started pushing the vermouth a lot more when we received our custom bottles in May 2022 as we didn't have to worry about sourcing our packaging any longer,” Palmer says. “One of the biggest decisions was to order custom bottles, as buying a whole container was cheaper than the generic glass we were using. Shipping costs and supply chain issues caused our glass to double in price during the pandemic, so although we needed to make the whole purchase up front, it ended up costing us less per bottle going custom.” The 500 ml custom bottles halve the couple’s costs and ensure that they don’t have to rely as heavily on precarious supply chains. This year has seen costs stabilize. “This year is looking really, really good so far,” she adds. To further grow and regionalize their business, the couple are building their own warehouse on a six-acre property outside of Nanaimo. “One of the really exciting things is to focus on local and native botanicals, but then actually get to be able to grow some of those on our own property,” Palmer says. Palmer will continue to source most of their honey from Fort St. John, but would like to contribute some hyper-local product with a few beehives and create an entire eld to bottle ecosystem on site. Palmer has enjoyed working at their leased Esquimalt warehouse but is looking forward to beginning this new chapter. “To be able to actually kind of have our own property and to be able to grow things ourselves, I think is going to be what gets us to that next level,” she says. The commitment and passion behind small Island businesses have resulted in international recognition on multiple occasions. Alongside Rootside Provisions, Macaloney’s Island Distillery in Victoria recently won the World’s Best Pot Still award and awards for Best Canadian Single Malt, Best Canadian Pot Still and Best Canadian Single Cask Malt. Sheringham Distillery in Langford won the World’s Best Contemporary Gin award last year with its agship spirit Seaside Gin and Cowichan Valley’s Ampersand Distilling Co. won World’s Best Varietal Vodka in 2020, using 100% BC-grown wheat.
16 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC© 2021 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.Welcome to the quietest cab New Holland has ever built — the new Horizon™ Ultra cab on the new T7 Heavy Duty with PLM Intelligence™. At just 66 dBA, the robotically welded Horizon Ultra cab dramatically reduces noise, so you can work in exceptionally more comfort. The cab is also isolated from the T7 driveline, which when combined with the standard Terraglide™ front axle suspension and Comfort Ride™ cab suspension, creates an even quieter, low-vibration experience.OPERATEQUIETER.NEW T7 HEAVY DUTY WITH PLM INTELLIGENCE™The new T7 Heavy Duty brings the power of intelligence to your operation. See one today or visit newholland.com to learn more.ARMSTRONG HORNBY EQUIPMENT ACP 250-546-3033 CHILLIWACK ROLLINS MACHINERY LTD 604-792-1301 CHEMAINUS ROLLINS MACHINERY LTD 250-246-1203 FORT ST JOHN BUTLER FARM EQUIPMENT LTD 250-785-1800 KELOWNA ROLLINS MACHINERY LTD 250-765-8266 LANGLEY ROLLINS MACHINERY LTD 604-533-0048 WILLIAMS LAKE GRASSLAND EQUIPMENT LTD 250-392-4024 VANDERHOOF GRASSLAND EQUIPMENT LTD 250-567-4446COMMITTED TO AGRICULTURE in BRITISH COLUMBIA LANGLEY | CHILLIWACK | CHEMAINUS | KELOWNA 1-800-665-9060 www.rollinsmachinery.com
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 17Robust event brings ranchers togetherGood times, good prices as ranchers gather in VernonBC Cattlemen's president Brian Thomas speaks to a robust crowd at the association's 95th annual convention in Vernon, May 25-27, which looks forward to a year with fewer emergencies and more government engagement. TOM WALKER“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.comProducer Check-o Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333www.cattlefund.net 1.877.688.2333TOM WALKER VERNON – BC Cattlemen’s Association conventions are robust aairs. The trade show opens with a barbeque followed by a wine-and-cheese reception the rst evening. There are two full days of presentations and an AGM, as well as two nights of dinner and dancing to live music. This year, the association’s 95th annual convention in Vernon, May 25-27, was particularly well-attended. Hosted by the North Okanagan Livestock Association, the event attracted about 400 registrants, according to NOLA president Lani French. “I believe that is on par with the Canadian Cattle Association national that was held in Penticton last August,” French says. Friday morning got o to a bang with Alberta psychologist Dr. Jody Carrington reprising the wellness talk she gave to the CCA last summer. As French promised, the talk moved the audience “to laugh, to cry and to think.” Carrington spoke of a growing “lack of connectiveness” across society that has been made worse by the pandemic. “We were never meant to do this alone,” Carrington says. “But we were trying too hard to be okay.” We are wired for emotional connection, Carrington maintains, and we need to practice that, and importantly, demonstrate that to our children. “Emotions will not kill you, but not talking about them might,” she says. There were a variety of agritech demonstrations and presentations, including new electric fencing systems, integrating tag readers into your livestock data management system and using drones for seeding, fertilizing and spraying. Breakout sessions included talks on soil health, succession planning, emergency preparedness, the nutritional needs of mother cows, a roundup of current research projects including the BC living labs initiative and a marketing diversication panel with a number of BC Meats members. BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis spoke of her commitment to ranchers in her Friday evening address. “This government is here to support you,” she says, reviewing a list of extreme weather preparedness programs that are available. Alexis’ journey to the convention was quite eventful, drawing chuckles when it was revealed that GPS routed her north from Merritt up the old Quilchena road and through the Douglas Lake ranch into Falkland. “But she got to see a real working ranch and some cowboys on horses,” quipped BCCA general manager Kevin Boon. Dinner was interrupted when a small group of protesters entered the event and attempted to approach Alexis to state their opposition to fur farms. A number of diners, including provincial livestock ocer Cpl. Cory Lepine, blocked the group and quickly escorted them out of the building without incident. Canfax beef industry market analyst Jamie Kerr was the Saturday morning keynote speaker, giving a very positive Record beef prices ucaribooclassic@gmail.comFollow usPLATINUM SPONSORS Cariboo Custom Monogram The Horn Levy Fund in BC | Copper Creek RanchGOLD SPONSORSWilliams Lake Realty Dana Lynn Favel *PREC RE/MAX Crosby Cattle Company Semlin Valley RanchCook AngusRoyce Cook LtdWilliams Lake Loghaulers AssociationScotiabankAgSafe BCCutting Edge Cattle CompanyGrasslands EquipmentWeaver Leather LivestockCountry Life in BCKamloops RamPeterson ContractingChemo RVWest Fraser TruckersOverload CommitteeInterior Provincial ExhibitionRoyal LePage Interior PropertiesSure Crop Feeds Inc.Tasco SuppliesSILVER SPONSORSEllis Cattle CompanyThe Sherwood FamilyUnseen AcresGuichon Creek RanchNo. 3 Road Chevron / Triple O’s Gordo’s Rent AllDiesel Cowboy TransportPinnacle View LimousinTolko Industries Ltd. Firewater ContractingSpady FarmsPoplar Meadows AngusBoehringer Ingelheim Doug HaughtonD & S LivestockJoe Augustine Contracting Ltd.Inland Truck & Equipment Mueller Electric BC Simmental AssociationFirst Truck CentrePeterson Paci昀c VenturesCity of Williams LakeBeaver Valley Feeds85th Annual Provincial Winter Fair Ken & Debbie SchwaerzleSelect MortgagesGustafson Auto Center Peter Arnold Log HomesBRONZE SPONSORSSchochaneetqua AngusOwnership Identi昀cation Inc.Dragon View AngusTop Gear AutomotiveLawrna MyersRBC - Alecia KarapitaKRS Simmental R&R Pro Cycle Ltd.Schweb Family Cattle Copper-T RanchSealin Creek AngusAllison SpellerTays AngusDennis and Darlene BorrowOk Tire Williams LakeOgilve Stock FarmBC Agriculture ExpoCariboo Chevrolet Buick GMC The MantelKit & KaboodleKal TireLee & Linda Ratcliff Nine Mile RanchAlberta Charolais AssociationBC Angus AssociationBC Hereford AssociationBC Shorthorn Association Okanagan Stock Show & Sale, Beef DivisionAlberta Limousin AssociationMulberry LaneYellowhead Hereford Breeder’s AssociationChimney Creek Livestock AssociationWilliams Lake Veterinary HospitalIntegra TireSave On FoodsWholesale ClubZoetisPat Coster Tiegen Excavating Ltd.TI’esqox Tell-Tale SignsThank YouTO All OF OUR AMAZING 2023 SPONSORS
18 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Record beef pricesmarket update. “These are similar prices to what we saw in 2015, but I believe that the market could be even stronger,” says Kerr. The foundation for current prices is a lack of supply, Kerr explains. North America’s cow herd has shrunk over the last four years due to poor grass conditions and high feed prices caused by drought in the US. “Expansion only comes with moisture,” Kerr notes, adding that he doesn’t expect signicant herd replacement to happen before 2025. Beef exports in 2022 are at their highest levels since 2002, with a record high value of $4.6 billion, Kerr says. And domestic sales should continue to do well even if the economy experiences a downturn. “Canfax research tells us beef does well in a recession,” Kerr says. Two veterans of the industry, both past CCA presidents, followed Kerr to talk about changes in marketing over the years. Savona cow-calf rancher David Haywood-Farmer recalled his family’s early years of driving cattle to stockyards on horseback. “We were getting 10 cents a pound back in the 50s and 60s,” he notes. Cattleliners brought changes to the system, Haywood-Farmer notes, and auction days at BC Livestock brought buyers and sellers together. “But you were always bound to accept the price that was oered the day you were at the auction,” he says. “Now we market online through TEAM sales with a video of the calves and a full description, and we are able to accept or reject the price oered at the sale.” Fellow past-president Bob Lowe runs a diversied operation in Alberta including 1,000 cow-calf pairs, a 5,000-head backgrounding lot and 24,000 acres under cultivation. Both producers discussed the merits of Livestock Price Insurance. “It’s a producer-built program that gives you a guaranteed minimum price,” Lowe explains. “Last Thursday, I bought LPI for $3.10/lb on some yearlings. I’ve never sold grass animals for $3.10 and that is the bottom price that I will get.” Lowe says the insurance cost him $45 per animal or about 1.5%. “That guarantees me a minimum $400 prot on my yearlings for a $45 investment,” he says. “I’m surprised by the lack of uptake of this program. It wouldn’t occur to a grain farmer to plant a crop without insurance.” Haywood-Farmer calls LPI, “the greatest security blanket the industry has ever seen and it allows me to sleep at night.” Foot and Mouth Disease could bring a similar scenario to the industry as BSE did 20 years ago, Lowe warned. “Without insurance, will the government be there to bail us out?” Lowe asks. The nal panel of the morning included representatives from CCA, Canada Beef, Beef Cattle Research Council, Veried Beef Program Plus and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Participants spoke of how each of their programs help make Canadian grain fed beef a world-class product. “We are No. 2 behind the US and ahead of Australia,” says Michael Young, president of Canada Beef. “Everything you do (in terms of programs) creates the value, not just the price. We don’t want all the business in the world, we just want the best business.” Jace Mecham of Williams Lake was one of 159 exhibitors from across the province showing 211 head of cattle at the second Cariboo Classic Junior Steer & Heifer Show in Williams Lake, June 2-4. Judges Tyson Rasmuson and his son Brylan from Rasmuson Cattle, Midale, SK awarded Riley Cuthbertson of Williams Lake Grand Champion Steer while Rylan Pincott of Buffalo Creek was awarded Grand Champion Heifer. Andie Kishkan of Quesnel was named Champion Junior Showman while Sydney Bapty of Coldstream was Champion Senior Showman.ALYSHA EILEEN PHOTOGRAPHY100 Mile HouseNew Cal Rabbit FarmAbbotsfordBlackwood Building CentreAgassiz Building SupplyAldergroveOtter Co-OpArmstrongCountry West SupplyAshcroftAshcroft Building Centre Black CreekBlack Creek Farm and Feed SupplyCastlegarMitchell SupplyChilliwackCANEX Building SuppliesCountry West SupplyClintonClinton Building SupplyCranbrook / KootenaysTop CropCrestonGrowers Supply CourtenayTop Shelf FeedsDuncanTop Shelf FeedsGrand ForksBoundary Home Building CentreHoustonBulkley Valley Home CentreKamloops / MerrittPurity FeedKelownaGrowers SupplyKeremeosQC Ltd LangleyCountry LumberDawson Brill LumberLillooetLillooet BuildersLogan LakeFence ‘N More Supplies LtdMaple RidgeHaney Building CentreNanaimoCountry West SupplyOkanagan / OliverGrowers SupplyParksvilleFenceline ProductsPembertonAnimal BarnPentictonGrowers SupplyDan ZellerPitt MeadowsOtter Co-OpPowell RiverPowell River Building Supply Top Shelf FeedsPort AlberniBeaver Creek Home CentrePrincetonFletcher’s Building CentreQuadra IslandQuadra Island BuildersRock CreekFreeman’s Farm & Vet SupplySalt Spring IslandWindsor PlywoodSecheltGibsons Building CentreSmithersSmithers Feed StoreSorrentoSorrento Building CentreTelkwaBulkley Valley Home CentreVernon Growers SupplyWasa / East KootenaysWasa Hardware & Building CentreWilliams LakeBeaver Valley FeedWinlawSlocan Valley Home Hardware 250.295.7911 TF 1 877.797.7678 bill@pwppost.com www.pwppost.com 1821 Crowsnest Hwy. Princeton, BC V0X 1W0 PWPPrinceton Wood Preservers is proudly Celebrating 50 Yearsfence postspoles grapevine stakestree stakestrellisingdoweled post & rail fencingrewoodBill EveriThe Everitt-Marion family is also celebrating 30-years of owner-operation at the mill and treating plant. PWP’s focus continues to be PWP Premium brand high quality kiln dried, pressure-treated products that meet CSA standards for MOTI and MOF projects. Our team also launched a PWP Select economy grade line in 2022.From Vancouver Island to Quebec, the Yukon Territory to California, buy the name that lasts. Buy Princeton Wood Preservers Ltd.Preferred Supplier for British Columbia Ministries and Parks Canada.Black CreekAsk For Us By Name PWP Premium & PWP Select at the following trusted dealers.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 19Cattlemen review past successes, future challenges Annual convention focuses on environmental issuesThis year has brought calmer days on the range, but that could change if Canada experiences a Foot and Mouth outbreak. SCHWEB CATTLE COHave you herd? VBP+ TrainingWorkshops or Webinarsare Free!Looking to learn moreabout how to raisehealthy beef cattle?Open to producers of allsizes!free to all beef producersin bc!email: audreycifca@gmail.com395 Kinchant Street, Quesnel, B.C. V2J 5A3Producers can apply for an advance on calves, yearlings, lambs, bison, forage and grain up to $1,000,000.00 with the rst $250,000.00 being interest free. Plus, interest relief through the Advance Payments Program is available to association members on their feeder cattle purchases.TOM WALKER VERNON – While 2022 was an above-average year for emergency events, BC Cattlemen’s Association members heard about the progress rebuilding from the historic emergencies of 2021 at their 95th annual convention in Vernon, May 25-27. BC Cattlemen’s general manager Kevin Boon tipped his hat to Agri-Recovery and Emergency Management BC sta for their role in recovery eorts. “These programs have been a huge benet for most of the aected producers,” he says. “We know that many are still working hard to try to get things back to an acceptable operating situation and we will continue to try and get as much help as possible.” The success of the rancher liaison program, started during the 2021wildre season, was noted. “The direct communication with the incident commander and their team has shown the value of people on the ground getting and giving rst-hand information,” says Boon. The wildre fencing program is continuing to move forward. A total of 875 km of fencing lost in the 2017 and 2018 res has been rebuilt and the BCCA fencing sta are just beginning work on the 1,400 km of fences burned in 2021. The lack of livestock watering regulations continues to frustrate the BCCA. “In hindsight, we should have pushed harder to have this included in the Water Sustainability Act, rather than accept the government’s promise to develop them as part of the regulations,” Boon says. “We are not seeing a lot of commitment from the government to honour that commitment of a meaningful water regulation that would protect our water access.” May 20 marked the 20th anniversary of the BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or ‘mad cow’) crisis in Canada. In March 2021, Canada regained negligible-risk status for the disease from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). But a new disease risk is on the horizon. “In a trilateral meeting with Mexico and the United States, it was agreed that the biggest risk that we face in North America is an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease,” Boon says. Each of the three countries have set a priority to establish a vaccine bank to be able to react to an outbreak. While the recently announced doubling of subsidized seats for BC students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon is a positive step for the vet shortage in BC, beef production and innovation committee chair Alex Kulchar says the inability to access large animal veterinary services and animal health supplies is impacting ranchers. An economic impact study examining the shortage of veterinarians in rural areas was recently completed by MNP which Kulchar says will be a valuable tool in the quest for more vet services. The impacts of elk are a top priority for BCCA’s environmental stewardship committee. “Elk problems have expanded to all regions in the province,” says committee chair Judy Madden. “Elk have continued to impact both forage and stored feed on ranches, but have also been seen to damage irrigation infrastructure.” Madden’s committee is lobbying the government for a hunting season for three-point or better bull elk and an open season for antlerless elk in areas demonstrating the greatest losses. “The province can no longer expect us to tolerate this level of damage,” says Madden. Madden says her committee continues to advocate for dam maintenance and support in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, focusing on the benets dams provide. Those benets come with escalating costs and liability for dam owners, with approximately 60% of the province’s dams being agricultural dams owned by cattle producers. Cattlemen are concerned about their role in the 70 Forest Landscape Plans that are to be developed over the next 10 years. Ranchers says the organization of these FLP planning groups is key to their success. “We are concerned that decisions that may directly or indirectly aect grazing could be made by people that do not fully understand grazing requirements and animal behaviour,” says Mike McConnell, chair of the Land Stewardship Committee. “If we are not at the table, the government people and the foresters will decide for us.”
20 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BC6 SERIES @matsquiagrepairCall today to demo any of our Deutz-Fahr models today!www.matsquiagrepair.com34856 Harris Rd, Abbotsford BC V3G 1R7604-826-3281The new DEUTZ-FAHR 6 SERIES, where productivity meets power.With 12 models ranging from 156 - 226 HP, and achoice of 3 different transmission types, and various other options, the Deutz-Fahr 6 Series allows you to create your own totally individual tractor!COMFORT&POWER
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 21Crystal Lake Ranch honoured for sustainabiltyThird-generation ranch looking to a sustainable futureJody Stump (left) with son Kurtis and husband Werner (right) with son Kyle and daughter Kayla have embraced technology to guide Crystal Lake Ranch into a new generation. TOM WALKER BCHA President John Lewis 250-218-2537 BCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466 www.bchereford.ca 250.307.5042 tf 1.877.707.5042 info@roostsolar.com www.roostsolar.com Roost Solar is a licensed electrical contractor with Red Seal Journeyman Electricians. As the only installer in the region with a NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional, we are committed to the highest level of quality, customer service, and technical expertise.Visit us online for informationabout How to get started and the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Greener Home Loan which offer up to $5000 in grants, and up to a $40,000 10-year interest-free loan for solar installations.TSBC License #LEL0209968Call or click for a FREE Solar Consultation and Estimate.Solar PV Arrays | Home Battery Systems | EV ChargersGo Solar and SaveBe resilient to rising energy costs and take advantage of the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan Programs.TOM WALKER MALAKWA – The Stump family of Crystal Lake Ranch are the 2023 recipients of the BC Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Sustainability Award. “We are proud to be the face of sustainability in our industry for this year – the poster child if you will – for the high level of stewardship that exists in ranching,” says Werner Stump. Stump and his wife Jody, older daughter Kayla and sons Kurtis and Kolton run about 200 cow-calf pairs and a backgrounding operation on the property east of Malakwa that’s been in the family for 70 years. “My parents came in the early 1950s and I was raised on the ranch,” explains Stump. “They started with a few beef and dairy cows supplying the local community with milk and began clearing land and expanding the ranch.” He has been managing the ranch for 25 years and it currently sits at 700 deeded acres, 300 lease acres and multiple range permits. The ranch backgrounds its calves for a year on site to be marketed at around 900 pounds. ”We are able to grow all of our own feed to support the backgrounding,” Stump says. The family manages a woodlot and Jody and Kayla also work o-farm. “By choice, not necessity,” says Jody. “We really enjoy the learning challenges that our other work provides us.” The Stumps received the award from Judy Madden, chair of BCCA’s environmental stewardship committee at the association’s 95th annual convention in Vernon, May 25-27. “Presenting this award to one of our fellow producers is always the highlight of this convention,” says Madden. Each nomination receives an on-farm visit to learn about its practices and philosophy. The evaluation considers livestock management, animal care, land stewardship, benets to the environment and the nominee’s contributions to the industry and their community, Madden explains. Stump has extensive industry involvement including time spent as chair of the association’s land stewardship committee and is currently BCCA vice-president. “One of the things that the ranching industry is known for is environmental stewardship, being a key part of an evolving ranching business,” he points out. Many of Crystal Lake’s projects benet both the ranch and the environment. Challenging terrain The challenge of maintaining forage on the steep hillsides of the Monashee mountains led the ranch into silvopasture to maximize the grass available to cattle in the cut blocks scattered across their range. Test sites undertaken a number of years ago were so successful, they have continued the practice. “We have a memorandum of understanding between the forest licence holder, the district manager and ourselves to allow for grass seeding and a reduction of inter-tree spacing when replanting cut blocks,” explains Jody, who like Werner is a registered professional forester. The seedling trees are not laid out in rows but may be in clusters or located next to a rock or stump that will provide some protection from grazing cows and also provides more continuous space for forage to sprout. “The stocking density is the same, but the obstacle planting changes the spacing of the trees and actually more mimics the natural Drone use u
22 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Drone use is making ranch management easier, more responsiveMarketing 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 Website62 ACRE OFF-GRID MICRO-HYDRO POWERED FARM - GERMANSEN LANDINGFERTILE RIVERFRONT ACREAGE WITH SUBDIVISION POTENTIAL - MABEL LAKE, BCFERTILE PARCEL IN THE WILDLIFE RICH REGION OF BERYL PRAIRIE, BCPHILLIPS ARM AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CORDERO CHANNEL343 ACRES OF “PEACE IN THE COUNTRY” FORT FRASER, BC10 ACRE OCEAN VIEW WILDERNESS PROPERTY - GALIANO ISLANDOFF-GRID RANCH WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS5.4 ACRES IN 3 TITLESLEVEL FORT ST. JAMES RIVERFRONT $649,000 $2,750,000 $725,000 $979,000 $919,000 Priced to Sell at $619,000 $899,000 $295,000FAWN GUNDERSON 250-982-2314Personal Real Estate Corporationfawn@landquest.comRICH OSBORNE 604-328-0848Personal Real Estate Corporationrich@landquest.comCHASE WESTERSUND 778-927-6634Personal Real Estate CorporationWESTERN LAND GROUPJASON ZROBACK 1-604-414-5577 JAMIE ZROBACK 1-604-483-1605BC LANDPRO GROUPJOHN ARMSTRONG 250-307-2100Personal Real Estate Corporationjohn@landquest.comDAVE SIMONE 250-539-8733DS@landquest.comSAM HODSON 604-809-2616 Personal Real Estate Corporationsam@landquest.comKURT NIELSEN 250-898-7200kurt@landquest.comMOOSEHORN MEADOWS RANCH BURNS LAKE, BCLOG HOME AND ACREAGEBURTON, BC $825,000 $620,000KEVIN KITTMER 250-951-8631kevin@landquest.comMATT CAMERON 250-200-1199matt@landquest.comregeneration process. Ideally, grass and trees are established at similar times,” says Jody. “We are able to get good quality forage out of the cut block for 10 to 15 years with no reduction of timber volume, which benets the forest company.” The forage helps protect the soil from erosion, adds organic matter and increases water holding capacity. The grazing cows also add to the soil nutrients, helping to suppress competing brush that interferes with tree growth, and the open spaces attract wild life, Werner adds. The ranch is noted for the restoration and rehabilitation work along 2.2 km of the Eagle River that borders the property. The bank restoration, revegetation and livestock control fencing work was several years in the planning and involved the permitting and support of a list of stakeholders. Local First Nations, DFO, and the Shuswap Watershed Council all gave their approval. The province’s Environmental Farm Plan program as well as BCCA’s Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands and Farmland-Riparian Interface Stewardship programs also provided support. Materials had to be prepared and assembled ahead of time. “We used 135 truck loads of rock, 30 loads of logs and some 60 loads of debris,” says Werner. “There was only a narrow period of time to do the work based on the water levels and salmon spawning,” adds Kayla. Jody and Kayla are developing the use of drones on the ranch. “We can use a multi-spectral imaging camera on a drone to assess how our crops are progressing,” explains Jody. “If there is a patch that is showing stress from lack of nutrients, for example, we can go in with a second pay-load drone that can follow the mapped coordinates and do a spot application to the precise area without getting on the tractor, hooking up the spreader and driving across the eld.” Not only does the drone save time and fuel, it also ensures that applications are accurate, reducing the risk of nutrient overloading and possible leaching. This lets the ranch use a less expensive quick-release fertilizer. “It also helps us divide the work so dad might be on the tractor spreading on one eld and Jody and I can work the alfalfa or corn without ever impacting the eld with a machine,” says Kayla. They are also using drones in the silvopasture projects. “It’s a signicant time-saver,” says Kayla. “We can seed a cut block from the air without having to trek over the uneven ground and seed by hand.” Part of the ranch’s sustainability model has been the move to summer calving. “We keep our heifers on the ranch to monitor them, but the cows give birth up on range,” explains Werner. “It’s a more natural way and the forage out on range is at its best so we are not having to rely on supplement feeding as we might have to in March.” They also believe that the mothers are more protective of young calves and this might help with wolf predation. “Malakwa is not typical ranching country; it does have unique challenges,” says Kayla. “But the work that my grandparents started, and Dad and Jody have added on, has made it very manageable for us and a great source of family pride.” Crystal Lake's silvopasture has benets for both the ranch and forest companies. SUBMITTED
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 23Interested producers should seek mentorship, experts sayKATE AYERS COURTENAY – As input costs and public scrutiny in the agriculture sector continue to rise, livestock producers need to consider alternatives to calculated ration-based diets, says a Vancouver Island grazing specialist. But the transition away from energy-rich grains requires investment and patience. “The cost of feed grains on the West Coast … is way higher in proportion to what it was 40 years ago,” says farmer and grazing educator Jan Slomp. “Livestock producers that require grains, with chickens, hogs and milk cows, are rapidly diminishing from Vancouver Island.” As a longtime dairy farmer, Slomp developed a 90-head grass-based dairy operation in Alberta. When he and his partner Marian moved to the Comox Valley in 2015, they established a 40-head pasture-based beef herd. Slomp shared his knowledge and experience at a rotational grazing tour on his farm on June 9. About 20 people attended the event for a classroom session and pasture tour. Participants learned about such topics as animal nutrition, mineral balance, fertility, rest periods as well watering and fencing options for grazing livestock. As an alternative to maximizing performance through precisely calculated rations, Slomp encourages livestock producers to consider rotational grazing. Today’s grain-based diets use fossil fuels directly and indirectly, Slomp says, and with climate change impacts, carbon tax and fuel prices, producers should re-analyze their production systems. “So, compared to that modern, high-tech, high-input, high-performance system, we want to look at grazing and what it oers in terms of alternatives,” Slomp says. “The trick is to harvest as much solar energy in milk production and beef production as possible … and you want to have high-quality forage throughout the grazing season so that dry matter intake of the animals is maximized.” A tough part of this transition to grazing is letting go of precision-based herd management. “These modern rations for high-performing animals all are based on feed samples going to a lab. Four or ve days later these results come in on the desk of a nutritionist that uses [the results] to balance [ingredients for] maximum performance,” Slomp says. “When you graze on a daily basis, the composition of that grass, even throughout the day, changes so you never have analyses that are accurate.” Without rock-solid data to make informed management decisions, producers must use previous experience, which points to another barrier to adoption. This feeding approach is knowledge-based, and it can be a steep learning curve for new producers. “Find someone that can get you going or another farm you can go to for a walkthrough or potentially go to one of these events,” says Kris Arbanas of Lost Savanna Farm in Black Creek, who hosted a rotational grazing and cover crop integration eld day on June 10. “I don't know of a lot of people doing this type of grazing on the Island and … it’s good networking for me to meet other farmers on the Island doing this and other farmers interested in getting into an intensive type of rotational grazing and cover crops. We're all going to learn from each other,” he says. A potential hurdle is that producers must tolerate some yield reduction. “You have to be ready to expect lower milk production or a little bit less than ideal animal gain. If you're willing to go there … you're reducing your yields. But you are even more reducing the cost to obtain that yield,” Slomp says. For instance, a milking or feedlot cow can consume up to 14 kilograms of dry matter from roughage, Slomp says. “But you can get that same cow, sent into a young or leafy material pasture, to eat up to 20 kilograms of dry matter. That leafy, ideal quality material has the same energy level as grain. And so you're replacing that grain with very, very low-cost inputs.” Slomp recognizes that debt load can focus farmers on achieving maximum output. “Dairy farmers, like myself, are lured into higher performance, but I never followed that for very long,” he says. “We always knew that the nature of the cow and the quality oered in good pasture were always more attractive to utilize than technically highly calculated rations that we use in the barn.” A common misconception around grazing is that a producer needs large tracts of land to make it work. But with some creativity and experience, Slomp says producers can see success on smaller parcels. Grazing uAll eyes were on the trees as close to 50 participants showed up for the BC Hazelnut Growers Association's Vancouver Island Field Day at Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery on June 11. Beaufort's ve-acre organic hazelnut orchard use monitoring tools to track, record and analyze soil temperature, soil moisture, wind, relative humidity, canopy temperature and rainfall – all metrics needed to ensure success as weather patterns change. SUE GRUBACGoing nutsParadigm shift required for intensive grazing
24 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCCode of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM Code) Updated Nutrient Management Plan Requirements You will need an NMP for the spring 2024 growing season if you are operating in any of the 21 vulnerable aquifer recharge areas identified in the AEM Code and you: apply nutrients (i.e., manure or fertilizers) to your land, and have a post-harvest nitrate soil test result of 100 kg N/ha (89 lb N/ac) or more, and you meet any of the following: • have a livestock or poultry operation with a total agricultural land base of five hectares or more; • have a horticulture operation of 30 hectares or more; or • your agricultural operation (poultry, livestock, or horticulture) is in the Hullcar Aquifers high-risk area and you have an agricultural land base of five hectares or more.As of July 15, 2023, five more vulnerable aquifer recharge areas are being phased-in for nutrient management plan (NMP) requirements: Cranbrook, Creston, Montrose, Nakusp and Williams Lake. In addition, horticulture operations of 30 hectares or more are now included as a type of agricultural operation that may need to develop an NMP. For more information and to find out if you are in a vulnerable aquifer recharge area, visit: gov.bc.ca/Agricultural-Environmental-Management or contact AEMCoPenquiries@gov.bc.ca.Additional information on NMPs and soil testing can be found at: gov.bc.ca/NutrientManagementI enjoy putting seeds in the ground. Quite apart from the opportunity to participate in the wondrous process that transforms shreds of dried-up old plant material into a vegetable farm, the activity has much to oer. Giddy optimism levels are elevated, for example, as you nd yourself counting the future dollars as you sow. There is also an opportunity to blithely disregard reality, as the inevitable struggles of tending plants are, at this early stage, still theoretical enough to be ignored. The wanton, proigate day-dreaming, however, might be the best thing about it: mainly, I entertain visions of market tables sagging under the weight of best-in-show vegetables. Parsnips, I will use as an example. I love parsnips, and we grow nice ones. The frost always nips them at the right time, they store well, and they look sharp at the winter markets – their glowing ivory really pops alongside the bright orange carrots, deep purple beets and potatoes in their tawny, golden and red hues. At planting time, the pleasing aspects of a parsnip crop are top of mind. Nary a thought is spared for the long season of weed battles or the irrigation demands. The nal struggle of harvest, likely occurring during a raging early winter storm from a eld that has become a half-frozen mud bog, seems almost idyllic, viewed from my current overheated state. All of that, coupled with the fact that the belt seeder was at last working smoothly, ensured that I managed to sow about three times the usual amount of seed yesterday. I was unstoppable. The belt seeder is likely the No. 1 heartbreaker on the farm. So many belts, chokes, plates, pulleys, chains and springs must be properly arranged. Diculties being the norm, Dad drives the rst row. He can concentrate on driving in a straight line, and I can devote myself to peering anxiously at the seed output area. One cannot do both. Every year, we take it all the way to heartbreak before getting it sorted. The next piece of equipment likely to ruin a day is the old crop chopper, which we use to mow the cover crops. It had its hay-day in the 50s as a silage maker but now, stripped of the auger and blower, it simply chops up the cover crop and drops it on the ground. It is an absolute beauty: so powerful, ecient and perfect for the job. I always look forward to mowing because it’s only about four hours per eld and it makes the whole place look lovely. It’s very loud, so you can really hear when a bearing is gone or a belt wheel has seized or the gear box has come loose. Frequent occurrences such as these destroy the pleasant afternoon, transforming it into a long, hot session with the oxy-fuel torch loosening ancient bolts and inadvertently breaking other things made of old metal. It’s probably irreplaceable so the pressure is on. The third-most heartbreaking piece of equipment is also a mower: the old lawn mower. It always starts rst pull so we feel a certain loyalty to it. Dismay and frustration quickly follow as the strong bellow of the engine is reduced to a weak, mewling, pre-death cough the moment any longish grass is encountered (i.e. the whole lawn, that being the point). Only by pressing down on the handle to raise the front end clear of the grass you are attempting to cut is full engine termination avoided. This must be endlessly repeated. It doesn’t seem repairable, but it most certainly is replaceable. Not sure how I got on to heartbreaking equipment stories after opening with such positivity. Apologies for the downer vibe. I think I was propelled there by the prospect of another heat wave, and the fact that money is ying out the door and the potatoes are only just up. I want a new lawnmower. Anna Helmer farms with her family, friends and a new mower in Pemberton. The crop looks great but ... Farm Story ANNA HELMERFor example, Arbanas and his wife Brittany run a 73-acre certied organic and regenerative operation. They have pasture-raised chicken and pork and 100% grassfed beef. “With our intensive rotational grazing, we basically break it up into 70 to 80 paddocks and give the [animals] that quality feed every single day,” Arbanas says. With this feeding approach, Arbanas has noticed benets in calving ease, meeting animal nutritional needs and meat avour. “Everything, in my opinion, changes for the better,” Arbanas says, while noting increased labour as a drawback. Overall, producers looking into rotational grazing should start small, conduct research and carefully manage their nances, Slomp says. “You need an o-farm income source because you're looking at a few years before you can expect net revenue. The investments are so high in fencing materials and establishing pastures,” he says. “Be prepared … that it's not a windfall of prot in the short run, but it's a very enjoyable [process].” u Grazing
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 25Growers examine a lush canopy on damaged vines in the Sunrock vineyard during a eld day last month where vine rehabilitation was in the spotlight following December's extreme cold event. TOM WALKER www.hlaattachments.com 1-866-567-4162 • Independent grapples for clamping of awkward loads• Tine and grapple tips are AR400 material• Compact models available• 1-1/4” shaft diameter• 2-1/2” spacing between tines• Points are 5/8” thick, 400 Brinell high strength steel• Compact models available• Grapple clamps on to any Class II fork frame with walk through guard Grapple shown mounted on HD55 pallet fork.BRUSH GRAPPLESINGLE ARM LOG GRAPPLESTONE FORKTOM WALKER OSOYOOS -- Driving up to Sunrock Vineyards just north of Osoyoos, you notice that the vines are sprouting a mass of green shoots. All that vigour looks promising until you look for the flower clusters that should produce grapes in the fall and you realize that there are almost none. ”This Syrah block was hit by -23°C in December,” says Troy Osborne, who oversees vineyards in BC for owner Arterra Wines. “There was wind and the temperature stayed down there for nearly 24 hours. We had close to 90% budkill in this block and we are also seeing trunk damage in the vines.” Osborne was speaking at a tailgate field day sponsored by the BC Grapegrowers Association and Sustainable Wine BC, June 12, that saw 80 industry members from BC and Washington come together to examine the impact of cold damage that growers saw this spring and discuss mitigation strategies. Viticulturists have two main jobs this year: to understand the extent of damage to their vines and help them recover. That mass of green shoots that can be seen in Sunrock are a false indication of vine health. “Most of the primary and secondary buds that would have generated blossoms and fruit were frozen,” explains Nelson Dutra, vineyard manager with Arterra. “The growth we see here is from tertiary buds that are not fruit-bearing and from new growth that the vine has pushed out to go around any damage that occurred to the vine trunk. … There is lots of vigorous shoot growth as the vine energy is not going into fruit.” There will be no wine made from the block. Moreover, many vines have only partial growth. A cordon on one side might be covered in shoots and leaves, while the opposite side has little or no growth. “That’s an indication of trunk damage,” says Osborne. “The nutrient flow is only going up one side of the trunk where it is not restricted and only one side of the vine is flourishing.” Other vines have little growth from the top, but a mass of shoots sprouting low down on the trunk and even at ground level. That’s the vine working to start a new trunk so it can get back to the job of producing fruit, Osborne explains. The mass of growth will help viticulturists develop a replacement vine. “We can train a couple of new shoots this year, select the strongest one to be the new trunk and cut back the old dead wood so we have a new vine for next summer,” Osborne says. But the shoots at ground level don’t look the same as the main vine as they are sprouting from the rootstock. “These vines are grafted onto commercial rootstock and it won’t produce Syrah grapes,” says Osborne. “If we aren’t able to coax new shoots from the Syrah above the graft, we will have to pull the entire vine.” It doesn’t pay to plant a new grafted vine. “A new vine will be shaded by its neighbours and will have a tough time getting started,” Osborne says. Layering is best The best method to start a new vine is to pull down a long shoot from the adjacent plant, bury it a foot or so into the soil and have it sprout a new replacement vine. “This layering is the best method to replace a vine,” says Osborne. “The energy will come from the mother plant to help it get started. It is the best way to fill that gap and get some grapes growing. This is an old block that is due to be replanted soon anyway.” Age is one of several conditions that have made vines weaker and more prone to cold damage. Many vines planted in the early 1990s when the industry switched to European grape varieties are near the end of their productive lives. Over the years they may have developed trunk diseases that have entered the vine through wounds in the bark. And they may be infected with viruses, such as leaf roll, as is the case with this particular block. Vines also suffered stress from the heat dome in 2021 and bud damage in the winter of 2021-2022 as well as the rapid temperature drop in early November 2022. “We were picking some blocks very late last year through to the end of November and the vines had no time to acclimatize after harvest, as it was already cold,” says Osborne. Keeping healthy vines in good shape was the second topic at the cold damage mitigation field day. “Given all the impacts over the last several years, the most important goal is to reduce further stress on these struggling vines,” says TerraLink viticulture specialist Lisa Wambold, a board member with Sustainable Wine Growing BC. “You will all be seeing something different in your vineyards and there is no silver bullet to restore a weak vine. The first step is to know what is going on in your soil through soil testing and to supplement any deficiencies.” Feeding the vines Many growers are putting out phosphorus to encourage root growth especially in young vines, Wambold says. “And they are adding seaweed and fish-based products to feed soil microbes,” she adds. Wambold says that if soil potassium is low, vines can be more susceptible to winter damage, heat, drought or insect damage. Calcium is important to stimulate growth and zinc is useful for healing plant injury, she adds. Wambold warns against adding too much nitrogen, however. “You are balancing the vines’ health and you don’t want too much vigour,” she says. Minerals should be applied through fertigation, she adds. “We are looking at a low rainfall year and you won’t get the penetration that you need to get the minerals into the soil,” she says. Field day focuses on getting vines on trackCold damage, heat play havoc with vine health
26 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCUnlimited HourPowertrain Warranty0%FinancingCASHBack OffersRangeland Equipment Ltd Cranbrook B.C. 250-426-0600 Timberstar Tractor Vernon B.C. 250-545-5441 Harbour City Equipment Duncan B.C. 778-422-3376Matsqui Ag Repair Abbotsford B.C. 604-826-3281 Northern Acreage Supply Prince George B.C. 250-596-2273*Cannot be combined with any other offer. Rebates and/or financing based on the purchase of eligible equipment defined in promotional program. Additional fees including, but not limited to, taxes, freight, setup and delivery charges may apply. Customers must take delivery prior to the end of the program period. Some customers will not qualify. Some restrictions apply. Unlimited Hour Warranty available only on non-commercial use. Offer available on new equipment only. Pricing and rebates in Canadian dollars. Prior purchases are not eligible. Offer valid only at participating Dealers. Offer subject to change without notice. See your dealer for details. © 2022 DAEDONG CANADA, INC. KIOTI CANADA.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 27Lora and Trevor Miller on the tasting deck of Mountain Soul Wines, which they opened to the public in May, three years after purchasing a vineyard and winery near Trail. BRIAN LAWRENCEGreenhouse 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.comBRIAN LAWRENCE TRAIL – When Lora Miller asked her husband Trevor if he wanted a challenge, he said yes. So she showed him a listing for a derelict vineyard near Trail – and they soon became its owners. After three years of hard work, they opened to the public in May, welcoming guests to the Mountain Soul Wines tasting deck, a barrel-shaped tasting bar on a large patio beside a grassy open area with apple, cherry and nectarine trees. “We wanted it to have a bit of personality, rather than a tasting room,” says Lora. “We want to make sure they get a taste of the Okanagan right here in the Kootenays.” They previously lived in Camrose, Alberta, where Trevor worked as an agriculture consultant, but his company wanted to transfer him to Manitoba. Moving instead to West Kootenay allowed Trevor to put a dierent aspect of his education, which includes a master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Alberta, to good use. “I was interested in agricultural disease,” says Trevor, who was raised on his family’s grain farm. “Grapes are good to learn because they have so many diseases.” The previous owner had stopped tending the vineyard in 2017 so the vines were in particularly rough shape when the Millers bought the former award-winning Soahc Estate Wines vineyard in May 2020. The bank had hired the owner of the neighbouring Columbia Gardens Vineyard and Winery to perform minimal maintenance, but Trevor knew at least a few years of work were necessary to restore them to health. “Our oer was quite low,” he says of the property, which had been listed at $2.15 million. “The vines were about a year from completely dying, so they took it.” The vineyard wasn’t the only part of the property that needed work. They removed 22 tons of refrigerators, tires and other debris left behind by an owner prior to Soahc setting up. Neighbours joined in to help out, something for which the Millers are grateful. Restoration uCouple revive winery with ambitious plansWorking with nature helps renew vines, live with bearsLIKEUS@countrylifeinbcThe vls has received multiple international awards:Agritechnica innovation award 2011, silver Germanyeima innovation award 2012 ItalyEquitana innovation award 2013 GermanyWEIDEMANN T4512 COMPACT TELEHANDLERBETTER WORK FLOWVAN DER WAL EQUIPMENT (1989) LTD. 23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6 604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.com
28 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Restoration of vineyard had its challengesABBOTSFORD1-888-283-3276VERNON1-800-551-6411Top-tier equipment demands top-teir components.Trust the reliability of AGCO Genuine Parts.“It was very welcoming, and I don’t know how to put it, but it was very BC-like,” says Trevor. “The community wanted to see us succeed.” They hired Penticton wine consultant Michal Mosny to oversee the production, and despite the bad condition of the vines, they produced a 2020 vintage, albeit a small one of only 120 cases. Production grew to 1,500 cases last year, and they expect about 3,500 annually when the vineyard is fully restored. The wines are available through the winery’s website and in select West Kootenay stores. The 145-acre property includes a 20-acre vineyard planted to Siegerrebe, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Marquette varieties. From the latter, Trevor hopes to get a darker red than their Pinot Noir. The Riesling is particularly well suited for the area, and reects the terroir – the specic mix of soil, climate and sunlight – better than others. “It really is all about the landscape,” he says, noting that the soil includes zinc, molybdenum and copper. “Riesling loves cool nights. That variety really does well with that. It takes in the terroir really well, and soaks it up all night, rather than recovering from sun scald.” The land was initially cleared in 2008, with the original vintner installing fencing and irrigation, and gently reshaping two natural benches on the mountainside. Key to production is the 4,000-square-foot winery, seemingly more massive with its 24-foot ceilings. “The infrastructure he put in place is astounding,” says Lora. He also installed a grape press from Italy, which Trevor says was used for only a few hours. It’s a state-of-the-art piece of equipment which makes life easier for the new owners. “The press is the equivalent of a combine,” he says. “It’s the heart of the harvest. Just like a combine: if that goes, you’re done.” While Trevor doesn’t farm organically, he does follow the four Rs of sustainable farming when it comes to inputs: right source, right rate, right place, right time. He also looks for ways to work through challenges. For example, to eradicate grubs that were destroying the vines, he simply allowed the moles, which were already on the property and eat only protein, to proliferate and eat the grubs. And once the moles had feasted, it was time for them to go, too. “Then I opened the gates and let the coyotes in,” Trevor says. “When they had enough moles, I closed the gate.” Their critter problems weren’t all that simple, and they admit there was another challenge to overcome – or, rather, learn to live with. “We’re from Alberta, so we’re scared of bears,” says Lora, joking that the property is the “premiere mating grounds for every bear in the area.” It’s also an epic feeding ground, too. “The bears were having a great time in helping us harvest,” says Trevor. With their annual sightings well into the double digits –and their daughter startling one while playing hide and seek with friends at night – they purchased a Karelian bear dog to chase the bears o. It generally worked, but just about led to Trevor bringing a bear cub inside one night. “I open the door, and bend down to pick him up, and go, ‘Wait a sec, that’s a really big paw,’ ” he says with a laugh. In consultation with conservation ocers, they installed electric bear fencing, much to the bears’ dismay. A mother with two cubs often tests the fence, hoping to get past to snack at the grapevines. “She’s there every morning making sure the fence is still on,” says Trevor. “She never gets in, and leaves.” The move was a big change for the family, and resulted in a lot of travel for Lora, who continued working as a respiratory therapist in Alberta for two years before joining the management team at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. Now that she’s in BC full-time, she’s enjoying the chance to plan the winery’s marketing and landscaping, as they explore the possibility of hosting weddings and adding guest cabins. They’re especially proud of how well their children adapted. Their oldest, Reid, is attending the University of Calgary, but the younger two, Keaton and Quinlan, are happily learning everything they can about the business. Quinlan even gave up her summer job at McDonald’s to work at the winery. “When I grew up on the farm, I would help my father,” says Trevor. “When I was consulting, I would be jealous when I would see sons and daughters helping every day. I’ve been really hoping to check that o my bucket list.” On top of that, the scenery surrounding his BC home provides another reason for gratitude. “I’ll be pruning, and just step back and look at the mountains,” he says. “I’m glad I didn't grow up here, because I’m not taking it for granted.” “The bears were having a great time in helping us harvest.” TREVOR MILLER MOUNTAIN SOUL WINES
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 29Jesse Johnston-Hill and partner Chris Rubens are growing a future for themselves and their community at rst Light Farm in Revelstoke. BRUNO LONGYOURHelping YouWEEKLY FARM NEWS UPDATESURg YougYouWSTRACEY FREDRICKSON REVELSTOKE – In the remote mountain town of Revelstoke, COVID-19 highlighted the community’s dependency on global food supply chains. The challenges fueled aspiring farmers Jesse Johnston-Hill and her partner Chris Rubens to start First Light Farm in 2020, hardening their determination to grow food for themselves and everyone in their community. The couple had been talking about starting a farm together since they met. Johnston-Hill had spent two seasons on organic vegetable farms in BC, including one as a participant in the Sooke-based SOILS apprenticeship program. She also has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Rubens is a professional skier. Although they both had lived in Revelstoke for years, they felt they would be priced out of the market for viable agricultural land and travelled the province looking for property to buy. “As we saw the eects on food supplies everywhere, we realized something big was on the horizon regarding food availability,” says Rubens. “We nally decided we should be farming where we lived. Revelstoke is such a crazy good place to grow things and has the recreational opportunities we enjoy.” The couple spent their rst year experimenting with what and how to farm on two pieces of land totaling a quarter-acre near the airport that were made available to them by two generous families. “Our goals that rst year were to make back what we put into the farm nancially, prove we could eventually make this our livelihood, and supply our community with food – and we did it!” says Johnston-Hill. “We also did a lot of research to understand our expenses and plan the farm for the long-term, including preparing a formal business plan. In the process we realized we could establish our name around baby greens such as mustard greens and arugula. They grow fast, but can be labour-intensive, so we made the process more ecient by using a greens harvester instead of scissors to cut them,” she adds. In the early days of the pandemic, they built their own greenhouse and set it at one of the garden sites. Twice a day they drove 20 minutes to open and close the greenhouse. “It was too far to bike, and we often had tools and equipment to transport,” says Johnston-Hill. “That’s when we realized that we would have to live where we farm to be more ecient and reduce our carbon footprint.” Late in their rst season, they delivered an open letter to landowners who might consider leasing land, a lease-to-own arrangement, or selling property in the area. Revelstoke farm shines light on food insecurityThinking big pays off for small farm operatorsKuhnNorthAmerica.comVisit your local British Columbia KUHN dealer today!INVEST IN QUALITY®www.kuhn.comMatsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsfordNorthline EquipmentPouce CoupeHuber Farm EquipmentPrince George• Low-profile design for fast, clean cutting• The Protectadrive® system protects the cutterbar gear train and minimizes downtime• Heavy-duty cutterbar ensures low maintenance and long life• Spring suspension provides outstanding ground contouringCLEAN, EVEN CUTTINGGMD MOUNTED SERIES Disc Mowers5’3” – 10’2” cutting widths • Premium & Select models availableGrowth feeds u
30 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCu Growth feeds communityWWW.PCE.CA1-877-553-3373*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 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 equipmentfor full details. Some restrictions apply. Offer valid until July 31, 2023 or while supplies last. Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only. 2025R QID 28835679 | 2025R With Loader & Backhoe QID 28835818.ACT NOW FOR OUR LIMITED TIME SALE0% FOR 60MONTHS $419PER MO +$30,995$37,000AFTERREBATE REGULAR PRICE OR SAVE AN EXTRA $2,675 WHEN YOU PAY CASH0% FOR 60MONTHS $540PER MO $39,995$47,500AFTERREBATE REGULAR PRICE 2025R WITH LOADER & BACKHOEOR SAVE AN EXTRA $2,675 WHEN YOU PAY CASH++DEERESEASON2025R WITH LOADERNot only did this create new relationships, but the couple also found a 2.7-acre property with a house in the Big Eddy, a popular recreation and bouldering area overlooking the Columbia River. With tenure secure, they applied for organic certication and successfully applied for a Small Farm Business Acceleration Grant from the BC Ministry of Agriculture which helped them purchase a tractor. In the summer of 2022, their third season, the couple became three with the birth of their son, Huxley. First Light now uses 1.5 acres to produce everything they grow, including 300 to 400 pounds of greens a week in high season. In addition to the farm’s signature greens, it sells numerous other vegetables to local restaurants and grocery stores, at the farmers market, and the farm gate. A portion also goes to the local food bank, with the farm compensated through a GoFundMe campaign. First Light donates food to the food bank, which provides a portion of the GoFundMe donations back to the farm to help cover the cost of growing the food while the farm is in its early stages. It's community-supported agriculture at its best, with the community rallying to provide fresh food to those who need it most. The campaign has seen $3,000 to $8,000 raised in each of the last three years. “We also grow what we like to eat,” points out Johnston-Hill. “Tomatoes for example, are challenging – they are like little princesses that you can spend way too much time on, but they are so good. When they arrive, they add colour and diversity to our market display and the average purchase goes up from about $6 to $24.” “We have found the farming community so open about sharing information and creating a positive future for food production in the area,” says Rubens. “A highlight has been our farm gate sales; we have two fridges fully stocked and operate on the honour system without any problems. It’s heartening that we can still do this when it feels like there is so much negativity in the world.” “We have and continue to learn so much from farming,” adds Rubens. “It’s like skiing – you don’t always have to take a straight path to reach your goals. And if you listen to nature, it will tell you what to do.” Once a thriving agricultural community, Revelstoke changed dramatically when a series of dams were built along the Columbia River in the 1960s. A community-wide commitment to strengthening local food production aims to revitalize that legacy, however. Revelstoke’s Food Security Strategy, created in 2014 and updated in 2022, cites important milestones in the community’s agricultural past. The late 1800s saw the town establishing its reputation for diverse crops and livestock production. Strawberries were a major crop at the turn of the century, and several local farms produced vegetables. Apples, pears and cherries rivalled orchard crops from the Okanagan while poultry and cattle farms became important food resources. In the 1960s, however, as part of Canada’s commitment to the Columbia River Treaty, the land between Revelstoke and Castlegar was ooded and eventually connected the upper and lower Arrow Lakes near the now submerged community of Arrowhead. Approximately 2,000 people living in the ood zone were displaced, including 200 farms. Revelstoke Museum and Archives curator Cathy English says the ooding changed the ecosystem and way of life that farmers had known for 30 years. With the opening of Revelstoke Mountain Resort in 2007, an expansion of an existing ski hill, Revelstoke transitioned into a resort town best known for its world-class skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking. Most viable agricultural land is today located below the ski hill, making it expensive and hard to access, even though it is in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Where numerous farms once produced most of what they needed to feed their families, there are mostly wetlands that support birds and other wildlife. The Food Security Strategy showed that by the time COVID hit, Revelstoke was producing less than 2% of the population’s estimated food needs within a bikeable distance from the town. The community continues to experience avalanches and extreme weather events which threaten transportation routes; at the peak of COVID, there were times when grocery store shelves were emptied overnight. More than 31 organizations are involved in food security programming in the Revelstoke area. Between 2014 and 2022 the number of Revelstoke-based food producers increased from four to 10 and food processors from 10 to 17. The Saturday farmers’ market has more than 100 food and craft vendors compared to its original 62 participants and there is a second market in the summer and a winter market as well. Celebratory food events have become an integral part of Revelstoke’s foodie culture. In 2022, Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society, a professional social services provider that also operates the local food bank, created a community kitchen. Co-ordinator Melissa Hemphill says the facility has assisted several food businesses in scaling up and/or moving into value-added processing. It also oers catering services, farm-to-table school programs and food literacy workshops. —Tracey Fredrickson Revelstoke revisits its agricultural potential
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 31Chamber tour puts spotlight on flood recovery Stops at pump station, tulip grower provide perspectiveAbbotsford councillor Patricia Driessen, right, helps Linda Juste check each spot in the tray for extra seeds ensuring proper growing at Aright Greentech. RONDA PAYNERONDA PAYNE ABBOTSFORD – Agriculture depends on the right infrastructure, from drainage to irrigation systems, as Sumas Prairie farmers can attest. When the area was hit by catastrophic ooding in 2021, the Barrowtown pump station became a focal point for a community trying to save itself. “Some farms are still not back completely,” says Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens during a tour of farm operations the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce hosted on June 16. “They still need our help and assurance that this type of ooding won’t happen again.” Barrowtown was the tour’s rst stop, underscoring its importance to local farms, which support more than $3.8 billion in economic activity each year and more than 16,000 full-time jobs. Siemens told the nearly 100 tour participants about the newly formed Sumas River Flood Mitigation Collaborative Framework that aims to develop ood mitigation solutions. First Nations committees, municipal and provincial governments and their US counterparts, are involved. “We’ve had some very productive rst meetings working on a memorandum of understanding,” he says. Ensuring the Barrowtown pump station’s future ecacy will cost about $1 billion, says Siemens. While some funding has already been announced, such as the $3.2 million for upgrades the province announced in April, the makeup of the funding is critical. “We feel that the funding mechanism should be 100% by the feds,” he says about the existing 60-40 cost-sharing formula that demands more from the province. “There are some challenges on where the funding is coming from, but the focus is on the long term.” Workers at the station were applauded for their dedication during the ooding, including supervisor Dennis Livingstone. “All the debris that comes from the Prairie comes through the canal,” he explains. “During the ood, the amount of debris was incredible.” Livingstone added that updates will ensure “capacity to run these pumps in high speed” as needed. In high speed, each of the four pumps at Barrowtown can pump 29,000 cubic metres of water a minute – the equivalent of an Olympic-sized swimming pool every four seconds. There will also be more water storage capacity, according to Siemens, who describes this increased storage as “the spirit of the lake.” BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis was on the tour and referred to the memorandum of understanding being developed as part of the international working group. “There are so many people committed at the table to ensure that the area remains safe moving forward,” she told the group during lunch at Taves Family Farms. Alexis noted that the $20 million Fraser Valley Flood Mitigation program announced March 7 and delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC would also support individual farms, communities, organizations and First Nations in eorts to reduce ood risks. “This program will support our farmers and communities to increase their resiliency to oods why also helping to restore local ecosystems,” she says. “We’re here to help farmers prepare so they can protect their homes and businesses and provide the food that British Columbians rely on.” Replant programs were discussed as a way the government is helping agriculture in terms of climate change. “We’ve got to be smarter about what we’re planting,” she says. “This is an expectation.” She also referenced agritech in her talk, saying the province would be supporting the industry. “This innovation that we’re seeing in agritech is amazing. We saw this innovation today,” she says. “We’re also going to assist the growing BC agritech sector to increase food production in every region of our province.” To t the agritech aspect of the tour, guests went to Aright Greentech, a 100% woman-Living lettuce uLIKEUS@countr ylifeinbcTRACTOR 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 WeightMahindra 6075 Cab with Grapple
32 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCBC Minister of Agriculture Pam Alexis, right, and executive assistant Jo-Anne Chadwick, left, learn about how tulip bulbs are stored and used from Nick Warmerdam of Lakeland Flowers. RONDA PAYNEu Living lettuce finds success MFG OF MINI SKID STEERS AND A VARIETY OF ATTACHMENTS INCLUDINGDRAINAGE PLOWS | TREE 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 Onlineowned, year-round, pesticide-free, hydroponic growing system. Production supervisor Linda Juste, said the operation is less than a year old and is still “working out some of the bugs.” Living lettuce is being grown in a system of 14 40-foot storage containers with rotating modular trays and LED lighting for propagation and growing. Clay-coated seeds are planted in Oasis-brand substrate and checked after seeding, before watering and at cutting the substrate apart, to eliminate non-individual plantings. These go into one of the propagator units on modular trays for 18 days. “One tray will move every 55 seconds. They dip into the water, then move,” she explains. She adds that the growing system from CubicFarm uses less water. “We use something like 80% or 90% less water than traditional agriculture,” she says. “And this is living lettuce. It doesn’t get any fresher than this.” Although germination is close to 100%, the company expects approximately 10% loss during production. Some losses happen as the trays are taken from a propagation unit and spaced out on trays to allow for plant growth in a growing unit. Depending upon the size and intent for the lettuce, one module can produce 2,500 or 5,040 units. The plants spend 18 days in the growing unit. “We can harvest that module in three-and-a-half hours,” she says of a 2,500-unit module. “We sell our lettuce two ways. Can cut the roots o and pack it 24 per box for food service, or you can put it in a clamshell.” All aspects of the modules are computer-controlled and are inspected thoroughly after three harvests. While growing-aspects are controlled, assistant grower Justin Go has a lot of opportunity to make adjustments for the greatest benets for the crop. “Each module, I treat like a grow room,” he says. “Everything is based on the stage of the crop.” Since the operation uses city water and aspects like pH can uctuate, Go monitors the water as it comes in. Chemicals and nutrients are added in varying ratios to reduce the risk of pathogens in the water and ensure healthy hydroponic growth. He also works with the team on understanding how to constantly improve the growing in the modules. “My time spent here, I’ve become both grower and mechanic,” he jokes. A fourth stop was Lakeland Farms, where the 2021 oods damaged the ower farm’s greenhouse and much of its 100 acres of production elds. Owner Nick Warmerdam was able to restore elds suciently to host a 27-acre tulip festival this year, and he sees a greater focus on agritourism in the years to come. “I am ready to scale back some of the labour-intensive commercial growing and have the festival,” he says. “I think I’m doing pretty good at it.” As the festival wrapped up, more than 5 million tulip bulbs were harvested washed, dried and stored. Warmerdam is now preparing for a Summer Flower Festival with 20 acres of sunowers and up to 10 acres of eld owers with a special u-pick eld for guests to take their own cut owers. The event concluded at Taves Family Farms with a visit to the cidery and an exploration of the farm’s history, focus and growth.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 331.604.363.8483FARMREALESTATE.COMEXCLUSIVE FARMREALESTATE.COMLARGE CATTLE GRAZING BLOCKID#1102347 • HUDSONS HOPE, BC194.2 ACRES194.2 ACRES403.308.1737HANKVANHIERDEN24,823 ACRES24,823 ACRES$7,300,000$7,300,000FEATURED PROPERTIES403.849.8211CHRISVEENENDAAL403.308.1737HANKVANHIERDEN18.56 ACRES18.56 ACRES EXCLUSIVE FARMREALESTATE.COMMARKET GREENHOUSEID#1102272 • NANTON, AB2.09 ACRES2.09 ACRES311.28 ACRES311.28 ACRES$3,500,000$3,500,000MLS® FARMREALESTATE.COMRECREATIONAL INVESTMENTID#1102333 • VANDERHOOF, BC194.2 ACRES194.2 ACRES403.308.1737HANKVANHIERDEN1097 ACRES1097 ACRES$1,495,000$1,495,000SANDRA TRETICK PENDER ISLAND – It’s been an alarming spring for growers on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, where tent caterpillars have frequently been described on social media as “raining” down from the trees. The onslaught is due to a native caterpillar species, the Western Tent Caterpillar, and it is especially disconcerting for some of the region’s newer farmers who haven’t yet been through a full boom-and-bust cycle that typically occurs in caterpillar populations once every seven to 12 years. At Raven Rock Farm on Pender Island, Matilda te Hennepe took over farm operations last year in a special arrangement with the owners after managing the farm for the previous eight years. She has four acres fenced for growing a “hugely diverse” variety of fruit, berries, nuts and annual crops, all of which are sold on island. Te Hennepe rst noticed that her trees were covered in caterpillar egg casings in January during pruning. When the caterpillars emerged in April, she and her crew started hand picking nests from the trees. “A week later there’s more tents and a week later there’s more tents and a week later there’s more tents,” says te Hennepe. “Every time we looked at a tree, there was 10 nests in it. We were surprised every time. They just keep coming.” After ve weeks of picking out nests by hand, she says she was 95% condent that her trees didn’t have any nests left. But the farm is surrounded by host trees that were lled with nests of caterpillars getting ready to march in and take over her orchards and gardens. That’s when she resorted to spraying with Btk, a biological insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kustaki, a naturally occurring bacterium). Island farmers hit hard by tent caterpillars Very hungry caterpillars chow down on orchards and cropsThe invasive gypsy moth was renamed the spongy moth last year, just in time for an unprecedented population boom on Vancouver Island. In response, the BC Ministry of Forests conducted aerial sprays over seven areas on Vancouver Island this May. Sites included View Royal, Esquimalt, Belmont (Colwood), Port Alberni, Courtenay, Courtenay – Dove Creek and Campbell River. No further aerial spraying is planned around BC for 2023, but an information session was held in early June on Salt Spring Island to inform residents of a high density trapping program set to begin by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. With more than 300 known hosts for spongy moth, the danger of the moth becoming established is great. In BC, spongy moth threatens fruit and nut producers and the main agricultural crops include apples, cherries, plums, blueberries and hazelnut trees. They prefer broad-leaved trees, mainly red and white oak and BC’s major trading partners may set up quarantine and trade restrictions and restrict transportation for various products including Christmas trees and logs with bark. Cost for the 2023 eradication program is estimated at $950,000 and its success will be assessed over the summer with a report to follow. —Sandra Tretick Matilda te Hennepe gave up handpicking tent caterpillars and began using the biological control agent Btk to keep ahead of this year's population boom. SANDRA TRETICK“Almost every single car slowed down and looked at what we were doing. I was wearing a protective suit. It looked like I was going to the moon,” she says, explaining that she took to Facebook to explain what she was doing. “I do think it’s really easy to jump to conclusions in small communities. I didn’t want anybody thinking that we were spraying with something terrible.” The farm had been certied organic for 35 years but te Hennepe made the decision not to continue when she took over. “I’m very small,” she says. “All of my produce goes to somebody that I’m probably looking at and handing it over in person. If anybody has any questions about how we do things, we can just talk about it.” Apple orchard affected A few kilometres away on Pender Island, Matthew Vasilev and his partner Katie Selbee operate Twin Island Cider. They grow more than 30 varieties of apples themselves on three acres and harvest more than 100 varieties through a mix of formal and informal arrangements with another 30 orchards on Pender as well two large orchards on neighbouring Saturna and Mayne islands. He says this year is the worst they’ve seen for tent caterpillars since starting their business seven years ago. With the help of a few orchard owners and growers, they managed to keep the outbreak to a manageable level and protect most of the crop in a third of the orchards they rely on through a combination of egg casing removal, a couple rounds of Btk, squishing by hand and tree banding. Between bottling, selling, mowing and setting up irrigation lines, they ran out of time to get to all the trees. “The aected trees that were outside our circle of containment have lost 75-100% of their apples, which leaves us with maybe 50-60% of our total yield for fall,” he says. That equates to between 7,000 and 9,000 litres of juice. “It’s even more heartbreaking because this was looking like our biggest harvest yet thanks to the warm spring and great fruit set on both pears and apples.” Vasilev’s work with growers on other islands means he’s aware the outbreak is widespread. “All the Southern Gulf Aerial spraying for spongy moth concludes for 2023Caterpillars u
34 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCGrowers have been challenged to stay on top of tent caterpillars this year during this year's cyclical population boom. SANDRA TRETICKu Caterpillars destroying crops Einbock Tillage Equipment For Organic FarmingEconomical Reliable Low Maintenance Safe and Proven Order now for guaranteed next season delivery.Tine Weeders Row Crop CultivatorsRotary Hoes Camera GuidanceSystemsOrder now forguaranteed next season delivery.DELTA Drain Tile CleanersImproves Drainage & Conditions SoilEmail us today at: info@reimersfarmservices.comIslands seem to be just as badly hit,” he says. “We share a similar perfect storm of an ecosystem, large alder forests adjacent to many old orchards and lots of hawthorn and wild rose as additional host species.” Nearby on Salt Spring Island, Brian Webster and Peri Lavender of Salt Spring Apple Company Ltd. and Ciderworx were just getting their orchards established when the last peak infestation happened in 2012, which nixed the island’s annual apple festival. “This is, by far, the worst tent caterpillar year we have experienced in our 12 years of growing apples here on Salt Spring Island,” says Webster, who also relies on Btk-based control. “We've been spraying Dipel and have used nearly ve times as much this year as we used over the previous 11 years combined. And this has us just barely holding our own against them.” Webster adds that many trees were stripped to no green whatsoever before they could get to them. The couple has just over three acres planted with more than 3,500 trellised tall spindle trees. They grow in excess of 365 varieties. Webster says early indications are that the caterpillars will have a moderate impact on this year’s harvest. “Many trees that were stripped clean of green had just the tiny fruitlets remaining,” he says. “As the leaves are replaced, the fruit looks okay.” A spokesperson from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food said sta have been getting some calls and inquiries about the tent caterpillars this spring, and Sue Grubec, project coordinator with the BC Hazelnut Growers Association, said some of their newer growers were alarmed to see the number of caterpillars and the resulting defoliation. “We just had our Island eld day on [June 11] and did hear from some of our members that the tent caterpillars had found their hazelnut trees,” Grubec said in an email. “We were fortunate to have an IPM (integrated pest management) presentation at the event and were reminded that although there might be a bit of defoliation, it is unlikely to cause an issue to the orchard.” The caterpillars are less concerning to long-term farmers like Thomas and Henny Schnare of Cable Bay Farm, an organic vegetable operation on Galiano Island, but the outbreak remains the worst they’ve seen in 34 years. “Our early crops have been protected by a oating row cover out in the eld, so I cannot say we have experienced direct economic damage as a result,” says Henny. “There are, however, 100-year-old apple trees and a younger crabapple which were indeed decimated by thousands of caterpillars. Not a single leaf remains.” Te Hennepe estimates that she and her sta, family and friends put in more than 150 hours over a six-week period at Raven Rock Farm to evict caterpillars. She notes that isn’t a cost she’ll be able to recover when it comes time to sell her vegetables and fruit. “If I tried to do the math about my hours picking tent caterpillars, it doesn’t make any sense at all,” says te Hennepe, but she balances that by taking a long view and considering the overall stress on her trees over time. The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food noted that Production Insurance and AgriStability provide support when signicant losses from pest infestations and other events occur. None of the farms interviewed for this story are enrolled, however, due to the small size of their operations. Annual Field Day and ConferenceSalmon Arm, BC September 7-9, 2023Details and registration at www.bcchristmas trees.ca gain knowledge | listen to presenters | farm tours | speak to growers
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 35Industry has mixed reactions to new CFIA rulesProducers at odds over voluntary seed registrationOrganic growers say updated federal guidance on gene-edited seeds will sow uncertainty among growers and consumers. MAYLIES LANGEurope & North America, Little & Large, Local & Long Port to Dealer, Farm to Farm and anything in between.Versatile Ramp to Ground Capabilities!FOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERSDarren Jansen Owner604.794.3701organicfeeds@gmail.comwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comCertified by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.1.800.282.7856 Find out more at terraseco.comFiXaTion CloverFrosty CloverCrimson CloverDC Red CloverWhite CloverHybrid CloverAlfalfaWinter PeasFiXaTion CloverFrosty CloverCrimson CloverDC Red CloverWhite CloverHybrid CloverAlfalfaWinter PeasTerra Seed Corp Healthy Soil Nurtures a Healthy HerdKATE AYERS SORRENTO – Ottawa’s recent move to legalize the growth and marketing of crop varieties developed with gene editing has drawn diverse reactions from conventional and organic growers. In May, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency updated guidance for Part V of the Seeds Regulations, which originated in 1905. These changes put gene-edited seeds on the same regulatory level as conventionally bred varieties. This means gene-edited varieties will not be considered genetically modied organisms if the resulting plant does not contain DNA from other species. Gene editing alters naturally existing genetic material, unlike genetic modication which creates novel congurations of genetic material that can include genetics sourced from other organisms. The intent of these modernized regulations is to enable Canadian farmers to access new seed varieties, enhance sustainable food production and be more resilient in the face of today’s challenges, AAFC says. While a potential boon for conventional growers, the updated regulations raise concerns for organic growers who cannot use gene-edited seed because Canada’s organic standards consider it genetically modied. Since plant breeders will no longer need to disclose gene-edited seeds through a mandatory public registry, organic growers fear they they’ll fall afoul of their certication requirements. “The Canadian organic standard (as with organic standards around the world) prohibits the use of genetically modied or gene-edited seeds or products. Organic farmers thus require mandatory universal disclosure of such seeds,” says Organic Federation of Canada board member Rebecca Kneen, operator of Sorrento’s Left Field Farms. “In order to maintain certication, organic farmers have to know whether the seeds they are using have been created or are the ospring of genetically modied or gene-edited seed. The new, voluntary registry of gene-edited seeds allows companies to release seed without any disclosure or label.” The voluntary registry of products means that contamination could occur and put organic certications at risk, Kneen says. “Without mandatory disclosure of GE seed, the system of organic production in Canada is severely threatened,” she says. “There is the real possibility that this will contaminate the entire food system, meaning that farmers and consumers will no longer be able to produce and buy organic food.” Public trust in the organic sector relies on standards that ensure transparency and accountability, says Organic BC executive director Eva-Lena Lang. “Mandatory traceability would ensure condence for farmers and consumers in their food system, while not blocking access to gene-edited seeds,” Lang told Country Life in BC. “The organic sector would like to ensure there is a choice for farmers and consumers.” To maintain the integrity of Canada’s organic certications, the federal government has a four-pronged plan to ensure transparency in seed production, including creating a government-industry steering committee on plant breeding innovations transparency to facilitate ongoing discussions; expanding Seeds Canada’s Canadian Variety Transparency Database; introducing federal oversight on the database; and providing funding to support the review of the national organic standards, which are due for renewal in 2025. However, the organic sector would like to see full federal control and oversight of the database. The BC Grain Producers Association and North Pine Farmers Institute were not available for comment before deadline, but some national producer groups have welcomed CFIA’s changes with open arms. “We support CFIA’s new guidance that provides a robust science-based approach to Canada’s domestic regulatory framework,” says Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson in a release. “This will encourage new and additional research and development investment in Canada, while at the same time upholding safety and aligning with many of our trading partners in the approach to plant breeding regulation.” In addition, Grain Growers of Canada sees the changes as positive for sustainable crop production. “The CFIA’s updated guidance on plant breeding innovation is a step in the right direction,” says Grain Growers of Canada chair Andre Harpe. “It will help us keep pace with global competitors who have already embraced science-based policies to improve crop yields and quality. This is especially important as we face new challenges posed by climate change and other environmental pressures.” Gene editing could help produce crops that are more resilient to pests and diseases and require less water and fertilizer than varieties currently available in the marketplace, the organization adds.
36 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCAshley and Gladdie become acquaintedWhen we left o last time, Delta was having a heart-to-heart with Kenneth, and Eunice wondered if Ashley would like a summer job. Rural Redemption, part 160, continues ... Wendy ushered Ashley into Gladdie’s room and asked if she needed anything. “No, thank you. I’m just going to have a little chat with Ashley.” Wendy closed the door and Gladdie smiled at Ashley. “Hello, Ashley. Please sit.” “Hello, Mrs. Harrison.” “Oh, please, if we are going to get along at all you’ll have to call me Gladdie.” “Gladly,” said Ashley, and Gladdie laughed out loud. Wendy heard her mother laugh from the kitchen. This might be perfect, she thought. Gladdie asked Ashley how old she was. “Eighteen. I’ll be 19 in the fall.” “And are you sure you want to spend your 18th summer playing nursemaid to an old hen like me?” “Not how I was planning to spend summer at all,” said Ashley. “I was thinking more along the lines of being your partner in crime.” Gladdie laughed again. “And just what kind of crimes do you think I might be up to anymore?” “I don’t really know,” said Ashley. “Maybe you could tell me about what you’ve been up to so far and something will come to mind.” Gladdie was laughing again. “I doubt if you would nd any of my little secrets very interesting.” “Try me,” said Ashley. “I’m good at keeping secrets and I’ll bet you have some it would be good for me to know about.” “Such as?” “Well, you were married for more than 60 years, and my grandma says there aren’t many women who know the secret to that.” “Your grandma sounds like a smart cookie, but I’m afraid there isn’t really much of a secret to that at all.” “So, if it isn’t a secret, there’s no reason why you couldn’t tell me.” “Good point,” said Gladdie. She chuckled again then grew serious. “You do know how all of this is going to end?” “I think so.” “The doctor says six months at the most, probably less. Are you still okay with this?” “Heck, yeah! Doctors get things wrong all the time, but just to be on the safe side we should probably get started right away.” Gladdie was chuckling again. “I think I’m going to enjoy spending time with you, Ashley.” “Likewise,” said Ashley. Wendy knocked at the door. “Ashley, your young man is here.” Wendy stopped Ashley as she was leaving. “You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it.” “A gift?” “This is the rst time I’ve heard Mom laugh since I’ve been back. Thank you for that.” “I was just talking to her.” “You made her laugh and that is medicine you can’t buy. The strongest medicine there is.” ttt Ashley knocked at Gladdie’s door at ve to seven the following morning. “Come on in,” called Wendy. “Mom’s up bright and early. Give her a few minutes to put her hair up and you can bring her out for breakfast. Hope you like eggs. Mom and Dad were egg farmers, and we grew up on eggs six days a week, pancakes on Sunday. Dad always said you couldn’t expect folks to pay you for something you didn’t eat yourself. And Mom would always say we should thank the Lord that dad wasn’t a turnip farmer.” After breakfast Gladdie suggested they have tea in the summer kitchen. The summer kitchen was a room on the back of the house. It had a woodstove and a table with several wicker armchairs. It was Gladdie’s favorite summer spot. Ashley said she’d never heard of a summer kitchen and Gladdie explained it was used for cooking when it was too hot to light the stove inside. It had a screened door and screened windows on three sides which kept it airy and cool. In the winter, Avery used to put storm windows up to keep it warmer. Ashley asked about the wood rack hanging from the ceiling. Gladdie explained it was a clothes dryer when it was too cold or wet to dry laundry on the line. Ashley wondered what the De Laval thing with the handle in the corner was and Gladdie explained it was a cream separator and everyone who had a cow or two used to have one because you used to be able to sell the cream and feed the skim milk to calves and pigs and even the kids if money was tight. Wendy said she remembered Gladdie giving her heck if the bell on the handle started dinging because she was turning it to slow. Gladdie said they cooked and ate there in the summer and did canning there in the fall. Avery built it the year after they were married and some of her best memories were in the summer kitchen. After tea, Wendy excused herself to go grocery shopping in town. Ashley asked Gladdie what she wanted to do. Gladdie said she wouldn’t mind staying right there and chatting. Maybe with another cup of tea. “Maybe this would be a good time to tell me the secret to staying married for 60 years.” “Has this got anything to do with that young man of yours?” asked Gladdie. “Not just yet, but I’d like to know just in case.” “Would you say yes if he asked you?” “If I tell you, will it be a secret?” asked Ashley. “A secret’s not a secret anymore if you tell it, but I don’t believe in sharing other folk’s secrets, if that’s what you mean.” “Exactly, and yes I would in a heartbeat.” “Why?” “We’re in love.” “That’s a step in the right direction.” “How is it?” “‘We’re in love’ isn’t quite the same as ‘I love him’, or ‘He loves me.’ It’s usually a good sign each is as much in love as the other. Doesn’t leave you wondering who loves who the most. What attracted you to him in the rst place?” “He was handsome, and easy to talk to, and polite, and a good teaser. I was only 16 but he treated me like an adult.” “And what do you think he’d say about what he found attractive about you?” Ashley hesitated. “I don’t know. You’d probably need to ask him.” “I’m guessing if you would say yes if he asked, you probably have a good idea of what caught his attention in the rst place? Knowing how he was raised, I’d be surprised if he hasn’t told you.” “He has told me. He said because I was beautiful, and funny, and self condent, and a good teaser. And I wasn’t a drama queen.” The clock radio in the kitchen came on. “Ah, “said Gladdie, “There’s the 10 o’clock news. Avery listened every morning. We’ll talk more later.” ... 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! CREDIT CARD # _________________________________________________________________ EXP _____________ CVV __________ o NEW o RENEWAL | o ONE YEAR ($18.90) oT WO YEARS ($33.60) o THREE YEARS ($37.80) Your Name ______________________________________________________________________________ Farm Name _____________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ Postal Code __________________________________ Phone _____________________ Email ______________________________________________________ MAIL TO: 36 DALE RD, ENDERBY, BC V0E 1V4 subscriptions@ countrylifeinbc.com www.countrylifeinbc.com/subscribePlease send a _______ year gift subscription to _______________________________________________ Farm Name ____________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________________ Postal Code ________ _______________ Phone _________________________ Email ________________________________________________
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 37BC welcomes international farm writersProvince’s diversity on displayElaine Shein, camera and voice recorder in hand, was one of 16 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists touring BC in late June. Originally from Saskatchewan, she’s spent 15 years working in Nebraska as associate managing editor with DTN/Progressive Farmer. “This trip allows me to see BC’s ag industry growth and potential in national and international markets," she said. "Perhaps one of the most striking images personally for me is how much the glaciers have receded since I rst walked on one of them in the mid-1980s.” MYRNA STARK LEADERMYRNA STARK LEADER KELOWNA – Farm journalists from six countries made their way through BC in late June en route to this year’s International Farm Writers’ Federation annual conference based out of Olds, AB, gaining a glimpse of the breadth of the province’s growing regions and production. “While some of the issues in agriculture are unique to BC, it’s an industry where commonalities are pretty strong across many parts of the world – improving growing, technology, labour, transportation and so on,” says Ronda Payne, president of the BC Farm Writers Association, which organized the tour. “As writers, it helps to be able to frame what we write in broader context when we see and better understand what is happening in other parts of the world, then share that with BC producers.” Sixteen international farm writers and communicators spent ve days travelling from Richmond to Invermere, ending at the Columbia Iceelds before continuing on to Calgary for the start of IFAJ’s conference, June 27- July 3. The conference brought together approximately 200 delegates from 30 countries, including writers, journalists and farm communicators. The event serves as the premiere professional development and networking event for the organization, and takes place in a dierent country each year. “We have such interesting agriculture news, innovations and stories in BC, from products on the world stage like berries, cherries and viticulture to our longstanding and historic tradition of beef production and dairy, to multi-generational farms,” says veteran BC farm writer David Schmidt, who organized the tour on behalf of the BC Farm Writers Association. “I didn’t want to miss this opportunity for delegates to learn more by getting their feet on BC ground.” Beginning in Richmond, stops included Sunnyside Greenhouses, Krause Berry Farm and Dicklands Dairy Farm in the Fraser Valley; Anderson Ranch in Merritt, Klippers Organic Acres, Paynter’s Fruit Market and Tantalus Vineyards in the Okanagan-Similkameen; Quiet Valley Farms in Creston and Zehnder Ranch in Invermere. “We wanted to showcase the incredible diversity of BC agriculture, the range of products BC produces and the range of sizes of operations too,” says Schmidt. “Delegates came from Australia, the UK, Germany, the US, Japan and Finland so we hope they take back some of our agriculture stories to share with their audiences.” Some of the delegates already have plans to do so. “There is nothing quite like the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists congresses and pre-tours,” says freelance Australian broadcast journalist Prue Adams. “It’s a brilliant opportunity to rub shoulders with journos from all over the world who have the same interests in writing about ag that I do.” Adams spent 24 years working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Landline rural aairs television program. Today she researches, writes and produces video and audio content as Prue Adams Media. “I was the rst to hop on the BC pre-congress tour; I absolutely knew I didn’t want to miss out. Coming from South Australia, BC sounds like a Northern Hemisphere version of my own home state where wine grapes, stone fruit and broadacre farm [row crop] production are agricultural powerhouses. Customizable tools and resources to help you prevent, prepare and respond to an emergency.Emergency Planning& ResponseAgSafeBC.ca1-877-533-1789Corn Heat Units and Evapotranspiration These tours oer superbly organized insights into how other countries grow and market our most important food and bre resources.” Coming to Western Canada has been a dream of Scotland’s Jane Craigie. “I came to British Columbia as a freelance communicator and podcaster with stories to gather on berries, beef and canola; I can't think of anywhere better to speak to producers on the ground than here,” she says. “The tour from Vancouver to Olds covered such a huge variety of landscapes, farming and culture, it doesn't seem possible to have seen all that we have in just ve days." Sponsorship plays an important role in making such events possible, and that was especially true in the case of the BC tour given the ground it had to cover. “BCFWA sincerely thanks all those who contributed but especially nancial contributions from Country Life in BC, the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, BC Dairy Association, Holstein News, MNP and BC Cattlemen’s Association,” says Payne.
38 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCJuly and August are full of the bounty of summer garden harvests, whether that's your own, your generous neighbour's, or the gardens which supply your nearest fruit stand, farmer's market or produce shelves. Meals suggest themselves when you look at all the wonderful fresh herbs, owers, fruits and vegetables available at this time of year. I plan meals around what's fresh, so if there are berries or other fruit available fresh, I’ll toss them into a salad, make a fresh-tasting salsa to go with grilled sh, meat or poultry, or feature them in dessert. This is the time of year you can begin your meal-planning with a trip to the garden, the farmer’s market or the produce shelves for inspiration provided by your local farmer. It's a technique that not only helps make meals interesting, it also makes them as avourful and nutritious as possible, with a focus on the very freshest ingredients. And, you support local growers at the same BC’s summer bounty inspires meal ideasEasy, one-pot braised yam chicken with zucchini. JUDIE STEEVESLEAN CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY DESSERT CAKEThis is pretty and pretty delicious too. It’s also very low fat and low in cholesterol, with no oil or egg yolks and reduced sugar in the recipe, yet that does not aect the avour or texture. 1/2 c. (125 ml) white sugar 1/3 c. (75 ml) light cream cheese 2 egg whites 1 c. (250 ml) white our 1/2 c. (125 ml) cocoa powder 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) baking soda 1/4 tsp. (1 ml) salt 1/3 c. (75 ml) fat-free, plain yogurt • Preheat oven to 350° F. • Beat sugar and cream cheese in a large bowl on medium speed until well-mixed. • Beat in egg whites. • Combine our with cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Beat briey into the cream cheese mixture, alternating one-third of the our mixture, with one-third or so of the yogurt until all three are combined, but do not over-beat. • Use an oil spray to lightly grease a nine-inch springform pan and spread this cream cheese mixture over the bottom and up the sides an inch or so. • Combine topping ingredients and spoon over the batter, leaving a half-inch of the batter without topping around the edge of the pan. • Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before carefully removing the rim of the springform pan. • Slide cake onto a serving plate and top with the whole, fresh raspberries. • Using a small sieve, hold it over the top of the cake and spoon a bit of icing sugar into it, tapping the edges to sprinkle the icing sugar lightly over the top of the cake. Topping: 2 c. (500 ml) fresh raspberries 1/4 c. (60 ml) white sugar 2 tsp. (10 ml) white our Garnish: 1 c. (250 ml) fresh, whole berries BRAISED YAM CHICKEN WITH ZUCCHINIThis is very easy and full of nutrition. It’s a complete meal in a single dish, with perhaps a little rice or spuds on the side. Easy when you have company. 1 lb. (.5 kg) chicken thighs 2 garlic cloves 1 lemon, zested 2 tsp. (10 ml) fresh rosemary 1 tsp. (5 ml) thyme salt & pepper, to taste • Preheat oven to 375° F. • Skin chicken. • Mince garlic and zest lemon; mince rosemary and lemon zest with fresh herbs. • Spread herb and lemon zest mixture over chicken pieces, along with salt and pepper. • Chop zucchini into thick slices and then quarters or halves. Halve mushrooms. • Chop yam into half to one-inch pieces and slice onion into chunks and spread half the yam and the onions and mushrooms on the bottom of a casserole dish. • Top with skinless chicken pieces. Drizzle with olive oil and nestle the remaining yams amongst the chicken with the onions and mushrooms. • Drizzle olive oil and a spoonful of lemon juice over it all; sprinkle with sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper and sprinkle with a little dry, white wine. • Cover the dish and cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and add zucchini pieces. 1 onion 1/2 large yam 3 mushrooms olive oil 1/4 c. (60 ml) dry white wine 1 zucchiniJude’s Kitchen JUDIE STEEVES‘Tis the season to make the most of fresh foodtime. Since it’s the middle of summer, you’re likely to be expecting friends and relatives coming for a visit to beautiful BC. The care and feeding of company is a skill we all learn after awhile but there are ways to make it easier, so you can enjoy having visitors, too. Serve them vegetables, fruit or herbs which are now ready to harvest in your garden, and encourage them to help you pick. Often city dwellers don't even realize tree fruits have a season, or that apricots are ready now, and peaches coming on soon – and berries. And, buy local meat, seafood, cheeses and poultry to go with it. Take your visitors on a farm tour. A winery visit is also fascinating, and most local wineries oer proud tours of their facilities. We even have facilities where jams, pickles and preserves are made from local fruit and vegetables and sold on the premises, and tours are available there as well as teas. Now, once you've got your visitors picking fruit and vegetables, perhaps you can talk them into the joys of helping you preserve the excess as well... When there's a break, serve them a delectable little snack, perhaps accompanied by a local Viognier or Pinot Blanc purchased during your winery tour. In the morning, pick some fresh herbs and vegetables to toss into your scrambled eggs for breakfast. Whatever you do, let yourself relax and enjoy it.
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC JULY 2023 | 39BOOKYOURMarketplace AdTRACTORS/EQUIPMENTREAL ESTATEFOR SALEFOR SALEHAYHAYSERVICESSEEDBERRIESIRRIGATIONFor 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, hydroponics, 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 Feeders & 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 Coldstream DON GILOWSKI 250-260-0828 Royal LePage Downtown Realty Ltd BUYING OR SELLING OKANAGAN FARM, RANCH OR ACREAGE? COURTENAY HEREFORDS. Cattle for Sale: yearling bulls and bred heifers. John 250/334-3252 or Johnny 250-218-2537.PYESTERDAY’S TRADITION - TODAY’S TECHNOLOGYMANAGERS Phil Brown 250-293-6857 Catherine Brown 250-293-6858 ccr.princeton@gmail.com www.coppercreekranch.com PRINCETON, BC Raising registered polled & horned Herefords & F1s. BREEDING BULLS FOR SALE.RAVEN HILL MEADOWS: Purebred North Country Cheviot yearly ewes and rams for sale. 250-722-1882. NanaimoLIVESTOCKIt’s the top linethat makes the Bottom LineBC SHORTHORN ASSOCIATION Scott Fraser, President Bob Merkley, BC Director 250-709-4443 604-607-7733DeBOER’S USED TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT GRINDROD, BCJD 4200 3-BOTTOM ROLL-OVER PLOW 5,500 JD 830 ROTARY MOCO, 9 FT CUT W/FLAIL CONDITIONER 23,500 JD 1630 W/LDR 15,000 MF 165 DSL W/LDR, CANOPY 9,000 JD 3140 4WD, 95 HP W/CAB, LOW (4,500) HRS SOLD! JD 5500 4WD, DSL, ROLL BAR & CANOPY W/LDR, 5,200 HRS 28,000 JD 6400 W/CAB & LDR 60,000 JD 1630 W/LDR 16,000 ED DEBOER 250/838-7362 cell 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/838-9612 cell 250/804-6147CUSTOM BALING 3x4 BIG SQUARES SILAGE BALING/WRAPPING ED DEBOER 250/833-6699 CURT DEBOER 250/804-6147EDVENTURE HAY SALES ENDERBYAvailable 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 Pivots, lease your new or used pivot, Hose reels, RM, Idrio, diesel pumps, centrifugal, sub-mersible, freq drives, pump stations, 30 years experience. Talk to Brock! 250 319 3044<dX`c1ZcXjj`Ô\[j7Zflekipc`]\`eYZ%ZfdfiZXcc1-'+%*)/%*/(+C@E<8;J1),nfi[jfic\jj#d`e`dld(*gclj>JK#\XZ_X[[`k`feXcnfi[`j%),;@JGC8P8;J1),gclj>JKg\iZfclde`eZ_M[WYY[fjcW`ehYh[Z_jYWhZi$8l^ljk@jjl\;\X[c`e\1Alcp).#)')' EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL • LOEWEN 422 vertical mixer wagon, scales, side-shift feed conveyor, good condition, $13,000 • 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 2X3Manure Spreader, JOHN DEERE Model 40T, $3,500; Hay BALE SLED, bunches up approx. 40 bales, $1,500; HAY RAKE, 4 wheels, $1,200; HAY WAGON 16’6” with new deck, $1,500. Call Shawn (604) 615-3646PACIFIC JET OPTICAL SORTER Designed for use with blueberries or cranberries. Ready to place in a production line to reduce labour costs in sorting. Located on Vancouver Island. Asking $19,980. CALL 250-743-9464 or email svanhouwe@outlook.comCall us today for a free consult: 604-835-5155WE PAY CA$H FOR TREES!HAY FOR SALE Large quantities of 3x4 hay & 4x4 WRAPPED SILAGE BALES. Located in Salmon Arm. WE DELIVER. 250-804-6081CASE 3850 disc harrow $6,800 MF DISC HARROW $3,850 KUHN FC300G mower cond; needs one cutter bar bearing & new skirting $1,500 KUHN FC350G in good running condition but needs new skirting $2,500 or both mowers for $3,000 ROCK PICKER We removed tons of rocks off our fields with this converted potato harvester that has a very large rock catch box with hydraulic rock dump control $3,500 CARL 604-825-9108 FARM EQUIPMENTby July 224x3 BIG SQUARES, first crop; Round bales, first crop, 250-833-6699; 250-804-6147ORGANIC FALL RYE Seed For Sale: Cleaned with germination and or-ganic certificate. Produced from cer-tified seed in Armstrong. $650/MT. Call Alden at 204-979-7457PEPPER/PUMPKIN WASHER Working and in good condition Asking $25,000 Call or email for more information 604-576-1727 admin@heppells.ca AUGUST DEADLINE JULY 22ADVERTISING THAT WORKS!Have you moved?subscriptions@countrylifeinbc.comOr has Canada Post changed your mailing address?We wonʼt know unless YOU tell us!
40 | JULY 2023 COUNTRY LIFE IN BCSUMMER IS HERE AND SO ARE YOUR PROJECTS.Breeze through your summer projects with the Kubota BX series. Strength, adaptability, versatile attachments and the power to tackle any chore. Get it done and then some, all summer long.kubota.ca | AMC010PROUD PARTNER OFAVENUE MACHINERY CORP ABBOTSFORD • 604-864-2665 KELOWNA • 250-769-8700 VERNON • 250-545-3355 DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT DAWSON CREEK • 250-782-5281 KAMLOOPS • 250-851-2044 SURREY • 604-576-7506 GERARD’S EQUIPMENT LTD OLIVER • 250-498-2524 HUBER EQUIPMENT PRINCE GEORGE • 250-560-5431 SMITHERS • 250-847-3610 ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD COURTENAY • 250-334-0801 DUNCAN • 250-746-1755 KEMLEE EQUIPMENT LTD CRESTON • 250-428-2254