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by DAVID SCHMIDTDELTA – What a dierence a year makes forthe BC Vegetable Marketing Commission(BCVMC).A year ago, Alf Krause was a rookie chair ofthe commission, operating without a generalmanager and having to deal with somecontentious issues in storage crops.A year later, he has gained considerableexperience, has a new general manager and isclose to resolving the issues.The new general manager is AndreSolymosi, who started with the commission inJune. He was no stranger to the commissionor the sector, as this marks his third term withthe BCVMC.“I worked at the commission for a year in1998, then left to become a charteredaccountant. I returned in 2004 and workedwith then general manager Murray Driedigerfor a year and Tom Demma for three years. In2008, I went to work for Agriculture in theClassroom before moving on to SnowcrestFoods and now I’m back,” Solymosi toldgrowers at the BCVMC annual meeting inDelta, April 6.Krause said his goals as chair are to “getsome stability” back in the industry and ndways to “regain trust in the orderly marketingsystem.“My focus is on working with growers tominimize failures in the marketplace.”Postmaster, Please returnUndeliverable labels to:Country Life in BC1120 East 13th AveVancouver, BC V5T 2M1CANADA POSTESPOST CANADAPostage paid Port payéPublications Mail Post-publications40012122Vol. 102 No. 5Labour BC producers, processors facing worker shortage 7Livestock Cattlemen launch new protection program 15Dairy Gracemar has first robotic rotary parlour in North America 35Lifein BCThe agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915May 2016 • Vol. 102 No. 5Ag investment foundation celebrates 20 years of economic impactKrause aims for trust, stability for veggie growersby DAVID SCHMIDTLANGLEY – When federal and provincialagriculture ministers reached another oftheir five-year agriculture agreements inthe early 1990’s, they decided to letindustry determine how to spend some ofthe money. To do that, they mandated theformation of Canadian Adaptation andRural Development (CARD) councils in eachprovince. These CARD councils were to beled by a board of directors from industry,assisted by representatives of the federaland provincial governments, and woulddole out the money allocated to the CARDprogram.Since the BC Federation of Agriculturewas imploding at the time, six individualorganizations representing dairy, beef,horticulture and hogs agreed to becomethe founding members.The group held its first meeting in May1995, and four months later, the InvestmentAgriculture Foundation of BC wasincorporated as a non-profit society. The BCMinistry of Agriculture chose Harvey Sasakito both represent it on the council and torun it from the side of his desk, with thehelp of Sherry Greening and Elaine Burgess(who is still at IAF).“I don’t think anyone ever foresaw whatit would accomplish,” Sasaki told IAF’s well-attended 20th anniversary celebration atKrause Berry Farms in Langley, April 13.Please see “VEGETABLES” page 2YCOUNTRYPhilip Graham of Abbotsford works on setting up his plow for the championship class at the Chilliwack PlowingMatch, April 2. Graham earned second place honours in the largest class in the competition. Please see full story onpage 38. (David Schmidt photo)Please see “FUNDING” page 21-888-770-7333Quality Seeds ... where quality counts!BC CATTLEMENSPENTICTON MAY 26-28IRRIGATION LTD1-888-675-7999www.watertecna.comPROVINCE WIDE DELIVERYPROVINCE WIDE DELIVERYGrowing morewith less waterFREE PTO PUMPSee our ad on page 40for details!
FUNDING PROJECTS From page 1Country Life in BC • May 20162While most provincialCARD councils only receivedCARD and later AdvancingCanadian Agriculture andAgri-Food (ACAAF) Programfunding, BC saw the potentialof the council. With thesupport of the BCMA, Sasakiand then Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada regionaldirector John Berry were ableto divert just over $21 millionin safety net funding for BCinto the IAF coffers, givingthem a firm financialfoothold.“Things evolved in ahealthy way,” Berry said. “IAFhas been good forgovernment by gettingprograms delivered betterand allowed industry to buildeffective partnerships.”IAF received another boostin the early 2000’s when thenMinister of Agriculture CorkyEvans created the $7 millionAgri Food Futures Funds toassist emerging sectors andregions and chose IAF todeliver the funds.“The Agri Food FuturesFunds were absolutely wise,”says Walt Goerzen, whosucceeded founding IAF chairGary Kenwood as chair of IAFin 2005.“We are still using some ofthat money,” added PeterDonkers, who is now in hiseleventh year as IAF’sexecutive director.He notes IAF has gonefrom three people deliveringtwo programs with limiteddollars to an organizationwhich is currently delivering13 programs and has netassets of over $34 million,eight employees and threesubcontractors, the newestbeing former BC Ministry ofAgriculture agrifoodmarketing specialist DonnaAnaka, just hired as a part-time co-ordinator of the BuyLocal program.“Over the past 20 years, IAFhas held 130 board meetings,110 executive meetings andapproved over 1,700 projectsfor funding,” current IAF chairKen Bates reported. “Theinvestments we make aremaking industry grow.”Help sustainability“We want to fund projectsthat will help thesustainability andcompetitiveness of theindustry,” Bates told theannual meeting, held inAbbotsford the following day.Donkers released an IAF-commissioned impact studyshowing the $192 million(converted to 2015 dollars)IAF has paid out for projectsover the past 20 years hasgenerated an economicimpact of $355 million, or$1.85 for each dollar invested.The projects have resulted in2,824 jobs and $10 million intax revenue.In 2015 alone, IAFcommitted $9.1 million tonew projects and paid out$6.5 million to new andcontinuing projects, Donkersstated.“Our staff work hard topromote the programs andour program managers workclosely with our clients toensure their success,” he said,stressing the foundation isonly successful “if it benefitsindustry.”VEGETABLES From page 1Although there were “a lotof challenges” when he cameon board, Solymosi believesthere is a light at the end ofthe tunnel.Both he and Krausestressed the need fortransparency and fairness incommission policies andincreased enforcement toensure both growers andagencies are adhering tothose policies.“We’re rening how that’sgoing to happen,” Krausesaid.He said the new NaturalProducts Marketing Act willgive the BCVMC moreexibility by allowing it toimpose penalties forinfractions. Under the existingact, the commission’s onlyrecourse was to pull a licence,an action rarely taken since itwould have drasticrepercussions.A new general managerand the Farm Industry ReviewBoard’s nearly-concludedsupervisory review were notthe only good news items.Krause noted potato growerswere successful in getting theCanadian International TradeTribunal to renew the potatoanti-dumping order foranother ve years.In his statistical review,Solymosi also noted bothpotato acreage and pricesincreased in 2015. Totalacreage was up 11% over2014 with most of theincrease coming in yellows,food service and russets. Theincreased acreage and betteryields meant more potatoeswere harvested last year thanin any of the eight previousyears. Returns were also thehighest in nine years, thankslargely to the low Canadiandollar.“The total dollar value forall storage crops in 2015/16 isexpected to be up 28%compared to 2014/15,”Solymosi stated.Lack of local processingmeans the situation isopposite for processing crops,which had their smallestcrops ever in 2015 and areexpected to decrease evenfurther in 2016 with Lucerne’sdecision to take only organicpeas this year.Give peas a chance“We only have oneprocessor interested inbroccoli and Brussels sproutsand we don’t yet know ifanyone will take peas thisyear,” Solymosi reported.The lower Canadian dollaralso helped increase returnsfor greenhouse vegetablegrowers, which saw theiraverage price increase 8% lastyear. Solymosi says totalproduction area increased by18.9 acres, primarily inpeppers, and expects it toincrease by another 50 acresthis year, also primarily inpeppers.BC Vegetable Marketing Commission chair Alf Krause and generalmanager Andre Solymasi pose at the BCVMC annual meeting inDelta. 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 3North Okanagan Livestock Association honours long time secretaryby TOM WALKERLUMBY – The NorthOkanagan LivestockAssociation (NOLA) honouredlong time secretary CherylAltwasser at their recentannual meeting and later at areception at the Altwasserfamily farm in Lumby.“We wanted to let Cherylknow how much we haveappreciated the work she hasdone over the last 12 years,”says long time NOLA directorRon Trickett. Trickett andfellow directors Lani Frenchand Lee Hesketh presentedCheryl with a plaquecontaining a photo of theirformer Charolais herd on thefarm. Cheryl and husband Keithare long standing members ofNOLA. Keith has been adirector and Cheryl acceptedthe position of secretary-treasurer in 2003. “She was really active anddedicated to the association,”says Trickett. “She was aliaison. She kept membersinformed of the beef industryinformation that came acrossher desk.” She also connected withthe board members, arrangedthe several board meetingsand the yearly AGM, saysTrickett. But the highlight washer work to organize and hosttwo BC Cattlemen’sAssociation conventions, in2006 and 2013. “Cheryl was a major factor inmaking these hugeundertakings the greatsuccesses that they were,” saysTrickett. “The meetings toarrange the conventions wereendless and Cheryl was alwaysthere. And she handledbudgets of well over $100,000.”That all took place whileCheryl maintained her full timeteaching job in Lumby, mostrecently working with specialneeds students, after sheearned her Masters in SpecialEducation. The Altwasser family farmjust outside of Lumby hasbeen Cheryl and Keith’s home.Keith started working with thefamily commercial beef herdafter his father got out of thedairy business. An earlyinterest in breeding led him tobring in a Charolais bull andhe saw a quick 100 lb. gain inthe weight of the calves fromthe Charolais cross. “We eventually switched topurebred Charolais with a 50to 55 cow herd,” says Keith,“which we maintained for 43years.” “We showed that a littleoutt in BC can play with thebig boys,” says Keith. “Cheryltook the articial inseminationcourse the year before I didand she bred and produced abull calf that won championCharolais bull of Canada in1992 at the Regina Agribition,the ultimate show of Canada.” They sold that bull to asyndicate in the US. “We were at the show inDallas, Texas in 1993 when thebull won reserve in the states,”says Keith.The Altwassers were alsoactive in the BC CharolaisAssociation. Keith was adirector and eventuallypresident and Cheryl thesecretary. They also worked topromote beef at the InteriorProvincial Exhibition (IPE)including developing thepopular “Stars of the Future”and “Sires of Tomorrow”classes.“We belonged to a lot ofstu,” says Keith. “It actually iskind of scary.”“The reason we gotinvolved was we always triedto better the industry,”explains Cheryl. “It’s been a lotfun and we have met manygreat people. But it’s time for achange; you need to getyounger people involved.”NOLA directorRon Trickett, newsecretary JannaQuesnel (andson), NOLAdirectors LaniFrench and LeeHesketh were onhand to honourlong-timesecretary CherylAltwasser (centre)for her manyyears of service tothe organization.(Tom Walkerphoto)ExclusivelyKrone Exclusive Camless Pick Up- Fewer Moving Parts & 30 % Faster Rotation Verses Conventional Pick Up Increased Capacity & Low Maintenance The Bale Chamber- Dry Hay & Silage Ready Two Separate Chain & Bar Elevators Dense, Well Shaped Bales Easy Operation- Low Horsepower Requirement ISOBUS Compatible Automatic Oiler & Banked Grease ZerksTwoABBOTSFORD | KELOWNA | VERNONwww.avenuemachinery.caVisit us soon!ABBOTSFORD1521 Sumas Way, 1-888-283-3276KELOWNA 1090 Stevens Rd, 1-800-680-0233VERNON7155 Meadowlark Rd, 1-800-551-6411Visit us soon!ABBOTSFORD1521 Sumas Way, 1-888-283-3276KELOWNA 1090 Stevens Rd, 1-800-680-0233VERNON7155 Meadowlark Rd, 1-800-551-6411
Like it or not, the BC Hydro and Power Authority(Hydro) plays a big role in the daily lives of mostBritish Columbians. Hydro is a Crown corporationthat was created in 1961. For most of the interveningyears, it has provided cheap and reliable energy to itscustomers and expanded generation capacity to stayahead of a rapidly growing market. Thanks tomountains and moisture, Hydro has been able meetmost of the province’s power needs by turning waterand gravity into electricity and largely avoiding whatare commonly deemed less environmentally-friendlyalternatives. As a Crown corporation, Hydro’s course has oftenbeen set with a political destination in mind. Energyand transportation mega-projects have been a stapleof provincial governments since confederation.Railways, bridges, highways and dams have beenreliable sources of political prosperity. None of themhave been entirely without controversy but even adeparture like Expo 86 seemed to pass publicmuster. It was a grand coming out party for Sky Trainand, heck, everyone likes a party. In the mid 1990’s, the province embarked on theill-conceived Fast Cat ferry program. Initiallyestimated at $210 million, the cost ballooned to $463million by the time the third vessel was completed.The last ferry never entered service. The entireconcept was a asco and the Fast Cats wereoperational for less than two years. All three weresold at auction in 2003 for $19.4 million. Eventually,they made their way to the Middle East where theywere gifted to the government of Egypt. The Fast Cat project was the political kiss of deathfor the government behind it and it dogs the partyresponsible to this day. With a price tag nearing halfa billion dollars tied to the fact they didn’t work, theentire Fast ferry program has had a long run as theposter child for government hubris and scalincompetence, but something far more spectacularis about to blow those sad-sack Cats right out of thewater.Anyone who has been paying attention to theirmonthly hydro bill for the past half dozen yearsshould already have a pretty strong inkling of whatcould make them forget fast ferries. Hydro rates haveincreased dramatically in this decade. Especially since2013 when the province announced a 10 year rateplan for Hydro that would increase rates by 28% by2018. Rates are increased every April 1 (no kidding). Theincrease was nine percent in 2014 and six percent in2015. This year’s four percent should show up onyour next bill. All of the increases are compoundedas are the additional ve percent Rate Rider and theapplicable taxes.The cumulative costs are frightening. Power thatcost $10,000 in 2009 will cost $15,474 in 2018. Add inthe additional Rate Rider and taxes and the totalballoons to $17,212. Rates will continue to rise after2018 but no one in the government is talkingnumbers at this point. What is known is the troubling Hydro debt guresthat are driving the soaring price increases.According to Hydro’s 2015 annual report, that debtamounts to (here in billions): Regulatory (deferral) Accounts: $5.1433Long Term Debt: $16.8960Long Term Energy Purchase Agreements: $53.8170Total Debt: $76.1460If you are having trouble wrapping your headaround $76 billion dollars think of it as 492 Fast Cats.To be fair, some of the long term energy purchasescould be oset by the sale of that energy. Theproblem is that the long term purchase obligationsare to Independent Power Producers (IPP) asmandated by the provincial government in 2002.Hydro was told its future needs were to be met byIPPs and to encourage them, the governmentshackled Hydro to long term, high priced purchaseagreements. Many of the agreements obligate Hydroto purchase power even when it isn’t needed. Thishas resulted in Hydro shutting down its owngeneration and spilling water from its reservoirs tocreate a market for IPP power. This means payingIPPs $79.54 per megawatt hour (MWh) for power itcan generate on its own for $8.11 per MWh. In 2015,Hydro paid 76% of its purchase costs to IPPs whosupplied 24% of its domestic supply. Export sales at $20 to $25 per MWh don’t makesense either. The only way any of this will work in thelong run is if electricity rates end up reecting theactual cost that Hydro is paying for it. With aprovincial election scheduled for May 9, 2017, rateincreases have been pegged at 3.5% in 2017 and 3%in 2018. After that, hang on to your hat!Editor & Publisher Peter WildingPhone: 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003E-mail: countrylifeinbc@shaw.ca • Web: countrylifeinbc.comAssociate Editor David SchmidtPhone: 604-793-9193E-mail: davidschmidt@shaw.caAdvertising Sales & Marketing Cathy GloverPhone: 604/328-3814E-mail: cathyglover@telus.netProduction Ass’t: Ann Morris • Senior Researcher: Phil “Elwood” GordonCOUNTRYLifeAdvertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portionof the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance forsignature will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at theapplicable rate.In the event of a typographical error which advertises goods or services at a wrong price, suchgoods or services need not be sold at the advertised price. Advertising is an offer to sell, and maybe withdrawn at any time. All advertising is accepted subject to publisher’s approval.All of Country Life in British Columbia’s content is covered by Canadian copyright law.Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and not necessarily those ofCountry Life in British Columbia.Letters are welcome, though they may be edited in the interest of brevity before publication.All errors brought to our attention will be corrected.The agricultural news sourcein British Columbia since 1915Published monthly byCountry Life 2000 Ltd.Vol. 102 No. 5May 2016in B.C.1120 East 13th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 GST Reg. No: 86878 7375 Subscriptions: $18.90/year • $33.60/2 years • $37.80/3 yearsAll prices incl GSTHydro debt gives new meaning to power struggleThe Back 40BOB COLLINSCountry Life in BC • May 20164Government support for agricultureis an easy target for criticism, especiallyhere in BC where fruit growers andothers have long pointed to thedisconnect between agriculture’scontribution to the provincialeconomy and what Victoria budgetsfor the sector’s support.It’s therefore worth taking a momentto acknowledge the success of theInvestment Agriculture Foundation ofBC, birthed during the sector’s greatupheavals of the mid-1990s.A child of necessity, it represents thebest of BC ingenuity with its innovativemodel for lling the void asgovernment downloadedadministrative responsibilities onindustry, and the old pillars oforganized agriculture crumbled.The foundation took the form of anot-for-prot organization whereprovincial representatives and industrycould discuss how best to deployfunding from senior levels ofgovernment. In this sense, activitiestook place at arm’s length from bothorganizations, but served the interestsof both. If not impartial, it was apragmatic means of getting thingsdone.The results have been impressive.The foundation’s funding activitieshave delivered a cumulative economicimpact of $355 million over the past 20years, according to an analysis whichEdmonton-based consultants R.A.Malatest & Associates prepared for theorganization. That works out to $1.85for every dollar of funding paid out. Better yet, the foundation seeks tobe transparent, posting eight years’worth of program information onlineso that people know what’s beingdone with public monies.This is a model for othergovernment and industryorganizations, which aren’t always sotransparent.The commitment to responsibilityand accountability has made IAFBC thego-to organization when governmentand industry need assistance withadministering funding. When the oldOkanagan Valley Tree Fruit Authoritywas disbanded, government askedIAFBC to administer replant funding.More recently, government has leftStable investmentindustry in charge and been content toplead ignorance when something goeswrong on the grounds that it’s nolonger a public aair.The success of IAFBC for the past 20years shows that there’s a place forgovernment and industry tocollaborate for the benet of both,while assuring taxpayers that theirhard-earned cash handed togovernment each spring is being putto good use.
The ComprehensiveEconomic and TradeAgreement (CETA) betweenCanada and the EuropeanUnion is on track forimplementation in 2017, a fulldecade since leaders rstbegan discussions.So now what?A challenge faces thevarious interests in theCanadian agriculture sector asit postures for status as aglobal trader.Some analysts, such asLaura Dawson, director of theCanada Institute inWashington, view CETA’ssignicance to Canada issomething far morefundamental than thepotential increase in trademeasured in dollars.“It is the rst tradeagreement that we have donewith a modern, industrializedset of economies for morethan 20 years,” she said. Thelast big deal before that, theNorth American Free TradeAgreement, was negotiatedbefore there was an internet.It is the rst deal Canadanegotiated in what she callsthe “mega-regional” world oftrade. The Trans-Pacic TradePartnership quickly followedand there will be more tocome.“Canada needs to be aplayer in the mega-regionalsbecause eventually thesemega-regionals are going toconverge,” Dawson said.The CETA deal also exposesthe reality that despite all thework that goes into gettingthese agreements negotiatedand through the process ofpolitical ratication, theindustry’s work is only justbeginning.Canadian agriculture facesmajor technical, infrastructureand cultural hurdles in sellingto Europe. Industry playerswill have to work together innew ways if they are to turnthis new market potential intomarket share.“Twenty or 30 years ago, Ithink that trade negotiationswere like a panacea. If we hadthe agreement,everything else wouldbe ne,” Dawson said.“But what we arediscovering now isthat trade agreementis the rst step. Atrade agreement will help toreduce the risk, it will help toprovide more transparentpractices in the market youare looking at, but … oursmall- and medium-sizeexporters really need thatnext step, which is tradefacilitation services, which ishow to do business.”The technical and non-taribarriers are huge. Forexample, the increasedmarket access for beef ispredicated on that beef beingraised without the use ofgrowth hormones, which aregenerally accepted and widelyused in Canada.Despite the potential forlucrative sales, senior industryocials estimate this countrycurrently produces enoughhormone-free beef to ll one-fth of the available quota.With the elimination of the UScountry-of-origin labellinglaws, large-scale operators willcontinue to focus on themarket they know in thesouth. Smaller operators maylack the resources to take therisk.Dawson said the mosttangible impediment toCanada extending its globalreach is its limitedtransportation system; it can’tquickly or reliably increasesupply for new markets.That observation wasaverse and they are not asdriven to innovate as theirAmerican counterparts.Lead researcher CharlesPlant says both qualitiescontribute to a “lack ofaggressiveness” in globaltrade.“Canadians, whencompared with Americans,tend to be more afraid to takenew risks – so theyare less likely to tryto sell into an areaof the world inwhich they have lessexperience,” he said.New agreementsopen the door tonew trade. Butturning opportunityinto sales requiresambition, a hightolerance for riskand perseverance. Canada hassome work to do.Laura Rance is editor ofManitoba Co-operatorCanadian producers not ready to take on global trade agreementsFarmers need to be more innovative, take more risks to benefit from international tradeViewpointLAURA RANCEMay 2016 • Country Life in BC 5backed up in spades by therecently released review of theCanadian Transportation Act,which saidCanada has failedto strategicallyinvest in atransportationsystem that willmaintain andgrow itscompetitivenesson the worldstage.However,while Canada isseen to have naturaladvantages as a global trader,our Canadian nature isperhaps the biggest thingholding us back.“As someone who is a tradehistorian and who haswatched these trends, Canadahas been largely complacent;we’ve been lulled intocomplacency by easy tradewith the United States,”Dawson said. “We haven’tbeen particularly aggressive inseeking new markets.”You would think that acountry as dependent asCanada is on global exportswould be the opposite.Not so, says a newlyreleased study by theUniversity of Toronto’s ImpactCentre. It found thatCanadians culturally are risk“Canadians, when compared withAmericans, tend to be more afraid to takenew risks – so they are less likely to try tosell into an area of the world in which theyhave less experience.”YEAR GEARBOXLIMITED WARRANTYNew for 2016 comes the Pulsar Plus for tractors rated between 40 - 60 HP. This updated mower features not only Category 1, but also Category 2 and Quick Tach mounting options to fit your equipment. With a cutting path ranging from 60” - 84”, and a cutting height of 2” - 10” with the standard floating top link, this mower will get the job done the first time. To ensure even cutting and shredding every time, the deck has been outfitted with 3 blades covering more area on each pass.For more information contact your nearest MK Martin dealer or visit us online.GET THE EDGE ON SPRING CUTTING.Private100 acre farm with 4 bed/4 bath custom built executive home. Approx 60 acrescultivated; rest treed pasture. 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Country Life in BC • May 20166May 3 is World PressFreedom Day, an annualopportunity initiated by theUnited Nations in 1993 toremember the restrictionsjournalists around the worldface in trying to convey eventhe most basic information.Often, journalists put theirlives on the line to confrontcorruption by governmentand businesses alike, and toexpose the circumstances ofthe poor, the marginalizedand the powerless.Most farm journalists inCanada aren’t placing theirlives at risk to tell stories, butaccessing information can bechallenging.Canada is a signatory tothe 1948 UN Declaration ofHuman Rights, whichacknowledges peoples’ rightto freedom of opinion andexpression as well as the rightto seek and receiveinformation through themedia about what theirgovernments are doing.But too often, access islimited or simply doesn’texist, either at the federallevel or provincially.“With mounting concernover the government’s‘growing secrecy’ andrampant bureaucracy inexecuting Access toInformation (ATI)requests, StephenHarper’s reign wasconsidered a ‘darkage’ for journalism,”says ReportersWithout Borders,which tracks pressfreedom around the world.“Current Prime Minister[Justin] Trudeau has stronglyadvocated for a ‘free media’but only time will tell if hispromises will be fullled.”Triple-deleted emailsHere in BC, Premier ChristyClark’s government pledgedto stop the scandalouspractice of triple-deleting e-mails, a strategy designed tofoil freedom of informationrequests.But that doesn’t meaninformation is any easier toaccess.Queries regarding theprovince’s tree fruit replantprogram earlier this year, forexample, found that aconsistent run of data fromthe program’s inception in1991 to the present isn’tavailable. An initial request regardingtotal funding for the programand total acreage replantedgarnered a funding amountfor the period from 2001 to2014, but no acreage data.A request to the BC FruitGrowers Association, whichcurrently administersprogram funding, yieldeddata for the period from 1991to 2005 that was roughlyconsistent with numbersformer agriculture ministerPat Bell provided that sameyear.However, data forsubsequent years was on ahard drive in storage and noteasily available and the trailled to a senior economist andstatistician with the BCMinistry of Agriculture whoreceived the data fromindustry. However, shereturned the query to theministry’s communicationsocer, who said nothingmore was forthcoming.Sources within the ministryindicate the data simply isn’treadily available and likelywon’t be saved by court orderas it’s simply too costly torecover.“It wasn’t our nest hour asa ministry,” the staer said, onthe condition of anonymity.Not-so-fine hoursBut those not-so-ne hourscontinue.Annual reports and serviceplans for the BC Ministry ofAgriculture online begin in2013, leaving the public todig for information on whatthe ministry was doing beforethen.Perhaps this is no surprise;the sketchy record-keeping,as this paper reported lastyear regarding the use offarmland for a carbon osetscheme, extends to the abilityof the province to trackwhat’s happening on BCfarmland.Of the 11.6 million acreswithin the province’sAgricultural Land Reserve,agriculture minister NormLetnick conrmed that 3,700acres had been reforested –based on estimates preparedin 2011.“I’ve asked the ministry togo back and check againbecause I’ve been hearingfrom some of the local MLAsthat there are some otherproperties that have done thesame since the last time thecount was made,” he toldCountry Life in BC.A month later, he told thepaper that upwards of 25,000acres might have beenreforested.Agricultural organizationsare often no better, whetherbecause of the myriadresponsibilities downloadedFreedom to information limited at agriculture ministryMinistry, farm organizations aren’t able or are unwilling to corroborate research data, and that’s a problemIn PerspectivePETER MITHAMto them or out of fear for thedignity and honour of theindustry.When it comes to knowingwhere funds devoted to theprovincially fundedEnvironmental Farm Planprogram go, for example, thegatekeepers are mum.Karen Murray, who co-ordinates the EnvironmentalFarm Plan program for theadministrator, Ardcorp, said alist of program participantsisn’t publicly disclosedbecause participants don’tagree to the disclosure of thisinformation and some fearthey may actually be heldaccountable for theirpractices. However,participating farms receivesigns to advertise theirparticipation in the programbut display is voluntary.Without signage, the publicis in the dark as to whichfarms received funding underthe program, and are unableto determine if the funding isactually doing any good.Not unique to BCThe defensive stance isn’tunique to BC.Requests for informationfrom fruit growers’organizations in Ontario lastfall failed to pry loose evensuch basic facts as theamount of stone fruit andgrape acreage in theprovince.Grape Growers of Ontariosaid its sta was too busy anddeclined further assistanceeven after a direct referralfrom sta at the VinelandResearch and InnovationCentre.While numbers eventuallyturned up in a report to whichall grower organizations hadcontributed (located viaGoogle), the individualorganizations denied that theinformation was accurate asthe industry’s transition to aGIS-based system in 2007 wasgiving far better information.The experiences withindustry organizations don’tsurprise Owen Roberts, vice-president of the InternationalFederation of AgriculturalJournalists and researchcommunications director atthe University of Guelph inGuelph, Ontario.“Ag, overall, is in a catch-upposition when it comes tocommunications so the samemight go for media relations,”he said. “Given the e-reality ofnews, perhaps media relationspeople or media membersneed to work harder thanever to cultivate meaningfulrelationships that promote aculture of responsiveness andresponsibility.”LOW HEIGHT FOR EASY LOADINGKuhnNorthAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®MatsquiAg-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141 Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101Visit your localKuhn KnightDealer today!1200 SERIES EASYSPREAD® APRON BOX SPREADERr4WIIGFFGRGPFCDNGEQPUVTWEVKQPHQTNQPINKHGr(TKEVKQPTGUKUVCPVRQN[HNQQTr'EQPQOKECNOCEJKPGYKVJNQYJQTUGRQYGTTGSWKTGOGPVsJGCRGFEWHVECRCEKVKGU
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 7Stories by PETER MITHAMCHILLIWACK – There’s morework available on local farmsthan people willing to do it,says Crystal Ellis, manager ofthe Agricultural Labour Pool inChilliwack.The business, which hasbeen connecting employerswith workers since 1974, haslistings foreverything fromeld labour totruck drivers andequipmentoperators; ocesta, supervisorsand managers arealso in demand.“There’s notnecessarily ashortage ofpeople that canwork; I thinkthere’s a shortageof people thatwant to work, that want to dothe jobs,” Ellis said. “More andmore [employers] have to getback on the tools becausepeople just don’t want to stickwith the jobs very long.”While training programs arein vogue among students whowant skills, graduates are oftensurprised at what those skillswill earn them in the eld.Workers who have beenlaid o in Alberta, by contrast,want work but they’ve also gotno qualms about returning totheir old jobs when theybecome available because thewages are better.“There’s lots of them thatsay they don’t want to go backbut as soon as the jobbecomes available again,they’re gone,” Ellis said. “Theymake such good money that ifthe oil company calls themtomorrow, they’re willing tosay, ‘I’m outta here.’”Then there are the newgraduates who don’t want toreceive minimum wage.The challenges are thefrontline face of an issue theCanadian Agricultural HumanResource Council highlightedin a series ofreports released ata special event inWinnipeg thisspring.A reportprepared by thecouncil inpartnership withthe ConferenceBoard of Canadafound thatCanada’sagriculture sectorfaces a shortfall of59,200 workers,and the gap costs the industry$1.5 billion in lost sales eachyear.BC, where berry farms losttonnes of fruit last year whencrops came on too fast andworkers couldn’t keep up,hasn’t even seen the worst ofthe job crunch.It is losing just $60 million insales each year – just 4% of thenational total – but the lossesare set to deepen as the sectorloses workers to retirementand other factors.By 2025, more than 27.5%of the current workforce willhave retired, the least of any ofthe four western provinces butmore than Ontario andQuebec. While immigrationwill oset some of the losses,the gap between demand andBC producers, processors facing labour crunchavailable workers will continueto grow.The shortage will come at acost, especially as the provincehas pledged to grow theprovince’s agri-food revenuesto $15 billion a year by 2020from $12.3 billion in 2014.That’s already a longer timeframe than last Septemberwhen the province forecastthat sales would reach $14billion by 2017.To address the shortfall, theprovince has pledged to giveBC residents the skills neededto ll the vacancies throughthe BC Skills for Job Blueprint.It met with processors thisspring as part of itscommitment under the BCJobs Plan to develop theagricultural workforce.However, the province’sannouncement was silent ontraining for farm workers,where unemployment hasleapt from a low of 5.9% in2007 to 12.6% last year.The agricultural workforcedropped from 37,100 peopleto 25,400 over the sameperiod, but had gone largelyunnoticed by the province.BC agriculture ministerNorm Letnick told Country Lifein BC last fall that the issue of adeclining farm workforce hadnever come up on his watch,but that he would ask ministrysta to see if unemploymentwas prevalent in any onesector. While the BC AgrifoodA more accurate picture of BC agriculture sector is setto emerge in the months ahead as Ottawa launches thenext census of agriculture on May 10, 2016.The census, which takes place every ve years, providesa picture of the farm sector across the country, givinggovernment and industry a picture of who’s running thecountry’s farms, who’s doing the work and the kinds ofcrops and livestock they’re managing.Concerns about the aging farm population should beanswered in the rst data release from the survey on May10, 2017. The initial results will provide information onfarms and farm operators.However, the 2016 census will address four new topics,including succession planning, a nod to the growingattention generational transfers of farm businesses arereceiving.Direct marketing, the adoption of new technologiesand the use renewable energy systems will also feature.“These topics reect changes in the industry and stronguser demand for this new information,” Statistics Canadaexplains. Participation in the survey is mandatory.Most farmers will receive two census questionnaires, incase the rst is lost or forgotten. An enumerator typicallycontacts farmers in late June if a response hasn’t beenreceived.Census set to take stockand Seafood Strategic GrowthPlan has promised sector-specic training, Country Life inBC wasn’t told of a specicsector that's of concern.He countered thatmechanization and the growthof farm revenues meant thateven if the workforce wassmaller than it used to be,agrifood revenues werecontinuing to increase.“While the count of thenumber of jobs is down, thequality of the jobs isimproving every year,” he toldCountry Life in BC. “I talk tofarmers and ranchers andproducers all year round, andfor the most part what I’mhearing are good news stories– stories of increased sales,stories of increased condencein their future.”Crystal EllisSERVICE ANYWHERE!FREE ESTIMATES CALL 604-530-2412MENTION THIS AD FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNT!Replacing gravel or dirt or repaving yoursileage bins with asphalt invari ably guarantees a healthy increase in yourfarm’s value, now and into the future. 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 9Lengthy learning curvefor antibiotic-free poultryby DAVID SCHMIDTVANCOUVER – For years,chicken growers have reliedon the preventative use ofantibiotics to help themmanage coccidiosis andclostridium in their ocks. Ithas been an eective way tominimize mortalities andmaximize production.Increasingly, however,government, healthpractitioners and consumersare demanding the poultrysector stop using Category 1and 2 antibiotics, saying theircontinued use in poultry couldlead to a buildup of resistancein both birds and humans. Thatwould be catastrophic as thereare few if any alternatives totheir use to manage humandisease outbreaks.While many growers haverecently started experimentingwith antibiotic-free chickenproduction, Derek Detzler ofFisher Farms in Ontario, whogrows 90,000 birds per cycle in“normal” two-storey barns, hasbeen doing it for the pastdecade. When he started,there was no demand forantibiotic-free chicken. So whychange?“We started to seecoccidiosis outbreaks in ourocks,” he told growers in awell-attended seminar duringthe BC Poultry Conference inVancouver. “The drugs wewere using were losingecacy and we expected wewouldn’t get any newproducts.”He found some coccivaccine to displace the wildcoccidiosis endemic in hisbarns and now uses vaccines,probiotics and essential oilsinstead of the antibiotics andmedicated water he had beenrelying on.Although he is now able toachieve a target weight of 2.25kgs at 39 days, there were a lotof challenges along the way.“There’s a denite learningcurve,” Detzler says, notingmanagement factors have a“huge impact” on coccivaccine cycling.Mortality was a major issueat rst, averaging 7% in therst year. However, that hasdropped dramatically as thefarm learned how to manageantibiotic-free rearing and isnow down to just 4%.Chicks are started at“whatever it takes to get theirtemperature up to 104°F,” hesays, noting it changes fromock-to-ock and barn-to-barn. To achieve that, he usesborder guards to keep thechicks under the brooder andprovides supplemental heatand feed as necessary. He hasalso changed the feed to makeit more digestible and includeless animal proteins.“Animal proteins make thebirds more predisposed tonecrotic enteritis,” he states.Detzler admits there is acost to antibiotic freeproduction. Feed conversiondrops by 4-8 points, mortalityis up by 1-3%, and feed costsare up to 10¢ per kg higher.Farmers, agribusinesses continue to make a differenceAnother good crowd turned up at McClary Auctions for the annual Farmers Make A Dierenceauction in support of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. (David Schmidt photo)by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – BC farmers and agricultural suppliers are making a dierence in the livesof people aected by the continuing conict in Syria.Although it didn’t quite reach last year’s record total, the annual Farmers Make aDierence sale at McClary Auctions in Abbotsford March 24, raised around $145,000 for theCanadian Foodgrains Bank. The money will be matched 4:1 by the Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency and used to feed Syrian refugees in Lebanon.“Given the Syrian situation and the fact we now have some Syrian refugees in our owncommunities, we thought that was the right place to put our donations this year,” saysspokesman Bob Brandsma.He continues to be impressed with the support the auction receives from both farmersand agribusiness.“We didn’t get as many cattle from Vancouver Island and the Interior this year but weprobably had more donations from merchants and farmers in the Fraser Valley. We had somany generous people.”Brandsma notes some of the people who had been organizing the sale in the past,including long-time chair Clarence Tuin, have now retired, replaced by “younger blood.”He believes it’s been a healthy transition, saying the change is generating more interestamong a broader range of people.“This year’s sale was just awesome and I think we’re going to be in good shape for nextyear as well.”The annual sale is held on the third Thursday of March each year and has spawned anumber of similar sales throughout Western Canada.PROGRAM FUNDING PROVIDED BY“ THE SUPPORT OF THE BUY LOCAL PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED US TO PRODUCE AN IDENTITY FOR BC FLORALTHAT FLORISTS AND MASS MARKET RETAILERS ALIKE HAVE BEEN EXCITED TO BE INVOLVED WITH.“ Bob Pringle, United Flower Growers’ Co-opSupported by BC’s Buy Local programHelping BC’s agriculture, food and seafood sectors enhance local marketing H RUWVWRLQFUHDVHFRQVXPHUGHPDQGand sales of BC agrifood and seafood. Contact us today about funding opportunities. T 250.356.1662 E funding@iafbc.caW iafbc.ca facebook.com/InvestAgBC twitter.com/iafbc protein, mineral & vitamin supplementation for sheep, goats & cattle.All of your equine and livestock feed needs available at: Armstrong // Country West Supply // 1-250-546-9174 Creston // Sunset Seed Co. // 1-250-428-4614 Wasa // Wasa Hardware & Building Centre // 1-205-422-3123
by PETER MITHAMABBOTSFORD – Farm CreditCanada’s annual survey offarmland values across thecountry pointed to ongoingstrength in BC, with values up6.5% in 2015 – the greatestannual increase since theheady days that preceded thenancial crisis of 2008.But unlike in previous years,the report made no mentionof competition from non-farmbuyers. While retirees andhobby farmers have uppedthe ante on commercialgrowers, FCC made nomention of their inuence onland markets.Rather, competition forlarge parcels in the LowerMainland was cited as thecause of stronger values in theFraser Valley while cherrygrowers drove gains in theOkanagan. The increaseselsewhere pushed morebuyers into the Kootenayregion and one might expect– given trends in theresidential market – toVancouver Island, where fewerproperties were on the marketfor extended periods of time.Despite anecdotal reportsof locals being outbid onproperties in Northern BC,FCC said the Cariboo andnorthwestern BC had seen“minimal changes in landvalues.”The prosperous state offarmland markets wasundercut, however, by thedire eects the increases havehad on farm economics,according to a reportKwantlen PolytechnicUniversity researchers wrotefor credit union Vancity.The report indicates thatthe smallest parcels typicallysell for upwards of $350,000an acre, while larger parcels of20 acres and more start at$50,000 an acre (that’s $1million right there) up to$120,000 an acre.FCC doesn’t report actualvalues in its annual survey ofbenchmark properties acrossthe country but it told theauthors of the Kwantlenreport “the nancial viabilityof farm businesses becomesquestionable when landprices reach $80,000 an acre.”While producers of supply-managed commodities areinsulated from the impact ofland costs, the Kwantlenreport said that MetroVancouver and Fraser Valleyfarmland simply isn’tattractive to prospectivefarmers – a point noted byToronto investment rmBonneeld Inc., which toldCountry Life in BC that landeconomics in the region ruleout investment.Kwantlen’s report forVancity came to a similarconclusion.“Existing farmers arechallenged to come up withenough money to expandtheir operations and newfarmers are all but shut out offarmland purchases,” it said.“Some local vegetable andfruit crop farmers havepurchased land in the UnitedCountry Life in BC • May 201610Farming is no longer “economically serviceable” in the Fraser Valley, where farmland values haveskyrocketed to as much as $120,000 per acre, according to a study out of Kwantlen Polytechnic.(Randy Giesbrecht photo)States and are looking atother provinces for lessexpensive land than thatavailable in Metro Vancouver.”The report encourages“stronger policy solutions” toaddress rising farmland valuesand prevent properties frombeing priced out ofproduction.“There is no directconnection between farmlandprices and the price we’repaying for food, now or in thefuture,” said Kent Mullinix,director of the Institute forSustainable Food Systems atKwantlen PolytechnicUniversity and a co-author ofthe report. “The value offarmland in Metro Vancouver… really isn’t economicallyserviceable by agriculture.”To protect farmland,Mullinix said the speculativevalue has to be taken out ofthe equation – but moreoften, farmers are takingthemselves out of theequation and nding landelsewhere.The report’s authors believethe supply of farmland couldbe increased if unfarmed landwithin the Agricultural LandReserve (ALR) were broughtinto production. Programsassisting new farmers toaccess new acreage are alsoproposed.To make sure propertiesremain in production, thereport urges “bold, forward-thinking” steps to prevent theloss of farmers, such asexcluding those who lackappropriate training or skillsfrom operating in the ALR.Registering long-termleases to protect farmers inthe event a property sells to anew owner who might wantto terminate the lease isanother proposal.REASON 3: Our Alexander Knives, when paired with our patented Vertical Knives, create an unparalleled cutting action. The curved carbide coated cutting edge and angle of the Alexander Knives increases the aggressiveness of cut to improve the processing rate of round baled forages, especially coarser forages. Our Vertical Knives, which are mounted on our slide plate, improve processing and feedout of high forage rations. Together with our four other exclusive auger features, we produce a faster and more uniform mix than sluggish conventional augers, which typically take too long to process forage, resulting in too many fine particles in the shakerALEXANDER KNIVESVERTICAL KNIVESSIX REASONS WHY OUR SQUARE-CUT AUGER RESISTS SORTING:www.JAYLOR.com | 800.809.8224SIX REASONS WHY OUR SQUARE-CUT AUGER RESISTS SORTING:REASON 3: Our Alexander Knives, when paired with our patented Vertical Knives, create an unparalleled cutting action. The curved carbide coated cutting edge and angle of the Alexander Knives increases the aggressiveness of cut to improve the processing rate of round baled forages, especially coarser forages. Our Vertical Knives, which are mounted on our slide plate, improve processing and feedout of high forage rations. Together with our four other exclusive auger features, we produce a faster and more uniform mix than sluggish conventional augers, which typically take too long to process forage, resulting in too many fine particles in the shaker box. Nutritionists say if you want to resist sorting you’ll need a TMR with optimum shaker box results, and with a Jaylor you can deliver that ration every time.SIX REASONS WHY RESISTS SORContact your local dealer for a demo today:AVENUE MACHINERY CORPAbbotsford 604.864.2665Vernon 250.545.3355Stronger land values making farming unsustainableA Firsthand Understanding Of Your Family’s Wealth PrioritiesMark Driediger, CFP, Senior Wealth AdvisorAssante Financial Management Ltd.www.MarkDriediger.com | (604) 859-4890 Farm Transition Coaching Customized Portfolio Strategy Retirement Income PlanningPlease visit www.assante.com/legal.jsp or contact Assante at 1-800-268-3200 for information with respectto important legal and regulatory disclosures relating to this notice.Your Farm. Your Family. Your Future.
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 11by PETER MITHAMFORT ST JOHN – With overseas investorsoutbidding locals for farmland in northern BC andretirees snapping up acreages from Delta to DawsonCreek, nding a way to acquire land for foodproduction can be challenging.Urban farms are seen as a launch pad for newfarmers in Vancouver while other municipalities inthe Lower Mainland have considered leasing land togrowing operations.Recently, a Toronto investment rm entered theBC market with the purchase of an 8,345-acre ranchnorth of Fort St John. It has since leased to anAlberta operation – all part of its plan to acquirefarm properties in support of farming, rather than incompetition with it.The acquisition was made through BonneeldCanadian Farmland LP III, a $261 million fundbacked by some of the country’s major institutionalinvestors. Bonneeld Inc., the investment rm thatset it up, launched two earlier funds in the seriestotaling approximately $60 million. Those drewbacking from individual investors, typically high networth individuals with an interest in real estate.But the farmer is key, says Marcus Mitchell,director, portfolio operations, with Bonneeld.“You want to make sure you have a local partnerwith which your interests are aligned,” he explains.Bonneeld uses its capital to acquire propertiesfrom farmers who are retiring and seeking a buy, orexpansion-minded growers who want to free up theaccumulated equity in their properties for capitalprojects. (With existing farmers, it never acquires fulltitle to a property.)It then leases properties to growers who needland, entering long-term leases that provide themwith the assurance that they won’t be kicked o theland two or three years down the road.“We are always looking for opportunities wherebyour investment creates value; it’snot a zero-sum game,” Mitchellsays. “We view ourselves as anancial partner to progressivefarm operators.”Bonneeld works strictly withparties based in Canada,ensuring that investments are inthe national interest and respectlocal legislation regardingforeign ownership of farmland.“There’s a case to be made that the assets inCanada are benetting Canadians,” Mitchell says.“It’s a pretty happy marriage. We look at theattributes of Canadian farmland with respect to itsability to provide a Canadian person with a return.”The return benets investors who want exposureto the agricultural sector and it benets farmers whoare able to develop their operations with the help ofthe kind of investor who might otherwise becompeting with them for land opportunities.However, competition hasn’t been a signicantissue for Bonneeld, Mitchell says, because it isbuilding relationships with farmers who want to seetheir properties remain in production. They’re notthe kind apt to sell to just anyone.Bonneeld now owns more than 75,000 acres inevery province except Quebec, PEI andNewfoundland.The acquisition in the Peace region last fall wasthe company’s rst in BC, but it won’t be the last.“We have very high hopes for BC. It’s got someinteresting attributes about it,” Mitchell says. “Isuspect in 2016 we’ll probably see Bonneeld doanother deal in BC.”It is focusing on opportunitiesin the central and northernInterior thanks to the availabilityof the large tracts of land, a typeof property that’s rare in theurbanized and heavilyparcelized Lower Mainland.“We haven’t really looked,frankly, in the Lower Mainlandarea because valuations tend to be a bit stretchedand inuenced by urban inuences,” he says.These factors limit the return possible to investorsand also tend to shorten the timeframe thatoperators see their farms as being viable. Withongoing development in the Lower Mainland, manyfarmers have opted to relocate to the Interior or thePrairies. Those farms that continue to operate on theurban fringe tend to be smaller, niche operations.While they might follow best practices, thelimited growth prospects don’t oer the kind ofvalue that Bonneeld seeks.“The major driver of value in a farm investmentover time is clearly derived from the operation thatis involved with it,” Mitchell says. “The degree towhich they run a business that practices bestagronomic practices over time will certainly buildvalue in the business, but also in the land.”Toronto investors aim to keep farmland in farmingFort St John ranch is first acquisition of Canadian-based investment fund created to preserve farming operationsThe measure of success.604-864-227334511 VYE ROAD ABBOTSFORDSTORE HOURSMONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5 SATURDAY 8 TIL 12NH H7550 MID PIVOT MOWER CONDITIONER13’ CUTTING WIDTH $26,900 CLAAS 3900TC MOWER CONDITIONER, 12.5’ CUTTING WIDTH $29,900MCCORMICK CX105MFD CAB TRACTOR$28,900JD 7450 PRODRIVE SPFH4X4 KP, 10' GRASS PU, 676 6 ROW CORNHEADCALL FOR PRICING.JOHN DEERE 3600 PLOW5 BOTTOM, DRAWBAR PULL$4,100CLAAS 870T TEDDER28.5’ HYD. FOLD$18,900NH 315SMALL SQUARE BALER CALL FOR DETAILSPre-ownedTractors &Equipmentwww.caliberequipment.ca
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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 13Steadfast advocacy by ag council decisive for BC farmers: AGMby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – More thanever, agriculture needs strongorganization, says BCAgriculture Council chair StanVander Waal.In his opening address tothe BCAC annual meeting inAbbotsford, April 14, he listedgovernment regulations,transparency, employeesafety, worker availability andclimate adaptation as justsome of the reasons industryneeds a strong council. Since BCAC is “an advocacygroup,” Vander Waal calledAg Days in Victoria one of itsmost important and mostsuccessful programs.“We had the highest farmerparticipation last year withover 80 farmers attendingover 30 meetings,” hereported.Two-edged swordAlthough three BCACdirectors are members of theMinister’s AgricultureAdvisory Committee (MAAC),Vander Waal stressed they arethere as primary producersrather than as BCAC directors.While he believes they makean important contribution, heacknowledges that industryinvolvement in MAAC is atwo-edged sword.“BCAC is often asked tovalidate (MAAC’s)recommendations,” he notes.“In a certain way, we’reendorsing the government’splan.”He said the BCAC is makinggreat headway into gettingworkable agricultural wastecontrol regulations. “Wetoured some farms which areusing wood waste withMinistry of Environment staffand MOE has started to listento us.”BCAC is now waiting for atwo-page summary version ofthe proposed newregulations which VanderWaal expects will come intoeffect this fall.Lorne Hunter citedHe had high praise for theway MOE worked with BCAC’swater committee to developregulations around the newWater Act. He particularlycredited Lorne Hunter, who isretiring from the BCAC board,for his leadership on theissue, saying one of thecommittee’s greatestaccomplishments was to seethe FITFIR (first-in-time, first-in-right) principle retained.While a lot has beenaccomplished, he stressedthe work is not done, notingoutstanding issues includelivestock watering, themethodology for measuring,recording and reportingwater usage, anddevelopment of a dedicatedwater reserve for agriculture.“There is still a great needfor commodity involvementso we get it right as wechange policy into practice,”Vander Waal said.Changed his tune on CFAHe also told members hehas changed his tune aboutBCAC’s participation in theCanadian Federation ofAgriculture after attendingsome of its recent meetings.Once one of its detractors,Vander Waal now says BC isgetting “good value” fromthe CFA.“Our involvement with CFAraises BC needs at the federallevel,” he noted, saying LindaAtkinson is doing a great jobas BC’s representative at theCFA.Since Atkinson, whorepresents the horse industryon the BCAC board, is now onthe CFA executivecommittee, she has steppeddown from her member-at-large position on the BCACexecutive. Replacing her onthe BCAC executivecommittee is poultry repRaymond Bredenhof.While Vander Waal(floriculture) continues aschair and Ray Van Marrewyk(greenhouse vegetables)continues as BCAC treasurer,there was a change in thevice-chair position, withRhonda Driediger (coastalhorticulture), who hasformerly served as both chairand vice-chair of BCAC,replacing BC Fruit GrowersAssociation president FredSteele in that position.There was only one changein the board of directors asthe BC Dairy Associationappointed Jared de Jong totake over from Hunter.Following the meeting,members met to discuss their“asks” during the upcomingprovincial election campaign.Vander Waal told them toconsider the advice theyreceived from former federalMinister of Agriculture ChuckStrahl.Set prioritiesDuring his address at AgDays, Strahl stressed the needfor industry to limit itsrequests to only three or fourhigh priority items, saying ascatter gun approach wouldbe ineffective. After listening to FarmCredit Canada vice presidentStan Vander Waalof Western Operations DonAnderson talk to them aboutpublic trust and sociallicence, the group also metprivately to discuss how bestto go about buildingincreased public trust.Anderson said farmersneed public trust to have thefreedom to operate, addingthat while farmers still enjoy alot of trust, they are losingground as regardstrustworthiness.He said trust used to bebased on competence, i.e.,science, but is nowincreasingly based on values.“Having shared values withconsumers is three to fivetimes more important thandemonstrating competence,”he told farmers, saying “thereis not enough science in theworld to overcome emotion.”Don AndersonI. Paton & Associates Ltd.AUCTION SERVICES &APPRAISALSCall usfor honest and reputableFarm Auction serviceswww.patonauctions.comCONDUCTING FARM RELATEDAUCTIONS IN BCSINCE THE 1960’sIAN L. 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Country Life in BC • May 201614by DAVID SCHMIDTCHILLIWACK – The numberof registered BC hogproducers continues todwindle but that doesn’tmean there aren’t a lot ofpeople growing hogs in thisprovince.Four more producers exitedthe industry last year, leavingthe BC Hog MarketingCommission (BCHMC) withjust 18 registered producers. Aproducer must produce atleast 300 hogs per year toregister with the BCHMC andbecome a member of the BCPork Producers Association(BCPPA). Since mostremaining producersincreased their output, theregulated hog sector stillproduced about 120,000market hogs and 20,000round hogs for a total farmgate value of around $23million last year, BCPPApresident Jack DeWit reportedat the BCHMC/BCPPA annualmeetings in Chilliwack, March31.The federally-mandatedPigTrace program initiated bythe Canadian Pork Council isnally starting to put actualnumbers to the BCPPA’scontention that there aremore backyard hog producersin BC than in any otherprovince. As of July, allpremises with pigs must beidentied with PigTrace. “Currently, 338 premiseshave been entered intoPigTrace for BC,”BCHMC/BCPPA managerGeraldine Auston reported.That has added to theBCPPA’s workload as manybackyard producers havebeen contacting theassociation for help withPigTrace.“There were lots ofquestions about the programand more work needs to bedone to streamline theentering process,” Austonsaid, asking “how do we dealwith those 320 backyardproducers?”BCHMC director MichaelSoth noted Britco andJohnston Packers, theprovince’s two major hogprocessors, are now collectingand remitting levies on allBackyard BC hog producers beef up farm gate valuecustom slaughter hogs “so weare seeing small lot farmerscontribute to the levy system.This is a positive step.”For many producers, themeeting was a chance towelcome Bert van Dalfsen tothe commission and to bid afond farewell to Dr. Chris Byraof Greenbelt VeterinaryService.Soth served as acting chairfor most of 2015 as previouschair Gary Rolston lost aprivate battle with cancer inApril 2015 and van Dalfsenwas not appointed as hisreplacement until December.Byra announced he ismoving into semi-retirementand will therefore no longerprovide on-farm servicesthrough the BCPPA. From2011 through April 2015, hewas contracted todeliver thecommission’s on-farm managementupgradingprogram. Sincelast April, he hasbeen deliveringthe BCPPA’s on-farm swine healthand welfareprogram,intended tosupport the “BCPork – ProudlyGrown Close toHome” brand.Auston said the BCHMC hasalmost completed registrationof the brand, which she calls a“descriptive logo” rather thana logo.“We will have a standardthat goes with the mark,” shesays, claiming that will makethe brand “more meaningful”to consumers. She also said BC Pork willcontinue to sponsor CFOXRadio’s “Grills Gone Wild”promotion in the LowerMainland and the GreatCanadian Bacon Chase inKelowna.She noted Grills Gone Wildcreated huge trac jamswhen it took place (on veFriday mornings in thesummer) while the GreatCanadian Bacon Chase wasfeatured in national televisionand print media.“The more we’re involved inthese fun events, the better,”Auston says, noting they helpto oset some of the ever-increasing negative pressanimal agriculture has beengetting.The swine health andwelfare program providestwice-a-year on-farm visits toreview production and healthparameters and ensure thefarm is meeting animalwelfare expectations. Byra hasalso been performing the BCPork Farm biosecurity auditsand the annual CanadianQuality Assurance audits forall registered producers in theFraser Valley and onVancouver Island. He has alsobeen performing semi-annualslaughter checks and trackingdemerits, DOA’s andcondemnations. The slaughterinformation is used to developa benchmarking system, asummary report for the BCPPAand specic reports forindividual producers. He says there is a hugevariance among producers,with the number of pigsweaned per mated femaleranging from 22 to over 30.Achieving 30 pigs per litter“can be done,” Byra toldproducers, saying the benetsare immense. He notes sowfeed costs are $6 per pig lessfor a 30 pig litter than a 20 piglitter. On the whole, however, hesays BC producers are doingwell, noting sow mortality onBC farms ranges betweenthree and eight per cent. Bycomparison, the US average isabout 10%.Even though Byra is givingit up, Dr. Josh Waddington hasbought his practice and willcontinue the program.The federally‑mandated PigTrace program initiatedby the Canadian Pork Council is finally startingto put actual numbers to the BCPPAʼs contentionthat there are more backyard hog producersin BC than in any other province.As of July, all premises with pigs must be identifiedwith PigTrace.BCHMC chair Bert van Dalfsen BCHMC co-chair Michael Sothwww.AgSafeBC.caWORKER SAFETYSHOULD BE YOURTOP PRIORITY www.AgSafeBC.caWORKER SAFETYSHOULD BE YOURTOP PRIORITY www.AgSafeBC.caWORKER SAFETYSHOULD BE YOURTOP PRIORITY jeffmc@shaw.ca250-616-6427 or 250-758-8454 JEFF MCCALLUMVANCOUVER ISLAND FARM EQUIPMENTNEW & USED TRACTORS & FARM EQUIPMENTMake ISLAND Farming Easier!DEUTZ AGROPLUS 87.SELF LEVELLING LDR, 4X4, OPEN STATION, 1300 HRS, 85 HP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38,500COMING SOON! NH BR648 ROUND BALER, GREAT SHAPE . . 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 15by TOM WALKERVERNON – The BCCattlemen’s Association(BCCA) has launched anenhanced Livestock ProtectionProgram (LPP) to be deliveredfor the next three years.“This is something that BCcattlemen have been lobbyingfor,” BCCA general managerKevin Boon told NorthOkanagan LivestockAssociation (NOLA) membersat their annual meeting inVernon in late March. “But alsozones and individual ranchershave been working for it aswell.”The LPP will provideverication and mitigationservices to beef, dairy andsheep producers across BC forinjury, harassment or deathloss caused by wolves orcoyotes. “It’s similar to the oldprogram we used to run priorto 2011 when the CO’s(conservation ocers) tookover,” says Boon. Incidents involving otherwildlife, such as bears andcougars, human conicts, orother livestock such as pigs orchickens remain theresponsibility of theConservation Ocer Service. While the program canoperate on private lands, theBCCA worked extensively withthe Ministry of Forests, Lands,and Natural ResourceOperations (MFLNRO) toconsult with First Nations togain approval for crown lands. “There is a permit for themajority of the province andwe have to run two separatepermits – one for theKootenays and one for thePeace – where there aretreaties,” Boon says. “We haveto do consultation on thepermit itself which could delay60-90 days. We are pushingreally hard, especially in thePeace, for when the cattle goout on Crown, as that is whenwe really need it.”MFLNRO funding of$250,000 per year and $50,000from BCCA for this yearprovides for LPP co-ordinatorMark Grafton and the servicesof trained wildlife specialists tocarry out verication andmitigation work. “Mark Grafton is a pastdirector of ours and a pastrancher. He got to retire forabout 10 minutes fromranching before we snappedhim up to run this program,”chuckles Boon. “He informedme the other day that hedidn’t think I gave him a fulldetailed description of exactlywhat he was going to have todo. We are really happy tohave Mark there. “EducationEducation around BestManagement Practices (BMP)to prevent or reducepredation is a cornerstone ofthe program. Indeed, if the LPPco-ordinator is not satisedthat sucient BMPs werefollowed, claims forverication, mitigation andcompensation may be denied.It starts with a call to the 24-hour livestock protectionhotline where a le is startedand the program co-ordinatoris notied. The aim is toinspect (verify) a kill within 36hours and to begin mitigationmeasures within 24 to 48hours of positive verication.A good number ofproducers have completed theverication training courseoered by the ConservationOcer Service and are able toself-verify predator attacks bycompleting theverication/compensationrequest form. A $150 self-verication feewill be issued by the LPP toself-veriers once a vericationform has been submitted. The program has hired 31wildlife specialists to conductverication and mitigation.The specialists all hold atrapper’s license and averication certicate. If theproducer is not qualied toself verify, a wildlife specialistwill investigate the incidentand upon approval of the co-ordinator, initiate mitigationwork.“This is dierent fromprevious programs in that ittargets whole pack removal.”says Boon. “The objective is totake out the entire oendingpack. We were getting a lot ofcriticism from dierentadvocates on the other side aswell as the trapper’sassociation that we weresplitting packs and creating abigger problem.” The wildlifespecialist will then report theirmitigation work to the co-ordinator.The verication report alsostarts a compensation claimwith the business riskmanagement branch of the BCMinistry of Agriculture.Compensation will beCattlemen welcomenew livestockprotection programIt's branding time in the Cariboo and all four of these "Mama cows” are using their sense of smell to seeif this calf belongs to them. Once branded and vaccinated, calves and cows will be put into a holdingpen and watched carefully by cowboys until they are all “mothered-up” again. (Liz Twan photo)provided based on age of theanimals involved and marketvalue.Each incident is reviewedby the LPP co-ordinator whomay make recommendationsfor enhancing livestockmanagement practices on thefarm to reduce the likelihoodof further predation. A government oversightcommittee will reviewprogram activities and resolvedisputes. A livestockproducer’s advisorycommittee will representproducer needs and guideprogram design and delivery. Canada’s Verified Beef Production Program Ph: 1-866-398-2848 Email: VBP@cattlemen.bc.ca www.cattlemen.bc.ca/vbp.htm Simple. Practical. Trusted. Developed for producers, by producers. Let us help you implement market-driven standards for on-farm food safety, biosecurity & animal care. 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Country Life in BC • May 201616Raspberry crops feel pressure from blueberry plantingsby PETER MITHAMABBOTSFORD – Twenty million pounds of berriesis enough to maintain Abbotsford’s claim to be theraspberry capital of Canada but Jennifer Dhaliwal ofPacic Coast Fruit Products Ltd. said growers haveto keep investing in their elds if they expect theindustry to survive.“One thing that people might not think about asa negative in the market is a lack of new plantings,”Dhaliwal told growers attending a state-of-the-industry presentation at the Pacic Agriculture Showin January. “This has to change. We need to keep upwith the industry. While there is no doubt that we inthe Pacic Northwest do a great job of producingsome of the best raspberries, if we don’t keepplanting and keep producing, we’ll lose our voice.”Some eects have already been seen; in 2015, theraspberry crop was down from the 2014 harvest of22 million pounds, thanks not only to a light-weightcrop driven by dry conditions, but a loss of acreage.While growers themselves have seenopportunities in blueberries – this past year, manystopped harvesting raspberries altogether asblueberries broadsided them with an early crop –nurseries have cut back on propagation, too.“The growers that do want to plant moreraspberries can’t seem to nd any plants,” she said.“So much focus in the last few years has been onblueberries that nurseries simply stopped producingraspberry plants. We really need to plant moreraspberries if we want to stay in the market.”Supplies of plants and fruit aren’t the only thingsthat concern Dhaliwal.Pricing has also been sensitive, with strongpricing giving growers a much-needed boost afteryears of weak revenues, but also tending to makebuyers shy of drawing down contracted volumes.Some have pursued more aordable options asprices have increased, with Mexico supplantingexports to Europe and the US.Solid prices for three years“The price for raspberries has been fairly solid forthe past three years, which is great for growers,”Dhaliwal said. “However, if the price climbs too high,customers will simply reformulate their product andpurchase less raspberries. This is something thatwe’re starting to see.”Dhaliwal said pricing will likely be critical infortunes for the 2016 season.She expects the grower price for 2016 will likelybe lower than pricing of $1.60 to $1.70 a poundseen in 2015. Prices for frozen berries have alreadydeclined in Chile, suggesting declines in pricing onthe world stage; however, storage costs are 50%higher in Chile than in Canada, meaning smallerpackers there could face diculties as prices decline.The emerging competitor, especially for freshberries, is Mexico.“Mexico is exploding on the fresh market. Notonly did Mexico double its production, but thepricing remains manageable,” Dhaliwal said, notingthat this will inuence pricing for BC growers in2016.“We really need to keep an eye on our pricing,”she said. “We have to be careful not to out-priceourselves from the market.”Raspberry prices have been good for BC growers butimports from Chile and Mexico could put pressure onprotability. (Randy Giesbrecht le photo)Nursery stock hard to source; pricing pressure from MexicoNo excuse not to!EEEEEEmmmmmmmpppppttttttyyyyyyyy PPPPPPPPeeeeeeeessssttttttttiiiiiiiiccccciiiiidddddeeeeeee CCCCCoooooonnnnnnttttaaaaiiinnnnnnneeeeerrrr RRRReeeeccccyyyyyyyyyyyyccccccllliiiinnnnggggggggggg PPPrroooogggrraaaammm>>>>>>>#1Only rinsed containers can be recycled #2Helps keep collection sites clean#3Use all the chemicals you purchase #4Keeps collection sites safe for workers#5Maintain your farm’s good reputation FFFFFFooooorrrrrr mmmmmooooooorrrrrrrreeeee iiiiinnnnnffffffooooorrrrrrrrmmmmmmaaaaaatttttttiiiiiiiioooooonnnnnnn oooooorrrrr ttttoooo fifififififinnnnnnnddddd aaaaa ccccccoooooollllllllleeeeccccccttttttiiiooooonnnnnn ssssiiitttteee nnnnnneeeeaaaaaaaaaarrrrr yyyyyyoooouuuuuu vvviiiissssiiiiiitttcccllleeeaannfffaaarrmmmmmmss..ccaattt{{{{{{{Now, take your empty fertilizer containers along for the ride!
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 17BC’s strawberry “season” may become a thing of the past if researchers are able to deliver on day-neutral (ever-bearing) varieties suitable to climate, consumer palates and bottom lines for growers.(Randy Giesbrecht le photo)by PETER MITHAMABBOTSFORD – Albion isthe standard-bearer for BCstrawberry growers, but thatdoesn’t mean it’s a natural twith local conditions.Bred in California, the day-neutral (ever bearing) berryaccounts for about a third ofthe BC crop – or just over amillion pounds of fruit.But researchers at the PacicBerry Resource Centre believethat with a few tweaks to theirmanagement, Albion andother day-neutral varietiescould be a better t with localgrowing conditions. And if day-neutral varieties – which manybelieve represent the future ofBC production – could becomemore productive, then it mightmake sense of the economicsof producing the sweetsummer fruit.“We have to replantstrawberries every two yearsbecause otherwise the plantsare just too dicult toharvest,” explained EricGerbrandt to an audience ofgrowers at the PacicAgriculture Show this pastJanuary.Regardless of the oldBeatles song, strawberry eldsaren’t forever. By the secondyear of production, the plantsare producing smaller fruitthat easily become lost undera thicker canopy.“It costs more to pick themthan it’s worth to sell them,”Gerbrandt said. While breeders work withthe long-term goal of ndingnew varieties, near-term hopesare pinned on understandingexisting varieties and trying togive them the care they needto perform better.“You can’t change thegenetics of a plant, but youcan try and take thosegenetics and do somethingdierent with them,”Gerbrandt said. “We’re tryingto improve what we can dowith the existing genetics totry and get a better return oninvestment by increasing therevenue, hopefully decreasingthe cost of production, andimproving the bottom-line forgrowers.”PromisingOne promising option isworking with runner-propagated plants rather thanbare-rooted plants in order toimprove establishment andboost productivity.“The key to this is ndingbetter planting materials andtiming plantings to improvethe return on investment,”Gerbrandt said.Recent trials haveinvestigated the eect oftiming on establishment andyields of Albion. Bare-rootedseedlings, typically planted inspring, were compared againstfrigo plantlets – eectively, abare-root plant held over thesummer and managed like arunner-propagated plant – andrunner-propagated plantlets.PRT Nurseries producedrunner-propagated plantletsfor the trials, which sawplantings in the spring, onAugust 12, September 2 and inlate September.Gerbrandt said theexperiment showed mid-season plantings performedbest, delivering a good cropearly in the season while allthe plantings came throughlate in the season.The results suggest plantsneed time to get established,but also that if runner-propagated plants have ahead-start in the previousseason, they’ll wake up inspring ready to perform.“The big advantage to usingthese runner-propagatedplants in the fall is that we’regoing to get an early, earlyseason yield in that rst year,”Gerbrandt said. “We’re getting,like, 40% more fruit in that rstyear using those early andmid-season timings.”Productivity in the secondyear wasn’t compromised,though there was a slightlylower yield in the plants thatwent in the ground rst.Gerbrandt cautioned theStrawberry research focuses on better day-neutral berriesresults, while promising, camefrom one eld managed byone grower over oneproduction cycle and mightnot be repeated in otherlocations or under the care ofother growers. However, theresults bear furtherinvestigation.“We don’t know whether ornot this is entirely replicableon all locations, on all soiltypes or all productionschemes, so it really requiresvalidation by each individualgrower,” Gerbrandt said. “[But]I think this is a signicantopportunity for the strawberryindustry. … With the dollar theway that it is right now, andthe ability to use fall plantingsand runner-propagatedplantlets to increase yields inthe rst year, is this anopportunity for the BCindustry to start competingmore directly with importedstrawberries from California?”That’s a point growers willhave to answer, based on theirown costs of production.Runner-propagated plants aremore expensive, but as thecost of produce increases – aclamshell of Californiastrawberries was retailing forabout $3 a pound this spring –there may be an opportunity.“The question is whether ornot the added costs involvedin getting the eld establishedwith runner-propagatedplantlets is going to be worththe pain,” Gerbrandt said.“With the change in the dollarrecently, we may see thecompetitiveness of thisstrategy be more viable.”KuhnNorthAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®Matsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101CONSISTENT, ROCK-HARD BALES LSB D SERIES LARGE SQUARE BALERSr4GNKCDNGFQWDNGMPQVVGTHQTKPETGCUGFDCNGECRCEKV[CPFFGPUKV[r+PVGITCN4QVQT6GEJPQNQI[GPUWTGUGXGPETQRƃQYTGICTFNGUUQHYKPFTQYXCTKCVKQPUr6JG2QYGT&GPUKV[U[UVGORTQFWEGUWPKHQTOƃCMGUCPFUSWCTGGFIGFTQEMJCTFDCNGUr5KORNGJGCX[FWV[FTKXGNKPGYKVJHGYGTOQXKPIRCTVUHQTITGCVGTTGNKCDKNKV[2TQFWEGUZCPFZDCNGUr%WVVKPICPFPQPEWVVKPIOQFGNU&QWDNG-PQVVGT
Country Life in BC • May 201618by TOM WALKERVERNON – If you have acow, sooner or later you aregoing to need a fence. Or yourneighbour will need one, orone needs to be built along ahighway.BC Cattlemen’s Associationgeneral manager Kevin Boonsummarized the diculties oflivestock at large during apresentation to members fothe North Okanagan LivestockAssociation in late March. “There are three Actsinvolved: the Livestock Act,the Transportation Act andthe Range Act. If you don’tlook at the wording on allthree of them, you don’t getthe meaning and they arevery convoluted.” If you have cattle on privateland, it is your responsibility tofence them in. If your cattleare on Crown Range, you donot have to fence them. If theprivate landowner beside yourrange doesn’t want them onhis property, it hisresponsibility to fence thecattle out. It’s ne if yourneighbour doesn’t care butthe cattle may stray throughhis land to the distanthighway. And if he wants tobe a miserable neighbour, hemay not want you trespassingon his land to fetch them. “So, we have nothing butan opportunity there forconict and it is happening,”says Boon. “A bull came in othe range into a guy’s 20 acresnear Williams Lake and theguy shot the bull. It wasclearly a case where the guy was wrong but the judgedidn’t agree and threw it out.” The bull owner took thecase to civil court and won. “It set a bit of a precedentbut we have this problem andit has got to be resolved,” saysBoon. “It is a hard one becausegovernment is not going towant to fence crown land. I’mnot sure where this is going.” But there is money forhighway fencing. “Last year, we nished up ave year program of highwayfencing,” says Boon. “With justunder $10 million, we did alittle over 750 km of fencing. “I want to make sure thatyou understand that this doesnot include the Rock Creekre fence. That was extramoney,” says Boon. Thegovernment came forwardwith about another $500,000for fencing in that area.“Michelle Evans out of theMOTI (Ministry ofTransportation andInfrastructure) was justCattle and highways don’t mix and that’s why the BC Cattlemens’ Association and the provincialgovernment have partnered up on a highway fencing program that will help reduce the risks tolivestock and motorists. (Photo courtesy of BCCA)fantastic to work with on this,”says Boon. “She got theproblem right o the bat. Wewere building fence while there was still burning. That wasastronomical!” “Fences are not going toquit deteriorating,” Boonpointed out. “In fact, whenthey gave us the $10 millionve years ago it was to coverthe 750 km on the applicationthat had been made on theprevious program and wehave another 1600 km ofapplication in front of usnow.” “We have suggested thatgovernment give us about $2million a year in perpetuityand we will just keep buildingfence,” says Boon. “Theydecided they can’t do that,but they will give us another$2 million for two years so wehave $4 million.” He says criteria haschanged so it doesn’t have tobe a Schedule 2 highway andsome side highways can beconsidered. It will take intoaccount how many cattle arebehind the fence for howmuch of the year and whatthe trac counts are.“If you have a fence andyou think, ‘I’m not going tomaintain it so it looks worseand I’ll get a new highwayfence,’ you are going to getnicked,” Boon warned. “If youare not out there making areasonable eort to hangthose wires, you are going toget cut out. “The applications come inthree or four a day now, so weare not going to get them alldone,” says Boon. “But wehave an election next year sowe are going to push to see ifwe can get an electionpromise.”11.3 Acres in north Nanaimo fenced and cross fenced. Farm status. Custom built 3200 sq ft rancher w/fabulous views. 3 bayshop. 1912 sqft main barn, second barn/hay shed. Central location near city amenities, ideal for in home business. One of akind property that must be viewed. MLS®403522 $1,299,000.Nanaimo RealtyCLEM REMILLARDCell: 250/616-6759email: ClemRemillard@royallepage.caFences aren’t foreverProgram has replaced750 km of highway fencingEligibility Requirements• Schedule 2 Highways, Schedule 1 Highways, and Railway Corridors.Secondary (sideroad) paved routes may also be considered.• Must be a livestock producer.• Fence must be part of an existing fencing system to contain livestock.Application forms available at:http://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/fencing.htmCall TOLL FREE 1.866.398.2848 to have an application mailed to you.Application DeadlineAugust 31, 2016 for consideration for the 2017 construction year.NOW accepting applications for theProvincial Livestock Fencing Programalong travel corridorsProvincial Livestock Fencing Program
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 19by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD –At just over1.8 million pounds, last year’sstrawberry crop was downalmost 20% from 2014 but stillhigher than in 2013, BCStrawberry GrowersAssociation (BCSGA) managerLisa Craig reported at theassociation’s annual meetingin Abbotsford, March 30.Even though growers sawless red in their elds, therewas none on their balancesheets.“I got the best prices everfor my strawberries last year,”Alf Krause stated. Because most BCstrawberries are sold on thefresh market, the BCSGA hasbeen putting most of itseorts into fresh marketpromotion. Fresh marketpromotion representedalmost half the association’sexpenditures for the year andthat will continue.“We had 13 growersVolume down, but fresh market strawberries keep receipts upby RONDA PAYNEABBOTSFORD – Change is constant. Forsome, like hazelnut growers, change can bedicult. But, instead of complaining about thechanges and challenges, lbert fans kept itpositive at their late January meeting – lookingtoward future potential rather than thelingering issues of Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB). At the BC Hazelnut Growers AssociationAGM held during Pacic Agriculture Show, anumber of issues were presented to helpgrowers move forward, including presentationson tree varieties best suited for the LowerMainland. Bryan Gingerich read out president NealTeBrink’s report.“It was a year of challenges,” Gingerichspoke. “The variety trials of Jeerson andYamhill are in progress and the results arelooking promising.”Gingerich added, in his own words, thatgrowers know hazelnuts grow well in theLower Mainland. “It was a discouraging year,” he says. “But Ithink we’ve hit rock bottom.”Short fiscal yearMembers voted that the number of directorsfor the organization would stay at seven. ParisPeters was elected by acclamation for the onevacant position on the board. Financials werepresented by Walter Esau who explained theorganization was re-incorporated as a BCsociety as of June 23, 2015 resulting in a shortscal year running from June 23 to October 31. Members also voted on annual dues,passing the motion for the annual BCmembership be $50 per year and thecombined membership with BC, Washingtonand Oregon be $75 a year. One benet of thecombinedmembership is theability to attend thesummer eld day inOregon. In the presentationthat kicked o theafternoon, one of theowners of GeorgePacking Company inOregon outlined thehazelnut varieties herecommends tocombat issues withEFB. Shaun George could see the potential forhazelnuts despite the challenges. “We’re facing quite a dilemma with thisEFB… it’s discouraging, but I also seeopportunity,” he said. In the company’s own variety trials, Georgeidentied three varieties as his top choices:Wepster, Yamhill and Jeerson. Although these were the varieties Georgepointed to as having the most potential, ThomO’Dell, biologist with Nature Tech Nursery,explained that Jeerson, Yamhill andSacajawea are those in the trials that began inBC in 2011. Wepster is not yet part of the mixavailable to BC growers.Along with these three varieties are thepollinizers: Eta, Gamma and Theta. “These varieties are resistant [to EFB] but notimmune,” O’Dell said. “It’s recommended to usefungicide in the rst year. We want toencourage anyone who still has old plantingsto really think about getting those out.”EFB has been a dicult change for hazelnutgrowers to adapt to but with new varieties onthe horizon, there is still potential ahead toregrow the industry and capitalize on agrowing market.Hazelnut growers embrace potentialShaun Georgeinvolved in the fresh marketcampaign last year, up from10 in 2014, and we are hopingfor more in 2016,” Craig said. Development fundThe strawberry industrydevelopment fund provides$1.50 for every dollar put upby a grower, to a maximumexpenditure of $3,000 perfarm. At least 50% of theadvertising content mustpromote the industry as awhole and include the BCSGAlogo and website address.Although very few berrieswent to the processors lastyear, that might change in2016. Rhonda Driediger ofBlueridge Produce toldgrowers she would beprepared to take somestrawberries, and Pacic CoastFruit Products and SnowcrestFoods may also be interested.Since each serves a dierentmarket, the type and amountof berries each would acceptwill vary. Driediger will onlytake berries suitable for IQF(individual quick freeze) andonly if she gets sucientquantity to make running theIQF equipment viable.Because of the limitedinterest and production, BCberry breeder Michael Dossettsaid he has stopped breedingJune-bearing strawberryvarieties and is only doingday-neutral (ever-bearing)crosses. Although there arestill some June-bearingselections in the pipeline, hesays “nothing jumps out” asbeing particularly appealing.Both he and researcher EricGerbrandt are more optimisticabout the day-neutrals.Dossett has high hopes for BC10-2-1, saying grower trials inQuebec have been giving it“very favourable reviews.” Thevariety is undergoing viruscleanup and he hopes to havesome plants available for localgrowers to try this fall or nextspring.Gerbrandt and Dossett arealso bringing in six newvarieties from Quebec andtwo from the US for localgrower trials. Two – SummerEvening and Valley Sunset –are June-bearing varieties sothere may be hope for thoseberries as well.Although restructuring hasgiven growers more control ofthe breeding program, Krauselaments that it has come at acost. He points out Agricultureand Agri-Food Canadaprovides 100% funding for theberry breeding program ineastern Canada but only 75%funding for Dossett’s programat the Pacic AgricultureResearch Centre. 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Caring for cows that liedown and are unable to getup is a constant concern tofarmers. If they are unable orunwilling to stand and remainrecumbent for more than 12hours, they are referred to as“non-ambulatory” or downercows and how well they aretreated will dependcompletely on the combinedexperience of both the farmerand the veterinarian. But why do cows becomedowners? Reasons includehypocalcaemia, or milk fever,complications from dicultcalving, injuries from falling, orinfections such as endotoxicmastitis or septic metritis. Yet,surprisingly, there is littleresearch for best practices formanaging and treatingdowner cows, with fewCanadian statistics available. “Unfortunately, in Canadawe do not have very goodestimates of how often thishappens,” says Prof. Marinavon Keyserlingk with theAnimal Research Program atthe University of BritishColumbia. “Also unfortunate isthat most farms do notroutinely keep track of howmany cows go down, wherethey went down or why. Themost recent USDAstatistics realized inearly 2016 state thatbetween 1.1% to 2.6%of cows went down in2014, equating toover 234,000 dairycows of the approximately 9million lactating cows. Ofthese, approximately 18%(42,000) died naturally on thefarm (ie, were noteuthanized).”Searching for a solution,researchers at UBC andveterinarians with AgwestVeterinary Group inAbbotsford have developedan innovative otation devicethat could be a game changerfor downer cows. Flotationtherapy involves moving thecow on a mat into a water-tight chamber that is lledCountry Life in BC • May 201620As many as 70% of downer cows will recover if exposed to otation therapy, part of a studyundertaken by researchers at UBC and the Agwest Veterinary Group. (Photo courtesy Yanne JaneStojkov, Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC)Rub a dub dub! There’s a cow in the tub!UBC and veterinarians have developed innovative flotation device that could be a game changer for downer cowsResearchMARGARET EVANSwith 2,400 litres of warmwater. The buoyancy of thewater supports the cow’sbody and encourages her tostand. The warm water is itselftherapeutic, helping to soothmuscles and nerves that havebeen pinched or damagedfrom prolonged lying. Commercial dairyproducers in the Fraser Valleywere asked to enroll in theprogram whenever they had adowner cow. In total, 34 dairycows entered the study. Eachreceived a detailed physicalexamination by theveterinarian including anevaluation of the nursing care. “In the otation phase, thebuoyancy of the watersupports around 80% of thecow’s body weight,” explainsvon Keyserlingk. “The heartrate measures were almostthe same when oating asthey were when the cowswere lying down (pre-otation) but the advantagebeing that they had improvedcirculation while being oatedwhich increases the chancesfor muscle regeneration andrecovery. In the drainingphase, the water is removedfrom the tank and the cowswere allowed to remainstanding in the otation tankwithout the water support toadapt to carrying their fullweight. The gate is thenopened and cows areencouraged to exit the tank attheir own speed.” Once the cows werestanding comfortably on allfour limbs, they wereprovided with fresh food andwater. 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 21DOWNER COWS From page 20Cattlemen want clarity on livestock wateringBCCA will begin holding workshops across BC to help ranchers license their wellsby TOM WALKERVERNON – BC Cattleman’sAssociation (BCCA) generalmanager Kevin Boon gavemembers of the NorthOkanagan LivestockAssociation (NOLA) anupdate on current issues attheir annual AGM, March 30,in Vernon.“A lot of the stuff from lastyear is still there,” says Boon,“but that doesn’t mean wearen’t working on it.”The recently launchedLivestock Protection Programwas at the top of Boon’s list.The three year programfunded by the Ministry ofForest, Lands and NaturalResource Operations willsupport producers of beef ,dairy and sheep to expandBest Management Practicesto reduce predation fromwolves and coyotes.The Water SustainabilityAct (WSA) continues tobubble up for cattlemen. “This has not been a shortprocess,” says Boon. “One ofthe first things I did when Icame on the job in 2009 wasconsultation on the WSA.”Need all the info“We still don’t have aregulation for livestockwatering and that’s a concernto us,” he adds. “As you go tolicense your wells, if we don’thave that regulation in placewe are just not sure we aregetting all the informationthat we need to have to dothat licensing.”Boon says BCCA is going tobe holding workshops acrossthe province to helpProfessionalServiceswww.agri-jobs.ca | Phone: 604-823-6222 | Email: info@agri-labour pool.comWe do the work for you! Agri-jobs.caOur business is helping your business GROW, since 1974.Connecting employers with the right employee!Contact us to nd out how we can fill your position:Looking for HELP on your farm?View over 100 listings of farm properties atwww.bcfarmandranch.comBC FARM & RANCHREALTY CORP.Buying or Selling a Farm or Acreage?GORD HOUWELINGCell: 604/793-8660GREG WALTONCell: 604/864-1610Toll free 1-888-852-AGRI (2474)Call BC’s First and OnlyReal Estate Office commited 100% to Agriculture!Helping industry build & implement practical & sustainable programs & publications To see past projects and potential scope of services visit www.qfirst.ca Ph: 604-309-3509 E: qfirst@telus.net For more information or to pursue an idea contact: Annette Moore B.Sc.(Agr), M.Sc., P.Ag. Quality First in Agriculture Inc. Jack Reams P.Ag. Agri-Consultingv BC Farm Business Advisory Services Consultantv Farm Debt Mediation Consultantv Organic Consultant & Inspectorv Meat Labeling ConsultantPhone: 604-858-1715 Cell: 604-302-4033Fax: 604-858-9815 email: marlene.reams@gmail.comCONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEEDproducers license their wells. “We are anticipating quitea bit of confusion anddifficulty getting this done,”he says. “(BCCA water subcommittee chair) LindaAllison and I spent over anhour and a half together onthe phone and we haddifficulty licensing a fictitiouswell.”The new BC AgricultureWaste Act remains a concernas well, says Boon. “We thought we weredoing well with our access towater but it seems to begetting switched around bythe bureaucrats in Victoria sowe have had to tell them youcan’t develop this until weknow where it is at in theWater Sustainability Act. Thetwo have to correspond. “The problem is not somuch our access on range.The government can’t leaseout the grass without thewater,” says Boon. Mounties not consistentMembers were remindedof the mandatory $48 OffRoad Vehicles one timeregistration. There is not aconsistent approach by RCMPacross the province to issueletters of permission. Lumbyand Enderby ranchers can geta two year permit from theirdetachment while WilliamsLake requires a permit eachtime you go out on publicroads. “Williams Lake ticketed aguy out looking for a cowand sent him back to get hispickup,” Boon recalls. “In themeantime, the animal getshit. No one was hurt, thankGod, but now the rancher isliable. Common sense shouldprevail. Get the damn animaloff the road.” The BCCA has beenfollowing treaty negotiationswith North Shuswap FirstNations.“This is very significant tous in that this is the firsttreaty negotiation that hasinvolved crown land that weuse for rangeland as a part ofthe settlement,” says Boon. Some range lands wereturned over to the FirstNations as part of anagreement in principal, Boonexplains. “It will establish how thisrangeland is going to betreated. Basically, they arenot going to lose any AUMs(animal unit months). Theywill be guaranteed for thatowner of that license for aslong as they want. They alsoset out guidelines for wateraccess and fence lines, sothat none of that will belost.”DustinStadnykCPA, CAChrisHendersonCPA, CANathalieMerrillCPA, CMATOLL FREE 1-888-818-FARM | www.farmtax.caExpert farm taxation advice:• Purchase and sale of farms• Transfer of farms to children• Government subsidy programs• Preparation of farm tax returns• Use of $1,000,000 Capital Gains ExemptionsApproved consultants for Government funding through BC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramARMSTRONG 250-546-8665 | LUMBY 250-547-2118 | ENDERBY 250-838-7337recumbent had a huge eecton the outcome of theotation therapy.Approximately 70% of thosereceiving good care recoveredafter undergoing the therapywhereas 90% of those thathad not received adequatecare failed to recover.“Regardless of the initialcause, lack of movement forextended periods can initiatea cascade of events includingproblems such as secondarycompression damage to themuscles and nerve tissue,”says von Keyserlingk. “Thelarge muscles of the hind(pelvic) limbs that are usuallynon-functional in non-ambulatory cows andpositioned under the cow’sbody are most susceptible tocompression damage.”Extensive compressiondamage to the muscles andnerves of the pelvic limbs canbe fatal. Good nursing careand helping the cow to standis essential for recovery. Cows recumbent for 24hours or less before treatmentwere more likely to recoverfollowing otation therapy.The treatment’s successdeclined with every hourtreatment was delayed andthose recumbent for 48 hourshad just a 50% chance forrecovery. The best outcomes,she said, were for cowstreated within 12 hours.“To the best of ourknowledge, Agwest VeterinaryGroup, Abbotsford is the onlyveterinary clinic that oersotation therapy for downercows,” says von Keyserlingk.The hope is that producerswill consider incorporating aotation tank as part of theirstandard farm equipment.They should also have a clearstandard operatingprocedure for best care fordowner cows. “We are anticipating quite a bit of confusion and difficultygetting this done. (BCCA water sub committee chair) LindaAllison and I spent over an hour and a half together on thephone and we had difficulty licensing a fictitious well.”BCCA general manager Kevin Boon
TRACTORS! TRACTORS! TRACTORS!TRACTORS! TRACTORS! TRACTORS!HAY AND FORAGE!ROUND BALERS!ROUND BALERS!$10,500$17,900JD 935 MOCO, 11FT 6 INCH, 1000 RPM, CONDITIONER ROLL #324134U2JD 630 MOCO, 2012, 9FT 9INCH, IMPELLER CONDITIONER, 540 RPM #673864U1$5,500JD 630A, 3 METER GRASS PICKUP, FOR 6000 SERIES SPFH #52658U2$104,900JD 6125M, MFWD, 24 SPD POWERQUAD TRANS, 125HP, JD H340 LOADER, #09981401JD 5325, CAB, MFWD, 12/12 POWER-REVERSER, 55HP, 3200 HRS #108582U1$99,500JD 7430 PREMIUM, CAB, MFWD, 20 SPEED AUTOQUAD, 3 SCV, LOADER #178225L1$19,900MCCORMICK F95, CAB, MFWD, NARROW, 2 SCV #644817U1$52,900CASE IH MAXXUM 110, CAB, MFWD, 110HP, LH REVERSER #676203U1$27,500KUBOTA M8540 NARROW, CAB, MFWD, 2332 HRS #593359U1$39,900FELLA SM911 (12) & SM310 (11) TRIPLE MOWERS 27FT, 3IN #290580U2Kamloops 250.573.4412s 12Kelowna250.765.9765PRINCE GEORGEOPENING SOON!GEON!Chilliwack604.792.1516ck516Langley604.530.4644$113,900$20,700+30):'+\GUR7UDQVP/RZ+RXUV(TXLSSHGZLWKDQHZ-'+/RDGHU<U)DFWRU\:DUUDQW\WR&KRRVH)URP$31,000JD 5101EN, NARROW, CAB, MFWD, POWER-REVERSER, 101HP, 3 SCV’S #641883U1$52,000JD 5083EN NARROW, CAB, MFWD, 12/12 POWER-REVERSER, TRIPLE SCV’S #482888L1$43,500JD 1020 2WD, LOADER, 1970 MODEL #529016U2$5,500JD 5093EN, NARROW, CAB, MFWD, 12/12 POWER-REVERSER TRIPLE SCV #641834U1$46,500JD 5100M, CAB, MFWD, 32F/16R POWER-REVERSER, , TRIPLE MID AND REAR SCV, H260 LOADER #60131001$84,900$1,200DEUTZ KH4S, ROTOR TEDDER, OLDER BUT GOOD CONDITION #195398U1$4,750DEUTZ KH2.76 6 BASKET TEDDER, 24FT 6 IN WORKING WIDTH #209181U2$7,900HAYBUSTER 2650 BALE PROCESSOR #163779U1$8,500NH 658 RD BALER, 4 FT, TWINE ONLY #022207U1$11,900CN RBX 453, 2007, 4X5 BALES, JUST SERVICED #674443U1$18,000JD 567, MAKES 5X6 BALES, HI MOISTURE KIT, MEGA WIDE P/U, SURFACE WRAP, PUSH BAR #617815U2+30):'(+\GUR7UDQVPLVVLRQ9HU\ORZKRXUV/RDGHU5HPDLQLQJIDFWRU\:DUUDQW\WRFKRRVHIURP$42,500JD 5520, CAB, MFWD, 12/12 POWER-REVERSER, JD SELF LEVELING LOADER #443731U2$67,900JD 6105D, CAB, MFWD, POWER-REVERSER, MSL LOADER #678729U1$62,900JD 6115D, CAB, 2WD, AIR SEAT, INSTRUCTIONAL SEAT, TRIPLE SVC, POWERGARD WARRANTY UNTIL OCT 2020 #58533301$89,900JD 6105M, LOW PROFILE, 540/100 PTO, 16 SPEED POWERQUAD, H310 3 FUNCTION LOADER, WARRANTY UNTIL JAN 2020 #558336010):'+RXUVVSHHG3RZHU4XDG+ORDGHU*UHHQ6WDU5HDG\:DUUDQW\XQWLO$SULO#00183001$5,520CLAAS VOLTO 540S 4 BASKET TEDDER, 17FT 6IN WORKING WIDTH #209181U2$6,900BRANDT VSF-X BALE PROCESSOR, GOOD CONDITION #099565U1$33,500HIGHLINE CFR960 BALE PROCESSOR, DEMO UNIT, 2015 MODEL, #9899930C1$28,900HIGHLINE, BM1400, BALE MOVER. 14 BALE CAPACITY #024960U1JOHN DEERE 6105M JOHN DEERE 2025RPP$46,900JOHN DEERE 4066RJOHN DEERE 6115D&DE7UDFWRU0):''XDOV+RXUV #658207U1#61447101JOHN DEERE 6130DDEUTZ AGROTRON K1100):'+RXUV6SHHG$XWR4XDG1HZ+/RDGHUVSG372'HOX[H([KDXVW#00218301#6762031U1JOHN DEERE 7230 CASE IH MAXXUM 110+L/RZ7UDQVPLVVLRQ7ULSOH6&9,QVWUXFWLRQDOVHDW:KHHO:HLJKWV+/RDGHU:DUUDQW\XQWLO2FW&DE0):'+36&9·V/+5HYHUVHU $69,9002FW2FW$99,500WW$115,900$52,900$69,700&DE:'2QO\+UV)53RZHU5HYHUVHU7UDQV$LU6HDW7ULSOH6&9,QVWUXFWLRQDO6HDW:DUUDQW\WR2FW#61608701Country Life in BC • May 201622
Items may not be exactly as shown, accessories & attachments cost extra. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included. Prices are based on the US exchange are subject to change. A documentation fee of up to $250 will be applied on all finance offerings. Additional fees may apply. Programs and prices subject to change without notice, at any time, see dealer for full details on Green Fever offers, Some restrictions apply. Compact Tractor Lease Offer: Valid from April 8 2016 to June 30 2016. Items may not be exactly as shown, accessories & attachments cost extra. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included. Pricing may vary between models, see dealer for details. Additional fees may apply. Programs and prices subject to change without notice, at any time, see dealer for full details, some restrictions apply. Lease offer: 60 months / 5 year term at a finance rate of 2.9%. The personal lease max hour usage will be 100 per year. 500 in total. A charge will occur if the equipment goes over these hours. The residual value at the end of the term will be 60%. Quoted Prices may or may not include property & sales tax. Insurance, warranty, and fees quoted with this offer are included in the Cost/Hour Calculation. Please see in store for full lease details. *Offer valid from February 1, 201 6 until May 31, 2016 . Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only. 0% APR purchase financing for 60 months on new John Deere 1 Series Sub-Compact Utility Tractors. Representative Amount Financed: $10,000, at 0% APR, monthly payment is $166.67 for 60 months, total obligation is $10,000, cost of borrowing is $0. Monthly payments/cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed/down payment. MSRP cash price based on highest priced product in series: $14,696 (includes $50 documentation fee). Cost of borrowing based on Representative Amount Financed not MSRP cash price. Minimum finance amount may be required; representative amount does not guarantee offer applies. Charge for amounts past due is 24% per annum. Maximum Cash Discount Offer cannot be combined with advertised financing. * Attachments and implements sold separately. Some conditions may apply. See your participating dealer for details. Offer subject to availability and may be discontinued or modified. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight and preparation charges not included. 0% APR purchase financing for 4 years on new John Deere Select Hay Tools. Down payment may be required. Representative Amount Financed: $50,000, at 0% APR, semi-annual payment is $6,250 for 4 years, total obligation is $50,000, cost of borrowing is $0. Semi-annual payments/ cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed/ down payment. MSRP cash price based on highest priced product in series: $75,087 (includes $50 documentation fee). Cost of borrowing based on Representative Amount Financed not MSRP cash price. Offer valid from February 1, 201 6 until May 31, 2016. Minimum finance amount may be required; representative amount does not guarantee offer applies. The charge for amounts past due is 24% per annum. Financing on approved John Deere Financial credit only. See dealer for details. Limited time offer which may not be combined with other offers. Discounts or other incentives may be available for cash purchases. By selecting the purchase financing offer, consumers may be foregoing such discounts and incentives which may result in a higher effective interest rate.+3:'3RZHUIXOGLHVHOHQJLQH7ZLQ7RXFK)RRW&RQWUROV+\GURVWDWLFWUDQV3RZHUVWHHULQJ)ROGLQJ52365HWDLO1023E TRACTOR & H120 LOADERLow Monthly Lease Payment!$1655HWDLOLow Monthly Lease Payment!$218+3:'3RZHUIXOGLHVHOHQJLQH7ZLQ7RXFK)RRW&RQWUROV+\GURVWDWLFWUDQV&UXLVH&RQWURO2025R TRACTOR & H130 LOADERMower not includedPERSONAL USE LEASE PROGRAMS ON COMPACT TRACTORS!0% FOR 48 MONTHS!or Deduct $3500 on a Cash Deal0% FOR 48 MONTHS!or Deduct $2200 on a Cash Deal0% FOR 60 MONTHS!or Deduct $10,000 on a Cash Deal+3:'3RZHUIXOGLHVHOHQJLQH7ZLQ7RXFK)RRW&RQWUROV+\GURVWDWLFWUDQV3RZHUVWHHULQJ)ROGLQJ52365HWDLOLow Monthly Lease Payment!/HDVH)URP0RQWKLoader not shown5HWDLOLow Monthly Lease Payment!+3:'3RZHUIXOGLHVHOHQJLQH7ZLQ7RXFK)RRW&RQWUROV+\GURVWDWLFWUDQV&UXLVH&RQWUROMower not included.DPORRSV.HORZQD&KLOOLZDFN/DQJOH\ZZZSUDLULHFRDVWHTXLSPHQWFRP“9 Series – Our Strongest Balers Ever!”“Fly through Tough Condtions!”6,/$*(63(&,$/%$/(5&(17(53,92702&26115M & H340 LOADER+33RZHU7HFK(QJLQH3RZHU4XDG7UDQVPLVVLRQ&RPIRUWDEOH4XLHW&DE/LJKWLQJ3DFNDJH,QGHSHQGHQW530,PSHOOHU&RQGLWLRQHU·µ&XWWLQJ:LGWK5RFNVKDIW69/+LWFK7RQJXH7XUQEXFNOH$QJOH$GMXVWPHQW/[7LUHV+\GUDXOLF3LFNXS/LIW&RYHU(GJH6XUIDFH:UDSµ530+RRNXS([FOXVLYH'LDPRQG7RXJKEHOWVZLWKSODWHW\SHVSOLFHV“Built With Power!”LoadeeeereererereeenottssshohohownwnwnwnMay 2016 • Country Life in BC 23
Stories by TOM WALKERKELOWNA – The BC FruitGrowers Association (BCFGA)is taking the lead to gainfederal government supportfor a bare ground replantprogram.“We are doing it throughthe apple working group ofthe Canadian HorticultureCouncil (CHC),” says BCFGApresident Fred Steele. “Thatincludes BC, Ontario, Quebec,Nova Scotia, New Brunswickand some small plantings onPEI.”“We are talking about bareland that has not had treesgrowing on it for quite sometime,” says Steele, “as opposedto the current replantprogram in BC which takesout older trees and replacesthem with higher valuevarieties.” Steele says CHC membershave reached a consensusthat it would be good topursue support for replantingbare land and administratorsin the various organizationsare working out the details. The plan would rely onprivate sector funding. “But like the old studentloan program, thegovernment would pay theinterest costs for the rst fewyears (we are asking for veyears) until you actually get acrop,” Steele explains. “Whenyou look at the return on newvarieties and 50-75 bins anacre, you should be able topay most of the loan o in sixor seven years.”“We have been trying to dothis on our own for years,”says Steele. “What we learnedfrom talking to Ag Canadaparliamentary secretary Jean-Claude Poissant was that wewere doing it wrong. He toldus to put together a nationalproposal and they wouldconsider it.”Steele says they focused onplantings of high value applesfor the premium market. “We are not talking aboutapples for pies or apple juice;we are talking about an extrafancy grade that can fetch $5an apple in the exportmarket.”BC fruit growers are now inthe second year of their sevenyear $8.4 million replantprogram. This provincially-funded program supportsgrowers to remove lowervalue plantings such as RedDelicious apples or Lapincherries and replace themwith higher value varietiessuch as Ambrosia or Skeena. The program is popular. “It’s been over subscribed,”says Steele. Growers made132 successful applications fora total of 216 separate blocksto be funded. Applicationswere ranked according tocriteria such as variety,planting plan, soil testing andbusiness plan. At the currentlevel of funding, only about115 blocks are expected to befunded. “There is always slippage,”Steele explains. “A projectmay end up being smallerthan the grower rst planned.”Country Life in BC • May 201624Industry insiders arehopeful a vote to reducethe levy paid by Ambrosiaapple growers and used tosupport marketing andresearch activities will beapproved. The vote tookplace during the HortForum in Kelowna in March.The levy, if approved, wouldbe reduced from .25 perpound to .20 and fund theAmbrosia Council foranother ve years. BC plantings of thepremium, locally-developedvariety are expected todouble over the next veyears. More Washingtongrowers are also likely toplant the apple whenpatent protection expires in2017.Waitingon resultsBC fruit growers want to expandprogram to include bare ground replantsThat money then can be puttowards the next grower onthe wait list. The program was drawn upexpecting that early yearswould require less fundingbut BCFGA sought extradollars last year to fund all ofthe applications. “We are going to have tohave a discussion with thegovernment about movingsome of the money forwardagain like we did last year,”says Steele.Ambrosia growers line up to vote at the BC Tree Fruit Hort Symposium in Kelowna in late February. Ifapproved, the levy will actually be reduced as production ramps up in BC over the next ve years.(Tom Walker photo)Be ready for anything.Quality Pre-Owned Tractors & EquipmentBOBCAT BACKHOE, SKID ST MNT CALLBOBCAT S650 SKID STEER . . . . . . 32,000CAT 236B SKID STEER . . . . . . . . . . 15,000CLAAS 6 BASKET TEDDER . . . . COMINGCLAAS 660 HYDRO RAKE . . . . . . . . . 6,500GASPARDO PLANTER 4 ROW . . . 35,000JCB 409 WHEEL LOADER . . . . . . . 45,000JD 7810 CAB, LDR, 4WD . . . . . . . . 90,000KVERNELAND 3 BOTTOM PLOWS . CALLMF 285 2WD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,500MASSEY FERGUSON 298 . . . . . . . . . 8,500MILL CREEK 57 SPREADER . . . . . . . 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 25An orchardeast ofVernon isunder refor its use ofwindmills toprotect itscrops fromfrost andsplitting.(JenniferSmithphoto)BALING DONE RIGHT MCHALE V660VARIABLE CHAMBER BALER34856 HARRIS RD | ABBOTSFORD BC 604-826-3281 McHale V660 Variable Chamber Round Baler – Belt Baler With a common sense approach to design, the McHale V660 variable chamber round balers’ operation is kept simple and user friendly. Features like, the three belt variable bale chamber with double drive and the drop floor unblocking system, when combined with high specification components, ensures long life, reliability and a variable chamber round baler that is rugged enough to handle the toughest of crops and ground conditions.CHECK OUT OUR NEW AND USED INVENTORY ONLINE: WWW.MATSQUIAGREPAIR.COMwww.canadianorganicfeeds.comFOR QUALITYCERTIFIEDORGANICFEEDS FOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERS:Darren JansenGeneral Manager604/794-3701organicfeeds@gmail.comCUSTOM ORDERSCertified to Canadian National StandardsAg turbine noisefuels windy debateby JENNIFER SMITHVERNON – Complaints havecropped up over a Lavingtonfarm’s attempts to protect itsharvest. But not wanting tohurt agriculture, someColdstream ocials don’twant to bite the hand thatfeeds them.Coldstream mayor JimGarlick is pleased to see CoralBeach Farms operating twoorchards in the district.“It’s a renaissance ofagriculture,” says Garlick.Meanwhile, one of theorchards has stirred up severalissues, the largest (quiteliterally) being towering windmachines which dot the land.Some resident complaintshave been made about“unacceptable noise” from thewindmills, which are used toprotect the crops from frostand splitting.“We only turn them onwhen it’s critical to protect thecrop,” says Gayle Krahn, whomanages the Vernon-areaorchards for Coral Beach. Equipped with thermostats,this year the turbines havebeen used minimally.“Last year, because of theearly year and frosty nightsthey came on a bit moreoften,” says Krahn.No matter the issue, someColdstream politicians areconcerned they are notequipped to deal with farmcomplaints due to agriculturalprotection.“Pro-actively, we shouldhave the ability to havebylaws on agricultural land,”says councillor Doug Dirk.“It’s the same with issueswe’ve had in the past withmanure.”But others question forcinga heavy hand on agriculture ina farming community.“I’m really, really leery ongoing down this path,” sayscouncillor Peter McClean. “It’sa knee-jerk reaction. Most ofthe people that live in thiscommunity know it’s anagricultural community.”Councillor Pat Cochrane isalso cautious of the approach,while councillor Richard Ennssees a benet to being pro-active for when aquestionable farm operationdoes arise. But, he points out,“Clearly, Coral Beach is reallystriving to be a responsiblegrower.”Enns did ask Krahn whetherquieter mills have beeninvestigated; she says CoralBeach has looked into butlearned they are unsafe andnot as ecient.“We’ve chosen these ones;they are safe and reliable andthe best in the market. Theyare popular amongst fruitgrowers worldwide,” she says,adding there are 500 windmachines in the Okanagan.Coral Beach also does notuse cannons to scare o birdsbut instead has been doingsome trial work with lasers.“It does not disturb theneighbours at all,” says Krahn.McClean applauds the farmfor being conscientious.“It shows that you aredoing it responsibly,” saysMcClean.Following neighbourhoodconcerns last year, CoralBeach also met with MLA EricFoster’s oce and hosted ameeting on the property.“Ironically, no one showedup,” said Krahn, who sentinvites to everyone she hadbeen in contact with.“We also removed over 110trees to create more of abuer between us andneighbours and ensure therewasn’t a spray drift.”Farmer defends crop protection
Country Life in BC • May 201626Regional District of North Okanagan’s purchase of theBX ranch lands is a small deal next to the 11,200 acres ofColumbia Valley grassland protected in January under aconservation covenant granted to the NatureConservancy of Canada.But ranchers in the South Okanagan have yet to receiveword on one of the biggest and most contentious deals inthe ong, the potential consolidation of thousands ofacres west of Okanagan Falls and south to the US borderbetween Oliver and Cawston.The province launched a public consultation lastsummer regarding the future of three swathes of land ithas proposed consolidating into a provincial conservationarea or – which many ranchers fear – a national parkreserve.A national park has largely been ruled out but theconcept continues to stoke fears.The consultation ran from August 13 to October 12,with the announcement of the consultation promising areport and nal recommendations “in early 2016.”However, the discussion paper regarding the SouthOkanagan protected areas has disappeared from the BCMinistry of the Environment website, with the original linkredirecting to the BC Parks site.The Protected Areas of British Columbia AmendmentAct 2016, introduced in the legislature in March, was alsosilent on the topic.Ministry sta told Country Life in BC that they’re “stillreviewing feedback” with “no time line” for nalrecommendations.South Okanagan decision deferredby PETER MITHAMVERNON – Yet anotherhistoric ranching property hasbeen sold in the BC Interior.The Regional District ofNorth Okanagan (RDNO) hasacquired 167 acres of the BXRanch property for $2.3million with funds from theGreater Vernon parklandacquisition reserve.The purchase wascontingent on theAgricultural Land Commissionapproving subdivision of theproperty to allow for theincorporation of 40 acreslargely unsuitable foragriculture within a regionalpark network. The district willdevelop a walking trail on theacreage and enhancewetlands at the south end ofthe parcel.The remaining 127 acreswill be down-zoned fromCountry Residential to LargeHolding, boosting itsprotection for agriculturaluse. The land commissionrequired the rezoning as afurther condition of purchase.“My goal and my wish anddesire is to retain it within thepark function but to use it foragriculture,” said MikeMacnabb, director for RDNOElectoral Area C, whichincludes the historic BX range.“If it remains in park, it iscontrolled and wouldn’t besubdivided. So that’s theprotection we’re seeking tosupport agriculture.”The district’s agriculturaladvisory committee supportsthe idea of retaining theproperty as parkland foragricultural purposes.Macnabb points out thatthe property comes with itsown water, ensuring that it’sself-sucient. This makes it anideal site for the district forincubator farms where newgrowers could develop theirskills. Kelowna is looking atthe concept, and the CapitalRegional District and otherjurisdictions around theprovince have similar plans.“We could certainly do thesame,” he said. “It would givean opportunity to youngfarmers to learn the tradewith some certainty that theland would be available for aperiod of time.”Since the district isprevented from competingwith private enterprise, itcouldn’t provide the landunder an arrangement thatwould give growers an undueadvantage in the market.However, a portion ofproduction could be donatedfor distribution to low-incomefamilies within the district,Macnabb said. A portion ofthe production could also besold, giving growers theexperience needed to markettheir products.There’s also the potential ofworking with local schools toprovide eld experience tostudents.“In my view, it has a lot ofpotential as an agriculturalpark,” he said. “There’sdenitely an interest in doingthis and I think our biggeststruggle will be convincingour partners at the GreaterVernon Advisory Committee.”The committee asked thatthe property be bought solelyto acquire the parkland andthe remainder sold torecharge the parklandacquisition fund.Subdividing the propertyfacilitates this intention butMacnabb said he hopes tosecure the rezoned portionfor future agricultural use.“Once it’s sold, we wouldhave no further control onthat,” he said, saying that hisarea would considerpurchasing the property forits own use if the districtdoesn’t want to hold it.The move would requireplenty of consultation,however, somethingMacnabb is keen to pursue inthe long-term interests offarming. Rezoning, thenselling 127 acres of ranchlandfor purposes unknowndoesn’t sit well with him.“We see a lot of urbansprawl and we are concerned.As electoral areas, wegenerally are not the growthcentres for residential; wedon’t want to be,” he said.“Growing more houses, to me,that’s not necessarilyprogress. But looking atsustainable agriculture for ourarea, that is.”Regional district intends to turn purchased historic ranch into parkBarnard's Express, later known as the British Columbia Express Company or BX, was a pioneertransportation company that served the Cariboo and Fraser Fort George regions in British Columbiafrom 1861 until 1921. The company's beginnings date back to the peak of the Cariboo Gold Rush.(Photo courtesy of BC Archives, Victoria)VALLEY¿FARM¿DRAINAGE31205 DEWDNEY TRUNK RD. MISSION Phone: 604/462-7213www.valleyfarmdrainage.com Fax: 604/462-7215Open Trenching • Trenchless • Sub-IrrigationLaser Equipped • Irrigation Mainlinesdrainage isour specialty
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 27Moira and Jorge Prieto are all smiles as they hold the top seller atthe Westcoast Classic Holstein auction. Standing with them andMorsan Doorman Missy 3362 is consignor Je Kooyman ofWestcoast Holsteins in Chilliwack. (David Schmidt photo)Lewisdale Gold Missy tops Westcoast Classicby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – “They savedthe best for last” proved to bemore than just an expressionat the Westcoast ClassicHolstein sale in Abbotsford,March 16.Morsan Doorman Missy, aSeptember Doorman daughterof Eastside Lewisdale GoldMissy, the supreme championof both the Royal Dairy Showand the World Dairy Expo in2011, was paraded in front ofthe large crowd of admirersbefore the sale began, thenbrought back for sale at theend of the auction.Although the crowd hadthinned considerably by thetime she was nally availablefor auction, this did notdiminish interest in the stylishyoung heifer. Missy attractedthe top price at the annualauction, $20,500. Making thepurchase was Jorge Prieto, aColombian now living inVictoria. Interestingly, Prietopaid the same price, $20,500,for the top seller in last year’sWestcoast Classic.This was the second yearWestcoast Holsteins ofChilliwack organized thespring sale of elite Holsteingenetics and they havepromised to continue with itfor at least another year.This year, the auctionfeatured 74 animals, one morethan in 2015. The saleaveraged $4,400, a drop of$900 per animal from lastyear’s average, reective ofthis year’s generally lowercattle prices.Stanhope-Wedgwood ofVictoria and Cobble Hill hopedto add to their award-winningcollection of show cattle bybuying the second and thirdhighest selling animals in theauction. They paid $15,200 forSiemers Deant J-Bright, aVery Good two-year-old withat least eight generations ofVery Good or Excellent damsbehind her, and $12,700 forMorsan Kingboy Aubry, aSeptember daughter of MsAtlees Shottle Aubry, a fullsister to Aftershock, one of thebreed’s top bulls.All three top sellers wereconsigned by WestcoastHolsteins.Farmers’ markets prezbrings fresh perspectivewww.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613For better management and spreading performance of poultry litter, Nitro spreaders can be equipped with an optional poultry litter beater assembly. The interchangeable quick-drop beater system allows operators to conveniently switch between the vertical or poultry beater assemblies offering flexibility to both producers and custom operators.Contact your Tubeline dealer today and find out how Nitro Spreaders can help you put litter in its place.604.556.7477DUNCAN5410 Trans Canada Hwy. 250.748.8171KELOWNA103-1889 Springfield Road250.860.2346NANAIMO1-1277 Island Hwy. S250.753.4221PARKSVILLE587 Alberni Hwy. 250.248.3243SAANICH1970 Keating Cross Rd. 250.652.9188SALMON ARM1771 - 10th Avenue S.W. 250.832.8424WEST KELOWNA2565 Main St., Hwy. 97 South 250.768.8870ABBOTSFORD31852 Marshall PlaceCanadian Owned and Operated100%NEW LOCATION•Livestock Feed•Fertilizer• Grass Seed• Pet Food & Accessories•Fencing• Farm Hardware•Chemicals. . . . and a whole lot moreby TAMARA LEIGHQUESNEL – When Wylie Bystedt stepped up as president ofthe BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BCAFM), she becamethe rst president in the organization’s history from the BCInterior, and the rst livestock producer to take the helm.Bystedt runs Coyote Acres Ranch near Quesnel, where sheraises beef, pork, chicken, lamb and llama. Her llama meat, acommon South American protein, hasalso earned her a loyal following atmarkets in Quesnel, McLeese Lake andbeyond.“I feel very lucky to be stepping intothe president’s role at this time. I’mcoming into an organization that is reallystrong,” says Bystedt. “In terms of ourmarket presence and where we t intoagriculture provincially, we are not quitewhere we want to be yet, but there’s a recognition that theBCAFM is a pretty outstanding group.”She points to the BCAFM’s BC Buy Local campaign,#MeetYourMarket, and the nutritional coupon program asinitiatives that have helped farmers’ markets across theprovince increase sales for their vendors. Looking ahead, Bystedt would like to leverage thosesuccesses and explore opportunities to expand their impact.She points to her own experience as an example of howmarkets can help launch farm businesses and increaseprotability. “I’m an example of how markets can helpincubate farm businesses,” Bystedt explains. “For the rst twoyears at the Quesnel market, I shared a spot with a breadmaker so we could support each other and help withmanpower. I needed that time to learn the ropes.”This fall, BCAFM will embark on a new strategic planningprocess and Bystedt is keen to bring some substantive issuesto the table; supporting more First Nations participation,helping young farmers access markets and continuingeducation and outreach programs for members. “Our focus is on markets, but within that, what kind of valuebuilding can we do? What’s our role in engagement?” she says.“Farmers’ markets are in every region of the province. We havemarkets in places where other agricultural activities just don’thappen. We need to start putting it all together. We haveorganizations and infrastructure in 107 communities withstrong grassroots partnerships in place – what do we do withall of that?”Wylie Bystedt
Country Life in BC • May 201628Bought my MF135, and it’s still working hard today.Tough. Versatile. Dependable. Our tractors have been running in families for generations. Visit a dealer today and ask about our latest compact and mid-range tractors.Years later, my son bought a compact tractor for his first piece of land.I set aside a few acres for my first grandson. But he’ll need to get his own Massey Ferguson.THE LAST TRACTOR YOU’LL EVER NEED191919968686868866619191917007070771919191999722727272277719191174747777191911919191767676676761919191911178787878878777191919999808080808080080081919191919198282828228282819199198484484448448819191919986866868686868191919199919188888888888888888191919199190909090909099991919919191992929292929291919191999191119494949494949494944191999196666969696999191919199998989898989820202020202000000000020202020200202020202022020202020220404044440404020202020022206060606066066020020000020808080808080888882020202020210101010101202020020121212122122020202020141414414420202020201616161616162020221818181820202220202000020202020202222222222202020202224242424244202022626626ABBOTSFORDAvenue Machinery Corp.521 Sumas Way604/864-2665KAMLOOPSNoble Equipment Ltd.580 Chilcotin Road250/851-3101MAPLE RIDGEVan Der Wal Equipment Ltd.23390 River Road604/463-3681VERNONAvenue Machinery Corp.7155 Meadowlark Road250/545-3355©2016 AGCO® Corporation. Massey Ferguson® is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation. AGCO and Massey Ferguson® are trademarks of AGCO. All rights reserved. masseyferguson.us
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 29The grass outside looksgreen and lush. The warmweather has allowed it togrow to four or ve inchesseveral weeks ahead of usual.It has been free of livestock formonths and is fresh and cleanlooking. The sheep (alreadyfed hay to ll them a little incase they overeat and bloat)rush in and start gobbling,tearing quickly at the tenderyoung shoots. Where would we bewithout grass? It sustainslivestock, beauties ourhomes and serves as ourplayground.Yet grass and the soil fromwhich it grows needs to bemanaged for goodproduction. Like a vegetablegarden, water, soil conditionsand nutrients below theground contribute as much tothe ultimate quality of thegrass as the sun and carbondioxide above. Well drained soil with agood top layer forms the idealenvironment. The acidity andchemical contents in the soil,such as nitrogen, phosphorusand potash, calcium andminor nutrients, willdetermine the growth of topquality grass, its value tolivestock and its purpose. “The soil provides water,nitrates and essential mineralsassimilated through the roots:Carbon dioxide and sunlighttaken in through their leavesprovides the energy used bythe plant to makecarbohydrates, proteins andother organic constituentsfrom these basic nutrients,"writes former BC Ministry ofAgriculture livestocknutritionist Dr Steve Mason.Is it to be mainly for grassor hay, for cattle, sheep orother, and if so what sort ofgrass seed is best? All willwork but some are moreproductive and palatable forsheep overall, or specic toconditions. Acidity can be correctedSoil testing helps. Acidity isimportant and can becorrected with limeapplications over time andaects uptake of nutrients.Fertilizer applications will berecommended, organic orinorganic, althoughimprovements by organicmeans alone can take years.Animals grazing on it usethese nutrients not only tosustain life (breathing,digestion, excretion) but togrow bones, teeth, hooves,muscle and wool. Muscle ormeat, followed by fat, are puton when basic needs havebeen met.Supplementation isnecessary when grass gets tooshort, too mature or if animals’needs are not being met.Grass will grow morequickly once it has afew inches of leaf toutilize sunlight andstimulate roots. It hasbeen commonlyunderstood that mostof the grass should beabout four inches above theground before sheep wereturned out onto a rested eld. Filling gutsLeave it to grow manyinches longer and grass tendsto get too mature; the stemsstart to elongate, it begins togo to seed and there is arapidly decreasing proteinand sugar content, loweringof its palatability and nutrientvalue. There is also anincreasing amount of ligninwhich lls guts for longerperiods. At this point,palatability and digestiondecrease rapidly; sheep beginto feel full and stop eating,even if their nutrientrequirements have not beenmet. "Keep grass in its vegetativestate," Mason advises smallacreage sheep producers, "bypasture rotation, grazing andmowing, and when it hasbeen grazed down, put yourewes into another paddockand let the last one recoveruntil it has a few inches of leaf.If it is not yet ready, keepthem in dry lot and feedpurchased hay and grain ifnecessary. If one eld getsovergrown, as may happenduring fast growth periods inearly summer and you cannotmow or make hay, let it go toseed and keep the others in agood growing state.“You may not get muchmore out of it for that year butin times of low need, such asfor newly weaned ewes inmoderate to good conditionwith lower nutritional needs,they may get enough fromthat paddock to utilize theresidue." Total intake is important.The quantity, palatability,availability and density of thepasture determines howmuch a sheep can and willtake in with one bite. If thegrass is very short or evenbarely visible, the animals cantake in very little with onebite. With longer grass theymay get more than 10 timesthat amount. Hungry sheepseem to be constantlygrazing. Researchers haveshown that few sheep cangraze for more than ninehours in a 24 hour period.Those with good densepasture will take far less time.Sheep need more feedduring the last few weeks ofpregnancy when most fetalgrowth takes place and evenmore so after giving birth andthere is an increased need forprotein, energy and specicminerals and vitamins to feedtheir lambs. Total intake isimportant for healthy lambsand good growth.Grass management regime leads to higher productionGood grass management ensures healthy, marketable livestock. Pasture rotation and proper nutrientapplications can extend the growing season and increase prots for sheep producers. (File photo)Wool GatheringsJO SLEIGHCUSTOM SLAUGHTER SERVICES PROVIDEDServing the Community TogetherWANTED: ALL SIZES MARKET GOATS & LAMBSashiq@meadowvalleymeats.com604/465-4752 (ext 105)fax 604/465-474418315 FORD ROADPITT MEADOWS, BC V3Y 1Z1PROVINCIALLY INSPECTED ABATTOIR BC#34• BEEF• VEAL• BISON • LAMB • GOAT • DEERMEADOW VALLEY MEATSFARM SALES WORLDWIDE MARKETINGCANADIANFARMREALTY.comSheldon Froese Your Farm Sales Specialistphone: 204.371.5131 email: sheldon@canadianfarmrealty.compecialistSASKATCHEWAN P 8656 • East of Saskatoon • 27.9 acres• 800,000 kgs Turkey Farmers of Saskatchewan quota • 3 stage, year round productionMANITOBA D 5848 • Near Ste. Anne • 307 acres • 100 kgs butterfat daily • Freestall barn with 170 stalls • Self locking gates and drive through feed alleySASKATCHEWAN D 7258 • West of Saskatoon • Approximate 800 acres • 200 kgs dairy quota • Double 10 Westfalia parlour • Newer state-of-the-art barn
Country Life in BC • May 201630by PETER MITHAMARMSTRONG – Acontaminated aquifer that’sbeen under a “do not drink”order for more than two yearswon’t be available to drink anytime soon, critics charge.Residents in the SteeleSprings Water District nearSpallumcheen depend onground water from the Hullcaraquifer, where nitrate levelsroutinely test at more than 10parts per million (ppm), thelevel government standardsconsider the maximumconcentration for potablewater. The source, in the eyes ofmany, is H.S. Jansen & SonsFarm Ltd., which relocated tothe area from Matsqui in 2006and now has approximately1,000 head of dairy cattle.But the province, whichlocal residents have looked tofor action, isn’t so quick toassign blame.“While there are times whena single factor may cause awater quality issue, most often,there are a combination offactors at play,” the BC Ministryof the Environment toldCountry Life in BC last yearwhen asked about thesituation.Environment minister MaryPolak held to the position inannouncing a working groupto address the situation. Theannouncement noted theJansen property, which totals1,200 acres, has hosted“intensive agriculture activityfor the past century” so thespike in nitrate levels can’t beentirely attributed to farmpractices. “The interaction betweenactivities on the landbase andgroundwater are naturallyoccurring, and have provenchallenging for this particularaquifer,” she said in astatement released to media.“Working with the localcommunity, we will take allnecessary actions to make surethe residents of Spallumcheenhave safe drinking water, whilepreserving the region'sagriculture economy."But in previousconversations with Country Lifein BC, water district chair BrianUpper said previous spikes innitrate levels have occurred inthe aquifer in tandem withpractices on the propertyabove. He doesn’t think thelatest series of spikes arenormal, or necessary.The farm sits on zonedagricultural land within theAgricultural Land Reserve andis theoretically a compliant use,but Upper explained followingthe initial uproar in 2014 thatby locating above the aquifers,it became a direct threat to theenvironment and the 150people the water districtserves.While the farm developedan Environmental Farm Plan toguide operations, it was ned$575 in 2012 under BC’sEnvironmental ManagementAct for introducing waste intothe environment.A moratorium was issued onspraying euent for the 2015growing season with the intentof giving the district time toseek funding for acomprehensive study of theaquifer and possible methodsof remediation, but it was oflimited eect.Two years after ...Now, two years after theinitial order declaring waterfrom the aquifer dangerous todrink, the province has takenaction.The working groupannounced in March bringstogether representatives fromthe ministries of theEnvironment, Agriculture, andForests, Lands and NaturalResource Operations as well asthe Interior Health Authority,industry and local First Nations.The group will:• review all available water-quality data as well asrelevant legislation;• promote best farmingpractices including bestpractices for nutrientmanagement;• implement an enhancedmonitoring program alongwith continued complianceand enforcement actions;• collaborate with UBCOkanagan and the OkanaganBasin Water Board to developlong-term water-qualitysolutions.Spallumcheen Townshipwelcomes the action as there’slimited room for localgovernment to address theissue thanks to Right to Farmlegislation and the factgroundwater is provinciallyregulated.“The township has beenencouraging those with thejurisdiction to do what theycan do to improve thesituation,” said CoreyPaiement, the township’s chiefadministrative ocer.No concrete changeBut he said residents whopacked into a public meetingwith provincial representativeson April 14 were clearlyfrustrated that there’s been noconcrete change for the betterafter two years.“They want it xed, and theywant a clear solution,” he said.Al Price, a hay farmer whoco-chairs the Save HullcarAquifer Team, said many leftthe meeting feeling like theywere being told what wasgood for them, rather thanconsulted.“Christine Zacharias-Homer,who is the leader of the HullcarAquifer interministry team, hascome up with a nine-pointaction plan,” Price said. “Thesame sort of thing wasproposed on February 26[2015] by the same ministries.”The meeting was positiveinsofar as the 2015 proposalswere never implemented’ Pricesaid there’s plenty that localresidents don’t know two yearson.“They seem a little bit moreserious this year, a little betterorganized, but we’re still a littleskeptical,” he said. “When acompliance order and adrinking water advisory andthe water advisory in HullcarValley were issued in 2014, thehealth ministry said they wereworking with the Ministry ofthe Environment to do testingand to determine the source ofthe contamination. That’s twoyears ago – two years that wehaven’t been able to drink ourwater. What did they nd out?They won’t tell us.”George Heyman,environment critic with the BCNDP, has grilled thegovernment over the failure todisclose the report. Theprovince says because thestudy was actually carried outby a third-party engaged bythe Jansen family, its hands aretied.Without the most recenttests showing nitrate levels stillelevated at 13.3 ppm, andnone of the reports havingresolved the issue, Price isskeptical that governmentinvolvement will produceresults.“We would like to believethat they want to solve ourProvincial pledges on aquifer run dry, say criticsFor commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualication and approval by CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through June 30, 2016. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Example - 0% per annum for a total contract term of 72 months: Based on a retail contract date of April 1, 2016 with a suggested retail price on a new Farmall 140A of C$145,241.00, customer provides down payment of C$29,177.00 and nances the balance of C$116,064.00 at 0% per annum for 72 months. There will be 72 equal monthly installment payments of C$1,612.00 each. The total amount payable will be C$145,241.00, which includes nance charges of C$0.00. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. *Since 1923, the Farmall name has been synonymous with power, performance, durability and value. Case IH is proud to expand the Farmall A heritage with higher horsepower models ranging from 100 to 140 HP. These workhorse tractors provide built-in performance, value features, and versatility with options to spec a tractor up or down to create a tractor right for your operation at a competitive price.%0FOR72 MONTHS*ON NEW UTILITY FARMALL® 100A SERIES TRACTORSSEE US TODAY!OFFER ENDS 6/30/2016CALIBER EQUIPMENT LTD.34511 Vye RoadAbbotsford, BC V2S 8J7604-864-2273www.caliberequipment.ca34511 VYE RD . ABBOTSFORD604/864-2273VANCOUVER TOLL FREE 604/857-2273CHILLIWACK TOLL FREE 604/795-2273www.caliberequipment.caNEW & USED EQUIPMENT SALES • PARTS • SERVICEPlease see “WATER” page 31
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 31WATER PROBLEMS From page 30Buddaa-bing! Budda-boom!Bulls are bouncing all over BCand beyond! Since sometimein February, it's been all aboutthe bulls in sales rings allaround the province. The 79thannual Williams Lake BullShow and Sale is generallyconsidered the last major bullsale in the province for thecoming breeding season. It isoften the bull sale of choice forsome of the small ranchers,many of whom do not havethe space (or a secure pen) tohold bulls back from the cowherd until breeding season isscheduled to begin.The prices at the bull saleshave been pretty solid –certainly compared to thedismal lows of a few not-too-distant years back, eventhough prices in the regularsales have dipped noticeablyin the past months.At BC Livestock’s April 19sale in Williams Lake, there wasa noticeably larger crowd ofranchers on hand and almostall of them were there to buy.There was heavy competitionfor the cow/calf pairs, latecalving heifers and cows,calves and lighter groups ofyearlings on oer. Bull showThe Williams Lake BullShow, April 14, was openedwith commentary andintroductions by BCCattlemen's Associationdirector Grant Humanfrom Riske Creek. Then,it was on to thebusiness of paradingthe bulls in front ofjudge Stan Jacobs fromDouglas Lake Ranch.Here’s a recap of some ofthe winners:Hereford ClassesChampion Yearling (LouiseNewberry Memorial): Lot 12owned by Jody SiemensReserve Champion Yearling:Lot 8, North Blu FarmsJunior Champion (CIBC):Lot 29, Haley BellReserve Junior Champion(BMO): Lot 41, Little FortHerefords Senior Champion (RBC): Lot2, Cli and Kari-Ann PoganyReserve Senior Champion(Beaver Valley Feed): Lot 3, NeilTurnerGrand Champion (FinningTractor & Equipment): Lot 29,Haley BellReserve Grand Champion(The Tribune): Lot 2, Cli andKari-Ann PoganyBest Pair of Bulls (Ray and$5894.05 on 42 head.The high selling Angus bullwas lot 129 from CharlesDwinnell and Diane Fletcher.He sold for $10,000.00 toSpringeld Cattle Co. SealinCreek Ranch sold the secondhigh seller. Lot 88 went toDurness Angus (Neil McLeod)for $9,500.00. The Angusaverage was $4835.92 on 71head.The Gelbvieh average was$4812.50 on four head. TheSimmental average was$2933.33 on three head andthe Charolais average was$4000.00 on ve head. Chrissie Pigeon): Lot 24/25, NeilTurnerBest String of 3 Bulls (AlkaliLake Ranch): Lot 35/36/38,Deaneld RanchGet of Sire (Gung Loy JimMemorial): Lot 24/25/26, NeilTurnerAngus Grand Champion (NormWade): Lot 88, owned by SealinCreek Ranch (Dan and&Janette Speller)Reserve Grand Champion:(BC Angus Association): Lot 66, Schochaneetqua Angus (ToddMarchant and Pam McGuiness)Best Pair (BC AngusAssociation): Lot 117/118, Vallee Creek Angus (Jamie Bell)Get of Sire (BC AngusAssociation): Lot 61/66/68, Schochaneetqua AngusAngus Pen Show (Circle SWestern Wear): Lot 106/107, Punchaw Red Angus (Albertand Jackie Toso)Sale resultsWhile winning a ribbon onshow day makes a breeder feelgood, selling bulls for bigbucks on sale day tends tovalidate your breedingprogram in a more tangibleway.The high selling Herefordbull was the senior and reserveoverall champion, lot 2,consigned by Cli and Kari-Ann Pogany. He sold for$10,500.00 to Lois and CliHinsche. Haley Bell consigned thegrand champion, lot 29, andhe sold for $8750.00, also tothe Hinsche family. TheHereford average wasPrices at spring sales have been solid, and that’s no bull! MONTHOF THE TUREFEA lil851521 i .noitacirbulnoC.ebulraegW09nietareposgniraeB•.setalpraew&slaesenocbrellornekmiTderepatelbuodhtab-liO•.sloopsrecapsleetsdetacirbaf”½01•dedaerht,tfftahsgnagyolladnuor”8/12•. emarfebutralugnatcerre”8/3x”4x”6•OODEL225G DIN WIANDEMTTA22222LDDOMMM Phone 403-347-2646ve., Re#3, 7491-49 AAv.kelloughs.comwww’42&,”6’12,”6’91,’81•lbdehcton”62x”61/5•g&kcajhctihbl0007•t/ss/tikesoh&stnemgesuardyh”21x”5&”8x”5•.slortnocgnilevelfleS•tfa-errofdedaol-gnirpS•raobdluomytudyvaeH•seilbmessabuhtlob8•melpmiylp851x5.21•e vitisoptnatsn-oudw/csgniraeb.sdnehtobTSWWCSG DIWSSTTT555 lty 1-888-500-2646, AB. T4P 1N1ed Deerr,.kelloughs.com.shtdiw.seda.sehcnerrewgna.skcoltropsnarth tpedw/c&srednilyctfftilleehwcilu.leveltropsnart,ylbmessaepyttsamt.sreparcsdr.s.serreittnem• 12.5 x 15 8 ply implement tires• 8 bolt hub assemblies• Heavy duty mouldboard scrapers• Spring-loaded fore-aft mast type assembly, transport level• Self leveling controls• 3 - 5”x12” hydraulic wheel lift cylinders c/w depth seg-ments & hose kits/transport locks• 7000 lb hitch jack & gang wrenches• 5/16” x 26” notched blades• 18’, 19’6”, 21’6”, & 24’ widthsCIDC Check-offBCID Fund9WorkBeef atCheck-offCheck-offCIDC 9Ch9f9heck-of9at9W9Beef 9ork9WoFundCI-D FundBCID Producer Check-Off Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net | 1-877-688-2333Natural gas supplymanagementcascadiaenergy.caVanc: 604-687-6663VanIsl: 250-704-4443drinking water problem, butwe haven’t seen any evidenceso far,” he said.In the meantime, residentscontinue to pay $800 a year tothe water district for water theycan’t drink. Some, like Price, haveinvested in a nitrate ltrationsystem at a cost of $3,000 (andannual operating costs of $250).Others are dependent onbottled water, and a smallnumber remain dependent onthe polluted water.“We are paying for aproblem we had no part increating,” Price said. “It’s anabomination in this day andage when we can’t protectdrinking water.”Market MusingsLIZ TWANEditor Angie Mindus presents the Williams Lake Tribune trophy to JoePogany, owner of the reserve champion Hereford bull at the WilliamsLake Bull Show. CKP 211Y Chinook Rambo 6B sold the next day for$10,500.00, making him the high seller overall. (Liz Twan photo)
Country Life in BC • May 201632Thank you to three blue ribbon directors from BC. Westgen president Tony DeGroot, left, and chiefexecutive ocer Chris Parry, right, present parting gifts to retiring directors Rudy Russenberger,David Janssens and Raymond Brink. (David Schmidt photo)12:6(59,1*7+()5$6(59$//(<:H·YHEHHQSURXGO\IDPLO\RZQHGDQGRSHUDWHGVLQFHRSHQLQJLQ$QGZLWKWZREOHQGLQJSODQWVZH·UHRQHRI%&·VODUJHVWGLVWULEXWRUVRIJUDQXODUOLTXLGDQGIROLDUIHUWLOL]HUV2XUEX\LQJSRZHUDQGSUR[LPLW\WRWKH)UDVHU9DOOH\PDNHVXVWKHORJLFDOFKRLFHIRUWUXFNORDGVKLSPHQWV2.$1$*$1)(57,/,=(5/7'by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD –Last yearwas lled with excitingdevelopments including thestart of construction of theirnew oce building inAbbotsford, Westgenpresident Tony DeGroot toldmembers at their annualmeeting, March 22. Since themeeting was being held just akilometer from the new oce,many attendees took up theinvitation to tour thebuilding’s shell at the end ofthe meeting.With the new ocesexpected to be completed bythe end of June, Westgen isstarting to divest itself of itsother properties. One was soldin 2015, another is in the nalstages of selling and a thirdhad just been listed.“Our goal is to have only theAngus Campbell property infuture. We will liquidate allother holdings,” treasurerRaymond Brink stated, sayingthe gains will be used to payfor the new facilities. While Westgen’slandholdings are shrinking, itsWestgen’s business expanding as real estate shrinksbusiness is not, says chiefexecutive ocer Chris Parry. “We have returned togrowth,” he said, notingrevenues exceeded expensesby over $1 million last year.“Our gross revenue was up18% and our net revenue wasup 15%.”Much of the surplus camefrom Westgen’s 10% interest inSemex, which returned almost$1 million in dividends lastyear. Future returns could bein jeopardy as Semex’s othertwo partners appear to bebullying Westgen. Althoughno one would commentopenly, the situation is seriousenough to cause Westgen’sboard to close a portion of themeeting so members coulddiscuss their options in private.Westgen achieved itsoperating surplus despitereturning almost $1 million tocustomers and the WesternCanadian industry. Almost$250,000 went to geneticleader program incentives,over half a million dollars wasused for Westgen’s customerloyalty program, and almost$200,000 was spent onindustry research anddevelopment. In addition, theWestgen Endowment Fund(WEF) provided $110,639 tosupport 4-H and otherprojects.Since the $5 millionendowment fund wasestablished in 2004, it hasinvested over $1.5 million inprojects benetting theWestern Canadian dairyindustry, WEF chair TimHofstra noted. The meeting marked theretirement of three ofWestgen’s directors: formerpresident David Janssens, Brinkand Rudy Russenberger. RidleyWikkerink succeeds Janssensas one of BC’s two designateddirectors while Richard Bosmaand Tony van Garderen wereelected as at-large directors.Like the directors theyreplaced, all are from BC.Apple orchards croppingup in Vernon areaby JENNIFER SMITHVERNON – Coldstreamagricultural is going back toits roots. History is repeating itself onthe chunk of land betweenHighway 6 and AberdeenRoad known as the SpicerBlock. Until recently the landwas used as forage forColdstream Ranch’s cattle. Butthe ranch recently sold o theland and there are plans toplant an apple orchard, itsoriginal use.“It’s going back to what itused to be,” said Mayor JimGarlick.Coldstream Ranch’s TedOsborn notes this isn’t the rstrepeat of history as tree fruitsare making a comeback lately.“We see a resurgence ofapples and cherries anddierent fruits,” said Osborn.As for Coldstream Ranch,Osborn says the ranch core isremaining and the sale is justa continuation of originalplans for the property.“When Lord Aberdeenbought it in 1891, his idea wasto develop it and sell it o,”said Osborn, mentioningownership changes onoutlining lands in the late ‘60sand early ‘70s.“It’s just what happens overtime, land appreciates in valueand some peripheral lands aresold o.”CASE IH TM200FIELD CULTIVATOR, 26.5’ WW,REAR HYD HITCH KIT $39,950JOHN DEERE 512 DISK RIPPER7 SHANKS, OFFSET DISKS, CLEANUNIT $22,500GENIE 842 TELEHANDLERPALLET FORKS, 1610 HOURS$49,500’96 KUBOTA L235025 HP, LB400 LDR, 540 PTO, TURF TIRES $8,95006 NH TM1554WD, AC, HEAT, 850TL SELF LEVELINGLDR, 5200 HRS $59,950AGWAY BF50003PT ROUND BALE FEEDER$9,950CASE IH CAMO SCOUT, 4X4, MUDTIRES, RECEIVER KIT, WIND-SHIELD/CANOPY $13,750FarmersEquip.com888-855-4981LYNDEN, WAPRICES IN US DOLLARS#21925$13,750$13,750#23278$8,950$8,950#22791 $59,950$59,950#19329$9,950$9,950#22558$39,950$39,950#22535$22,500$22,500#15525$49,500$49,500PROVEN FEED EFFICIENCY PROVEN FEED EFFICIENCYwww.bchereford.ca Our Residual Feed Efficiency Research will help your boom line BCHA President Murray Gore 604-582-3499 BCHA Secretary Janice Tapp 250-699-6466
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 33INVEST IN QUALITY®Matsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101Huber Farm EquipmentPrince George, BC250-560-5431KuhnNorthAmerica.comDownload ourForageXpertapp today toƂPFVJGRGTHGEVtool to optimizeyour harvest! CLEAN, EVEN CUTTINGGMD MOUNTED SERIES DISC MOWERSr.QYRTQƂNGFGUKIPHQTHCUVENGCPEWVVKPIr6JG2TQVGEVCFTKXG®U[UVGORTQVGEVUVJGEWVVGTDCTIGCTVTCKPCPFOKPKOK\GUFQYPVKOGr*GCX[FWV[EWVVGTDCTGPUWTGUNQYOCKPVGPCPEGCPFNQPINKHGr5RTKPIUWURGPUKQPRTQXKFGUQWVUVCPFKPIITQWPFEQPVQWTKPIsEWVVKPIYKFVJUr2TGOKWO5GNGEVOQFGNUCXCKNCDNGby RONDA PAYNEABBOTSFORD – The newswas generally positive at the2016 BC Raspberry GrowersAssociation and RaspberryIndustry Development Council(RIDC) annual general meetingin Abbotsford in late March. “We’re still in the process ofnalizing the shareholdersagreement,” announced chairArvin Neger, “but the new BCBerry Cultivar entity is now setup.” The new company is acombined eort of theraspberry, blueberry andstrawberry councils. Negernoted that any money fromselling cultivars will be putback into the breedingprogram.He also conrmed anincrease in the RIDC levy froma half cent to one cent perpound has been approved.The increase will help osetthe shortfall in the 2015budget and ensure a minimallikelihood of a shortfall in theforeseeable future. Neger noted there were“signicant costs” in settingup the BC berry cultivarcompany. “We want to make sure thisis set up right … so it can beself-sucient,” he toldgrowers.Estimates for the 2016harvest were setconservatively at 13. 5 millionpounds. “We assume it will behigher than 13. 5, but wantedto be conservative,” saidNeger.Research scientist and plantbreeder Michael Dossettspoke about the current statusof the breeding program. “The raspberry breedingprogram performed 99 newcrosses last spring. The focusof those was root rot toleranceto superior fruit quality andyield,” he said. The approximately 6,500seedlings from the crosses arenow being planted, which iswelcome news as the changesto the breeding program in2013 caused setbacks. “We didn’t have very manyselections last year,” Dossettnoted. “Everything kind of gotpushed back a year.”Dossett noted the potentialviability of one selection madein 2010 from the 2007 crosses.BC 7-20-30 has a high yield,ability to be machine pickedand potential for root rottolerance. It is susceptible tobushy dwarf virus but isundergoing propagation todetermine the level of root rotresistance. Research isongoing for bushy dwarf virus,Dossett explained; twodierent genetic markers forresistance have beenRaspberry growers set conservative crop forecastidentied. Machineharvest trialsfrom crosses of2008 to 2010 willbe assessed thisyear.“This will bethe stu that wasselected in 2013,”said Dossett. “Weare cautiouslyoptimistic thatthere’s going tobe something inthere thatmachine harvestwell and has some root rotresistance.”Varieties that exhibit bothroot rot resistance and goodmachine harvesting qualitieswill go into larger trials withthe potential of plants beingavailable in the spring of 2017.Although growers hadpreviously asked for earlierripening varieties, Dossettnoted better root rotresistance is found in later-ripening plants. He willcontinue to explore options tosee if there is a plant that goesagainst this trend. Researcher Eric Gerbrandtspoke about replicated plotsbeing used in trials in Lyndento explore strategies tocombat declining fruit yield.Gerbrandt has been visitingthe Lynden location for threeyears in what he described asimplementing precise tacticsthat are payingo in fruitweight and yield.A large plot inClearbrook isalso beingstudied in termsof the benets ofvariousmanagementpractices. Gerbrandtdiscovered plotsthat had grass orturf between theplantings sawlower yields thanthose plots with fall crops orno cover crops. “There’s options [for covercrops],” Gerbrandt said. “It’sjust a matter of nding outwhat works over the longterm.”James Bergen gave anupdate on the minor useprogram which Negerdescribed as positive news.However, due to the nature ofthe program, the productsBergen spoke of are at leastthree years away from beingin growers’ hands. Ministry of Agricultureberry specialist CarolynTeasdale said an update ofcurrent use changes will beemailed to growers. There isconditional usage of Captureuntil fall of 2017. With the lossof Diazepam for fruit wormbeetles, she noted thatDelegate and Entrust maydeliver somecontrol.Insecticidesreleased in thepast year includeAssail, Entrust,Delegate and agroup 21 –Torent. Prizmwas noted forbeing a post-emergenceherbicide. Spotted WingDrosophila(SWD) wasdiscussed in apanel with Teasdale noting,“numbers are a little bit lowerthan last year, but similar.”Steve Phillips of Berry HillFoods added that theassumption should be thatSWD levels will be similar tolast year. “Stay on your ve to sevenday intervals [for spraying],alternate your chemistry and ifit does rain, get on yourspray,” he said. Another panel member,Mike Boot, reported that whilethere is variability from eld toeld and some signs ofpossible stress and root rot,bud survival is looking good. “There is a lot more canebotrytis and spur blight thanI’d like to see,” he said. “If yourelds are struggling, just burnthe sides. Make sure your pHlevels are in line. The olderelds are the ones at issue.”Phillips alsopresented amarket reportstating that thehigh prices maypush some berrycustomers toreformulate orlook to othermarkets likeMexico forberries. “Keep thequality as goodas you can,” hesaid. “Thesecustomers arestill looking for good quality.As far as the market goes, it’stough to say. They’re lean, butI would say the pipeline isfairly empty.”Labour changes werediscussed by David Mutz whonoted that while there werechanges to regulations, theyweren’t as signicant assuspected. The Mexicanconsulate will no longer inputLMIAs. This work will be doneby Mi Tierra Holidays goingforward. “Most of you probablywon’t notice the change,”Mutz said. The meeting closed withthe election of boardmembers. With four positionsexpiring and four namesstanding, Neger, Mark VanKlei, Paul Sidhu and Mel Sidhuwere all elected byacclamation. Michael Dossett James Bergen
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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 35Gracemar Farmsflush with firstsDairy expansion results in the first roboticrotary parlour in BC and North Americaby DAVID SCHMIDTCHILLIWACK – It’s a rst forBC, a rst for North America,even a rst for the world!Since it had only been inoperation for two weeks,Westgen members wereamong the rst to see the newGEA robotic rotary parlour atwork when they touredGracemar Farms in Chilliwack,March 23.This is not only the rstrobotic rotary parlour in BC, itis the rst in North Americaand only the seventh in theworld. At 60 stalls, it is thelargest in the world, althoughwork has begun on a 72-stallversion on a US dairy.The new parlour is part of amassive expansion which alsoincludes a fourth freestall barnand a new manuremanagement system. Whencomplete, it will allow WallyTenbrinke, his sons, Michaeland Richard, and son-in-lawJohn Kampman to merge the300-cow herd they now milkon a second farm in the NorthOkanagan with the 700-cowherd they already have inChilliwack.“We will keep the NorthOkanagan farm for our drycows and heifers,” Kampman,the farm manager, states.The project was a year inthe making.“We looked at theprototype in Germany at thebeginning of March 2015, andbegan digging ground for thenew parlour and barns in mid-June,” Kampman says.Programming the systemtook close to two months.Each stall has its own Linuxcomputer, i.e., there are 60individual computers, andeach took about a day toprogram and link into theoverall system, explains DavidReiman of GEA FarmTechnologies, adding thatonce the initial programmingis in place, any requiredchanges or adjustments takeonly a few minutes tocomplete.Unlike a conventionalrobotic milker, the roboticrotary is not voluntary. Like ina conventional parlour, thecows are milked three timesper day at set times andbrought into the holding areain groups. That’s where thesimilarity between a traditionalparlour and a robotic rotaryends.Unlike a traditional rotaryparlour, the robotic rotaryrequires only one milker andmilking is much moreconsistent from one cow tothe next.“We have gone from fourAbove, Wally Tenbrinke, JohnKampmann, Michael Tenbrinkeand Richard Tenbrinke stand infront of their new GEA roboticrotary parlour at GracemarFarms in Chilliwack. The 60-stallparlour is the largest roboticparlour in the world.Right, John Kampmann showssome of the controls behind therobotic rotary parlour.(David Schmidt photos)Please see “YIELDS” page 36people in the parlour to justone,” Kampman says. A colour-coded master display showsthe status of each cow. Itdetails which cow is in eachstall, if it has been treatedand/or has high conductivityin one or more quarters, whenthe prep is completed and theUnlimited possibilities exist for this very desirable property!271 acres, 2 titles on fertile Fraser River bench minutes to Quesnel. Was very profitable market garden business. Location offers warm micro-climate well-suitedfor corn, root crops, alfalfa hay; would make good organic farming operation.Currently uses pivot & 2 reels for hay on ~129 acres; 90 acres in pasture. Couldsupport 65 cow/calf herd. Modern 3500 sq ft 4 bed home, second 3 bed home,rental studio, workshop, large barn, corrals, cattle handling facilities, 2 greenhous-es, marketing store w/cooler, root house, chicken-processing facility w/walk-in cooler, freezer. Subsdivision potential. $1,390,000ranchesonly.com250.983.3372 . 250.992.7202bkgranholm@xplornet.comwww.ranchesonly.comBOB GRANHOLMRE/MAX QUESNEL REALTYConsistant spreading.Quality forage.“Serving British Columbia proudly since 1946”MachineryLimitedROLLINSRChilliwack – 1.800.242.9737, 44725 Yale Road WLangley – 1.800.665.9060, 21869, 56th Avenue2 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY ON ALL EQUIPMENTHIT 8.91 Tedder Asymmetric tines sweep up all of the crop Patented MULTITAST system oers unrivalled ground following Robust DYNATECH Rotors designed for dicult conditions Even spread thanks to high tine to rotor ratio
Country Life in BC • May 201636YIELDS From page 35milking has begun. It evenshows how far along it is in itsmilking, i.e., what percent ofthe cow’s projected yield hasalready come out. Theinformation is also fed to anIPad the operator carries withhim so he can see the status ofeach cow even if he is on theopposite side of the parlour.If the cow has been treated,the milk is automaticallydiverted from the milk line.The valve to the milk linewon’t reopen until the milkingis complete and the diversionline has been closed.Before milking begins, eachteat is automatically washedwith warm water. After milkingis completed, the cow receivesa post-dip with a peroxidesolution. To ensure no crosscontamination, each unit isbackushed with a solution ofiodine and cold water aftereach cow is milked. In that way, each cow istreated exactly the same everymilking and exactly the sameas every other cow, makingthe system incrediblyconsistent.The entire parlour iswashed down between eachof the three daily milkings. Ifan issue arises with a stallduring a milking, the operatorsimply blocks that stall with abarrel and works on xing itafter milking has beencompleted.“It’s simpler and faster toblock that stall and take careof the problem when thesystem is not used than to tryto correct it partway through aThe world’slargest roboticrotary parlour isnow inoperation atGracemar Farmsin Chilliwack.The 60-stall GEAparlour is onlythe seventh inthe world andattractingattention fromfarmers aroundthe globe.(David Schmidtphoto)milking,” Kampman says.His herd is divided into sixgroups including a two-year-old group, a fresh group and a“non-conforming” group.“About 5% of cows areunsuited to the robot,” heexplains. Those cows are eitherculled or put in the “non-conforming” group. AtGracemar, this group numbersabout 50 and is the rst intothe parlour so the machinescan be attached manually toeach cow before the mainmilking begins. Kampman says productiondropped when the cows wereintroduced to the new parlourbut is rebounding quickly.“We were averaging 38.5 kg.That dropped to 33 kg the rstthree days in the new parlourbut after just two weeks isalready back to 37.2 kg,” henotes, adding the somatic cellcount is also improving. “Wewere at 200,000 SCC when westarted but we’re alreadydown to 150,000 SCC.”Although designed inEurope, Reiman notes the GEArobotic parlour owes a lot toCanada.“This is the rst rotary builton a platform built in Canadaby Houle (a GEA subsidiary). Ithas industrial strengthbearings and steel and will faroutlive the robots themselves,”he says, saying he expects therobots to have a 15-20 yearlifespan.“The robots can take quite abeating,” Kampmann adds.Gracemar’s robotic rotaryparlour may be a rst but it willdenitely not be a last.“We have had interest fromall over the world,” says JohnBruinsma of Pacic DairyCentre, which represents GEAin BC, saying he expectsGracemar will be asked to hostover 1,000 interested dairymenover the next months andyears.Kampman says the roboticrotary is the only option forautomating the milking oflarge herds. Even though it isexpensive, he notes therobotic parlour is “about halfthe cost” of installing 60individual robotic milkers.1.866.567.4162Cuts From The Bottom Up.Maximize your productivity, reduce costs, and save valuable time with a Bale Knife from HLA Attachments. Available in 3 sizes, the Bale Knife uses a serrated cutting edge to easily cut through your 4, 5, and 6 foot silage and hay bales. A proprietary system grabs the wrap and bale netting holding it securely as the bale is sliced and drops free keeping bale netting and wrap out of your mixers and feeders.It’s unique design allows for bales to be cut a mere 6” off the ground making it ideal for use in areas with low overhead.Visit www.hlaattachments.com/baleknife for more information.www.hlaattachents.com www.horstwagons.com• Bearings on king pins for no sway trailing• Includes 2 shoes and 2 Universal Pads• 2 Ratchet straps to secure load• 4 Wheel steering• 4 Wheel electric brakes• 4 Wheel independent ROAD FLEX suspension• 30 ft. wheelbase with reinforced bottom rail• Wheel Fenders• Running lights on fenders and rails• Light kit (Red Lenses)• 2-5/16 ball hitch and safety chains• Vehicle Identification Number for Licensing• Double Spring Balancer• 235/85 R16 (F Range) Highway trailer tire on 16 x 6 x 6 rim
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 37Trophy Class. In the grand championship picture at the BC Holstein Spring Show in Abbotsford, March17 were, from left to right, sponsor Gord Houweling of BC Farm & Ranch Realty, reserve grandchampion Springbend Windhammer Slash, led by Herb de Ruiter for Springbend Farms in Enderbyand T & L Cattle of Chilliwack, grand champion Wendon Dempsey Prude, led by Barclay Phoenix forWestcoast Holsteins in Chilliwack, judge Nathan Thomas of Ohio and BC Holstein Princess Nicki Meier.A diamond in the rough.Judge Nathan Thomas ofOhio (far right) stands withthe junior champions of theBC Holstein Spring Show.They were reserve juniorchampion GoldensetDoorman Pandora, led byDave Hamming of HammingHolsteins in Vernon andjunior championDiamondpark BookkeeperPenny, led by BarclayPhoenix for WestcoastHolsteins of Chilliwack.(David Schmidt photos)by DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – Chilliwack’s two top showstrings, WestcoastHolsteins and T & L Cattle, split the top awards at the 2016 BCHolstein Spring Show in Abbotsford, March 17.The biggest news was not the winners but the amount ofprize money available. With the support of generous sponsors,the BC Holstein Branch was able to oer over $50,000 in prizemoney this year, the largest prize pool ever oered at a SpringShow. As a result, it was the rst time in recent memory that theshow was not only contested by BC’s top Holstein breeders andexhibitors, but by top show strings from Alberta and California. That gave Nathan Thomas of Ohio a lot of outstandinganimals to judge, many of which would hold their own in anyNorth American show. After looking at 64 heifers in the juniorshow and 51 cows in the intermediate and senior classes, hechose four-year-old Wendon Dempsey Prude as the senior andgrand champion of the show. Prude earned $10,000 as thegrand champion and another $750 as the senior champion forher owners, Westcoast Holsteins.Earning $5,000 for the reserve grand championship, $750 forthe intermediate championship and another $2,000 for beingthe best bred-and-owned animal in the show was SpringbendWindhammer Slash. The extremely stylish senior three-year-oldis co-owned by T & L Cattle and Slash’s breeder, SpringbendFarms of Enderby.Westcoast also showed the junior champion, DiamondparkBookkeeper Penny, and was named the show’s premierexhibitor. T & L also showed the reserve senior champion,Tolamika Goldwyn Mercedes. Mercedes is co-owned by BienertHolsteins, Southrise Holsteins and Dardel Holsteins of Alberta.Skycrest Holsteins of Alberta was named the show’s premierbreeder. Their championship winners included Skycrest MincioPrickles, the reserve intermediate champion and reserve seniorchampion bred-and-owned animal, and Skycrest Doorman LiveWire, the junior champion bred-and-owned animal.Other championships went to Goldenset Doorman Pandora,shown by Hamming Holsteins of Vernon (reserve juniorchampion), and Blossomdairy Fever Royalty, shown by BlossomDairy of Chilliwack (reserve junior champion bred-and-owned).Hamming was named the premier exhibitor of the junior showwhile Blossom Dairy took the honour as premier breeder of thejunior show. The 2016 show was dedicated to former Holstein Canadapresident Richard Bosma and his wife, Judy, of Vedderlea Farmin Abbotsford.Holstein Spring Showsets prize money record,-.KS\c+]]YMSK^SYXS]2S\SXQ6S`O]^YMU2K_VO\] Y]]+c\SK.-, XS\S2]SXYS^KSMY 2UMY^]O`S6QX ]\OV_K XO\\_M]S+.-,XOS\OZbONXKKPR^SaQXSU\Ya_YLKMSVL_ZOR^YR]]O^KNSNXK-`KRNXK\OcKVZY^]O`SV\Y]aYMXKMVKONSOR>KR^SaUM_\^ \YPQXSUYYVcV^X XYZ]O\OV_KRUMY^]O`SVNOMS^SX_WWYMNXK]\OW\K-,XSQXSW\KPc\SKN^_OVLKQNOVaYXUOLNV_YROMXOS\OZbOOVZWKO`UMNXKXaYVVSaO^KNSNXRM^SRVOORaR^ KXYS]]OPY\ZOVLS]X]\O _VMXSXYS^S]YZOR>NONXKO^YWY\ZY^]OSQXSW\KPc\SKN^_YLKON\YPQXS\KMQXSVNXKRZXY^KO^K\OZYN VK]ON_O^KM_NWKO^Kc\SKNZ_UMSZ KMXYXK]S]SR>KZ\YPVKS^XO^YZ$^MK^XY-RKR=KSNK8WWY-PY\OQKXK7Mc\SKNML*RKR]X ZWYMR^SaXYS^S]YZVVK^XOWcYVZWOOWS^^\K<\OM_NY\:NXK]XYS^KMSX_W!!# \YK XYS^K]XOZWYMO`S^S^OZ]XYS^KVO< NXKThe Mobile Dairy Classroom Experience is looking for dairy diplomats to educate consumers about dairyfarming in BC. The program visits over 160 schools a year and over 53 events, May through October. Thedairy classroom program is a fun and rewarding work opportunity that is open to staff of all ages and backgrounds. We are currently looking for facilitators and presenters and offer on-call (based on your schedule and availability) and part-time (two-three shifts per week) employment. Help wanted ... FACILITATOR - $25/hrA Mobile Dairy Classroom Experience Facilitator is responsible forarranging, handling and hauling the animals used for the program,as well as basic maintenance of the trailer. A dairy classroom facil-itator has a passion for animal handling. Hauling experience is notmandatory but is preferred. Individuals with a high level of animalhandling experience and are willing to learn to haul the trailer, willbe provided registered training courses. PRESENTER - $15/hrA Mobile Dairy Classroom Experience Presenter is responsi-ble for conducting presentations at school visits, agriculturalexhibitions and urban events to a variety of audiences. Adairy classroom presenter is eager to educate people aboutdairy farming, willing to assist the facilitator with requestedtasks and is a fantastic team player. REQUIREMENTS FOR BOTH POSITIONS:• Team Player • Takes direction well • Good attitude • Hard working• Respectful of others • Open to learning If you or someone you know might be interested in this position please feel free to contactNADIA SHAH AT nshah@bcdairy.ca or 604.294.3775 Van Der Wal Equipment (1989) Ltd.23390 RIVER ROAD, MAPLE RIDGE, BC V2W 1B6604/463-3681 | vanderwaleq.comVisit our showroom to see more!WL60TARTICULATED WHEELLOADER WITHTELESCOPIC BOOMThe WL60T telescopic wheel loader is equipped with a101-hp turbo charged Perkins diesel engine and featuresa telescopic boom for additional height, added versatilityand greater production. TH522 TELEHANDLER
Country Life in BC • May 201638Ken Bates may be chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and run a large Delta potatoand blueberry farm with his brothers but his love is heavy horses. He and his team competed in thesulky division of the Chilliwack Plowing Match, April 2. (David Schmidt photo)Horses, antique tractorswow at plowing matchby DAVID SCHMIDTCHILLIWACK – A beautifulsunny day drew a good crowdto the 2016 Chilliwack PlowingMatch on April 2.While the BC championshipswere the main attraction forthe plowmen, the spectatorsseemed more interested in thehorses and the antiquetractors.Topping the horse walkingplow competition was DuganMountjoy of Lilloett. Placingsecond in the class was AdamDegenstein of Armstrong,whose well-decorated team isalways a main attraction.After a year’s absence, KenBates of Delta returned to winthe horse sulky plow class. Asthe only entry in the class, hewas an easy winner.As he was also an only entryin his class, the BCchampionship reversible plowclass, Francis Sache of Rosedalewas another easy winner. Francis’ brother, Pierre,emerged as the winner of thesingle plow BC championship.He reclaimed thechampionship after nishingsecond last year. Earningsecond place honours in thelargest class in the competitionwas Philip Graham ofAbbotsford. Earning the top award in theantique tractor class was BrentHolcik of Chilliwack. Placingclose behind was anotherlong-time Chilliwack plowman,Gerry Norrish. Although henished well out of the money,John Nessel of Chilliwackattracted the most attentionwith his steel-wheeled oil-cooled 1928 Rumley tractor. There were only two entriesin the politicians’ class this yearwith Chilliwack alderman andchicken grower Chris Klootdefeating his counterpart fromAgassiz, John Vanlaerhoven.Al Pearson of Kelownarounded out the list ofwinners, placing rst in theopen tractor class.SIR program is a wasteEditor,Apple growers in theOkanagan and Similkameenreceived notication from theprovincial government’sSterile Insect Release (SIR)program relating to how theywould improve or change theprogram.To date, this program hascost approximately $100million to growers andtaxpayers.This is just to tackleproblems associated with oneinsect. Growers still spray formany more insects to keepthem under control.The end result is $100million has disappeared andthe insect is alive and well.Washington state is one ofthe largest apple producingregions in the entire world,and they don’t have thisprogram.They use articialpheromones to cause themating disruption of insects,rather than raising andsterilizing them.Wouldn’t it be moreintelligent to raise predatorsrather than the insect you’retrying to eliminate?Predators would reducemany pesticides we are usingtoday and help theenvironment.Gerry Hesketh, OsoyoosLettersDEALER INFO AREA*Off*Off*Off*Off*Off*Off*Offer aer aer aer aer evailvailvailvailvaiabableableableblebleb04/04/04/04/04/04/04/1/201/201/201/201/20/201/202/16 -1616 -1616 -161606/06/06/06/0606/06/06/30/230/230/233030/230/230/016.016.016.016.016.016016.016.OffOffOffOfOffOffOffers ers ersrersersersrvalivalivalilivalivavd ond ond ond ondononoly aly aly aly aly ayyyt pat pat pat pat pat particrticrticrticrticrticipatipatipaipatipatipating ing ininging ngdealdealdealdealdealaers.ers.ersers.ers.sPriPriPriPriPriPriPriPricingcingcincingcinggcincing, pa, pa, pa, pa, pa, pa, ppymenymenymenymenennnyts ats ats ats ats asasaand mnd mnd mnd mnd mnd mmnd modelodeodelodelodelodelodelodes mas masmasmamas maay vayvay vay vaay vayvayvry bry bbry bry bry bry bydydy dy dy dy dy dlealeealeealeealeeOr. 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May 2016 • Country Life in BC 39by SUSAN MCIVERNARAMATA – Naramataresident Tim Bouwmeester,owner of Desert FlowerHoney, became fascinated byinsects while working for theCanadian Forestry Service inOntario.“My interest was sparkedwhen I worked in the ‘bug lab’in Sault Ste. Marie,”Bouwmeester says. A native of Port Perry, ON,Bouwmeester grew up on amixed farm before obtaininga diploma in forestry from SirSanford Fleming College. Healso holds a bachelor’sdegree from the University ofGuelph where he specializedin entomology andapiculture.During the time he wasemployed as a forestentomologist and forestpathologist responsible forlarge areas of northernOntario, he becameacquainted with beekeepersand began helping them.Moved to OK in 1995He soon acquired his rstbee hive and built a red trailerwhich he brought with himwhen he moved to theOkanagan in 1995.“I got really serious aboutbees in 1996,” saysBouwmeester.Bouwmeester currently has30 full-sized hives with 20frames each and 26 nuclearhives with ve frames perhive. During the season hekeeps them in three locationsin Naramata.“I sell a thousand poundsof honey produced fromsweet clover, acacia andsumac everyyear,”Bouwmeestersays. He lets thebees keep mostof the earlyhoney they makefrom apple and cherryblossoms to help them buildstrength after the long winter.“Apple honey iswonderful,” he says, referringto the small amount he takesfor personal use.In contrast to most localbeekeepers who use theirbees for pollination inorchards, Bouwmeesterconcentrates on rearingqueens.“I love the challenge ofqueen rearing. It’s fascinatingand a good mixture of art andmy scientic background,”Bouwmeester says.Each year he produces upto 150 queens of which hekeeps 40 to 50 and sells theremainder to beekeepers inthe Okanagan, Similkameenand Boundary regions. Heoccasionally buys queensfrom other beekeepers toprovide genetic variability inhis own hives.“Production of thebreeding stock – queens anddrones – begins with a carefulassessment of hives the yearbefore,” Bouwmeesterexplains.He looks for hives thatshow resistance to varroamites, have good honeyproduction and overwinterwell.“I also like gentle bees thatare nice and calm to workwith,” he says.Determination of the sex ofa bee begins when the queenmeasures the size of the cellwith her forelegs.If the cell is large, she laysan unfertilized egg that willeventually become a drone. Ifthe cell is small, she lays afertilized egg which canbecome either a worker beeor a queen depending onwhat the larva is fed.A larva fed only royal jellybecomes a queen while onefed royal jelly for three daysfollowed by ‘bee bread’ (amixture of royal jelly, honeyand pollen) will be a workerbee.Production of queens bybeekeepers such asBouwmeester involves acomplicated, carefully timed,multi-step process of transferof queen cells between hives.Bouwmeester’s immediategoal is to complete theconstruction of a honeyhouse to be used forprocessing and storage ofhoney and as a workshop.“My wife, Laurie, won’t giveup any more room in thehouse,”says Bouwmeester,who has been keepingequipment stored in thegarage, basement and sparebedroom.Breeding queen bees a honey of an occupationSpecialty is a combination of art and scienceTim Bouwmeester uses a smoker to help protect himself fromstings while opening a hive in order to do an early season check.(Susan McIver photo)Country WaysFeaturing Equipment, Tools and Machinery well suited for Work on the Farm! SHOW HOURS Fri. 12noon – 9pm | Sat. 10am – 5pmATTENTION Visitors: Save $20.00!Pre-Register online for FREE using Promo Code: PH2008Convenient Online Registration Available At...www.AgSaf eBC.caoulou;bm=oul-ঞomcontact us at 1.877.533.1789Book a Safety Program Assessment , at YOUR LOCATION, at NO COST !
One of my favourite Sundayafternoon routines is listeningto the CBC’s Cross CountryCheck-up. Callers from acrossthe nation are invited tophone or email and oer theirthoughts on a weekly topic,usually selected from amongcurrent matters of interest tothe nation. In a recent broadcast, therewere two topics underdiscussion: comments on aweekend political conventionand the second, suggestionsfor women who qualify assubjects to be featured on ourcurrency. Although I foundboth subjects most interesting,it was the second thatCountry Life in BC • May 201640From small town chatterto the big leagues ...CALL FOR AN ESTIMATELARRY604.209.5523TROY604.209.5524 TRI-WAYFARMSLASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVEDDRAINAGEUNIFORMGERMINATIONUNIFORMIRRIGATIONFAST ,ACCURATESURVEYINGINCREASECROPYIELDS We service all ofSouthern BCSign Up Today! Sign Up Today! Sign Up Today! Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club Vernon, BC June 17, 2016June 17, 2016June 17, 2016 3rd Annual 3rd Annual ForeFore--H BC Golf ClassicH BC Golf Classic Sponsorship and registraƟon informaƟon is available at www.bc4h.bc.ca Toll Free 1-866-776-0373 prompted these musings. Aspeople called in or wrote, asense of gratitude welled upfor so many women who gaveso much.Although I made noattempt to write down namesand categories, some I mostrememberincludewomen whocontributedto furtheringart, languageandmedicine. In our own town,Elder Elsie Paul was recentlyhonoured for her work inreviving the language andculture of the local Tla’aminpeople. As the newly mintedautonomous Tla’amin Nation,there is a wealth of recordedhistory and insight, thanks toher.Moving beyond genderrecognition, however, Ithought of the men who alsohave contributed to our wellbeing, both as individuals andas a nation and world. To behonoured are those men andwomen who dared andcontinue to dare to stand forright, no matter what the cost,and not to be forgotten arethose men and women whorisked and/or have given theirlives to protect our countryand our dignity.That train of thought thenled me to contemplate thethousands of men and womenwho have contributed to thedevelopment of agricultureand ranching in this province.Eve and Johnny Morris’ namecame to mind.I was introduced to Eve andJohnny somewhere around1950 when I was six or sevenyears old. Although theyplayed a signicant role in thelives of my mother and herthen four children, I rememberlittle about them. Here’s whatdoes come to mind: he wastall and thin, a rancher in thewilderness north of Tranquille;A Wannabe FarmerLINDA WEGNEREVERY PURCHASE COMES WITH A FREE PTO PUMP1-888-675-7999www.watertecna.comMODEL 9300TURBINE DRIVESPRINKLER | INLET HOSEDIGITAL TACH$24,800MODEL 100/400TURBINE DRIVESPRINKLER | INLET HOSEDIGITAL TACH$29,400MODEL 110/400TURBINE DRIVESPRINKLER | INLET HOSEDIGITAL TACH$35,490SPRING SAVINGS ON REELS*GET REEL THIS SUMMER!MANUFACTURED BYPROVINCE WIDE DELIVERYEve worked with Johnny andlooked after the post ocethat was located in their loghome (not too busy at thatjob, though, as the mailmoved in and out only a fewtimes a year); and thankfullyfor us, there was anabandoned log cabin on theirproperty. In my memories, itwas a fair distance away,adding to the sense ofisolation and comparativesafety. In an eort (albeitshort lived) Mom hadmanaged to escape herhusband’s and our father’smulti-faceted abuse; how sheknew Eve and Johnny or howshe made it there from ourCoquitlam home remains amystery to me but theirattempts to help us madethem heroes in my eyes.Those events are long gonebut anytime I think of them,I’m also reminded of the manyopportunities each of us haveto impact another person’s lifefor the better. Let’s neverforget the power of a smile oran encouraging word.In an eort to practice whatI preach, here’s a “hands up” toall those farmers, ranchers andmarket gardeners who worktirelessly to produce the foodthat graces our tables – and tothose support workers whomake sure equipment is wellmaintained; to feedcompanies and local farmers’markets, and on and on the listcould go. Yes, you’re probablyin business to generaterevenue but there’s somethingspecial about those who havechosen to provide the needsof others, even as they lookafter their own. Happy May, good weatherand many thanks!Club, community, countryBC 4-H members from across the province were in Kelowna in late March for Provincial ClubWeek. Held every second year, the program oers senior 4-H members an opportunity toexplore personal values, interpersonal skills and have fun! This year's PCW was held March 18-24at Green Bay Bible Camp in West Kelowna. (Photo courtesy of BC 4-H)
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 41When we left o last time, Deborahshared the gossip about CecMontgomery’s passing at the generalstore. When she asked what she could dofor his widow, she was asked to bake apie. And she went home to do just that.Rural Redemption (part 72) continues ...A small group of close friends andfamily buried Cec Montgomery next tohis parents on a blustery wintermorning six days after he died. There was a celebration of his life atthe community hall the followingSaturday afternoon. The hall was halffull when Deborah, Ashley, andChristopher arrived at a quarter to one.Lisa Lundgren greeted them at thedoor and asked Deborah to sign theguest book and gave them all a smallprinted remembrance of Cec.Christopher joined her to help hangcoats in the cloak room. Ashley hadoered to help Lois with refreshmentsin the kitchen. Deborah worked herway along the wall to the photocollage of Cec Montgomery’s life. Ednajoined her.By ten past one every seat wastaken and Doug McLeod stepped upto the mike. He welcomed them all andthanked them for coming and spokeabout what a good friend andneighbour Cec had been to them alland how grateful he was for the manykindnesses Cec had shown him whenhe was young. He stood with Eunice when shespoke of Cec and how an unlikelymeeting had led to a long and joyousmarriage. She recalled how they hadrst met right here in the hall almost50 years ago and the table she andGladdie were sitting at was placed inthe exact spot they’d sat all those yearsago. Gladdie said she could stillremember the day the Montgomery’sarrived during the Great Depression.She shared remembrances of their shyeldest son, Cecil, and his reputation forhard work. Others told about doubts they’dharboured that Cec would ever tie theknot. The hippie dance where Cec metEunice was recounted hilariously. Lois told everyone about how Cecwas the last charter member of LonnyRoper’s Coee Club at the store andhow Lon and Cec and Avery Harrisonwere a daily xture for years, tradingyarns and telling whoppers; she saidCec should probably get a medal fromthe Tamworth Breeders Associationbecause seldom a day ever passedwithout Cec singing the praises ofTamworth pigs. Thel and Eddie Eberhardt took tothe stage and told of Cec and Eunice’swedding day, which happened to bethe same day as theirs because Eddieand Thel fell for each other at the samedance and Eunice and Thel were bothhippies from the commune; they allgot married at the same time on thebridge at the park. Junkyard Frank said his favoritememory of the wedding was whenLon’s horse ran away and hit the ditchat the Widow Peterson’s and Cec andEunice went ying out of the buggyand landed in the Widow’s compostpile. Wasn’t it funny how things turnedout, he said, because when the Widowfainted, Tiny Olsen picked her up andpacked her up the stairs and darned ifTiny and the Widow didn’t end upgetting hitched in the end.Memorable ChristmasShakey Fawcett said, speaking ofrunaway horses, did anyone rememberthe Christmas when Lon was Santa andAvery and Cec were the Mutt and Jeof little green elves on Shakey’s haywagon and Henry Meyers cows brokeout and chased the them all the way tothe ball eld behind the hall where allthe kids were waiting for Santa; theydid three laps around the eld beforeAvery heaved the whole bag of toys atthe backstop and the cows ate all thehay and it wasn’t safe to play left eldthe whole next year? Most of the stories had been toldtime and again but everyone whoknew them revelled in their re-telling.When the tales had all been told, DougMcLeod asked that they all stand andraise a glass to Cec for all of thememories and for a life well lived.***Kenneth had dismissed Deborah’ssuggestion he attend the celebrationof life.“Why would I go? I don’t have a cluewho he was.”“Because we were his neighbours.”“Really? The only neighbour I’maware of is Pullman, the patron saint ofdead International Harvesters.”“It’s dierent here. You don’t have tolive next door to be neighbours.”“Let me get this straight. You bakeda pie for a dead neighbour you nevermet and now you’re dragging the kidso to his funeral?” “Mom isn’t dragging us,” saidAshley. “We oered to help. It’s whatneighbours do, Daddy.”Good Lord, thought Kenneth. Ourwhole life here is starting to look like asketch from Hee-Haw.After they left, Kenneth started acritical analysis of his nascent vealbusiness. The bills were adding up, themanure pile beside the barn wasgrowing exponentially faster than thecalves were, and Christopher said if thecalves were really a business, whoeverwas doing the work should be paid forit. Kenneth suspected Mervyn Devaneymight not have painted an accuratepicture of the income potential of vealfarming.To be continued ...The town bids a fond farewell to an old friendFARM COUNTRYAUGUST 20–SEPTEMBER 5Come out and experience BC’s remarkably diverse agriculture industry. Featuring the crowd-favourite Discovery Farm exhibit plus a whole barn full of exciting animal displays.PACIFIC SPIRIT HORSE SHOWAUGUST 24–SEPTEMBER 5Competitions in: Junior Amateur Jumping, Draft Team, Indoor Eventing and HCBC Heritage Qualifi er classes in English, Western and Dressage. Also featuring HCBC Horse Day on August 27.ENTRY DEADLINE: JULY 22, 2016604-252-3581 • agriculture@pne.ca • COME CELEBRATE AT BC’S LARGEST AGRICULTURE SHOWCASEPNE 4-H FESTIVALAUGUST 20–23Offering over 30 types of project competitions as well as provincial programs for judging, speak and show and educational displays. Travel assistance offered to clubs outside of the Fraser Valley through the BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation. ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 24, 2016It’s theof summerBEST PARTThe WoodshedChroniclesBOB COLLINS
Country Life in BC • May 201642This makes a very special meal for Mother’s Day, a crowd on Victoria Day, or for a birthday oranniversary – whenever you’re having people over. It can be prepared ahead of time, ready tojust pop into the oven to cook while you entertain your guests or open gifts.4 lb. (1.8 kg) boneless pork loin roast, butteried 1/2 lb. (250 g) mushrooms pinch of cayenne peppersalt and pepper, to taste knob of butter 1 lb. (454 g) fresh spinach3 leeks 1 tsp. (5 ml) cumin handful of Craisins3 garlic cloves 1 tsp.(5 ml) coriander 1/2 c. (250 ml) grated Swiss cheese1 tbsp. (15 ml) ginger pinch of ground cardamomButtery a boneless pork loin roast, or have your butcher do it for you.Pre-heat oven to 350 F.Prepare the stung by trimming, cleaning, then slicing and mincing the leeks; mincing thegarlic and fresh ginger; and slicing the mushrooms.Heat a large frypan over medium-high heat and melt a knob of butter in the pan, tossing inthe ginger and leeks and stirring for a few minutes. Add the garlic and mushrooms, and seasonwith the spices.Chop the spinach and add to the mixture once the mushrooms are soft, turning until it’s justlimp.Remove from the heat and cool.Open up the pork loin roast on your work surface and sprinkle with sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste.Spread the spinach and mushroom mixture over the meat, leaving an inch or so around theedges.Sprinkle the Craisins and Swiss cheese over top.Roll up and set in a baking pan, seam side down.Roast for about 40-45 minutes, or until the meat has reached an internal temperature of 150 F.Let it rest for a few minutes, tented with foil, before slicing and presenting on a board orplatter.Serves 8 or 10.Meals for Momor Victoria DayStued with spinach and swiss, yummy pork tenderloin. (Judie Steeves photo).Please see “MEXICAN” page 43I was worried they’d find somethingMammograms save lives. Make an appointment, not an excuse. Get expert advice and share your stories atgohave1.comSpinach‑stuffed Pork LoinWe all have moms. It’s a fact of life. Luckily, most of us arefond of our moms, although some of us have only memoriesleft. If you have a special mom that you can see on Mother’sDay, consider making her a meal as a treat to celebrate her day.Breakfast always seems to me to be a great special meal tostart a Mother’s Day o right. Not having to cook it would makeit special. Try these scrambled eggs for your mom, or make them for aVictoria Day long weekend brunch for a bunch – whetheryou’re camping or athome.The Victoria Dayweekend signals thebeginning of long, lazy,sunny summer days andperhaps the rstcamping weekend of the season. There’s nothing like eatingoutdoors for enhancing the avour of food. Cooking outdoors,however, is quite another matter. I try to do as muchpreparation as possible at home so I can enjoy easy meals whenwe go camping.That’s the beauty of hamburgers or hot dogs. Little needs tobe done at the last minute. You can prepare delicious burgersahead of time and keep them cold, separated by waxed paperuntil time to put them on the grill. For breakfast, we always plan on scrambled eggs in pitabreads because it’s such an easy meal to prepare whilecamping and there are no serving dishes, kind of like theburgers.Finger or st food is terric when you’re camping. Make abatch of muns up ahead of time, too, for breakfast or snacksin a st, and cut vegetables up and toss them into a bag forsnacking. Fruit is great st food, too.However, if you’re celebrating either occasion at home,something a little more sophisticated might be fun to cook;something that looks special, but actually isn’t very dicult toprepare, right? Try this dramatic-looking stued pork loin roastwith fresh, local spinach and mushrooms stued inside.This is the season for fresh, local rhubarb, so take advantageof its tart, tangy taste by making a scrumptious dessert, withlots of healthy oats. Whatever you make and whomever youcelebrate with, enjoy meals with friends and family.Jude’s KitchenJUDIE STEEVESSUBSCRIBE TODAY!Please mail to1120 East 13th Ave Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 604.871.0001The agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915COUNTRYLifeYin BCNAMEADDRESSCITYPOSTAL CODETEL EMAIL(Prices include GST | Cheque or money order only please)o NEW o RENEWAL | o 1 YEAR ($18.90) o 2 YEAR ($33.60) o 3 YEAR ($37.80) NEWS & INFORMATION YOU (& YOUR FRIENDS) NEED!www.countrylifeinbc.comSUBSCRIBE TODAY!
May 2016 • Country Life in BC 43MEXICAN SCRAMBLED EGGS IN WRAPS From page 42NAME ____________________________________________OLD ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________________PHONE ____________________________________________NEW ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________________________PHONE ____________________________________________COUNTRYLifein BCCanada Post will not deliveryour Country Life in BCifthey change your postalcode, your street nameand/or address. If youraddress changes, please fillout the form below and mailor fax it to us, or use email.Thank you!1120 East 13th AveVancouver, B.C. V5T 2M1Email: countrylifeinbc@shaw.caPhone 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003May 16CHANGEOFADDRESS?Lola!This is a simple and avour-lled, no-dishes way to serve breakfast to a bunch when you’recamping.This is also delicious and great nger food if the eggs are stued into whole wheat pita breadscut in half. No toast. No plates. No cutlery to wash.8 eggs 1/2 c. (125 ml) Monterey jack cheese 1 tbsp. (15 ml) butter1/4 c. (60 ml) salsa salt & pepper, to taste 8 small whole wheat tortillasBeat eggs in a plastic cup or whatever is handy and will hold it all, and add salsa, gratedcheese and seasoning, to taste, mixing in well.Melt butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat and pour in the egg mixture. Cook and stiruntil the eggs are still creamy, but are set, and remove from the heat.Divide scrambled eggs into eight portions and roll up egg in small tortillas, tucking in thebottom so the eggs don’t fall out.Serves 4 to 8.Rhubarb Oat SquaresThis is a great-tasting dessert with fresh, local rhubarb, similar to matrimonial squares. It’sgreat as a snack, instead of purchased granola bars; just wrap in a bit of wax paper to eat.1.5 c. (350 ml) oats 1 tsp. (5 ml) baking powder 1/4 tsp. (1 ml) salt1 c. (250 ml) brown sugar 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) baking soda 1/2 c. (125 ml) butter1.5 c. (350 ml) ourFilling:4 c. (1 l) cut-up rhubarb 1 tsp. (5 ml) vanilla a little cold water1/2 c. to taste (125 ml) sugar 2 tbsp. (30 ml) cornstarchPre-heat oven to 350 F.Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter with a pastry cutter until it’s like bread crumbs.Press about two-thirds of mixture into a 9x13” baking pan.Cook lling ingredients over medium heat until just thickened, using as little water as possible,just to prevent it from sticking to the pot.Cover the base with rhubarb lling and top with remaining oat mixture.Bake for about 20 to 30 minutes and cool before cutting into squares.Serves 8.Rhubarb Oat SquaresNEW POLYETHYLENE TANKS OF ALL shapes& sizes for septic and water storage. Ideal forirrigation, hydroponics, washdown, lazy wells,rain water, truck box, fertizilizer mixing &spraying. Call 1-800-661-4473 for closestdistributor. Web: [www.premierplastics.com]Manufactured in Delta by Premier Plastics Inc.CLASSIFIEDDEADLINE FOR JUNE 2016 ISSUE: MAY 2025 words or less, minimum $10 plus GST • Each additional word: $0.25DISPLAY CLASSIFIED: $20 plus GST per column inch1120 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver V5T 2M1Phone: 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003E-mail: countrylifeinbc@shaw.ca • Web: www.countrylifeinbc.comNEW/USED EQUIPMENTFOR SALEEZEE-ONFRONT END LOADERS#125 Hi-Lift, c/w 8’ bucket, $4,000#90 c/w Q/A 7’ bucket& Q/A bale spike, $3,500Both are in excellent condition.Call 250/567-2607(Vanderhoof)LIVESTOCKFURTHER REDUCTION IN FLOCK SIZE after36 years of specializing in PB Dorsets, andwhite and coloured Romneys. All maturesare registered, but can sell without papers:lambs as requested. Genetically selected fordesirable qualities - production, correctconformation, and detailed attention tohealth. Discount on 3 or more head. Forlarger numbers may be able to help arrangetransport. Call 604/462-9465.EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL:BE 6’ 3-PT HITCH HEAVY duty flail mower.Will mulch brush, blackberries, grass. Likenew. $1,750.LEWIS CATTLE OILER DOUBLE ARM cattlescratcher, $550.8’ 3-PT MOUNT aerator, $850.OVERUM HD 3 BOTTOM PLOW, spring tripbottoms skimmers coulters $3,000;TWO BADGER 16’ TANDEM AXLE silagewagons, w/roofs, shop stored, excellentcondition, $6,500 ea.Call Tony 604/850-4718.USED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: 1975 MackTandem Truck with Artex silage box, front& rear unload. $16,000; 9 foot Ag Bagger,$5,000; 892 New Holland Forage Harvester,$3,000. Call David 250/567-2885.Toll Free 1-888-357-0011www.ultra-kelp.comULTRA-KELPTMCelebrating 30 YearsFor Healthy LivestockAnimal Feed Supplement100% Natural60 Minerals • 12 Vitamins• 21 Amino AcidsFlack’s BakerviewKelp Products Inc, Pritchard, BCMF 2775 TRACTOR, 166 HP, CAB, DUALS,rear hydraulic outlets, low hours, $7,000.Call 250/567-2607.TAKE YOUR PICK!$6500David Brown 885, 46 HPDavid Brown 1200, 67 HPMassey Ferguson 1085, 85 HPMassey Ferguson 1155, 155 HPLeyland 385 c/w Loader,2 buckets & bale forkBelarus 10M3, 3 pt hitch(open to offers)Phone 250/838-7173PUREBRED SHORTHORN YEARLING bullsfor sale. Call 778/240-7233.FOR SALE APPROX 75 KM NORTH OF YortonSK, Very productive 4620 acre grain farm inthe black soil zone. In a good rainfall area withall the land in one block. Lots of grain storageand machine sheds house, natural gas, goodwater supply. Enquire via E-mail atsaskfarm@outlook.com or call 306/516-0070.Trendsetter FarmPure BredPolled Hereford CattleOne 4 year old bull, very quiet.(Courtenay Hereford Stock)10 cows all mixed genetics, quiet andgentle, easy to deal with.One 16 year old cow with heifer calf/Jan 22One 15 year old cow with heifer calf/Jan 14Two 1st calver with bull calves/Jan 23 & 27Two second calver with bull calves/Jan 22 & 29Four mixed ages 3 to 5 years,not calved yet Will sell all cows, rebred, bull and8 calves as a package. June 1st.$30,000.Information 250-752-8348trends4@telus.netSTEELSTORAGECONTAINERSFOR SALEOR RENTjentonstorage@gmail.com604-534-2775PUREBRED KATAHDIN YEARLING EWESfor sale, please contact 250/672-5159 oremail: jerdonbrown1@gmail.comWANTED IRRIGATION PUMPSKID OR TRAILER MOUNTEDDIESEL OR PTO DRIVENTEXT OR CALL 604-218-7397 OREMAIL KEEGREEN@SHAW. CANH 1049 BALE WAGON. 162 bales. Verygood shape. $14,500. Call 778/574-5869.DeBOER’S USEDTRACTORS & EQUIPMENTGRINDROD, BCJD 7400 MFWD c/w cab, 3 pt, ldr 64,000JD 6410 MFWD, cab & ldr 54,000JD 6400 MFWD, cab & ldr 49,000JD 6400 MFWD, w/ldr 29,500JD 4240 cab, 3pt hitch 18,500JD 1830 diesel, with loader 10,500JD 2630 diesel, 65 HP w/ldr,comp engine rebuild 12,500JD 1120 diesel, w/ldr 10,500NH 1032 bale wagon, 70 cap. 5,500NH 1400 SP combine, diesel w/14’ directcut platform, 1400 original hours 8,500JD 220 20’ disc, ctr fold, complete newset of blades 16,500Ed DeBoer • 250/838-7362cell 250/833-6699Curt DeBoer • 250/838-9612cell 250/804-6147NEW/USED EQUIPMENT
Country Life in BC • May 201644TAKE CONTROL OF EVERY SEASONIntroducing the all new mid-size M6 from Kubota. With an extra wide Cold Climate Cab and up to 141 available horsepower, this tractor was built to perform—with dramatically cleaner emissions. It even features an optional instructor seat to train the next shift or the next generation.Your BC Kubota Dealers ...ABBOTSFORD AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 604/864-2665 COURTENAY NORTH ISLAND TRACTOR 250/334-0801 CRESTON KEMLEE EQUIPMENT LTD 250/428-2254DAWSON CREEK DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 250/782-5281DUNCAN ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD 250/746-1755 KAMLOOPS DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 250/851-2044KELOWNA AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 250/769-8700 OLIVER GERARD’S EQUIPMENT LTD 250/498-2524PRINCE GEORGE HUBER EQUIPMENT 250/560-5431 QUESNEL DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 250/991-0406 VERNON AVENUE MACHINERY CORP 250/545-3355