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Postmaster, Please returnUndeliverable labels to:Country Life in BC1120 East 13th AveVancouver, BC V5T 2M1CANADA POSTESPOST CANADAPostage paid Port payéPublications Mail Post-publications40012122Vol. 101 No. 8Drought Debt relief on the horizon for BC farmers 10ALC Richard Bullock tells it like it is in Kwantlen speech 20Activism Cattle industry must battle urban ignorance 31Lifein BCThe agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915Vol. 101 No. 8 • September 2015Right to Farmlegislation goesunder reviewby PETER MITHAMOLIVER – Wildres lent a ery edge to Stage4 drought restrictions across southern BC asthis issue of Country Life in BC went to press.Everyone from ranchers in the Interior to small-lot growers on the Sunshine Coast are feelingthe pinch.While the majority of the province is “dry,”according to the BC Ministry of theEnvironment, nowhere is drier than theThompson-Okanagan, the Lower Mainland andSouth Coast regions, and Vancouver Island.These areas face a Stage 4 drought response,including watering restrictions, as watersupplies are considered insucient to meetsocio-economic and ecological needs.Okanagan communities advanced to a Stage4 drought response at the end of July and onAugust 13, a wildre thought to have beencaused by human activity came to life west ofRock Creek and quickly expanded to 9,200acres. The speed of the re’s spread caught manyunawares and some livestock owners set theiranimals free rather than have them conned instructures and pens at risk of burning. Whilethe province lacks a formal emergencyresponse plan for livestock, the CanadianDisaster Animal Response Team – which hasmarshalled support for animals in re zonesacross the country this summer – solicitedPlease see “WINERIES” page 7YCOUNTRYby PETER MITHAMABBOTSFORD – The province has quietlylaunched a review of the BC Farm PracticesProtection Act, consulting municipalities in advanceof discussions with industry later this month.Passed in 1996, the legislation has never beenreviewed. Municipalities are welcoming the movebut Reg Ens, executive director of the BC AgricultureCouncil, says industry is more sceptical of theprovince’s motives following controversial changesto the Agricultural Land Reserve and its abruptdismissal of former land commission chair RichardBullock.“We’re concerned,” Ens says. “As a council, wedon’t have an ocial position, but in the industrythere’s a lot of scepticism.”The province contacted the BC AgricultureCouncil in early July, Ens says, and the council hasmet with ministry sta once to date. ConsultationsIndustry sceptical because ofchanges to the land reserve,abrupt dismissal of Richard BullockWildfires put BC farmers on edgeIRRIGATION LTD1-888-675-7999www.watertecna.comPROVINCE WIDE DELIVERYPROVINCE WIDE DELIVERY• DIESEL & PTO PUMPS• PVC & ALUMINUM PIPE• HARD HOSE IRRIGATION REELS• DRIP IRRIGATION• CENTRE PIVOTS• SAE AIRBLAST SPRAYERSGrowing morewith less waterwith municipalities followed, rst with the fourmunicipalities whose ability to pass bylaws aectingagriculture is regulated under the BC LocalGovernment Act (including Abbotsford, Delta,Kelowna and Langley Township) and thenunregulated municipalities.“We’ve had a commitment from the ministry thatonce they’ve met with the regional governments …they would have another meeting with us and let usknow what some of the suggestions and guidelinesand comments back to senior executive are going tobe,” Ens says.But the assurances don’t allay concerns regardingthe process and what the outcome of the review –launched during the summer, with agriculturelooped in at the beginning and end – might be.“Right to Farm legislation is critical for BC farmers.It’s a huge concern for our members and they’reconcerned that we’re not opening up a Pandora’sbox,” Ens says.Please see “REVIEW” page 2COVER CROPSNOW HERE!1-888-770-7333Quality Seeds ... where quality counts!The provincial government has been in consultation with BC municipalities this summer as they undertake a reviewof Right to Farm legislation. One of the key issues is how a select number of municipalities, like Delta, can tailorbylaws to suit local needs while others must adhere to provincial standards. (File photo courtesy of Ian Paton)
REVIEW IS NECESSARY From page 1Country Life in BC • September 20152But municipalities Country Life in BC contacted are pleasedwith the review.“The review is timely; it’s necessary,” says Jason Chu,manager, long-range planning for Langley Township, who hasmet with provincial sta regarding the review.Councillors in the township haven’t made a formalsubmission as part of the review, which Chu says remainedsimply a discussion between ministry and municipal sta.“Our involvement so far is a sta-to-sta discussion aboutthe opportunities and challenges of the legislation as it standstoday.”However, when asked what he hopes to see from the review,Chu was blunt: “legislative change.”A real hodgepodge of rulesA key issue is the fact some municipalities answer directly tothe province, allowing them to pass bylaws that may customizeprovincial standards for farm practices to local needs; othermunicipalities lack that ability, being limited to bylaws thatadhere to existing provincial legislation and relevantregulations.This is an issue, Chu says. Langley has adopted bylawsconcerning audible bird scare devices and housing for migrantworkers that deviatefrom provincialstandards but othermunicipalities haven’tbeen able to passsuch bylaws.“The standards arenot applied uniformlyto all themunicipalities inBritish Columbia,” heargues. “[Our propanecannon] bylaw wasput in place based ona modied provincialstandard. Andbecause of this bylaw,I had calls from othermunicipalities thataren’t regulated,[asking] ‘Why can youhave these bylawsand we can’t?’”Delta mayor LoisJackson, who metwith ministry sta in early August, also approves of the review.While she’s a strong believer in farmers’ right to farm, herdefense of soil-based agriculture versus greenhousedevelopment in 2001 led to an order-in-council making Delta aregulated municipality.She says the review may lead to Delta being placed on anequal footing with other municipalities.“That may be the case, yes,” she says. “There were reasons for[the order-in-council] years and years ago, when I think somepeople in the ministry felt that was going to be the norm foreverybody.”But it restricts municipal decision-making, and Jackson isopen to change.However, she’s cautious about giving municipalities toomuch power.“What I don’t want to see happen is that there’s so muchauthority given to local governments that you could have acouncil elected … that was more interested in developingfarmland than in saving farmland,” she says. “We must save ourfarmland and we must save the farmers to save that land.”Pandora’s boxGiven the various elements at play, industry’s concernregarding a Pandora’s box is understandable.And, without the institutional memory of how the Right toFarm legislation came to be, Ens says there’s even greater riskthat the review could full both the hopes and fears ofstakeholders.“It’s denitely not perfect, but we want to make sure theministry understands what they’re getting into,” Ens said.“Some of the corporate history may be not as strong as it hasbeen in the past, and why it’s been put in place, and what it’sdoing, and what some of the unintended consequences ofopening up this legislation might be.”by PETER MITHAMDELTA – BC municipalitieswant the ‘farm’ taken out of‘pharmaceuticals’ when itcomes to medical marijuana.“We came forward, verystrongly, to say we have a lotof agricultural land here,” LoisJackson, mayor of Delta, toldCountry Life in BC. “We want itused for carrots and potatoesand tomatoes and blueberriesand food crops for people. Wedon’t want it used formedicinal purposes.”While she’s all for farmershaving the right to farm, shesays some products – echoingprevious concerns regardingvegetable greenhouses –shouldn’t occupy land betterused for soil-based agriculture.“It just makes abundantsense, but unfortunately[provincial authorities] havesaid that … marijuana is afarm crop,” Jackson says. “It’snot a farm crop; it’s aMarijuana a hot issue for Delta mayorpharmaceutical. And if it’s apharmaceutical, it should begrown in an industrial area.Let’s put food crops in theground when we have such ascarcity of acres in BritishColumbia.”She raised her concern withBC Ministry of Agriculture stain a meeting to review the BCFarm Practices Protection Act.Since the licensed productionof marijuana for medical use isdeemed an agriculturalpractice, Delta – being aregulated municipality – mustsubmit pertinent regulationsto Victoria for approval.Jackson feels governmentis letting marijuana blowthrough the legislativeprocess with little oversight,even though it is distinct fromany other farm productcurrently on the market.Both the Agricultural LandCommission and the BCAssessment Authorityrecognize it as a farm product,and Kwantlen PolytechnicUniversity is oering thestraight dope on productionpractices this fall in a 14-weekonline course, “Introduction toProfessional Management ofMarijuana for MedicalPurposes in Canada.”The permissive attitude hasJackson out of joint.“It is not a healthy thing forchildren, and people even upto the age of 30,” she says. “Itis going into manygovernment circles as beingtotally legalized, and there’sno problem with it. As a leaderin my community, I feel I havestand up. I know what thesethings can do and where theycan lead sometimes.”Where there’s smokeJason Chu, the long-rangeplanning manager for LangleyTownship, says having aprovincial standard governingthe production of medicalmarijuana blows smoke in theface of the two-tier systemthat applies on otherregulations, such as housingfor migrant workers andaudible bird scare devices.While all municipalitiesmust adhere to the samestandard for medicalmarijuana, municipalities whomust submit agriculture-related bylaws to Victoria forreview can modify provincialstandards governing otherfarm practices.“In my meetings withministry sta, I’ve indicated tothem that the laws should beapplied across BC, just notpicking this and that,” he says.“What I donʼt want to seehappen is that thereʼs so muchauthority given to localgovernments that you couldhave a council elected ... thatwas more interested indeveloping farmland than insaving farmland. We must saveour farmland and we must savethe farmers to save that land.”Delta MayorLois JacksonDelta Mayor Lois Jacksonwww.tractorparts4sale.caABBOTSFORD, BCBus. 604/807-2391Fax. 604/854-6708 email: sales@tractorparts4sale.caWe accept Interact, Visa and Mastercard JD 2130 2WD CAB, 3385 HRS, HYD PTO, HYD TWO SPEED, 540 PTO, TWO REMOTES ................................................................... $9,200 INTERNATIONAL 384 2WD, 3 POINT W/540 PTO, GOOD RUBBER .. 4,900INTERNATIONAL B414 2WD, INDUST LOADER, 3 POINT, 540 PTO... 5,500NH 676 MANURE SPREADER, TANDEM WALKING BEAM AXLE ......... 5,500FORD/NH TS110 4X4, CAB, LOADER, 90 PTO HP, 4500 HRS, PS, TRANS-MECH SHUTTLE, 3 REMOTES, 540-1000 PTO . CALL FOR PRICING FORD 3600 40HP, 540 PTO ................................................................. 5,500NH 900 HARVESTER WITH GRASS & 3 ROW CORN HEAD. HYDR. OUTLET@ REAR. 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September 2015 • Country Life in BC 3CONSISTENT, MORE THOROUGH MIXKuhnNor thAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®BOTEC® 4-AUGER MIXERSr(CUVOKZKPIYKVJEQORNGVGENGCPQWVr'HHGEVKXGN[JCPFNGUJC[ITCKPCPFYGVFKUVKNNGTUr.QYGTJQTUGRQYGTTGSWKTGOGPVHQTGEQPQOKECNHWGNWUCIGr.CTIGFKUEJCTIGTGUWNVUKPSWKEMGXGPWPNQCFKPIsEWHVOKZKPIECRCEKVKGUrVTWEMVTCKNGTOQFGNUMatsquiAg-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141 Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101by TOM WALKERMERRITT – On July 31,Minister of Forests, Lands andNatural Resource Operations(MFLNRO) Steve Thompsonissued an order to restrictirrigation use on theColdwater River near Merritt.“We got a phone call andthe next day a letter wasdelivered,” says Erika Strande-Stewart, who with husbandCyle Stewart and her parents,Bill and Terry Strande, run thePine Ranch at km 20 on theColdwater road. “We have been doingvoluntary conservation allsummer,” explains Bill. “I couldsee already in April that thingswere starting to dry up. Butthere has been noconsultation, no meetings, nostrategies. Just this letter.”Irrigation was restricted tobetween 6 pm and 6 am in aneort to restore ows. “It took us over an hour tostart our pumps every night,”says Erika. “Something wouldalways blow out. It’s not easymoving pipes in the dark butwe did it.” However, the overnightrestrictions did not have ameasurable eect on riverows and on August 11,MFLNRO halted all irrigationon the Coldwater. As this issuewent to press, limitedirrigation was restored andwhile relieved, the ranchersstill have concerns. There is ashort and a long term eect,explains Cyle. “First, we lose our third cropof hay.” Pine Ranch prides itself inbeing self sucient in hayproduction for their 280 headand this means they will haveto buy hay for the winter.Prices over the last two yearshave been about $150 a ton. “I’ve heard $280 to $300 aton now,” says Erika. “Most hay around here isalready spoken for before it iscut,” Bill points out. With adrought in Alberta, they don’tknow where extra hay willcome from. No water puts the plantsinto stress and elds maysuer signicant setbacks. “Once you take water o aeld, it takes two or threetimes as long for it to comeback,” points out Cyle. If thedrought continues into thefall, the alfalfa may die o andrequire re-planting in thespring. Seeding will be anextra cost and the ranch is notset up for it. “We don’t have the re-seeding equipment,” pointsout Erika. “We seed a smallarea each year on a rotationbut that’s all we can handle.” Dry elds will not supportmuch fall grazing when thecattle come down from theirsummer range and that issignicant this year as rangegrass is also dry and lacksnutrients. “We may have to bring thecows down o the rangeearlier and start feeding themearlier because neither therange nor our home pasturescan support them,” explainsErika. That means using morehay than usual and having topay for it. If it becomesuneconomical to feed cattle,the Strandes may have to sello part of their herd. Hay shortageFellow rancher LanceGraham, who grows hay toship to his 150 dairy cows inAbbotsford, is frustrated bythe lack of consultation. “There have not been anymeetings with the ranchers,”he says. “There was a meetingbetween the First Nations andsheries and we were notinvited.“It was easier to just shut uso rather than meet with usand come up with a strategyto conserve the water,” Lancesays. “We could staggerpumping at night. There wasno initiative to work with us ...just, ‘this is the way it is’.” Lance says he invested in anew pivot irrigation systemthis spring that has reducedhis water use by some 25%.“This year, without a thirdcrop, I’m going to have realtrouble paying for the newsystem,” he says.“We were told FITFIR (rst-in-time; rst-in-right) doesn’tcount in this instance. Whatdo you mean it doesn’tcount?” Erika asks. Theywonder why economic valueof a license was notconsidered. The ranchers also wonderabout the timing of the run. “I’m not a sherman,” saysBill, “but I understand that theChinook have already goneup.” The federal Ministry ofFisheries and Oceansconrmed the Coldwater hasa very early Chinook runstarting in April and that shwould be far up river ready tospawn by the middle ofAugust. On an average year,500 to 800 sh return to thesystem.“It’s tough to get answers ifthis is really helping the sh,or if it was just a feel gooddecision that made thegovernment look like theywere doing their part,” saysLance. Fish trump hay; ranchers ordered to shut off irrigationLack of consultation has stakeholders frustratedSilenced. Ranchers Cyle Stewart and Lance Graham stand underneath a new pivot system they wereforced to shut down in August after the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations puta temporary moratorium on irrigation out of the Coldwater River near Merritt. (Tom Walker photo)
Here we sit in the dog days of August, alreadytwo weeks into a federal election campaign that isgoing to stretch almost all the way to Hallowe’en.Though the October 19 end date is still more thantwo months o, the political trick-or-treating is in fullswing. The last time there was a Canadian electioncampaign this long was in 1872. Back then, therewere only six provinces and Alexander Graham Bellwas still four years away from patenting thetelephone. Newspapers and telegrams were theinformation technology of the day andtransportation was a mix of steam trains and horsepulled buggies. It’s not hard to see the need for alengthy campaign back then. The need for a 78 day campaign in this day andage is less certain. Jets and buses have replacedtrains and buggies and the telegraph has given wayto radio, television, the internet and endlessapplications of wireless communications and socialmedia. The technology is in place to wage acampaign of invasive election exhaustion. Weekupon week of political rhetoric, hyperbole andbravado piled on top of two more months of expertobservation, speculation and analysis will have a lotof us crying uncle long before the middle ofOctober.Political campaigning has turned into showbusiness and the show must go on – and on – andon. Everything is scripted, stage managed andcarefully choreographed. Start keeping track of whois in the background of the leader’s media events.Watch the bobbing and weaving in the debates aseveryone tries to land the verbal haymaker that willturn into the sound bite that will torpedo thecompetition. Listen to the post-debate analysiswhen the political pundits weigh in and declare awinner. Tune in again tomorrow for another re-hashof the day’s events. Reasoned or intelligent debate?Sadly, there seems to be little likelihood ofreasoned or intelligent debate on the horizon. Inspeaking about climate change and greenhouse gas(which is apparently of concern to many voters), onecandidate indicated the country couldn’t meet itsstated greenhouse gas emissions goals and keepexpanding oil sands production. Can’t have yourcake and eat it too. Makes sense? Not to the competition who redback that such a statement was absolute proof oftheir opponent’s desire to ruin the economy. Noword on what the political up-side of ruining theeconomy might be and no thoughtful discussion ofthe dicult choices that have to be made. As the campaign wears on, the whole process willbecome increasingly acrimonious. By fall, there willbe truckloads of money being shovelled into nastyattack ads and the front runners will be scrappinglike badgers. While it might be tempting to tune it all out, thatwould mean giving up on democracy. Elections arethe only and infrequent times that we get to holdthe tiller and exercise some say in where the ship isheading. We need to rise above the hype andhyperbole and come to our own conclusions aboutthe issues that matter to each of us, then engagelocal candidates and hopefully nd someone who ison the same page.Lest you nd two and a half months of intensepartisan politics discouraging, spare a thought for ourUS neighbours. They won’t be going to the polls foranother 15 months but presidential campaigning isalready in full media swing. There are ve declaredand two still-thinking-about-it candidates seeking theDemocratic nomination. The Republicans have 17declared candidates with Sarah Palin still on the fence.As vexing as our 78-day campaign might become,it won’t hold a candle to the slow motion marathonunfolding south of the border.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 “Smitty” GordonCOUNTRYLifeAdvertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, that portionof the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance forsignature will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at theapplicable rate.In the event of a typographical error which advertises goods or services at a wrong price, suchgoods or services need not be sold at the advertised price. Advertising is an offer to sell, and maybe withdrawn at any time. All advertising is accepted subject to publisher’s approval.All of Country Life in British Columbia’s content is covered by Canadian copyright law.Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and not necessarily those ofCountry Life in British Columbia.Letters are welcome, though they may be edited in the interest of brevity before publication.All errors brought to our attention will be corrected.The agricultural news sourcein British Columbia since 1915Published monthly byCountry Life 2000 Ltd.Vol. 101 No. 8September 2015in B.C.1120 East 13th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 Publication Mail Agreement: 0399159 GST Reg. No: 86878 7375 Subscriptions: $18.90/year • $33.60/2 years • $37.80/3 yearsAll prices incl GSTBracing for the long haul on the federal election campaignThe Back 40BOB COLLINSCountry Life in BC • September 20154Summer, and the living is hardly easy forfarmers.Juggling the standard assortment ofresponsibilities during the growing season requiresmultitasking at the best of times, but this summerhas thrown drought, fire and regulatoryshenanigans at farmers – none of them easy topredict.Drought restrictions have inched across theprovince, with farmers often given days to adjustbefore water access was cut. Wildfires swept acrossthe hills with little warning; the devastating RockCreek blaze travelled 14 kilometres in just twohours. Victoria, meanwhile, quietly launched a reviewof the province’s Right to Farm legislation,meeting with the B.C. Agriculture Council to let itknow it would be in touch after consultingmunicipalities.Government also revived the idea of a nationalpark in the Okanagan Similkameen, solicitingfeedback on an “intentions paper” that outlinedprotecting a swath of rangeland and wildernesseither as a national park reserve or a provincialconservation area.Small wonder if farmers, who saw orchardistRichard Bullock given the boot as chair of theAgricultural Land Commission this summer infavour of former Saanich mayor Frank Leonard, feellike an afterthought.Yet provincial deafness to opponents of Site C,which will flood thousands of acres of primefarmland, is telling. Seven years after developingSummer hazethe BC Agriculture Plan, the province’s plan foragriculture seems to be managing it for everyonebut farmers.While the province trumpets growing exports, itrisks compromising the very basis of that growth byexcluding farmers from its decision-making process.BC farmers have their hands full working withthe natural environment. Government shouldprovide an operating environment that doesn’tincrease uncertainty.Open, regular communication and coordinatedpolicies are what growers need – not surpriseannouncements and consultations that leavegrowers wondering what’s next.
Those of us who still gardenhave a rather quaint view offood and technology. Weplant seeds, help them grow,harvest and eat (cookingoptional).Meat or other sources ofprotein are a bit of anafterthought compared to thetaste of those rst seasonalbites of melt-in-your mouthpotatoes, beans, beets andcarrots.So it is with some interestwe read through some of theproceedings from the recent“Where Science FeedsInnovation” conference hostedby the Institute of FoodTechnologists (IFT) in Chicagorecently.Presentations there focusedon where technology is takingour palates. Suce to say, ithas more to do withengineering than brushing othe soil. For example, 3Dprinters are seen as the nextbig thing in food processing.According to Hod Lipson,PhD, a professor ofengineering at ColumbiaUniversity and a co-author ofthe book Fabricated: The NewWorld of 3D Printing, it is agood t with the foodbusiness because it costs thesame to mass produce food asit does to customize.Killer app“The technology is gettingfaster, cheaper and better bythe minute. Food printingcould be the killer app for 3Dprinting,” Lipson says in areport on his presentationpublished by the Institute ofFood Technologists.For example, Lipson says,users could choose from alarge online database ofrecipes, put a cartridge withthe ingredients into their 3Dprinter at home, and it wouldcreate the dish just for thatperson. The user couldcustomize it to include extranutrients or replace oneingredient with another.The US military sees thepotential. Mary Scerra, foodtechnologist at the US ArmyNatick Soldier Research,Development and EngineeringCenter (NSRDEC) in Natick,Massachusetts says by 2025 or2030, the military envisionsusing 3D printing to customizemeals for soldiers that tastegood, are nutrient dense, andcould be tailored to a soldier’sparticular needs.“Imagine war ghters inremote areas – one has musclefatigue, one has been awakefor a long period without rest,one lacks calories, one needselectrolytes, and one justwants a pizza,” Scerra says.“Wouldn’t it be interesting ifthey could just print and eat?”According to the report,there are just a few hurdles yetto overcome: the cost ofbringing the technology toremote areas, the logistics ofmaking it work in thoselocations and, printing foodthat tastes good.“If the meals aren’tpalatable, they won’t beconsumed,” Scerra notes. “Itdoesn’t matter how nutritiousthey are.”Petri dish hamburgers!Which brings us to anotherbig innovation in foodtechnology – those Petri dishhamburgers we rst learnedabout a couple of years ago–the ones that cost about$30,000 per bite and taste‘almost’ like the real thing.Mark J. Post, chair of thedepartment of physiology andprofessor of vascularphysiology and tissueengineering, MaastrichtUniversity, The Netherlands, isrening his patty created fromthe stem cells of a cow. So far,he has achieved somethingthat is consistent in look,texture and colour to atraditional ground beef burger– but lacking in taste.He told the conference he iscondent his recipe for his$300,000 cultured hamburgerwill come down in price – toabout $65 per kg. Once hegets the taste up, too, he’scondent there will be amarket for it as a solution tothe ethical dilemma manyhave about eating animals.“We eat livestock beefbecause we like it,” Post says.“Once you have alternatives,you can no longer do that.Eventually, the ethicaldilemma will be for culturedbeef versus livestock beef.”Tasty alternativesOther presenters said it willbe other protein alternatives,such as algae, quinoa andpulses, that take centre stageas the global community looksfor tasty alternatives to reducemeat consumption, reducefood waste and feed theworld.Meanwhile, people living inother parts of the world havedeveloped a taste for anothermeat alternative: insects. Infact, a kg of crickets in aKinshasa market costs $50,more than twice the price ofbeef. As food sources go, bugsare high in protein, bre andvitamins and minerals and lowfat. They don’t cost much toraise either.Eorts are underway inAfrica to increase the supply ofinsects so that market pricesfall to a level that ordinarypeople can aord. It seemslogical under this scenario thatcorn with worms in it wouldbe considered value added.We don’t know where allthis is going. But we do notethe recurring theme of taste.Instead of investing inmaking manufactured foodavourful and feeding soldiersat war, we wonder whetherthese bright scientic minds3D printers give a whole new meaning to “processed food”Flavour and price leave a bitter tasteSeptember 2015 • Country Life in BC 5ViewpointLAURA RANCEwouldn’t be moreproductively focused on suchmatters as transformingbattleeld pawns back intocitizens eating pizza at homewith their families. Now thatwould please the palate.Laura Rance is editor ofManitoba Co-operator.Systems and Materials Research Corporation (SMRC) is experimenting with 3D printing of food on acontract from NASA. Their pizza printer uses open source technology to “print” dough, sauce andcheese onto a platform with a heating element underneath. (Photo courtesy of SMRC)Downtown Realty4007 - 32nd Street, Vernon, BC V1T 5P2Toll Free: 1-800-434-9122www.royallegpage.caPAT DUGGANFarm | Ranch | ResidentialBus: 250/545-5371 (24 hr) Cell: 250/308-0938email: patduggan@royallepage.ca“Farmers helping farmers with their real estate needs”www.OkLandBuyers.caBUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!Former goat dairy. 10 acres w/older mobile, 2 large 87x148' and 62x148' barnsw/cross over barn (milk parlor and workshop). Barns housed milking goats andfeed but would be very conducive to machinery storage/maintenance or otherlivestock venture. Three acre (+/-) field located on upper bench along roadw/nice view over property, ideal for new home. MLS®10099694. $324,900.
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September 2015 • Country Life in BC 7WINERIES FEEL THE HEAT From page 1www.tubeline.ca 1.888.856.6613Built with smaller operations in mind, the Nitro 375RS is constructed with top grade materials to handle real day-to-day farming. With standard features including robust apron chains, hungry vertical beaters, and an adjustable guillotine end gate, you can rest assured that the Nitro 375RS will not only provide the consistent spread you’ll need, but also limit your time in the field. Contact Tubeline for more information on the Nitro 375RS or other models.trailers for assistance intransporting horses andlivestock from the Rock Creekarea.Smoke from the Rock Creekre, as well as from anotherthat crossed the border fromWashington state, billowedinto the Okanagan, wheregrape growers watchedAugust 14 as another blazeswept across the bench landsabove Oliver, threateningwineries on the Golden Mile.Little to burnWind rapidly drove theames across dry grass andsagebrush but with little waterhaving fallen through thesummer, there was little thereto burn. Within hours the windshifted, turning the blaze backon itself and leaving little fuelfor future res. “There’s really no fuel leftfor a re here,” said BruceFuller of Rustico Estate Wineryat the south end of the GoldenMile, where ames camewithin yards of his vines and astone’s throw from hisbuildings.While he admits thingscould have been a lot worse –he packed what he neededand ed to the bottom of theproperty, well away from theames – he said nothing savehis nerves were the worse forwear.Moreover, the speed of there’s progress and retreat –helped by local reghtingcrews – mean smoke taintshouldn’t be a problem as itwas for some wineriesfollowing the OkanaganMountain Park re of 2003.“The winds were notblowing smoke on top of ourgrapes,” Fuller said. “Whenthey hit, the whole of thehillside here was on re at thesame time but the winds wererunning across the side of themountain rather than pushingthe smoke over the vineyard.”Jody Subotin, vineyardmanager for Le Vieux Pin andLaStella wineries, oversees 50acres of vines across the southend of the Okanagan and saidsmoke has come and gonethrough the summer, but ithasn’t stayed. August’s reswere no dierent.“Some of the vineyards saw,maybe, 48 hours of smoke,and it’s all clear now,” he said.“It’s not like the Kelowna re of2003 when we had smokesettle in the valley for, like, twoor three weeks.”Water woesMeanwhile, in the LowerMainland, where smoke hasalso come and gone throughthe summer, the greater worrywas water.Reservoir levels in MetroVancouver continued to dropthrough August, and were setto approach 50% by earlySeptember without rain. Whatrain has fallen has beenwelcome for many farmers,such as Bill Zylmans, whohailed a late July dose of wetas a “million-dollar rain” for hisripening vegetables.But over on the SunshineCoast, watering restrictionshave left backyard gardenershigh and dry.Annette Clarke of EasterEgg Farm in Roberts Creek, athree-acre market garden thatproduces garlic and a varietyof vegetables, purchased two4,500-litre tanks earlier thisyear to store rainwater butsays home growers have beenshut out.While the 122 recognizedfarmers on the coast canaccess ocial water supplies,everyone else is left to dryfarm their plots – somethingshe feels compromises localfood production. (Vancouverresidents, by contrast, areallowed to water garden plotsbut not ornamental plantings.)Worse, local governmentshave no backup plan if thedrought continues, Clarke said.“They’re hoping for rainfallin October, but [it] does notlook like there’s any majorrainfalls coming up in the nearfuture,” she said. “And if theydon’t get rain by October, theydon’t knokw what they’regoing to do. They could bringin pumps, but it’s costly. Sothere’s no good plan yet.”ForecastingGlen Lucas, generalmanager of the BC FruitGrowers Association, echoedthe concern.While association membershaven’t faced restrictions onwater use, no one else seemsto be, either, raising questionsabout what will happen if thecoming winter fails to deliver ahealthy snowpack – somethingentirely likely based on thelatest forecasts from the USNational Weather Service.“We’re not even seeingrestrictions on lawn wateringor golf courses,” he said.“Before we see agriculturewater restrictions, we want tosee some pretty severe waterrationing on lawn watering.”Yet, just over the mountainsfrom the Okanagan, ranchersin the Thompson-Nicola area –who had limited water use inview of tight supplies – weretold to curtail irrigation in earlyAugust, nixing hope of anyfurther growth this season.That places them in a bind,limiting their own productionand making them reliant on anincreasingly scarcecommodity. Hay crops haven’t been aslush as usual even forproducers with irrigation, saidDavid Zirnhelt, taking a breakfrom haying on his ranch inthe Beaver Valley near WilliamsLake. Hay from elds that aretraditionally wet was good,but even it fell short of hisexpectations.“Production is down formost people,” he said,questioning whether the soilshave enough organic matterto hold moisture. “We’vepushed soil in the past toreach new production levelsbut that doesn’t necessarilymake you drought resistant. …It doesn’t hold and mete outthe water as it’s needed.”Ranchers are feeling theramications in several ways.The production of manycommercial hay producers hasbeen spoken for, whileexorbitant prices for what isavailable are giving livestockowners cause for pause.Country Life in BC has beenseeing 500 bales of hayoered for $4,000 to $5,000 ormore, up from $3,500 last year.Growers with irrigation – someof whom are on their fourthcut – are reaping the nancialadvantage. Reports indicate prices areup as much as 20% over 2014,itself a record year that droveconsumer prices higher in2015. The pattern looks set tocontinue in 2016.While restrictions havebeen slapped on several riversacross the province due to lowstream ows, the Fraser Rivercontinues to supply farmers inDelta. A new pump station hasbeen supplying water to thenew irrigation system servingEast Ladner, and cranberrygrowers shouldn’t expect anyrestrictions on water supplieswhen the time comes to oodelds for harvest.Fruit orchards and vineyards on the Golden Mile, south of Oliver, were very nearly scorched in a wildre triggered by lightning in mid-August. The re spread quickly in the grassland above the growingareas and not only had farmers but area residents on high alert. (Tom Walker photo)
Country Life in BC • September 20158Committee formed to deal with Oliver picker problemsLack of on-farm facilities for migrantpickers brings misuse of public parkby TOM WALKEROLIVER – A town meeting inOliver has led to somepositive, proactive ideaswith alocal issue, and a committee toput them in motion, says thelocal recreation director.The “problem” is the annualinux of young fruit pickers,many of them from Quebec. “They’ve been coming for40 years,” says Carol Sheridan.“They keep our economygoing by picking the fruit andby shopping in the stores andbuying groceries. In theafternoons, they like to hangout together and socialize inLions Park. Everybody in townloves Lions Park and they feelpushed out of it for about veweeks of the year.”“There is a very small groupof people who say we justdon’t want these people hereat all,” says Sheridan. “But thatis not how the town feels,” sheemphasizes. “The majority ofpeople are happy to see theyoung people here. They justwant to see them use the townand the park respectfully.”Sheridan says up to 150young people will gather in thepark in the afternoons duringthe June-July cherry pickingseason. Many of them havebeen up since 4 am working inthe orchards. They hang outand socialize, they bring theirguitars; they bring food, andthey bring their dogs.Sometimes they bring alcohol(which is not allowed), theyleave garbage and they jam theparking lot and the adjacenthighway with their cars.“When you have a parkwithout a person in it and nota speck of garbage is thatwhat you really want?”Sheridan asks. “It’s meant to befull of people.”However, the park can get alittle too full and cannotsupport all of the uses that arethrust on it. “The double stallwashrooms just can’t handlethe amount of people usingthem so we brought in someextra porta potties,” saysSheridan. But we’ve gotpeople washing their carrots inthe sink, washing their clothesin the toilets and taking a bathThe seasonal proliferation of pickers (mostly from Quebec) in apublic park in Oliver has left many residents concerned and angry.A committee has been formed to address the issues. (Tom Walkerle photo)See our complete inventory atFarmersEquip.comLYNDEN, WASHINGTON888-855-4981PRICES IN US DOLLARS2008 CASE IH PUMA 195 16SP POWERSHIFT, LX770LOADER, NICE TIRES, 80%TREAD FE#22554$120,0002012 MAGNUM 290 FE#19120 POWERSHIFT,4 SETS REMOTES, BUDDY SEAT, REAR DUALS $149,950RICHARDTON 8020DUMP WAGON, 100 GAL SPRAYTANK, GOOD CYLINDERS,NICE SHAPE FE#22527 $10,500VOLVO L50B WHEEL LOADER1500 HRS ON REMAN MOTOR,BKT/FORKS, HYD QUICKCHANGE BUCKET, GOOD TIRES,FE#20050$39,950JOHN DEERE 94005,400 HRS, FR/R DUALS, 3PT, 4 SETS OF REMOTESFE#23347$84,9501-888-770-7333BILLAWMACKCOVER CROPS?in the river. (The OkanaganRiver borders the park).The town put out moregarbage cans and paintedsome lines on the pavementto help organize the parking.They put together a brochurein French welcoming visitorsto town and telling themabout some of the bylaws andwhere facilities were. Part of the problem startswith the growers, Sheridanpoints out. There are nostandard services that must besupplied for itinerant workers,unlike the more regulatedSeasonal Agricultural WorkerProgram (SAWP). Pickers sleep in tents at theedge of the elds. Someemployers provide cookingand shower facilities, but somedo not. “The kids in the park arepeaceful,” Sheridan points out.The RCMP don’t see the parkas a signicant trouble spot.Indeed, when they are called itis usually for a local alreadyknown to police using thegathering as an excuse toengage in high risk behavior.“July 20 was a goodmeeting in the sense therewas dialogue back and forth itgot really passionate at times.”recalls Sheridan. “We hadsome people wagging theirngers in the air saying ‘I don’twant to see any more…’” shesays. “Yet, others pointed outthese are some one else’s kidsand how would you feel ifyour kids were being crappedon. They all have stories andno one is taking the time tond out about that.”Residents set up an ad hoccommittee to discuss how toalleviate some of theseconcerns for the public andhow to better engage thevisitors, so they understandhow the park is meant to beused and that they arewelcome to be a part of thecommunity. “There were moms, somemembers of the agriculturecommunity, people with pastcouncil experience who will sitdown together and get somestrategies on how we can starto on a better foot next year.”says Sheridan. Perhaps the regional districtneeds to look at setting somestandards for pickersaccommodation, or perhapsthey need to bring in a trailerto use as a wash hut for thepicking season. Sheridan says they arelooking at how they mightbetter organize park spaceand are considering an o-leash dog park where peoplecan hang out with their dogs. “The whole idea is todevelop more harmony andengagement,” says Sheridan.The legion held a couple ofsocial events this summer thatwere well attended andenjoyed. “I think the worst thing wecould do is to communicate tothese visitors that we are notinterested in having themhere, that they are notwelcome”
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 9A student talks to an interested family during the University of BCDairy Education and Research Centre open house. The open houseat both UBC DERC and the Pacic Agriculture Research Centre waspart of the Agassiz Farms Cycle Tour. (David Schmidt photo)All your Equipment needs. All in one stop. www.matsquiagrepair.com34856 Harris rd, abbotsford bC | 604-826-3281THE NEW STYLEof productivityDeals of the month:Landini Mythos 100: Ready To Go....................................$45,000McHale Fusion 2 Baler/Wrapper: Rebuilt..........................$80,000Fella TS 631 HY: Ready To Go............................................$9,500Maschio 4000 Power Harrow: Rebuilt.............................$10,500Claas Uniwrap 355: 6000 bales..........................................$40,000Check out the equipment on our website: www.matsquiagrepair.com*We’re Social! Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/MatsquiagrepairCycle tour puts thespotlight on agri-tourismby DAVID SCHMIDTAGASSIZ – The 9th annualCycle Tour of Agassiz tookplace July 25 but instead ofbeing under the auspices ofSlow Food Vancouver, it wasorganized by TourismHarrison.The fact it was now beingrun as a tourism venture didnot dampen the enthusiasmof the participants who tookadvantage of exceptionalsunny weather to cyclethrough a blueberry eld,have coee from an antiqueroaster, learn the history ofthe area in the old CPR trainstation, sample a selection ofartisan cheeses, learn aboutbees and beekeeping, visit anorganic chicken farm andenjoy many other delightsalong the 30 km route.As usual, the UBC DairyEducation Research Centreopened its doors to not onlycyclists but all members of thepublic. This year, they werejoined by the Agriculture andAgri-food Canada PacicAgriculture Research Centre(DERC) which held its biennialopen house in conjunctionwith the tour.Turnout was similar toprevious years.“By early afternoon, wealready had about 700visitors,” UBC DERC managerNelson Dinn reported.Visitors could enjoy freechocolate milk at DERC. PARCwas also oering cake and icecream but ran out of cakeshortly after noon, suggestingtheir turnout exceededexpectations. PARC also gavevisitors a chance to tour theresearch elds on a haywagon – always a treat for theprimarily urban crowd thetour attracts.Scenes like this one at theMaple Ridge Country Fest, July25, were repeated across theprovince this past summer, as4-H’ers showed o theiranimals.(David Schmidt photo)Strongshowstring
Country Life in BC • September 201510Debt relief ready for drought-struck BC farmersby PETER MITHAMCHILLIWACK – With much of BC’smost fertile land now at a Stage 4drought level, many growers arebeginning to tally the potential cost ofone of the driest seasons in recentmemory.National attention has largelyfocussed on the Prairie provinces, theproverbial breadbasket of the countrywith its golden elds of grain andverdant ranchlands. The latest forecastfrom Agriculture and Agri-food Canadaindicates a 3.8% drop in grain andoilseed yields this year, rather than the5% increase originally expected.“Below trend yields have beenassumed to account for extremely dryconditions in regions of Alberta andSaskatchewan,” federal analysts wrote.“Should dry conditions continue inwestern Canada, yields forecasts mayhave to be revised down further.”But the knock-on eect of the woesfacing Prairie farmers will also hurt BCfarmers, who won’t be able to make upthe shortfall.Dry conditions here meant less hayat second cut, as well as reduced yieldsfrom BC grain elds. This will promptfarmers to look further aeld to ndfodder for their animals, feed that willbe more expensive thanks to shortsupplies continent-wide.“Most of the dairy farmers will beimpacted in the province,” says LanaDueck, vice-president, agriculturalbanking, for BMO Financial Group inChilliwack. “It’s a pretty big scope ofhaving one-fth of their crops here inthe Lower Mainland reduced tonegligible, so there will be a number ofpeople looking for purchasing feedoutside of the area.”Dueck said BMO is the province’sbiggest private lender to agriculture inthe province and expects a quarter ofdemand for various drought assistancemeasures – ranging from expandedcredit options to deferred paymentson existing loans – to come from BC.The measures were introduced thesame week as the federal governmentannounced a deferment of tax paymentsfor drought-struck farmers in WesternCanada, and other lenders unveiled theirown drought-assistance programs.While fruit growers have also felt theimpact of unusually hot, dry weatherthis growing season, Dueck said thebank’s assistance will likely be mostneeded by livestock farmers becauseof increased grain costs.The exact extent of the demand ishard to tell at this point, however.Crops have yet to be fully harvestedfrom local elds – corn won’t be in tillSeptember, for example – and farmerswill then need to gure out what theyneed to make up the shortfall.“It’s really going to be hard to tellthe scope of it until we’re through theharvest season, specically for theThe federal government and national banks are stepping up to help WesternCanadian farmers aected by drought conditions on both sides of the Rockies. Eventhose with irrigation have been aected with lower yields in a summer for therecord books. (Peter Wilding le photo)dairy sector,” she said. “The impact isgoing to be seen when they go to lookfor crops elsewhere.”Dueck doesn’t expect to have asense of the demand for bank supportuntil the rst of October, with creditmanagement strategies and reliefmeasures implemented in the nalquarter of the year.Meanwhile, growers will be lookingnot only to the elds but to the skies.A strong El Niño eect is anticipatedthis winter, which will continue thewarm, dry conditions the PacicNorthwest has experiencedthroughout 2015. This could mean alighter snowpack again this winter,leaving streams and reservoirs lessthan fully recharged heading into the2016 season.www.ottercoop.com1-800-663-6038Join now and start saving! Lifetime Membership just $10EQUITY & CASH BACKTO MEMBERS!$4.45MILLIONBased on purchases in the fiscal year ending February 28, 2015, any memberpurchasing $368.00 worth of goods or services during the fiscal year will receivean equity cheque. That’s money that stays right here in our community!Thursday, Friday, September 17 & 18, 9 am to 7 pmCHICKEN BBQ FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 4:30 START PROCEEDS DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIESSaturday, September 19, 9 am to 5 pmPICK UP YOURCHEQUEIt pays to BUY BULK FEED & BULK PETROLEUM PRODUCTS at OTTER CO-OP! Members!
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 11by DAVID SCHMIDTMAPLE RIDGE – BC Ministerof Agriculture Norm Letnickwas the feature speaker butRiyah Biln, daughter of BCBlueberry Council vice-president Ray Biln of SilverValley Farms, stole the show atthe Maple Ridge Country FestBlueberry Festival, July 25.Letnick was at the fair toannounce $50,000 in BuyLocal program funding for theBCBC.BCBC chair Jason Smiththanked him for the funding,saying “any help we can getfrom the provincialgovernment to get more ofour product to localconsumers is a good thing.” In addition to traditionaleye-catching signs anddisplays, the council is usingthe funding for in-storesampling at selected Safewayand Save-On Foods stores,radio advertising and a socialmedia campaign.First time for sampling“This is the rst time we aredoing in-store sampling,”BCBC executive directorDebbie Etsell said. “The best thing(consumers) can do for localfarmers is to buy local,” saidMaple Ridge-Pitt MeadowsMLA Doug Bing, whoaccompanied Letnick at theannouncement. He noted theBuy Local program “helpsfarmers help us with BC foodsecurity.”“When you buy fresh BCblueberries, you support localagriculture and local famers,”Letnick added.He put his money where hismouth was, shelling out $5from his pocket for acontainer of blueberries beingsold by Biln.IrrepressibleIn a campaign sheoriginated several years earlierand heartily endorsed by herfamily, the irrepressibleyoungster was selling one andtwo pound containers ofblueberries as a fundraiser forWorld Vision.“My goal is to raise $5,000this year,” she said.Since she had alreadyraised $4,500 by the late-Julyannouncement, she is mostlikely to surpass her goal. Theblueberry season generallylasts until late September,although the early harvestmeans it will probably endmuch earlier this year.Although the summer heathas had a negative impact onyields, it will not be evident tobuyers.Even though “we expect tocome in about 12 millionpounds below our initial cropprojections,” Etsell saidincreasing acreage means thisyear’s crop should still matchlast year’s record of 150million pounds.Blueberry growers tap in to Buy Local fundingRiyah Biln of Silver Valley Farms and BC Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick display a box ofblueberries at the Meadow Ridge Country Fest on July 25. Letnick was at the fair to deliver to the BCBlueberry Council $50,000 in Buy Local funding. Joining him were, from left to right, BCBC executivedirector Debbie Etsell, former BCBC promotion chair Patrick Freeman, BCBC president Jason Smithand Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Doug Bing. (David Schmidt photo)SAVE YOURSOIL! Improve soil quality, stop erosion, suppress weeds and extend your manure applications. TerraLink is your source for Fall Rye, Winter Wheat, Italian Rye and many other top performing Richardson Seed cover crop seed varieties. Call us today to choose the perfect seed for your needs.TerraLink Horticulture Inc. Toll Free: 1-800-661-4559www.tlhort.com Richardson Seed is a TerraLink brand.Fall Cover Crops are here!TMSeedRichardsonProgram will launchin-store sampling campaign8476 DEROCHE LANDING ROAD, DEROCHEGreat hobby farm with 7.34 perimiter fenced acres, gated drive. 3 bed home incl updated vinyl windows &granite counters. Income suite & detached cabin. 4 stall livestock barn plus 2 low 20x100’ barns for chickens,ducks or? and 18'X40' detached workshop/garage w/220 wiring, oil pit. Room to garden, apple trees & treenursery. Minutes east of downtown Mission. MLS®F1445139 $699,900WheelerCheamServing Mission, Abbotsford And The Central Fraser ValleyPat: 604-302-6174pat@patvale.comDeb: 604-302-5348deb@patvale.com33174 FIRST AVE, MISSION12001 STAVE LAKE RD, MISSION3 bed/1 bath home sitting on 49.85 acres of pasture/hay fields and treed hill side. 30' x 60' pole barn with stalls, lean-to’s for extra storage. Pastures are fenced & crossed fenced. Deep drilled well with ample water. Zoned A2/R3. A great place for a hobby farm and to raise a family. MLS® F1448010 $1,299,9001-888-770-7333BILLAWMACKCOVER CROPS?Itʼs your business.And you need to keep up date on the news andevents that affect you and your farm operation.Itʼs what we have been doing for almost a century!Subscribe today!ONE, TWO & THREE YEARSUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE. See our ad on page 46 for rates!COUNTRYLifein BCThe Agricultural News Source inBritish Columbia since 1915
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licensed participants.“In order for the logo toappear on the product in thestore or on the menu in therestaurant, everyone in thevalue chain has to belicensed,” Watt says.Sheep producers andabattoirs pay a fee – $75 formembers, $100 for non-members (which includesmembership in one of the twoorganizations) – whilerestaurants and retailers canregister for free.“We don’t want to make ithard for them to buy lamb, soit’s free for them,” Wattexplains.Registered restaurants andSeptember 2015 • Country Life in BC 13by PETER MITHAMKAMLOOPS – BC is home toapproximately 14,000 marketlambs but they’re not top ofmind for most shoppers in theprovince.“We are totally amazed atthe number of people that say,‘I didn’t even know I could getlamb locally,’” says RomaTingle, president of the BCSheep Federation, who herdsa ock of approximately 70ewes producing about 90 to100 lambs for market eachyear.Raising the prole of locallamb, boosting demand andmaking connections withretailers are among thebenets anticipated with anew branding program localproducers are launching thiswinter.“We’re hoping we can makesome of the connections thatsome of us are just makingone-on-one,” Tingle says.“There’ll be a central place forpeople looking for lamb,particularly for restaurants,chefs, some of the stores. It’sgoing to push the demand,which we’re hoping will alsoexpand the numbers, andencourage people to go a bitbigger.”While the sheep federationhas seen membership increasein recent years, the number ofsheep farms in BC has been indecline since the 1980s. Thenumber of farms participatingin the federal census ofagriculture peaked at 1,644 in1986 but stood at just 1,285farms in 2011. Provincialgures indicate local farmsmeet no more than a fth oflocal demand for lamb; in2013, at least 33,000 animalsconsumed in the provincecame from elsewhere.Tingle cautions that it’s hardto pin down exact numbers,however. Several smallproducers exist, not all areregistered as commercialoperations, and butcheringsometimes occurs on-farm.Production chainBut if statistics are woollyregarding the exact number ofhooves on the ground, thebranding program promises toherd producers, processorsand purveyors into a well-dened chain of productionthat provides industry andconsumers alike certaintyregarding local lamb.“You’re going to see a lot ofbranded lamb out there,” saysJill Watt, executive director ofthe BC Association ofAbattoirs, which has partneredwith sheep producers on thenew program.Backed by approximately$61,200, provided in equalhalves by the province’s BuyLocal program and industry(including the BC Associationof Abattoirs, BC SheepFederation and otherstakeholders), “Premium BCLamb” will appear on lambproduced by and sold throughretailers agree not to use thebrand identity materials onproduct that hasn’t gonethrough participating abattoirsand been tracked in the BCMeats Quality InformationSystem database.“We’re in the middle of apilot auditing program for ourbeef, and we’re going to bestarting on one on our lambnext year,” Watt says. “Wedon’t audit everyone, ofcourse, but we are doing spotaudits just to check that ourprocedures are working andthat no one’s cheating thesystem.”The audit process involvestaking meat samples fromparticipating restaurants andchecking DNA from thesample against tissue – usuallyan ear – that abattoirs keep onBC’s sheep producer groups and the BC Association of Abattoirs have collaborated on a new brandinginitiative that they hope will increase lamb production in the province to meet local demand. (CathyGlover photo)Branding program promises to raise awareness of local lambNearly three quarters of lambs soldin BC are sourced out of the provincewww.JAYLOR.com | 800.809.8224Contact your Local Dealer for a Demo Today...SquareCut AugerRapidDischargeProcessing KnivesUndercarriageOptions Mixer LevelShaker BoxNEW 5000 SERIESIsland Tractor&Supply Ltd.North IslandTractorAvenueMachinery Corp.AvenueMachinery Corp.Duncan, BC250.746.1755Courtenay, BC250.334.0801Abbotsford, BC604.864.2665Vernon, BC250.545.3355Please see “AUDIT” page 14
Country Life in BC • September 201514le (in a freezer) for eightweeks following slaughter.“From time to time, we’vefound in the beef industry thatsomeone orders one animal ofbeef and ve months later it’sstill being advertised on themenu,” Watt says. “Ourprogram will stop that.”Number fourWhile lamb is the fourthmost-produced meat in BC,behind beef, poultry and pork,it’s a big deal for those with ataste for the savoury meat.Halal lamb is especially indemand among Muslims, forwhom pork is o-limits; otherconsumers love lamb in itsown right, lacking thenegative associations theirmutton-fed grandparents hadwith the animals.“Those people who do eatlamb are absolute foodies whohave to have lamb, and lovelamb, and are very loyal tolamb and don’t care howmuch they pay for lamb,” Wattsays.The province’s biggest lambproducers – and the farmsWatt expects to serve as thecornerstone for the newbranding program – includeAvely Ranch in Davenby andthe South Peace HutteriteColony near Dawson Creek.Both have hundreds ofanimals.The majority of sheep farms,however, have fewer than 50ewes and sell direct to buyers.Tingle, for her part, has builtsales largely by word ofmouth. Being able to connectwith registered buyers whowant local lamb promises tomake it easier for her, andother growers, to build theirbusinesses.“It will give opportunitiesfor people, make it easier onthem to market their product,”she says.by PETER MITHAMKAMLOOPS – BC lambproducers may not be able tosupply local demand for lamb,but local abattoirs aren’tdoing much better.“The biggest problemwe’ve got … is a shortage ofworkers in the abattoirindustry,” says Jill Watt,executive director of the BCAssociation of Abattoirs. Shepegs the shortage at four tove workers a plant, withsome larger plants short asmany as 40 workers.“Demand is growing forlocal meats and … thatdemand means we need moreworkers,” she says.WorkBC, the government-run careers and jobs site,indicates that 1,100 peoplecurrently ll positions as“industrial butchers and meatcutters, poultry preparers andrelated workers.”But employment prospectsare mixed, according to theprovince, with two workers forevery one job available by2017. Unemploymentcurrently sits at between 7.1%and 8.1%, well above theprovincial average of 5.8%.However, unemployment inthe sector is slated to fall by2022 to just 5.9% and Wattwants workers to be ready. “We’re working on gettingsome training programs upand at ‘em so we can getmore workers into theabattoirs in BC,” she says.Trained workers withpolished skills mean bettercuts of meat, and better cutsmean satised consumers andmore demand. And if demandis there, lamb producers canshepherd their ocksaccordingly.“We can increase lambproduction pretty quicklywhen the demand is there,”Watt says. “But before we dowe need to get the abattoirsorganized so they canbutcher.”Shortage of workers challenges abattoir industryBC abattoirs are operating under a labour shortage, according tothe executive director of the association that oversees them. (PeterMitham le photo)by PETER MITHAMKAMLOOPS – BC’s new lamb brand may seemcomplicated to those not used to seeing local meatbranded as such, but the set-up is quite simple. Rootedin the BC Meats Quality Information System database,the new program promises to make meat traceable fromfarm to fork, as well as more available to buyers.The information system lets producers record anyproduction data they would like to track against carcassquality by entering information alongside correspondingCSIP tag numbers.Abattoirs score and take two photos of each carcass ata cost to the producer of $3 an animal. Producers areable to view carcass information, including destination,by keying in the CSIP tag number, which also allowsrestaurants and retailers to see what they’re getting aswell as its history.Taking matters one step further, the restaurant orretailer can download a QR code that lets customersaccess a profile of the producer for their particular cut ofmeat.“Having your farm profile available to consumers atthe store and restaurant level … will build value for thecustomer which will in time transfer to higher pricingand demand for your lamb,” says the BC Association ofAbattoirs.Producers, processors, retailers and restaurateurs willhave a chance to grill experts on the new BC lamb brandat a series of workshops the week of October 5.“Premium BC Lamb: What Can it Do For You?” will takeplace at venues in Prince George, Kamloops, Vernon,Oliver and Courtenay. Speakers include Dale Engstrom, alamb finishing specialist from Alberta.www.canadianorganicfeeds.comFOR QUALITYCERTIFIEDORGANICFEEDS FOR BAGGED or BULK ORDERS:Darren JansenGeneral Manager604/794-3701organicfeeds@gmail.comCUSTOM ORDERSCertified to Canadian National StandardsNew database willmake meat traceablefrom farm to forkAUDIT PILOT From page 13Serving B.C. Agriculture1771-10th Ave. Salmon Arm103-1889 Springeld Rd. Kelowna2565 Main St. West Kelowna34633 Vye Rd. Abbotsford1970 Keating Cross Rd. Sannich5410 T.C.H. Duncan1-1227 Island Hwy. Nanaimo587 Alberni Hwy. ParksvilleSince 1919
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 15The Vanderkooi family pose in front of their new poultry barn in Deroche during the Kenettas Farmsopen house August 12. From left to right are Ken and Henrietta Vanderkooi, Aimee, Dwayne, Julie,Renee, Calvin, Kaitlyn, Tyson, Jon, Taryn and Payton. (David Schmidt photo)by DAVID SCHMIDTDEROCHE – A large increasein egg quotas combined with anew BC Egg Marketing Boardorder increasing the minimumspace per bird are forcing BCegg producers to considerhow to meet the newrequirements.Ken Vanderkooi of KenettasFarms chose to make acomplete change. On August12, a week before the rst layerbarn was to be populated, heinvited industry to tour his newstate-of-the-art farm.Vanderkooi has been farmingin poultry-dense Abbotsfordbut located his new farmacross the Fraser River inDeroche.“I am isolated over here butstill only half an hour fromAbbotsford,” Vanderkooi says,adding “after avian inuenzahit the area in 2004, I said itwasn’t going to catch me asecond time.He almost waited too longto move his birds. Just over amonth after starting to buildthe new farm, AI again surgedthrough the valley but,fortunately, he escapedunscathed.The new farm includes two40X450 foot layer barns and a36X255-foot pullet barn. Allthree are built with theOctaform system with its food-grade PVC-nish.“Octaform is completelysealed and cleans up betterthan painted plywood,” saysequipment supplier LeoApperloo of United AgriSystems. The layer barns have tunnelventilation with TPI shutterinlets while the pullet barn hasa two-stage ventilation systemwith TPI shutter inlets. New toBC, the TPI inlets keep thetunnel ventilation systemslimmer, eliminate the need foran outer alcove and betterdirect the air. When they rstopen, the shutters direct theair upwards but when thesystem fully kicks in, they forcethe air to the oor to maximizeairow. Inside the barn is theAdvanced technology promising for egg producersCadillac of conned birdhousing systems – the Italian-made Valli enriched colonysystem.Vanderkooi’s son Jonselected the system.“Jon is responsible foreverything we have done here.He had seen the Valli systemworking in Italy and told methat’s what he really wanted,”he says. “I agreed as he has tobe happy because he will beworking the system and willeventually have to pay for it.”Vanderkooi admits thesystem is unlikely to increaseproductivity but will improvelivability, noting it meets therequirements of the USHumane Society and otheranimal welfarists. “I believeThe Cadillac of confined bird housingsystems will improve poult livabilityPlease see “QUOTA” page 16www.caliberequipment.caCALIBER EQUIPMENT LTD.34511 VYE RD . ABBOTSFORD604/864-2273STORE HOURSMONDAY-FRIDAY, 8-5SATURDAY, 8-12Closed SundaysTRACTORSJD 8320 TRACTOR MFD WITH DUALS, POWERSHIFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSTILLAGEIH 470 18' DISK HARROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,500JD 1750 PLANTER 6 ROW WITH LIQUID FERT. AND CHEMICAL BOXES . . . . . . . . . 27,500JOHN DEERE 3600 PLOW, 5 BOTTOM, DRAWBAR PULL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,100HAY TOOLSCLAAS 75T TEDDER 6 BASKET 24.5’, EXCELLENT CONDITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,900CLAAS 870T TEDDER 28.5’ HYD. FOLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSCLAAS 8700 SELF PROPELLED MOWER TRIPLE DECK MOWER . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSFELLA 4000 4 BASKET ROTARY RAKE, 40’ RAKING WIDTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29,900NH 315 SMALL SQUARE BALER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CALL FOR DETAILSPZ FANEX 730 6 BASKET 24’ TEDDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,900CLAAS Centre Delivery LINER RAKESThe Measure of Success
Country Life in BC • September 201516this is where the industry’sfuture is.” The Valli system includes711 “colonies” in three tiers.Each colony is 10 feet long and5.91 feet wide and designed toaccommodate 72 birds. The51,192 layer capacity gives theVanderkoois plenty of room forfuture quota increases as theircurrent quota holding is about45,000 birds.Each colony includes afeeding/living area with LEDlighting and a darkenednesting area. The feeding areaincludes 12 cm of feedingspace per bird, 15 cm of perchper bird, a central feedingsystem and an external feedtrough. Birds step on aperforated guard to access thefeed trough, shortening theirnails in the process.Strips are hung in thenesting area to minimize light,a plastic mesh keeps birdsfrom touching wire while theylay and a cover on the outsidegrate prevents them fromaccessing the feed trough. “If they’re not eating, they’renot defecating, so you getcleaner eggs,” says Valliinternational sales managerPaolo Zazzeri.The egg belt is 14 cm wideand guarded by an egg saverwire and shocker wire. The beltis programmed to move threetimes a day so the entire belt islled even though 98% of eggsare laid in the small nestingsection. “The egg belt has capacityfor two days lay,” Zazzeri states.A manure dryer and blowerunit running down the centreof the colony ensures manureis relatively dry. The manurebelt has a support every footand discharges into anexternal manure storagebuilding.“We have built enoughstorage so we only have toempty it once a year,”Vanderkooi says.Although this is the rstsuch installation in theprovince, it will not be the last.The second will be installed inDecember and more are onthe way.“We have been incrediblybusy,” Apperloo says. “With thechange in regulations andtoday’s low interest rates,farmers are investing in newbarns and new equipment.” QUOTA From page 15Egg producers got a chance to see the rst Valli colony housingsystem in BC during an open house at Kenettas Farms open housein Deroche, August 12. (David Schmidt photos)Leo Apperloo of United Agri Systems points to the new-styleshutters on the tunnel ventilation system at Kenettas Farms inDeroche.Mounted ReversiblePlough - EG Mounted ReversiblePlough - ESca.kverneland.com a division of Kubota Canada LtdThe best ploughs in the world.Conventional, mounted reversible or semi-mounted reversible, Kverneland is the leading plough brandin the industry. Kverneland’s unique heat treatment is a guarantee of the Kverneland ploughsoutstanding performance, quality and longevity.Vander Wal Equiment (1989) LtdMaple Ridge, BCPhone: 1 604 463 3681Avenue MachineryVernon, BCPhone: 1 250 545 3355Rollins MachineryChilliwack, BCPhone: 1 800 242 9737
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 17BC Parks is asking for feedback to their intentions paper on the controversial national park reserveproposed for the South Okanagan. The proposal generated a widespread “No” campaign a few yearsago and opponents thought it was a non-issue after the Ministry of Environment suggested recently itwas no longer on the radar. (File photo Steve Arstad, Black Press)by PETER MITHAMOLIVER – A swathe of SouthOkanagan rangeland scorchedby wildre could bedesignated a national park,under a plan described thisspring as a “blunt instrument”by the province’s environmentminister.A public consultation onthe future of hundreds ofacres in three tranches west ofOkanagan Falls and south tothe US border between Oliverand Cawston launched August13 and runs 60 days, untilOctober 12. “BC Parks will review thefeedback and publicly post aConsultation Report alongwith nal recommendations inearly 2016,” a press releaseannouncing the consultationsays.While the province hasbeen in discussions withstakeholders, including theOkanagan Nation Alliance,environment minister MaryPolak has repeatedly said anational park is not in theworks – even though that’samong the proposals for twoof the three areas at the heartof the consultation.“Christy Clark is notinterested in renewingdiscussions with Ottawa on aproposed national park,” shetold the Oliver Daily News thispast April, and in a separateinterview a few days earlier,“The national park is a bluntinstrument that is not neededbased on the toolbox that theprovince can supply inprotecting the land, theendangered species and theway of life of the people in theSouth Okanagan-Similkameen.”She promised to issue areport based on discussionswith stakeholders – most ofwhom favour the idea of anational park – but said theconsequences could be morethan what proponents couldanticipate.Critics now have a chanceto weigh in, armed with a copyof what’s billed as an“intentions paper” titledProtected Areas Framework forBritish Columbia’s SouthOkanagan. All areas are slatedfor conservation by theprovince, in some cases inpartnership with local FirstNations, while two of the areasare slated for a national parkreserve – a step below nationalpark, a move designed torespect the treaty interests ofFirst Nations.The day after the provincebacktracked and announcedthe consultation, lightningstruck, triggering res thatengulfed more than 4,000acres in the southern portionof the proposed conservationarea.The intentions paper isshort on numbers such asacreage and the number ofpeople, residences andranches aected under theproposal, but pushback fromthe agricultural communitywill be strong.Travellers along Highway 3have become familiar with the“NO NATIONAL PARK” signsposted by the roadside butthe issues aren’t immediatelyapparent to those who aren’tworking the land.The idea of savingwilderness sounds good butfor local farmers, it couldincrease conicts with wildlifeby preserving habitat andeliminating hunting, leadingto increased numbers of deerand larger mammals such asbear. Both have a taste for thefruit for which the Okanagan isknown, and bear as well ascougar will prey on calves andinjured cattle.Parks Canada has stated inthe past it wouldn’t forceranchers o the land, however,perhaps mindful of theprotracted stando with NewBrunswick’s Jackie Vautourwhen KouchibouguacNational Park was establishedin 1969.Ranchers would be oeredfair market value for theirproperties, Parks Canada hasclaimed in the past, andagreements would be struckto provide ranchers certaintyregarding their future.Yet correspondence to localpapers suggest the impact onranchers could be overblown,with just 12 ranches impactedand only two of those actuallyopposed. The other 10 wouldsell their holdings, either forthe purpose of a national parkor to other interests.The land, situated adjacentto many of the region’spremier wineries, could beattractive for vineyarddevelopment; others havepitched it for residentialdevelopment. (Skaha Hills, adevelopment on the blusabove Penticton undertakenin partnership with thePenticton Indian Band, hassold swiftly, embarking on asecond phase well ahead ofexpectations.)The province’s conservationproposal may well protect thearea from a scale ofdevelopment that could wellprove more harmful than theconservation of habitat.The results of theconsultation will tell the tale,and is a chance for localfarmers to say what they wantto see become of one of themost hotly contestedproperties in the southOkanagan.Consultations overdivisive national parkproposal renewedProgram Funding Provided byWe’re here to help you succeedCONTACT US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE! T 250.356.1662 E funding@iafbc.cawww.iafbc.caFunding is available through programs like Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada’s Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program.This doesn’t mean we can help you buy a new tractor, expand your farm or build a fence. But it does mean we can provide funding for projects to help BC’s agriculture industry deal with today’s challenges and be ready for tomorrow’s possibilities. And that gives your sector – and you – a fi ghting chance to succeed.Is there a new technology or new process being used elsewhere that you would like to test here in BC? Would you like to try out a new solution for managing pests or addressing an ongoing problem or threat facing your region or your sector? Are you willing to share the results of your project with other producers to increase production or reduce production costs?You know what needs doing! We might be able to help.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'
Country Life in BC • September 201518A tale of two big pigsby TOM WALKERSMITHERS – Happy Pig Organic Farm and Wild MoonOrganics both raise organic Berkshire pigs on pasture. Theirlocations are hundreds of kilometers apart – Happy Pig is in theshadow of the Telkwa mountain range in north-central BC andWild Moon is in the north Okanagan. But they have manythings in common. Both family farms are passionate about raising an organicanimal in a natural environment and they rise to the challengesthis dedication brings. Their families are involved in all aspectsof the business as they strive to carve a niche market for a topquality product.“My cousins laugh at me all the time,” jokes MarleneThimmer from her 350 acre Happy Pig farm south of Smithers.“Who would have thought all those years you were chasingpigs?” Marlene and husband Paul were choosing a dierent lifestyle for their family by starting the farm, as were Richard andTorry Quiring of Wild Moon, when they moved to their 160 acreparcel just north ofArmstrong. “We had been in thebusiness world,” says Quiring.“I was starting a smallGalloway cattle herd but itwas my son, Tristan, whoresearched and got us intoraising Berkshires.“I was a commercial hogfarmer in my 20’s back inSaskatchewan,” Quiring adds.“I had forgotten how much Ilike pigs.”A long bus ride triggeredby the closing of the localrural school helped Thimmerwith the decision to homeschool her two boys, Aidanand Conor. “We try to get the three M’sdone every day,” saysThimmer. “Math, Mandarinand Music. “The farm has given my kidslots of tools. They know howto x, build, accommodate;they can deal with the stressof getting up at midnight forthe animals.”Tristan Quiring goes to thelocal high school in Armstrongand balances school withhockey and the farm. Thenight before I visited, he hadbeen up late working todesign and weld a feedingpen system for their pigs.Pasture-raised animalsrequire room for rotations andboth farms use low heightelectric fences that they canmove as the animals require.“We’re bringing a littleorder to an outdoor system,”says Quiring, as he explains hisfour-to-ve-a-year rotationwith one pasture being re-seeded with green manure.Happy Pig is continuing tobring more land from bushinto production. “I’m moving everythingacross the creek this year,”says Thimmer. She will replantConor Thimmer and mom Marlene market all of their hogs from Happy Pig Organic Farm nearSmithers to a well-established customer list and at farmers’ markets. (Tom Walker photo)Raising and marketing organicpasture-raised Berkshires on the family farmSee “ORGANIC” page 191.866.567.4162Your Game Face for FeedingTo maintain quality feed it’s important to keep air out. When si-lage is faced with a regular bucket, deep cracks and fissures can form. Air can penetrate through these cracks, feet deep into the silo potentially causing premature spoilage and reducing the quality of the feed. One of the best ways to avoid this is to keep a clean, smooth face that doesn’t trap air or moisture. The HLA silage facer is designed to help you better manage your silage and maintain your feed quality. Not only does the facer help you maintain the face of your silo, it also gives you more control of how much feed you remove further reducing waste.Let HLA Attachments help you get your game face on.2000Series Blade3200W Series SnowWing5500 Series SnowPusherScatter Shot Orbital Spreaderwww.hlaattachents.com www.hlasnow.com
ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COMES AT A PRICE From page 18September 2015 • Country Life in BC 19land where the pigs have done their fall rooting.Wild Moon harnesses that rooting instinct togive the pigs a treat of mangelwurzel ormangels, a root vegetable they plant for fodder.Quiring chuckles as he explains how even as acommercial pig farmer he had a lot to learnabout pasture raising. “I wondered why they were starting to root inthe fall,” he says. “They didn’t do that in acement oor barn in Saskatchewan.” The pigsinstinctively know plant nutrients start to retractinto the roots in the fall and that’s when they godigging.Both farms bring in organic feed fromAlberta. Overall, their diet costs twice as muchas non organic feed, says Quiring. “We have put ourselves in a box and areforced to follow it,” he says. “Sometimes you askyourself if customers really appreciate the factbut at the end of the day, it is important to us togive the customers the assurance of organiccertication.”Thimmer has grown some of her own feed(the sandhill cranes ate most of last fall’s barleycrop) and is looking to do more. “I have a few people in the area ask mewould it help you if we grew barley? Well, yes,but are you willing to get certied? Well, no.” Several winters ago the barley marketjumped. “Conventional is $4 a bushel and I usually pay$8,” says Thimmer. “My supplier was taking bidsat $14. I’m o the list.” In co-operation with Dr. John Church, thecattle research chair at Thompson RiversUniversity in Kamloops, Quiring is running livefodder trials. “We’re trying to really meet the nutritionalneeds of the animals and looking at dierentdiets whether it’s a lactating pig, or a nurserypig, or a nisher pig.”Both farms focus on direct-to-customer salesby building their local markets. “I couldn’t sell nine pigs the rst year,”Thimmer remembers. “What’s organic pork? It’snot 99 cents a pound?” The majority of Happy Pig’s sales are frombuilding her customer list and through localfarmers markets. “Now, I sell out of everything, raising over 60pigs, 20 Dexter beef cows, up to 1800 meatchickens and 200 turkeys.” The Happy Pig food truck is a popular spot atsummer festivals across the Northwest anddoubles as a farm store at market days. It alsodoes delivery for their weekly organic boxdelivery service.“All organic, and local rst,” Thimmer says.Oldest son Aidan makes a pretty goodcappuccino for someone without a historydegree.Wild Moon has a strong customer base with agood following built up through market sales aswell, Quiring says. They currently butcher about350 animals a year and are aiming for 500. Theyhave plans to build a commercial kitchen andstorefront for farm gate sales as well. Quiring also has several Okanaganrestaurants who take his animals. “Pork has not been on menus for quite awhile because of lack of taste and texture,” hepoints out. “I am able to work with restaurantsthat will take the entire whole or half pig.” Who’s eating the nose? “The top chefs know how to use it,” hechuckles.Wild Moon Organic’s Richard Quiring herds his pasture-raisedBerkshire pigs. He uses pasture rotation to manage their 160acre parcel north of Armstrong, a far cry from his early days on amore traditional hog farm in Saskatchewan. (Tom Walker photo)A little more. A whole lot more.Model 822IQtModel 824/240 hpModel 826IQtModel 828/280hpFor a little more than the competion, you can get a lot more tractor.Dealer NameAddress and Contact InformationFendt is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation. ª"($0$PSQPSBUJPOt'5$+#@&RVJQNFOU-JTUJOH@)BMGwww.avenuemachinery.caABBOTSFORD 1.888.283.3276KELOWNA 1.800.680.0233VERNON 1.800.551.6411Tractor Financing available:Lease at 0% interest for 36 monthsIncludes 3 years full maintenanceon parts and labour,plus 3 years full warranty coverageJOIN US ON A TOUR OF THEFENDT FACTORY &ATTEND THE WORLD FAMOUSAGRITECHNICA SHOWIN HANOVER, GERMANY. With the purchase or pre-order commitment of any new Fendt tractor fromAugust 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015, Avenue Machinery will accompany youon a trip to Germany with Agco Corporation, all expenses paid. Your trip willinclude a tour of Fendt’s tractor factory, attendance to Agritechnica, shoppingand walk-around Oberammergau, hotels, transfers, meals and much more. Contact your Avenue salesmen for details on this great opportunity to see thefuture of agriculture technologies and leave the details to us.FREE TRIPTO GERMANY!Trip scheduled forNOVEMBER 4-11, 2015.Act now to secure your seaton this fun trip!
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Agri-jobs.caOur business is helping your business GROW, since 1974.Connecting employers with the right employee!Contact us to nd out how we can fill your position:Looking for HELP on your farm?DustinStadnykCPA-CAChrisHendersonBBA, CPA-CANathalieMerrillCPA, CMATOLL FREE 1-888-818-FARM | www.farmtax.comExpert farm taxation advice:• Purchase and sale of farms• Transfer of farms to children• Government subsidy programs• Preparation of farm tax returns• Use of $813,600 Capital Gains ExemptionsApproved consultants for Government funding through BC Farm Business Advisory Services ProgramARMSTRONG 250-546-8665 | LUMBY 250-547-2118 | ENDERBY 250-838-7337No regrets for former chairOusted ag commission chair Richard Bullockremains a proud defender of BC’s farm landby TOM WALKERRICHMOND – RichardBullock could teach manypoliticians a thing or twoabout being positive. On July 27, Bullock spoke inRichmond at the invitation ofKwantlen PolytechnicUniversity’s Institute forSustainable Food Systems.With an audience ofconservation-minded retirees,practicing farmers and young“wannabe” ag students, hewas certainly preaching to theconverted. Yet he practicedthe 3 Rs: Respect, Restraintand no Regrets (with a healthydose of humour). Well-known Delta farmerDavid Ryall perhaps said itbest in his introductoryremarks. “Richard has spent 45 yearssupporting agriculture fromthe grass roots to executiveand he has always done itwith nesse.”“I took it as a honour to getred,” Bullock said. “It meanswe were standing up forsomething.” Bullock wasabruptly terminated as chairof the province’s AgriculturalLand Commission in May.“You push back longenough and hard enoughthere are going to beconsequences and I acceptthose. The ve years I spent atthe ALC was the mostrewarding time I’ve had inagriculture,” he added.“Obviously I pissed somepeople o, which is good.” Humbling is how Bullockdescribed the support he hasreceived since being relievedof his position. “But it’s not just this littleold dude you are supporting,”he said. “You are talkingabout, thinking about, hearingabout, one of the grandestoccupations and the thingthat keeps us all rolling andthat is agriculture”Bullock said he has neverseen agriculture talkedabout more in the press,around tables and atgatherings. “People don’t just gettogether and have a meal.They are proud of whatthey can put on the table.They bring the food, theybring the wine, they bringthe discussion about wherethey got this.”“If you had asked meseveral years ago if we wouldhave farmers’ marketsspringing up on every bloodyvacant lot? They are even inNelson,” he joked, “where thefarm land is scraped out of ahillside.” But they are morethan just a place to buy somefood, Bullock said. People usemarkets as a place to gatherand discuss. Communities are the key topreserving land, according toBullock, and he says the ALCwas working withmunicipalities, town plannersand local politicians and hehopes that will continue. “Communities need togrow. But the rst thoughtwhen communities growRichard Bullockshould not be to spread onagricultural land; it shouldabsolutely be the last option,when there is nothing else leftto do.”“I was 25 years old whenthe ALR came in,” he recalled.“It made for some prettyinteresting discussions aroundthe kitchen table. My motherand father thought it was theend of the world whensomeone came along and toldthem they couldn’t do whatthey wanted to do with theirland.“If my mom and dad knew Iwas chair of the landcommission…” he joked. “Andif they heard I got red, they’dsay “You bloody well deserveit.” They went to their gravesdeciding this wasn’t the thingthat should have happened.“But my generation felt thatthis was the thing that weneeded to do, if we wanted tofarm,” he added. “Our familywould not have persevered orstayed in farming if it wasn’tfor the ALC and it was the bestthing. It has treated us verywell.” There shouldn’t need to bea law to make sure farmland islooked after, Bullock stressed.“There is no place else inthe world that treats theirfarm land with less regardthan we do,” he said. “Mydream is that the youngpeople who come along incommunities will understandhow important farm land isand the ALC will no longer benecessary.“We’ve got to take thespeculative value out of farmland,” he cautioned. “I thoughtwe had got beyond that butsome of the changes mayhave given hope tospeculators again and that’smy concern.“There are too many peoplebuying farm land that thinkthis is an easy business andwhen it isn’t, the applicationsto the ALC come ooding in,”he told his audience. “I can’tmake it; how can anyone farmthis land. Now, I want a non-farm use. My neighbour hastwo trucks on his land; I wantto park 50. The ALC has tocome along and jump downtheir throat!”Non-farm uses arewonderful until they becomemore important than the farmproduct that is produced onthat land, Bullock pointed out. “That’s where your vigilanceis going to help,” he urged.“We cannot allow that tohappen.” “I’m proud of what we aredoing, I’m proud of thisprovince, I’m proud of thatlegislation that I was in chargeof for a while and I hope togod you people keep your eyeon to make sure it’s not pulledapart.”• Please see related story onpage 21.“My dream is that the young people who come alongin communities will understand how important farmland is and the ALC will no longer be necessary.”Richard Bullock
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 21by TOM WALKERRICHMOND – What does former Agricultural LandCommission chair Bullock envision for the future of theprovince’s Agricultural Land Reserve? “I’m not going to second guess anything that goes onsince I’m removed from there,” Bullock told guests at apresentation hosted by Kwantlen Polytechnic University’sInstitute for Sustainable Food Systems in Richmond in lateJuly. “Some organizations have this position of pastpresident. I’ve always thought past presidents should betaken out and drowned somewhere.”However, Bullock says we have to look at creative waysto get young farmers on the land.“I’ve seen some interesting and wonderful farms wherethe farm operator doesn’t own a hell of a lot of land andhe’s leasing huge tracks and doing just ne because theydon’t have the huge nut of a mortgage to crack.” Leasesneed to be long term, he adds, with the ability of the leaseto be passed on through owners so the farmer has stability. What to do with the vacant farmland across the LowerMainland? Bullock says to leave it. “The land will be just ne and when someone is ready,they will farm it. Don’t be persuaded by people who say it’snot good.” But if it’s not being farmed?“Tax the hell out of it!The future of farming,according to BullockHothouse banks on fog of growthState-of-the-art fogging system delivers healthier, longer-lasting vegetablesby PETER MITHAMDELTA – Greenhouses oergrowers more control over theinternal environment than eldproduction. An enclosedgrowing environment ampliesthe thermal power of sunlight,extending the growing season,while pests and disease accessthe crop less easily (though theinterior environment has itsown risks, too).But not everything’scoming up roses in glass – orpolycarbonate – houses, asany cucumber will tell you (ifonly they could speak).Sensitive, fast-growing cropslike cucumbers are particularlyvulnerable to stress whentemperature and humidity areout of balance, which is whyOrigin Organic Farms Inc.(which sells under the Origin Obrand) of Delta, installed afogging system in 2014.“[Cucumbers] are fastgrowing and they tended toneed that extra help tomaintain quality,” says KeithHammonds, vice-president,operations with Origin O. “BChasn’t got the extremeclimate, in the sense that weget high temperatures, but wetend to have weaker cropsbecause of organics and ittends to be more open toattack from pests and disease.”A fogging system creates amore ambient environmentthat reduces stress on the cropin the summer – from Junethrough September – andthereby boosts its health andability to ward o disease. “In the summer, we couldhave the humidity at 40%normally; because we have thefogging system, we keep thehumidity about 65% to 70% soit doesn’t stress the crop outso much,” Hammonds says.Origin O’s tomatoes andpeppers don’t require suchcoddling, but every location isdierent due to the localclimate, orientation of thegreenhouse and the crop itgrows. MicroCool of ThousandPalms, California, advisedOrigin O on its system,assessing its requirements andhelping calibrate the system. MicroCool vice-presidentMark Stanley told growersattending the PacicAgriculture Show this pastJanuary that temperature andhumidity can change on anhourly basis, requiring detailedanalysis before commissioninga system.“We’ve got to play aroundwith the minimums and themaximums to come to asolution,” Stanley said. “Wecan actually calculate theamount of [humidity] neededfor a specic volume of air.”To do this, Stanleyeectively adds moisture tocool down warm air on hotdays, and warms air on colddays to keep humidity in check.Moisture helps cool air, whilewarmth will dry out the air.A fogging system placesnozzles around a greenhouseto ensure even coverage andhumidication; the high-pressure spray is ne andbarely noticeable. Water, if it’sltered to remove mineralsthat can crystallize on thenozzle, feels like a fresheningbreeze. An even distributionensures adequate coveragefor everything from smalloperations to the largestgreenhouses.The linch-pin of anyfogging system, however, isthe control panel: since thesystem is oriented around ahumidity set point, a foggingsystem that can’t provideprecise control of humiditysimply won’t work.“The fog system is only asgood as the system that’scontrolling it,” Stanley said.“You can have the best systemin the world, and you put a 10-cent control on and it’s goingto be absolutely worthless. Agood control on a bad systemisn’t necessarily going to makeit any better, but it can help.”It can also reduce the valueof the investment.An elegant system thatrequires fewer nozzles isdesigned to use less water butif the system isn’t reading theenvironment accurately andfailing to controlhumidication appropriately,then the advantages may bemoot.Origin O uses municipalwater, ltering it three to fourtimes to ensure its purity andimprove the ease ofmaintaining the system. Whilethere’s a cost to municipalwater, the controls Microcoolspecied ensure targetedapplications that reduce thevolume of water that foggingat timed intervals mightrequire.“It allows the crop to growand not be under stress,”Hammonds says. “[And] whena crop’s strong, you don’t haveto put so much water on.”The dierence has paid oin produce that’s been betterable to withstand disease anda longer shelf life at retail andin consumers’ fridges. Thisreduces losses, as well aswaste after the vegetablesleave the farm – an importantpoint given Metro Vancouver’sban on food waste enteringlandlls.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“Serving British Columbia proudly since 1946”MachineryLimitedCOMMITTED TO AGRICULTURE in the FRASER VALLEYwww.rollinsmachinery.caAUTHORIZED DEALERKVERNELANDSUPREMEROLLINSRTRACTORSFORD 6640 1994 4WD, SIDE MOWER, 4800 HRS (CNS502) ........... 20,000FORD 6640 1994 2WD, CAB (U30091) ........................................... 14,900KUBOTA L4630 4WD, 2005, 2600 HRS, 39 PTO HP, CAB, AC (U30107) ............................................................................ 19,800MF 2210 4WD, 2000, 4400 HRS, ROPS, LOADER, 49 PTO (U30106) 14,900NH 60-865 4WD, CAB, NARROW, 60 HP, 2,725 HRS (U02176) ....... 17,500QUALITY USED EQUIPMENTALLIED SNOW BLOWER 60”, 3 PH, LIKE NEW, 2010 (U30959) ..... 1,500FELLA RAKE TS631 HYD (U30956) ................................................ 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TONGUE SWING (U30438) ...................................................... 17,500NH H7330 DISCBINE MOWER, FLAIL CONDITIONER, STD TONGUE, 10’4” CUT (U31005) ......................................................................... 14,500NH FX25 HARVESTER 4WD, 1998, 2100 CUTTERHEAD HRS, NEARLY NEW 346 WINDROW PU, 4 ROW CORNHEAD, W/KERNEL PROCESSOR & METALLERT, (U30841) .................................................................. 89,000FX28 HARVESTER 2001, GRASSHEAD, 2001, 2300 CUTTERHEAD HOURS,4WD, 360 NR 4-ROW CORNHEAD, 365W15 GRASSHEAD (U30749) 120,000TAARUP 4032 DISC MOWER, GOOD CONDITION (CNS571) .......... 13,000WALLENSTEIN GX900 BACKHOE W/15” BUCKET (CNS504) ........... 6,500CHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048
hires has extensiveexperience on a rig, pipelineor other oil patch job. Mindset“It’s all about the mindset,”he says. “If you haven’t donethe job, who’s going to listento you?”That approach fuelled hiscompany’s success – morethan $50 million in revenuessince 2009.Of course, farms don’t havededicated safety specialists,so Shaver says the farm ownerneeds to play that role. Thatmeans starting every morningwith a discussion of the day’swork plan and the safetyCountry Life in BC • September 201522Dean ShaverLet’s talk about COR todayFARSHA.BC.CA | 1.877.533.1789AGRI CULTURESafePROTECTYOUR TOMORROWSeatbelts save lives!Seatbelts save lives!The business risk you can’t ignore – but probably doIt’s the biggest threat youface on the farm – and theone you’re most likely toignore.But anyone who doesn’ttake workplace safetyseriously should sit down withDean Shaver. It will not be a comfortableconversation. The CEO of CSICanada Safety has aninexhaustible supply of talesof terrible accidents from theoil patch, farms andelsewhere. And he doesn’tpull his punches.“If you hate people, ne,then go ahead and hurtyourself or get yourself killed,”says the 62-year-old Albertan.“But if you love your family,then you’d better startthinking.“When you talk aboutsomeone getting hurt, it isn’tabout breaking a nger or awrist. Because we have suchbig equipment, you’re eitherdead or crippled.”Shaver grew up on a farm,had a pig operation in hisyounger days, and spentyears working on oil rigsbefore he suered a seriousworkplace accident in 1997.Although told he would be ina wheelchair by age 50, hequickly returned to work andin 2006 founded CSI CanadaSafety[www.csicanadasafety.com].In the safety business, theNo. 1 question is always: Howdo you get people to listen?Shaver’s answer is to tellstories about “guys notthinking.” He provides names,dates and horric details. The oil patch and the farmMany are from the oil patchbut he’s got lots of farmstories, too. The kid whoslipped o the fender and fellbeneath the wheel of thetractor his dad was driving.The father overcome byhydrogen sulphide whilecleaning a manure reservoirand the son who went in tocheck on him and died, too.It’s the details that stick inyour mind. Here’s Shaver’sdescription of his 18-foot fallfrom a derrick.“As I’m falling, I see acrowbar stuck in the groundand I’m going to land right onit. A fall wouldn’t have beenbad but because I had to twistlike a cat trying to avoid beingimpaled, I ended uplanding completelycockeyed, on myfeet backwards.”One heel platebroke in 13 parts,the other 11. “It waslike dropping adinner plate on a concreteoor from eight feet above,”said Shaver, whoserecounting of his medicaltreatment and years-longrecovery is no less graphic.Of course, every farmerknows grim details of farmaccidents aecting peoplethey know – or knew. But asafety-rst attitude remains arare one in occupations likefarming, where time is shortand the list of must-do jobs islong.Shaver gets that. He wasnever fond of safety ocials.“My attitude was: We don’thave time for this.”It’s not that he didn’t takesafety seriously; it was hedidn’t respect the peopledelivering the message. Most,he says, never worked on therigs and their well-intentionedsafety protocols didn’t meshwith the real-world necessitiesof getting the job done.So every safety specialist heCapital IdeasGLENN CHEATERFarm Credit Canada enablesbusiness management skilldevelopment throughresources such as thiscolumn, and information andlearning events availableacross Canada.hazards of that work.“How many farmers dothat?” he asks. “They get soused to working with theirsons or wife or a couple ofhired guys, they gure theydon’t need to plan. But youdo and it’s not complicated.”A simple set of questionswill do, he says. Whatequipment will you be using?Is it in good shape and set upproperly? What are thetempting ‘shortcuts’ you needto avoid? “It’s called takingresponsibility and that needsto come from the farmer rst.If he doesn’t make it a priority,then who will?”Part of that is spendingmoney to make the workplacesafer – things like 80-foot-longaugers and overhead wires inthe yard are a poor mix – butit’s mostly about attitude,Shaver says.“It’s a myth that people getinto accidents because they’retrying to save time. It’sbecause they don’t think itwill happen to them.”But it will happen to somefarm families, and the bestchance of avoiding it is thefarm owner taking a fewminutes every day to think –and talk – about safety, saysShaver.“Whether you own the farmor you’re a farm hand, yourjob is not worth dying for,” hesays. “Take your time, think itthrough, and talk about whatcould go wrong before it doesgo wrong.”Thank you to Noble Tractorfor supporting4-H and forbuying mysteer!Ashleigh RingdallTRACTOR & EQUIPMENT LTD.NOBLEJULY 11 . 2015Jack Noble, Elaine Noble and AshleighCLOSER CUTTING, FASTER DRYDOWN.The Discbine® 313 and Discbine® 316 center-pivot disc mower-conditioners feature cleaner cutting, more effi cient crop fl ow, and smoother, more effective conditioning. The SMART design includes the new MowMax™ cutterbar and the WideDry™ conditioning system. Larger discs with heavier gears, bearings, and interconnecting shafts increase durability. While the conditioning module is 125 inches wide for consistent dry down, maximizing hay quality.• Larger discs cut closer with less cutterbar tilt• ShockPRO™ disc drive hubs absorb impact before damage can occur• Exclusive 3-year MowMax™ II cutterbar warranty protection• Widedry™ conditioning systems are 22% wider than previous models• Your choice of chevron rubber rolls, chevron steel rolls or LeaningEdge™ fl ails© 2014 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affi liates.MachineryLimitedROLLINSRCHILLIWACK • 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Road West • 604.792.1301LANGLEY • 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Avenue • 604.533.0048
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 23s&IELDTESTEDTILLAGEEQUIPMENTs-ODELHAS/ILBATHBACKTOBACKTAPEREDROLLERBEARINGSMOUNTEDINHEAVYDUCTILECASTHOUSINGCW$UOCONESEALS"EARINGSOPERATEINA7GEAROILFORCONSTANTLUBRICATIONsvXvNOTCHEDDISCBLADESFRONTANDREARvSPACINGsvHEATTREATEDALLOYSTEELGANGSHAFTSs,XvPLY(WYIMPTIRESONBOLTHUBSsvXvHYDRAULICCYLINDERGROUPHOSESTIPSDEPTHSEGMENTSs3INGLE7IDTHSs$OUBLE7IDE#3, 7491 - 49 Ave., Red Deer, AB. T4P 1N11-888-500-2646 403-347-2646www.kelloughent.comSeries 225Single and Doublewide Offset DiscSINGLE OFFSET DISCNow available from ROLLINS MACHINERY CHILLIWACK | LANGLEYCALL FOR AN ESTIMATELARRY604.209.5523TROY604.209.5524TRI-WAYFARMSLASER LEVELLING LTD.IMPROVEDDRAINAGEUNIFORMGERMINATIONUNIFORMIRRIGATIONFAST,ACCURATESURVEYINGINCREASECROPYIELDS Growers looking to capitalize on the growing demandfor Island barley will need to meet specic quality targets. “Not all barleys are created equal,” says Phillips Brewingmaltster Rob Leidl. “It needs to be a malting barley variety.You can’t take a feed variety and turn it into maltingbarley.”“There are two row and six row varieties of barley andwe are interested in two row,” explains Leidl. “Somevarieties are better suited to the west coast – Metcalfe,Copeland, Bentley (an up and comer that’s doing verywell), and Newdale. Those are the heavy hitters at themoment.” In order to make the malt barley standard, Phillipsrequires a 95% germination rate, and protein under 12.5%.Moisture is another item of concern, particularly on thecoast. Harvest moisture needs to be 13% or less forstorage purposes.Growers are encouraged to contact Rob Leidl at Phillipsif they have any questions, or would like moreinformation.Finding malt barley’s sweet spotLocal demand sparks Island grain revivalby TAMARA LEIGHSAANICH – Investmentfrom two major processors onVancouver Island is fuelling arevival in the local grainmarket. “On Vancouver Island,there’s an inux of combinesand infrastructure,” saysSaanich grain grower BryceRashleigh. “We have a brewerythat’s huge in craft beer and abakery that’s substantial, andthere’s not enough grainbeing grown on the Island tosupply these markets.”Victoria’s Phillips Brewinghas just completed theinstallation andcommissioning of a barleymalting plant with thecapacity to process 1300 to1400 metric tons per year.They are the rst craft breweryin BC to move into malting, anindustry that is dominated bythree major players acrossNorth America.“For Phillips, it’s abouttaking the Island barley, valueadding, making malt andturning it into a beer,” saysPhillips’ maltster Rob Leidl.“Phillips is very sensitive towhere we t in thecommunity on VancouverIsland – doing everything inour power to be a part of thatcommunity, now agriculture.“Without the farmers, wedon’t exist.”With the malting programin its infancy, Phillips isworking with three growerson Vancouver Island,including Rashleigh, to supplylocal barley. As the operationmoves towards full capacity,they are going to be lookingfor more Island barley growersto meet the demand.“We’re drawing on our localguys rst, and the remaindercomes out of other traditionalbarley growing regions of BC,like the Peace country,” saysLeidl. “In the long term,Phillips Brewing is going to bea local buyer of maltingbarley. For farmerscontemplating another cropoption, barley is another grainthat they can bring into theirrotation.”Beyond barley, Victoria-based Portono Bakery islooking to expand their Island-sourced oerings. Thecompany makes two productsthat cater to demand for localproducts, a Vancouver IslandWholegrain Batard and aVancouver Island Harvest Panloaf. While local products onlyaccount for 10% of Portono’stotal production, demand hascontinued to increase. Whatstarted with 3,000 loaves permonth in 2013 is expected toreach 16,000 loaves permonth in 2016. In order tobring down costs andencourage expansion of thelocal product lines, Portonoinvested $25,000 to build theirown mill and bulk grainstorage facilities. “This allowed us to dropthe price on the shelf from$5.50 to $4.99 and helped thesales volume immensely,” saysIan Fatt, one of the owners ofPortono Bakery. “The hold upfor the next couple of years isgoing to be supply. We will belooking for growers for nextyear. As soon as I’m sure wehave a guaranteed supply, wewill be adding new products.”Rashleigh has beenworking with growers in hisarea to help meet the growingdemand. “We’ll never be like thePrairie grain belt but there’s ahuge interest in localproducts,” observes Rashleigh.“There’s denitely interest ingrain production but it’s not asuper lucrative crop liketomatoes, strawberries orvegetables. There’s anopportunity for bulb growers,dairy guys and vegetableproducers to put grain backinto the rotation.”“Farmers have to gettogether and work it out. Ifyou put value into it, it’s a veryvaluable crop,” he adds.“There’s just not enough grainto supply these markets. Icould have easily had threetimes as many acres plantedlast year and sold it all.”“Without the farmers,we donʼt exist.”Phillipsʼ Brewerymaltster Rob LeidlIsland growers can’t keep up with the demand for locally grown barley, and oating the idea that areafarmers should be considering adding it to their crop rotation. (Photo courtesy of Bryce Rashleigh)CIDC Check-offBCID Fund9WorkBeef atCheck-offCheck-offCIDC 9Ch9f9heck-of9at9W9Beef 9ork9WoFundCI-D FundBCID Producer Check-Off Supports Beef Industry Projects.www.cattlefund.net | 1-877-688-2333
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Stories by TAMARA LEIGHABBOTSFORD – A newadaptation plan outlines thepriority impact areas and aseries of strategies to increasethe resilience of the FraserValley agriculture sector in achanging climate. The BC Agriculture andFood Climate Action Initiative(CAI) led the process, bringingagricultural producerstogether with the Fraser ValleyRegional District, localgovernments and provincialagencies to identifycollaborative solutions andpriority actions to adapt to thechallenges facing the sector.The implementation ofpriority actions will besupported by a $300,000investment from the federaland provincial governmentsthrough Growing Forward 2, afederal-provincial-territorialinitiative.“The potential impacts ofclimate change on our sectorare too great to take a waitand see approach. We need tobe proactively addressingthese issues if our sector isgoing to be able to continueto supply good, safe, qualityproduct to local andinternational markets,” saysJason Smith, chair of the BCBlueberry Council.Climate models show thatthe Fraser Valley will facemore extended hot and dryperiods in the summer thatwill reduce the supply ofwater and increase demandson irrigation. Increasedprecipitation and extremerainfall, particularly in springand fall, will increase the risksof site specic ooding andchallenges managing runo.Changes to temperature,precipitation patterns andother factors are alsoexpected to increase the riskof large oods on the FraserRiver. “With so much agricultureon the oodplain, managingood risk and changes to thefreshet season is a highpriority. Even when it doesn’tood, high water levels canaect our ability to get intothe elds to manage andharvest crops or causedamage to infrastructure likedikes,” says Smith. “On theother end, low snow pack andextended dry spells canreduce water levels when weneed it to irrigate, andextreme heat can damagecrops. All of these things comeinto play, and need to beaddressed.”WeedsOther climate changerelated stressors in the FraserValley include changes to thedistribution and number ofpests like insects, weeds anddiseases, impacts on pollinatorpopulation health, and greaterfrequency and intensity ofextreme heat events. “Agriculture is such animportant part of the FraserValley’s economy. The time foraction is now on the importantissues of water supply andood risk.The agriculturesector has identied key areasthat require immediateattention, and we hope thatthese strategies will see seniorlevels of government committo protecting our communitiesand economy for the longterm,” says Sharon Gaetz, chairof the Fraser Valley RegionalDistrict.”Jason SmithCountry Life in BC • September 201526Climate adaptation strategy released for Fraser ValleyAs the action plan isimplemented, results ofprojects will be sharedregionally with the intent tobring new informationresources, tools and practicesinto use across the province.“The development andimplementation of strategiesis key to improving theresilience of one of Canada’smost productive growingregions,” says federalagriculture minister Gerry Ritz.“This will uphold ourcommitment to supplyingsafe and quality products tolocal and internationalmarkets, while sustaininggrowth and competiveness.”Climate adaptationprogramming is part of the BCMinistry of Agriculture’songoing commitment toclimate change adaptation inthe agriculture sector whileenhancing sustainability,growth, and competitiveness. “The BC government isfunding projects to helpfarmers and the agriculturesector prepare for and adaptto climate change andextreme weather events.British Columbians arecurrently facing extremeconditions, with forest resand drought conditions inmany BC communities,” saysBC Minister of AgricultureNorm Letnick. “The results ofthe work and co-operation ofall partners involved in theClimate Action Initiative ishelping to build a resilientagriculture sector\ and BCfood security for the future.” The Fraser Valley RegionalAdaptation Strategies report isavailable online through theBC Agriculture and FoodClimate Action Initiativewebsite[http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/adapt/regional-strategies/].VICTORIA – The deadline for written submissions forBC’s new climate action plan has been extended toSeptember 14. The extension comes in response torequests from many groups who would like additionaltime to prepare more comprehensive submissions.The province launched a 30-day public consultationlast month on the development of a new ClimateLeadership Plan. A discussion paper, along with a survey,is available at [www.engage.gov.bc.ca/climateleadership].British Columbians will have a second opportunity toprovide input once the Climate Leadership Team hasreviewed this round of public feedback and maderecommendations to government. The province plans torelease a draft Climate Leadership Plan in December 2015on which the public can provide comment for specicpolicies and actions proposed.The nal Climate Leadership Plan will be released bygovernment in March 2016.Deadline extended forwritten input on climate plan1-888-770-7333BILLAWMACKCOVER CROPS?ONE, TWO & THREE YEARSUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE. 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September 2015 • Country Life in BC 27Beer and chocolate – what’s not to like?With Christmas creepingover the horizon, what’s thecommon denominator thatlinks the best loved avours –beer and chocolate – of theseason? Yeast! Researchers have found away to improve cacaofermentation by controllingthe microbes involved. In theprocess, Belgian researchersfound that the same speciesof yeast used to make beer,bread and wine works verywell for chocolate.Chocolate comes from theseeds of the cacao tree. Whileit is native to Central America,it was transplanted to WestAfrica in 1824 by thePortuguese where Coted’Ivoire and Ghana producenearly half the world’s cacaobeans today. Pollinating midgesThe tree produces tinyowers along its trunk thatare pollinated by midges.Each ower then produces alarge pod containing up to 40bitter seeds (or beans)embedded in a white, sweet,sticky pulp made up ofsugars, proteins, water andpectin. To get to the chocolateavour, the beans must befermented, dried and roasted.As soon as the cacao beansare harvested, they are put inwooden boxes or piled on theground right at the farm.Microbes then get to workconsuming that sticky pulpthrough fermentation. Controlling thefermentation process is thevery basis for making greatchocolate. Under the naturalprocess, dierences inmicrobes at dierent farmscan lead to a wide range ofavours and quality. Butaccording to KevinVerstrepen, professor ofgenetics and genomics at theUniversity of Leuven and theFlanders Institute forBiotechnology in Belgium,some microbes produce badaromas leaving chocolatebeans with a foul taste whileothers do not fully consumethe pulp leaving beans thatare dicult to process. Best microbes“We were looking to nd ordevelop the best microbesthat result in the bestchocolate," he says. The ideawas that those targetedmicrobes could be addedright at the outset offermentation hoping theywould out-compete theundesirable microbes thusensuring a consistent highquality.It was, though, a tougherchallenge than expected. Theresearchers characterizedover 1,000 strains of themicrobe Saccharomycescerevisiae. They were mostlyfrom the alcoholic beverageindustry. Some came from thecacao farms where there weresome ideal microbes butothers with a great tastingtrack record camefrom the beer, wine,bioethanol and sakeindustries. Desirablemicrobes needed towithstandfermentationtemperatures up to 50degrees C. Taking a cue from otheragricultural sectors, theresearchers then cross-bredsome of the microbial yeaststrains to produce superiorhybrids."The rationale behind thisapproach is identical tobreeding strategies inagriculture: crossing optimalstrains can generate superiorospring," says co-author JanSteensels, group leader forindustrial research and PhDstudent at the FlandersInstitute for Biotechnology. Crossing yeasts to makebetter yeast is technically a lotmore challenging thancrossing plants or cattle. Yeastis a microscopic fungus madeup of single oval cells thatreproduce by budding andwhich convert sugar intoalcohol and carbon dioxide.Getting that desirable hybridrequired some highlyaccurate microscopy,Verstrepen says. Different flavours“Chemical analyses, as wellas tasting the chocolate,showed that the chocolateproduced with our bestyeasts is much better andmore consistent than thechocolate produced throughnatural fermentation," saysVerstrepen. "Moreover,dierent yeasts yieldeddierent chocolate avors,indicating that it would bepossible to create a wholerange of specialty chocolatesto match everyone's favouriteavour."Testing the hybrids on thecacao farms required not onlythe fermenting process butthe production of chocolatefor taste testing by theprestigious Barry CallebautGroup, a world producer ofhigh quality chocolate andcocoa and leader in fosteringsustainable farming practiceson cocoa farms. It wasn’t hardto nd some very eager tastetesters. And the panel votedin a single voice for chocolatefermented by the new hybridyeast strains.Barry Callebaut is planningcommercial production of arange of specialty chocolatesusing some of the new yeaststrains.The research was publishedin Applied and EnvironmentalMicrobiology, a publication ofthe American Society forMicrobiology. 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Country Life in BC • September 201528Squairs of Squaw Valley Ranch corral nat’l stewardship honoursby DAVID SCHMIDTWINNIPEG – Squaw Valley Ranch of Lumbynot only has one of the best environmentalstewardship records in this province but in allof Canada.In May, Darrel, Doris, Travis and Katie Squairof Squaw Valley Ranch were named co-winners of this year’s BC Cattlemen’sAssociation Environmental StewardshipAward. They followed that up by receiving the2015 Environmental Stewardship Award fromthe Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. TheCCA has been presenting its environmentalaward to recognize outstanding stewardshipeorts of Canadian beef producers since 1996.Each year, its winner is chosen from all of thatyear’s provincial award winners. “We’re very honoured to be chosen for thisaward. We would like to thank everyone andespecially the other provincial TESA nomineesfor their continued work towardsenvironmental stewardship,” Darrel said inaccepting the award during the CCA’s semi-annual meeting in Winnipeg, August 14. “Ahealthy environment is a sustainableenvironment that everyone will be able toenjoy today as well as for future generations.” “The Squairs have shown their rmcommitment to environmental stewardship,doing an excellent job in caring for the landand co-existing with wildlife,” CCAEnvironment Committee chair Bob Lowe said. He noted Squaw Valley has completedEnvironmental Farm Plans for two theirproperties, one of the rst ranches in theirarea to do so. They’re also committed to co-existing with grizzlies and other wildlife,implementing a no-hunting philosophy ontheir private land. A 500 head cow-calf operation, SquawValley Ranch includes 2,800 acres of privateland, 700 acres of leased land, a 1,300 acrewoodlot and thousands of acres of sub-alpineCrown range. The ranch is powered by its owncustom-designed hydro-electric dam.Feed shortages may result in herd reductions this fallby CAM FORTEMSKAMLOOPS – A continuingdrought in the SouthernInterior is forcing ranchers tobring cattle to market early.More than double thenumber of cattle wentthrough the mid-Augustauction at BC LivestockProducers Co-operativeAssociation in Kamloopscompared to the same weeklast year.“I’ve got some guysrunning out of pasture,” saidauctioneer Wayne Jordan. “Forothers, drinking water forlivestock is an issue.”The federal governmentannounced measures thissummer encouragingranchers to reduce their cattlenumbers in wake of thedrought across WesternCanada. The program alsoallows ranchers to move someof the resulting income tonext year.Barriere rancher Ed Sallesaid the dry conditions areweighing on all operations.“In our area of the NorthThompson, it’s a little less dry.It’s a wait and see.”If conditions don’t improve,Salle predicted many rancherswill bring cattle to marketearly or choose not to holdanimals over winter due toshortages of feed.“The problem is you can’tnd feed even if you have themoney to buy it.”Less weight = less revenueBringing cattle to market insummer rather than fall willresult in less weight and,therefore, less revenue forranchers. Osetting thatreality is prices that continueto climb.Jordan said prices given toranchers by cattle buyers, whowill send animals to Albertafeedlots and then toslaughterhouses, are uproughly 20% over 2014 – arecord-setting year itself.“Prices are still strong.Strength in the US dollar reallyhelps.”Steve Rice, a farmer anddirector with Thompson-Nicola Regional District, saidthe Nicola River near SpencesBridge is ankle-deep andbarely covered his intake.“It’s the lowest I’ve seen inthe 15 years I’ve been farminghere. It’s scary.”The Thompson-NicolaRegional District (TNRD) hasdeclared a Level 4 drought,the highest, in parts of theNicola Valley and in theSpences Bridge and FraserCanyon areas.Closer to home, at ChaseCreek, agricultural users areon an odd-even day system,similar to that used inmunicipalities, includingKamloops.“We’re saving up to 50% ofthe water,” said Peter Murray,who operates a corn farmwest of Chase and is a trusteeon the Chase IrrigationDistrict.Most of BC is amid Level 3or 4 drought conditions, withriver levels and temperaturestypically recorded in July thatare typically seen in lateAugust.While ranchers are largelycoping so far, BC Cattlemen’sAssociation general managerKevin Boon said the droughtwill likely curb any growth inthe provincial herd. Whilecattle prices are againreaching new highs, lack ofrange and feed makeexpansion dicult.Stressed grassRangeland grasses arestressed from lack of moistureand, particularly, sustainedhigh temperatures.The likelihood is rancherswill have to supplement theirlivestock with outside feedwhen Crown grazing endsprematurely.“They’d be dipping intotheir winter feed,” Boon said.There is also the spectresome ranches may have theirwater licences restricted if hot,dry weather continues.“If we can’t aord hay andfeed, we’ll have no otheroption but to sell . . . This is atthe same time we’re trying togrow our herd,” Boon said.Can VBP is a trusted national producer-driven program to verify on-farm food safety practices. Being part of this program demonstrates that you are following industry-sanctioned standards. New to VBP: biosecurity resources and workshops. Both are simple, practical and field proven. Contact us today to learn more about this opportunity. Helping build trust through responsible food production. Canada’s Verified Beef Production Program Ph: 1-866-398-2848 Email: VBP@cattlemen.bc.ca www.cattlemen.bc.ca/vbp.htm National winners! Doris and Travis Squair of Squaw Valley Ranch inLumby received the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’senvironmental stewardship award. (Photo courtesy of CCA)MONDAYS 11 AM STARTSLAUGHTER, FEEDER & MISC LIVESTOCKWEDNESDAYS 1 PM START DAIRY & SLAUGHTERMONDAY, SEPT 14MONDAY, SEPT 28MONDAY, OCTOBER 19YOUR COMPLETE MARKETING OUTLETABBOTSFORD • 604/864-2381 • 604/855-7895FEEDER SALESMcCLARYSTOCKYARDS LTD.BC’s best cow market for over 40 years!34559 MCCLARY AVENUE . ABBOTSFORD
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 29When it comes toweather, be carefulwhat you wish forSometimes you get morethan what you wish for! I havebeen hoping for a slightchange in the weather for awhile now as weeks ofexcessive heat have wreakedhavoc with my sleep patterns.It seems, however, I’ve prayedtoo fervently as we went fromfurnace to deep freezeovernight. From an afternoonhigh of 28-30 degrees Celsius,we had dipped down (brrr..)enough to enable frost toform on the alfalfa by the verynext morning. That was overkill for myweather change request (inmore ways than one) so Iapologize for the frost and forthe snow elsewhere (like LakeLouise and other parts ofAlberta). I denitely wasdelivered an abnormal andunusual, unseasonable low. As one drives through thecountryside in the Caribooviewing roadside pastures andgrasslands, the droughtsituation is readily apparent,even to the normally oblivioustravelling public. For thosewho venture o pavement (bycar or on foot), the situation ismade more real as they arebombarded by grasshoppersand the grassland cracklesand crunches underfoot. Thedrought is reality. Smokers shouldn’t be letout (sorry, to my smokingacquaintances), at least notwithout a watch dog or akeeper. It is almost impossibleto believe the level ofstupidity which allows anysmoker to continue to believeit’s okay to toss butts to theroadside. What form will theirapology take to a Rock Creekhome-owner who has losteverything? “Sorry, but Ithought the butt was out!” Noamount of remorse can re-build or replace personalbelongings drenched inmemories.In the beef industry, theups and downs are about aspredictable as the weather.You’d think, with the highcattle prices and thecontinuing demand forproduct, that everyoneinvolved in the industrywould be happy. Not so.There are about 400unhappy workers at theTyson Fresh beefpacking plant inDennison, Iowa, wherethe cattle shortage was citedas the reason for immediateclosure of the operation. (Theby-product rendering sectioncontinues to operate.) Nodoubt, it’s a huge blow tomany (likely multi-generational for a fewfamilies) as the plant had beenin place since 1961. It wasonce the rst Iowa BeefPackers (IBP) operation(acquired by Tyson in 2001).Tight supply? Have youever wondered where theworld’s meat comes from? Thefollowing percentages andtonnages are from the USDepartment of Agricultureand the Food and AgricultureOrganization (FAO): UnitedStates, 18% (11-12 millionton); Brazil, 16.8% (9.9 m);European Union, 13% (10 m);Mainland China, 9.8% (5 m);Africa, 8.6% (5.5 m); India,6.8% (3.9 m); Argentina, 4.7%(2.8 m); Australia, 3.3% (2.1 m);Russia, 2.5% (1.6 m); rest-of-world, 13% (10 million ton). Going forward, this quotefrom an online forum[www.thebeefsite.com]typies the position beefproducers nd themselves in:“The beef sector is faced witha dilemma of reducing eachanimal’s environmental farm-to-fork ‘hoof-print,’ whileBCBFA BC BREEDER & FEEDER ASSOCIATIONAPP (ADVANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM) FOR BC PRODUCERSFEEDER ASSOCIATIONS LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM •BRED HEIFER ASSOCIATIONS LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAMFinancing for feeder cattle, sheep and bred heifers/cows is available throughout B.C. from Co-operative Feeder and Bred Heifer Associations. The Province provides a loan guarantee to the Association’s lender. All persons are eligible who reside in British Columbia, are at least 19 years ofage and own or lease a farm or ranch. Financing for feeders is for a one year term. Financing for bred heifers/cows is over a 5 year term.Cattlemen, please contact your local association:FOR INFORMATION CONTACTBCBFA BC BREEDER & FEEDER ASSOCIATIONLINDY GILSON, 5641 BASTIN ROAD, QUESNEL, BC, V2J 6R1Phone: 250-992-8483• Fax: 250-992-8489 email: bearvlly@telus.netADVANTAGES TO THE LIVESTOCK PRODUCER• Reliable source of credit available on short notice from the Association• Interest rate is competitive or better than on an individual basis• 5% deposit on feeders & 10% deposit on bred heifers allows producersto continue during periods of limited cash flow• The association is controlled by the members • Livestock mortality insuranceB.C. Cattle Industry Development Council Partner“Producers Working for Producers”Cariboo Bred Heifer CooperativeCariboo-Chilcotin Cooperative Feeders AssocFraser Nechako Bred Heifer Cooperative AssocQuesnel Cooperative Feeders AssocSecretary Lindy Gilson, QuesnelPh 250/992-8483 • Fax 250/992-8489 Ph 250/991-8413email: bearvlly@telus.netCentral Interior Feeders Cooperative AssocSecretary: Audrey Cooper,VanderhoofPh 250/567-2049• Fax 250/567-9049 email: cifcasecretary@uniserve.comOkanagan Feeders Cooperative AssociationSecretary: Michele Lypchuk, ArmstrongTel 250/546-2638 • Fax 250/546-8037 email: ml@rhllp.caLakes Feeders Cooperative AssocLakes Bred Heifer CooperativeSecretary: Mary McEntire, Burns Lake Ph 250/694-3653 • Fax 250/694-3653 email: smcentire@lakescom.netNorth Peace B.C. Feeder CooperativeNorth Peace B.C. Bred Heifer Cooperative AssocSouth Peace Feeder CooperativeSouth Peace B.C. Bred Heifer Cooperative AssocSecretary: Connie Patterson, Dawson CreekPh 250/782-6272 • Fax 250/782-1881 Ph 250/219-0791email: pcc@neonet.bc.caTHE ADVANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL BC PRODUCERS.Producers can apply for an advance on calves, yearlings, lambs, bison, forage and grain up to $400,000.00 with the first $100,000.00being interest free. Plus, interest relief through the Advance Payments Program is available to association members on their feedercattle purchases. Application forms are available at www.bcbfa.ca or by contacting your local association or the BCBFA office.CIDC Check-offBCID Fund9WorkBeef atCheck-offCheck-offCIDC 9Ch9f9heck-of9at9W9Beef 9ork9WoFundCI-D FundBCID Market MusingsLIZ TWANItʼs yourbusiness.And you need to keep up dateon the news and events that affect youand your farm operation.Itʼs what we have been doingfor over a century!Subscribe today!ONE, TWO & THREE YEARSUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE. 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production by 1.75% per yearand it’s only increasing about1.5%,” Bergen pointed out.More demand coming“You’re producing aproduct which will see moredemand than ever before inhistory,” added GlobalAgritrends chief executiveocer Brett Stuart ofColorado. “In the next 10years, we will need 27 millionmore tons of poultry, 14million more tons of pork and9 million more tons of beef.”That increase will have tocome despite consumerdemands that food beproduced without antibioticsand with increasedenvironmental sustainabilityand animal welfare (as denedby the urbanites).“That impacts how feedlotswill operate which in turnimpacts how cow/calfproducers will have toSeptember 2015 • Country Life in BC 31by DAVID SCHMIDTMERRITT – While April 22was proclaimed as “Earth Day”around the globe, Montanalogger and resource industryactivist Bruce Vincent says“every day is an earth day for arancher and a logger.” That,however, is not wellunderstood, if at all, by theurbanites who stand atattention during Earth Day.“They have no idea aboutthe issues you wrestle withevery day,” he told ranchers atthe BC Cattlemen’sAssociation education day inMerritt in May.The aim of the educationday was to look at “the longgame,” conference chair JohnAnderson told the well-attended event. What dotoday’s record high land andcattle prices mean forranching 10 and 20 years fromnow? What about increasinglysti environmental and otherregulations? Will there still bean industry for young peopleto participate in?Not if the industrycontinues to shrink.Numbers fallingThe number of cattle andcalf farms in Canada hasdropped from about 700,000at the start of World War II toless than 100,000 in 2011,noted Dr. Murray Jelinski, thechair of beef health andproduction medicine at theUniversity of SaskatchewanWestern College of VeterinaryMedicine. “The number ofcow-calf producers dropped25% between 2006 and 2011and we expect to lose at least40% more of our producers by2021.”It could be even more ifenvironmentalists and animalrights activists are allowed torule the day. “Consumers willincreasingly become drivers offood animal production,”Jelinski said. That could spell trouble,Vincent said. “(Urbanites) lackof information is fertile groundfor people marketing fear. IfCattle activists sayindustry must battleurban ignoranceOn the moveThe parade of green stretched nearly a mile long August 21, as sta and clients of PrairieCoastEquipment helped move the rolling inventory from the Abbotsford store on Sumas Way to PCE’snew digs on Progress Way in Chilliwack. The route took them briey on to Hwy 1. The new storeis now open for business. (Photo courtesy of PCE)Paid in part byMark Driediger, CFP, Senior Wealth AdvisorAssante Financial Management Ltd.101 – 33386 South, Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2B5 (604) 859-4890 | www.MarkDriediger.comInsurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc. United Financial is a division of CI Private Counsel LP. 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Your Future.Succession Expertise for Generations SEPTEMBER 19, 2015OCTOBER 3, 2015 Ranch Equipmenipment Auction Ranch Equipment Auction Sale Dave Daku, Kelowna Ranch Equipment Auction Sale Cheryl Moore, Lone Butte OCTOBER 3, 2015 Ranch Equipment Auction Sale Dave Daku, Kelowna SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 Ranch Equipment Auction Sale Cheryl Moore, Lone Butte OCTOBER 3, 2015SEPTEMBER 19, 2015 OK FALL’S WILLIAMS LAKE KAMLOOPS VANDERHOOF YAngus Special thOctober 26th*October 5, 19, 26thSeptember 14’SALLL’OK F earling SaleYSpecial Calf &thSeptember 29th*Sept. 1, 15, 22, 29KAMLOOPS2630Sept. 10, 17, 24, 26*, 30WILLIAMS LAKE phO b 7142128hednesdayshCALF SALES WInvitational Female Sale HugePacific gith26Sale Calf & thSept. 10, 17, 24, 26*, 3030th*WILLIAMS LAKE PRESORT CALF SALESthOctober 2, 16, 30REGULAR SALESSeptember 11, 18, 25ANDERHOOFVVAednesdays PRESORT CALF SALESthSeptember 11, 18, 25 Influence Calf SaleAngus Special thOctober 6, 13, 20, 27 October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29thREGULAR & CALF ThursdaOb hOctober 7, 14, 21, 28th rdOctober 9, 23PRESORT CALF SALESREGULAR & CALF Thursdays PRESORT CALF SALESLivestock sales listings and photos online at www.bclivestock.bc.caKevin Johnson 250.961.1970 Ranch Equipment Auction Sale • Cheryl Moore, Lone Bute SEPTEMBER 19Ranch Equipment Auction Sale • Dave Daku, Kelowna OCTOBER 3Please see “VALUE” page 32Bruce Vincentwe want to x things, we haveto tackle the real problem:ignorance.”To do that, Vincent saidproducers must “humanize”their message to the public.“Society doesn’t trust industrybut they trust individuals.” Beef Cattle ResearchCouncil science directorReynold Bergen of Albertaboth balanced and secondedJelinski and Vincent’swarnings. He noted globalpopulation is expected toreach 20 billion by 2050 whichwill require much more foodthan is now being produced.“We need to increase
Country Life in BC • September 201532VALUE CHAIN From page 31Grindrod dairy family invests in their futureby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – What doyou do when you have maxedout your facilities but your sonstill wants to farm? “We could sell, stay put orinvest in the future,” John deDood of Sunninghill Holsteinsin Grindrod told BC FarmWriters, July 19.The de Doods chose the lastoption: invest in the future.Last fall, the family startedbuilding a new dairy barn on anew 65-acre farm justkilometers from their 70-acrehome farm. Instead of aparlour, the new barn wasbuilt around two Lely roboticmilkers – enough to easilyhandle their 90-cow milkingherd.The barn is designed tomaximize cow comfort. Stallsfor close-up cows are 50inches wide while those forthe milking herd are 48 incheswide. Dividers are made ofhigh-density polypropylenepipe instead of steel and thereare no lunge bars.As a result, “cows never hurtthemselves in the stalls,” deDood says.A Lely robotic feed pusherensures feed is always withinreach and rubber mats makesure cows stand comfortablywhile feeding. Manurehandling equipment wasselected to handle sandbedding as the de Doodsprefer the health benets ofsand.Calves initially suckle theirmothers but almostimmediately go into a grouppen with an automatic feeder.Although they currently usemilk replacer, the system willallow the robots to divert milkdirectly to it. De Dood believesit is hugely improves calf-rearing, noting “you neverhear a calf crying in the barn.”Although the new barnalready represents a 180° shiftfrom their old barn, the deDoods biggest innovation isstill mostly on the drawingboard. The family has decidedto take advantage of theirprominent location alongHighway 97A by opening a“gloried farmers’ market” inthe barn. Now just an openspace at the front, Johnenvisions the day it will bestocked with milk, ice creamand a wide selection of localfood, all while givingcustomers a chance to see thedairy barn in operationthrough large strategically-placed windows.“Farmers are beingencouraged to diversify andthat’s exactly what I’m doinghere,” John says.Once the market opens, heexpects his son Curtis tobecome the prime operator ofthe dairy while he and his wife,June, focus on the store.De Dood is nancing theproject himself, saying he doesnot quite qualify for availablegovernment innovationfunding.“We would qualify for 9/10of the criteria but that last littlebit has been a stumblingblock.”He is also concerned aboutthe potential impact of ruleswhich require 50% of theproducts sold on-farm tocome from the farm.“I am looking at the co-opoption (part of the recently-announced new rules for theALR) as one way to managethis,” he says. A second level above thestore will provide meetingspace for local groups.“We really want this tobecome a communitygathering place.” www.bchereford.ca Aug 22 - Nechako Valley Exhibition, Hereford Mark Of Excellence Show, Vanderhoof, BC Sept 4 - BCHA AGM, Prestige Hotel & Conference Centre, Vernon, BC Sept 5 - IPE, Hereford Mark Of Excellence Show, Armstrong, BC Sept 12 - West Coast Hereford Club, Hereford Mark Of Excellence Show, Aldergove, BC Sept 17 - 20 - Richardson Ranch 6th Annual Online Sale, www.richardsonranch.ca Sept 26 - Pacific Invitational All Breed Female Sale, BC Livestock Co-op, Williams Lake, BC Oct 3 - Yellowhead Breeders Field Day at Copper-T Ranch, Fraser Lake, BC BCHA President: 604-582-3499 BCHA Secretary: 250-699-6466 Visit for details Happy cows. Happy life. And they’re about to become the star attraction at a farm market the deDood family is developing at the front of their new dairy barn in Grindrod. Strategically-placedwindows will give market customers a glimpse into the state-of-the-art dairy. (Cathy Glover photo)NAME ______________________________________OLD ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________PHONE ______________________________________NEW ADDRESS________________________________________________________________________________PHONE ______________________________________COUNTRYLifeCanada Post will notdeliver your Country Lifein B.C. if they change yourpostal code, your streetname and/or address.1120 East 13th AveVancouver V5T 2M1Phone 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003Email: countrylifeinbc@shaw.caSep 15MOVING?in BCThe Agricultural News Sourcein B.C. since 1915Lola!Four new weather stations have been added in the Nechako Region,as part of the BC Forage Council's forage demonstration project:“Demonstrating innovative forage production practices to increase climate change adaptation” • BRAESIDE • CARMEN HILL ROAD • FORT FRASER • SOUTHBENDoperate,” Bergen said.To meet the increaserequires information, researchand technology transfer.“We need to improve foragequality and improve nutritionand health so every cow has acalf every year for years,”Bergen said.Tackling consumerignorance through information-sharing is the aim of the VeriedSustainable Beef (VSB) programchampioned by CherieCopithorne-Barnes of Alberta,chair of the Canadian RoundTable for Sustainable Beef.“We are going to create theinfrastructure that deneswhat sustainable beef is,”Copithorne-Barnes said, tellingproducers VSB is intended tobe a beef value chain that is“environmentally sound,socially responsible andeconomically viable.”An outgrowth of the GlobalRoundtable for SustainableBeef, the program is“extremely universal in nature.”Copithorne-Barnes insists notone of its 72 criteria will be abarrier to Canadian producers.It is supported by McDonald’s(which is doing its sustainablebeef pilot in Canada) andWalmart, two of NorthAmerica’s largest foodmarketers.“People are looking for ‘feelgood’ beef and other food. Wehave to get used to it becauseit won’t go away,” Stuartinsisted.Copithorne-Barnes isoptimistic the VSB programwill soon be available. “I thinkwe will be the rst country inthe world to market
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 33Robotic milkers help easecow stress for Starlane Dairyby DAVID SCHMIDTABBOTSFORD – With thenumber of dairy farmsdecreasing every year, it isclear many farmers are exitingthe industry. Many simplyretire but some seek and ndgainful employmentelsewhere or invest in a newbusiness.But what if they can’t getthe dairy farm out of theirblood? That is the case forboth Tom Maljaars of StarlaneDairy and Bob Matzek ofWestar Holsteins, two stopson the annual BC Dairy FarmTour earlier this year.Maljaars used to farm withhis brother (their farm was onthe 2010 tour) but sold it sohis brother could become aminister. Maljaars went towork for Chinook DairyService but the lure ofdairying was just too great.Matzek was a long-timeherdsman for Meadow GoldFarms in Chilliwack but losthis job when the family quitdairying. He moved to Calgarywhere he became the ownerof a Ricky’s Restaurantfranchise. He missedChilliwack and dairying.Maljaars now milks 39 cowsin a brand new barn with aBoumatic robotic milker whileMatzek milks 50 cows in a newbarn with a DeLaval roboticmilker.“Except for the robot, I’mnot doing much dierent thanI did before. I use the sametype of alley scrapers andstalls we had at the otherfarm,” Maljaars says.He says putting in a robotwas a “tough choice” since heenjoyed milking but says itmeans he doesn’t have to getup as early nor work as muchon the weekend, bothimportant considerations.Having decided on roboticmilking, choosing to installthe rst Boumatic robot in theFraser Valley was an easierdecision. “I was familiar withBoumatic since I installed therst one in Alberta during mytraining with Chinook.”Unlike the more commonLely and DeLaval robots, theBoumatic attaches from theTom Maljaars of Starlane Dairy in Chilliwack stands by the rst Boumatic robot in the Fraser Valleyduring the BC Dairy Farm. (David Schmidt photo)rear, meaning the unit is openon both sides. This not onlyallows a full view of the cowwhile it’s being milked butallows cows to enter fromeither side.He says the airy barn andBoumatic milker ensure cowsaren’t stressed which in turnensures high production.“We were averaging 34-36kg per day on the old farmbut I now average 37 kg perday,” Maljaars says.While Maljaars onlyreturned to farming in thepast year, Matzek has beenback in the dairy business for11 years, the rst 10 onanother farm with olderfacilities. During that time, hewas also talked into taking onthe Chilliwack Ricky’sfranchise.“The old farm neededsubstantial upgrades and Ineeded a full-time worker,”Matzek says. He decided tomove to a new farm and buildnew facilities designed tomaximize cow comfort andairow and minimize labour.The design and especiallythe DeLaval robotic milkerhave dramatically reduced thelabour required. He has beenable to reduce his herd from67 to 50 milkers, eliminatedhis worker (his son helps out“intermittently”) and reducedthe time he needs to spend atthe farm.PACIFIC FORAGE BAG SUPPLY¾ #¶%.!!2 - serving Va ey, Delta and Vancouve Island -¢®¥:£¢%# 0 - serving the Interio - ¤®¢¢:¢:# $ - serving the Va ey and Richmond/Delta - ¢®¤¡:¤Let #¶%.!!2 help you make 2016 your best year yet. Our Thunder Seed grain and silage corn seed varieties deliver high quality results to maximize your yield potential. www.thunderseed.caCa no t lock in high yield today!S d that i.DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO FINDTHE THUNDER?
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September 2015 • Country Life in BC 35Kids and Jerseys go together. Nicole Tuytel of Elmbridge Farms in Chilliwack is all smiles as herdaughter, Jersey Princess Caitlyn Tuytel, holds Family Hill Ringmaster Money, the reserve champion ofthe Chilliwack Exhibition Jersey Show, August 8. Even more proud is Shane Thomson of Blue BellDairy in Chilliwack, as his daughter Layla led CBS I C A Buttery to the grand championship. Standingby with the trophy is judge Ryan Friesen of Saskatchewan. (David Schmidt photos)Gina Haambuckers of Enderby introduces seven-year-old Kylee toa Jersey calf during the Chilliwack Exhibition Jersey Show.by DAVID SCHMIDTCHILLIWACK – About adecade ago. the ChilliwackExhibition decided to add asmall Jersey show to theirsuccessful Open HolsteinDairy Show. In the ensuingyears, the Jersey show hasgrown, while numbers for theHolstein show dwindled.This year, there were so fewentries in the Holstein Show,the exhibitors asked the fair tocancel it. As a result, the OpenDairy Show became a Jersey-only show and wascompressed into a single day,August 7.Holstein breeders “need tolook in the mirror,” saysformer Chilliwack Exhibitionpresident Charlie Thomson ofRosedale.Thomson, who likely wouldhave participated in theHolstein show, not onlyparticipated in the Jerseyshow but came out on top, asjudge Ryan Friesen ofSaskatchewan selected hisfour-year-old, CBS I C AButtery, as the grandchampion of the show. Standing beside Butterywas another four-year-old,Family Hill Ringmaster Money,shown by Peter and NicoleTuytel of Elmbridge Farms inChilliwack. Like Thomson, theTuytels are well-knownHolstein breeders andexhibitors who recently addeda few Jerseys to their showherd. Their daughter, Caitlyn,also took on the role of Jerseyprincess for the show.Topping the junior JerseyChilliwack dairy show becomes Jersey-only showEligibility 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 DeadlineSeptember 30, 2015 for consideration for the 2016 construction year.NOW accepting applications for theProvincial Livestock Fencing Programalong travel corridorsProvincial Livestock Fencing Programclasses was another exhibitormore familiar to Holsteinbreeders than those in theJersey fraternity: WestcoastHolsteins. Westcoast earnedthe junior championship withtheir top intermediateyearling, Lookout G Peek-A-Boo.Earning the reserve juniorchampionship was DivineKonspiracy Cupcake, a seniorheifer shown by Ian and CarylLennox of Divine Jerseys inLangley.Although he did not earnany of the championships,Charlie’s son, Shane, of BlueBell Dairy in Rosedale, wasnamed the premier exhibitorof the show. However, sincemany of his animals are still aresult of his father’s breeding,CBS Jerseys was named theshow’s premier breeder.Also participating in theshow were the Haambuckersfamily of GloryboundHolsteins and Triple S Jerseysin Enderby.1-888-770-7333BILLAWMACKCOVER CROPS?Valley Auction Ltd., Armstrong BC Valley Auction Ltd., Armstrong BC VJV Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek BC VJV Dawson Creek, Dawson Creek BC B.C. Livestock Producers Co-Op Association, Kamloops BC B.C. 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Country Life in BC • September 201536TRU rounds up studentswith new ranching diplomaby PETER MITHAMKAMLOOPS – A new diploma program atthe Williams Lake campus of Thompson RiversUniversity is set to kick o in January 2016,giving ranch hands young and old a bettergrasp of what it takes to manage cattle frombirth to butcher.The program – ocially known as theSustainable Ranching Enterprise Diploma – isan applied learning program in sustainableranching that traces its roots to a 2013 series ofeld days Thompson Rivers University and theCariboo Cattlemens Association hostedfeaturing US rancher Jim Gerrish, aninternationally recognized expert on low-inputrange systems.“There was interest ingrass-nishing beef,” saysDavid Zirnhelt, chair ofthe industry advisoryboard that assisted in thedevelopment of the newprogram, and whoattended the eld daystwo years ago. “It wasabout keeping costsdown and producing aproduct with fewerinputs.”Approximately 30participants visited veranches and discussedgrazing systems, ranchimprovements andopportunities for makingcattle operations moreecient.“It was about gettingourselves skilled-up,”Zirnhelt says, noting theprogram was sosuccessful that additional sessions took placeand momentum for a more formalizedprogram grew.“The producers all said at the end, ‘We wantto do more of this;’ we want to work towardsbeing a centre of excellence for this type oflow-input, more sustainable ranching,” saysGillian (Jill) Watt, manager of programdevelopment for TRU.Thompson Rivers University, which hasfocused on serving local needs – for example,it established a new law school in 2011 with afocus on First Nations and sports law –embraced the idea. An applied learningprogram serving local needs complemented itsexisting focus on the beef industry throughthe BC Regional Innovation Chair in CattleIndustry Sustainability, held since 2008 by JohnChurch.Church leads a multi-disciplinary researchteam focussed on the sustainability andenhancement of the beef industry in all itsaspects.The result was the development of adiploma program that begins with twomandatory 12-week modules focused onSustainable Enterprise and EnvironmentalSustainability. A eld day will conclude eachunit within the modules.Students can then choose additionalmodules that suit their needs to round out theprogram; research projects will give studentsexperience in business planning andoperations management.“It’s a very dierent learning deliverysystem,” Watt explains. “From Sunday toThursday, the students will be on a ranch,somewhere – whether it’s their own ranch orthey can be billeted on a ranch somewhere inthe Cariboo-Chilcotin, … and they have fourhours a day, minimum, they need to put in onthe program, online. The other four hours aday they’re expected to be getting practicalexperience working on the ranch.”The curriculum has yet to be approved bythe university and the BC Ministry of AdvancedEducation, which has pledged $154,000towards the rst year of the program.However, with funding in place, approval isexpected to follow early this fall. Applicationswill be available once approval occurs.“We’re building this to be a destinationprogram for students from all over the world,”Watt says. “We’ve got unique ecosystems inthe Cariboo-Chilcotin region, and BC is verydiverse so it’s a great playground for educatingpeople because we’ve got all these dierentecosystems to look at and examine.”Zirnhelt, for his part, is glad the program willgive local ranchers a chance to develop a moreholistic understanding of their operations. Hisown 70-head operation is in transition and, ashe looks to the future, he feels the nextgeneration needs a rm grounding in all facetsof the ranch business, from forage to nishing.“There’s something like 10 to a dozenspecic enterprises within beef,” he says. “Thedanger is that you cross-subsidize from oneenterprise to the other. It’s okay, but youshould know it because you might not beecient at all phases of production, and allproducts. So it’s knowing your business andthen being able to think through what youneed to do to develop a business strategy foryour place.”Ranchers, who typically manage largeroperations in a more complex regulatoryenvironment, also tend to spend less time ateach others’ ranches than they used to do.Many older ranchers who attended the 2013eld series lamented that there wasn’t more ofthat, so that farmers could not only learn fromacademic experts, but each other.“Hopefully, with the university involved, wecan connect our on-farm research to theuniversity instruction,” Zirnhelt says. “Peopleshouldn’t have to go away from their homeregion to do that.”Grass-fed, ranch-nished cattle have been the cornerstone of ZirnheltRanch in Beaver Valley, in BC’s Cariboo. 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September 2015 • Country Life in BC 37OK project mentors new farmers while feeding the hungryby JUDIE STEEVESKELOWNA – If you haveexperience farming and areinterested in sharing whatyou’ve learned, BobMcCoubrey and his CentralOkanagan Community FarmSociety can help you out.On the other hand, ifyou’re interested in learningmore about farming with avision of becoming a farmeryourself or have farmlandyou’re not utilizing, theywould also like to hear fromyou.A retired orchardist fromLake Country, McCoubreyexplains the project took rootin discussions around thetable of the Central OkanaganFood Policy Council, whichdecided to create acommunity farm usingvolunteers to work the landand provide produce to localfood banks.It just seemed a good fit,he says, to also use thatenterprise as an incubatorfarm where new farmers,using shared equipment,could learn about growingand marketing food fromexperienced mentors.This year, the society hasestablished its firstcommunity farm in LakeCountry, adjacent to acommunity garden, on landowned and made availablefor the project by Paul andJudy Shoemaker.A half-acre plot of mixedvegetables has producedthousands of pounds of fresh,local food for area foodbanks, and there has beensome interest expressed bypeople in the community inthe concept of incubatorfarming.But before that idea cangrow and bear fruit, thesociety needs land, mentorsand new farmers.Each new farmer, whateverhis or her age, would have aplot of land on which to growtheir choice of crop, with theadvice of a mentor who hasexperience in farming and/orthe use of farm equipment, aswell as an interest in sharingthat knowledge.It could be someone who isretired or who is still farming,notes McCoubrey, and thetime commitment wouldvary. Questions couldsometimes just be answeredby phone, while other times apersonal meeting would beneeded, he explains.He envisions an incubatorfarm being an irrigated 10-acre farm with good soil,which could then be dividedinto plots for several newfarmers to try their hand atfarming with guidance fromthose with experience.Some equipment, such as atractor and disc, would beneeded for sharing.Each wouldfarm the plot for afew years,following theirmanagement planfor the farm andselling theproducethemselves. Then,they would needto make a decisionwhether or not farming is aviable occupation for them.If so, they’d have to find apiece of land and begin theirown enterprise.McCoubrey sold his smallorganic orchard four yearsago and moved to a propertywhere there was lots of workto do, but it’s not acommercial farm.He became involved in thefood policy council andstepped in to help when thetalk turned to farming, anarea where he had someexperience.First venture on this scaleHowever, he admits quitecandidly, this is his firstventure into mixed farmingon this scale, with 20 differentcommodities maturingthroughout the season.“It’s hard to keep track ofwhat’s ready,” he commentswith a grin, and they’relearning as they go, too. Forinstance, “We could haveplanted the two 280-footrows of beans closertogether,” he says.For irrigation, they usedtwo miles of drip tape, buthe’s not sure they’ll go thatroute again next year.In the meantime, as heplucks kale and picks beansand tomatoes under a bluesky, he says he loves to beoutdoors, getting someexercise and fresh air and “Ilove growing things.”If you are interested inmentoring, providing farmland in the Central Okanagan,or becoming a new farmer,contact he or other directorsof the society at[grow.feed.teach@gmail.com].Retired farmer Bob McCoubrey is lending his expertise to acommunity farm that is growing produce for the local foodbank.He’s also eshing out an idea to provide “incubator” farms toaspiring farmers. (Judie Steeves photo)Some equipment would be shared, allowing newcomers to give farming a tryThey would have tomake a decision whetheror not farming is a viableoccupation for them.Matsqui Ag-RepairAbbotsford, BC604-826-3281Noble Tractor & EquipmentArmstrong, BC250-546-3141Noble Tractor & EquipmentKamloops, BC250-851-3101Huber Farm EquipmentPrince George, BC250-560-5431MINIMIZE INPUT COSTS – MAXIMIZE YIELD POTENTIALKuhnNorthAmerica.comINVEST IN QUALITY®AXIS H-EMC-W PRECISION FERTILIZER SPREADEREMC Technology – ultra-precise measurement and automatic compensation for consistent application*[FTCWNKE&TKXGsOCZKOWOHWGNGHƂEKGPE[CPFUGEVKQPEQPVTQNECRCDKNKV[8CTKCDNG4CVG4GCF[sQPVJGIQCWVQOCVKETCVGCFLWUVOGPVDCUGFQPRTGUETKRVKQPHGTVKNK\GTOCRU42 – 141 cu. ft. capacities | 59' – 164' spreading widths | 2.7 – 446 lbs./ac. application*requires specific software to be enabled on virtual terminal
Country Life in BC • September 201538
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 39The sheep show atChilliwack Fair, August 7-9, washeralded by the rst drops ofwelcome rain that many of ushad seen in weeks. Brown, dry,parched grass is forecasting analmost certain shortage offorage this year that will havean inevitable eect on relatedhigh prices now and in thecoming winter. Only thosewith irrigation are in a betterposition.This did not diminish theenthusiasm of the many sheepbreeders present at the show.With about 21 exhibitors, 10breeds and 82 sheep plus a fairsized 4-H contingent, sheepseemed to be the bestrepresented group of all, withonly a smattering of cattle,llamas, goats and ponies,except in the display pens. A welcome new addition tothis show was Ian Brennan andhis family from Brenfold Farmat 100 Mile House. With thelate Pat Reid as his grandfather– so active in dairy cattle,sheep and shows in the latterhalf of the 20th century – hecan hardly be called new tothe business. He drove downwith his family and contingentof Suolks and was wellrewarded for his eorts with arst in every class entered.Kathy Hope, one ofLangleys 4-H leaders, wasenthusiastic about theinvolvement of 4-H'ers in theshow. Pen sale"The Chilliwack Fair oers alot of sheep showingexperience for the 4-Hmembers,” she writes. “Notonly do they have a chance toshow their own projects onthe Friday of the fair but theyare called upon to helpexhibitors on the Saturday atthe open sheep show. Havingthe opportunity to showpurebred sheep at the fairgives 4-H members the chanceto work with a variety ofdierent breeds.“By the end of the openshow, there were a fewtransfers of ownership as 4-Hmembers decided to take theplunge and purchase somepurebreds so they, too, canshow registered sheep at theopen show at next year's fair.”Symposium hosts speakersThe BC Sheep Federation ishaving a one day seminar onSaturday, October 3 at theGolden Ears Winter ClubSheep show boasts best livestock turnout at ChilliwackHigginson Southdowns was named Supreme Flock at the Chilliwack Fair’s sheep show last month. Aswell as supporting the show with their entries, the Higginson family is credited with running the show– not only setting up and taking down all the pens but hosting a BBQ and making sure all exhibitorsare being well taken care of. From left to right is judge John Fictorie, handlers Dylan Emmerick,Joseph Gallinger, Jamie Higginson, Lawrence Van der Peete and Bill Higginson. 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Speakers include Alberta-based livestock handling andanimal welfare specialistJennifer Woods who will speakabout putting the Code intopractice, sheepbehaviour andhandling. Corlena Pattersonwill speak aboutbiosecurity, food safefarm practices andtraceability. JeremyAyotte will oer a presentationon the wild sheep/domesticsheep separation project.Other speakers are also on theschedule. For moreinformation, visit[www.bcsheepfed.com]. Presentations will befollowed by a social anddinner. The seminar includeslunch and costs $60; dinner isextra. Contact Barb at 604-856-3365 by September 8,if possible, to register.Pen saleOn the same weekend, andat the same venue, the BCPurebred Sheep BreedersAssociation is holding a pensale for its members. It takesplace in the sheep barn at thefairgrounds, Sunday, October4 between 9:30 am and 4:30pm. A catalogue of animalsentered will be online at[www.bcsheep.com] orcontact Richard Herlinveaux at250-213-3078 or by email[rherlinv@uvic.ca] for moreinformation. BCPSBA is doingthe preliminary organizationonly and all sales will be byprivate treaty. Entries closeSeptember 20.• Please turn to page 47 forfull Chilliwack Sheep Showresults.Wool GatheringsJO SLEIGHOCTOBER 3, 2015Golden Ears Winter Club23580 – 105th Avenue, Maple RidgeSpeakers on topics of care, managementand marketing of BC lambREGISTRATION FEE: $60.00FOR MORE INFORMATION AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE:membership@bcsheepfed.comwww.bcsheepfed.comBC SHEEP FEDERATION AGM& SYMPOSIUM
Country Life in BC • September 201540by PETER MITHAMVERNON – Two years into his job asmanager of 4-H British Columbia, KevinRothwell has stepped down to overseecustomer care for Okanagan RestorationServices Ltd.“It was one of those hard-to-refusedeals,” Rothwell told Country Life in BC lastmonth, as he entered the final two weeksof his employment with the youth club’sprovincial council. “My backgroundstrengths really are in the marketing sideof things, so it’s really going back to whatI know best.”Rothwell – who had participated in 4-Has a kid in Saskatchewan – came to theprovincial council in 2013 after a quarter-century in broadcasting and nine yearswith the Better Business Council.Over the past two years, Rothwell hashelped reinvigorate the 4-H movement inBC. The organization marked a century ofyouth programming in the province lastyear, and now claims 2,330 members.Growth averaged 5% annually sinceRothwell joined, helped in part bycentennial activities as well as Rothwell’swork outside the office with individualclubs. “When they brought me on, theywanted to raise the profile of the programand attract more people to it, which wehave done,” he said. “The number of clubsis down, but the number of leaders andnumber of members has gone up.”The movement now claims 139 clubs inBC as well as 629 leaders.Fundraising events such as a golftournament and auction also help raisethe organization’s profile, and a new logounveiled by the national office this year isalso helping put a fresh face on anorganization that now includes arts andscience ventures alongside strictlyagricultural projects like beef and poultry.Rothwell will continue to serve 4-H in avolunteer capacity after his employmentends on August 23, and be available toassist the new manager during thetransition period.The council has launched a search for anew manager and one should be in placein the near future.One of the top orders of business forthe new hire will be developing a newstrategic plan for the council. Rothwelllaments not being able to see thatinitiative through to completion, but itscompletion under the new manager willset the stage of the movement’s futuregrowth.Rothwell, for his part, said while not-for-profits tend to have high turnoverrates among managers, the work isrewarding – especially the work 4-H isinvolved in. “We tend to batter our youth prettygood these days, and this is a greatopportunity to show people that there area lot of great young people coming up,”he said. “This program really values that.”New leadership to guide 4-H strategic planKevin Rothwell is saying adieu to BC 4-H as he pursues another careeropportunity. The popular executive director, however, says he is nding ithard to say good-bye and will continue to lend his volunteer support asneeded, including for the charity golf tournament coming up in Chilliwackon September 25. (Photo courtesy of BC 4-H)No 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!
Tel: 604.852.4001Email: admin@prinsgreenhouses.comPrins Greenhouses38900 No. 4 RoadAbbotsford, B.C. V3G 2G2ConstructionSystemsSupplies38900 No. 4 Road . Abbotsford604.852.4001info@prinsgreenhouses.comwww.prinsgreenhouses.comSeptember 2015 • Country Life in BC 41Hands-on learning. Kwantlen’s Integrated Pest Management program has been given a facelift in anoverhaul of the university’s horticulture and sustainable agriculture and food systems oerings.(Photo courtesy of KPU)University updatesagriculture programsto reflect changing timesby RONDA PAYNELANGLEY – Regardless ofcareer choice, everyonebenets from additionaleducation. It’s one of the fewways agriculture is like otheroccupations. Changes withinthe eld have led studentsand employers to look for awider range of agriculturaleducation choices andKwantlen PolytechnicUniversity (KPU) hasresponded by makingchanges to their programs. Over the past ve years,KPU has explored what isdesired by students andneeded by the industry,according to Gary Jones, co-chair of KPU’s School ofHorticulture.“There was some strategy to[the changes],” he says.KPU has two paralleldepartments under the facultyof science and horticulturethat relate to agriculture: theSchool of Horticulture, andSustainable Agriculture andFood Systems.“For years, we have run ourmain bread and butterdiploma programs,” Jonesexplains of the School ofHorticulture, alluding to thegreenhouse and nurseryproduction program, thelandscape program and theturf management program.“Every program is supposed tobe reviewed every ve years orso.”In consultation with alumni,industry and a wide range ofstakeholders, the programoerings were modied andrealigned.“We changed to reectmore of a desire from[students and employers],”notes Jones. “Students havewanted to get more involvedin what they see as sustainablehorticulture. We’ve alsoreceived a lot of enquiriesfrom traditional largehorticulture employers lookingfor good quality assistantgrowers.”Additionally, it wasrecognized that the degreeprogram focused onintegrated pest management(IPM) was too narrow of afocus.“We revisited that IPMprogram,” says Jones. Now, the new Bachelor ofHorticulture Science in UrbanEcosystems includes aspects ofthe former IPM program butalso includes things like livingwalls, green roof technologyand park management. “It’s a broader range ofskills,” says Jones “It’s acompletely new programdiscipline generating a lot ofinterest from students andemployers.” The new apprenticeprogram for arboristtechnicians is in response toindustry calls for trainedarborists. Other new courses includean organic production courseand introduction tosustainable horticulture. Thesecourses can be taken as part oflarger programs or can beincorporated into a citationprogram. KPU oers 11dierent citation programsfrom sustainable horticultureto an introduction tohorticulture in BC. Althoughthe courses may be the sameas in a diploma or degreeprogram, a citation requiresjust ve courses. “Somebody can be workingand upgrade their skills andwalk away with a citation,”Jones adds. The citation programs areideal for those working andlooking for part-time studies,immigrants who have baseknowledge but need tounderstand the horticulturalsetting in BC or those workingin the industry who want tobranch out in their education. Sustainable Agriculture andFood Systems houses thepopular Richmond-based farmschool. “It’s a completely dierentprogram for a dierentstudent,” says Jones. “It’s 10months, very hands on, noexams.”Upon completion, studentsare oered an incubator farmto practice what they’velearned and determine if theycan succeed in their own farm-based business. The success ofthe farm school has led to theaddition of another farmschool.“Just this year, we openedup the Tsawwassen FirstNations Farm School on FirstNations land,” Jonescomments. Open to anyone, theprogram is now acceptingapplications. There has also been a brandnew degree in sustainableagriculture added. “This is much more of asmall scale focus in agriculturethan our horticultureprograms,” says Jones. Another recent addition hasbeen the brewery program.The rst batch of students arein their third semester of a twoyear diploma program inbrewing and breweryoperations. The industry has been greatin terms of supporting theprogram, according to Jones. “We have a fabulousindustry advisory committee.And the industry has beenextremely generous inproviding equipment forsetting up the brewery.”Curiously, the students inthe urban ecosystemsprogram and the breweryprogram have foundopportunities to collaborate,bringing the programstogether under thehorticulture umbrella. “We have lots of newprograms,” Jones summarizes.“It’s all due to student demandand changes in themarketplace. We want peopleto make a good choice theycan make a career out of andenjoy.”Citation programs provide accreditation forpart-time students who want to upgrade their skillsSIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION OF BCFor more info, contact secretary Reanne Sanford250.249.4332 reanne@krssimmentals.caWant more MONEYfor your BEEF?SIMMENTALS DELIVERMORE POUNDS PER DAYMORE POUNDS = MORE MONEY IN YOUR POCKET!Put some Simmental genetics into your cow herd!PACIFIC INVITATIONAL SALESaturday, September 26Williams Lake
Country Life in BC • September 201542Dynamic cideryrenews vision forhistoric Vernon orchardby DAVID SCHMIDTVERNON – Diversicationand innovation are the twomain buzzwords in agriculturetoday. The question is – willfarmers practice what theexperts preach – and if theydo, can they succeed?In Dave and MelissaDobernigg’s case, the answersappear to be yes.In 1946, Dave’s grandfather,Frank, took over the 35-acreVernon orchard started byWilliam Pound in the 1920’s.Frank, his son John and nowDave spent the next six plusdecades as commodity applegrowers, rst for theVernon Fruit Unionand more recently forBC Tree Fruits.As commodityprices continued todecline, Dave andMelissa looked forways to add value to theirproduction. Their solution: theBX Press Cidery. The namepays homage to the history ofthe area – once a stopover forBernard’s Express, astagecoach service with amonopoly on transportationto the Cariboo Gold Fields inthe mid 1800’s.The names of BX’s cidersare also paeans to the past –Prospector (for Mr. Bernard),Hostler (the man who caredfor horses), Crackwhip (anickname for stagecoachdrivers) and Bandit (forlegendary gold thief SamRowlands).To dierentiate the ciders,the Doberniggs use dierentyeasts and a mix of varieties.They are also experimentingwith adding cherries, ginand/or hops to some of theirciders to give them trulyunique tastes. “We have over 20 varietiesof apples in our cider,” Melissasays, noting “you need avariety of apples to providethe right balance of tannins,sugars and acids.”That includes crabapples.Although commonly used aspollinators in commercialorchards, crabapples have hadlittle value till now.Because they now wantmany dierent apples, theDoberniggs are diversifyingtheir orchard to include up to30 varieties instead of just thehandful prized by the tablemarket. They are taking aninnovative approach. Insteadof starting with newrootstocks, they are graftingthe new varieties onto treesalready in the orchard. Theyhope the cider apples will dobetter in a low-density ratherthan a high-density orchardand also hope the establishedrootstock will give the newmaterial a boost, bringing itinto production more quickly.While results to date areencouraging, Dave admits it istoo early to tell whether theapproach will be a success.In the cider department,however, BX can already claimsuccess. “We did 12,000 bottles lastyear and will do 40,000 bottlesthis year,” Melissa reports,adding “we will soon need toexpand our building to keepup.”The ciders are sold at theiron-farm store and at threeVernon-area farmers markets.Melissa Dobernigg of BX Cidery in Vernon points to how she and Dave have grafted cider apples ontothe existing root stock in their orchard. Using established root stock allows the new root stock tomature more quickly. (David Schmidt photo)Country WaysEmerald Bay Ag Services The latest technology helping you “Farm Smarter” Doug Macfarlane, CCA Vernon 250.550.0545 www.emeraldbayag.com x Steering and Guidance Systems x AutomaƟc Variable Rate Control x Data Logging and Traceability PRESENTING SPONSORGOLD SPONSORFor more information: 604.291-1553 | info@agricultureshow.netwww.agricultureshow.net18TH ANNUALJANUARY 28-30, 2016PARKING COURTESY OFBC’s Largest Agriculture Event of the year!Showcasing the lastest and most innovative equipment & technology for the agriculture industry.Featuring over 250 exhibitors covering 150,000 square feet!Plan now to be part of the tradeshow!PROUDLY SUPPORTINGTradexExhibition Centre(AbbotsfordAirport)Abbotsford
September 2015 • Country Life in BC 43The 3PH Box Scraper by MK Martin provides both small and large property owners with affordable options for grading with their line of box scrapers.For more information on grading, scraping and leveling products contact MK Martin.These rugged land movers come in a range of sizes from 8 to 12 feet and feature a variety of options ensuring the right con-figuration for your needs.This two in one combination of leveling and scraping makes short work of your grading and leveling jobs. Available mounts for skid loaders and 3PH.Note: Models may not be exactly as shown.Abbotsford berriesmake for amazinglocal ChocolaTasby RONDA PAYNEABBOTSFORD – Fresh Fraser Valley berries in hand-craftedchocolates. What could be better? There are few things that topthe taste of this local combination produced by masterchocolatier Wim Tas, of ChocolaTas in Abbotsford.“We are the mecca here for berries,” says Tas. “We are thecentre of the earth for berries.”His wife, Veve, manages ChocolaTas’ day-to-day operationsand agrees. She sees incorporating berries into chocolates as away to support other local businesses.This year that took the form of the BC Berry Collection ofchocolates. The Berry Box is lled with chocolates made withlocal blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, all purchased inthe Fraser Valley from local organic farms. “The raspberries were phenomenal this year,” Veve notes.“Every season, you want to come up with something [new]. Wethought why notcreate a berrybox.”According toVeve, Wim is “themasterchocolatier, andalso the creator ofrecipes. He knowsabout avours.Like blueberries.He knows what toadd to enhancethe avour.”The couple’sAbbotsford-based businessbegan when theymoved to Canadain 2002, startingin their garageand expanding towhere it is now,on the west sideof Abbotsford.“People are alot moreinterested in thefood they put in their mouth than they were then,” Veve notedof the company’s growth. “It’s been a shift in the consumerconsciousness… the importance of local support.”Chocolates created at Chocolatas are not mass produced so,while the avor may vary slightly from one batch to the next,the quality stays the same. “We don’t use preservatives in our chocolates,” explainsVeve. “They have a limited shelf life.”The fall line of chocolates is being developed with thoughtsof working alongside fellow Abbotsford agriculturalentrepreneur Dwayne Stewart of Valley Hops. There may be achocolate with hops incorporated into it. The access of localproducts continues to be the rst choice of the Tas family.“If we can’t nd it [made or grown] locally, we will buy itlocally,” says Wim.The chocolate itself, however, is the one time local can’tcome into play. Cocoa beans are grown near the equator andthe chocolate is crafted in Europe. “Chocolate beans are like grapes,” Wim notes. “There are justas many varieties.”While Wim notes 98% of chocolate bought by consumers ismade from a mix of beans from all over the world, somechocolatiers, like himself, choose particular recipes with certainbeans to get a precise avour.A passion for local has created a partnership between FraserValley farmers and a chocolatier with everyone looking tocreate the best products possible.Chocolatier Wim Tas and wife Veve are incorporating Abbotsford-grown raspberries and blueberriesinto their handmade chocolates to tap into and support the interest in supporting local farmers andfarms. The chocolates have a limited shelf life – but it’s not like they need a long one! (Ronda Paynephotos)
Country Life in BC • September 201544Keremeos growersexpand Mom ‘nPop operationby SUSAN MCIVERKEREMEOS – The opening of Mom ‘n Pops Farm Market inKeremeos earlier this summer marks Paul and Sarbjit Uppal’slatest accomplishment.Originally from the Punjab, the Uppals began growingproduce in the Similkameen Valley almost three decades ago.Initially, the couple worked for established growers until theycould aord to purchase their own land for ground crops andan orchard which they replanted in new varieties.In 2004, Sarbjit and Paul opened Uppal Produce whichquickly became known for its high-quality produce, attractivepremises and friendly service – all keys to their success,according to Sarbijt. Located on the same site, Mom ‘n Pops is over three timesthe size of the original market and oers customers a widerrange of shopping opportunities.“We chose the name Mom ‘n Pops to give the feeling offamily, not only of our immediate family but also our extendedfamily of employees and customers,” says Moneey, the eldestof the three Uppal children, all sons.Paul and Sarbjit consider raising the three boys their mostimportant accomplishment.A mechanical engineer with a specialty in design, Moneeytook a leave of absence from his position with RIC Power Corp.to help design the family’s new building and oversee itsconstruction. Helicopter pilot Manpreet and artist Harpal, bothwith university degrees, worked with their father and brotheron the building. They also help with customers and on-farm asneeded.“We grow all the produce ourselves. That way we know it isof the highest quality,” Moneey says.Careful attention is given to the presentation of theproduce. “We pack as we sell. It means more work, but fruits andvegetables don’t look that fresh when packed for even a fewhours,” Sarbjit says.Uppal produce is sold retail at their market and wholesale tobrokers who supply produce to grocery stores in the LowerMainland and on Vancouver Island.“Although we’re expanding our retail activity, we’re basicallyvery much still growers,” Moneey says.Mom ‘n Pops also oers local products such as hot sauces,honey and fruit syrups. Ice cream and cold drinks are alsoavailable.“We’re emphasizing healthy food at our juice bar andbistro,” Moneey says.Cold-pressed juice, a popular alternative among healthenthusiasts to juicing with traditional centrifugal machines, isfeatured at the bar.“The bistro menu is being kept simple as we perfect dishes.Chick peas with samosas are among our rst oerings,”Moneey says. The grilled samosas made by Sarbjit are a heart-smart alternative to the usual method of deep frying.“I’m currently negotiating with local wineries about openinga wine and gift shop associated with our market,” Moneeysays. Other plans include a tree house for children and a picnicarea.Attractive, clean premises have always been important tothe Uppals. The year after opening Uppal Produce, Paulinstalled the rst water mist system in Keremeos.“It kept customers cool and happy,” Sarbjit says, referring tothe curtain of ne spray at the entrance of the original stand.Paul also renovated the stand and kept it in good repair.“We stopped because of how nice the stand looks,” says awoman from Vancouver.Most customers come from the Lower Mainland, but also anumber from as far away as Western Europe. Chartered busesalso regularly stop at the market. Every customer is greetedwith a friendly smile and given prompt, courteous service.“It’s important to make people feel welcome and valued,”Sarbjit says.“I want to make Mom ‘n Pops a place that if I had a familyand was passing by, I’d want to stop,” Moneey says.Mom ‘n Pops Farm Market in Keremeos, owned and operated by the Uppal family, opened earlier thissummer. Sarbjit and Paul Uppal and their three sons are shown above. From the left Harpal,Manpreet, Sarbjit, Paul and Moneey. (Susan McIver photo)Bugging plants to reduce pest infestationsby RONDA PAYNEVANCOUVER – It sounds like somethingout of a sci- movie: a device that reads aplant, interprets its needs and gives thegrower feedback on what to do. Howeverstrange, this is not the makings of a new B-movie but a real invention that may becoming to a crop near you.Saber Miresmailli, co-founder and CEO ofEcoation Innovative Solutions (EIS), wasstudying plant and insect interactions whenthe inspiration for the device came to him. “The fact is, plants can generally not walkand they can not talk,” Miresmailli says. “Butthey can communicate. It’s all based ontalking to the plant.”Referencing his expertise in growingtomatoes, Miresmailli created a smalldictionary of signals from the vine fruit. Hesaw plants send o signals to attract goodbugs in their own eorts at integrated pestmanagement (IPM). He also recognized the biggestchallenges with the tools farmers currentlyuse – they often can’t be applied fastenough to create the desired results. Humanscouting and traps are only so eective inmonitoring the health of a plant becausethey wait for signs of damage, disease andinfestation.“Why are we looking for the bug whenwe can nd out from the plant?” he asks.The platform – which is still very muchunder wraps – is mobile and consists of aseries of sensors that scan plants withouttouching them. A eld inspection of 10acres can be completed in just two days. Although currently being tested ingreenhouses, there are plans to work withoutdoor crops, not to mention the workbeing done to help farmers in othercountries. “I am extremely proud that today we canapply this vision to various agriculturalsettings, from sophisticated greenhouses inBritish Columbia to smallholder cowpeafarms in Benin, West Africa,” he says. The Investment Agriculture Foundationof BC (IAF) has awarded Miresmailli the 2015Award of Excellence for Innovation for thedevice, which will undergo controlledcommercial tests in 2016. IAF is alsoproviding ongoing funding through theCanadian-BC Agri-Innovation program.Miresmailli credits numerousorganizations who have helped withfunding, support and mentorship during theprocess including IAF and Houweling’sGreenhouses. He is hopeful the yet-to-be-named device will be available commerciallyin 2017. Farmers interested in being part of thecommercial trials in 2016 can contactMiresmailli at [saber@crop-sense.com].Saber Miresmaili has received the InvestmentAgriculture Foundations 2015 Award ofExcellence for Innovation.
When we left o last time,Susan (Henderson’s mother)was hatching a plan to comeout to visit the grandchildrenand send their parents on avacation. Meanwhile,Henderson returned to anempty oce in Victoria,unnerved by Erica’s colddemeanour. He was alsoupbraided by Grimwood on hisnew duties. Rural Redemption(part 64) continues ...Kenneth Henderson satmotionless at his desk for afull ten minutes afterGrimwood left his oce. Hismind was reeling, trying tofathom all that had changedand what the implicationsmight be: where was Janice?Why didn’t she answer hismessages? What had she toldGrimwood? Who threwLinderman under the bus?Was he next in line? Exactlywhat was the real purpose ofthe review he was supposedto be making? What next?First things rst; he needed totalk to Janice. He paged EricaSwift and asked her come intohis oce. She entered,scowling, 30 seconds later. “Yes, Mr. Henderson?”“Ah, Erica. I need to contactDeborah Newberry.”“Firstly, Mr. Henderson, inthe interests of maintaining aprofessional workplace, youwill please address me as Ms.Swift. Secondly, Ms. Newberryis no longer connected withthis oce. Thirdly, my positionhere is oce manager andpersonal assistant to chairmanof this committee. I am notyour secretary.”Kenneth was silent oncemore.“Will that be all?” asked Ms.Swift.Kenneth gathered histhoughts. “No, not all. I need to speakto Ms. Newberry. There arequestions about our work thatI need to discuss with her.”“I can’t imagine what theymight be,” said Ms. Swift. “Thiscommittee doesn’t evenocially exist yet but if youhave questions for Ms.Newberry that pertain to thebusiness of this oce, emailthem to me and I will pursuethem with her.”“I’m not going to emailthem; my questions arepersonal.”“Well, then, they are hardlythe business of this oce.You’ll have to contact Ms.Newberry yourself.”Kenneth was becomingangry. “I can’t contact her!” heraged.“Once again, hardly thebusiness of this oce.”“And what IS the businessof this oce,” demandedKenneth. Erica Swift sensedKenneth’s rising anger andsharpened the tone of herreply. “I am not at liberty todiscuss it until the ministerformally announces the termsof reference and introducesthe chair.”“Fine! If there are no termsof reference and nochair then, technically,there is no committee.”“Correct,” said Ms.Swift.“If there is nocommittee, what am Idoing here?”“I don’t know. If you emailme the question, I will try toclarify it with Mr. Grimwood.”“Why emails? You’re righthere,” said Kenneth.“Let me be perfectly clear,”said Ms. Swift. “There will beaccurate documentation ofany and all communicationsyou have in this oce.”“Really? What about theconversation we’re havingright now?”“I’ll make note of it in myjournal. Will there be anythingelse?”She asked but it wasn’treally a question because shewas walking through the dooras she said it.Set up or shut up?Kenneth pondered thesituation for the next twohours. He nally concludedthere were two possibilities asfar as his job was concerned:he was being set up or shutup. Or maybe he was beingset up in case he didn’t shutup. It was clear that whateverleverage he’d had withLinderman was gone. Or wasit? What if Grimwood wasreally one of Linderman’shenchmen and Lindermanwas still pulling the strings?What if Erica Swift was incahoots with both of them? Every question beggedanother and Janice Newberrywas the only place to start. Hetexted her private numberevery ten minutes for the restof the morning. He wasentertaining a foolish notionof trying to locate her newcontact information in EricaSwift’s desk when she went tolunch, when he heard thedelivery person from the delidown the block drop o herorder. A creeping paranoiawas settling over him as he satsecond guessing his ownlunch plans. His phonechimed the arrival of a textmessage.b day place@1 jIt was from Janice. Janice was waitingThe “b day place” had to bethe restaurant he’d talkedabout taking her to on herbirthday. It would be iy tomake it there by 1. She waswaiting in a secluded boothwhen he arrived.“I’ve been worried sickabout you. Where have youbeen? Why didn’t you answerany of my messages? Whatthe hell’s happened?”“Hello, Kenneth.”“Where have you been?”asked Kenneth.“Away for a few daysgetting up to speed with mynew position.”“What new position?”“I’m afraid I can’t discuss ituntil after it’s announced,”said Janice.Kenneth realized it must besomething managerial if therewas going to be a formalannouncement.“What is it? It’s me, forheaven’s sake.” “I can’t discuss it, especiallywith you.”She’s in on it to, thoughtKenneth. “Are you serious? You won’ttell me anything about what’sgoing on?”Janice shook her head. “Sorry. I can’t.”Kenneth snorted. “What about us then?Where does this leave us? Isuppose you can’t talk aboutthat either?”“No, that’s a conversationwe probably need to have. It’swhy I answered you.”“Who was the guy you werewith at New Year’s?”“Mike? He’s someone I metat the resort while you weresupposed to be skiing withAshley and Christopher. Whowas the woman you werewith?” said Janice.“I had no choice; the resortcalled my home number toconrm our reservation.”“A choice is exactly whatyou need to make,” saidJanice. “I’m not sure just howyou think I t into your plansbut I’m not going to be somesort of convenientcompanion.”“It’s not as simple as that,Janice.”“Not for you, perhaps, butit’s simple enough for me.Goodbye, Kenneth.” To be continued ...Office intrigue has Henderson fearing the worstSeptember is the start of my new yearSeptember 2015 • Country Life in BC 45The WoodshedChroniclesBOB COLLINSBetween the heat-stresseddays of summer and thegolden leaves of autumn,September and harvest timepresent themselves. Likeharvest itself, September forme is a kind of gathering up ofa lot of things: June throughAugust with its assortment ofmemories is coming to anend; the frenetic activitiesassociated with gathering andpreserving the fruit of mylabours (including the benetof unexpected volunteercrops) is in full swing, andinformation regardingupcoming fall and winterevents is populating mycalendar. Since my childhood,September has been theherald of an upcomingchange of seasons, a sort ofunocial New Year. Situatedas number nine of twelve inthe Julian and Gregoriancalendars, it’s one of the fourmonths of the year thatfeatures 30 days in which tolaunch new programs, a newschool year and new resolves.Unlike the ocial January 1version, however, there’smerely a weekend holidayannouncing its arrival.Memories from Junethrough August includeweather extremes reminiscentof harrowing, drought-baseddocumentaries meaning hugechallenges for commercialproducers and farmers, as wellas for backyard gardeners. Inspite of the parched earth,many citizens of ourcommunity, including theneighbour two doors south ofus, have ourishinggardens. Thisparticular one isthriving so well, infact, that vines havewormed their waythrough the fencingand established themselveson a narrow patch of groundbetween the wooden barrierand the concrete alley way. Iwondered if the huge yellowowers would survive thetrac that moves regularlybetween Fir and HawthornStreets but they have andnow, in their place, summersquash are fattening. 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Country Life in BC • September 201546In the early hours ofSeptember 23, we begin theautumn equinox with a daywhen the hours of darknessand light are equal beforewe begin to slip into fall’slengthening hours ofdarkness and less light eachday until the winter solsticein December.It’s also a time when thelong, hot days of summerhave resulted in a bountifulharvest from the gardensand fields of BC, with tons ofzucchini, winter squashes,tomatoes, melons,blueberries, apples, plums,pears and nuts ready to pickand plan meals around.For those who love tocook and eat, it’s a veryexciting time of year, with allthe bright colours of harvestwaiting at the kitchen door.Once the days get shorter,they’ll inevitably get cooler,too, and the yearning formore comfort foods will takeover from the desire forsalads and lighter fare.Summer salads will bereplaced by the creamysauces and heavier, richerfoods of coolerweather.We all tend to bebusier in the fall, too,with all sorts of clubs,organizations andactivities underwayagain after the summerbreak. Meal-making has tobe done more efficiently,but with no loss of nutrition.Simple meals made fromscratch with fresh, localingredients top mixes andprepared foods every time,not only in the nutritiondepartment, but also inflavour.Armed with the bounty ofthe fall harvest, it’s easy toenjoy both the first time adish appears at the table,and the leftovers, in aslightly altered form.As summer draws to anend and autumn nears,enjoy the bounty of a BCsummer and put it away indried, frozen or canned formfor later in the year if youcan’t eat it all at once.Welcome to the nextseason of the year: each hasits special qualities.These are delicate and light, yet fairly substantial. We didn’t use any syrup on them, but youcould top with a drizzle of syrup or a smear of jam. This is a fabulous way to enjoy fresh, BCblueberries, but they’re also yummy with frozen ones.These are great cold as well as fresh o the pan, and could certainly be tucked into a lunchbox for a snack.2/3 c. (150 ml) our 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) salt 2 eggs, separated1 tsp. (5 ml) baking powder 3/4 c. (175 ml) ricotta 2 tsp. (10 ml) grated lemon zest1 tsp. (5 ml) sugar 3/4 c. (175 ml) skim milk 1 c. (250 ml) blueberriesWhisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.Whisk together the ricotta, milk and egg yolks in a small bowl with minced, grated lemonzest. Using a balloon whisk or electric mixer, whip the egg whites until sti in another bowl.Combine wet and dry ingredients quickly, then fold in sti egg whites; then fresh or frozenblueberries.Heat a drizzle of oil in a large frypan over medium-high heat, melting in a dab of butter foravour. Use a gravy ladle to put dollops of batter into the hot pan, turning the pancakes over asbubbles form around the edges.Add another drizzle of oil and dab of butter for each batch, and serve fresh and hot.Serves 2-4.Harvest theFall bountyRicotta makes these pancakes special. (Judie Steeves photo)Jude’s KitchenJUDIE STEEVESPlease see “PORK” page 47I was worried they’d find somethingMammograms save lives. Make an appointment, not an excuse. Get expert advice and share your stories atgohave1.comBlueberry Ricotta PancakesPlease mail your application to1120 East 13th Ave Vancouver, BC V5T 2M1 604.871.0001SUBSCRIBE TODAY!SUBSCRIBE TODAY!The agricultural news source inBritish Columbia since 1915COUNTRYLifeYin BCNAMEADDRESSCITYPOSTAL CODETEL FAXEMAILo NEW o RENEWAL | o 1 YEAR ($18.90) o 2 YEAR ($33.60) o 3 YEAR ($37.80) (Prices include GST | Cheque or money order only please)NEWS & INFORMATION YOU NEED!Join thousands of BC farmers who turn to Country Life in BC each andevery month to find out what (and who!) is making news in BC agriculture and how those events (and people!) may affect their farmsand agri-businesses!
PORK MEDALLIONS WITH APPLES From page 46LAND OF PLENTY From page 45September 2015 • Country Life in BC 47This recipe is courtesy BC Tree Fruits Co-op and it looks like it would be delicious; specialenough to serve for company, or a festive meal for family.1-2 pork tenderloins, trimmedand cut into 1” thick disks 1 medium white onion 1-2 tsp. (5-10 ml) crumbled dry sagesalt & pepper 3-4 large BC apples 1/2 c. (125 ml) whipping creamolive oil 1 200 ml apple juice box 2-4 tbsp. (30-60 ml) Calvados or Brandybutter 1 c. (250 ml) chicken brothPound disks of pork to 1/2 “ thickness and season each with salt and pepper.Sauté them in olive oil over medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes per side; remove andset aside.Add 1-2 tbsp. butter to the hot pan and add chopped onion and sliced apple. Sauté until onions are translucent and apples begin to brown.Add juice, broth and sage (you may substitute a few fresh leaves for the dried) and simmeruntil liquid reduces to your likingAdd the cream and brandy and return the cooked pork and its juices and heat through. Checkthe temperature of the pork with an instant read thermometer before serving (140-160 F).Serve over rice or noodles.Serves 4.a connoisseur of the Cucurbita family. What’smost interesting, though, is that it hasremained untouched for a few weeks. Myconclusion? Either our area of the communityis as honest and integrity-lled as I choose tobelieve it is or there aren’t a lot of squashlovers in this part of town.With thoughts of canning and freezing,there’s a lot of nourishment resident in thatgourd and I hope the right person (owner orotherwise) receives the full benet of itsgoodness. As we consider the millions ofpeople around the world who would giveanything for a meal a day, let alone three, Ican’t help but grieve over the food that iswasted in this, our “land of plenty.”I’m profoundly grateful to be a citizen of aland that is blessed with so much but in sayingthat, I recently read a book that shook me tothe core. I guess I’ve always known thatCanada isn’t exempt from racism (e.g. ourtreatment of First Nations people) but thishistorical recounting of the immigration of1,000 African-American people from Oklahomato the plains of Alberta and Saskatchewanpainted a vivid picture of rolling hills and rabidhatred directed to another people group. I’mnot quite sure how to tie this altogetherexcept to say I’d love to be able to eradicatethe kind of roots that judge a person by colouror race.Oliver Wendell Holmes speaksIn closing o this tribute to September,Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote this: “The foliagehas been losing its freshness through themonth of August, and here and there a yellowleaf shows itself like the rst gray hair amidstthe locks of a beauty who has seen one seasontoo many.”Let’s store up our treasured memories, seekways to heal our pain and share our bountywith friends and neighbours. Oh yes, aboutthose upcoming events: I’ve just added twocommitments to my calendar. Guess summerreally is over.SUFFOLKS (4 exhibitors/17 head) Yearling Ewe1/ Brenfold 5B 2/ Song Hill 1B Ewe Lamb:1/ Brenfold 2C2/ Brenfold 1CGrand Champion Ewe Brenfold 5BReserve Grand Ewe Brenfold 2CYearling Ram1/ Brenfold 15B 2/ High Point Brutus Ram Lamb1/ Brenfold 7C 2/ Brenfold 9C Grand Champion Ram Brenfold 15BReserve Grand Ram Brenfold 7CBreeders Flock Brenfold Farm DORSETS 3 exhibitors/14 sheepYearling Ewe1/ Bramblewood 112A2/ Bramblewood 92AEwe Lamb1/ Bramblewood 61B 2/ Bramblewood 77B Grand Champion Ewe Bramblewood 112AReserve Grand Ewe Bramblewood 61AYearling Ram1/ Shepherds Haven 1BRam Lamb1/ Bramblewood 70B2/ Walker J 10C Grand Champion Ram Bramblewood 70BReserve Grand Ram Walker J 10CGet of Sire1/ Bramblewood 2nd Walker J Breeders Flock1/ Bramblewood SOUTHDOWNS 4 exhibitors/17 sheepYearling Ewe1/ Higginson 40B 2/ Higginson 31BEwe Lamb1/ Higginson 5C2/ City & Country 10CGrand Champion Ewe Higginson 40BReserve Grand Ewe Higginson 5CYearling Ram1/ Higginson 1BRam Lamb1/ Higginson 2C2/ City & Country 3CGrand Champion Ram Higginson 1BReserve Champion Ram Higginson 2CGet of Sire1/ Higginson 2/ City & Country SouthdownsBreeders ock: 1/ HigginsonCHAROLLAIS (3 exhibitors/15 sheep)Yearling Ewe 1/ Ceadrow 1B 2/ Ceadrow 2BEwe Lamb 1/ Golden View 1C2/ Shepherds Haven 16C Grand Champion Ewe Ceadrow 1BReserve Grand Ceadrow 2BYearling Ram 1/ Ceadrow Secret 2/ Shepherds Haven 4B Ram Lamb1/ Ceadrow 5C 2/ Golden View 5C Grand Champion Ram Ceadrow 5C Reserve Champion Ram Golden View 5CGet of Sire1/ Shepherds Haven2/ CeadrowBreeders Flock1/ Shepherds Haven ALL OTHER BREEDS 21 head/6 breedsYearling Ewe1/ Bramblewood 41B 2/ Bramblewood 55BEwe Lamb 1/ Bramblewood 20C2/ Bramblewood 22C Grand Champion Ewe Bramblewood 41BReserve Champion Ewe Bramblewood 55BRam Lamb1/ Fircroft 1C2/ Bramblewood 17C Grand Champion Ram Fircroft 1CReserve Champion Ram Bramblewood 17C Get of Sire1/ Bramblewood Coloureds 2/ Goldenview Hamps Breeders Flock1/ Bramblewood RomneysSupreme ChampionshipsBest Pair of Lambs: Cedarow CharollaisSupreme Ewe Golden View 1CSupreme Ram Higginson 1B Supreme Get of Sire Bramblewood ColouredsSupreme Flock Higginson SouthdownsCHILLIWACK SHEEP SHOW RESULTSNEWPOLYETHYLENETANKSof all shapes & sizes for septic andwater storage. Ideal for irrigation,hydroponics, washdown, lazy wells,rain water, truck box, fertizilizer mixing& spraying.Call 1-800-661-4473for closest distributor.Web: [www.premierplastics.com]Manufactured in Delta byPremier Plastics Inc.HAY FOR SALECLASSIFIEDDEADLINE FOR SEPTEMBER 2015 ISSUE: AUGUST 22NEW/USED EQUIPMENTLIVESTOCK25 words or less, minimum $10 plus GST • Each additional word: $0.25DISPLAY CLASSIFIED: $20 plus GST per column inch1120 East 13th Avenue, Vancouver V5T 2M1 • Phone: 604/871-0001 • Fax: 604/871-0003E-mail: countrylifeinbc@shaw.ca • Web: www.countrylifeinbc.comFOR SALEEMPLOYMENTPLOUGHING WORKSHOPSLOOKING FOR A JOB?NEED EMPLOYEES?WWW. AGRI-LABOURPOOL.COM604-823-6222SINCE 1974IRRIGATIONWATERTECIRRIGATION LTD604/882-7405 • 1-888-675-7999Toll Free 1-888-357-0011www.ultra-kelp.comULTRA-KELPTMCelebrating 30 YearsServing Western Canadian Agriculture100% NaturalAnimal Feed Supplement& FertilizerFlack’s BakerviewKelp Products IncPritchard, BCCASH FOR BATTERIESDON’T THROW AWAYTHOSE OLD BATTERIESTHEY ARE WORTH MONEY!We recycle all types of batteries, lead acid toforklift industrials ... and the best part is wepay you cash on the spot.Will buy yourscrap forklifts, too!David at 778/668-4890Quick Cash 4 BatteriesFARM REAL ESTATE FOR SALE125 ACRES OF PRIME AGRICULTURALland in the Armstrong BC area, heart of theOkanagan Valley. Call Don Gilowski250/260-0828 or emaildongilowski@gmail.comDowntown Realty Ltd Vernon.13.5 ACRE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE orchardin Vernon. Newer house with endless viewsof lake and city. Call Don Gilowski250/260-0828 or emaildongilowski@gmail.comDowntown Realty Ltd VernonHAY FOR SALE3x4, 3x3 big squares, 4x5 roundbales and haylage bales cut to 5.”We deliverCall Steven 250/804-6081Email: ssbland@live.comCERTIFIED ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMICElite Pemberton Seed Potatoes, $125 per50lb box, $100 on orders over 10 boxes,plus shipping: Yukon Gold, Sieglinde, RedChieftan, Cal White, Gemstar Russet,Russian Blue, Ulla/Rinegold Russet. Nowbooking orders for 2016 growing season.Contact 604/894-6618, helmer@direct.ca ororder on-line at [helmersorganic.ca].WANTED: SOMEONE TO BREED ANDRAISE ten or more reg appaloosaweanlings annually for an assured marketand guaranteed price. For more details call250/963-9779; www.appaloosacentre.comNORTH OKANAGAN PLOUGHING MATCHASSOCIATION and Young Agrarians.Sunday 20 September, 10 am to ? Horseand tractor ploughing workshop at DeerfootFarm, 4420 Hullcar Rd, Spallumcheen;Saturday 26 September 10 am to 3.30 pm,39th Annual Horse and Tractor PloughingMatch, Landsdown Rd., Spallumcheen. Infocall David Doran 250/546-6884.DeBOER’S USEDTRACTORS & EQUIPMENTGRINDROD, BCJD 2750 mfwd sl ldr 22,500JD 6400 MFWD w/ldr 29,500JD 6300 MFWD cab sl ldr, 3650 hrs 45,000JD 6400 mfwd cab sl ldr 49,000JD 6410 mfwd cab sl ldr 54,000JD 4240 cab 3pt hitch 18,500JD 1120 dsl ldr rb canopy 11,500JD 1120 dsl ldr 10,500JD 1830 dsl ldr, 60hp 10,500JD 735 MoCo center pivot 11.5 cut 14,500JD 220 disk 19 ft W center fold 14,500JD 220 disk 20 ft W center foldnew blades 16,500JD 900 7 shank sub soiler 3 pt SOLDKvernland 4X16 plow 3 pt 3,250JAY LOR Tub grinder #3425,425 cf, premium unit 25,000JD 1600 18” chisel plow 5,500Ed DeBoer • 250/838-7362cell 250/833-6699Curt DeBoer • 250/838-9612cell 250/804-6147GOOD GROUP OF 5 COLOURED and 2white Romney ewe lambs. Available lateAugust on. Correct, well grown andhealthy. Lovely fleeces. Twins and triplets.Weigh between 90 and 110 lbs.Vaccinated. RR or RQ. Sell with/withoutpapers. $325\350 a head for 2. 1 Col rom-ney ram lamb. $350\$400. Call 604/4629465 or email Joannasleigh@aol.com1000 LITRE OVAL FRAME, fuel tank c/wstand, filter, new hose and nozzle $300.604/796-3437.KELLO DISC MODEL 210 HEAVY DUTY 10ft, offset, $7,000. Call 250/567-2607.TYCROP FEED WAGON, SINGLE AXLE, 14ft, side discharge, c/w front grain compart-ment. Very good. $4,500. Call 250/567-2607.EQUIPMENT DISPERSAL. IH 16 FT HYD.drive rear unload wagon steel sides HD 12ton $3800; OVERUM HD 3 BOTTOM PLOW,spring trip bottoms skimmers coulters$3000; Tony at 604-850-4718.
Over 40 Models to haul, push, harvest, lift and clear-out your chores kind of tractors.s 0ERFORMANCEMATCHEDLOADERS IMPLEMENTSs +UBOTADIESELTO(PENGINESs #OLD#LIMATE#ABOR&OLDABLE2/03ssskubota.caKubota Muscle SeriesABBOTSFORD AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 1521 Sumas Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604/864-2665 COURTENAY NORTH ISLAND TRACTOR LTD. 3663 South Island Hwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/334-0801 CRESTON KEMLEE EQUIPMENT LTD. N.W. Boulevard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/428-2254DAWSON CREEK DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 11508-8th Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/782-5281DUNCAN ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD. 4650 Trans Canada Hwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/746-1755 KAMLOOPS DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT 706 Carrier Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/851-2044KELOWNA AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 1090 Stevens Road Hwy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/769-8700 OLIVER GERARD’S EQUIPMENT LTD. 97 South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/498-2524PRINCE GEORGE HUBER EQUIPMENT Upper Mud River Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/560-5431 QUESNEL DOUGLAS LAKE EQUIPMENT Highway 97 North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/991-0406 VERNON AVENUE MACHINERY CORP. 7155 Meadowlark Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250/545-3355 Country Life in BC • September 201548WATCH FOR $UPER $AVINGS IN OUR FALL FLYER