farming

Windmill Farm in Maple Ridge with green grass and clear skies. There are three windmills side by side.

The Ridge Meadows Farmers Institute provides a united voice for agricultural progress

October 31, 2024 by Danny Nesvaderani

The Ridge Meadows Farmers Institute is a collective of farmers from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows that aim to address some of the major issues affecting the region’s agricultural industry. Since their first meeting in September 2024, the Institute has identified rising operational costs and the impacts of climate change as some of their main issues of focus.

CJSF recently interviewed Steven Robinson, one of the founding organizers for the Ridge Meadows Farmers Institute. During the conversation, Robinson discusses the history of farming advocacy in the region leading up to the formation of the Institute, the agricultural issues that they hope to address, and the ways in which they hope to grow over the next year.

A covered bridge against a blue sky and green grass. There is a sign in the middle of the road saying "Road Closed" and cement barricades and orange and black horizontal barriers to prevent motorists from using the bridge.

Indefinite closure of Wheaton Covered Bridge brings up fond memories and current concerns

July 19, 2024 by Erica Butler

The Wheaton Covered Bridge on High Marsh Road is one of about 59 covered bridges left in the province. In addition to being a picturesque spot on the marsh landscape, the bridge connects an important transportation route for the region’s farmers. But the bridge is now closed.

Phyllis Wheaton can remember driving through the bridge with her parents, honking the horn, something she still does. “Everybody honks the horn going through the bridge because you can’t see if there’s somebody on the other side,” says Wheaton. “It’s just a lot of memories. And it’s not just me, it’s the whole town. Everyone in the rural area has tons of memories of that bridge.”

CHMA speaks with some of those farmers, as well as MLA Megan Mitton, to learn more about the closure of the bridge and its impact.

A portion of an old dirt road leads to a grassy green area, and then to a body of water. Behind is a snow capped mountain, a blue sky and a few white clouds.

Agricultural land reserve cannot be solution to housing crisis, agrologists tell CSRD

July 9, 2024 by Melissa Jameson

The agricultural land reserve cannot be the solution to BC’s housing crisis, and should continue to prioritize farm use to ensure provincial food security.

That was the message provincial land use agrologist Alison Fox and regional agrologist Lindsay Benbow had for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s board of directors. The two agrologists presented at the regional district’s regular meeting last month.

Introduced in 1973, the Agricultural Land Reserve, or the ALR as its more commonly known, is land that is designated by the province for agricultural use.

Farming is a significant contributor to BC’s economy. Fox said in 2023, around 40,000 people were employed in primary agriculture. In 2022 $14 billion in sales came from primary agriculture. Agriculture Canada defines primary agriculture as “work that is performed within the boundaries of a farm, nursery or greenhouse.”

On top of the housing crisis, a critical shortage of industrial land and the aging demographic of farmers are impacting both farming and ALR land use.

A picture of a sign that says 'Food Safety Saves Lives'

Bulkley Valley slaughterhouse shut-down causes major concern for farmers

May 14, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

This spring, with little to no warning, the local abattoir Bulkley Valley Custom Slaughter suddenly closed its doors in March. The abattoir (slaughterhouse) serviced all types of slaughter and meat packaging in the north.

The effect is being felt from Terrace to Quesnel, and beyond. On April 18, farmers from Snoetic Farm, Poplar Acres Farm and Happy Pig Organic Farm met with local MLA Nathan Cullen at Two Sisters Cafe, hoping they could break through red tape that’s preventing them from opening their own slaughtering businesses.

Nearly two weeks later, Joyce Dieleman was finally able to provide details on future plans for the abattoir.

Listen to the story by CICK News Community Reporter, Christine Bruce.

A green and yellow tractor plows a field on a clear, blue-skied day.

‘Be ready for anything’: WFA bracing for unpredictable weather as spring arrives

March 20, 2024 by Riley Gillespie-Wilson

Tuesday marked the first day of spring, but unpredictable and unseasonable weather has continued in the Wellington County forecast.

The Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA) and their president Barclay Nap are preparing for whatever Mother Nature throws at them.

Nap spoke to CICW to mark the shift in season, and while he says it may be too soon for a summer projection, as far as the quality and yield of crops, he says adapting to changes in weather is crucial for local farmers.

The ideal weather for Nap? That would be temperatures similar to the week of March 18.

As spring gets off to a cold start, following a warm winter, CICW caught up with Nap to learn more about the mentality of the local ag federation heading into spring.

Two people stand in front of red vehicle. They wear black and dark blue winter coats. Man wears cap and woman has dark hair with glasses.

Aging farmers on Six Nations raise concerns about future sustainability

January 8, 2024 by David Moses

The future of farming on Six Nations is the subject of an an agricultural summit to find solutions to future food security and sustainability in the community.

The event is being hosted by the Six Nations Farmers Association (SNFA) and Six Nations Food Security and Sustainability Task Force (SNFSFSTF) to make Six Nations aware and understand what’s at stake as local farmers age and fewer families members stay in the industry.

Frank Montour is the President of the SNFA and says the association was originally established so farmers could help each other deal with common issues.

The two day “Knowledge Transfer” event will take place at the Mississaugas of the Credit Community Centre with fifty community representatives who have been invited to attend by invitation on January 13th and 14th from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Corn field with vibrant green stock and a blue partly clouded sky.

Fall harvest plentiful despite unpredictable weather: agriculture federation

September 20, 2023 by Riley Gillespie-Wilson

While the weather this summer may been problematic for Wellington County residents, the area’s farmers had to battle through heavy rain and periods of drought to salvage a strong fall harvest.

President of the Wellington Federation of Agriculture Janet Harrop says fire risks had to be top of mind as that can be a result of harvesting wet hay. To counteract this issue, Harrop said the bales were draped with plastic coverings. She admitted the erratic weather had farmers feeling down at times, and some processes were substantially more difficult than in other years.

“It took us five and a half weeks to process and harvest our straw which normally takes about two weeks, and so it was a lot of frustration,” Harrop explained.

“We were feeling like we were never going to get done. The winter is really to reconnect with people, not take on too many projects and try to recharge our batteries,” she concluded.

Despite the funky forecasts, Harrop reports the fall harvest is looking bountiful.

“The cropping this year has been very plentiful. We had an abundance of rain in the summer which in the summer itself had its challenges of trying to harvest dry hay and straw,” Harrop said.

“Overall, it’s produced an abundance of wheat and currently the soybeans are looking really good,” she added.

Harrop says to continue to provide the quality farm-to-table food Wellington County is known for, adapting to weather conditions in a changing climate is paramount. “Go with the flow” is her new mantra, as she predicted these types of summers to continue to be a theme.

The benefits of eating locally are twofold, according to Harrop, who says doing so allows you to support local producers and reduce your carbon footprint.