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Northwest Edition
Regional Newsletter
December 2024
Please be advised, the January e-Bulletin will be circulated on Wednesday, January 15.
From our farm to yours, have a safe and happy holiday!
Virtual Workshop
Understanding Your Soil Test Report
Suggestions for Future Editions?
Do you have suggestions of different topics to be featured for future monthly e-bulletins? Click the link below to send us an email with your topic suggestions.
Lab to Land
Join us online to connect with researchers, farmers, agrologists, and policymakers from across the province. Grow your network and participate in thought-provoking discussions on adapting to climate change challenges at both farm and landscape scales. This multi-day workshop offers presentations, panels, and networking sessions exploring projects and research that are advancing agricultural resilience:
- January 15: Explore collaborative approaches to drought resilience across the province. Featured projects address adaptation from the farm to watershed level and include research from on-farm management to Indigenous co-governance.
- January 16: Dive into research investigating how soil supports ecological and community resilience. Discuss farmer-led research to evaluate soil management practices and learn about collaborative soil stewardship integrating Western scientific and Indigenous methodologies.
Thanks to funding by the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food and CleanBC the workshop is available at no cost, registration is required.
🗓️📌This virtual workshop is on Jan 15 & 16, 2025, from 9am-12:30pm PST. Registration opens early December. Stay tuned by following @BCFoodWeb on their website www.bcacarn.ca and social media platforms: Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
More details and registration: labtolandbc.eventbrite.ca
Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program
Applications for Planning, Technical Assessments and Engineered Designs BMP will close Friday December 13th, 2024 at 4:00 PM.
Don’t have time to complete your application? The BMP Plans & Designs category will be accepting applications again in 2025. Sign up for the BMP Newsletter to stay tuned.
Knowledge and Technology
Transfer Program
The last day to apply for the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program is Friday December 13th at 4:00PM.
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted your applications. We had a lot of interest in the program this intake.
The program aims to support the competitiveness, resiliency, and innovation of B.C.’s agriculture and food sector through facilitated knowledge and technology transfer. Funding of up to $7,500 is available for eligible knowledge transfer events.
New for this intake: Applications will be adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage interested applicants to submit your application soon.
To apply, visit the program webpage:
Buy BC Partnership Program 2025
Save the Date – Buy BC Partnership Program 2025 Intake
Cost shared funding is available for B.C. producers, processors, and industry associations to support local marketing activities that increase consumer awareness and sales of B.C. agriculture, food, and beverage products.
The next application intake for Buy BC Partnership Program funding will open January 6, 2025 to January 27, 2025.
Funding is available under two streams:
- Stream 1: For producers and processors, Buy BC projects are anticipated to start in April 2025 and be completed by September 2025.
- Stream 2: For industry associations, boards, and councils, Buy BC projects are anticipated to start in April 2025 and be completed by March 2026.
Apply for a Buy BC logo license or find out more about Buy BC.
B.C. Agriculture and Food Export Program
Next Intake Opening January 2025
The Ministry is pleased to announce the next intake of the B.C. Agriculture and Food Export Program (BCAFE), an initiative supporting B.C.’s agriculture, food, and beverage exporters in growing their sales, reducing market risks, and building long-term sustainability.
BCAFE offers cost-shared funding for market development activities outside B.C., helping businesses and associations expand, diversify, and sustain their export markets. This program is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3.5 billion federal-provincial investment in the agriculture and food sector. MNP LLP administers funding on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Applications open in January 2025.
Business Risk Management Programs
B.C.'s agricultural producers face many business risks that are beyond their control (production losses, severe market volatility, extreme weather events or disasters); the Province’s suite of agricultural insurance and income stability programs can help you manage those risks.
Late Participation for 2024 AgriStability until April 30, 2025
AgriStability Enhancement
Program 2024
The Government of British Columbia developed the 2024 BC AgriStability Enhancement Program which offers greater coverage and helps agricultural producers manage income losses due to extreme weather, marketing challenges or natural disaster in 2024.
2024 BC Enhancement Program details:
- Late Participation for AgriStability 2024 ensures you can enroll in the AgriStability program until April 30, 2025.
- The BC Government will pay a higher compensation rate to AgriStability Participants for the 2024 Program Year; BC will top up AgriStability's existing 80% compensation rate to 90% on margin declines greater than 30%; learn How AgriStability Works.
- The higher compensation rate applies to all producers in British Columbia who are enrolled in AgriStability for 2024.
- The B.C. Government will increase the existing AgriStability $3 million payment limit to $6.2 million.
Contact us, dedicated staff are available to assist you with the Enhanced AgriStability Program.
- Visit: AgriStability 2024 - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- Phone: 1-877-343-2767 toll-free. Support is available in English and Punjabi.
- Email: AgriStability@gov.bc.ca
Extension Program
The primary objective of the Extension Program is to help producers adopt beneficial management practices (BMPs) that make their operations more climate resilient, sustainable, and economically viable.
2024/25 regional projects for the northwest and central interior will include fall seeded rye as a management tool, in-depth look at common tillage practices, and crop selections for a changing climate at on-farm demonstration sites.
Watch for more information early in the New Year!
Northwest Invasive Plant Council Landowner Invasive Plant Removal Rebate Program
The Northwest Invasive Plant Council provides support and coordination for those involved in the various aspects of invasive plant management including awareness, inventory, treatments and assessment. The Northwest Invasive Plant Council has a Landowner Invasive Plant Removal Rebate program that aids rural private property landowners with the cost of controlling invasive plants on their land. Qualified applicants may be eligible for a rebate up to 50% of your costs to a maximum of $750.00, excluding the cost for contractor travel.
For more information on the 50/50 Landowner Invasive Plant Removal Rebate Program click here.
Livestock Drought
Management Updates
- The Livestock Drought Management Guide is now available online, and focuses on livestock feeding, forage crop considerations and economic decisions and includes suggested strategies for producers working through drought conditions. It is applicable to all livestock.
- One-on-One support is available: If you have questions and would like to talk with one of the Livestock Drought Management consultants, you are able to book a phone/virtual appointment. Please call 1-877-688-2333 or email drought@cattlemen.bc.ca for assistance (open to all livestock producers).
- There are new articles for the Livestock Drought Management Article Series (Drought articles - Province of British Columbia)
Article 4, “Replacement Heifer Target Weights”
Replacement heifer nutrition is tremendously important as it directly affects a heifer’s lifetime reproduction, longevity, productivity and profitability in your herd. In dry years with limited forage supplies, heifer nutrition is a high priority area needing extra attention to minimize potential long-term impacts for your herd. Likewise, in years where precipitation affects harvest timing and/or hay quality it also requires extra attention.
Article 5, “Minerals and Livestock Nutrition”
Mineral nutrition for livestock is a critical part of their diet, affecting health, fertility, production and your bottom line. Supplementation requirements can vary greatly depending on feed types, animal requirements and your operation’s location. Mineral levels influence reproduction and performance / growth, immunity and disease resistance. This article walks you through considerations of how to choose the appropriate mineral for your situation, how to feed it appropriately and how to start to troubleshoot a suspected mineral problem.
Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza Outbreak
British Columbia is currently experiencing a serious Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak. As the virus arrives with migratory birds, poultry owners should be implementing high biosecurity measures to protect their flock.
For more information, please visit:
Current disease alerts and events
Avian influenza - Province of British Columbia
Status of ongoing avian influenza response by province
New Research Brief
from BC Food Web!
A study conducted in Delta, B.C. found that enrolment in agricultural stewardship programs improved on-farm climate mitigation and adaptation. Specifically, farms experienced an increase in soil organic carbon stocks by 60-70% and improved soil water regulation. Agricultural stewardship programs are a great way to drive positive environmental change as they help farmers cover costs associated with adopting management practices such as growing hedgerows and cover crops.
Supporting the Emerging
Agri-Tourism Sector
A new industry resource on farm tourism in B.C. is now available.
The Farm Tourism Guide is a two page brochure outlining key steps and regulatory requirements to help B.C. farmers interested in diversifying their operations through tourism opportunities.
While an older resource, the ministry's Farm Diversification Through Agri-Tourism Manual also has guidance for farmers who are interested in participating in agri-tourism.
Animal Health & Plant Health Labs
Did you know that the Provincial Animal Health Centre offers a variety of diagnostic testing and services?
Click here for more information.
In addition to the Animal Health Centre, the Province also has a Plant Health Laboratory, where plant samples can be submitted for testing.
Click here for more information.
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