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Omineca Edition
Regional Newsletter
December 2025
Photo by Jeannie Garrett
Feature of the month:
- Dec 16: Interpreting Your Soil Test Report
- Century Farm Award and Vanderhoof's Centennial
Upcoming Events:
- Dec 3: Emergency Planning Workshop
- Dec 4 & 8: The Nechako Valley Food Network
- Dec 9: Invasive Species in Agriculture Four-Part Webinar Series
- Feb 3, 4, 5 and 11: Dam Safety Management Training Workshops
Drought and Wildfire Preparedness:
- Why is FireSmart the best defense against wildfires?
Programs and funding opportunities:
- New SlaughterRight Online Training Course
- Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program (AWP) Stream 1 and 4
- The BC Agri-Business Planning Program (ABPP)
- BC Producer Survey on New Technologies
Business Risk Management Programs:
- Production Insurance
- AgriStability
Resources:
- Livestock Drought Management series
- BC Agriculture Educational Videos
- Agriculture Research Summaries
- Livestock Water Quality
Interpreting Your Soil Test Report
Date: December 16, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PT
Location: Zoom (workshop link upon registration)
The Ministry of Agriculture & Food invites you to register for their upcoming Virtual Workshop: Interpreting Your Soil Test.
If you recently submitted a soil sample for analysis and have a soil test report but aren’t sure what it means, join the Ministry of Agriculture & Food for a virtual hands-on workshop to help you decode soil test results and learn how to use them for better crop, fertilizer, and land management decisions.
To get the most out of the workshop, please bring along your test results. Even if you have not received your test results or you did not submit one, you are still welcome to attend!
Please register by clicking on the link below!
Once you register, you will receive the link to join the virtual workshop. Please check your emails or contact events02@vgnresources.ca or clared@vgnresources.ca if you do not receive it or for more details.
Century Farm Award and Vanderhoof's 100th Anniversary
Founded in 1926, the District of Vanderhoof has grown from a small railway settlement into the vibrant heart of British Columbia’s geographic center. In 2026 Vanderhoof will be celebrating its 100th anniversary, planning is already underway and Regional District Bulkley Nechako Elected Representative for Rural Vanderhoof, Area F, Shirley Moon is encouraging the farm and ranching community to get involved by nominating their eligible operations for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Century Farm Award.
Emergency Planning Workshop
Dates:
Wednesday December 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM - The Old Church (Smithers)
Emergency Planning Workshop is led by BC Agriculture Council and Ag Safe to support growers and industry partners in preparing for agricultural emergencies.
During this in-person session, you can expect to:
- Learn how to develop and implement effective emergency management plans tailored for your farm
- Understand BC's emergency response framework and how it supports dairy producers
- Explore vital tools, including the Access Pass System Premises ID, and farm specific resources
- Build connections with local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and strengthen community collaboration
For more details, visit the link below!
The Nechako Valley Food Network
Dates:
Fraser Lake (in-person): Dec. 4 at 6:00 PM at Autumn Services 111 Chowsunket St.
Virtual: Dec. 8 at 6:00 PM via Zoom - link will be sent to registrants.
The Nechako Valley Food Network is excited to host engagement meetings to inform our next project: The Nechako Regional Food Hub.
Click the link below to register (there will be a door prize at each meeting)!
For questions or more information, please contact us at producers@nvfoodnetwork.com
Invasive Species in Agriculture Four-Part Webinar Series
Date: December 9, 2025
Time: 07:00 - 08:00 PM
Location: Online
Discover the newest pest issues affecting farms across British Columbia, and learn practical steps to detect, respond, and prevent their spread on your operation.
Join Tracy Hueppelsheuser, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, for this free online webinar on Dec 9, 7–8 pm.
Register today and stay prepared for emerging pest challenges in B.C.’s diverse agricultural systems.
Dam Safety Management Training Workshops
Join us in February for FREE Dam Safety Management Training Workshops for agricultural dam owners and prospective dam owners! Training will be delivered by the Dam Safety Training Coordinator with support from Dam Safety Officers from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. You'll cover topics such as the Dam Safety Regulation, emergency planning and emergency response, dam surveillance and inspection, early maintenance, vegetation and animal management, and more! In-person and online workshops are being offered at the following locations:
In-person events:
Feb. 3: Princeton, B.C.
Feb. 4: Merritt, B.C.
Feb. 5: Vernon, B.C.
Online:
Feb. 11: Province-wide (in-person viewing in Williams Lake)
For more information and to register, scan the QR codes above or click the buttons below!
Why is FireSmart the best defense against wildfires?
FireSmart focuses on practical changes within 30 meters of a structure—with the greatest priority on the structure itself and the immediate 1.5 meters around it— to reduce the chances of a structure igniting.
Did you know that embers are the leading cause of structure ignition? FireSmart addresses the root causes of structure ignition, including embers that can travel kilometers ahead of a wildfire.
Watch ‘Farmers talk FireSmart’ or apply now (button below) for a FireSmart BC Farm & Ranch Assessment.
Take control and make your property a wildfire-resilient operation to protect your people, animals, and livelihood.
Beneficial Management Practices Program
The Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program works to help producers contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment with projects that improve waste management, air quality control, emissions control, soil and riparian integrity, and environmental impacts.
Start or Renew your Environmental Farm Plan today to prepare for 2026’s Beneficial Management Practices Program application intake this winter. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to cut costs, boost efficiency, and make meaningful improvements that benefit both your farm and the environment.
EFP Program Funding has been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Additional funding has been provided by CleanBC. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).
New SlaughterRight Online Training Course
This online course replaces the previous paper-based SlaughterSafe training and remains a mandatory requirement for all Farmgate and Farmgate Plus slaughter establishment licence applicants.
The online SlaughterRight course improves accessibility and convenience for producers, especially those in rural and remote areas.
The online format ensures consistent delivery and offers flexibility for learners to complete the training at their own pace and is a green alternative to the former paper-based approach.
The course focuses on regulations and best practices that govern critical food safety points in the slaughter process and reinforces awareness of regulated animal welfare practices. Completion of this training is required to obtain or renew a licence. A certificate of completion is generated upon successful completion of the training.
The official launch date for the SlaughterRight online course was November 17, 2025. We encourage you to review the updated information on the SlaughterRight webpage, which is available.
Please contact the Meat Inspection Program at bcmeatinspection@gov.bc.ca with any questions about accessing the new course.
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program (AWP) Stream 1 and 4
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program (AWP) is accepting funding applications until December 18 at 4pm PST under Stream 1 (Producer Projects) and Stream 4 (Strategic Projects).
Stream 1: Producer Projects
Stream 1 provides cost-shared funding support for large-scale water infrastructure projects led by producers with a focus on water storage and conveyance system improvements.
For more information on Stream 1 including a list of eligible activities and eligible applicants, please visit the links below:
Stream 4: Strategic Projects
Stream 4 focuses on supporting strategic and collaborative community projects in areas with high water use conflict, risks to the aquatic ecosystem (e.g., environmental flow needs), existing and potential risks of agricultural water shortage, and/or opportunities to expand water availability through community-led strategic projects.
For more information on Stream 4 including eligible activities, eligible applicants, and priority watersheds being considered for Stream 4, please visit the links below:
Prospective applicants with questions are encouraged to reach out to IAF by email (awp@iafbc.ca) or by phone (250) 940-6150 and (or) book a 10-minute appointment (completed by phone) with an IAF staff member.
The BC Agri-Business Planning Program (ABPP) is open!
The BC Agri-Business Planning Program (ABPP) is now open for applications! Funding is available under two streams:
- Stream 1: Agri-business skills and leadership development
Funding up to 70% to a maximum contribution of $2,000
- Stream 2: Business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery
Funding up to $7,500 for individual business
Program funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants until the application deadline on 4:30 pm on December 08, 2025, or the funding has been fully allocated.
Applications are open to December 8, 2025.
BC Producer Survey on New Technologies
We invite you to take part in a short survey for a research project led by Royal Roads University and the University of the Fraser Valley. This survey looks at how fruit and vegetable farmers in BC are using or may be interested in using different types of farming technology. This includes digital tools, controlled environment agriculture systems, and agri-genomics. Your response will be used to improve farming policies, tools, and support programs for BC farmers.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will be kept private. Names or any other personal identifiers will not be collected. When reporting on the outcomes of the study, the results will be aggregated and not linked to any individual. Participants will be entered into a raffle for an assortment of gift cards with a total value of $1,800.
Production Insurance
Insurance and Income Protection Programs are an important part of a farmer’s overall risk management strategy. AgriStability and Production Insurance work together to provide the best coverage for producers.
Production Insurance helps producers manage their risk of crop losses caused by hail, spring frost, excessive rain, drought, flooding and other extreme weather events.
In British Columbia, Production Insurance is available for:
Need Help? Production Insurance Representatives are available to help with the application and renewal process.
- Phone: 1-888-332-3352 toll-free
- ProductionInsurance.Kelowna@gov.bc.ca
- Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/CropInsurance
AgriStability
AgriStability helps stabilize farm income by managing the risk of large income declines. The AgriStability program is based on the income and expenses of individual farms.
AgriStability offers enhanced benefits for 2025:
- increased compensation rate to 90% (on income declines greater than 30%)
- provides up to 75% for early payments
- maximum payment limit increased to $6 million
Upcoming AgriStability deadlines
December 31:
- 2025 Enrollment fee deadline (with penalty) – last chance to ensure coverage is in place for the 2025 year!
- 2024 Statement A Submission Deadline (with penalty) - the supplemental page must be completed for you to be eligible.
- Individuals: Supplemental page is Page 7 of the Statement A (T1273)
- Corporations: Supplemental page is Page 5 of the Statement A (1373-E) Corporations can easily submit Statement A details using our online form.
Staff are available to answer questions and help with the enrollment process.
- Phone: 1-877-343-2767 toll-free. Support is available in English and Punjabi.
- Email: AgriStability@gov.bc.ca
- Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/AgriStability
Livestock Drought Management Series
What if your hay barn could save you thousands every year? Learn how strategic investments in forage and feed infrastructure can pay off for decades in Article 7 of the Livestock Drought Management Series.
AgriServiceBC Agriculture Educational Videos
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has been working with industry experts and organizations to produce a series of short videos on a wide range of topics for agriculture producers and food processors. This is one of the features we have added to improve our AgriServiceBC website and make it more informative and accessible to support other resources such as production guides, factsheets, workshops, and funding programs.
Some topics covered in the short videos produced so far include: orchard and crop management for cherries or grapes, as well as agricultural soil management practices such as interpreting soil tests or using techniques to field evaluate soil structure. Others include installing and maintaining planted hedgerows or implementing innovative weed control technologies, while some cover different on-farm demonstration research trials or water management strategies such as irrigation efficiency or salinity monitoring.
You can find all of the completed videos on our AgriServiceBC Agriculture Educational Videos page. This project is on-going, so watch for the new ones that were produced this year and for ones that will be produced in the future.
Agriculture research summaries
Read short summaries of agricultural studies tailored to B.C. farmers and producers.
Livestock water quality
When stock water appears abundant and water quality has been consistent in previous years, it’s easy to focus on other things. However, don’t overlook water testing.
Poor quality stock water can lead to reproductive inefficiency, poor gains, disease, and in extreme circumstances, death. Even when water supplies appear abundant, stock water may contain high levels of sodium, sulphates or other compounds that lead to toxicity.
Water quality can be especially variable in surface water sources, such as dugouts, ponds or dams, and weather doesn’t necessarily need to be hot and dry to warrant regular testing. It’s also important to monitor well water conditions. Quality in well water can change quickly, even if wells have had suitable water in the past. Precipitation levels in the previous years, groundwater recharge, runoff conditions, evaporation levels and adjacent land use can all impact water quality both short-term and long-term.
Concerned about Water Quality for livestock?
The BC Cattlemen’s Association and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food have partnered on a project to help livestock producers test their water, free of cost. This project makes it convenient to check for unhealthy levels of dissolved solids in the water, and can assist producers with obtaining a complete water analysis, if necessary.
Contact the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association for more information on the program. Call 250-573-3611 or email water@cattlemen.bc.ca
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