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Peace Edition
Regional Newsletter - August 2024
In July 2024 the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food launched the AgriService BC Crop and Livestock Reporter Program based on the very successful crop reporting programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This program is for any agricultural producer or allied tradesperson who enjoys monitoring agricultural production conditions in their area and would like to be part of a network of people contributing timely, local agricultural intel to raise awareness of growing conditions throughout B.C. and support agricultural information sharing.
Each week from April to November, Reporters will spend about 5 minutes filling out an easy online survey that collects information on rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions, seeding progress, crop development, crop damage, harvest progress, livestock feed and water supplies, and pasture conditions. This information will be used in B.C. by producers, producer organizations, government, and others interested in keeping informed of current agricultural production findings in regions across B.C.
Please visit the program website here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriservice-bc/crop-and-livestock-reporter-program for more information and to register as a Crop and Livestock Reporter. No identifying information from crop reporters will be shared.
Peace River Forage Association of B.C. Grazing Management Series
Digging It!
Keep it Clean Pre-harvest Tips and Tools Webinar Recording
Keep it Clean hosted a webinar on July 10th featuring timely pre-harvest tips and tools to protect the marketability of Canada’s canola, cereal and pulse crops. During the webinar, experts discussed proper staging for pre-harvest glyphosate application, the importance of following pre-harvest intervals for crop protection products and scouting for disease.
Watch the webinar recording now on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1vyGedNqv4
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
PROGRAM INFORMATION: The Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program (AWP) aims to increase adoption of efficient irrigation infrastructure and improve agricultural water supply and management in British Columbia. Through this program, the Government of B.C. seeks to see improvements to stream flows, fish populations, and increased and more sustainable food production. The program goal is to help improve water security in agricultural areas and food security in B.C.
The AWP is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) of B.C. Please refer to the program website for details: Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program – Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (iafbc.ca).
- Stream 1 Producer Projects: Open for application drafts June 27th, 2024. Open for application submissions July 25th - August 8th, 2024
- Stream 2 Community Projects: Now Closed
- Stream 3 Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans - Now open for application submissions until funds are fully committed
- Stream 4 Strategic Projects
Farmland Advantage
Farmland Advantage works with farmers to enhance natural values on their land through a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) model. These natural values, or ‘Ecosystem services’, are the benefits that a natural environment provides to people.
Farmland Advantage helps farmers identify the natural values on a farm that can be protected, restored, and enhanced and develops recommendations and plans to preserve them. These plans may include establishing stream setbacks, building strategic fencing, undertaking reforestation, implementing rotational grazing practices on rangeland, thinning and pruning tree stands, or removing debris to reduce wildfire fuels. Once a site is selected and assessed, the prescribed work is completed by Farmland Advantage in partnership with producers and in some cases, restoration partners.
Farmland Advantage provides an annual compensation to farmers based on successful implementation of the project, and ongoing upkeep.
Learn more about the program by clicking the button below
Highway Fencing Program
The Highway Fencing Program helps livestock owners who need assistance to maintain or improve fences adjacent to highways.
Applications are reviewed by a committee, and projects are selected based on several factors, including current fence condition, livestock headcount and highway designation.
Once projects are selected, the BCCA solicits quotes from local contractors to repair and replace the fencing.
Application Deadline: AUGUST 31, 2024 for the 2025 construction season
SAVE THE DATE!
Application intake for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program will be opening SOON.
The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program (ABPP) provides funding support for primary agricultural producers and agriculture, food and beverage processors to support informed decision making and ensure business development.
Funding is available under two streams:
1) Agri-business skills and leadership development
2) Business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery
To find out more, please visit the Ministry’s website https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/agri-business-planning-program#Overview
B.C. Peace Pest Update July 20-26
-3rd Instar - Adult Grasshoppers continue to be seen in ditches and along field edges of crops. Severe infestations for hoppers are considered 12+ individuals in field or in ditches 25+. Canola, and cereal crops have shown signs of damage along field edge with some damage further into the field. Window for control is drawing close as control becomes harder once they can fly. Scouting is recommended if you have a hay field neighboring yours. Grasshopper Species and Information: http://www.peaceforageseed.ca/pdf/SeedHeads/SH_12_Grasshopper_Overview.pdf
Grasshopper Control and Threshold: http://www.peaceforageseed.ca/pdf/SeedHeads/SH_13_Hopper_Threshold_&_Control.pdf
-Diamondback Moth catches increased this past week, and low number of caterpillars were caught in sweeps as well. As plants grown and leaves senesce, the caterpillar may shift to feeding on the pods. Diamondback Information: https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/insects/diamondback-moth/
-Lygus bug counts stayed around roughly the same from the previous week, with about 15-30 lygus per 50 sweeps, but they can still be an issue if weather becomes hot and drier again. Threshold for Lygus is 20-30 individuals per 10 sweeps during podding.
-Wheat Midge catches were low this week, but most wheat fields are susceptible to damage. Threshold for wheat yield damage is one midge per 4-5 wheat heads or grading threshold is 1 midge per 8-10 wheat heads, with scouting in the late evening when midge is active. Wheat Midge Information: https://www.alberta.ca/wheat-midge-overview
-Many predatory insects continued to be observed this week, various parasitic wasp species, syrphid and tachinid flies, lacewings and ladybug larvae, pupae and adults were noted in fields.
-Growth Stages using the BBCH Scale were noted for the week as follows: Canola 67-75, Wheat 65-77, and Peas 75-97. Growing Degree Days (Based on a May 1 seeding, Base 0°C) provided through the Peace Agri Weather Network are Rolla - 1297, Farmington - 1226, and Prespatou -1209
The B.C. Peace Pest Monitoring Project is a cross-commodity project coordinated by Keith Uloth and the Peace Region Forage Seed Association, with funding also provided by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the BC Climate Action Initiative, and the BC Grain Producers Association. Throughout the growing season, Keith performs in-field pest monitoring and texts out pest updates weekly. Contact Keith at 250-719-8322 or via email at pest@bcgrain.com to get added to the distribution list or for answers to your pest questions! You can check out the updates on the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pestmonitoring).
Drought Resources
The B.C. Peace and Northern Rockies regions remain at drought levels 3-4 (levels range from 0 to 5, with 5 being the most severe). Below is a list of some useful drought resources for producers:
- BC Drought Information Webpage
- Stock watering tips from the Beef Cattle Research Council
- Conservation resources and general information on drought in British Columbia
- Provincial Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan
- Summary of Provincial drought levels, indicators, and approach to response
- River Forecast Center
- Drought in Agriculture Webpage
- BC Drought Information Portal - Click “Access Current Drought Conditions” button and then “Northeast” on the left side to monitor levels specific to your area
- Accounts of suspected unauthorized water use
- Report suspected unauthorized use to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or the online incident portal: https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/
Early list of Livestock Tax Deferral Regions for 2024
This year, the Government of Canada has streamlined the process to identify regions earlier in the growing season, and also instituted a buffer zone to adjacent regions to capture impacted producers on the edges of affected regions.
Also new for 2024 and moving forward, regions that are adjacent to regions that qualify based on weather, climate and production data will also be prescribed. This will ensure that farms within those adjacent regions that may also be experiencing drought or excess moisture conditions can benefit from the Livestock Tax Deferral provision.
Livestock Tax Deferral regions
Emergency Preparedness - Is Your Farm Prepared?
As we move into the summer wildfire season, we would like to encourage producers and farming operations to review or create their Emergency Preparedness Plans. Creating a plan can help ensure that your operation is prepared in the event of an emergency.
Industry-specific guides and templates are available to help you plan.
To assist Indigenous and First Nations communities with planning for the agriculture aspect of emergencies, the Ministry has developed the Emergency Guide to Support Indigenous Farms & Ranches.
Is your farm insurance up to date? A checklist is available to help you prepare to meet with your insurance provider.
Ensure that your BC Premise Identification information is current, and if you are not registered, please do so, as all farms, including hobby farms are now required to register as of July 1, 2022. Visit the Premise ID Program for more information.
Flooding and wildfire resources from AgSafe can help producers build an emergency response plan for agriculture operations in B.C. You can also find information on mental health programs and support.
Emergency Preparedness is a key step! Keep aware of potential hazards through websites like BC River Forecast Centre and the BC Wildfire Service.
Emergency Supports Needed
The Emergency Management Branch of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food creates an annual emergency resources list which is used during
emergencies that impact the agriculture sector. The list includes hay & feed suppliers, livestock haulers, and water haulers whose assistance may be needed during emergency events.
If you fit in one or more of these categories, you are encouraged to contact the Emergency Management Branch at AF.Emergency.Management@gov.bc.ca so that they can have a discussion with you, and add you to the emergency resource list.
We are looking for hay suppliers, livestock haulers, and water haulers throughout the province.
Employees Living On Site
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food would like to remind producers who have employees living on site, or are providing housing for employees off-site, that the accommodation must abide by the Industrial Camps Regulation. The B.C. Guidelines for Industrial Camps Regulation is a helpful resource that provides guidance, best practices, definitions, and interpretation of the Industrial Camps Regulation.
If you have any questions, please refer to the relevant Health Authority Contacts on the Government of British Columbia's Industrial Camp webpage: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/keeping-bc-healthy-safe/industrial-camps
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.
Production Insurance Application Deadlines for the 2025 Crop Year:
• Berries, Grapes, Flower Bulbs and Strawberry Plants – October 31, 2024
• Tree Fruits and Forage – November 30, 2024
Excess Manure Management
In certain regions of British Columbia, it may be more difficult to effectively manage surplus manure for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: cost of land, transport costs to distant fields, and increasing quota to meet market demand.
The following factsheet provides guidance on dealing with surplus manure and covers a range of topics such as manure storage, nutrient management, and techniques for converting manure into valuable by-products.
Pasture Walks and Field Scouting
Whether you have forage fields or pastures, it is important to get out and walk the land to evaluate what is happening throughout the growing season. A quick look at soil health and moisture, along with plant vigour and productivity can help you evaluate what is going on and make decisions on next steps. This article provides information on pasture walks and field scouting, along with some guiding questions for forecasting and looking ahead.
This is the second article in the monthly Livestock Drought Management Article Series. All articles can be found here: Drought articles - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
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