Agriculture

Bob Shoker of Shoker Farms in his strawberry fields on Unsworth Road in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

‘You can’t get fresher than that’: Strawberries, field to stand in 20 minutes

Shoker Farms has been in Chilliwack since 1975 and strawberries are their specialty

Bob Shoker of Shoker Farms in his strawberry fields on Unsworth Road in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)
George Housty II (L), with his mother, Faye Housty, harvested kelp off the coast of Bella Bella, B.C. Herring also deposit their eggs on hemlock branches, pictured in this photo. (Photo by William Housty)

‘It’s like eating vitamins’: Kelp is harvested off of Bella Bella’s coast

William Housty from the Heiltsuk Nation harvests kelp with herring spawn

George Housty II (L), with his mother, Faye Housty, harvested kelp off the coast of Bella Bella, B.C. Herring also deposit their eggs on hemlock branches, pictured in this photo. (Photo by William Housty)
Beekeepers tend to hives in 2020. Beekeepers, aquaculturalists and federally licensed marijuana and hemp growers can now apply for special funding to help protect against extreme heat. (Chelsea Thomsen/Special to Black Press)

Province expands extreme weather funding program to include beekeepers, pot growers

Growers can apply for up to $35,000 in cost-sharing program to protect against heat, floods, fire

Beekeepers tend to hives in 2020. Beekeepers, aquaculturalists and federally licensed marijuana and hemp growers can now apply for special funding to help protect against extreme heat. (Chelsea Thomsen/Special to Black Press)
(The Canadian Press)

Tech, sustainability key to attracting young talent to an evolving agriculture sector

Twelve per cent of farms told Statistics Canada they had a succession plan in 2021

(The Canadian Press)
The Abbotsford Farm and Country Market, celebrating its 20th season, opened Saturday at Jubilee Park. It’s one of about 145 markets across the province that are included in the BC Farmers’ Market Trail app. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Track down B.C.’s best farmers markets this summer with interactive app

BC Farmers’ Market Trail lists 145 farmers markets in regions across the province

The Abbotsford Farm and Country Market, celebrating its 20th season, opened Saturday at Jubilee Park. It’s one of about 145 markets across the province that are included in the BC Farmers’ Market Trail app. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Goat gouda with spicy peppercorns and sweet red peppers from The Farm House Natural Cheeses. (Photo submitted)

Creamy and rich hand-made cheese made from the milk of European-bred cows grazing Agassiz’s fields

Swiss cheese-makers bring the craft to B.C.

Goat gouda with spicy peppercorns and sweet red peppers from The Farm House Natural Cheeses. (Photo submitted)
From left: Maureen, Emily, Jamie, Daniel and Wayne Ralph. The Ralph family, including daughter Kirstie (not pictured), has worked together to create Victoria Cider Co. (Nicole Crescenzi)

Victoria Cider Co. took a risk making keeved cider, but the results set them apart

A lifelong dream creates prize-winning keeved cider

From left: Maureen, Emily, Jamie, Daniel and Wayne Ralph. The Ralph family, including daughter Kirstie (not pictured), has worked together to create Victoria Cider Co. (Nicole Crescenzi)
The original and still working solar panel system on the Bulkley Canyon Ranch put out 155 kWh each. (Photo submitted)

A couple in New Hazelton “harvests the sun” in a solar panel operated ranch

A life reliant on solar panels is tough, but Laurie Gallant and Bill Crosson have it figured out

The original and still working solar panel system on the Bulkley Canyon Ranch put out 155 kWh each. (Photo submitted)
Head winemaker at O’Rourke Family Estate, Nikki Callaway, shows off her award-winning chardonnay. (Brittany Webster/Black Press)

World-class Okanagan winery wins international accolade

Aromatic, soft, floral wine can’t be compared to other regions of the world

  • May 11, 2023
Head winemaker at O’Rourke Family Estate, Nikki Callaway, shows off her award-winning chardonnay. (Brittany Webster/Black Press)
Hinterland farm. (Caleb Beyers Photography)

Pender Island alpaca, llama sanctuary turns wool into yarn

Avid knitter, Hanahlie Beise, fell in love with alpacas and making yarn

Hinterland farm. (Caleb Beyers Photography)
Amanda Goodman Lee of Swan Valley Honey in Creston (Maddy Prier photo)

Beekeeping brings Creston couple back to their roots

Amanda Goodman Lee, Jeff Lee turn collective dream into thriving multifaceted business

Amanda Goodman Lee of Swan Valley Honey in Creston (Maddy Prier photo)
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Fraser says the government will expand a pilot project to attract more temporary foreign workers to accept jobs in Canada’s agricultural industry for another two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Pilot program for temporary agricultural workers extended after rocky pandemic start

Two-year extension aimed to address labour shortages in the harvesting and livestock industry

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Fraser says the government will expand a pilot project to attract more temporary foreign workers to accept jobs in Canada’s agricultural industry for another two years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Recyclable ag plastics are compressed into bales for more efficient transportation. (Photo/UFV)

PHOTOS: Kent farmers test out prototype ag plastic compressor

Compressing agriculture plastics into bales makes for easier recycling

Recyclable ag plastics are compressed into bales for more efficient transportation. (Photo/UFV)
Farm fresh eggs from a vending machine? Who would have thought? And, yet, Doug Groenendijk has made it a reality. (Photo by Don Bodger)

B.C. farmer comes out of his shell to sell vending machine eggs

Vancouver Islands’ Doug Groenendijk says timing right to get cracking with a new venture

Farm fresh eggs from a vending machine? Who would have thought? And, yet, Doug Groenendijk has made it a reality. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A gas station displays its prices in Bowmanville, Ont. on Monday Dec. 5, 2022. It will cost many Canadians a bit more to fill gas tanks or heat their houses next month as the national carbon price rises Saturday in the three prairie provinces and Ontario. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

House passes bill creating carve-outs for farmers in Canada’s carbon pricing scheme

Farmers exempted from paying for emissions from natural gas, propane used for certain farm activity

A gas station displays its prices in Bowmanville, Ont. on Monday Dec. 5, 2022. It will cost many Canadians a bit more to fill gas tanks or heat their houses next month as the national carbon price rises Saturday in the three prairie provinces and Ontario. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives
B.C.’s cattle ranching industry has welcomed additional funding for veterinary training. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. to spend $22M to give boost to number of veterinarians

Additional funding will subsize veterinary training

B.C.’s cattle ranching industry has welcomed additional funding for veterinary training. (Black Press Media file photo)
Beekeepers move approximately 3.5 million bees from travelling frames into hives at a farm on North Oyster’s Code Road on March 8. (Duck Paterson photo)

3.5 million bees keep warm on Vancouver Island before heading to Prairies

Bees brought from New Zealand to invigorate hives in Saskatchewan

  • Mar 17, 2023
Beekeepers move approximately 3.5 million bees from travelling frames into hives at a farm on North Oyster’s Code Road on March 8. (Duck Paterson photo)
Pam Alexis, B.C. minister of agriculture and food, said the $5 million she was announcing on March 16 in Chilliwack will protect farmers and their animals from animal diseases, which in turn will protect B.C.’s economy and food security. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. creates $5M animal-disease response program to make farmers, ranchers more resilient

‘Quicker, better’ response coming for B.C. outbreaks of avian influenza, swine fever: ag minister

Pam Alexis, B.C. minister of agriculture and food, said the $5 million she was announcing on March 16 in Chilliwack will protect farmers and their animals from animal diseases, which in turn will protect B.C.’s economy and food security. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)
Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

New agreement with Ottawa promises more support for B.C. farmers

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership kicks in April 1, 2023

Farmers and other food producers are promised additional supports under a new funding agreement between B.C. and the federal government. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
Shahram Rashti (left) and Bahram Rashti (right) of UP Vertical Farms just unveiled Canada’s first hands-free vertical farming facility. (Special to The News)

Canada gets its first hands-free vertical farming facility

UP Vertical Farms is expected to produce nearly 2 million pounds of salad greens each year

Shahram Rashti (left) and Bahram Rashti (right) of UP Vertical Farms just unveiled Canada’s first hands-free vertical farming facility. (Special to The News)