Farming

Albert Gorter and Chelsea Enns will bring their farming and food processing expertise from Manitoba to Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm. (Optimist Holsteins Ltd. photo)

Newcomers to B.C. buy Little Qualicum Cheeseworks

Albert Gorter and Chelsea Enns from Manitoba buy business and farm from Gourlay family

Albert Gorter and Chelsea Enns will bring their farming and food processing expertise from Manitoba to Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm. (Optimist Holsteins Ltd. photo)
A farmer harvests her hay on a farm near Cremona, Alta., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Livestock producers in Saskatchewan facing hot, dry conditions this growing season and a feed shortage have another problem to contend with -- hay fraud. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

RCMP warn of rise in hay fraud in Saskatchewan

High demand for hay this year is fuelling the scam

A farmer harvests her hay on a farm near Cremona, Alta., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Livestock producers in Saskatchewan facing hot, dry conditions this growing season and a feed shortage have another problem to contend with -- hay fraud. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A two striped grasshopper infected with Entomophaga grylli, a fungal pathogen which only kills grasshoppers, is seen on a plant near Lethbridge, Alta., in a July 2021 handout photo. A pattern of dry, hot weather across the Prairies over the past few years has resulted in a grasshopper infestation of epic proportions, with some experts saying the nuisance is negatively affecting every part of the agriculture industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dan Johnson, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Booming grasshopper populations plague Prairie farmers

Higher than usual number of grasshoppers inhabiting grassy areas and feasting on crops

A two striped grasshopper infected with Entomophaga grylli, a fungal pathogen which only kills grasshoppers, is seen on a plant near Lethbridge, Alta., in a July 2021 handout photo. A pattern of dry, hot weather across the Prairies over the past few years has resulted in a grasshopper infestation of epic proportions, with some experts saying the nuisance is negatively affecting every part of the agriculture industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Dan Johnson, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)

From salt to stevia: B.C. couple nears full year without buying food

Pender Island’s Chris Hall and Stef Lowey have produced everything they’ve eaten since Aug. 3, 2020

On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)
Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Vancouver Island’s women hobby farmers part of a growing food revolution

Raising livestock and families: the young women farmers of Sooke share their stories

Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
Ben Glassen working with turkeys on a farm in the Westwood Road area of Nanaimo. Glassen wants to establish a poultry abattoir on a site on Jingle Pot Road. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

With meat-processing site numbers dwindling, Vancouver Island farmer seeks abattoir

Ben Glassen has ALC application for small-scale facility in Nanaimo

Ben Glassen working with turkeys on a farm in the Westwood Road area of Nanaimo. Glassen wants to establish a poultry abattoir on a site on Jingle Pot Road. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. (Screen shot)

Government to allow ‘more residential flexibility’ in agricultural lands, says B.C. minister

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham was guest speaker Friday during Surrey Board of Trade-hosted Zoom meeting

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. (Screen shot)
Farm hand Connor Hunt bales a hay crop near Cremona, Alta., Monday, July 17, 2017. Farmers are calling for emergency relief as drought ravages crops across the Prairie provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Prairie farmers pray for rain as drought, grasshoppers ravage crops and pastures

Scorching temperatures have left crops in poor condition across wide swaths of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Farm hand Connor Hunt bales a hay crop near Cremona, Alta., Monday, July 17, 2017. Farmers are calling for emergency relief as drought ravages crops across the Prairie provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The Shamrock Farm lavender harvest is July 19-25. Black Press file photo

Annual lavender farm days offering expanded hours at Comox’s Shamrock Farm

“The lavender fields are uplifting and really calming”

The Shamrock Farm lavender harvest is July 19-25. Black Press file photo
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island farmers face significant crop losses due to excessive heat

Berry patches suffer extensive damage, but high temperatures a benefit for corn growers

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Between 55 and 60 per cent of vendors at Saturday’s Comox Valley Farmers’ Market are farmers – providing the opportunity to meet the people growing and raising your food.

Meet a farmer at the Comox Valley Farmers’ Market

Local vendors at the market include makers, bakers, farmers and florists

  • Jun 14, 2021
Between 55 and 60 per cent of vendors at Saturday’s Comox Valley Farmers’ Market are farmers – providing the opportunity to meet the people growing and raising your food.
Adam Duncan and Ben Zion operate Portside Produce in the heart of Comox. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Portside Produce fills downtown void in Comox

Proprietors are hoping to open to six days a week in busiest months

Adam Duncan and Ben Zion operate Portside Produce in the heart of Comox. Photo by Mike Chouinard
Pumpjacks draw oil out of the ground as a deer stands in a canola field near Olds, Alta., Thursday, July 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian farmers have spring in their step from strongest commodity prices in years

Canola recently hit a 13-year peak after stubbornly low prices, gaining 52 per cent year-to-date

Pumpjacks draw oil out of the ground as a deer stands in a canola field near Olds, Alta., Thursday, July 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A mink sniffs the air as he surveys the river beach in search of food, in meadow near the village of Khatenchitsy, 65 kilometres northwest of Minsk, Belarus on September 4, 2015. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is the latest group to speak out against mink farming in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sergei Grits

Union of BC Indian Chiefs latest group to call for moratorium on B.C. mink farming

With other countries phasing out mink farming, time is now for province to follow suit, says union VP

A mink sniffs the air as he surveys the river beach in search of food, in meadow near the village of Khatenchitsy, 65 kilometres northwest of Minsk, Belarus on September 4, 2015. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is the latest group to speak out against mink farming in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sergei Grits
Through the Community Supported Agriculture program, consumers can buy vegetables and fruit boxes (right), or flower arrangements (left).

Comox Valley farmers expand Community Supported Agriculture program

Would you love to take advantage of the bounty of the Comox…

Through the Community Supported Agriculture program, consumers can buy vegetables and fruit boxes (right), or flower arrangements (left).
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Province invests $2M in three Vancouver Island food hubs

Hub network provides shared-use processing facilities to small agri-businesses

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Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft Farm in Black Creek, pictured with dog Lena, have been switching to regenerative farming practices to help their soil. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Black Creek farmers see soil in whole new way

Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft have been working on soil regeneration

Kathy and Glen Beaton of StoneCroft Farm in Black Creek, pictured with dog Lena, have been switching to regenerative farming practices to help their soil. Photo by Mike Chouinard
A Nanaimo chicken breeder came home to discover a gruesome scene Monday after a neighbour’s dog got loose and killed 28 of her chickens. (Photo submitted)

Dog kills ‘showgirl’ chickens at Vancouver Island farm

Breeder in Cedar upset at deaths of more than two dozen chickens

A Nanaimo chicken breeder came home to discover a gruesome scene Monday after a neighbour’s dog got loose and killed 28 of her chickens. (Photo submitted)
A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)

Seaweed farming opens world of opportunity for coastal B.C.

“It’s projects like this that can show what true reconciliation is about.”

A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)
In early 2022, B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to participate in the Premises Identification (ID) program. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to ID their livestock by end of 2021

The program will allow the province to trace animals in times of danger and disease

In early 2022, B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to participate in the Premises Identification (ID) program. (Black Press Media files)
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