Farming

Dave and Skye Hamming of Tazo Farms are pictured inside their barn, with roughly 110 cattle behind them. A recently installed DeLeval milking robot, pictured in the background, allows them to do more, with fewer hands. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media)

Supply management key to survival of B.C. dairy industry, says Okanagan farmer

Automation, robotic milking; family farms continue to adapt to keep up with the changing times

 

Blueberries being picked in B.C. (B.C. Blueberry Council/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Province backs B.C. blueberry farmers in trade dispute with U.S.

The United States is investigating if imports are ‘harming’ U.S. farmers

 

“Comet,” born Dec. 18, survived his mother’s death at Christina Lake’s Fuster Cluck Farm after local farmers stepped in with life-saving milk. Comet is pictured in the home of Fuster Cluck’s Amy Enns-Haywood and Nigel Haywood. Photo courtesy of Amy Enns-Haywood.

Baby goat survives rocky birth at Kootenay farm after neighbours pitch in

“Comet” is thriving at Fuster Cluck Farm, where he plays with other baby goats and the farmers’ daughter

 

The B.C. Farm Museum honoured Langley’s Ann Blaauw at a small ceremony on Monday, Nov. 2. Blaauw recently donated $250,000 to the volunteer-run museum. (Mike Prangnell/B.C. Farm Museum)

Langley’s farm museum welcomes generous donation

Volunteer-run B.C. Farm Museum recognizes two local supporters

The B.C. Farm Museum honoured Langley’s Ann Blaauw at a small ceremony on Monday, Nov. 2. Blaauw recently donated $250,000 to the volunteer-run museum. (Mike Prangnell/B.C. Farm Museum)
Fava Beans. (Cassie Plotnikoff/Special to The Star)

Aldergrove seed cooperative trying to keep up with demanding market

Program urges local producers to grow more varieties of fruit and vegetable for seed use

Fava Beans. (Cassie Plotnikoff/Special to The Star)
Two puppies and a baby goat have been stolen from Willows Farm in Aldergrove. (Willows Farm/Special to The Star)

UPDATE: Maremma puppies and baby goat found safe

Owner of Willows Farm reported them missing and presumed stolen on Tuesday

Two puppies and a baby goat have been stolen from Willows Farm in Aldergrove. (Willows Farm/Special to The Star)
A mushroom farm operator faces several charges under the Fisheries Act for two properties in the Bradner area of Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Two Abbotsford mushroom farms charged with polluting local creeks

Owner Quang Quach has previously faced several fines and penalties

A mushroom farm operator faces several charges under the Fisheries Act for two properties in the Bradner area of Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)
A massive blueberry harvesting machine was stolen from a rural Abbotsford property and police are hoping someone has information about the theft. Note that the people in this picture are not the suspects. (Facebook photo)

Massive blueberry harvester stolen from rural Abbotsford property

The search continues for a huge piece of farming equipment valued at $275,000

A massive blueberry harvesting machine was stolen from a rural Abbotsford property and police are hoping someone has information about the theft. Note that the people in this picture are not the suspects. (Facebook photo)
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau rises during a sitting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds reveal details of $35M fund to help make farms safer in COVID-19 pandemic

The program will be applied retroactively to cover any COVID-19-related costs from March 15

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau rises during a sitting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A huge blueberry harvesting machine like this one (not this exact one and these are not the suspects) was taken from a rural Abbotsford property over the weekend. (Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Massive blueberry harvester stolen from rural Fraser Valley property

A huge machine with a top speed of 15 kph was taken from an area near No. 3 road over the weekend

A huge blueberry harvesting machine like this one (not this exact one and these are not the suspects) was taken from a rural Abbotsford property over the weekend. (Facebook photo)
B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton addresses farmers’ rally outside the B.C. legislature over housing restrictions, Oct. 28, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

Farmers call on B.C. NDP to allow more housing, business

Secondary homes, restaurants, rentals can keep farms viable

B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton addresses farmers’ rally outside the B.C. legislature over housing restrictions, Oct. 28, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
Onions. (Pikrepo)

B.C. imports 99 million kilos of American onions. Why?

About four per cent of the onions consumed in B.C. are grown in the province

  • Aug 18, 2020
Onions. (Pikrepo)
More than one million cartons, each containing a dozen eggs, will be redistributed via an emergency federal program designed to address a key challenge facing farmers: having too much food and nowhere to sell it. A farmer sorts through eggs as they exit the hen barn at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

Chicken, eggs both go first as feds roll out COVID-19 food surplus program

$50-million surplus food program was announced by the Liberal government earlier this year

More than one million cartons, each containing a dozen eggs, will be redistributed via an emergency federal program designed to address a key challenge facing farmers: having too much food and nowhere to sell it. A farmer sorts through eggs as they exit the hen barn at an egg farm in West Lincoln, Ont., on Monday, March 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power
2019 saw a record blueberry crop of 200 million pounds. The BC Blueberry Council expects yields to be down “significantly” this year. Maple Ridge News file photo.

Fraser Valley blueberry growers struggle with ‘tremendous’ labour shortages, bad weather

BC Blueberry Council calls for federal government to remove the $1,000-limit cap on CERB program

2019 saw a record blueberry crop of 200 million pounds. The BC Blueberry Council expects yields to be down “significantly” this year. Maple Ridge News file photo.
Blueberry u-pick has started in most of Langley. (B.C. Blueberry Council)

Blueberries ripen as u-pick starts in Langley

The official Blueberry Day is to be held – online – on July 15

Blueberry u-pick has started in most of Langley. (B.C. Blueberry Council)
British Columbia is blessed with settings that are as fruitful as they are beautiful. Andrew Strain photo.

From Valleys to Vineyards: British Columbia’s Bountiful Playground

Rediscover your next great BC adventure

  • Jun 29, 2020
British Columbia is blessed with settings that are as fruitful as they are beautiful. Andrew Strain photo.
(The Canadian Press)

Farmers contest minister’s claim that grain-farmers’ carbon costs are tiny

The carbon tax is being rebated 100 per cent to households and through the Climate Action Incentive Fund

(The Canadian Press)
U-pick returns to Langley – with physical distancing

U-pick returns to Langley – with physical distancing

Berry farmers are getting ready for an unusual season

U-pick returns to Langley – with physical distancing
Farm Credit Canada is receiving a $5-billion lending increase. (File)

COVID-19: Help for agriculture industry as Farm Credit Canada receives $5B increase

The increase will give the agriculture industry more flexibility to tackle coming challenges

Farm Credit Canada is receiving a $5-billion lending increase. (File)
Tragedy revisited: Vigil held for three Abbotsford farm workers killed in 2007

Tragedy revisited: Vigil held for three Abbotsford farm workers killed in 2007

Worrying vehicle-inspection data shows lessons may not have been learned

Tragedy revisited: Vigil held for three Abbotsford farm workers killed in 2007