Farming

Kensington Prairie Farm has 105 alpacas and 12 other kinds of animals. (Kensington Prairie Farm/Facebook)

Aldergrove farm selling pumpkins for a cause

100 per cent of all pumpkin proceeds goes to animal rescue initiatives

 

Maan Farms in Abbotsford has lost half of its pumpkin crop due to rot. The unmarketable pumpkins are being offered to animal farmers and sanctuaries. (Dylaina Gollub Photography)

Abbotsford farm loses half its pumpkin crop due to rot

Maan Farms now offering unusable pumpkins to animal farmers

 

The pigs at Aldergrove-based Happy Herd farm are looking for more tasty treats this pumpkin season. (Tiffany Akins/Aldergrove Star files)

Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary looking for tasty donation

Pumpkins aren’t only a pig favourite, donkeys, goats, and chickens love tasting the seasonal treat

 

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*
The trial date has been set for the four people charged with 21 combined counts of break and enter and criminal mischief in relation to a protest at an Abbotsford hog farm in 2019. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)

Trial date set for activists linked to Abbotsford hog farm protest

The ‘Excelsior 4’ will head to trial on June 28, 2022, the four defendants face 21 combined charges

The trial date has been set for the four people charged with 21 combined counts of break and enter and criminal mischief in relation to a protest at an Abbotsford hog farm in 2019. (Ben Lypka/Abbotsford News)
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)
Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman, who operates a small specialty poultry farm, welcomed new B.C. regulations, announced Tuesday, that allow small beef, pork, and poultry producers to process and sell directly. (file)

New licensing for small beef, pork, and poultry producers hailed by Langley East MLA

Megan Dykeman, former Langley Farmers’ Institute chair, calls the changes ‘fantastic’

Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman, who operates a small specialty poultry farm, welcomed new B.C. regulations, announced Tuesday, that allow small beef, pork, and poultry producers to process and sell directly. (file)
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 recent heat wave may have spared later variety of blueberries. (The News files)

Lower Mainland blueberry farmers hope heat hasn’t harmed later variety crops

Duke, the earliest variety, most affected by recent heat wave

The recent heat wave may have spared later variety of blueberries. (The News files)
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)
Full Bloom Lavender Farm in Aldergrove is truly in full bloom and offering tours. (@pickupsmilesphotography/Special to The Star)

Aldergrove lavender farm blossoms amid high heat

Full Bloom is currently open for walking tours and shopping

Full Bloom Lavender Farm in Aldergrove is truly in full bloom and offering tours. (@pickupsmilesphotography/Special to The Star)
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
Susan Davidson is a farmer and has been a resident of the collective since 1980. (Special to The Star)

Aldergrove farming collective pivots to markets and produce boxes during COVID

Fraser Common Farm has been growing greens under Glorious Organics name since mid-1980s

Susan Davidson is a farmer and has been a resident of the collective since 1980. (Special to The Star)
A South Surrey blueberry farmer is defending the use of wind turbines after a Morgan Creek couple filed a complaint against his neighbour. (Pixabay photo)

South Surrey noise complaint an example of urban-rural clash, says farmer

‘I do feel there is not a lot of respect for the farmers’: Avtar Longiye

A South Surrey blueberry farmer is defending the use of wind turbines after a Morgan Creek couple filed a complaint against his neighbour. (Pixabay photo)
Police blocked off 40th Avenue on Jan. 10, 2015 while firefighters battled a meth lab blaze. The fire has led to a lawsuit against Langley Township. (Langley Advance Times files)

Bill for meth lab fire leads to lawsuit against Langley Township

Local farmers say they shouldn’t have to pay costs of putting out fire in rental house

Police blocked off 40th Avenue on Jan. 10, 2015 while firefighters battled a meth lab blaze. The fire has led to a lawsuit against Langley Township. (Langley Advance Times files)
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
Pickles the pig celebrates Easter at Happy Herd Animal Sanctuary. (Happy Herd/Special to The Star)

PHOTOS: Happy Herd hams it up for Easter

Aldergrove animal sanctuary dressed up the critters with bunny ears

Pickles the pig celebrates Easter at Happy Herd Animal Sanctuary. (Happy Herd/Special to The Star)
Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market is set to open its 2021 season on Saturday, April 10. The market will run weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 18. Meanwhile, the Langley Community Farmers’ Market is returning this season at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum on June 16. This market will operate weekly on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. (Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market Facebook)

Langley farmers’ markets ready to welcome 2021 season

COVID-19 health protocols will be in effect

Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market is set to open its 2021 season on Saturday, April 10. The market will run weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 18. Meanwhile, the Langley Community Farmers’ Market is returning this season at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum on June 16. This market will operate weekly on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. (Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market Facebook)