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Posts that are not part of a specific category and just general information.

No PFCA Silage Corn Testing this year

April 17, 2018

The Pacific Field Corn Association’s Corn Hybrid Trials will not be undertaken in 2018. The Agricultural Research and Development Center in Agassiz is not willing to renew the 30-year-old co-operative framework for access to its facility and use of the necessary equipment to undertake the testing program. Since there are no other freezing, grinding and drying facilities that can be efficiently utilized by the staff, the PFCA has no other alternative but to discontinue to offer the silage corn testing program.

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COVER CROPS FIELD DAY

April 14, 2018

THURSDAY April 19, 2018 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Agassiz Research and Development Centre
6947 Highway 7, Agassiz, BC
  * See the latest in fall-seeded cover crop varieties
  * Learn about relay cropping techniques for improved production during           hot, dry summers
  * Talk to researchers about cover crop performance under cold winter            conditions

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2017 BC AgriStability Enhancement Program may cover pest outbreaks if they caused significant damage

February 5, 2018

The BC Government has made special provisions to help producers suffering income declines in 2017. The British Columbia AgriStability Enhancement Program allows agricultural producers to enroll late and without penalty into the existing 2017 AgriStability Program with additional benefits such as:

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IAF Seeks Nominations for Innovation Award

January 8, 2018

The Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF) is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Award of Excellence for Innovation in Agriculture and Agri-Food. This award celebrates B.C.'s agriculture and agri-food leaders who have implemented specific projects or initiatives leading to economic, environmental or social benefits to British Columbia and the industry in general, or to a specific sector. The award is open to agri-food producers and processors; retail, food service, agri-food and/or private sector businesses; industry associations and organizations; input, technology and support service providers; academic institutions; regional districts and local governments. Applicants must have a head office or be registered in B.C. Innovations will be evaluated for their: Originality and uniqueness; Degree of economic, social and/or environmental benefit to British Columbia; Extent to which the project has advanced the industry or sector. Nominations close January 31, 2018. The 2018 award winner will be announced on April 12, 2018 at the IAF Project Showcase and Luncheon in Abbotsford.

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Cover Crops for Western Canada

January 8, 2018

Recently the seasons aren’t as short as they used to be, and they tend to be wetter, leaving farmers wondering what to do with all that excess moisture. That’s just one reason why cover crops might make sense, says Yvonne Lawley, a cropping systems researcher at the University of Manitoba. Cover crops are being used as green manure for organic production, as catch crops to prevent nutrient leaching, to improve soil organic matter and nutrient cycling, break up hardpan, protect soils from erosion and to increase the productivity of grazing systems. But Lawley said the soil health benefits of cover crops go beyond those traditional objectives. “If we think about the whole chain of microbes that exist in soil, they’re really being fed by the inputs and cycling of nutrients within the agro-ecosystem. If we can have plants growing for a longer period of time, capturing more sun, we can provide more input through either organic matter or exudates from roots that feed the fungi, bacteria and nematodes that then feed the higher trophic structure like earthworms.”

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BC's AgriStability Enhancement Program

January 2, 2018

Following a year impacted by wildfire, flooding and invasive species, farmers and ranchers around the province can recover some of their lost income with the Government of British Columbia’s new AgriStability Enhancement Program. The enhanced AgriStability Program was developed because of the unusual losses in 2017. Broader coverage was required in order to protect the 40-50% of B.C. farmers and ranchers not enrolled in the regular AgriStability program. Under the AgriStability Enhancement Program, B.C. farmers and ranchers can enrol in the regular program late and without penalty. AgriStability is a federal and provincial government program that protects farmers and ranchers from margin declines resulting from increased costs or decreased revenue. Payments are made if the farmer or rancher’s current-year margin falls more than 30% below the average of prior years. The AgriStability Enhancement Program is 100% funded by the B.C. government.

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Tree fruit replant applications due November 15

October 17, 2017

British Columbia’s tree fruit growers are being reminded they have until Nov. 15, 2017, to apply for replant funding as they prepare for next year’s growing season. The replant program helps growers replace fruit trees with new, high-value and high-quality fruit such as ambrosia and honeycrisp apples as well as late-season cherries. These new varieties meet consumer demands locally and around the globe. In 2016, B.C. fruit growers produced more than 128,000 tonnes of apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums/prunes, nectarines and apricots. The total represents close to one-third of Canadian production and over $116 million in farm cash receipts.

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Support available for ranchers impacted by British Columbia wildfires

August 17, 2017

The B.C. government is continuing to work with the Government of Canada to ensure B.C. ranchers have access to either existing or new programs as part of the overall response to the devastating wildfires in the province’s Interior. The potential impact is severe as B.C. ranchers have an estimated 30,000 animals within the boundaries of the wildfire-affected areas. The number of confirmed livestock injuries and losses is not available yet as the ongoing emergency response continues. Once the information is available, the B.C.

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Corn Rootworm 2017.4 - Flight is taking off this week August 8, 2017

August 9, 2017

Corn rootworm flight is really taking off this week in Sumas and south Abbotsford and probably elsewhere. There are loads of beetles flying; they are really active in some locations. Corn silks are getting snipped, leaves look bleached out from feeding, and nearby flowers seem to be aggregation places for beetles, in particular, in melon flowers. The beetles seem to like eating red-root pigweed.

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Even Inconclusive Forage Trail Findings Offer Benefits

July 7, 2017

Because winter feeding is his largest annual cost, Burns Lake, BC rancher Jon Solecki dreams of extending his grazing season. However, in his harsh, northern climate, the feed value of the forages he routinely grows drops to near zero by mid-fall. In 2015, he decided to test the establishment and productivity of five new-to-him perennial grasses in hopes of finding at least one that would remain nutritious into fall in his growing conditions.

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