KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The British Columbia beef industry is conducting a study into the viability of constructing a federally inspected packing plant. Recently announced funds from the provincial agriculture ministry will allow for further consultation. B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced $450,000 in funding at the B.C. Cattlemen’s annual meeting in Smithers earlier this year. […] Read more
Stories by Tom Walker
B.C. Livestock Protection Program praised
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — The Livestock Protection Program that the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association launched last spring has the support of the province’s ranchers. “It’s a good program and a necessity,” said Ian Mitchell, who ranches in the North Thompson area. “I don’t remember my parents talking about wolf problems around the kitchen table 30 years […] Read more
4-H student named to PM youth council
KELOWNA, B.C. — A 4-H member from Penticton B.C., recently named to the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, says one of his priorities is improving access to health care for rural residents. Macgregor Tebbutt is a third year mechanical engineering student at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, an 11-year member of the Penticton 4-H club […] Read more
VIDEO: Drone use shows promise as ranch helper
Researchers look to ‘precision ranching’ to help cattle producers carry out basic tasks and pasture management
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Research designed to develop drones to help with routine ranch work has been given a $664,000 grant. John Church, Innovation Chair in Cattle Industry Sustainability at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, and his team are working with drones to carry out basic ranch tasks. Those include searching for, monitoring and herding cattle, […] Read more
Poultry producers move from mainstream to niche market
Couple sells commercial broiler operation to build abattoir, sausage kitchen as they switch to specialty products
FALKLAND, B.C. — North Okanagan specialty bird producers are helping others to farm and giving their children a business education. Hans and Lisa Dueck moved from commercial chicken production to specialty birds for direct sales to consumers and restaurants. “I bought my first quota from my dad and spent 26 years in the business,” said […] Read more
Grass versus grain finishing debated for bison
Although bison that are grass fed produce meat that is higher in vitamins, the short growing season poses a challenge
CHASE, B.C. — Feeding bison can be a complicated business, a recent bison field tour near Chase, B.C., was told. John Church, B.C. Innovation Chair in Cattle Industry Sustainability at Thompson Rivers University, said it can be challenging to deliver a consistent market weight animal with the nutritional attributes that consumers want. “In my mind, […] Read moreHops production migrates from Fraser Valley
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — British Columbia’s Fraser Valley was a major hop growing region up until the 1970s. However, growers left the area around Chilliwack because many of the sites were not suitable, said Ian Matthews, production manager at Hops Canada near Kamloops. Several Fraser Valley growers moved to the Yakima Valley in Washington state, which […] Read more
Hops producer aims high in B.C.’s interior
The 240 acre operation on First Nations land near Kamloops is expected to be Canada’s largest hops farm
KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A dry patch of river bench land on the outskirts of Kamloops is being turned into Canada’s largest hop farm. “This used to be a horse pasture,” said Ian Matthews, operations manager for Hops Canada. The 240 acres of TK’emlups Indian Band land stretches nearly two kilometres along the North Thompson River. […] Read moreB.C. coupon campaign gives farmers markets a boost
KELOWNA, B.C. — Farmers markets are booming in British Columbia, and coupons and wine are getting the credit. The number of farmers selling at markets has increased from 1,000 in 2009 to 1,400 in 2014, while direct sales increased 11 percent last year from 2014. “We estimate that this is equivalent to an increase of […] Read more
B.C. introduces climate action initiatives for Peace district
DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Climate change appears pretty obvious to Dawson Creek grain farmer Irmi Critcher. “We walked our fields this afternoon and it was just a crust of ice and a skiff of snow, nothing like what we should be having this time of year,” she said. “If we don’t get any of the […] Read more
