Farming

Flooded farms are seen in this aerial photo in Sumas Prairie, Abbotsford, B.C., on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘It’s my life’s work’: B.C. fruit and vegetable growers face uncertainty after floods

Flooding comes a few months after a heat wave in late June “torched” crops

Flooded farms are seen in this aerial photo in Sumas Prairie, Abbotsford, B.C., on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
File - Members of Communist Party of India shout slogans during a protest against farm laws in Mumbai, India Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, has said his government will withdraw the controversial farm laws that were met with year-long demonstrations from tens of thousands of farmers who said the laws will shatter their livelihoods. The drawn-out demonstrations have posed one of the biggest political challenges to Modi, who swept the polls for the second time in 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)

Bowing to protests, India’s prime minister agrees to repeal farm laws

Narendra Modi’s announcement in a national address comes ahead of elections early next year

File - Members of Communist Party of India shout slogans during a protest against farm laws in Mumbai, India Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, has said his government will withdraw the controversial farm laws that were met with year-long demonstrations from tens of thousands of farmers who said the laws will shatter their livelihoods. The drawn-out demonstrations have posed one of the biggest political challenges to Modi, who swept the polls for the second time in 2019. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File)
Calf houses float in the flood waters in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Thousands of animals, livestock have perished in B.C.’s historic flooding: Agriculture Minister

BCSPCA on standby to help farmers, livestock

Calf houses float in the flood waters in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Avtar Dhillon is having success growing saffron flowers on his Abbotsford blueberry farm. The stigmas are removed from the plants, dried out and sold as a spice for cooking and other purposes. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford farmer among first in B.C. to grow and harvest ‘world’s most expensive spice’

Avtar Dhillon has success with saffron, normally produced in arid climates

Avtar Dhillon is having success growing saffron flowers on his Abbotsford blueberry farm. The stigmas are removed from the plants, dried out and sold as a spice for cooking and other purposes. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Dairy cows feed in a barn on a farm in eastern Ontario on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Abbotsford dairy farm has licence suspended amid allegations of animal abuse

BC SPCA is conducting an investigation after receiving video footage of ‘very serious instances’

Dairy cows feed in a barn on a farm in eastern Ontario on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham presents Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Rashleigh and nephew Peter Bryce Rashleigh with a Century Farm and Ranch Award. (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries)

Central Saanich family recognized for century of farming

Since 1936, Rashleigh family farms have provided food for the Peninsula and beyond

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham presents Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Rashleigh and nephew Peter Bryce Rashleigh with a Century Farm and Ranch Award. (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries)
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm crouches amid piles of pumpkins in his Central Saanich field. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Pumpkin patch family fun returns to Central Saanich farm

Channel your inner Charlie Brown at Michell’s Farm

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm crouches amid piles of pumpkins in his Central Saanich field. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The North Saanich Flavour Trail Harvest Lunch returns this weekend after being cancelled in 2020. Here, attendees gather at the gala dinner at Deep Cove Winery in 2019. (Photo courtesy Kelly Schaecher/Mark Taylor)

North Saanich lunch celebrates flavours of the region

Kildara Farm on Chalet Road playing host Sunday to North Saanich Flavour Trail Harvest Lunch

The North Saanich Flavour Trail Harvest Lunch returns this weekend after being cancelled in 2020. Here, attendees gather at the gala dinner at Deep Cove Winery in 2019. (Photo courtesy Kelly Schaecher/Mark Taylor)
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes (left) and Katie Underwood enjoy a sunny September day at Peas n’ Carrots, a Saanich farm. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Saanich farmer encourages area residents to get closer to their food

Peas n’ Carrots on Prospect Lake Road offers farm fresh vegetables and eggs

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes (left) and Katie Underwood enjoy a sunny September day at Peas n’ Carrots, a Saanich farm. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
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 B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps locals and travellers find fresh produce markets near them. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps Greater Victoria residents find nearby sites

Market operators encourage residents to shop local as social restrictions ease

The B.C. Farmers Market Guide helps locals and travellers find fresh produce markets near them. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)

Women hobby farmers are part of a food revolution

Raising livestock and families: the young women farmers of Sooke

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)
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: Pender Island couple nears year of producing everything they eat

Chris Hall and Stef Lowey haven’t bought a food product 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)
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
Last year, Satnam Dheensaw of Gobind Farms planted 50 per cent less strawberries in response to a shortage in foreign agriculture workers. The annual report from Peninsula and Area Agricultural Food Commission described the lack of domestic and foreign workers as the biggest obstacle during 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)

Ag report finds growing challenges, opportunities for Saanich Peninsula farmers

Demand for locally grown food increased up to 300 per cent in 2020; land becoming more expensive

Last year, Satnam Dheensaw of Gobind Farms planted 50 per cent less strawberries in response to a shortage in foreign agriculture workers. The annual report from Peninsula and Area Agricultural Food Commission described the lack of domestic and foreign workers as the biggest obstacle during 2020. (Black Press Media file photo)
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Saanich Peninsula farmers face significant crop losses due to excessive heat

Local berry patches sustain extensive damage; high temperatures a benefit for corn growers

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Eric White’s roadside farm stand in Metchosin sits stocked with produce. (Photo courtesy of Eric White)

Fledgling Metchosin farmer frustrated by thefts from stand

Eric White said every dollar made at the roadside helps sustain his farm

Eric White’s roadside farm stand in Metchosin sits stocked with produce. (Photo courtesy of Eric White)