The Islands Agriculture Show E-Newsletter is a great way to be connected to agriculture and farm related events happening on Vancouver Island.  Each month we will be sending out an email that lists local events that you can attend. It is free to join and you can opt out at any time. Sign up is located here.

Looking for a place to share a local agriculture event or conference session?  Simply send 40 words detailing your event to our email: islandsagricultureshow@gmail.com

Farm Management Canada Free Webinars
http://agriwebinar.com/Upcoming.aspx

Coombs Farmers’ Institute 39th Annual Farm Auction

Date: Sunday April 23 2017
Time: Viewing Starts at 10:00 AM - Auction Starts at 11:00 AM

Place: Coombs Fairgrounds (Ford Road, Behind the General Store)
Machinery and Farm Implements - Livestock and Poultry - Quality Small Items
No Buyers Fee - Quality working farm related consignments accepted prior to the sale
This will be a quality sale where consignors bringing good items can expect to get good prices

Lunch Available at the 4H Concession - Proceeds Support Annual Scholarships
Web: www.coombsfarmersinstitute.ca
For More Information Contact: Janet Thony, President or Glen Hersley, Auctioneer 250-738- 0888 250-468-7030

2017 WIGA Viticulture and Oenology Conference, and Island Wines Showcase

Date: Tuesday April 25, 2017
Place: Ramada Hotel in Duncan
Info: http://wiga.ca/?page_id=1345
 
Programs/Funding

Traceability Speaker Funding

The Traceability Speaker Program provides speaker funding to agriculture and seafood organizations to educate their membership about traceability principles, systems, technologies, or infrastructure through educational events such as workshops, seminars, presentations or demonstrations.

The funding supports up to 100% of costs associated with traceability speaker expenses, to a maximum of $3,500 per event, $10,000 per sector.
Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program ends on March 31, 2018.
For more information and apply for funding, click here.
Tiffany Guan, M.Sc., P.Ag.
Traceability Program Specialist
BC Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: 604 556-3059
http://gov.bc.ca/agrifoodtraceability

BC Agriculture Council WATER LICENSING UPDATE
- ALL NON-DOMESTIC WELL USERS MUST NOW BE LICENSED.

Deadline for waived application fee has been extended to December 31, 2017 (previously March 1, 2017)
What does this mean for Farmers? - The Water Sustainability Act and new regulations were brought into effect on February 29, 2016. This legislation requires all non-domestic groundwater users, including farmers and ranchers, to apply for a water license.
Existing groundwater users will have a 3-year period to apply for a license (Feb 29, 2016 - Mar 1, 2019). Licenses will also be required for any newly constructed wells from 2016 onward, with the exception of wells used only for only domestic purposes. Existing well owners that apply for a license in the first two years (2016 and 2017) will be exempted from application fees (until December 31, 2017). Applications received from January 1, 2018 and onward will need to pay the additional application fee.
Why license? It's the law! - Protect your rights by licensing your well. Licensees will have a right to use water based on their date of first use. Their rights will be protected based on the current First-in-Time-First-in-Right (FITFIR) priority water allocation system.
Under the FITFIR system, licensees with earlier licence dates (senior licensees) have priority over later licence dates (junior licensees) for accessing water. These rights are important during times of drought or water scarcity.

How to Apply?

1. (Optional) Apply for your BC Electronic ID (BC EID) at www.bceid.ca. With it, you can pause and save your online application to complete later.
2. Collect information: well ID plate number, location, depth, construction reports/invoices, quantity, water use purpose, appurtenances, evidence of first use and permits for related works.
3. Submit a water license application through FrontCounter BC. See link below to access online application.

Link to online water license application here.
Helpful Resources:

• BC Cattlemen's Association developed a Helpful Hints document to help guide producers through the online licensing application.
• For help with the application process contact FrontCounter BC at 1-877-855-3222 (toll free)
• If you are curious about the potential cost of your well a Water Rent Estimation Calculator has been created and can be found here.

The BCAC Water Sustainability Committee continues to work closely with government to ensure the implementation of BC's new Water Sustainability Act is as easy and painless as possible.

Livestock Tag Reader Rebate program

The ministry has recently launched the new Livestock Tag Reader Rebate program, funded by Growing Forward 2. The program targets small livestock producers in B.C. that do not meet the eligibility requirement of $30K in annual farm income of the ministry’s On-Farm-Food Safety and Traceability program, also a GF2 program. The new program intends to help small livestock producers with the purchase of a livestock tag reader and associated software so they are prepared to meet the anticipated federal regulations on livestock movement reporting.
The program will reimburse up to 70% of the cost of these readers to a maximum of $3,500 per applicant. Eligible expenses are livestock tag readers (hand-held or panel readers), reader installation, related software and related equipment training. Readers must be listed on the CCIA’s Conditionally Verified Readers list. For a link to the list and more information including an application form, visit http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/food-safety/livestock-tag-reader-rebate-program. The livestock applicant must also be registered in the ministry’s Premises Identification program. Registration for BCPID can happen simultaneously as the application to the Tag Reader program.
Spread the word on the new program. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Tiffany Guan, M.Sc., P.Ag.
Traceability Program Specialist

BC Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: 604 556-3059
http://gov.bc.ca/agrifoodtraceability

Post-Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program (PFFST) The PFFST Program seeks to improve food safety and traceability by providing funding up to a maximum of $35,000 through cost-shared funding to eligible BC agrifood businesses to:
·conduct food safety and traceability assessments to identify and document risks, issues and opportunities to improve food safety and traceability capacity, systems and practices;

·access training to increase the food safety and traceability expertise of their staff; and

·implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Best Practices (BPs) and recognized Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety practices and traceability systems in their operations.

PFFST program is being delivered by Food Processing Human Resources Council (FP HRC) until Feb 28, 2018. For more information, please contact Dayna Poulin at 1-877-963-7472 or at dpoulin@fphrc.ca. If you have any questions about PFFST program, you can also contact Navneet Gill at 604-556-3079 or Navneet.Gill@gov.bc.ca

Putting in place recognized food safety and traceability systems will support BC agribusinesses effectively manage food safety risk, access new markets, and retain and expand existing markets. PFFST program is now accepting applications. Program application, guidelines and related documents are available at http://postfarmfoodsafety.com/home/

BC FoodWorks Program will accelerate the success of agrifood processing companies based in British Columbia. The Program will support individual small- and medium-sized enterprises in the food, functional food, and natural health product sector by providing business training, customized workshops, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, ongoing business support, networking and marketing opportunities to address challenges related to business planning, human resources, export development, investment attraction, operations, regulatory processes and/or sales and marketing. If you are aware of any companies that might be interested in participating in the program, feel free to direct them to the BC FoodWorks webpage: https://bcfoodworks.com/

On-Farm Food Safety & Traceability Program B.C.'s On Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program offers eligible B.C. agrifood businesses cost shared funding to:

· Conduct food safety and traceability assessments to identify and document risks, issues and opportunities to improve food safety and traceability capacity, systems and practices;

· Access training to increase the food safety and traceability expertise of their staff; and

· Implement good agricultural practices (GAPs), best practices (BPs) and recognized hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) food safety practices and traceability systems in their operations.

The program targets on-farm agri-businesses producing food for human consumption and businesses seeking first-time certification in internationally recognized HACCP-based food safety assurance programs. B.C. companies that use recognized food safety and traceability standards, and implement food safety and traceability systems, effectively manage food safety risk, and create opportunities to access new markets and increase sales.
The program is administered and delivered by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Learn more about the program and how to apply


Government of Canada Funding: Canadian Summer Jobs - Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It is designed to focus on local priorities, while helping both students and their communities.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/youth-summer-job.html
Your application must be submitted by 23:59 (Pacific Standard Time), on January 20 of the year you wish to hire.
 

The Pacific Field Corn Association's Silage Corn Hybrid Yield Trials are now complete for 2016. Abbotsford site is seeded early and had 47 entries; Agassiz site is seeded late and had 25 entries; the Interior site had 21 entries. All data tables report the 2016 results and the Long-term average results.

Link to data: 2016 Data tables http://www.farmwest.com/node/48?utm_source=emailcampaign94&utm_medium=phpList&utm_content=textemail&utm_campaign=2016+Corn+Hybrid+Data+now+posted+on+Farmwest

Continuing Education

 Gaia College works in partnership with professional associations, public educational institutions, community organizations and private corporations to deliver education in sustainable technologies. We licence curriculum for classroom courses and offer online course as well. To find out more please visit: www.gaiacollege.ca

Links

Five videos for on-farm mortality composting have been developed: three for poultry, one for medium hoof stock, and one for large hoof stock. If you come across anyone who wishes to begin composting their mortalities, whether they are a commercial or backyard operation, please direct them to these videos. You can find the videos at the link below.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/waste-management/poultry-and-livestock-carcass-disposal

Manure Spreading Advisory #1 for 2017: South Coast Region: http://www.farmwest.com/node/1640

Turkey Recipes  http://www.bcturkey.com/video-recipes.html

Interested in storing more water on your farm?

Watch our video on developing Agricultural Water Storage!
Cowichan valley agricultural producers have a new video resource to assist them in addressing water management complexities on their farms.

The groundwork for the video was laid at last year’s Islands Agriculture Show (2016), where the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative worked with local partners to offer a farm tour and two panel sessions focused on drought, water supply, water management and developing farm-level water storage. The tour featured visits to 4 local farms that showcased different types of production systems utilizing differing water sources, water storage and water delivery systems. The panels included subject matter experts from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and agricultural producers.
Footage from the panels and farm tours were incorporated into a water storage and management video and is available for viewing through the following link.   www.bcagclimateaction.ca/regional-project/cw08/
This video was developed as a part of the Agricultural Water Storage and Management Knowledge Transfer project which is filling a knowledge gap that was identified through consultation with a wide number of producers in the Cowichan Valley. During previous workshops on Extreme Events and Preparedness in the Cowichan, producers identified effective drainage systems and on-farm water storage as important elements of adaptation – in some cases essential for mitigating the impacts of extreme events (i.e. flooding and extended dry periods). Since installation of appropriate water infrastructure can be a challenge for individual producers, knowledge transfer – including demonstration and improving available informational resources – was seen as a necessary support.

For more information about these projects, or agricultural climate change adaptation in the Cowichan Valley, please go to http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/regional/vancouver-island/
or contact Emily MacNair: emily@bcagclimateaction.ca

Innovation Challenge Winners Bring Local Tech to B.C. Farms

Four British Columbia companies have each won $20,000 for developing B.C. tech to help solve a
problem identified as part of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and the BC Innovation Council’s Innovation Challenge.

Bats and White Nose Syndrome

(WNS) WNS is an invasive fungal disease that has killed 7 million bats in eastern North America since arriving here in 2006 and caused emergency listing of Little Brown and Northern Bats in Canada due to 90% to 100% declines at some hibernacula. WNS was detected in Washington State in 2016 and is likely to spread to BC, putting our bats at risk.

We are requesting that the public report and submit dead bats to the BC Community Bat Program for WNS analysis. help us to increase awareness by sharing the following information bulletin. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017ENV0013-000301

Bees - Apiculture is the management and study of honeybees.

Beekeeping plays a key role in the production of most fruit and forage crops. British Columbia monitors for bee diseases and pests through bee inspections and the delivery of educational services, including beekeeping courses. A full range of laboratory diagnostic services are also available. http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees

Income Tax Hints for Small Farmers

http://www.farmtax.ca/Download/Loopholes_for_Farmers.pdf

Farm Credit Canada - 3 Top Tax Tips

https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/money-and-finance/3-top-tax-tips-for-farmers.html?utm_source=Subscribe+to+FCC+Email&utm_campaign=210ffc8957-FCC_Express_January_13_2017_EN_1_13_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecca3657d7-210ffc8957-18327157

2015 FCC Farmland Values Report - Get valuable insight into provincial and national land values across Canada with this overview of the 2015 Farmland Values Report.

How Multi-Generational Farms Keep Success in the Family – Farm Credit Canada – FCC Express
Three successful multi-generational farms share how they make working with family, work for their business. Read more

BC Ministry of Agriculture http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/agriculture

AgriServiceBC http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/about-agriculture-and-seafood-in-bc/agriservice-bc

Health Canada information - Pollinator Protection: Reducing Risk from Treated Seed
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/index-eng.php.
 

Agriculture Events 2017

 
Farm Management Canada Free Webinars http://agriwebinar.com/Upcoming.aspx
 
EcoFarm School

Date: Starting March 24, 2017 Monday, Friday and Saturday
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Place: Haliburton Community Organic Farm, 741 Haliburton Rd, Victoria
Details and to register contact: ecofarmschool@gmail.com or call 250-886-1648
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaliburtonFarm/
 
2017 WIGA Viticulture and Oenology Conference, and Island Wines Showcase
Date: Tuesday April 25, 2017
Place: Ramada Hotel in Duncan
Info: http://wiga.ca/?page_id=1345
 
 
Programs/Funding
 
Step Up to Succession with Farm Management Canada!
Is your family farm in a state of transition?
Are you looking to start the succession conversation?
Are you a young farmer looking to broaden your farm business skills?

If you answered 'Yes' to any of the above, Farm Management Canada's Bridging the Gap: Step Up to Succession program is for you!
The Bridging the Gap: Step Up to Succession program seeks to help bridge the gap between generations of farmers to provide Canada's future farmers with the best chance for success.
Did you know? Less than 1/3 of Canada's farmers have a succession plan, while close to 40% are in the succession stage of their farm business. Young farmers have a chance to apply to be selected to participate in a Successor Development program. The Program allows young farmers to take part in key industry events dedicated to farm business management and more importantly, taking over the farm.
Selected young farmers will attend:
•   21st International Farm Management Congress, July 2-7 2017, Edinburgh, Scotland
•   Agricultural Excellence Conference, November 21-23 2017, Ottawa, Ontario
•   Choice of attending either:
Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers, December 2017
Or
Canadian Young Farmers' Forum, February 2018
All expenses paid.
FMC will be working with renowned farm family coach Elaine Froese and business management consultant Cedric MacLeod to help lead the program and coach participants throughout their journey.
YOUNG FARMERS, APPLY TO THE SUCCESSOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TODAY!
Applications are due March 31st.
Winners will be notified by April 14th.
For 2017-2018, applications will be accepted from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec young farmers only. Applications were accepted from all other regions in the previous year.  For more information on the program or to apply, please visit http://www.fmc-gac.com/home or contact Farm Management Canada at info@fmc-gac.com or 1-888-232-3262.
 
BC Agriculture Council WATER LICENSING UPDATE - ALL NON-DOMESTIC WELL USERS MUST NOW BE LICENSED.
Deadline for waived application fee has been extended to December 31, 2017 (previously March 1, 2017)
What does this mean for Farmers? - The Water Sustainability Act and new regulations were brought into effect on February 29, 2016. This legislation requires all non-domestic groundwater users, including farmers and ranchers, to apply for a water license.
Existing groundwater users will have a 3-year period to apply for a license (Feb 29, 2016 - Mar 1, 2019). Licenses will also be required for any newly constructed wells from 2016 onward, with the exception of wells used only for only domestic purposes. Existing well owners that apply for a license in the first two years (2016 and 2017) will be exempted from application fees (until December 31, 2017). Applications received from January 1, 2018 and onward will need to pay the additional application fee.
Why license? It's the law! - Protect your rights by licensing your well. Licensees will have a right to use water based on their date of first use. Their rights will be protected based on the current First-in-Time-First-in-Right (FITFIR) priority water allocation system.
Under the FITFIR system, licensees with earlier licence dates (senior licensees) have priority over later licence dates (junior licensees) for accessing water. These rights are important during times of drought or water scarcity.
How to Apply?

1. (Optional) Apply for your BC Electronic ID (BC EID) at www.bceid.ca. With it, you can pause and save your online application to complete later.
2. Collect information: well ID plate number, location, depth, construction reports/invoices, quantity, water use purpose, appurtenances, evidence of first use and permits for related works.
3. Submit a water license application through FrontCounter BC. See link below to access online application.

Link to online water license application here.
Helpful Resources:

• BC Cattlemen's Association developed a Helpful Hints document to help guide producers through the online licensing application.
• For help with the application process contact FrontCounter BC at 1-877-855-3222 (toll free)
• If you are curious about the potential cost of your well a Water Rent Estimation Calculator has been created and can be found here.

The BCAC Water Sustainability Committee continues to work closely with government to ensure the implementation of BC's new Water Sustainability Act is as easy and painless as possible.
 
Livestock Tag Reader Rebate program
The ministry has recently launched the new Livestock Tag Reader Rebate program, funded by Growing Forward 2. The program targets small livestock producers in B.C. that do not meet the eligibility requirement of $30K in annual farm income of the ministry’s On-Farm-Food Safety and Traceability program, also a GF2 program. The new program intends to help small livestock producers with the purchase of a livestock tag reader and associated software so they are prepared to meet the anticipated federal regulations on livestock movement reporting.

The program will reimburse up to 70% of the cost of these readers to a maximum of $3,500 per applicant. Eligible expenses are livestock tag readers (hand-held or panel readers), reader installation, related software and related equipment training. Readers must be listed on the CCIA’s Conditionally Verified Readers list. For a link to the list and more information including an application form, visit http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/food-safety/livestock-tag-reader-rebate-program. The livestock applicant must also be registered in the ministry’s Premises Identification program. Registration for BCPID can happen simultaneously as the application to the Tag Reader program.

Spread the word on the new program. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Tiffany Guan, M.Sc., P.Ag.
Traceability Program Specialist
BC Ministry of Agriculture
Tel: 604 556-3059
http://gov.bc.ca/agrifoodtraceability
 
 
Post-Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program (PFFST) The PFFST Program seeks to improve food safety and traceability by providing funding up to a maximum of $35,000 through cost-shared funding to eligible BC agrifood businesses to:
·  conduct food safety and traceability assessments to identify and document risks, issues and opportunities to improve food safety and traceability capacity, systems and practices;
·  access training to increase the food safety and traceability expertise of their staff; and
·  implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Best Practices (BPs) and recognized Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety practices and traceability systems in their operations.
PFFST program is being delivered by Food Processing Human Resources Council (FP HRC) until Feb 28, 2018. For more information, please contact Dayna Poulin at 1-877-963-7472 or at dpoulin@fphrc.ca. If you have any questions about PFFST program, you can also contact Navneet Gill at 604-556-3079 or Navneet.Gill@gov.bc.ca .  Putting in place recognized food safety and traceability systems will support BC agribusinesses effectively manage food safety risk, access new markets, and retain and expand existing markets. PFFST program is now accepting applications. Program application, guidelines and related documents are available at http://postfarmfoodsafety.com/home/
 
BC FoodWorks Program will accelerate the success of agrifood processing companies based in British Columbia. The Program will support individual small- and medium-sized enterprises in the food, functional food, and natural health product sector by providing business training, customized workshops, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, ongoing business support, networking and marketing opportunities to address challenges related to business planning, human resources, export development, investment attraction, operations, regulatory processes and/or sales and marketing. If you are aware of any companies that might be interested in participating in the program, feel free to direct them to the BC FoodWorks webpage: https://bcfoodworks.com/
 
 
On-Farm Food Safety & Traceability Program B.C.'s On Farm Food Safety and Traceability Program offers eligible B.C. agrifood businesses cost shared funding to:
·  Conduct food safety and traceability assessments to identify and document risks, issues and opportunities to improve food safety and traceability capacity, systems and practices;
·  Access training to increase the food safety and traceability expertise of their staff; and
·  Implement good agricultural practices (GAPs), best practices (BPs) and recognized hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) food safety practices and traceability systems in their operations.
The program targets on-farm agri-businesses producing food for human consumption and businesses seeking first-time certification in internationally recognized HACCP-based food safety assurance programs. B.C. companies that use recognized food safety and traceability standards, and implement food safety and traceability systems, effectively manage food safety risk, and create opportunities to access new markets and increase sales.
The program is administered and delivered by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Learn more about the program and how to apply
 
Government of Canada Funding: Canadian Summer Jobs - Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It is designed to focus on local priorities, while helping both students and their communities.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/youth-summer-job.html
Your application must be submitted by 23:59 (Pacific Standard Time), on January 20 of the year you wish to hire.
 
The Pacific Field Corn Association's Silage Corn Hybrid Yield Trials are now complete for 2016. Abbotsford site is seeded early and had 47 entries; Agassiz site is seeded late and had 25 entries; the Interior site had 21 entries. All data tables report the 2016 results and the Long-term average results.
Link to data: 2016 Data tables http://www.farmwest.com/node/48?utm_source=emailcampaign94&utm_medium=phpList&utm_content=textemail&utm_campaign=2016+Corn+Hybrid+Data+now+posted+on+Farmwest
 
 
Links
 
Innovation Challenge Winners Bring Local Tech to B.C. Farms
Four British Columbia companies have each won $20,000 for developing B.C. tech to help solve a
problem identified as part of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and the BC Innovation Council’s Innovation Challenge.
 
Bats and White Nose Syndrome (WNS) WNS is an invasive fungal disease that has killed 7 million bats in eastern North America since arriving here in 2006 and caused emergency listing of Little Brown and Northern Bats in Canada due to 90% to 100% declines at some hibernacula. WNS was detected in Washington State in 2016 and is likely to spread to BC, putting our bats at risk.
 
We are requesting that the public report and submit dead bats to the BC Community Bat Program for WNS analysis. help us to increase awareness by sharing the following information bulletin. https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017ENV0013-000301
 
Bees - Apiculture is the management and study of honeybees.
Beekeeping plays a key role in the production of most fruit and forage crops. British Columbia monitors for bee diseases and pests through bee inspections and the delivery of educational services, including beekeeping courses. A full range of laboratory diagnostic services are also available. http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees
 
Income Tax Hints for Small Farmers
http://www.farmtax.ca/Download/Loopholes_for_Farmers.pdf
 
Farm Credit Canada - 3 Top Tax Tips
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/money-and-finance/3-top-tax-tips-for-farmers.html?utm_source=Subscribe+to+FCC+Email&utm_campaign=210ffc8957-FCC_Express_January_13_2017_EN_1_13_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecca3657d7-210ffc8957-18327157
 
2015 FCC Farmland Values Report - Get valuable insight into provincial and national land values across Canada with this overview of the 2015 Farmland Values Report.
 
How Multi-Generational Farms Keep Success in the Family – Farm Credit Canada – FCC Express
Three successful multi-generational farms share how they make working with family, work for their business. Read more
 
BC Ministry of Agriculture http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/agriculture
 
AgriServiceBC http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/about-agriculture-and-seafood-in-bc/agriservice-bc
 
 
Health Canada information - Pollinator Protection: Reducing Risk from Treated Seed
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/index-eng.php.

Farm Management Canada Free Webinars
http://agriwebinar.com/Upcoming.aspx

2017 Pacific Agriculture Show
Date: January 26 - January 28, 2017
Place: Abbotsford , BC http://www.agricultureshow.net/
 
Poultry Flock Health Workshop
Date: January 28, 2017          Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Place: Coombs Fairgrounds – 1014 Ford Rd - Coombs
Cost: $5 includes coffee, tea, snacks and lunch
RSVP by January 21 to Suzin at Coombs.Workshop@fvpfa.org

Young Agrarians Vancouver Island 4th Annual Winter Farmer Mixer
Date: January 28 -29, 2017
Place: Coast Salish Territory - Camp Pringle, 2520 West Shawnigan Lake Rd, Shawnigan Lake, BC
Host: Young Agrarians Vancouver Island
Learn more & register: youngagrarians.org/vimixer2017
Cost: Sliding scale $75-150. Work trades are available

New Farm Start-up Workshop
Date: February 2, 2017
Place: Port Alberni
Host: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Contact Anna Lewis 250 735 0520, amirakoel@yahoo.ca
Register: http://www.iashow.ca/

Young Agrarians Farmer Mixer
Date: Evening - February 2, 2017
Place: Port Alberni
Host: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. Contact Anna Lewis 250 735 0520, amirakoel@yahoo.ca
Register: http://www.iashow.ca/

2017 Islands Agriculture Show
Date: February 3 - 4, 2017
Place: Port Alberni
Host: Islands Agriculture Show Society and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
Register: http://www.iashow.ca/

Soils Fertility Workshop
Date: February 11, 2017
Place: Duncan
Host: Cowichan Agriculture Society http://www.cowichanfarmers.org/ To register: larissa@cowichangreencommunity.org
For more information contact Bev Suderman: bsuderman2005@gmail.com

Cowichan Valley Regional Adaption Strategies Update – Workshop
Date: February 21, 2017        Time: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Place: Mesachie Meeting Room – Island Saving Centre - 2687 James St – Duncan
RSVP or contact with questions: Samantha@bcagclimateaction.ca or call 778-676-7657 http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/

Certified Organic Associations of BC - 2017 Annual Conference
Date: February 24 – 26, 2017
Place: Coast Bastion Hotel, Nanaimo
Host: http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/#

Farmer2Farmer Conference
Date: March 2, 2017
Place: Saanich Fairgrounds, Saanichton
Host: CRFAIR http://farmer2farmer.ca/

Learn How to Keep Your Sheep and Goats Healthy: Learn more about sheep and goat disease and ways to prevent them. These sessions will focus on basic nutrition, biosecurity, and disease and parasite management related to small flock sheep and goat production.
Date: Saturday March 4th, 2017       Time: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Place: The Eagles Hall, 921 First Ave, Ladysmith, BC
Cost: $10 to hold your seat
RSVP by calling: Penny Stapleton 250-713-1984 cell Leave name and number if no answer. Additional info can also can also be requested via email to hollyhillfarm@telus.net
You can also contact Lori Vickers, Regional Agrologist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture Lori.Vickers@gov.bc.ca or 250-784-2559

Programs/Funding

BC FoodWorks Program
This will accelerate the success of agrifood processing companies based in British Columbia. The Program will support individual small- and medium-sized enterprises in the food, functional food, and natural health product sector by providing business training, customized workshops, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, ongoing business support, networking and marketing opportunities to address challenges related to business planning, human resources, export development, investment attraction, operations, regulatory processes and/or sales and marketing. If you are aware of any companies that might be interested in participating in the program, feel free to direct them to the BC FoodWorks webpage: https://bcfoodworks.com/

Traceability Speaker Funding is available again for 2016/17!
The TSF provides funding to agri-food or seafood industry organizations to bring speakers to industry events to speak on traceability systems, technologies, practices or infrastructure. The funding supports up to 100% of costs associated with traceability speaker expenses, to a maximum of $3,500 per event, or $10,000 per sector. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program ends on March 31, 2017. For a copy of the application form download at http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/growing-forward-2/traceability-speaker-funding

Investment Agriculture Foundation - General IAF Application Deadline Feb 10, 2017 http://iafbc.ca/ Government of Canada Funding: Canadian Summer Jobs - Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It is designed to focus on local priorities, while helping both students and their communities.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/youth-summer-job.html
Your application must be submitted by 23:59 (Pacific Standard Time), on January 20, 2017.
 
The Pacific Field Corn Association's Silage Corn Hybrid Yield Trials are now complete for 2016. Abbotsford site is seeded early and had 47 entries; Agassiz site is seeded late and had 25 entries; the Interior site had 21 entries. All data tables report the 2016 results and the Long-term average results.

Link to data: 2016 Data tables http://www.farmwest.com/node/48?utm_source=emailcampaign94&utm_medium=phpList&utm_content=textemail&utm_campaign=2016+Corn+Hybrid+Data+now+posted+on+Farmwest

Links

Farm Credit Canada - 3 Top Tax Tips
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/ag-knowledge/money-and-finance/3-top-tax-tips-for-farmers.html?utm_source=Subscribe+to+FCC+Email&utm_campaign=210ffc8957-FCC_Express_January_13_2017_EN_1_13_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ecca3657d7-210ffc8957-18327157

2015 FCC Farmland Values Report - Get valuable insight into provincial and national land values across Canada with this overview of the 2015 Farmland Values Report.

BC Ministry of Agriculture http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/ministries/agriculture
AgriServiceBC http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/about-agriculture-and-seafood-in-bc/agriservice-bc

Health Canada information - Pollinator Protection: Reducing Risk from Treated Seed
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/pollinator-protection-pollinisateurs/index-eng.php.

Press Release for 2017 Islands Agriculture Show show
 
On February 2, the day before the Show, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District is sponsoring
a New Farm Start-up workshop. The intention of the workshop is to encourage new agricultural
ventures specifically in the Valley. While the Alberni Valley has a rich agricultural heritage with a
number of farms and farm organizations having surpassed the century mark, new opportunities
to farm still abound. Sign up is open to anyone at iashow.ca. The highlight of the Show itself will
be a keynote address sponsored by Farm Credit Canada.  Despite our wet winter, water remains
a hot topic and Brent Paterson, who specializes in water projects that support food production,
will bring his global experience to the topic. You won't want to miss his insights into how to best
manage this valuable resource.
 
Another highlight—and a first for the Show—will be a focus on not agriculture but aquaculture.
A session on opportunities in the seafood sector will feature First Nations aquaculture projects
throughout the Island. If seafood is not what you’re fishing for, there are a host of other sessions
on hot topics such as forage production, how to create a social enterprise, new opportunities in
agrifood marketing, what bee-friendly plants will attract bees, and many others. Sessions are $15
each so sign up for as many as you can. Details and registration can be found at iashow.ca
 The entire event will be held at the Glenwood Centre, the home of Alberni’s Fall Fair, and will
feature over 50 exhibitors, many of whom are new to the Show.  As always, there will be plenty of
time to talk with trade show exhibitors, fellow farmers and presenters.  If you are a farmer, a rural
land owner, a person who dreams of keeping goats, or someone interested in the local food
movement, attend a session, tour the trade show, and enjoy the hospitality of the
2017 host community Port Alberni. 
 

2017 Pacific Agriculture Show:  
Date: January 26 - January 28, 2017 
Location: Abbotsford , BC 
Website: http://www.agricultureshow.net/
 
2017 Islands Agriculture Show:  
Date:  February 3- Februry 4, 2017 
Location:  Port Alberni - 
Host: Islands Agriculture Show Society and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District   
Register:  http://www.iashow.ca/
 
Island Agriculture Events:
 
Agricultural Land Leasing Workshop:  
Date:  January 14, 2017 
Location:  Duncan - Host: Cowichan Green Community  
Website: http://cowichangreencommunity.org/workshop-events/agricultural-land-leasing-workshop/
 
Poultry Flock Health Workshop:  
Date:  January 28, 2017 
Location:  Coombs 
Host:  Arrowsmith Agricultural Association. 
Website: http://www.coombsfair.com/
 
Young Agrarians Vancouver Island 4th Annual Winter Farmer Mixer:  
Date:  January 28 -29, 2017 
Location:  Shawinigan Lake 
Host:  Young Agrarians Vancouver Island. 
Website: http://youngagrarians.org/events/
 
New Farm Start-up Workshop:  
Date:  February 2, 2017 
Location:  Port Alberni 
Host:  Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. 
Contact Anna Lewis  250 735 0520, amirakoel@yahoo.ca   
Register:  http://www.iashow.ca/
 
Young Agrarians Farmer Mixer:  
Date: Evening on February 2, 2017 
Location: Port Alberni  
Host: Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. 
Contact Anna Lewis  250 735 0520, amirakoel@yahoo.ca   
Register:  http://www.iashow.ca/
 
 
Programs
 
Traceability Speaker Funding is available again for 2016/17!
 
The TSF provides funding to agri-food or seafood industry organizations to bring speakers to industry events to speak on traceability systems, technologies, practices or infrastructure. The funding supports up to 100% of costs associated with traceability speaker expenses, to a maximum of $3,500 per event, or $10,000 per sector. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The program ends on March 31, 2017. 
For a copy of the application form download at 

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/growing-forward-2/traceability-speaker-funding

​Investment Agriculture Foundation 
General IAF Application Deadline Feb 10, 2017  
http://iafbc.ca/