Farming

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts on Oct. 12, 2022 prior to their sentencing. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Guilty verdicts stand for 2 Abbotsford hog-farm protesters

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafter now plan to appeal 30-day sentence

 

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer spoke outside the Abbotsford Law Courts prior to sentencing on Oct. 12, 2022. The pair have appealed their conviction related to the Excelsior Hog Farm. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

‘Trial judge erred’: Convicted B.C. hog farm activists appeal decision

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer will have their case heard by 3 judges in the B.C. Court of Appeal on Nov. 23

 

James Lockwood (left), Cammy Lockwood, and UBC student Irene Lam who had been assisting the couple over the summer with the first phase of their EcoBug project pose in front of the farm’s egg vending machine. (Chadd Cawson/Connector)

Lockwood Farms launches first phase of new EcoBug project

Feeding Black Soldier Fly Larvae to hens shows significant potential to improve our environment

 

Snow-covered cattle stand in a pasture near Didsbury, Alta., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country, as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure enough feed to get their livestock through the cold months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian ranchers brace for long, lean winter after droughts, soaring feed costs

As of Sept. 30, 72% of the country was considered either ‘abnormally dry’ or in ‘moderate to exceptional drought’

Snow-covered cattle stand in a pasture near Didsbury, Alta., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country, as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure enough feed to get their livestock through the cold months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Nicole and Arlo Verhagen from Michell’s farm, hold a pumpkin, on Oct. 10 (Tom Eley/News Staff)

Greater Victoria farms are ready for pumpkin season

A variety of different attractions at both farms will appeal to everyone

Nicole and Arlo Verhagen from Michell’s farm, hold a pumpkin, on Oct. 10 (Tom Eley/News Staff)
Adult Western corn rootworms feasting on a corn plant. The insects, which are highly destructive to corn crops, were discovered in the North Okanagan and Shuswap for the first time in August 2023. (B.C. Ministry of Agriculture photo)

Pest that devastates corn crops found at North Okanagan, Shuswap farms

The Western corn rootworm causes over $1 billion of damage to U.S. corn crops each year

Adult Western corn rootworms feasting on a corn plant. The insects, which are highly destructive to corn crops, were discovered in the North Okanagan and Shuswap for the first time in August 2023. (B.C. Ministry of Agriculture photo)
An orchard worker picks Red Delicious apples from an Okanagan orchard. Many fruits in Canada are now ripening. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: Are you ready for the fruit harvest?

Agricultural workers are harvesting various fruit crops

An orchard worker picks Red Delicious apples from an Okanagan orchard. Many fruits in Canada are now ripening. (Black Press file photo)
Silver Rill Corn general manager and co-owner Clayton Fox anticipates seeing great quality corn throughout this season. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Vancouver Island corn season starts strong, long season expected

The hot days have been good for corn, according to Saanich Peninsula growers

Silver Rill Corn general manager and co-owner Clayton Fox anticipates seeing great quality corn throughout this season. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)

B.C., Canada promise $4M to help farmers adapt to climate change, drought

Program aims to help producers with waste management, air-quality and emissions control

B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)
The happy couple, Meghan Russell and Doug Groenendijk, during the Season 1 finale of Farming For Love. (Photo courtesy of CTV)

Island man chooses his mate for budding relationship from reality TV series

Farming life connects Chemainus’ Groenendijk and Ontario woman

The happy couple, Meghan Russell and Doug Groenendijk, during the Season 1 finale of Farming For Love. (Photo courtesy of CTV)
Yuko Suda, the owner of Brave Child Farms, has used the B.C. Land Matching Program which connects new and young farmers with farmland. The province announced Wednesday (July 26, 2023) that it would be getting a $480,000-boost for the next year. (B.C. government/YouTube)

$480K to help connect new, young B.C. farmers with land

The provincial government is boosting its land-matching program with $480,000 for the…

Yuko Suda, the owner of Brave Child Farms, has used the B.C. Land Matching Program which connects new and young farmers with farmland. The province announced Wednesday (July 26, 2023) that it would be getting a $480,000-boost for the next year. (B.C. government/YouTube)
B.C. rancher Suzanne Fradette’s cattle are driven through a forest in an undated handout photo. Fradette says they are just keeping their heads above water amid skyrocketing hay costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Suzanne Fradette

B.C. ranchers struggle as drought sends hay prices soaring

Price of feed up about 30 per cent, ranchers say as they fight to stay afloat

B.C. rancher Suzanne Fradette’s cattle are driven through a forest in an undated handout photo. Fradette says they are just keeping their heads above water amid skyrocketing hay costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Suzanne Fradette
Generations of The Smith family have been farming in the Cowichan Valley since 1897. They were recently recognized with the Century Farm award celebrating 100 years of farming. Posing in front of their chicken pen with this incredible achievement is Michael K. (left) and wife Sheila, Michael D.’s wife Courtney holding their son Michael J., and Michael D. holding their daughter Charlotte. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)

A Michael Smith has been farming Cowichan for more than 100 years

The Smith family receives award for their contributions to B.C. agriculture since 1897

Generations of The Smith family have been farming in the Cowichan Valley since 1897. They were recently recognized with the Century Farm award celebrating 100 years of farming. Posing in front of their chicken pen with this incredible achievement is Michael K. (left) and wife Sheila, Michael D.’s wife Courtney holding their son Michael J., and Michael D. holding their daughter Charlotte. (Chadd Cawson/Citizen)
Decisions, decisions for Doug Groenendijk on Farming For Love. (Photo by Luka Cyprian)

Pick of the crop remains for Farmer Doug

Farming For Love brings daters hopeful of a serious relationship

Decisions, decisions for Doug Groenendijk on Farming For Love. (Photo by Luka Cyprian)
Becky Young converted a 23-foot 1999 international Thomas school bus with her husband, Gary Eichenauer. Young is the executive director of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). (Photo by Gary Eichenauer)

WWOOF connects travellers with organic farmers in exchange for room, board

Travel the world one organic farm at a time

Becky Young converted a 23-foot 1999 international Thomas school bus with her husband, Gary Eichenauer. Young is the executive director of Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). (Photo by Gary Eichenauer)
Cherries (File Photo)

Buy local urges BC Tree Fruits, as U.S. cherries flood market

Late-season American cherries are being sold in the Okanagan, rather than fresh, locally-grown fruit

Cherries (File Photo)
Decisions, decisions for Doug Groenendijk on Farming For Love. (Photo by Luka Cyprian)

Pick of the crop remains for Farmer Doug

Farming For Love brings daters hopeful of a serious relationship

Decisions, decisions for Doug Groenendijk on Farming For Love. (Photo by Luka Cyprian)
Silvia and Franz Laffer (middle), with their family Selina, Everly and Kyle Staples (L) and Aletta, Minette, Florian and Sebastian Laffer (R). The Laffer’s own Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly, B.C. Their children and grandchildren live nearby. (Kim Kimberlin Photo/Black Press)

From a butcher shop to a wedding venue, Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly diversifies

Silvia and Franz Laffer moved to Horsefly in 1993

Silvia and Franz Laffer (middle), with their family Selina, Everly and Kyle Staples (L) and Aletta, Minette, Florian and Sebastian Laffer (R). The Laffer’s own Sunshine Ranch in Horsefly, B.C. Their children and grandchildren live nearby. (Kim Kimberlin Photo/Black Press)
Bob Shoker of Shoker Farms in his strawberry fields on Unsworth Road in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)

‘You can’t get fresher than that’: Strawberries, field to stand in 20 minutes

Shoker Farms has been in Chilliwack since 1975 and strawberries are their specialty

Bob Shoker of Shoker Farms in his strawberry fields on Unsworth Road in Chilliwack. (Jenna Hauck/ Black Press Media)
Mayhem the camel and his friends at the Bartlett farm. (Alysha Bartlett/ Submitted)

Okanagan camel is just a baby ‘growing like a weed’

Mayhem the camel lives in Lavington, B.C.

Mayhem the camel and his friends at the Bartlett farm. (Alysha Bartlett/ Submitted)