Tues. Sept 6, 2011 West Coast Farmer by Chilliwack Progress

10 YEARS The Voice of the B.C. Farmer

Birthday Party Pacific Agriculture Research Centre celebrates 125 years.

T HE VOICE OF THE B B.C. C FARME FARMER R Volume 12 • Issue 3

Page 3

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September, 2011

Inside your

• Lower Mainland berry pickers and other harvesters are being promised a provincial review of minimum wages for farm work won’t leave them earning less than they do now. • The BC Agriculture Council assess the fall out from the HST referendum and its impact on producers. • UFV’s Alicia Powell of Chilliwack should be the top person on your go-to list if you’re being bugged by bugs. • Noel Roddick is finally calling it quits almost a half century after starting work in the feed business in Delta. • The provincial government is providing $25 million to Genome British Columbia to support its ongoing research in the areas of agriculture.

THRESHING TIME: Members of the Atchelitz Thershmen's Association demonstrate how it was done in the old days during the Chilliwack Fair in August. JUSTIN KEITCH/ BLACK PRESS

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SEPTEMBER, 2011

grant ullyot

Fraser Valley’s Agriculture Publication PUBLISHED QUARTERLY

HST defeat bad news for farmers

Publisher: Liz Lynch 604-702-5560 Managing Editor: Greg Knill 604-702-5570 Editor: Grant Ullyot Advertising: Larry Krause 604-702-5579 Production: Gina Rokochy 604-702-5569 Classified Manager: Sharon Harmsen 604-702-5555

MAILING ADDRESS 45860 Spadina Avenue Chilliwack, B.C. V 2 P 6 H 9 Published by

E-MAIL ADDRESS westcoastfarmer@theprogress.com

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INDEX 3 Wage rate review 3 PARC anniversary 5 Hunting bugs 7 Dairy expansion 8 Beyond the Barn 12 Hands on for Guides

While farmers considered the HST to be a plus for them, the majority of other voters did not. The HST was rejected with 55 percent voting against keeping the tax and only 45 percent in favor. Pretty decisive! BC Agriculture Council Chair, Garnet Etsell, says the defeat of the HST is a step backwards for the provinces agriculture industry. “A return to the PST/GST means that B.C. farmers and ranchers will be less of a contender in local and export markets. Agriculture will face higher input costs that are no longer balanced out with investment tax credits made available under the HST. B.C. farmers will pay more to produce food that is tax-free for consumers – an unsustainable pattern that would add to the significant financial pressures many B.C. farmers and ranchers are currently facing. Returning to the old PST places agriculture at a distinct disadvantage, locally and globally. B.C. is the only province in the country where agriculture showed net revenue losses in the past number of years. Many of our farmers are already hurting and the defeat of the HST doesn’t help.” In my own opinion many who voted against the HST were still upset over the way the Liberal government introduced the measure. Had the Liberals been upfront in introducing the tax and consulted with the electorate, the HST vote would perhaps have been different. Chilliwack Liberal MLA John Les told me the rejection of the HST means that the economic and employment growth of the province will be less than it would have been otherwise. “Many farmers and others, having become educated about the HST, fully recognized its superiority from a producers’ perspective. Going back to the PST/GST system means all the bureaucracy and complexity will have to be dealt with again. Also, the $1.6 Billion that needs to be repaid to Ottawa will be added to our provincial debt. Our children and grandchildren get to pay it back, while at the same time there will be fewer

Falling behind in your paperwork? • Structure plans to minimize current and future tax liabilities • Buy and sell farms, including business planning and valuation • Plan for family farm succession

Grassroots “

A return to the PST/GST means that B.C. farmers and ranchers will be less of a contender in local and export market.

jobs and less economic growth as a result of the return to the archaic PST/GST system. (Former Premier) Bill VanderZalm and his gang have brought about a scenario that shortchanges the future of our kids,” he said. The government missed opportunities to correct the impression that many voters had of the HST but failed to do so. Holding a referendum was a risky venture at best and I am sure the governing Liberals would now love to have a second chance to think that move over. Clearly though the loss of the HST means that farmers are going back to the hated PST/GST taxing program, which was not only cumbersome to deal with but costly for the government. However, there will be a saving for consumers and small business and that means a lot to many families. It is going to take 18 months before the province can re-introduce the PST/GST taxes and BC now must also find a way to pay back $1.6B to Ottawa, the money advanced to the province by Ottawa to help the province offset the switch to the HST. Meanwhile there are suggestions coming forward for the government to introduce an improved PST/GST program. Let’s hope so, because if you look ahead the PST/GST is going to be assessed at 12 per cent while the HST would have been reduced to a 10 per cent tax in 2014, and that over time would not only have been a big saving for everyone, but would have been the lowest HST rate in Canada. However, now the HST is history and my $350.00 is toast as well.

”

BCAC welcomes communications manager

new

The BC Agriculture Council would like to welcome Grace Cho as communications consultant, to provide issues management and communications services for the BCAC in support of the BC agriculture industry. With a B.Sc. (Agric.) from the University of British Columbia and a M.Sc. (Biol.) from the University of Northern British Columbia, Grace brings over 20 years’ experience of production, research, and project management in both the aquaculture and table egg sectors. Her strengths in critical thinking, situation analysis, and conveying complex concepts to a variety of audiences led her career path to communications and issues management at the BC Egg Marketing Board as its Communications and Marketing Coordinator for five years. She is now the principal of Novas Communications, a consulting company based in Chilliwack. “We are very pleased and fortunate to have Grace join our team,” said Andy Dolberg, BCAC Executive Director. “Her combination of strong practical industry experience and solid communications skills is what we were looking for.” Grace will also be providing support for the BC Agricultural Research and Development Corporation (ARDCorp) to enhance communications about its programs and initiatives to member associations, and our many other agri-culture and food partners, and the general public. “The original reason for my B.Sc. in agriculture was to become a vet-

erinarian,” said Grace. Contributing to a far-reaching, essential sector like agriculture touches my core values. I’m proud to continue working with BC farmers and ranchers.” 4-H event finals

Chilliwack Fair hosted the B.C. 4-H Provincial Communications competition on Saturday August 6th. Public Speaking Delegates were given their impromptu topic “Innovation in Agriculture”, and used information gathered from the previous day’s tours to prepare a 1-4 minute impromptu speech. The Demonstration teams presented a great day of competition and entertainment at the fair. Their topics ranged from changing your trucks oil to baking food products. Shannon Palmer from the Vancouver Island Region placed first in the speakers’ event. The demonstration team of Ashley and Sean from the Fraser Valley region took top honors with their presentation of ‘You Be the Judge”. The 4-H organization would like to sincerely thank all the program sponsors and local supporters whose generosity made these events possible. Blueberries

With September upon us, blueberries, corn and many other vegetable crops are being sold in farm markets and at roadside stands. While all the crops are weeks behind schedule, I think the wait was worth it with large tasty berries and delicious Jubilee Super-sweet corn.

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SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

Farm worker picking rates under review Jeff Nagel Black Press Lower Mainland berry pickers and other harvesters are being promised a provincial review of minimum wages for farm work won’t leave them earning less than they do now. More than 10,000 pickers are paid piece-work rates based on how much they harvest. Charan Gill, spokesman for Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, said it appears the province ordered the review in response to complaints of farmers and contractors after indications the minimum piece rates would rise in lockstep with a series of planned increases in B.C.’s minimum wage. “I have no faith they will be fair to the workers,” Gill said, adding the consultant Victoria has hired speaks no Punjabi and therefore won’t get a fair sense of most harvesters’ concerns. A labour ministry spokesman said the review may guide any further increases in the piece rates but reducing them is “not under consider-

ation.” Minimum pay rates for pickers range from 16 cents per pound for Brussels sprouts to 40 cents for blueberries, while tree fruit fetches $17 to $20 per large bin. Those rates climbed 9.4 per cent in May at the same time B.C.’s minimum wage rose to $8.75 an hour. Gill said the rates typically work out to the equivalent of $4 or $5 an hour. “We are saying there should be a living wage for the farm workers,” he said. Gill argues the province should eliminate piece rates entirely in favour of hourly wages. That would also help reform the current system, which critics say is rife with abuse of workers and corrupt accounting practices. Farm contractors routinely pay pickers at piece rates but then convert the amounts to hourly pay on the books as if minimum wages had been paid. That lets companies record an artificially low number of hours and avoid violating employment stan-

dards when pickers work long hours during harvest season. Hours are sometimes later adjusted back upward so workers are credited the minimum number of hours to qualify for employment insurance. Employers sometimes demand kickbacks for such revisions. Federal tax auditors have prosecuted dozens of Lower Mainland pickers before for EI fraud over their role in such schemes, although most employers have avoided punishment. “There should be a total survey of the farm industry to clean up this thing,” Gill said. B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair said Ontario and Quebec both use a system that ensures a minimum wage for farm workers, while retaining a piece rate system that can result in pickers being paid more. “You get paid no less than minimum wage,” he said, adding B.C. should follow suit. “The minimum wage for farm workers should be the minimum wage for everybody else.” Sinclair noted Mexican farm workers here on temporary work permits

Advocates urge switch to hourly wages.

must be paid minimum wage, adding it’s bizarre that permanent B.C. residents get treated worse. The consultant handling the

PARC celebrates 125th anniversary Grant Ullyot West Coast Farmer PARC, the Pacific Agriculture Research Center in Agassiz, which began its existence as the Agassiz Research Station in 1886, has seen a lot of activity over the past many years. It is hard to believe just how close the government came to closing Agassiz a few years ago had it not been for former Agassiz Mayor Wes Johnson and a large group of concerned people. They forged a plan that called for amalgamation of the University of BC’s dairy herd on Vancouver Island with the research herd at Agassiz and formed the UBC Dairy Education and Research Center, which today is a world-class dairy research facility managed by Nelson Dinn. Coupled with a new headquarters building that houses most of the other research facilities, PARC has become synonymous with the high ideals that are represented in the on-going work carried out at there. Chief among projects currently is the berry research program overseen by Chaim Kempler. And of course there is the all important work of Victoria Brookes in the field of pest management and Dave Gillespie and his bugs. The station now has a new manager, Sankaran KrishnaRaj, who was recently transferred in from Toronto where he worked in the federal environment ministry. “My background is in agriculture. My basic degree was in agriculture and my masters degree from Tamil Nabu Agriculture University (the second best known agriculture university in the world) was in plant breeding and genetics. My doctorate from the University of Calgary is in plant physiology and biotechnology. My roots are in agriculture and I worked at the University

review is to report back by the end of October, just before the minimum wage rises another 75 cents on Nov. 1.

Vegetable producers can now apply for financial aid By Grant Ullyot West Coast Farmer

From the left: Ruby Wong; Jean Phillippe Parent; Gosia Zdanowicz; Dr. Sankaran KrishnaRaj (newly appointed Manager); Dr. Barry Grace (Ag Canada Science Director); Dr. Grant Kowalenko, Victoria Brookes, Andrea Campbell, Helen Pranger, Dr. Fred Silversides, Marion Knott, Matthew Knott, and Dr. Shabtai Bittman pose in front of the 125th anniversary cake celebrating the formation of the former Agassiz Research station in 1886.

of Guelph for seven years as a research scientist in the plant agriculture department.” KrishnaRaj came from India nine years ago, and is now into his fourth month with Agriculture Canada. “My focus has always been plant-based even when I was working in the academic situation at the University of Guelph. Initially I was looking at seeing how to increase productivity and other things that happen in plants and looking at the physiology of the plant. My specialization is in plant stress physiology or how plants adapt to certain stresses during their development. Then I changed into a field that was almost straight opposite of what I wanted to do using plants to take up contaminants from the soil

which got me really interested in the environment and looking at the environmental impacts of production and seeing if plants could be used to clean up the environment. And that is basically how I managed to branch into Environment Canada from the University of Guelph.” PARC Agassiz has 75 full-time employees, including 22 scientists, 21 technicians and other research support staff. This year they have close to 50 co–op students from our universities and from the federal work service program. Even though student training is a provincial objective, hands-on training in the everyday tasks are part of the work environment at PARC. Many of the students also work on local farms in Agassiz, Chilliwack, and

Abbotsford. The new Director says while the breeding programs provide new varieties for farmers to produce, that is not all they do at the station. “All of the research that is going on, not just in Agassiz but in the various sister centers, have developed technologies that have actually improved how we grow plants and how we grow livestock. This is important because it allows farmers to produce high quality value-added food products for consumers.” There was an excellent turnout of visitors to PARC during the Open House held on Sat., July 23. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz also extended his warm congratulations to PARC.

The application deadline is October 1, 2011. Growers are encouraged to make the task of completing an application a priority. It appears that forms may only be submitted by sending them to the Kelowna office of the 2011 Canada-BC Excess Moisture Initiative by regular mail, courier delivery, or fax. Any and all questions about the compensation program must be directed to the Kelowna administration office. The telephone number is: 1-888-332-3352, or you can go their website at www.agf.gov.bc.ca/ rm/index.htm It has taken longer than it should have but thanks to the efforts of BC Ag Minister Don McRae and others potato and livestock producers are going to get some Agri Recovery funds to help offset huge losses sustained last year. Five Million dollars funding for two AgriRecovery initiatives was announced jointly by Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and McRae. The funding includes $175 per acre for potato and vegetable producers on the lower mainland and Vancouver Island who were severely impacted by excess moisture, to assist with the costs of restoring water-damaged crop land. The money also includes assistance to help with disposal of spoiled product in storage, and the cleaning and disinfection of storage facilities. Cattle and bison producers will be funded so they can recover from the damage caused by extreme weather in 2010 and into the spring of 2011. The initiative will provide feed assistance of $1.02 per cow/calf for each day the animals are required to be off of pasture lands damaged by these conditions. The initiative will also provide cattle and bison producers with assistance to help with the restoration of pastures damaged by flooding or wild fires, including $35 per hectare ($14.16 per acre) to assist with reseeding and assistance on a case-by-case basis to help with Continued: SPRING/ p4

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

Restaurant food PST-free, but food producers pay? Kurt Langmann Black Press Perhaps the biggest irony of the referendum defeat of the HST in B.C. is that the "working poor" of this province will still not be able to afford to dine out once the former PST exemption is restored to restaurant tabs. Yet B.C.'s agricultural industry, which provides nutritious, locallygrown food to the public free of any taxes, will be forced once again to hand over $15-

to $20 million a year in PST to the provincial treasury. "A return to the PST/ GST means that B.C.'s food producers will be at a disadvantage in both local and export markets," says Garnet Etsell, the chair of the B.C. Agriculture Council (BCAC) and a Mount Lehman poultry farmer. "Agriculture will face higher input costs that are no longer balanced out with investment tax credits made available under the HST. B.C.

farmers will pay more to produce food that is tax-free for consumers – an unsustainable pattern that would add to the significant financial pressures many B.C. farmers and ranchers are currently facing," says Etsell. Etsell cited examples of this tax disadvantage, "primarily on the capital expenditure side. Under the HST if you built a new barn you would get that back, and under the PST you would pay seven percent on the materials and you

would not get that back." In the case of smaller farm operations Etsell said smaller farm tractors were PST assessed while larger tractors were not. "Any vehicles — trucks, tractors — farmers could claim the HST back but not the PST," said Etsell. The old PST administration "was also a very awkward process. The tax exempt list did not keep up with improvements in technology. It was not a timely process, we'd get

one crack a year at adding things to the 'shopping list,'" said Etsell. "B.C. is the only province in the country where agriculture showed net revenue losses in the past number of years. Many of our farmers are already hurting." Following the announcement of the defeat of the HST last week, Premier Christy Clark's office issued a statement pledging a return to the former PST exempt list that existed prior to the imple-

mentation of the HST. Etsell says that the BCAC, "will be having a chat with the government about this. "Simply reintroducing the old PST system is a poor option for B.C. agriculture. In an effort to improve industry competitiveness, the BCAC will also be looking to government to change other tax policies such as the Carbon Tax, which has had a crippling effect on several agriculture sectors," said Etsell. "Food should be tax-free."

Vegetable growers feel the hit from a cool, wet spring SPRING from p3 the costs of other actions required to restore pastures. Eligible areas include the Bella Coola, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Central Interior regions. “BC growers and cattlemen are working hard to rebuild after damage caused by extreme weather last September and into this spring, including flooding, drought,

and wildfires,” said Minister Ritz. “Our Governments are working together to ensure vegetable and livestock producers can deal with the prolonged impacts of these events and to get back to what they do best – deliver top quality products to consumers here in Canada and around the world.” “This past year there have been a number of weather

events across BC that have affected our farmers,” notes McRae, “and ministry staff worked hard to respond quickly because fresh local food is important to all B.C. families.” A prolonged wet spring and early summer set back most crops by about two to three weeks. In fact the local corn silage in some fields is still under-developed and in need of sunshine.

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SEPTEMBER, 2011

People

Hunting bugs leads to silver medal for UFV agriculture grad Grant Ullyot & Tom Baumann

“

West Coast Farmer To borrow from the popular “Ghostbusters” theme, if you’re a farmer and you want to know what pests are eating your crops, “who ya gonna call?” UFV’s Alicia Powell of Chilliwack should be the top person on your go-to list. Powell, 20, who graduated from UFV’s Horticulture Crop Production and Protection certificate program loves being outdoors, wants to protect the environment, enjoys nurturing plants to full potential, but wasn’t quite sure of a career goal. UFV’s ten-month Hort program was the perfect choice. Powell graduated from Sardis Secondary two years ago and it was there that she first made the connection with UFV’s Agriculture department. UFV partners with the high school, and instructor Tom Baumann teaches an introductory horticulture course that students can take while also taking their Grade 11 and 12 agriculture classes. “There was a real connection between the UFV staff and the students at Sardis. I remember they helped us with our plant sale and I remember

I was really amazed at how much there is to learn, and how the instructors teach. They are very easy going, but they make sure you get it and you’re confident with what you’ve learned ~ Alicia Powell

visiting the UFV campus and I just loved it.” Powell obviously is a fast learner. Not only has she graduated and landed a job in her chosen field, she has also won the Lieutenant Governor’s silver medal for her academic accomplishments. The medal is awarded annually to students in vocational or career programs that are less than two years long who have excelled in their studies and also contributed to their postsecondary institution or their community. Baumann says Powell is the perfect candidate for such recognition. She is an enthusiastic and natural leader in the classroom and consistently produces excellent work in class, on

exams, and for all assignments. Her hands-on approach to learning and helping in the classroom was remarkable and she is a great example to other students. “It was always a pleasure having Alicia in my classes, as she actively contributes to class discussions in a very professional and intelligent manner, drawing from science studies and experience,” he says. “She adds a lot of spark to discussions and in my opinion will do very well in her further schooling and horticulture career. Baumann points out, however, that it is her volunteer work that really makes Powell stand out from the crowd. She continues to volunteer at Sardis Secondary and helped

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with their plant sale this year — one of the most successful sales in the school’s history. “Alicia exemplifies the outstanding criteria for this prestigious award and I am so thrilled to hear that it has been awarded to such a remarkable student,” he adds. The university’s Horticulture Crop Production and Protection certificate program is an intensive option that teaches innovation production techniques and pest biology methods to protect cash crops. Powell is currently working with E.S. CropConsult Ltd. as a ‘scout’ and scans farmers’ fields looking for destructive pests. “My job is to walk through the fields, and inspect selected

rows of plants for bugs, diseases, viruses or other pests.” Once Powell determines if pests are in the area, her team at E.S. CropConsult will come up with a pest control management plan. While it sounds easy, agriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry in the Lower Mainland and correct pest management is vital. Integrated pest management is a science that controls destructive pests with a combination of tools; cultural, biological, physical and chemical in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. As a scout, she will monitor fields for insects, viruses, and disease on a regular basis until the crop is harvested. Pest scouts are used by field and

greenhouse growers of most plants including potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and the lucrative berry crops. To be good at her job, not only does Powell have to know how to identify the pests (and know which ones might be beneficial to a particular crop), she also needs to know pest life cycles, what helps the crop thrive, how to collect the correct data, and how to make recommendations based on what she finds. She learned all that, she says, in 10 intense months at UFV. “I was surprised at how great the program was,” she admits. “I went in with a preconceived notion, but I learned so much in one year. I was really amazed at how much there is to learn, and how the instructors teach. They are very easy going, but they make sure you get it and you’re confident with what you’ve learned.” While she loves being a bug-buster, Baumann is happy that Powell has plans to return to UFV, perhaps to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in agriculture management or a Bachelor of Science degree. She says an education in agriculture can lead to many opportunities and she’s excited to be involved in an industry that has so much potential.

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

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Lisa Smits, 11, takes people on a tour of her family's dairy farm at the Smits and Co.W Farm Cheese location during the Greendale Country Sampler in August. This farm was one of 14 stops featured on the self-guided tour. JENNA HAUCK/ BLACK PRESS

2011 marks the end of an era for Noel Roddick Noel Roddick is finally calling it quits almost a half century after starting work in the feed business in Delta. “I have been going to retire several times in the past,” says Roddick, “but this time is for real. I will retire December 31 in my 73rd year after 49 years in the business.” “It’s been a long time, a very long time,” he chuckled, “but I have enjoyed it. It has been a good business for (my wife) Valerie and myself. I sold the business to Terralink Horticulture of Abbotsford about four years ago, however we kept ownership of the property on which our Delta warehouse is located, but we sold the business.” Terralink are renting the property for 10 years and have about five years left. “My hope is that they will extend it,” notes Roddick. Asked what he planned to do in retirement, Roddick stated he was going to think about it for the next few months and then decide what to do. “My wife says I can’t have anymore race horses because I won’t be able to afford them in my retirement. But I have one horse now that is doing well so I will keep him and I might buy some cattle to raise – we have had cattle before - and then just enjoy life.” Roddick owns several race horses, but only one of them is doing really well. “I board him and race him at Hastings Park,” says Roddick. “He has run five times, been third twice, second once, and won once. My horses haven’t made me rich, but I am able to pay my bills, so I have no enemies at the track; they are all very friendly. I pay the vets, pay the trainer, and still manage to have a little left for me.” Noel Roddick was an innovator. While in the feed busi-

Noel Roddick will retire in December after 49 years in the feed business.

ness he introduced the sale of fertilizer in bulk and bought equipment to custom spread the fertilizer. Then there were the flour bins he rented out to customers to handle their bulk fertilizer. He also introduced special mix fertilizers for different crops to meet the nutritional needs of the various crops. “Fertilizer was expensive,” explained Roddick, “so my customers and I wanted to make sure they got full value from their investment by putting the right amount of fertilizer on a crop to grow the best crop possible. And that is good because Terralink are interested in the farm business. Some other fertilizer dealers are more interested in golf course fertilizer and the city fertilizers, the lawn and garden trade, whereas Terralink is interested in the farm business. And that is all we were ever interested in.” Roddick feels that farming in Delta will continue to prosper

despite the many land issues that face the municipality. “When you think of farming in Delta 20 per cent of the farmers grow 80 per cent of the crops. And even though there are a lot of young people in the industry now, the average age of farmers continues to increase. They are all in their early fifties today. And that is the same age as most executives are in the lumber or any other successful business. If you consider agriculture from that point of view I think it is doing fairly well. The family farm is doing well. Certainly it takes a lot of capital to become involved in farming, but that is no different than for any other family owned business. I encourage farm families to develop sound business plans, and ensure they put together a succession plan to avoid pitfalls that could undermine their hard earned investment. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Farming is a good business.”

SEPTEMBER, 2011

People

New barn and feed lot on Merritt farm.

Chilliwack dairymen raising young stock in the interior Grant Ullyot West Coast Farmer John Aarts, who owns Elmido Dairy farm in Chilliwack, and Alfred Van Den Brink, owner of Cedarbrink farm in Rosedale, have formed a partnership and are now raising their young stock on a farm in the Lower Nicola Valley north of Merritt. “We were both looking to do an expansion and thought it would be better if we looked outside Chilliwack for a place to raise our young stock and give us more room to grow without having to buy more land in Chilliwack at fairly high prices,” says Aarts. “The reason we did this is that both myself and my family and Alfred Vanderbrink and his family are partners. We felt that if we had the scale to do it with two farms it would give us a lot more economies of scale and that has been true. Neither of us felt this would be something that would work well at only two-three or four hundred head. Now we are running between six and seven hundred head here in Merritt and it will grow quickly over the next few years; and it works a lot better with the two families running the operation.” Aarts went on to explain that they have one full time person – a farm manager who looks after everything on the Merritt farm. “He gets his time off and we take turns coming up every other weekend to work on the farm. We (he and wife Debbie) come up for one weekend a month and Alfred and his wife Cora come up for another weekend a month. The manager looks after all the irrigation and the cattle. The cropping we do from Chilliwack so the manager does not have to do any cropping, manure spreading or anything like that. It is all done by our guys between the two farms so we have a good efficient use of labour.” They only grow silage and haven’t made any hay says Aarts. “We grow all our silage and we buy a bit of fiber, sometimes some hay. We are now in our third year up here and are now getting some nice inventories of feed because we had to reseed the whole place. In future we plan on buying less feed that we are now, and will still buy a bit of fiber/straw and/or grass hay.” Aarts noted that the Nicola Valley is a very dry area. “It only gets about eight to 10 inches of rain each year, so when we take off a crop of silage we need to get the water back on as quickly as possible. If we do that we have the ability to grow three really good crops annually.” The Nicola River is the source for irrigation water. It rims the outside of their 240 acre farm. While it is normally a very shallow river there is still always lots of water for irrigation. That’s because they hold back water in Nicola Lake in the spring and then start to release it in August. The river has never been shut down because of a lack of irrigation water. The farms feed lot complex was built new in 2009. “We took down all the old feed lot that was here and built a new and larger feed lot. We have enough room for about 650 under roof and we are right to max. We need to add some more

room and are considering different ideas for expansion in this coming year.” Cattle on the two farms in Chilliwack and the Merritt farm are moved back and forth about every two or three weeks. “We send the calves from both farms up to Merritt at between 90 and 100 days,” explains John, “and on the return trip to Chilliwack we will bring out a load of heifers.” It was a sunny day when I visited the farm in Merritt and Aarts told me they really enjoy the weather in the Nicola Valley which is quite different, especially in the winter when Merritt can have brilliant sunshine while it will be overcast and raining in Chilliwack. “Here in Merritt in the fall and winter we get very little moisture, very little snow and we will get some colder temperatures like down to minus 20. But most of the time in the winter it will be around minus seven/minus eight overnight and in the daytime it will be around zero. It is good feedlot weather – the cattle eat well – we have most of the older cows outside and they can handle the weather here very, very easily.” John Aarts started farming with his father on their Evans Road farm in the mid '70s, and they went into partnership in 1980. In1992 he bought out his father and he and his wife and their family took over sole operation of Elmido Farms. Unlike some other farm families, John and Debbie have fully involved their extended family in their farming operations. “I don’t really have any specific jobs that are mine,” says Aarts. “I fill in for people and do things that nobody else wants to do or things I want to do.” Aarts explained that his son-in-law Richard is running the cow part of the dairy farm in Chilliwack. Jonathan, his oldest son is full time on the farm and looks after the cropping and feeding programs. "My two younger boys are both still in school but want to come back to the farm over the next few years and are a source of additional labor when we need it.” Aarts admits it is pretty satisfying to be able to involve your family in the way he and Debbie have been able to. “It is kind of unique what we are doing here in Merritt and at home. We have the two farms because on both sides of the two families who have this place, there are a lot of people who want to farm. “At our farm all my kids, my daughter and her husband and my oldest son and his wife, are all interested in farming. We are working with Elaine Froese, a well known family and succession planner, who is helping us do the transition of ownership going from myself and Debbie to the next generation. So that is our big job at hand now and for the next five to 10 years.” Referring again to the Merritt farm, Aarts noted that despite some growing pains it has been a really good move. “There has been a lot of learning to do. For example, cropping is different and raising cattle here in Merritt is different, but the hardest parts are now behind us. We now have a very good understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Now we can maybe look at some future opportunities to move forward and grow our Merritt operation."

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SEPTEMBER, 2011

Beyond the Barn

Better agriculture production through gene research to new environments and can mix their genetic material, just like ‘flu viruses, leading to potential epidemics threatening farmers’ livelihoods and food supply. Crops that are affected by rust fungi include wheat, poplar trees, pines, sunflowers, soybeans, and coffee. Another major research project underway is the integrated pest management for beekeeping. Honey Margaret bees not only EVANS provide food in the form of honey but their services to agriculture as pollinators of many vegetable, nut and fruit crops is essential. It’s estimated they contribute in excess of $2.3 billion to Canadian agriculture and nearly $15 billion to agriculture in the U.S. In B.C., an estimated 30,000 honey bee colonies are contracted to pollinate food crops on provincial farms every growing season. These activities are worth approximately $2.4 million annually to B.C. beekeepers and lead to agricultural products worth about $500 million annually. But in the last four years, beekeepers have lost approxi-

mately one third of their bees every year, three times the historical average. The losses are largely due to bee-specific infectious diseases, some of which can be controlled with pesticides. But that presents two problems. The first is that many of the bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites responsible are finding ways to resist chemical control. The second is that the public is less accepting of chemical residues possibly being present in honey and bee-pollinated crops. The answer to that, and the focus of the ongoing research, is an integrated pest management program that uses biological, physical, cultural, mechanical, behavioural and chemical controls. The research is three-pronged in developing genetically strong bee stock with natural disease resistance, disease treatment that will be absolutely specific for the pathogens, and a best-practices guideline for beekeepers. The goal is for the results of the research to generate at least $200 million in annual benefits to Canadian agriculture based on a decrease in colony losses, an increase in honey production and more availability of bees for pollination. Food safety and security are paramount and the research contribution will be a major shot in the arm for the

14 17

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nization to contribute $450 million to B.C.’s Gross Domestic Product and create 8,400 person-years of employment. “This funding will allow us to take the crucial foundational work that has been done and translate it into real-life application for B.C. in the years to come,” said Alan Winter, president and CEO of Genome BC. “Our unique approach to co-funding research projects also enables us to leverage the provincial investment fourfold.”

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B.C. economy. “Without honey bees, B.C. families would not be able to enjoy local blueberries, apples, cranberries and raspberries or vegetables like cucumbers and broccoli as they all need pollination to develop,” said Minister of Agriculture Don McRae. “(This) funding announcement will support many research projects like finding solutions to the honey bee decline.” A third research project is looking at the genomics of wine production. The Canadian wine industry is worth some $4.2 billion in sales annually and exports account for $832 million. Wine making, often regarded as much an art as a science, is continuing to evolve though the application of new genomics and related technologies, and researchers are looking at the fundamental gene functions in grapes and yeasts. The new knowledge is leading to the development of protein biomarkers that help viticulturists understand how the vine and the berries themselves respond to environmental changes each season, ultimately putting out high value grape production. During wine making, yeasts are exposed to a lot of stresses and recent discoveries have shown that yeast cells adapt to the stress by switching on 62

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The provincial government is providing $25 million to Genome British Columbia to support its ongoing research in the areas of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, human health, bioenergy, mining and the environment. Genome BC is a research organization that invests in and supports large scale science and technology research projects. In the area of agriculture, that research investment helps to better understand the mechanisms by which animals and crops cope with disease, parasites, and insects so that productivity as well as crop and livestock quality can be increased. Their aim is to improve the quality and production of food products through the development of desirable traits that increase not only the value of products but also, equally important, open up new niche markets. One of the major projects underway includes research into cereal and poplar rust, a destructive fungi that wreaks havoc on important crops and commercial trees causing major economic losses every year not only in Canada but worldwide. Rust spores, so named because some of the fungi have a reddish hue, are windblown, can spread from one country to another, can adapt and mutate

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

Dicklands Farms now operate a robotic dairy Grant Ullyot

“

West Coast Farmer It is interesting to note that robotic milkers, such as the Lely A2, introduced to dairy producers from around the Fraser Valley in Chilliwack several years ago, did not generate much enthusiasm at that time. In fact, I was told by some of the producers back then that robotic milkers would never catch on in B.C. and that the conventional dairy parlour was here to stay. However, times have changed and today there are more and more robotic milkers being installed on dairy farms. Brian Rodenburg with Westcoast Robotics says this year alone his firm will install 18 new robotic milkers raising to 36 the number installed since he started the business. Among the latest is a group of five Lely A4 Robotic Milkers from WestCoast Robotics in Dicklands Farms main barn in Chilliwack. The barn suffered significant damage in a disastrous fire in June 2002 and cost an estimated $600,000 to repair. (Two other buildings were completely destroyed.) George Dick manages the dairy operation for Dicklands – a partnership which involves him, his parents and brother

Really we are just changing the way we do our milking from a conventional parlour to robotic milkers, but it still requires time to adjust and get a good routine going ~ George Dick

Aron. Another brother, John, is a well-known veterinarian with Greenbelt Veterinary Services in Chilliwack. John owns and operates his own poultry farm in the Greendale area. The installation of robotic milkers was a bit surprising to me, so I asked George how and when the family decided to implement the major change from a conventional doubleeight dairy parlour to robotics. “We had been looking at it for a few years on and off,” George explained. “And when one of our full time employees was leaving to take over a farm of his own and was putting in robotics, that stirred

up the conversation again. We looked at the idea and it coincided with the newest model of robot coming out from Lely, which we thought had some advantages for us, so we pursued it. “We looked at the numbers and how much we were paying for labour – the major component which we were banking on in savings was our labour cost. I believe over time there will be some other benefits too, but those are not going to pay out right away. Our labour savings and being able to change the way we work our dairy operation means we can handle things financially.” George admits the change-

”

over cost exceeded a million dollars. “Yes, it is a few dollars but I think people look at that figure too much at the upfront capital cost when they should be more concerned with the long term labour savings. Our capital outlay was a pretty big number for us, but now we are able to operate with less people. The people we do have are people who have more of a management aspect to them – treating cows and dealing with any problems, and we no longer need to hire people just to milk our cows on a daily basis.” George pointed out that one of the physical things about the

Lely A4 he liked was the way the cows entered and exited the milker with no backing up. “I don’t know if it is a huge deal but it was something I thought was nice and logical. Also with the A4 the robots share some components and so they were not cost prohibitive.” George noted they are currently milking about 280 cows and also have young stock. Overall they have around 700 cattle. The young stock are being kept on the former Art Krahn farm next to Dicklands, a farm they bought last spring. “It gives us more room in our main dairy barn,” says George.

It was necessary to reconfigure the layout in the barn to accommodate the new robotic milkers. “The barn actually laid itself out quite well for robotics,” stated George. “For three of the groups it was quite simple. The fourth group where we have two robots in alignment we did some changes but that was partially due to our need to add space. We added another alley and another feed bunk. That was a bit of work. At the same time we changed a bunch of our stalls to make things a little roomier for the cows so a lot our renovation had to do with cow comfort and not so much to accommodate the robots, even though they were the main reason for the changes. With renovations expected to be finished this fall, George notes space is going to be provided for a sixth robot, although there is no plan at present to add it anytime soon. George says everyone is excited about the future. “We have only been up and running about a month, but I feel we are definitely through the toughest part now and the outlook for the future is very positive. I spent 20 years doing my job one way and Continued: ROBOTIC/ p11

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

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Art Friesen, an accountant who grew up on the family farm on Camp River Road in Chilliwack, is also a very successful poultry farmer. “I have lived here my whole life,” he says. “I grew up on this farm back when it was a dairy farm. We had 25 cows, I did the milking and my mom and dad took care of everything else. When I was growing up, our road was still a cow path, but I just love this area. It was fortunate that my dad had two titles on his property and he allowed my wife and me to build a house on one piece where we still live today.” Friesen started his schooling at Camp River Elementary, then went to Fairfield Island Elementary, (both these schools no longer exist), then to Rosedale Junior High and finally to Chilliwack Senior Secondary. From there it was off to university to get a degree in economics and commerce. “I had decided when I was in Grade 9 that I wanted to be an accountant. So I went to the fledgling Fraser Valley College and then to Simon Fraser University where I got my bachelors degree. I articled with a local Chilliwack accounting firm, McKnight Johnson, for two years and then in 1984 started my own CGA (Certified General Accountant) practice, out of my home, where farmers can come in their jeans and gum boots.” Friesen has two brothers and two sisters. The three older ones, who grew up when farming was not considered a career, decided they didn’t want to be involved in farming. His other brother ended up going to Vancouver where he manages the main Vancouver grain terminal for Viterra Inc. Friesen explained how he ended up either owning outright or in partnership over half a dozen poultry farms in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Armstrong and Saskatoon. “While I was working for McKnight Johnson I quickly realized that I missed farming. I loved getting up early

“

My goal was to build my own chicken barn on my parent’s property, where my three girls could learn the work ethic and where I could do my accounting and do some manual labour ~ Art Friesen

”

in the morning, having some quiet time while doing chores in what I considered to be an unstructured situation, which suited me just fine. I knew that I could not get back into dairy farming as it was too demanding to handle with my accounting practice, but seeing how a client of mine ran his layer farm, I realized how it could be possible to be both a chicken farmer and an accountant. So I bought a small layer farm in Aldergrove and it really worked out well.” Approximately eight years later Friesen’s parents moved into town and he bought the rest of the Camp River Road property, on which he built his own layer barn. “My goal was to build my own chicken barn on my parent’s property, where my three girls could learn the work ethic and where I could do my accounting and do some manual labour.” It all started from Jacob Pauls, a layer farmer in Greendale, looking for an accountant who could speak and understand German. From there, Friesen got to know his son Frank, a significant player in the industry, who together with others helped him get to

where he is today. Friesen recently completed construction of a new layer facility on property he owns on Chapman Road, near the intersection with Camp River Road. “The quota for this new facility used to be housed in a barn right across from the airport in Abbotsford,” says Friesen. “But the barn was not in good condition, and when the avian influenza broke out in 2004, it could not meet the bio-security regulations. So, my partner Ray Nickel and I sold that property and each of us built new facilities near our homes, which allowed our families to work and run the farms, another one of our ultimate goals.” Friesen’s new layer barn, which can house up to 38,000 birds, was built by Harry Van Hemert’s Intercoast Construction Ltd. Art says “take a look at the really nice job he did”. Phase Electric Ltd. did all the electrical including the wiring for the sophisticated computer system, while United Agri installed all the feeding, ventilation and egg gathering equipment. “I can put up to nine birds in a cage,” says Art. “However, from experience I have found that at eight birds per cage I achieve maximum production.” The ‘Made in Germany’ cages are wire with a plastic coating which is really gentle and comfortable, and keeps the birds happy. The belts underneath each cage allow the manure to be removed daily and as a result there is no ammonia smell in the barn and flies don’t get a chance to breed. At the rear of the barn several large fans keep the birds cool and supply them with a constant flow of fresh air. “On a hot day I provide the birds with air-conditioning.” A large curtain, with water running down it is opened, and the large fans suck this cool air through the barns. As an added bonus the hot air passes over the manure stored in a separate covered area at the Continued: JOBS/ p11

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News ■ Look Up...

Robotic milkers find more homes ROBOTIC from p9 introducing ways to make it more efficient. But now we have to make a big change to accommodate the robots. “Really we are just changing the way we do our milking from a conventional parlour to robotic milkers, but it still requires time to adjust and get a good routine going. Our main challenge going forward is to determine how we are going to make things work and the smartest way we can do it. George and Aron are also in partnership as co-owners and operators of Caliber Farm Machinery in Abbotsford. The company is managed by Aron.

George told me that the purchase of Central Valley Farm Equipment Ltd. assets five years ago and the starting of a new company has been interesting and different. “It has definitely taught us a lot about how business operates and it has made us better farmers,” he says. “We saw an opportunity to get into a dealership that had some good potential. And because it was off-farm it kind of interested us to do something in the free market. It has been a huge learning experience for us, but we are pretty happy now as we feel we have established ourselves. It is quite different from dairy farming.” Still, dairy farming has been the back-

bone of the development of Dicklands farms. The dairy industry continues to move forward, and George says the reason for that is capital appreciation of assets. “The value of quota has risen consistently over the last few years, and the price of land has consistently been rising. Land values are always consistent whether our economy is up or down and it is one of the best assets you can own. For us the options were limited, either we bought out our neighbor and kept going, or we would cap off our size and we were not ready to do that.”

Art Friesen likes his many jobs JOBS from p10

Tiffany Cross stood with confidence for the judges even though her llama towered above her in the 4-H llama show at the Chilliwack Fair. JUSTIN KEITCH/ BLACK PRESS

back of the barn. This makes the manure drier and easier to handle and reduces fly problems. The drier the manure, the less opportunity there is for flies to breed.” Friesen says he can store about 18 months of the manure in this facility. Friesen’s wife, Joan manages this new facility, as well as their home farm and another nearby farm on Castleman Road. Their two daughters share the responsibility of the day-to-day chores. Friesen chose the name Eggstraordinary Poultry Ltd. in setting up his new operation. He wanted something catchy and something that wasn’t so hard to say as Five-Fry Farms Ltd, which is the name for the home farm. Although, Friesen has free run and

McCLARY STOCKYARDS LTD.

organic operations, he still chose to equip the new facility with cages. “From experience, I have discovered what science has been telling us all along. A happy bird produces eggs, the first sign of a bird under stress – no egg. If you have water or feed problems, excess heat, parasites or a mean bird at the top of the pecking order, production drops. My birds must be happy, because 98 per cent of them are rewarding me with an egg every day. In addition, media wants us to believe that people want alternative housing for chickens. But when it comes to their wallet, consumers say they want the inexpensive safe egg. If the market changes, I will adapt, but from what I’ve been told by graders, the BC market would have a tough time handling an additional 38,000 organic

eggs per day.” Looking to the future, Friesen hopes his girls will choose to take over the farms, but they will have to decide for themselves if they enjoy the farming lifestyle. “Farming has drawn our family close together, working side-by-side, through the good times and the bad. It helped us build relationships. When it comes to the end of your life, you don’t count the money you accumulate, you count the great relationships you built. I want there to be lots of pictures of us having good times together. Providing my girls with the opportunity of living close to home, allows me to continue to be a part of their and their families’ lives. That means more to me than a lot of money. “

B.C.’S BEST COW MARKET FOR OVER 40 YEARS

REPORT

Sale Days: Monday - Slaughter, Feeder & Misc. Livestock 11:00 AM start. Wednesday: Dairy and Slaughter 1:00 PM start All cattle are trading to high demands with numbers being relatively low. FEEDER SALE - SEPTEMBER 12 LABOUR DAY WEEKEND - TUESDAY SALE SEPTEMBER 6TH

Upcoming

SLAUGHTER CATTLE (Prices Quoted CWT) Choice Holstein Veal .................................... ....................................(600-700) (600-700) ......................................................................... $90.00 -111.50 Holstein Feeder Veal .................................... ....................................(175-300) (175-300) ........................................................................ $90.00 - 110.00 Good Beef Type Cows .................................. ..................................(Exportable) (Exportable) .................................................................... $65.00 - 75.00 Medium Beef Type Cows............................. Cows.............................(Over (Over 10 Years Old) ........................................................ $58.00 - 65.00 Young Cows and Heiferettes................................................................................................................... Heiferettes................................................................................................................... $70.00 -80.00 Best Holstein Cows ................................................................................................................................. $65.00 - 74.00 Medium Holstein Cows ........................................................................................................................... $50.00 - 64.75 Poor Holstein Cows .................................................................................................................................. under $49.75 Holstein Heifers........................................................................................................................................ $65.00 - 75.00 Slaughter Bulls .............................................. ..............................................(1200-2400) (1200-2400) ...................................................................... $82.00 - 90.00 Good Slaughter Lambs................................. .................................(80-100) (80-100) ........................................................................ $125.00 - 145.00 Good Slaughter Goats .................................. ..................................(67 (67 LBS) ......................................................................... $50.00 - 210.00 Good Slaughter Horses................................ ................................(800-1200) (800-1200) ........................................................................ $15.00 - 27.00

Feeder Sale September 12th Starts at 11:00am

Cow Calf Pairs ............................................... ...............................................$1100.00 $1100.00 - 1600.00 Beef Type Calves .......................................... ..........................................(200-399) (200-399) ...................................................................... $140.00 - 160.00 Beef Type Steers........................................... ...........................................(400-600) (400-600) ...................................................................... $135.00 - 155.00 Beef Type Steers........................................... ...........................................(600-800) (600-800) ...................................................................... $125.00 - 140.00 Beef Type Steers........................................... ...........................................(800-950) (800-950) ...................................................................... $100.00 - 110.00 Beef Type Steers........................................... ...........................................(1000-1250) (1000-1250) .................................................................... $95.00 - 105.00 Beef Type Heifers ......................................... .........................................(400-600) (400-600) ...................................................................... $120.00 - 130.00 Beef Type Heifers ......................................... .........................................(600-800) (600-800) ...................................................................... $110.00 - 120.00 Beef Type Heifers ......................................... .........................................(800-950) (800-950) ........................................................................ $95.00 - 105.00 Beef Type Heifers ......................................... .........................................(1000-1250) (1000-1250) .................................................................... $90.00 - 100.00

McCLARY

BABY CALVES (By The $)

S T O C K YA R D S L T D .

Started Holstein Bulls (4 Weeks Old+) ............................................................................................... $60.00 - 100.00 Good Holstein Bulls (100 lbs+) ............................................................................................................... $35.00 - 55.00 Small Holstein Bulls.................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................$$ .00 - 20.00

Your Complete Marketing Outlet

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09/11_WCF

Good Fresh & 2nd Calvers.............................................................................................................. $1800.00 - 2400.00 Springing Holstein Heifers ............................................................................................................. $1600.00 - 2000.00 3rd & 4th Lactation Cows ................................................................................................................. $900.00 - 1500.00 Good Open Heifers ....................................... .......................................(630 (630 - 800) .................................................................... $670.00 - 860.00 Good Open Heifers ....................................... .......................................(840 (840 - 970) .................................................................. $990.00 - 1050.00

34559 McClary Ave., Box 40 Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 4N7 Office (604) 864-2381 • Fax (604) 854-3038 website: mcclarystockyards.com Wednesday Sales Monday Sales Dairy Dispersals 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. and Dairy & Beef Cattle Beef & Feeder Cattle Machinery Sales

9-11wcf M6

FEEDER CATTLE

SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

Girl Guides get hands-on look at dairy farming More than 1,400 Guides an Pathfinders descend on Agassiz for SOAR Jessica Peters Black Press

Summer student Rebecca Wright shows Alexis Roscoe and other Guides how to feed a calf, during a tour of the UBC Dairy Research Centre last month. JESSICA PETERS/ BLACK PRESS

Calf No. 1073 snores dreamily in the corner of her stall at the UBC Dairy Research Centre. Her hair is unkempt, curly and wet. Her front legs are tucked under its body, which is rising and falling with each breath. She curls up more and falls into an even deeper sleep, completely ignoring the gaggle of girls watching her from outside the stall. Weighing in at a healthy 37 kilograms, this little black and white creature is the newest calf on the working dairy farm. She's only 12 hours old. And for that, she gets the biggest oohs and ahhs from a small group of Girl Guides and their leaders. They toured through the centre as part of Dairy Divas, a program designed specifically to draw in Guides while they were in Agassiz for the SOAR camp which attracted 1400 Guides and Pathfinders. "Awww... She's not even a day old," one girl sighs. They all wonder why the baby isn't mooing, calling for milk like the calves in the other pens. Their tour guide, a student working at the dairy centre, explains that she already fed

the calf four litres of milk in the middle of the night. That's a lot of milk for a brand new calf, and she's sleeping off the splurge. They move on to another row of individual pens, where the cows are wide awake, a few days older, and definitely hungry. Then, the girls are given milk bottles equipped with plastic 'udders', to carry out the best job of all â&#x20AC;&#x201D; feeding two of the heifers, Henrietta and Gummy Bear. The pair eats greedily, pushing their faces against the bottles, spilling milk, and jumping with joy. The girls laugh. "I'm so happy I took Dairy Divas now," says Alexa Davis, a member of the 2nd Cloveridge Guides. For Alexis Roscoe, from the Ruby Creek #36 troop in Surrey, feeding calves is a thrill, but nothing new. "They always have calves in the barn at the PNE," she says, and kids can feed them during demonstrations throughout the fair. But the whole feeding process begs the question from the group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where are the babies' moms? And they learn that the answer â&#x20AC;&#x201D;that all the calves are separated from their mother's shortly after birth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is a fact of life on dairy farms. It's easier on both mother and calf, and gives

the calves a cleaner environment to live in. But it's not the end of the mother and calf bond. The important mother's milk, called colostrum, is still fed to the calves for the first few feedings of their lives. Calves aren't born with the immune system that humans have, and colostrum is loaded with potentially life-saving antibodies. And because they need to measure the amount of colostrum a calf is getting, they milk the mothers and feed the cows pasteurized milk. Measuring milk intake is just one of the many jobs at UBC's WestGen Calf Research Centre. Here, they're not just breeding cows for the purpose of producing milk. They're breeding for science discovery, with the goal of improving both the dairy industry and the general health of cattle. And this is what the Guides are visiting the Research Centre to learn. Registered dietician Rola Zahr spoke to the girls about the importance of dairy products, or fortified soy products, to improve and maintain bone health. And the day ended with a treat, a yogurt smoothie made with raspberries grown next door at the Pacific Agricultural Research Centre.

AgriStability BC Ministry of Agriculture

AgriStability

Producers take note of some important upcoming deadlines

This is a very busy time for you, but you need to be aware of the following deadlines: Âž

2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form without penalty September 30, 2011. It is the deadline to submit the 2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form without penalty. x

Âž

If you miss the September 30, 2010 deadline, you can still submit the form until December 31, 2011 with a $500/month reduction to your payment. Maximum reduction will be $1500.00

2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form with Penalty December 31, 2011. It is the FINAL deadline to submit the 2010 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form with penalty.

For more information

please call the toll free number listed below and speak to your AgriStability representative. AgriStability Administration Toll-free number: 1-877-343-2767 Toll-free fax: 1-877-605-8467 Website: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/agristability Growing forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative

AgriStability Regional offices

200 1500 Hardy St Kelowna, BC V1Y 8H2

1767 Angus Campbell Rd Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3

PO Box 857 th 201-9971 350 Ave. Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

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SEPTEMBER, 2011

News

BC food processors support provincial meat inspection The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has served notice it intends to end Federal inspection of meat processing facilities in BC by 2014. That decision, which also affects facilities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba is considered a backward step by Bob Kingston, President of the Agriculture Union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Kingston claims the decision puts Canadians at risk by the fact that provincial inspection replaces federal inspection. However, the CEO of the BC Food Processors Association, Nico Human says, "We want to set the record straight and assure British Columbians that their health and safety is of paramount concern in the pro-

duction of food in BC and that people will not be put at risk." Human points out that since 2006, the BCFPA has been involved with provincially licensed slaughter facilities, assisting them towards licensing under the BC Meat Inspection Regulation. “We work closely with facility operators, policy makers and regulators. We know that food safety is taken very seriously and practised very professionally by all these parties," he stated. "The BCFPA has been directly involved for the last year in developing options for a new inspection service in BC," Human continues. "Government agencies, assisted by the BCFPA and facil-

ity operators, are working on options for an inspection system that will be a better fit for BC: more efficient, and equally or more effective than the one we have now." Human emphasizes: "In BC we know that 'a one-size-fits-all' system doesn't work. We support strong food safety standards that will work for all sizes and types of meat processing operations." He adds, "I am disturbed by a number of inaccuracies in the PSAC story, including its unfounded allegations about Pitt Meadows Meats which the PSAC alleged had encountered an e-coli problem, but stepped around it by ending federal inspection and implementing provincial inspection. Human was very disturbed by the alle-

gation claiming members make food safety a top priority for all of their operations." Human says the BCFPA will continue to play an important role in ensuring our food is safe. The farmer, the processor and the retailer are guided by regulations and best practices, but let's not forget the critical role of the consumer. It's the consumer who, through good hygiene and cooking practices, takes the lead in reducing the risk of food-borne illness."

Nico Human, CEO Association.

the

Food

Processors

CanWest Show drawing near Grant Ullyot West Coast Farmer The Can West Show – western Canada’s premier Landscape and Nursery trade show takes place in Vancouver’s Convention Center on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, with special pre-show clinics on Sept. 27 and industry tours on Sept. 30. Kimberley Seldon, host of HGTV’s Design for Living series who is a recognized interior design expert, will host a full-day clinic on the 27th. Seldon possesses an unbeatable skill in running a successful full-service design business. Her day-long intensive course is designed for small operations that are big on creativity. Morning clinics starting at 9 a.m. to Noon will focus on lawn care in the new world with host Mario Lanthier who has worked in the horticulture industry for the past 30 years – 20 of those in the field of integrated pest management. The other morning clinic with host Isabelle Mercier will focus on branding – how to cultivate success and create a thriving enterprise. In the afternoon are two more pre-show clinics. Edible Landscaping, with host Rosalind Creasy, is a mouth watering presentation during which Rosalind will recommend alluring edible plants for home gardens, and provide an overview of the wide variety of edible landscapes that are available. Day One on Sept. 28 kicks off with the BCLNA’s annual meeting with a light breakfast starting at 7 a.m. and the meeting getting underway around 7:30 a.m. An Urban Foresters Symposium with

Julian Dunster from Dunster & Associates Environmental Consultants Ltd. whose presentation will target Arborculture and The Law; while Lindsay E.W. Nilsson, a staff lawyer with the Municipal Insurance Assn. of BC focuses on the legal challenges posed by trees. The Show Theme this year is the Wild West. Visitors to the show should be sure to check out the theme as it is developed by the various show entries. The BCLNA Awards party on the 19th floor of the Renaissance Hotel Harborside starting at 7:30 p.m. Day two again features another day of seminars – too many to mention. But a brochure circulated by BCLNA will provide you with all the information you need including a complete resume of the many seminars on Sept. 28. Friday Sept. 30 is given over to three tours. Attendees can chose to participate in a Country Estates Landscape Tour with Ruth Olde from Blasig Landscape Design and Construction. John Folkerts from Linnaea Nurseries will host a Botanical Tour and the final tour will take participants on a Boutique Garden Shops tour. NEW THIS YEAR a CanWest equipment field day to be held at the Abbotsford airport Tradex Center. Last year it was held in Chilliwack at Cannor Nurseries. The demonstration zones will be real-life worksites where participants can put big equipment and turf tackle to the test. Your favorite suppliers, manufacturers and distributors will be on hand to point out the latest bells and whistles so you compare big ticket purchases side by side. Return bus transportation from Vancouver to Abbotsford and back will be available.

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BC’S LARGEST AGRICULTURE EVENT OF THE YEAR!

News

PRESENTED BY P

14th Annual

Dairy Farmers of Canada elect a new president Wally Smith, a dairy producer from Chemainus on Vancouver Island has been elected President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada to replace Jacques Laforge who has served on the board for the past 25 years, the last seven as President. Smith is particularly pleased with his election since it is the first time the President has been elected by delegates at large attending the annual general meeting and not by the Executive. Smith, who owns MariaHolme Farms, milks 75 cows and grows his own corn and forage, represents Vancouver Island's milk producers on the board of the B.C. Milk Producers Association, which he chaired from 1999 to 2004. At the national level, Smith was named second vice-president of the DFC in 2004 and has been the vice-president of the association's board since 2009. Smith favors the idea of National pooling of milk as a way to get producers from across the country to

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work more closely together. However he is at odds with his counterparts in BC who do not want national pooling. However Smith counters that saying that he represents all producers from across the country and not just one province. DFC remains the nationallevel policy, lobbying and promotional organization for nearly 13,000 dairy farms across Canada, seeking to ensure "an environment for

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NAME:__________________________ PHONE:_________________________

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producers' economic viability within the context of supply management." The organization, at its Winnipeg meeting, also announced the creation of a new environmental stewardship award to recognize dairy farmers "who go beyond common industry practices." The new DFC award, starting next year, is meant to "recognize the achievements of dairy farmers implementing environmentally sustainable practices, which positively contribute to climate change issues and/or manage natural resources efficiently." Despite the fact that the World Trade Organization talks are going nowhere, Smith says Canada needs to continue to be vigilant. He said planned Ministerial talks this December could lead to change, but currently every country involved in the talks has an agenda, and there is a lot of disagreement. He is very pleased though that the Federal government has strongly maintained its endorsement of Canada’s domestic Supply Management system.

03/11WCF_NJS1

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15 - west coast FARMER

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION 114

DRIVERS/COURIER/ TRUCKING

CLASS 1 DRIVER with super B end dump exp req’d by L.A. Transport Ltd. Wheel loader exp would be of value. Competitive beneﬁt pkg. Fax resume to: 604-854-6176 TRUCK DRIVER with class 1 license. Prefer exp hauling modular portable buildings. (but not necessary). Email resume to coastmodular@shaw.ca or Call 604-240-8873.

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EDUCATION

CLASSES Starting Sept. 12th. Register now for Natural Health Practitioner, Day Spa Practitioner, Holistic Practitioner. www.naturalhealthcollege.com. 604-682-7991

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HELP WANTED

AGASSIZ BLUEBERRY FARM requires pickers. Will pick up from Chwk and Agassiz. Call Gill (604) 306-4182 or Colleen (604)316-7203

SEPTEMBER, 2011

EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION 160

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Licensed Technician Required for Springmans

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PETS 477

PETS

GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPS. Working line. Black and black & tan. $650. 604-820-4230, 604-302-7602 GERMAN SHEPHERD Pups & young adults. Quality German & Czech bloodlines. 604-856-8161. MALTESE PUPPIES. 1st shots, vet ✔, health guarnt’d, all white. Can view mother. $650 (604)820-8513 MULTI-POO.Minature,apricot, 4-5lb Hypo aller, non-shed, family raised, pet vet cert $895. 604-341-1445. NEED A GOOD HOME for a good dog or a good dog for a good home? We adopt dogs! Call 604856-3647 or www.856-dogs.com PITT BULL PUPS, 3 females, vet checked, 1st shots, 2 mo. $350/ea Call: 604-217-6551 RAG DOLL KITTENS for sale. Born July 9th, ready to go in 2 weeks. To view, (604)796-9935 SHELTIES beautiful loveable happy puppies, warm & cuddly, 4 months old. House trained. (604)826-6311 Yellow Lab Puppies. 1st shots, tattooed. Beaut. smaller sized (English), CKC P/B parents here. Ready now for choosing. $650: to approved homes. Rob 604-309-9908 Agassiz

Garage Sale

Saturday, Sept. 10

8:30am - 4pm

TREE SERVICES

Fax resume: 604.530.2865 or e-mail:dspringman@ springmans.com

PERSONAL SERVICES

2095 Aberdeen Dr. (Across from Agassiz United Church)

Tires, books, furniture,dvd’s, tools, & lots more!

Tree removal done RIGHT! • Tree & Stump Removal • Certiﬁed Arborists • 20 yrs exp. • 60’ Bucket Truck • Crown Reduction • Spiral Pruning • Land Clearing • Selective Logging ~ Fully Insured • Best Rates ~

604-787-5915, 604-291-7778 Info: www.treeworksonline.ca info@treeworksonline.ca 10% OFF with this AD

ELECTRICAL

#1167 $25 service call, BBB Lge & small jobs. Expert trouble shooter, WCB. Low rates 24/7 604-617-1774

300

LANDSCAPING

SAWDUST Hemlock, Fir & Cedar

604-465-5193 or 604-465-5197 www.augustinesoilandmulch.com

560

MISC. FOR SALE

HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available. 1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/newspaper?

REAL ESTATE ACREAGE

603

82.8 ACRES, 300’ lakefront, S Cariboo. Beautiful, pastoral, private, rural setting. Borders crown land. Adjacent 80+ acre parcel available. www.bchomesforsale.com/ view/lonebutte/ann/

636

Mortgage Help! Beat bank rates for purchases and reﬁnances, immediate debt consolidation, foreclosure relief, and equity loans. Free, fast, friendly, private consultations. Call 1-888-685-6181 www.mountaincitymortgage.ca

RECREATIONAL

640

RARE OPPORTUNITY: waterfront property on beautiful Jim Lake, 0.83-acre with 360 sq ft insulated cabin, located near Green Lake/Watch Lake. Rare privacy, only three lots on the lake, good ﬁshing for rainbows to 10 lbs, nice swimming, surrounded by crown land. Great trails for hiking, ATV and snowmobile. Seasonal 10-km back road access in 4x4 or pick-up. FSBO. $230,000. 250-395-0599. (Please see bchomesforsale.com/70mile/frank.)

www.dannyevans.ca

Homelife Benchmark Realty Corp. Langley

PETS

RENTALS

2 Lovebirds with cage. Open to offers (604)491-1060 AUSTRALIAN CATTLE puppy, blue-healer female, born April 26, vet checked, all shots, working parents. $250. Call (604)860-4400 BENGAL MANX KITTENS beautiful, 5 boys ready to go $150-$250 each Call 604-820-1603 CATS GALORE, TLC has for adoption spayed & neutered adult cats. 604-309-5388 / 604-856-4866 CATS OF ALL DESCRIPTION in need of caring homes! All cats are Spayed, neutered, vaccinated and dewormed. Visit us at fraservalleyhumanesociety.com or call 1 (604)820-2977

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE 559

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

4 WHEEL SHOPRIDER SCOOTER excellent cond $800.00. Phone (604)826-1652

560

MISC. FOR SALE

Fredrick Goertz Transit Antique Transit manufactured by Fredrick Goertz. Excellent working condition. In original box. Offers Welcome call 604.488.9161

715

DUPLEXES/4PLEXES

CHILLIWACK

#1-9145 Charles St 3 bdrm, 2 baths, 2 storey end unit in 4-plex, lots of parking, new paint, European kitchen, fridge, stove, dishwasher, W/D, n/p, gas f/p, avail Sept 1. $1100/m + util. 604-819-0456 Chilliwack, 46682 Andrews Ave, 1/2 duplex, 4 bdrm, 2 bath, f/s, w/d, pets negot. $1300/m, avail. now. Ross Fullbrook, Royal Lepage 604792-0077

TRANSPORTATION

RENTALS 736

HOMES FOR RENT

838

RECREATIONAL/SALE

Sardis 45754 Webb Ave. 3 bdrm, 1 bath older rancher, 1/4 acre, 1350sf, lg. fam rm, lg yard. Good location, cls to shops/schools. n/s, avail Sept. 1, $1250/m incl heat. Call 604-819-0456

750

SUITES, LOWER

2000 Winnebago Brave. 35’ slide awning, new tires/brakes, NS/NP, exc cond. $25,900. 604-341-8694

CHILLIWACK: Bachelorette bsmt suite-in Webster Landing. Complete/w kitchen & w/d, Utils incl. n/s, n/p. $400/mo. 604-858-9441

2010 R-POD TRAILER

TRANSPORTATION

MORTGAGES

HOMES FOR SALE-SUPER BUYS

PETS 477

260

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

660 LANGLEY/ALDERGROVE

HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

Available for Delivery Call for pricing SECURITY OFFICER TRAINING B.S.T. classes in Abby. Job placement. 604-859-8860 www.brissonsecurity.com

MOVING & STORAGE

329 PAINTING & DECORATING

Req. for Springman’s Langley. Candidate will require parts background, customer service and communication skills and basic computer knowledge.

FLAGGERS NEEDED If not certified, training available for a fee. Call 604-575-3944 We are still hiring - Dozer & excavator operators required by a busy Alberta oilfield construction company. We require operators that are experienced and preference will be given to operators that have constructed oilfield roads and drilling locations. You will be provided with motels and restaurant meals. Competitive wages, bonus and transportation daily to and from job sites. Our work is in the vicinity of Edson, Alberta. Call 780-7235051.

320

#1 As in movers we trust. Reliable Mini Movers. Same day moves & deliveries. Starting at $30/hr + gas. (604)997-0332 / (604)745-7918

PARTS PERSON

An employment service assisting employers and job seekers. Ph: (604)823-6222 www.agri-labourpool.ca

HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES

806

ANTIQUES/CLASSICS

1951 FORD Stock F1 P.U. 239 F.H. V8 new motor & more, 1 owner, see Craigslist $12,000 (604)768-9904 1954 FORD F100 P.U all stock 239 Y block V8 3spd, ﬂr shift, 2nd owner see Craigslist $8500 (604)768-9904 1978 FORD PINTO wagon. 2.8L V6 very restorable, solid body, Not running. $400obo. 604-584-7968

818

CARS - DOMESTIC

1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE - Loaded. Certiﬁed. Showroom cond. $6500/obo. (778)565-4334 2000 BUICK Century, white 198K. Pwr str/wind, dl. Keyless entry, a/c. New trans, $3000. 604-807-7662 2000 Olds Bravada, full load, air, tilt cruise, heated seats, memory seats, p/w, p/l, white, moonroof, $5500. (604)302-9899/798-3647 2004 OPTRA air cond., loaded, 4 door, 127m,000km. Air Cared. $4500 obo 604-780-8404

Super light weight trailer. 2121 lbs. 18’ 4” length. ECO Construction. Slps 4. F/T Q/size bed. Frg. / Stv. / Micro / Convec / AC / Furn / HW / Inv. / AC/ DC / Toilet / Shwr / TV / Add-a-room. $14,950 Save 1000’s from new. Call: 604-307-4357 E-mail: ajeepster@shaw.ca

847 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 2006 Chev Trailblazer, 4WD, 107kms, immac cond. sunroof, fully equip. $10,000 obo. 604-309-4001.

851

TRUCKS & VANS

1997 20’ Great West van, 350 Dodge classic sport, mini M/H, 70,000k, ex shape, fully equipped. $17,500. Call (604)858-6878 1997 FORD F150 ext cab, 3 door, 4.6L, auto., 169,000k, good cond. extra set tires, new battery. $5490. Call (604)794-7203

2007 FORD FUSION SE Fully loaded. Maroon colour, 60K, $7850 ﬁrm. Call 604-538-4883.

1999 Dodge Ram crew cab pickup 4x4, silver, $900 metal dry box, extra tires w/alum rims, 330,000k, immobilzer,$5400 obo. (604)858-0686

821 CARS - SPORTS & IMPORTS

1999 Land Rover. Approx 163,000 km, 4 l, near new tires. Great cond., recent work. Offers (604)823-4173

1999 MAZDA, 5 speed, 4 dr, fully loaded, Aircared. $1500 obo. Call: 604-504-0932 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA 4 dr, fully loaded, auto, Aircared, $2300 obo. Call: 604-615-7408.

830

MOTORCYCLES

2002 TRIUMPH TROPHY. Low k’s, new battery, runs good. $4,700. Call 604-217-3479; 778-880-0233. 2004-2007 loud & sassy custom pipes, DG HARDCHROME from California, double chrome, never blue, 1/2 price. 1st $450 takes. (778)837-6577 CLASSIFIED ADS MEAN MORE BUSINESS PHONE 1-604-575-5777

MARINE 912

BOATS

BARGE CAMP: Wood Barge 131’LX38’4.5”X9’8.5”D c/w: Atco trailer complex mounted on barge deck consisting of 20 rooms, kitchen, pantry, dining room, head and shower facilities, laundry facilities, small repair shop, twin Cummins 60Kw diesel gensets. Survey available. Location: Zeballos. $59,500 Call for more details. 250.703.3551.

Send Your Christmas Greeting IN THE CHRISTMAS EDITION, TUESDAY, DEC. 6TH

2008 WINNER CCNA BETTER NEWSPAPERS COMPETITION

45860 Spadina Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C. V2P 6H9

604-702-5579 Advertise in the West Coast Farmer. Call Larry for more information.

09/11 WCF

westcoastfarmer@theprogress.com

The Voice of the B.C. Farmer

SEPTEMBER, 2011

683(5,25 48$/,7< 75867(' 75$',7,21

6100D 6 61 100 00D 0D & 563 56 56 63 3 SL SL LOADER LO LOADER OADER ADER On Sale

5045E 5 50 045 045E 04 45E & 553 45E 553 LOADER LO LO OADER ADER

$54,700

On Sale

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$29,900

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Enjoy 0% / 60 Mths* OR Deduct $2,000.

Enjoy 0% / 48 Mths**

New 7Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 200â&#x20AC;&#x201C;280HP & 28â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Triple Mounted Mowers NEW 7R TRACTORS IN STORE NOW! Watch for the NEW Triple Mower coming out in 2012!

1023E Sub-Compact S Su ub ub C SAVE $1000

Enjoy 0% for 48 Mths

3320 Cab Tractor Cab SAVE $1780

Deere Hunt

$14,399

Sale Price

No Payments or interest for 12 Mths

5HWDLO 5HWDLO 5HW WDLO

5 5HWDLO HWDLO LO

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SAVE $350

Enjoy 0% for 48 Mths**

X300/ 42-inch Mower

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Deere Hunt

$29,999

Sale Price

***

5HWDLO 5 HWDLO LO

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Deere Hunt

$2,999

Sale Price

For more great deals, stop by PrairieCoast and view our Fall Flyer coming out Mid -September Find us on Facebook & Twitter!

www.prairiecoastequipment.com

$%%276)25' /$1*/(< '81&$1 .(/2:1$ .$0/2236 *Offer valid from Aug. 02, 2011 until Oct. 28, 2011. bIn the event the loan goes into default, the charge for amounts past due is 24% APR. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included and may increase price or monthly payment(s). Additional fees may be required. Minimum purchase may be required. Valid only at participating dealers and is subject to John Deere Financial approval. See your dealer for complete details and other financing options. Program subject to change, without notice, at any time. 10For personal or commercial use. A $50 documentation fee may apply. Down payment is required. For example, on a new John Deere model 1600 WAM, based on a selling price of $61,255 (selling price in example is based on MSRP as of 22 July, 2011 and may change at any time without notice. Dealer may sell for less) plus a $50 documentation fee, less a down payment of $6,130.50 results in a balance of $55,174.50 to be financed for a maximum of 5 years with 60 monthly payments of $919.58 totalling $55,174.80 based on 0% APR with a cost of borrowing of $50.30. **Offer valid from Aug. 02, 2011 until Oct. 28, 2011. bIn the event the loan goes into default, the charge for amounts past due is 24% APR. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included and may increase price or monthly payment(s). Additional fees may be required. Minimum purchase may be required. Valid only at participating dealers and is subject to John Deere Financial approval. See your dealer for complete details and other financing options. Program subject to change, without notice, at any time. A10For personal or commercial use. Down payment may be required. Selling price in the example below is based on MSRP as of 27 June 2011 and may change at any time without notice. Dealer may sell for less. For example, on a new John Deere 4720 Tractor with a 400CX loader and a 7 Iron mower deck, based on a total selling price of $54,817, plus a $50 documentation fee, less the $400 implement bonus, less a down payment of $10,893.40 results in a balance of $43,573.60, to be financed for a maximum of 4 years, with 48 monthly payments of $907.78 totaling $43,573.44, based on 0.00% APR with a cost of borrowing of $49.84. ***Offer valid from Aug. 02, 2011 until Oct. 28, 2011. cSubject to John Deere Financial approval and dealer participation. In the event you default on this or any John Deere Financial Multi-Use Account transaction, interest on all outstanding balances on your Multi-use accounts (including on this and all special Term transactions on your Multi-use Account) will begin to accrue immediately at 19.75% AIR from the date of default until paid in full, and you will be required to make monthly payments on your Multi-use Account equal to 2.5% (personal use); 3.0% (commercial use) of the original amounts financed plus interest. Taxes, set-up, delivery, freight, and preparation charges not included and may increase price or monthly payment(s).Minimum purchase and finance amount may be required. See your dealer for details. Program subject to change, without notice, at any time. 3For purchases on your John Deere Financial Multi-use Account for personal use only. Offer is unconditionally interest free for the first 12 months. After the 12 month period, for eligible purchases of goods and services: 1) a minimum monthly payment of $391.28 is required; and 2) finance charges will begin to accrue immediately on amount financed at 17.9% per annum until paid in full.