36


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • DECEMBER 2016 Farmers institute behind new


abattoir in East Kootenays Facility is set to open in January


The


Windemere Farmers’


Institute has ambitious plans for an agriculture park. First phase


includes an abattoir to service local livestock producers, set to open in January.


by TERRY FRIES RADIUM – A farmers’


institute in the East Kootenays plans to have its abattoir open by the new year. Construction is almost complete at the site along Highway 95 near Invermere, with a planned opening set for January 1.


“It’s just the finishing touches we have to do,” says Hedi Trescher, project co-ordinator at the


Windermere District Farmers’ Institute.


From our family to yours, a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year


Todd


VALLEY FARM DRAINAGE 604-462-7213 | valleyfarmdrainage.com


The small abattoir was originally scheduled to open this autumn but was delayed by zoning issues and the need for high voltage electrical hookups.


With those obstacles now cleared, the first phase of the plan for a 23-acre agricultural park on the site can proceed. The plan would see the abattoir situated at the back of the agri-park, with a summer fair grounds and farmers market in front. There are future plans to add interpretive exhibits, equestrian facilities, a deli or restaurant, and a grain processing centre.


The slaughterhouse will be able to handle 10 animals at once, with coolers giving it an overall capacity of 22 carcasses. In addition to cattle, it will be capable of processing sheep, goats and pigs.


While the facility isn’t


designed to handle big volumes of animals from larger farms, she says the abattoir should help supply the many restaurants, hotels and other tourist destinations in the area with local product. “The reason we are building this is to give our local farmers the opportunity for some creative selling,” says Trescher.


The Windermere plant will focus on custom slaughter and wrapping, which enables producers to offer specialty products such as hormone- free, organic or grass-fed beef, says Trescher.


The Windermere Farmers’ District provided the land on which the abattoir is located and then raised $550,000 in donations to build the facility. The project also received $50,000 in grant funding through the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust.


Even though the project is too small to be of use for the Treschers’ Brisco Charolais operation, Trescher says the abattoir and agri-park will boost the economy of the Columbia Valley, from Golden to Canal Flats.


She says it will assist those “hobby farmer-type people” who want to raise a few animals in an area well-suited for that type of production. “If you wait for help, you wait forever. If something needs to get done, you do it yourself,” she says.


Wallis named new hog boss by DAVID SCHMIDT


ABBOTSFORD – Hogs and bogs worked for Geraldine Auston. Now, Mike Wallis is discovering if it will work just as well for him.


As of November 1, Wallis replaced Auston as the general manager of the BC Hog Marketing Commission and the BC Pork Producers Association.


He will continue in his existing role as manager of the BC Cranberry Growers Association as both are part- time positions.


“It’s an exciting new


challenge for me,” Wallis says, noting he already knew a lot of the directors from his role with the BCCGA (BCPPA chair Jack DeWit is also a director of


the BC Cranberry Marketing Commission) and his previous roles as manager of the Raspberry Industry


Development Council and the Western Agriculture Labour Initiative.


His first order of business with the hog sector is to develop a new industry strategic plan.


He expects the plan to focus on how to meet changing consumer demands, particularly as they relate to farm animal care and quality assurance.


“We held our first meeting November 4 and will be holding additional meetings through the fall and winter,” Wallis said, adding he hopes to have the plan finalized “early in the New Year.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48