Busy schedule set for Abby ag show
Topics range from viruses and variety reviews to weed control and advice for new growers.
By Judie Steeves T
here will be something for everyone at the upcoming 14th annual Pacific
Agricultural Show in Abbotsford.
It will be held Jan. 26 to 28, 2012 at the Tradex Exhibition Centre.
Raspberries and strawberries will be the main topics on opening day, Thursday, Jan. 26, while blueberry day will be Saturday, Jan. 28. Speakers will include John Shelford of Naturipe Foods, who will provide a market outlook talk. There will also be talks on virus issues in raspberries and a variety review, with information from a variety of breeding programs on new varieties of berries.
A panel discussion on weed control in blueberries will be held on Saturday. As well, there will be a number of sessions aimed at new growers. Raspberry growers will learn about international meetings held in Serbia this year on raspberry day, and the market outlook for raspberries as well as nutrient management.
Fresh market strawberry systems will be discussed for strawberry growers. In between, on Friday, Jan. 27, Spotted Wing Drosophila will be the topic in the afternoon, while a farm management session will be featured in the morning.
Sponsored by the B.C. agriculture ministry’s agri-food business development program, it will include J.P. Gervais, senior economist with Farm Credit Canada on the topic: Making Sense of Today’s Volatile Markets. He will talk about recent
British Columbia Berry Grower • Winter 2011-12 19
trends in agricultural markets, important drivers, impacts on future markets, and what Canadian farmers will need to do to be successful. He will be followed by Ralph Jones, farm business management instructor from Idaho State University, who will talk about Improving Your Business Management Skills. His agriculture background and passion for teaching should provide a unique and enlightening experience, commented Jennifer Curtis from the ministry, who will chair the
morning’s session: Building Business Success II.
The last speaker of the morning will be Jennifer James, a speaker known for putting a human face on technological change and the development of cultural intelligence. She is a specialist in the areas of cultural change, diversity and
marketing intelligence.
She works on an international level with corporations and associations, helping people meet the challenges of today’s transitions.
The show will be preceded by the 10th annual Agri-food Industry Gala, Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Ramada in Abbotsford. Contact the B.C. Agriculture Council for tickets.
Deadline looms for innovation nominations
If you’re an innovator or know of an innovative agricultural project or person, nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Award of Excellence for Innovation in Agriculture. The award will be presented at the annual Agri-Food Gala in Abbotsford in January, but nominations close Nov. 30. The award is presented by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. for ideas, products, projects or programs generated by the agriculture, agri-food and bioproducts sector that deliver economic, environmental or social benefits to B.C.
IAF chairman Stuart Wilson says
B.C.’s agriculture and agri-food industry depends on innovation to keep it sustainable and competitive in increasingly challenging times. “We’re proud to celebrate the innovative thinkers who help rive the industry forward through their ideas and products.”
The contest is open to B.C.
residents, B.C.-based associations and non-profit organizations, as well as Canadian-based corporations and for-profit companies doing business in B.C. Judges will consider originality and uniqueness; degree of economic, social and/or environmental benefit to B.C. and human interest potential. For details, go to:
www.iafbc.ca
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