up front By Bryden Winsby


Keeping it all in the family—or not T


urning the family farmover to the next generation can be a


daunting challenge. The arrangements for this transition—or disposition of the property altogether —can be complex, and somethingmany people put off, sometimes for too long. In these pages we profile


one well-known family in the British Columbia berry industry whose success story continues to bemulti- generational. It's not the only one, of course. There aremany comparable operations begun decades ago in which dad,momand the kids work shoulder-to- shoulder, often diversifying into related activities that provide additional revenue streams. But keeping it all in the


family is not always possible or desirable, never mind easy. Proper succession planning has been described as a process, not a single event. The aimmust be to preserve family harmony as well as continued viability of the business. There are many factors to be considered, and getting expert help can be a very good idea. TheHopcott Family


Farmprofile is followed by a look at the issue of succession, with a focus on the fact that there's no better time to start than now. Both articles are by Tamara Leigh, the newest addition to our editorial roster. Tamara is an agriculture


writer and communications consultant based on Vancouver Island. She describes herself as "a passionate storyteller and advocate for agriculture in British Columbia and across Canada." Tamara is


4 British Columbia Berry Grower • Fall 2013


the president of the Canadian FarmWriters' Federation and the B.C. FarmWriters' Association. Tamara also tackles the


touchy topic of scaring away starlings and other feathered pests. The use of falcons has proven itself an effective alternative to noise-making


dev ices such as propane cannons, but not all farmers are willing to give up their ‘artillery’, which has prompted the Township of Langley to enact a bylaw designed to help ease the conflict with non-farming neighbours. Meanwhile, Associate Editor Judie Steeves


is all about bugs for this issue as she brings you detail on efforts develop a bee strain


better suited to cool, damp coastal conditions, and what researchers in this province are doing to find ways of controlling Cranberry Tipwormand Raspberry Crown Borer. Oh, and just tomake sure you’re up to


speed on the latest entry in the parade of B.C. agricultureministers, Judie interviewed Peace RiverNorthMLA Pat Pimm, whose background ismostly in the oil and gas industry.How long will he last?Well, his predecessors during the past 20 years have averaged about one and a half years before moving on, or out...


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