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Country Life in BC 36 Dale Road Enderby, BC V0E 1V4


Vol. 103 No. 7


CANADA POST


Postage paid Publications Mail 40012122


POSTES CANADA


Port payé Post-Publications


Fire


Barn fires spark focus on prevention


Farm tours Agriculture’s success a measure of investment funding Dairy


Deep roots give Shannon Farm bright future


7


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The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 JULY 2017 | Vol. 103 No. 7


Poultry abuse underscores need to


measure up


Industry standards not being met


by PETER MITHAM CHILLIWACK – Another horrific case of


livestock abuse uncovered by the activist group Mercy for Animals highlights gaps in the farm sector’s animal protection protocols.


A video delivered to the BC SPCA on June 9 and released to media June 12 shows chicken catchers from Elite Farm Services Ltd. abusing poultry at various farms in the Fraser Valley. The shocking acts run from physical abuse to sexual assault and dismemberment. An investigation by the BC SPCA, which polices animal cruelty on behalf of the province, is ongoing. Marcie Moriarty, chief prevention and


Green with envy! With over 7,000 tickets for 4-H BC’s Gator Lottery sold all over BC, what were the odds one of the winners would be in the audience as tickets were drawn at Davison Orchards in Vernon, June 10? Lillian Stewart was volunteering at the pancake breakfast with granddaughters Ashlee and Allison McAvoy, from the Milkyway 4-H Dairy Club, when her name was drawn. The girls sold Gramma Lillian 14 tickets – but she only needed one to win the John Deere. CATHY GLOVER PHOTO


Growing more with less water


enforcement officer with the BC SPCA, expects to recommend Crown counsel to lay charges against six individuals. Elite terminated a supervisor and three staff as a result of the video; two other persons of interest had already been fired. No arrests


See INVESTIGATION on next page o Political uncertainty creates angst


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year that agriculture features in the throne speech, but no opportunity to score a point has been missed as the political drama of the May 9 provincial election unfolded in the BC legislature on June 22.


“We’re happy to hear that


agriculture was actually named in the throne speech,” says Stan Vander Waal, chair of the BC Agriculture Council. “It might have something to do with the fact that that the


agriculture sector exceeded expectations by about $1 billion this past year.” Norm Letnick agrees. The


Kelowna-Lake Country MLA was reappointed minister of agriculture on June 12. “Agriculture has been getting more attention over the past couple of years. It’s testament to the numbers that industry is putting forward,” he told Country Life in BC, referring – as he did throughout the election campaign – to record employment and cash receipts. “All these great


economic numbers continue to reinforce the message to the people with the finger on the treasury that agriculture is a big contributor to the economy and jobs.” Among the many promises in the throne speech was a commitment to establish a select standing committee for agriculture, something both BCAC and the BC NDP have urged in the past. Curiously, the committee didn’t figure in the official list of standing committees released


See PROMISE on next page o


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