FEBRUARY 2020 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Farm plans offer new opportunities for ranchers


NOLA education day sheds light on EFPs, calf health, ecosystems


by TOM WALKER


VERNON – Winter weather chilled the turnout for the annual North Okanagan Livestock Association educational seminar in Vernon on January 15.


Just half the 80 people


registered made it to the event.


“Some of our sponsors


were not even able to make it,” says NOLA president Lani French. “The -20 temperatures and the poor road conditions kept people at home.” Nevertheless, the show


went on. A networking lunch was


followed by a screening of the film “Guardians of the Grasslands,” a short documentary on the vital role of cattle in conserving the ecosystem of the Prairies. The region’s grasslands are one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth, even more so than the Amazon rainforest. The film explains the importance of grazing, originally by bison and now by cattle, in sustaining the landscape’s health. It also explained the massive carbon sequestration role the grasslands provide.


While the film was shot in


Alberta as a joint project between Ducks Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, French says the message also applies to BC grasslands.


“It’s a powerful film,” she


says, tearing up. Calf survival Jeanette Perry from White


Valley Veterinary Services in Lumby spoke about improving calf survival at birth, drawing on her experience teaching cattle medicine in Australia. “Birth is a make or break


time for cattle,” says Perry. “More than half of calf deaths occur in the first 24 hours.” Environmental Farm Plan


(EFP) regional advisor Pete Spencer gave an update on the program. “Winter is the best time to


get your environmental farm plan done,” he says. “Come April 1, when the program funding opens up, things get pretty crazy.”


Spencer is looking for new and interesting projects to fund this year. He notes there are 60 different areas the program supports. “You can qualify for up to $70,000 cost-shared funding to improve your ranch sustainability,” he says. Changes to the criteria for irrigation funding kept Spencer busy this past year. “They have really opened


up the requirements under irrigation,” says Spencer, noting that more


commodities will be able to apply this year. “They have changed the awarding of project funding to a merit- based system.”


21


Number crunchers


Twenty growers attended a cost-of-production workshop in Kelowna on January 22. The session let them work through examples applicable to their own operations, which produce maple syrup, garlic, fruit, nuts, vegetables and chickens. Workshop facilitator Andrea Gunner is delivering the workshops across the province, spreading awareness of how diligent record-keeping supports sound business decisions. MYRNA STARK LEADER PHOTO


Applications are assessed


on how using less water helps the environment. “If you are saving water


from the Kettle River, for example, you will be considered before someone who gets their water from a purveyor,” he explains. Pivot irrigation systems


have been a popular projects with program participants. “Even though they are expensive, they save water,”


See FUNDING on next page o


Don’t forget to RENEW your subscription to


Country Life in BC


Helping Yo YOUR


You UR SEE YOU AT THE ISLANDS AG SHOW


FEBRUARY 7-8 DUNCAN USED EQUIPMENT


N/H FP230 27P GRASS HEAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,000 N/H 790 W/ GRASS HEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,500 CLAAS VOLTO 75T 6 BASKET TEDDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,250 CLAAS VOLTO 1050 8 BASKET TEDDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,500 BRILLION 6 FT GRASS SEEDER, 3 PT HITCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 HAGEDOORN 275 MANURE SPREADER, HYDRA-PUSH . . . . . . . . 19,950 CLAAS 255 ROTOCUT ROUND BALER W/WRAPPER. . . . . . . . . . . 46,250 USED TRACTORS


N/H TN90F 1998, 7,600 HRS, CAB, MFWD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,500 CASE MAGNUM 225 CVT NEW ALO LOADER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170,000 DEUTZ TTV 6130.4 2014, 1,760 HRS, LDR, FRONT 3PT/PTO . . . 99,500 DEUTZ K110 2,200 HRS, CAB, LDR, MFWD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,000 DEUTZ AGROPLUS 2,500 HRS, ROPS, LDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,000 JD 2750 CAB, MFWD, LOADER, 9,000HRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,000 NEW INVENTORY:


KUBOTA RAKES • TEDDERS • MOWERS


Come visit the HIGHLANDS IRRIGATION team at the Pacific Ag. Show Providing complete system designs throughout BC!


Call us TODAY to plan your spring projects and for repair & maintenance PUMPS - PIPE - PIVOTS


DELIVERIES - INSTALLATIONS - SERVICE


WILLIAMS LAKE ~ KAMLOOPS ~ 1.800.665.5909 info@thewaterpeople.com www.thewaterpeople.com


POWER HARROWS • JBS VMEC1636 VERT. SPREADER SAWDUST & SAND THROWERS


KUBOTA K-HAUL TRAILERS NOW IN STOCK CONSTRUCTION


KUB U25 2010, ROPS, THUMB, RUBBER, 2600 HRS . . . . . . . . 25,500 CAT 305-ECR 2015, HYD THUMB, 2 BUCKETS, 1,760 HRS . . . . 57,900


ISLAND TRACTOR & SUPPLY LTD. DUNCAN 1-888-795-1755 NORTH ISLAND TRACTOR COURTENAY 1-866-501-0801 www.islandtractors.com


• BEEF • VEAL • BISON • LAMB • GOAT • DEER


MEADOW VALLEY MEATS PROVINCIALLY INSPECTED ABATTOIR BC#34


CUSTOM SLAUGHTER SERVICES PROVIDED Serving the Community Together


WANTED: ALL SIZES MARKET GOATS & LAMBS 18315 FORD ROAD PITT MEADOWS, BC V3Y 1Z1


ashiq@meadowvalleymeats.com 604/465-4752 (ext 105) fax 604/465-4744


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  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52