Farming

A mink sniffs the air as he surveys the river beach in search of food, in meadow near the village of Khatenchitsy, 65 kilometres northwest of Minsk, Belarus on September 4, 2015. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is the latest group to speak out against mink farming in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Sergei Grits

Union of BC Indian Chiefs latest group to call for moratorium on B.C. mink farming

With other countries phasing out mink farming, time is now for province to follow suit, says union VP

 

Pickles the pig celebrates Easter at Happy Herd Animal Sanctuary. (Happy Herd/Special to The Star)

PHOTOS: Happy Herd hams it up for Easter

Aldergrove animal sanctuary dressed up the critters with bunny ears

 

Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market is set to open its 2021 season on Saturday, April 10. The market will run weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Dec. 18. Meanwhile, the Langley Community Farmers’ Market is returning this season at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum on June 16. This market will operate weekly on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. until Sept. 1. (Fort Langley Village Farmers’ Market Facebook)

Langley farmers’ markets ready to welcome 2021 season

COVID-19 health protocols will be in effect

 

A volunteer gives an exhibit a good dusting at the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley on Saturday, March 28, in preparation for its planned reopening on April 1 (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Langley museum devoted to farming history ready to open for season April 1

COVID safety protocols are in place at the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley

A volunteer gives an exhibit a good dusting at the B.C. Farm Museum in Fort Langley on Saturday, March 28, in preparation for its planned reopening on April 1 (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
A bunny at Aldor Acres. (Ryan Uytdewilligen/Langley Advance Times)

PHOTOS: Easter is in the air at Aldor Acres

With the start of spring now here, bunnies and chicks on a local farm are being visited by children

A bunny at Aldor Acres. (Ryan Uytdewilligen/Langley Advance Times)
A mink at a farm, taken on July 9, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins

Quarantined B.C. mink farm resumes breeding after COVID-19 outbreak

Province approves resumption of breeding at Fraser Valley farm, and 8 others not in quarantine

A mink at a farm, taken on July 9, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins
A flowering cannabis plant is seen in Langley, B.C., on October 9, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Zenabis completes sale of Langley’s Bevo, but remains a tenant

The cannabis company is still growing in local greenhouses

A flowering cannabis plant is seen in Langley, B.C., on October 9, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
Canada has won a trade dispute with the U.S. over blueberry exports. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. blueberry farmers victorious in trade fight with U.S.

A recent ruling means no tariffs or quotas on berries heading south

Canada has won a trade dispute with the U.S. over blueberry exports. (Black Press Media files)
In early 2022, B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to participate in the Premises Identification (ID) program. (Black Press Media files)

B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to ID their livestock by end of 2021

The program will allow the province to trace animals in times of danger and disease

In early 2022, B.C. farmers and ranchers will be required to participate in the Premises Identification (ID) program. (Black Press Media files)
Protesting farmers and their families gather around a bonfire to mark the harvest festival, which is called Lohri, on a blocked highway in protest against new farm laws on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Changes in India’s farm laws could potentially open up one of the world’s most populous markets and are being closely watched by Canada’s agricultural and economic sectors, say experts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Altaf Qadri

Changes in Indian farm laws could benefit Canada, experts say

Laws have sparked large-scale protests from farmers

Protesting farmers and their families gather around a bonfire to mark the harvest festival, which is called Lohri, on a blocked highway in protest against new farm laws on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Changes in India’s farm laws could potentially open up one of the world’s most populous markets and are being closely watched by Canada’s agricultural and economic sectors, say experts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Altaf Qadri
Dave and Skye Hamming of Tazo Farms are pictured inside their barn, with roughly 110 cattle behind them. A recently installed DeLeval milking robot, pictured in the background, allows them to do more, with fewer hands. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media)

Supply management key to survival of B.C. dairy industry, says Okanagan farmer

Automation, robotic milking; family farms continue to adapt to keep up with the changing times

Dave and Skye Hamming of Tazo Farms are pictured inside their barn, with roughly 110 cattle behind them. A recently installed DeLeval milking robot, pictured in the background, allows them to do more, with fewer hands. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media)
Blueberries being picked in B.C. (B.C. Blueberry Council/Special to the Langley Advance Times)

Province backs B.C. blueberry farmers in trade dispute with U.S.

The United States is investigating if imports are ‘harming’ U.S. farmers

Blueberries being picked in B.C. (B.C. Blueberry Council/Special to the Langley Advance Times)
“Comet,” born Dec. 18, survived his mother’s death at Christina Lake’s Fuster Cluck Farm after local farmers stepped in with life-saving milk. Comet is pictured in the home of Fuster Cluck’s Amy Enns-Haywood and Nigel Haywood. Photo courtesy of Amy Enns-Haywood.

Baby goat survives rocky birth at Kootenay farm after neighbours pitch in

“Comet” is thriving at Fuster Cluck Farm, where he plays with other baby goats and the farmers’ daughter

“Comet,” born Dec. 18, survived his mother’s death at Christina Lake’s Fuster Cluck Farm after local farmers stepped in with life-saving milk. Comet is pictured in the home of Fuster Cluck’s Amy Enns-Haywood and Nigel Haywood. Photo courtesy of Amy Enns-Haywood.
The B.C. Farm Museum honoured Langley’s Ann Blaauw at a small ceremony on Monday, Nov. 2. Blaauw recently donated $250,000 to the volunteer-run museum. (Mike Prangnell/B.C. Farm Museum)

Langley’s farm museum welcomes generous donation

Volunteer-run B.C. Farm Museum recognizes two local supporters

The B.C. Farm Museum honoured Langley’s Ann Blaauw at a small ceremony on Monday, Nov. 2. Blaauw recently donated $250,000 to the volunteer-run museum. (Mike Prangnell/B.C. Farm Museum)
Fava Beans. (Cassie Plotnikoff/Special to The Star)

Aldergrove seed cooperative trying to keep up with demanding market

Program urges local producers to grow more varieties of fruit and vegetable for seed use

Fava Beans. (Cassie Plotnikoff/Special to The Star)
Two puppies and a baby goat have been stolen from Willows Farm in Aldergrove. (Willows Farm/Special to The Star)

UPDATE: Maremma puppies and baby goat found safe

Owner of Willows Farm reported them missing and presumed stolen on Tuesday

Two puppies and a baby goat have been stolen from Willows Farm in Aldergrove. (Willows Farm/Special to The Star)
A mushroom farm operator faces several charges under the Fisheries Act for two properties in the Bradner area of Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Two Abbotsford mushroom farms charged with polluting local creeks

Owner Quang Quach has previously faced several fines and penalties

A mushroom farm operator faces several charges under the Fisheries Act for two properties in the Bradner area of Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)
A massive blueberry harvesting machine was stolen from a rural Abbotsford property and police are hoping someone has information about the theft. Note that the people in this picture are not the suspects. (Facebook photo)

Massive blueberry harvester stolen from rural Abbotsford property

The search continues for a huge piece of farming equipment valued at $275,000

A massive blueberry harvesting machine was stolen from a rural Abbotsford property and police are hoping someone has information about the theft. Note that the people in this picture are not the suspects. (Facebook photo)
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau rises during a sitting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds reveal details of $35M fund to help make farms safer in COVID-19 pandemic

The program will be applied retroactively to cover any COVID-19-related costs from March 15

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau rises during a sitting of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Wednesday, June 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A huge blueberry harvesting machine like this one (not this exact one and these are not the suspects) was taken from a rural Abbotsford property over the weekend. (Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Massive blueberry harvester stolen from rural Fraser Valley property

A huge machine with a top speed of 15 kph was taken from an area near No. 3 road over the weekend

A huge blueberry harvesting machine like this one (not this exact one and these are not the suspects) was taken from a rural Abbotsford property over the weekend. (Facebook photo)