Ministry of Agriculture Upcoming Events

Thank you to Brenna Schilds for this Peace Region Events update!!

Even though we can’t meet in person, there are still plenty of online events to participate in in the Peace!

Upcoming Peace Events

Forage Technology Transfer Series; Pasture and Grazing Management

• A series of webinar presentations by Julie Robinson, Senior Agrologist of Forage Friendly Enterprises
• Can Seeding Alfalfa into Old Hay Fields Improve Yields? February 15, 2021 from 7:00-7:30pm MST
• Is there a Silver Bullet to Eliminate Foxtail Barley? March 15, 2021 7:00-7:30pm MST
• More information can be found on the PRFA website

Environmental Farm Plans-Learn How to Take Action with Your Future Farming Plans Webinar

• Presented by Kari Bondaroff, Environmental Services Manager for the PRRD
• This webinar will cover what an Environmental Farm Plan is, how to create one for your farm, stories from local farmers who have improved their environmental impact and the productivity of their farming practices, and what funding is available/how to apply
• January 30, 2021 12:00-12:30pm MST
• See the PRFA website for more info

Farm and Ranch Management Webinars

• The Peace River Forage Association is presenting two farm and ranch management webinars in February:
• When is the best time to sell your calves? Looking at 10 years of Market Trends, February 8 12:00pm MST, $30/ticket, register and see more details here
• Finding your herds hidden profits-reading and applying market signals, February 22 12:00pm MST, $30/ticket, register and see more details here

Feed and Nutrition Webinar

• Nutritional Changes in Later Gustation-Transitioning Nutrition Requirements for Calving
• Presented by Barry Yaremcio, an independent consultant with Yaremico Ag. Consulting Ltd.
• February 26 7:30-8:30pm MST
• See the PRFA website for more info

Other Upcoming Events

Risk Management Training: Roots to Success

• Presented by Farm Management Canada
• Free Virtual training session to increase producer’s ability to assess and address risks on the farm
• Click on the date below to register and see full event agenda:
• February 8 & 11

AgExtra Webinar Sessions Presented by Farm Management Canada

• $150 to sign up for all of the sessions, visit website for full session details and to register
• Diversifying Your Farm Question and Answer-February 8 9:00-9:30AM MST
• Benchmarks for Grain and Oilseed Farms: How does your farm measure up? February 17, 11:00-12:00PM MST
• Benchmarks for Dairy Farms: How does your farm measure up? February 18, 11:00AM-12:00PM MST
• Economic Fundamentals in a post-COVID era: prepare for 2021, February 22 11:00AM-12:00PM MST
• How Strategizing Leads to Better Decision Making on My Farm, February 23 11:00AM-12:00PM MST
• Your Cattle Market Questions Answered, February 24, 11:00-11:30AM MST
• Exploring the Story-Workshop and Presentation, March 10 12:00PM MST
• Deep Dive into AGvisorPRO channel, March 24 11:00AM-12:00PM MST

That Dam Safety Regulation – Free webinar series to learn about dam safety and dam owner responsibilities.

• Water is one of the key needs for agriculture – whether it be for irrigating or livestock watering – and dams are one of the ways to store water for future use. These structures will become more important in the future as climate change is projected to bring more seasonal and long-term drought to the province.
• Interior Dams Inc., with support the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries and the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is offering a three-part webinar series in January to help owners navigate dam safety. These webinars are free to all:
  • January 30, 2021 – 3:00-4:30pm PST – Incident Management and Hazardous Conditions
• To sign up for any or all of these, please visit Interior Dams

Farm Credit Canada Webinar

• Finding fairness in farm transitions – Elaine Froese – February 9, 2021
  • For more info and to register here

When to Apply Manure Webinar

• AgriService BC webinar with Josh Andrews, Nutrient Management Agrologist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture
• This webinar will give a brief overview of the BC Application Risk Management (ARM) Tool and how it can help you determine when to apply manure and the risk of manure loss after an application
• The webinar will include a live demonstration of the ARM tool
• February 10, 3:00-4:00pm MST, click here to register and get full details about the event

Export Navigator Webinar: Building An Export Plan

• Free course offered by Small Business BC
• This webinar will assist you in planning to sell outside of BC by establishing goals, clarifying the target market and assessing how to expand your business footprint
• The course will cover exporting both interprovincially and internationally
• February 11 2:30-4:00pm MST, visit the website for more details and to register

Syngenta: 2020 Lessons in Disease Management

• Three separate webinars looking back at the disease management lessons learned in 2020 and how to stay ahead in 2021
• Sclerotinia in Canola, February 3 9:30-11:00AM MST
• Fusarium head blight in wheat, February 24 9:30-11:00AM MST
• Keeping your pulses happy, February 25 9:00-11:00AM MST
• Register for whichever webinar interests you, or all of them, at the website

Digital Marketing Bootcamp

• The B.C. government has partnered with Alacrity Canada to offer a digital marketing bootcamp for businesses across the province
• The bootcamp will provide participants with a foundation in digital marketing, including search engine optimization, paid advertising, analytics, content marketing and more
• Fees will be covered by the provincial government for any eligible BC registered small-medium business
• For more information and to sign up please visit the website

Opportunities

BC Traceability Adoption Program

• Open to new applications on January 4, 2021
• Program provides 70% cost-shared funding, up to $16,000, for eligible livestock traceability infrastructure and technology including consultant fees, hardware, software and staff training
• Funds are disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis so act fast
• Visit the website for more information and the application form

Agritech Grant Program

• Now accepting applications until February 12, 2021
• Program provides one-time funding to B.C. based agritech or technology companies, agricultural producers or agrifood companies
• The funding aims to support the development of domestic food production and stimulate the development of agri-technologies
• Examples of eligible activities include business management training, IT implementation/facility upgrades, improving best management practices through technology, and research collaboration
• For a list of more activities and eligibility criteria, visit the website here

Responsible Grain Canadian Farm Standards

• An initiative to develop a science-based Code of Practice for Canadian Grain farmers
• Will be a voluntary Code of Practice standard for farmers that can be used to demonstrate the care and commitment they show to the environment and their production values; for both domestic consumers and international markets
• A committee has created a draft of the Code of Practices, and is looking for input from producers and industry stakeholders to make sure it is practical and widely adoptable
• Formal consultation is taking place from November 2020-February 2021
• They will be holding virtual meetings, or the Code will be available to review and comment online
• For more information, and to register to participate in the consultation process, visit the website here

Supply Chain Resiliency Grant

• A B.C. government program that provides one-time funding for B.C. manufacturing projects that support supply chain and economic recovery needs in response to COVID-19
• To be eligible for the program, you must either be an industry organization or groups in collaboration that are directly involved or support manufacturing in B.C.
• Eligible applicants can receive a one-time 100% funded provincial grant for projects that identify supply chain or supplier barriers, implement activities to increase resiliency, or generate new economic opportunities
• Application intake closes February 18, 2021 at 3:30pm MST
• Visit the website for more eligibility details and to apply

Bee BC Program is now Open

• This provincial program supports small-scale regional/community-based projects to research, explore, field-test and share information about best management practices associated with bee health in British Columbia
• Eligible project examples include: the purchasing of a new piece of equipment and implementing it into your bee health strategy, implementing a new best management practice, introducing pollen substitutes and/or supplements, or seeding and planting new bee forage that offers nectar and pollen
• The program will provide up to $5,000 of grant funding per project to approved applicants; it is expected that participants will contribute a minimum of 20% towards the total cost of the project (in-kind contributions are eligible)
• Applications will be accepted from now until February 12, 2021
• For more details and to apply visit the Investment Agriculture Foundation website

The Future of Beef Research – BCRC

• Take an opportunity to provide input to the Beef Cattle Research Council as they renew their five-year Research and Extension Strategy.
• You hold a stake in the industry, so the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) relies on your input on research and extension issues.
• When you answer these 16 questions by March 5^th, you will inform the next five-year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy and impact the long-term competitiveness of the Canadian beef industry.
• You can access the survey here

Information

Farmers Information Service open to help farmers in the Peace

• The Farmers Information Service (FIS) has opened to help farmers and other landowners in the Peace River Regional District navigate their interactions with the oil and gas industry.  The objective is a positive outcome for all parties involved.
• FIS provides information at no charge to help landowners with questions or challenges they experience with oil and gas development, and to help them access opportunities that come from such development. Farmers and landowners can receive assistance with:
  • understanding the regulatory aspects of the oil and gas industry;
  • their rights as landowners when working with oil and gas companies;
  • support to prepare for meetings with energy companies; and
  • referrals to professional services when appropriate.
• FIS will be led by Maria Reschke. Reschke has worked directly with landowners and rightsholders affected by oil and gas activity in the B.C. northeast for the past seven years. She is well versed with the challenges rural landowners can face when working with the industry.
• The FIS office will be housed in Fort St John. It will be available for virtual meetings for residents throughout the Peace region. It can be reached by phone at 250 329-4686 or by email: farmersinformationservice@gmail.com
• The office is developing both web resources and plans for in-person meetings that follow COVID-19 protocols to assist landowners in different communities.
• Full press release can be found here

B.C. Transition Toolkit for Non-Family Farm Transfer

• The Young Agrarians have developed the B.C. transition toolkit for Non-family farm transfer for anyone curious about alternative ways to transition land and farms from one generation to the next
• Access the kit on their website

Enterprise Budgets Available

• An enterprise budget projects the costs and returns of growing and selling a particular crop or livestock, it comprises of a simple list of income and expenses
• The purpose of these budgets is to provide producers (and others) with a tool to use in enterprise selection and financing
• Some of the budgets available from the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries include: Haskap, beef, pork, sheep, and mixed livestock operations
• The budgets can be accessed from this website

Blue Book 2021 Pre-Orders

• The Alberta Blue Book now has a website set up for pre-orders of the latest Blue Book
• The Blue Book is a resource that provides the most current pesticide application information to help guide crop protection, spraying, and farm safety
• To learn more or to pre-order please visit albertabluebook.com

Business Risk Management Programs

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries offices remain closed to the public during this COVID 19 Pandemic. Business is being conducted via Telephone, email and fax.

Western Livestock Price Insurance:  Exciting NEWS! In conjunction with the launch of this year’s CALF Coverage, watch for a new look to the program! Website and portal access updates will be active February 2^nd.  Look into favourable options to protect the risk of Market Price decline. Calf program starts February 2^nd. Reminder: Subscribers to the WLPIP premium and settlement emails need to confirm their consent to receive delivery of up-to-date WLPIP information, if you haven’t received this notification, please go to wlpip.ca and re-subscribe.

Ft St John Staff BRM Staff: Join us in congratulating Robert (Garry) Pringle on his retirement February 8^th.  Garry is looking forward to spending his time on his Ranch near Hudson’s Hope. We all wish him well and acknowledge his many years of Public Service to the Agricultural Industry.

For any additional information on Business Risk Management programs, please reach out to your local Program Representative.