AgriService BC

28/08/2026

Join us at a demonstration site near you, and learn about the Common Field Project: Crop Demonstrations for Climate Elasticity. The project is exploring the viability of new crops, including camelina, teff, faba beans, sweet corn and dry-farming squash (pumpkins). The project team will provide an overview of the project, hear from the farm partner about their interest in these crops along with a guided field tour, and discuss some climate and weather decision tools that may be helpful for your operation.

When and Where:
September 1st – 1p.m. to 3p.m. in McBride
September 8th – 4p.m. to 6p.m. in Kispiox Valley

Additional events in Quesnel and Vanderhoof are currently being planned, and dates will be confirmed shortly.

Location and additional details will be sent to registrants at least 2 days before the event.

Register for any of the locations here: https://airtable.com/appO1uaIrvYhiE32r/shrKSZjveHsDUaIZL

26/08/2026

There’s more time to have your say! The engagement period on encouraging food processing in the ALR has been extended to September 18!

Read the discussion paper at

21/08/2026

A free FireSmart Farm & Ranch Assessment can identify simple, practical steps to help reduce wildfire risk around your barns, shops, equipment, fuel storage, and livestock housing.

Learn more: firesmartbc.ca/farm-and-ranch

20/08/2026

Soil Health & On-Farm Demonstration Research Field Day

Fraser Valley farmers—join us for an afternoon of practical learning, on-farm research, and hands-on soil health demonstrations!

See firsthand how local raspberry and blueberry growers are testing practices to improve soil health and learn how these approaches could benefit your own farm. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in interactive soil health assessments that can be used across a wide range of cropping systems.🫐

👉 Registration is free! Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/soil-health-on-farm-demonstration-research-field-day-tickets-1994905696640?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

19/08/2026

It is time to watch for Little Cherry Disease on cherry trees.🍒

Free testing is offered at the Plant Health Laboratory in Abbotsford for Little Cherry Disease (LCV1, LCV12 and X-disease).

Learn what to look for and how to collect samples for testing here:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/animal-and-crops/plant-health/disease-factsheets/tree-fruits/little_cherry_disease.pdf

Call or email if you have questions: Tel: (604) 556-3003; Toll free: 1-800-661-9903; Email: [email protected]

Cost of testing covered in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

19/08/2026

There’s more time to have your say!

The engagement period on encouraging food processing in the ALR has been extended to September 18th!

Read the discussion paper at:

19/08/2026

18/08/2026

Wildfires are affecting many parts of B.C.

Our thoughts are with the communities, families, farmers, and ranchers being affected.

For agriculture emergency response resources, visit: gov.bc.ca/AgriEmergency

18/08/2026

⏰When: August 25, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (PT)
📍Where: Online (Zoom)

Join us for the 3rd session of the Indigenous Agriculture Development Network (IADN) as we host the Xatsull Mountain House Ranch and the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Regenerative Agriculture program as they share Indigenous-led ranch management knowledge and regenerative agriculture. This interactive session will focus on peer-to-peer learning and share best practices for nations and entrepreneurs looking to get into ranching.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/fnWZxr1FQ6eu7WVHa8DeYQ #/registration

Funding for the IADN is provided by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnerships (SCAP), a federal-provincial-territory initiative.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

14/08/2026

Smoke does not always mean grapes have been impacted. Level of smoke taint can be affected by: variety (more bloom can be more susceptible), smoke concentration and age, and duration of exposure.

For those covered by Production Insurance, smoke taint and direct losses of fruit or plants due to wildfire or drought due to inability to irrigate are potentially insurable perils.

Important things to remember:

- Record information on the timing and duration of the smoke/fire event
- File a claim using a Notice of Loss (NOL) as soon after an event as possible, and you have a best guess of the extent of damage to your operation.
- Do NOT start harvest or pull anything out without communicating with Production Insurance
- Reach out to your Production Insurance product rep or local office (1-888-332-3352) to submit an NOL as soon as you believe there is potential damage from an event, such as smoke taint to developing crop or loss of vines.

Information on filing an NOL: https://www.gov.bc.ca/CropInsurance

For Smoke Taint, the insured must do the following:

1) provide documentation from either: an independent laboratory showing elevated levels of smoke taint compounds or sensory analysis of a test ferment, and
2) provide a letter of rejection from the contracted winery/broker stating the crop is damaged and unusable for processing (wine) or sale (fresh), and
3) request permission from claims to abandon the crop before harvest.

For more information on support and resources or enquiries on emergency management for agriculture, please visit: www.gov.bc.ca/AgriEmergency

The following labs offer smoke taint testing services:
- BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BTAC):https://www.okanagancollege.ca/bcbtac
- Frind Lab Services | Frind Estate Winery, West Kelowna: https://www.frindwinery.com/LabServices
- Supra RnD, Kelowna: https://www.suprarnd.ca/

This is an understandably stressful time for all producers. The following FREE mental health resources can help:
- Call or text 988
- AgSafe BC Counsellors: https://agsafebc.ca/mental-wellness/counsellors/
- AgTalk — https://www.domore.ag/agtalk