Media Contacts

Jill Milne

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Agriculture
778 676-4460

Justine Lesage

Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
justine.lesage@canada.ca
613 404-1168 (cell)

Media Relations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
media.relations@agr.gc.ca
613 773-7972
1 866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
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Backgrounders

Funding for B.C. farmers' professional development

The following projects received funding from the Canada-BC Knowledge Transfer Events Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District in partnership with the Alberni Farmers’ Institute:
$1,150 to provide support for the agricultural sector through development of a community-based plan for producers in case of emergencies such as wildfire, flooding or another catastrophic event.

BC Association of Farmers Markets:
$5,000 to offer farmers market organizers, board members, vendors, small food processors and agricultural community leaders the opportunity to attend three workshops: SuperHost training; Labelling, Merchandise and Pricing; and Market Assessment to learn new skills and network.

BC Cranberry Marketing Commission:
$5,000 to better understand the importance of various inputs to cranberry production to better improve fruit quality and yields.

BC Landscape & Nursery Association:
$3,100 to teach nursery growers the latest Integrated Pest Management recommendations to manage troublesome nursery weeds, such as liverwort and horsetail.

British Columbia Dairy Association:
$4,000 to speak to producers in the Smithers and Okanagan regions and provide an overview of actionable items that Manitoba farmers have successfully adopted to get a strong grasp on operating costs of production, overall farm efficiency and improving their farm’s bottom lines.

Certified Organic Association of British Columbia (COABC):
$5,000 to support a two-day conference with the theme, Celebrating the COABC, with inspiration, learning and networking that included presenters from all areas of the organic world.

Community Futures Central Kootenay – Basin Business Advisors Program/Agriculture:
$4,500 to provide an overview of the environment for today’s farmers and why succession planning is important, as well as offer presentations by specialists in various areas of agriculture succession planning.

Community Futures North Okanagan:
$4,950 to bring together producers, processors, distributors, retailers and food services with local government, non-profit organizations and academics to examine best practices, review the challenges and opportunities in the food system and develop a strategy; focus on land issues, including land access for new entrants, caring for the land in an environmentally sustainable way and impacts of climate change on agriculture in the region.

Feeding Growth for Food Processors:
$4,490 to provide participants with the practical tools and knowledge needed to make informed certification decisions on the topic of socially and/or environmentally progressive food certifications (e.g., organic, fair trade).

Kersley Farmers’ Institute:
$5,000 to give producers more tools and strategies to help adapt to lower precipitation levels, conserve water resources, enhance soil quality and minimize erosion.

North Okanagan Livestock Association:
$2,640 to host a seminar focusing on best practices and how producers can better manage their production through animal nutrition and soil health.

Pemberton Farmers’ Institute:
$4,400 to educate market garden/small-scale producers on the importance of managing potato and tomato disease in Pemberton and create connections within the farming community.

Prince George Cattlemen Association:
$3,740 to raise producers' production knowledge on current challenges and opportunities in the cattle industry.

Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako:
$5,000 to host a workshop for independent producers to meet and network and form a sheep producers association, as well as increase the economic viability of the sheep/goat industry with opportunities for wool and artisan sheep/goat cheese.

Smithers Farmers' Institute:
$5,000 to provide forward-thinking management practices and good business decisions to meet challenges around soil fertility, innovative permaculture techniques and more conventional water storage options that comply with the Water Sustainability Act.

Society Promoting Environmental Conservation co-organized by Kwantlen Polytechnic University: 
$3,575 to follow up on previous years' small farm sessions with a focus on ecosystem services and allow for an opportunity to discuss issues relevant to agriculture in the region and provide insight into current techniques, programs and information.

Vancouver Island Fibreshed and the Mid Island Farmers’ Institute:
$2,450 to provide education presentations, hands-on demonstrations and networking opportunities for Vancouver Island Fibreshed farmers to get more value from their fleece production.