Crops & Climate Change:
Keep the old, but bring in the new! By Tom Baumann I have in past issues tackled the influence of pipelines on agriculture land, the reduction of land in the most productive region in Canada, and what climate change could mean to us. This time, I am examining the potential …
New Pests in the Fraser Valley
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Two years ago, one of our contributors wrote about the possibility that the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) would find its way into Fraser Valley fields—now it’s a reality. There was some fear about the possible infestation among small fruit growers at that time, but hazelnuts …
BC Innovators Win with Agritech
Modern Agriculture recently chatted with Carl Anderson, CEO of the BC Innovation Council (BCIC). He was excited to share the results of the first Agritech Innovation Challenge, held in Kelowna, BC in November, 2016. Several companies submitted proposals for technological solutions after hearing about identifiable problems in the agriculture sector. …
Anyone up for Okra?
Seeds and guidance available from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre By Ronda Payne Last year Modern Agriculture told you about a study being done by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre on okra – the viability and demand. The centre is now inviting B.C. growers to try the crop out as …
Microbiology and Modern Agriculture
Soil Management By Dale Overton The world of modern agriculture is as tech driven as the Internet. Software programs that run our lives can also help to precisely place fertilizer in a growing row crop. As technology moves agriculture in new directions with precision application equipment (GPS driven) and drones …
The Beauty of Sedum
Green Roofs & Food for Bees By Cate Pedersen Jake De Bruin, owner of BNC Ornamentals in the Lower Mainland, was certified as a landscaper in Holland. He learned about horticulture from a young age watching his family work in nurseries growing crops like tomatoes and peppers. “It always stays …
Hydrotherapy for Cows
By Cate Pedersen Dr. Lisa McCrea, bovine specialist and partner at Agwest Veterinary Group Ltd. in Abbotsford, BC, spends most days traveling to the farms she services throughout the Lower Mainland. Agwest’s three dairy experts cover Delta to Chilliwack, as well as farms in Mission and Maple Ridge. McCrea might …
Zero-Waste Agriculture in BC
By Cate Pedersen Is zero-waste agriculture possible in our lifetime? Will people reading this article one day see British Columbian farmers held up as a perfect example of how to efficiently and economically eliminate the byproducts of their sector without burying or burning? “We have the technology to have zero-waste …
Can Bedding Gasification Work in BC?
New Money for Old Bedding! By Matt Dickson, Hallbar Consulting Anyone working in BC’s equine or broiler industries is aware that long-term, year-round solutions are required for the sustainable management of used broiler and horse bedding produced in the Lower Mainland. Finding ways to turn this bedding into a valuable …
A Winter of Planning: Tips to prepare for 2017
By Tom Baumann, EAT Ltd. As the season wraps, growers are starting to think ahead to next year. It has been a season with halfway decent weather: there was a dry pollination period, but with rain here and there all summer we didn’t face a drought as we did in …