Livestock Tag Reader Rebate Program

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is pleased to announce that the Livestock Tag Reader rebate program is now accepting applications until 2023. This program is for livestock operations who own, sell, feed, house, or care for cattle, hogs, sheep, bison, cervids, horses and/or goats in B.C. This program provides cost-share funding for the implementation of livestock tag readers (hand-held or panel readers), reader installation, related software, and related equipment training. 

Subject to program eligibility and funding availability.

The Path Forward: A Blueprint for B.C.’s Tree Fruit Industry

After months of intensive industry engagement, the Province released The Path Forward: A Blueprint for B.C.’s Tree Fruit Industry in November 2021. The tree fruit industry stabilization project, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (the Ministry) in consultation with an external advisory committee made up of key stakeholders, was launched in February 2021. The 19 recommendations in the stabilization plan were built from the extensive feedback received during 30 consultation sessions with more than 165 individuals representing all aspects of the industry, including producers, packers, marketers, retailers, researchers and multiple levels of government. The Ministry and industry are actively working together through unprecedented collaboration toward the implementation of the recommendations in the report. Progress will be monitored consistently to ensure a solid path forward for the sector. 

You can access the Friday, November 12, 2021 media release HERE.
 
To access The Path Forward: A blueprint for B.C.’s tree fruit industry and all supporting documents of the Stabilization Plan, please visit the Ministry’s Tree Fruit webpage.

FREE Foundations in Agricultural Management Online Course


The University of Guelph is now offering a FREE Foundations in Agricultural Management online course. 

Learn At Your Pace: All learning modules  are online
Instructors: The University of Guelph professors are world-class researchers and teachers who bring passion, expertise and experience to the course.
8 Modules: Each module takes ~20 minutes 

1) Business Planning and Strategy
2) Financial Literacy 1
3) Financial Literacy 2
4) Managing your most valuable asset – your people
5) Risk Management
6) Family Farm Transition Planning 1
7) Family Farm Transition Planning 2
8) Managing Mental Health 

Register:  https://www.guelphagriculturalmanagement.com/


Farm Financial Fluency Training for Dairy Producers

Farm Management Canada, in partnership with MNP, is pleased to offer Canadian Dairy farmers the opportunity to sign up for their new Farm Financial Fluency training program.

Through the Farm Financial Fluency program, you will learn:
✓ Why financial reporting is important and to whom 
✓ Key differences between types of financial reporting and who uses what
✓ Different farm business structures and their impact on financial reporting
✓ How to interpret your financial statements (balance sheet, income statement)
✓ Financial ratios and how to use them to analyze risk
✓ How to spot potential financial issues and opportunities
✓ Tools and resources available to manage financial risk

WHEN: March 7, 9 + 11 from 1-3pm EST
WHERE: Online
COST: $250 + HST


E-Commerce for Canadian food and beverage companies

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has established an e-commerce resource hub where companies can access resources to take advantage of global opportunities to sell food and beverage products online. Among the market-specific trend reports, you will find two broad ranging reports aimed at familiarizing Canadian agri-food SMEs with e-commerce and digital business writ large:

1) E-Commerce and Digital Business: A guide for Canadian food and beverage companies. This guide aims to inform agri-food SMEs on key concepts including digital business strategies, online communities and marketplaces, and order fulfillment and shipping.

2) E-Commerce International Pathfinder for Canadian food and beverage companies. This report aims to help Canadian businesses better understand the international e-commerce landscape in key markets, including opportunities, constraints, and strategies to adopt an e-commerce/digital approach to business.

Wine Exporting 101

Date: February 24, 2022
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Exporting your alcohol products beyond B.C. is a great way to have your products known by international trade and consumers across the country and beyond, from Alberta to Asia! Expanding your reach internationally is no small task. There are lots of things to consider including having an export plan, labelling, regulations, inventory management, shipping and more; not to mention choosing your next market.

This webinar will explore:
• How to export wine interprovincially and internationally
• Discover the latest market research highlights for exporting B.C. wine
• How TCS can help your business with in-market resources and know-how

The session features speakers from Wine Growers B.C. and Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service.

Though this seminar will focus on wine, all types of alcoholic beverage producers will gain insights from this seminar.

Agricultural Excellence Conference...

Farm Management Canada’s flagship learning event, the Agricultural Excellence Conference took place November 24-26, 2021. The theme, "The Challenge of Change", was about acknowledging that change can be difficult and also provides immense opportunity - learning how to confront change with confidence is key. 

While the Conference has ended, the learning opportunities continue! Insights and advice from over 30 incredible speakers are now available through their YouTube channel.
Missed a session or want to re-watch a session? Check out the Conference recordings!

B.C. Agricultural Labour Survey

The B.C. Agricultural Labour Survey is being distributed to businesses and organizations within the agriculture and seafood industry to collect important information about their workforce and their experience with recruiting workers. B.C. agriculture, aquaculture and fishing operations will receive a postcard invitation to take this voluntary survey online. The survey should take around 20 minutes to answer. It will be open from mid-February to March 27, 2022.

The survey is being conducted by BC Stats in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The purpose is to get a more accurate picture of the agricultural labour market and needs in B.C., to help develop workforce policies

Please take the time to answer this survey when you receive the invitation--your participation will help the ministry to support you better in the future.