January 8-9, 2018: Agriculture use of Herbicide – Best Management Practices

Ken Sapsford, Pesticide Specialist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture will be presenting on “Agriculture use of Herbicide – Best Management Practices” early in the New Year. Two evening presentations will be held; stay tuned for venue details finalised start times.
Evening of Monday January 8th in Vanderhoof, estimated start time 7pm
Evening of Tuesday January 9th in Prince George, estimated start time 7pm
Please see below for a brief biography from Ken:
Ken Sapsford P. Ag.
Received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979. He has spent most of his career in Saskatchewan in the areas of soil conservation, zero-till systems and managing a field research program for Weed Control at the University of Saskatchewan. All of this time Ken has been farming with his brother, co-managing a 3000 acre grain farm. In 2012 they sold the farm and Ken and his wife, Joy, purchased a small vineyard south of Penticton, BC. In 2015 Ken left his position at the University of Saskatchewan and began working as the Pesticide Specialist with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture in the spring of 2016.
In 2008 Ken was the recipient of the “Distinguished Agrologist” Award from the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologist and in 2014 was awarded the “Excellence in Weed Extension” Award from the Canadian Weed Science Society.

Water

Please take note of the following provided by staff at FLNRO. There are two regulation amendments that were just approved by Government:

1. The exemption period for application fees for existing non-domestic groundwater users has been extended from March 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017. The extension responds to the challenges that some existing groundwater users have experienced with the online application system, and the ongoing task of communicating the new licensing requirement to users across the province.
2. The exemption from the need for obtain a water authorization for mineral exploration activities and small scale placer operators with a Mines Act permit has also been extended from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017. The additional one year exemption will provide more time to work with the industry on a longer-term regulation while providing certainty for the upcoming 2017 season. “

For more information related to water licensing and well registration click on the following links:

• Information on the well registration.
• General information for property owners related to wells.
• Water licensing and rights.
• Water calculator – click the“Livestock” tab in the top right.
• Examples of rates for typical users (look at the example of watering 100 dairy cattle).
• Water rent estimator.
• Water application fees and rental rates.

Update from CFIA

Enquiries have been received related to the Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) investigation in Alberta and Saskatchewan, for those that are seeking information CFIA has provided update information at: www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/tuberculosis/investigation-se-alberta-and-sw-saskachewan/eng/1477438380160/1477438380659 and general information regarding Bovine TB at: www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/tuberculosis/fact-sheet/eng/1330208938232/1330209051950 and www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/tuberculosis/eng/1330205978967/1330206128556

Update on Farm Business Advisory Services (FBAS) Program

The deadline for FBAS applications for the 2016-17 fiscal year will be on December 15, 2016. If you are working on an application please keep this mind.

If you would like to be removed from this mailing list please contact me:
Lavona Liggins │ Regional Agrologist Hwy 16 East BC Ministry of Agriculture
p: 250-614-7438 │cell: 250-565-5280 1-888-221-7141
AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca