Brackendale Fall Fair
41975 Government Road V0N 1H0 Brackendale, BC, Canada

Stony Mtn eggs will be set up at Don Ross parking lot this Saturday.

Was the Queen on the plane? I’m not stepping near these two planes! Two passenger planes in India are grounded hours apart in India after a massive swarm of BEE...S land on the aircraft! * Swarm of bees caused chaos at Kolkata airport this week after settling on jets * Bees first swarmed on a plane 4pm Sunday, delaying the flight by an hour * Insects then returned Monday morning, again delaying a flight by an hour * Both times a fire engine had to be called to dislodge the bees using its hose It is not clear exactly why the bees swarmed the aircraft, but swarms of honeybees typically swarm when they are moving nests. Bees may move for two reasons: Either the original nest becomes nonviable due to disease, pests, or other environmental changes; or the colony outgrows the nest, in which case it will split in two with half the bees heading off to find a new home. In either case, the worker bees will starve the queen down to the point where she is light enough to fly then accompany her to the new nesting site, according to information published by the University of California. While swarming, bees may initially move to a resting site that is just a short distance from the original nest, while sending out scouts to find a new permanent home. The temporary site may only be used for a few hours, or the bees may remain there for several days while the scouts explore. Due to declining bee populations, particularly in the US and Europe, beekeepers urge people not to attack or spray the insects if they swarm houses, cars, or - in this case - jumbo jets.

Fresh Fruit and Veggies to your door! https://www.squamishchief.com//about-a-local-family-of-eig

For Immediate Release 2020AFF0062-001983 Dec. 1, 2020 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries... NEWS RELEASE COVID-19 recovery programs to support farmers VICTORIA - Two new programs, and increased support for a third one, will help improve food security and build a stronger economy following COVID-19. "During COVID-19, we have seen the incredible importance of having a strong local food economy to put food on the table and keep people working," said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. "B.C.'s farmers and food producers have stepped up to the challenges of COVID-19, and we are working with them to put us on the path to a strong recovery with investments in new and improved programs that will feed people and strengthen our economy." As part of making it easier to get a farm up and running, the new Small Farm Business Acceleration Pilot Program is offering funding up to $800,000 for business plan coaching for small and new farmers, as well as cost-shared funding for commercial farm infrastructure and equipment, to increase productivity and sales. For this pilot, a small farm is defined as one with a total annual gross revenue of less than $60,000 in the last two years. The program funding will cover 50% to 75% of total approved project costs to a maximum of $17,500 for individual farm businesses. "My team and I are excited to see the Province invest in small and new farms," said Sara Dent, co-founder and executive director, Young Agrarians. "Providing support to a new generation of people brave enough to start farming in today's land market requires innovative programs that address the needs of new farmers, and I hope this investment will continue to grow in the coming years. Small-scale farms are the bedrock of local food economies and key to strengthening short supply chains. They are essential to healthy and resilient food systems that can weather the changes we are experiencing today." To help growers increase the acreage planted with raspberry varieties that are ideal for B.C.'s climate and suitable for the fresh and individually quick-frozen raspberry markets, the B.C. government is investing $90,000 in a new Raspberry Replant Program. The program is cost shared with growers, which will result in a minimum of $162,000 of investments in the sector. "On behalf of B.C. raspberries, I would like to thank Minister Popham and ministry staff for allocating funds toward a raspberry replant program in British Columbia," said James Bergen, chair, Raspberry Industry Development Council. "It is my hope this program will aid in revitalizing the B.C. raspberry industry." Additionally, the Province is boosting the Beneficial Management Practices Program, which supports farmers in taking steps to better protect the air, land and water, and aligns with government's CleanBC climate goals. The Province is investing an additional $800,000 into this program, both this year and next. Projects funded by this plan may: * improve air quality and reduce emissions; * improve land and water quality, and enhance or protect biodiversity; * improve nutrient management (fertilizer use); * achieve more efficient agricultural waste management; and * result in more efficient irrigation water management. To be eligible, farms must have a complete environmental farm plan, and approved projects will address topics identified in these plans. "We were grateful to see the Province's Stronger BC plan, which supports farm resiliency while putting food in grocery stores and dinners on tables, "said Stan Vander Waal, president, BC Agriculture Council. "Investment in the agriculture sector right now is critical. Not only is it a core component of the province's economy, it will play a major role in helping the province weather and recover from the pandemic-induced economic downturn, particularly in rural communities." Funding for these and other agricultural programs was included in B.C.'s Stronger BC economic recovery plan. Quick Facts: * Most B.C. farms, about 98%, are family owned and operated. * In 2019, B.C. had a record $3.9 billion in sales in farm cash receipts. * 2019 set a record for B.C. exports with $4.7 billion in sales of agricultural, seafood and food and beverage products to 152 different international markets. * British Columbia is the largest raspberry-producing province in Canada with over 607 hectares (1,500 acres) of raspberries grown by around 90 commercial growers and leads the nation in sales of raspberries. * The B.C. Agricultural Research & Development Corporation delivers both the Environmental Farm Plan and the Beneficial Management Practices programs. Learn More: Applications for the Small Farm Business Acceleration Pilot Program will be accepted between Dec. 7 and Dec. 15, 2020. Further details are available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//small-business-acceleration-pilot- Application intake for the Raspberry Replant Program will be open Dec. 1, 2020 to Jan. 11, 2021, to support the spring 2021 raspberry planting season. Further details here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//agriculture-seafood/programs/raspb To access and apply for funding for the Beneficial Management Practices Program, visit: http://ardcorp.ca//environmental-fa/efp-program-resources/ For more information about the Environmental Farm Program, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//a/programs/environmental-farm-plan B.C.'s Economic Recovery Plan is available online: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/