Organic BC

Demo: Solar Powered Autonomous Seeders & Weeders
2024-08-19 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Vancouver) | BC
Thinking about embracing autonomous agritech equipment in response to labour shortages, rising costs and a desire for improved soil health? Or simply curious about the technology? Then join Organic BC at Van Eekelen Enterprises in Abbotsford on August 19th for a discussion and demo of autonomous seeders and weeders in agriculture!
Representatives from FrontLink Inc., importers and distributors of various types of agritech equipment, will be on hand to discuss the latest developments. They will also demonstrate the FarmDroid FD20, a fully autonomous, solar-powered seeding and weeding robot. The FarmDroid FD20 uses GPS to seed crops and subsequently weeds the crops it planted, managing up to 12 rows at a time.
Following the demonstration, there will be ample time for questions and discussions, and snacks and refreshments will be provided.
This event is free and open to anyone interested, but registration is required. Save your spot at: eventbrite.ca/e/solar-powered-autonomous-seeders-and-weeders-tickets-929274273367

Farm Tour and Potluck at Big Rock Ranch
2024-08-17 12:00 - 15:30 | BC
You’re invited to a Farm Tour and Potluck at Big Rock Ranch in Buffalo Creek, B.C. If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event. Come out to connect with other farmers and food lovers, share a meal, and learn about mixed fruit and vegetable production, beekeeping and raising poultry.
We’ll enjoy a farm tour from farmer Robin Hunt, who farms on their family’s 148-acre ranch alongside their grandmother, mother and a crew of working and companion animals. We will learn about their mission to grow nutrient-dense food, enhance soil health and biodiversity and maintain landscape integrity. Touring Big Rock Ranch’s mixed vegetable and fruit crops, we will also learn about their innovative irrigation practices and how they extend their growing season using greenhouses. They farm in a high elevation community that only has 80 frost free days a year, so season extension is an important part of their farm’s sustainability. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions about land sharing, collaboration and farming in their Cariboo climate! If you are a new or experienced farmer who is interested in family farm transition and want to understand what that looks like in practice, we hope to see you there. The day will wrap up with a shared potluck meal and informal time to socialize with other farmers and farm-curious folks.
Learn more and register here: https://youngagrarians.org/august-17-2024-buffalo-creek-bc-farm-tour-and-potluck-at-big-rock-ranch

Autonomous Robots in Grape Production
2024-08-17 09:00 - 13:00 | BC
Join Organic BC to interact with the Naio TED straddle robot! Get a firsthand look at how this innovative tool is helping farmers improve soil health and tackle rising costs and labour shortages.

Aug 17th: Covert Farms Family Estate Winery, Oliver

Representatives from Vitis-Import, the Canadian distributor of the Naio TED, will discuss the latest advancements in agri-tech weeding technology in grape production. They will showcase and demonstrate the TED, highlighting its capabilities using finger hoes, inter-vine hydraulic tillage tools, electric edging tools and more.
A Q&A period will follow the demonstration, and snacks and refreshments will be provided.
This event is free and open to anyone interested, but registration is required. Register for the Covert Farms event in Oliver here.

Pacific Northwest Organic Center Field Day
2024-07-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center, 55931 State Route 20, Rockport, WA, 98283, United States
Join us for Organic Field Day at the Pacific Northwest Organic Center (PNWOC)!
Participants will have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center staff and team of Organic Consultants, and learn about our research and demonstration projects focused on organic agriculture and tailored for farmers in the Pacific Northwest. This event is ideal for researchers, students, educators and all farmers, whether you are interested in learning more about organic farming, have an interest in consulting services to transition to organic, or are currently a Pacific Northwest organic farmer. Attendance is $15 per person lunch will be provided at the event.
Learn more and register here: rodaleinstitute.org/events/pnwoc-field-day

Salmo Tour de Farm Stand
2024-07-14 09:00 - 13:30 | BC
Join us for a Sunday morning bike tour of the farm stands of beautiful Salmo, BC!
Self-serve farm stands are surging in popularity, and the village of Salmo is leading the way when it comes to farm stand culture in the Kootenays. Within an easy bike ride of the village centre, there are three farm stands that offer fresh produce, fruit, cheese, meat, wool, soap, flowers, and value-added products. Shopping at farm stands is a great way to get the freshest farm products possible, all the while supporting your local producers and connecting with the farms that feed you.
The event will include a farm tour and farm stand visit at each stop. Starting with the fields and greenhouses at Salix and Sedge Farm, we’ll then head over to see the market gardens at Clutch Farm, stop for a short picnic lunch, and wrap up with a visit to Forrest Farm Sheep and Goat Cheese Creamery. Participants will get to learn how the farms produce their goods, and stock up on groceries along the way.
This 18 km round-trip is timed so that participants can bike between the farms, but you are welcome to join no matter how you get between the locations. Feel free to drive, e-bike, roller-blade, run, or get there however works for you! Children and families are more than welcome if they are able to safely ride on the road. This bike route avoids highway riding but does involve a few highway crossings.
Learn more and register here: youngagrarians.org/july-14-2024-salmo-bc-salmo-tour-de-farm-stand

Farm Tour and Potluck at Silverside Farm
2024-07-07 16:00 - 19:30 | BC
You’re invited to a Farm Tour at Silverside Farm in Cobble Hill, B.C. Come out to connect with other farmers and food lovers, share a meal, and learn about berry production!
We’ll enjoy a farm tour from Silverside farmers Charles and Manzar, who were matched in 2023 through the B.C. Land Matching Program. Charles and Manzar currently manage 2 acres of blueberries, 1 acre of strawberries, and 2 acres of mixed crops, with a focus on U-pick. If you’re curious about what land matching and sharing is all about – or just want to check out what your local farmers are up to – join us for the event.
Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Land Matcher, Kiyomi Ito, will be there to answer any questions you have about land matching.
DATE: Sunday, July 7, 2024 • 4pm-7:30pm PST
Learn more and register here: https://youngagrarians.org/july-7-2024-cobble-hill-bc-farm-tour-at-silverside-farm

Open Farm Day at Fresh Valley Farms
2024-06-15 11:00 - 15:00 | Fresh Valley Farms, 1476 Mountain View Road, Armstrong, BC, British Columbia, V0E 1B8, Canada
If you have ever reached out for a farm tour, or if you have come on a farm tour in the past and want to see what has changed, or want to bring a new friend or neighbour out – June 15th we are having an Open Farm Day so mark your calendar and meet us at 1476 Mountain View Rd! We will be offering tours of the farm on the hour from 11am to 3pm, and there will be a barbecue set up where you can sample our popular sausages, or purchase a sausage on a bun.
Expect to see: how we fence cattle and pigs, and how we move them across our farmscape; our innovative new pastured poultry house; the farm’s solar project; our pastured layer house; beehives in the distance; our varied pasture and forage fields; and the grounds of our farm Guesthouse.
We are really looking forward to having Pilgrim’s Produce setup on the farm with veggies for sale, as well as Organic BC with a booth on going, and growing, organic, Young Agrarians will have an info table on land matching and services they provide, plus our friend and farmer Jordan Marr of Unearthed Organics will be there with some of his gorgeous beans and cornmeal. Last, but not least, the honey-refill tank of Wild Antho will be onsite so don’t forget your jar or bucket!
What to Bring:

wear comfortable walking shoes
bring a water bottle + hat if it’s sunny!
bring a jar or bucket to fill with honey at the Wild Antho booth
you can bring snacks, or enjoy a barbecued sausage on a bun
please try to carpool to reduce the parking pressure on our farm

Farm Tour and Potluck at Mr. Mercy's Mushrooms
2024-05-30 15:30 - 19:00 | BC
Calling all fungi-enthusiasts! Join us for a tour of Mr. Mercy’s Mushrooms and learn about mushroom production, followed by a potluck dinner in the garden.
Mr. Mercy’s Mushrooms is a certified organic mushroom and spawn producer that has been operating in Kaslo, BC since 2017. On the farm tour you will have a chance to see their mushroom production process and learn about both commercial high-production systems, as well as backyard mushroom growing methods such as inoculated logs and growing King Stropharia in the garden.
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 2024 • 3:30 pm – 7 pm PST
LOCATION: Syilx, Sinixt, and Ktunaxa Territories. Kaslo BC.
REGISTER: This event is free but has a limited capacity. Please register on the Eventbrite page.

Autonomous Weeders in Mixed Vegetable Cultivation: BC Tour
2024-05-30 - 2024-06-01 | BC
Curious about agri-tech weeding equipment and how it could help your farm become more efficient and financially resilient, all the while keeping weeds at bay? Then join Organic BC on one of their tour stops and explore the use of autonomous weeders in mixed vegetable cultivation in BC!

May 30th: Plenty Wild Farms, Pemberton
June 1st: UBC Farm, Vancouver

Take a look at how some of these tools work and see a demonstration of the Naio Oz robot, a multi-tasking, multi-crop, electric powered robot that can autonomously seed, weed, furrow, hill, and carry loads using RTK GPS technology to navigate. There will be ample time for questions and discussions with a Haggerty AgRobotics rep about this tool and other agri-tech equipment, plus snacks and refreshments.
This event is free but registration is required. Register for the Plenty Wild Farms event here, and the UBC Farm event here.

Biodynamic Agriculture Society of BC AGM 2024 in Squamish Valley - Interactive Fun Event
2024-05-13 | Queen of the Peace Monastery, 1021 Cloudburst Crescent, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, V0N 1T0, Canada
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Biodynamic Agriculture Society of British Columbia
Date: May 13, 2024
Location: Queen of the Peace Monastery, Squamish Valley, BC
EVERYONE WELCOME!!!

Program:
11:00 Welcome at the farm/Introduction to the day
11:30 Questions and exchange of ideas.
12:00 Potluck lunch
12:30 AGM open to public (only members may vote)
1:15 Break
1:30 Unearthing Preparations buried in the fall
3:00 Wrap up, Upcoming Events
3:15 Eurythmy
3:30 Good-Byes

Innovative Cover Cropping Video Series Screening
2024-04-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
Join Organic BC for an evening of cover cropping with our new Innovative Cover Cropping video series. During this online screening, watch our recently completed video series, showcasing new and diverse cover cropping practices across three regions in the province, spanning five different sectors.
Register here: eventbrite.ca/e/innovative-cover-cropping-video-series-screening-tickets-861799945837
Peace Region
Dive into the work of the North Peace Applied Research Association, where they explore intercropping with legumes in a cereal cash crop setting. Head to SR Farms, an organic grain farm, and discover their cover cropping practices, carefully chosen after years of experimentation. Next, witness Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle’s multi-species swath grazing cover cropping practices and their positive impact on herd and soil health.
South Okanagan
Join us at the Summerland Research and Development Centre, where Dr. Kirsten Hannam shares the trials in progress with a woolly thyme permanent ground cover within fruit tree production, as an alternative to common bare strip or bark mulch under-tree management. Then, peek into Kalala Organic Estate Winery’s innovative inter-alleyway chickpea cover crop trial, which serves a dual purpose as both cover crop and cash crop.
Fraser Valley/ Lower Mainland
Lastly, visit Holberg Farm, a dairy farm trialing the practice of relay cropping with Italian ryegrass within their corn silage crops, for improving soil health while providing nutritious on-farm feed for the cattle.
Q&A
Following the screening of these videos, farmers and researchers will be available to answer your questions about their specific trials or practices.
Guest Speakers

Jed Franklin of SR Farms
Karnail Sidhu Singh of Kalala Estate Winery
Dr. Kirsten Hannam of AAFC Summerland Research and Development Centre
Alex Schwichtenberg of Holberg Farm
Joelene Nobel of Jackknife Creek Land & Cattle Co.

Register here: eventbrite.ca/e/innovative-cover-cropping-video-series-screening-tickets-861799945837

APR 27, 2024: BURTON, BC - Silvopasture Tour at McCormack Farm
2024-04-27 10:00 - 14:00 | BC
Join Young Agrarians for a farm tour and potluck at McCormack Farm in beautiful Burton, BC!
With 175 acres in production, McCormack Farm is one of the largest farms in the region to be integrating silvopasture practices – the combination of tree crop production with rotationally-grazed livestock. This 120-year-old farm is in the process of planting out their existing open pastures with tree species that provide fodder for animals, food for people, timber, and other long-term resources. These trees offer numerous other benefits, such as shelter for their livestock, improved pasture quality, enhanced biodiversity, and increased resilience of their farm to the extremes in weather. This is a unique opportunity to tour a diversified regenerative farm that is actively adapting their farming practices for a changing climate.
Forest McCormack will be our guide for the day. He is a fourth generation farmer who is passionate about agroforestry and has a wealth of knowledge to share in this field. Forest has an extensive nursery of trees he is growing out for the farm – tree enthusiasts will enjoy learning about the unique genetics he has been collecting. As part of this event, we will have the chance to help plant out some of these trees in their pasture, so bring along a shovel! This tour will have lots of time for discussion about tree crops, regenerative growing practices, and developing climate resilient farm systems.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 2024 • 10 am – 2 pm PST
REGISTER: youngagrarians.org/apr-27-2024-burton-bc-silvopasture-tour-at-mccormack-farm

WORK PARTY AT THE LOWER SIMILKAMEEN COMMUNITY FOOD HUB, FARM AND GARDEN
2024-04-27 09:00 - 2024-04-28 19:00 | BC
We’re back with another work party at the Lower Similkameen Community Food Hub, Farm and Garden! Come out to lend a hand with spring farm work and building infrastructure to grow Indigenous food sovereignty. Everyone is welcome to attend. There are a variety of tasks to do such as seeding, transplanting, building, cooking for the volunteers, and more. We can’t wait to gather with you and celebrate spring together!
DATE: April 27-28, 2024. Join for the whole weekend or as much as you’re able.
LOCATION: Syilx Territory. Cawston, BC
Learn more and register here: youngagrarians.org/april-lower-similkameen-work-party

HOW TO START FARMING: AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE FOR THE FARM CURIOUS
2024-04-03 | Online
Are you curious about farming? We know that farming is easy to dream about, but it can be challenging to decide whether the lifestyle is right for you.
Join Young Agrarians for How to Start Farming: An Introductory Course for the Farm Curious – an online, community-based program that will give you the space to explore farming fundamentals, connect with the farming community, and learn about ways to get more involved in farming.
People of all ages and walks of life are welcome to join!
The course starts on April 3, 2024. Find out more and register here: youngagrarians.org/courses/how-to-start-farming/

Pruning Workshop with Kanaka Bar Indian Band
2024-03-24 10:00 - 15:00 | BC
You’re invited to a pruning workshop and potluck at Kanaka Bar! Join Young Agrarians for a day in the orchard learning how to prune various types of fruit trees, led by local farmer Ashala Daniel of Solstedt Organics. Afterward, attendees will enjoy a potluck lunch.
WHEN: March 24, 2024 | 10am-3pm
LOCATION: T’eqt”aqtn’mux & Nlaka’pamux Territories. Lytton, B.C.
Please register our website: youngagrarians.org/pruning-kanaka-bar/

Organic Vegetables and Soil Health: Trial Results and Opportunities
2024-03-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Join this evening presentation to hear results from on-farm trials that have been looking at nutrient management and cover cropping practices on organic farms across southern British Columbia since 2015. You will also have a chance to learn about a new four-year trial, building on this work, that farmers can join this spring.
Management practices that promote soil health are the foundation of Canadian organic production standards. Ideally, these practices lead to regenerative outcomes, like reducing reliance on environmentally risky nutrient inputs and storing carbon in the soil. But there are still unanswered questions about the affects of different soil health practices, especially across BC’s diverse growing conditions.
Hear about the results from nine years of soil health trials on organic mixed vegetable farms. Results will be discussed in the context of a new four-year trial that aims to improve regenerative outcomes and will be looking at conservation tillage in addition to nutrient management and cover cropping.
Farmers that participate in the new trials will have the opportunity to share their experiences and help prioritize the research questions addressed through the trials.
Register to attend here.

NO-TILL FOR NEW FARMERS: MARKET GARDENING WITH FARMER JESSE
2024-03-04 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Are you a new farmer exploring no-till practices? Join us and Farmer Jesse Frost, creator of the No-Till Market Garden podcast and host of the popular YouTube channel No-Till Growers for an introduction to growing with no-till methods and a Q&A session!

WHEN: Monday, March 4th 2024 | 4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 8pm AT

Learn more and register here: https://youngagrarians.org/mar-4-2024-online-no-till-for-new-farmers-market-gardening-with-farmer-jesse/

2024 BC Farmers' Market Conference
2024-03-01 - 2024-03-03 | Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier, 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver, BC, V7L 0B1, Canada
The BC Farmers’ Markets Conference is a once-a-year opportunity to get together with your farmers’ market peers from across the province to share best practices, learn from industry experts, build connections and gain inspiration to carry you through the 2024 farmers’ market season. Workshops, action labs, and networking opportunities have been designed to support farmers’ markets managers, board members, and vendors in gaining practical skills and best practices to support their markets and businesses.
Don’t miss out on this jam-packed weekend of networking, peer-to-peer learning, workshops, great food and company.
Join us for the full weekend, a single day, or just one workshop – we hope to see you there!
Learn more: https://bcfarmersmarket.org/events/conference-2024

Water, Soil, Climate: Research and resources for BC farmers
2024-02-27 09:00 - 2024-02-29 12:30 | Online
Virtual workshop – 9am-12:30pm, Feb. 27-29, 2024
Join us online for three mornings where we will explore how to adapt to the climate change challenges facing the agriculture sector. Hear from those working on the ground and learn about the research and programs emerging to support BC farmers. End each morning with a chance for discussion and networking with the ACARN community of growers, agrologists, researchers, policymakers and students.

The scope, opportunities and projects of the new Regional Extension program launched by the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food
Decision making, research and resources to adapt to drought and drier conditions
Applied research and cover cropping resources to build soil health on BC farms
Career and training opportunities in the BC agricultural sector from becoming a professional agrologist to agri-tech and government program delivery

Thanks to funding by the BC Ministry of Agriculture & Food and CleanBC the workshop is available at no cost, registration is required.

Workshop details and registration: watersoilclimate.eventbrite.ca

Agri-Tech Autonomous Weeders in BC
2024-02-26 09:30 - 11:30 | Online
In today’s climate of staff shortages and high labour costs, herbicide resistance, and the desire for increased soil health, finding new, efficient and innovative ways to approach weeding is more important than ever. Join us as experts share information about a selection of autonomous weeding robots that are currently available in BC.

Charlotte Mignol from Naio Technologies will discuss the capabilities of their three autonomous weeding robots now available in Canada:

The Oz, designed for small-scale to larger scale vegetable operations
The Ted, tailored for vineyards and trellised fruits
The Orio, developed for larger-scale vegetable crops.
Demonstration videos will also be presented.

Kevin D. Vander Kooi, a research technician at the University of Guelph in the Department of Plant Agriculture, will share his firsthand experiences from trials involving the Naio Orio and the FarmDroid FD20.
Elise Smedbol, the head researcher of weed science at the Research and Development for the Agri-Environment (IRDA), will present the outcomes of their recent three-year trials with the Naio Oz robot in corn, beans, and soy crops.

These researchers bring practical insights, discussing the challenges, limitations, and successes encountered in their hands-on experiences with these machines.

FEB 24, 2024: COLDSTREAM, BC – LAND LINKING WORKSHOP
2024-02-24 14:00 - 18:00 | Coldstream Community Hall, 9909 Kalamalka Rd, Coldstream, BC, V1B 1L5, Canada
GOT LAND? WANT LAND? Are you a landholder looking for farmers? Are you a farmer looking for land? We want you!
Join us for a workshop on the nuts and bolts of land access. Young Agrarians Land Linking Workshops bring together landholders and farmers seeking land to network, explore possible land matches, and learn how to navigate land sharing and lease agreements.
Our B.C. Land Matching Program Manager Darcy Smith and our Okanagan Land Matcher, Pascale Schittecatte will be there to talk about how land matching supports land seekers and landholders, and share key questions to ask, legal considerations, and building and maintaining stable land agreements that are mutually beneficial.
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 2-6pm
Location: Traditional Syilx and Secwépemc Territories. Coldstream, BC
REGISTER: https://youngagrarians.org/landlinkcoldstream2024

NFU Convergence to Sow the Seeds of Farmland Protection
2024-02-24 - 2024-02-25 | Fraser Common Farm Co-op, 1374 256 Street, Langley Township, BC, V4W 2J4, Canada
We’re inviting farmers and supporters from across BC to come together for a weekend of connecting, learning, sharing, and building power together to protect BC’s limited viable farmland. Rising prices, development, investor influence, and more are making it increasingly difficult for young farmers to get started. We envision a food system where farming is a viable career option, land ownership is deconcentrated, farmland is valued for growing food rather than being treated like an investment opportunity, and where Indigenous nations have control over their traditional foodlands.
At this Convergence, led by the National Farmers Union and organized in partnership with the Sierra Club BC, we’ll bring together farmers, activists, and experts to discuss the challenges and solutions for making farmland accessible and sustainable for farmers.
We are beyond grateful to our sponsors, Burdock and Co and the National Farmers Foundation, for making this event possible.
There will be two $50 valued door prizes from Lee Valley Tools.
The weekend events will take place at the Fraser Common Farm Cooperative (Glorious Organics), an award winning cooperatively owned and operated farming collective which is on the unceded traditional and ancestral lands of the Kwantlen First Nation.
The schedule includes:

Morning coffee and a fun activity to kick the day off at 12PM on Saturday, and 9AM on Sunday
Each day will include a workshop, a guest speaker, and a film screening from the Depth of Field project
Guest speakers include Heather Pritchard of the Foodlands Cooperative of BC, Julia Smith of the Small Scale Meat Producers Association, and Tom Harrison of the Saskatchewan Treaty Landsharing Network
We will strategize and develop a campaign for farmland protection
Morning coffe/snacks, lunch and dinner are provided both days, with options to bring potluck dishes
Options for fun activities on Saturday evening

You are responsible for your own evening accomodations, and for getting yourself to and from the event. We will also try to arrange couch surfing and carpooling options where possible.
If you require financial assistance to attend, please reach out and we’ll do our best to help.
If you want to support other farmers by subsidizing their travel costs to attend the event, you make a charitable donate at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/national-farmers-foundation/
(* Please choose “BC Farmland Retreat Fund” from the drop down menu)
Mark your calendar and be part of this impactful event, where we’ll sow the seeds of farmland protection and cultivate a brighter future for generations to come.

Small-Scale Meat Producers "Meat Up" in Armstrong!
2024-02-23 - 2024-02-24 | Fresh Valley Farms, 1476 Mountain View Road, Armstrong, BC, British Columbia, V0E 1B8, Canada
Please join us at beautiful organic livestock operation Fresh Valley Farms in Armstrong Feb 23 & 34 for our first annual “Meat Up” event and AGM! The event is free (dinner and lunch tickets may be purchased) and all are welcome!
Check out a robotic pastured chicken house, have a look at the latest in irrigation tech, trial electric utility farm bikes, take in an electric fencing demo, and have a look at the newest mobile slaughter trailers coming to BC! Learn from speakers on the nuances of regenerative agriculture, water policy and restrictions, sustainability practices on ranchlands, Environmental Farm Plans, pastured poultry, Farmgate slaughter licences, and more.
Find more details about the event at https://smallscalemeat.ca/2024-ssmpa-meat-up-armstrong-bc-feb-23-34/

FEB 21, 2024: ONLINE – HOW TO MARKET A NEW FARM WITH KENDALL BALLANTINE
2024-02-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Join Kendall Ballantine, the founder of Marketing for Farmers and Central Park Farms to learn about how to market your new farm business.
What’s the best marketing channel for your farm? Weekly CSA boxes, farmers’ markets, online sales, events or all of the above and more? Join this webinar to learn about the marketing channels available to entrant (and seasoned) farmers. You will learn about the pros and cons of each marketing channel, and develop the skills to identify which marketing channel(s) will best meet the needs of your farm and your customer base. We will share tips, tricks and strategies for marketing your farm and its products through startup and beyond.
This webinar is geared towards farmers who are in the planning stages or first few seasons of starting their farm business. Bring your questions!
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | 7-8:30 PM PST
Location: Online on Indigenous territories across what is today known as B.C. Join us from the comfort of your couch, office, tractor, compost heap – wherever you find yourself able to tune in!
REGISTER HERE!

Southern Interior Horticultural Show
2024-02-16 - 2024-02-17 | Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, 273 Power St, Penticton, British Columbia, V2A 7K9, Canada
The Southern Interior Horticultural Show is a new B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food delivered project in partnership with the tree fruit and grape industries to provide producers the opportunity to get the latest information on research, innovation, and farming practices from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts.
Held in conjunction with a horticultural tradeshow, the two-day conference focuses on the apple, cherry, and grape sectors in B.C., featuring sessions on soil health, water management, cutting-edge production information, pest management, climate adaptation, and innovative growing systems and new technology.
The Southern Interior Horticultural Show is being delivered in partnership with the B.C. Cherry Association, B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association, B.C. Grapegrowers’ Association, B.C. Wine Grape Council, Sustainable Wine Growing B.C., Wine Growers B.C., Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program, New Variety Development Council, Okanagan Horticulture Advisors Group, and Summerland Variety Corp. Funding for the conference is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Presentations will be recorded and available to registered attendees following the conference.
Learn more and register here.

FEB 7, 2024: ONLINE – LAND LEASING 101
2024-02-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Join Darcy Smith, YA’s B.C. Land Matching Program Manager, to learn about the nuts and bolts of land access in B.C.
Got Land? Want Land? This webinar will walk you through the A to Z of finding land or a farmer and developing a land sharing relationship.
Learn about leasing in B.C., legal considerations, and how to build and maintain mutually beneficial land agreements. Each step of the way, you will get a taste of the services available to farmers and farmland holders through the B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP).
This webinar will focus on what it takes to build land sharing relationships with trust, clarity, and confidence – we will help you learn what questions to ask of yourselves and each other. Stick around to the end of the webinar to hear case stories of alternative land transitions that we hope will inspire farmers and landholders alike to envision what is possible!
This webinar is applicable to farmers of all production types and sizes looking to start or grow their farm business on leased land, and all farmland holders who are interested in making their land available for agriculture. Bring your questions!
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 | 7-8:30 PM PST
Location: Online on Indigenous territories across what is today known as B.C. Join us from the comfort of your couch, office, tractor, compost heap – wherever you find yourself able to tune in!
REGISTER HERE

Islands Agriculture Show
2024-02-02 - 2024-02-03 | Cowichan Exhibition Park, 7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC, British Columbia, V9L 6B1, Canada
The Islands Agriculture Show is a two-day conference and trade show for horticultural and livestock producers of all sizes on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Held in conjunction with an agricultural trade show, the conference features sessions on crop production, livestock production, business planning, water management, and climate adaptation.
The Islands Agriculture Show is delivered in partnership between the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food together with the Islands Agriculture Show Society. Funding for the conference sessions is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
The 2024 conference will include sessions on the following topics:

On-farm Meat Processing and Regulations
Enterprise Budgeting & Economic Tracking
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management on Vancouver Island
Scaling Up Poultry Production
Building Healthy Soils
Irrigation System Monitoring & Maintenance
Hedgerow Design for Pollinators and Pest Control

Presentations will be recorded and available to registered attendees following the conference.
Learn more and register here.

Indigenous Food Sovereignty Panel - Land Back & Land Access
2024-01-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Join Leslie Anne St. Armour of RAVEN, Natasha Anderson of Minwaadizi Farm, and Julian Napoleon of Amisk Farm for a panel discussion on land back and Indigenous food sovereignty.
In so-called British Columbia, 95% is “crown land”, and most is unceded; a small amount has been treatied back to Nations through the court system. What does unceded and land back mean? This panel will explore these questions and share ways that Indigenous farmers are accessing and stewarding land towards Indigenous Food Sovereignty (IFS) under the colonial government’s complex system of land title. Listeners will come away with ways to deepen relationships with the land and support the land back movement. We hope you can join for a rich and engaging conversation.

DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 6-8 PM PST
LOCATION: Online on Indigenous territories. Join us from the comfort of your couch, office, tractor, compost heap – wherever you find yourself able to tune in.
REGISTER: https://youngagrarians.org/ifs-land-back

Pacific Agriculture Show
2024-01-25 - 2024-01-27 | Tradex Exhibition Centre
The Pacific Agriculture Show will showcase the latest and most innovative equipment and technology for the agriculture industry. Join thousands of farmers and agri-food producers in comparing and investigating what over 300 exhibitors have to make your operation more efficient.
BC’s agriculture industry is unique in its diversity and the Show attracts an attendance from all the livestock and horticulture sectors including: dairy, cattle, poultry, equine, hogs, llamas, alpacas, to vegetable, berry, grape, bulb, ornamentals, hothouse, flower and shrub growing and more.
Learn more at: agricultureshow.net

Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference
2024-01-25 - 2024-01-27 | Tradex Exhibition Centre
Formerly called the Growers’ Short Course, the Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference is a three-day conference held in conjunction with the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford that provides producers the opportunity to get the latest information on research, farming practices and market opportunities from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts.
The conference includes sessions on production practices, pest management, water management, climate adaptation, and market insights from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts. Topics focus on the blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, potato, field vegetable, greenhouse vegetable, floriculture, hops, hazelnut, and organic sectors in the Lower Mainland.
The Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference is delivered by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food in partnership with the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association and the Pacific Agriculture Show. Funding for the conference is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
The conference is returning to an in-person format this year. There will not be the option to attend the conference virtually. In order to receive pesticide re-certification credits, you must attend in person. Presentations will be recorded and available to registered attendees following the conference.
Learn more and register here.
