Stay tuned...
Remember this announcement? Over the past year, we've been working hard on this exciting project. We look forward to sharing it with you soon!
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Good news from the 2021 federal and provincial budgets
The latest federal and provincial budgets were released last week, and both are moves towards a healthier planet with healthier practices, many of which are already mainstays of organic agriculture.
Ottawa is:
- Investing $200 million over two years towards on-farm projects that reduce emissions by improving nitrogen management, increasing adoption of cover cropping, and normalizing rotational grazing
- Allocating $60 million over two years to target the protection of existing wetlands and trees on farms
- Allocating $10 million over the next two years to power farms with clean energy, not diesel
The BC budget includes an additional $45 million to support farmers and the agriculture sector:
- $10 million over the fiscal plan to expand Grow BC, Feed BC, Buy BC
- $35 million in 2021/22 to continue to support BC farmers in safely accessing and accommodating temporary foreign workers to support crop harvesting
- PST rebates on machinery and equipment
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PST rebates for select machinery and equipment
As mentioned in the provincial budget, the BC PST Rebate on Select Machinery and Equipment is a temporary provincial sales tax (PST) program to help corporations recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19. The rebate acts like a refund but is separate from the existing PST refund process. Under this temporary program, corporations can apply to receive an amount equal to the PST they paid between September 17, 2020 and September 30, 2021 on qualifying machinery and equipment.
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Reminder: Organic Conversion Support Program still has funding available
The deadline to apply for the Canada Organic Trade Association's Organic Conversion Fund is June 30th, and there is still funding available!
The program is open to all producers (plant based and livestock) who sought organic certification in 2020. It can reimburse up to $1000 of certification costs, and can cover a portion of consulting costs if applicable.
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Public consultation on genetically engineered foods
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Congratulations to Nicolas Walser
Nicolas, a member of COABC's Accreditation Board, was recently appointed to IFOAM North America’s Board of Directors. Congrats, Nicolas!
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Organic research podcast
Looking for the inside scoop from researchers leading the Organic Science Cluster 3 research activities? Their research, the problems they are trying to solve, and how producers can benefit from the results of their research? Have a listen to the Organic Science Conversations podcast, brought to you by the Organic Federation of Canada and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada!
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IFOAM has updated its Honest Food website with a set of new clips focusing on ten topics related to sustainable agriculture. Check them out here.
Applications are now being accepted for the Local Government Partnership Program, which provides funding to help regional districts and municipalities develop, update and implement agricultural planning tools. The program will provide up to $40,000 per recipient in non-repayable, cost-shared funding. More details.
AgriService BC webinar on demand: Planning for Non-Family Farm Transition. The webinar provides both current and entering farmers with a framework for understanding transition of farms and farmland outside the family, along with information and considerations about different possible pathways to non-family transition. Presented by Darcy Smith, Young Agrarians B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) Manager and editor of the BC Organic Grower.
UBC Farm has launched their 20th anniversary celebrations and the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems has reached their 10-year milestone! Events are going to be happening throughout the growing season. Join virtually and find out more about both organizations here.
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Seedy Saturdays/Sundays
When: Ongoing
Where: Province-wide
Seedy events around the province. More details.
Adaptation and Mitigation: Dual Objectives for Addressing Climate Change in Diversified Agroecosystems
When: May 11, 2021
Where: Online
Part of the UBC Farm Centre for Sustainable Food Systems webinar series: Building Resilient Food Systems During COVID-19 and Beyond. More details.
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Young Agrarians Business Bootcamp
When: Fall 2021
Where: Online
This online, community-based program will give you the space and skills to write a stellar business plan for the farm of your dreams. Sign up for the Young Agrarians newsletter to be the first to find out about it! More details.
Organic Week
When: Sept. 13 - 19, 2021
Where: TBA
The largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country. More details.
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COR operators are fortunate to be able to use the Canada Organic label AND the BC Checkmark side by side.
The logo of the BC Certified Organic program is a key tool to identify certified organic products in BC. It is important that the symbol is used correctly; here is a quick reminder, especially for websites and the exclusion zone (white space).
The Program Symbol is enclosed by a black border. The border ensures that the appropriate white space or exclusion zone is provided around the composite mark. The Program Symbol must be enclosed by the border if the Symbol is applied against colored or complex backgrounds. However, if the background is white or off-white, it may be desirable to omit the border while ensuring the appropriate exclusion zone.
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Complaints Submissions
For information on complaints regarding the COABC, a Certification Body, or an operator certified under an accredited Certification Body, click here.
If you've discovered a person or company who is falsely marketing their products as organic in British Columbia, click here for information.
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Planning a Move?
If you change your address or contact information, send it to your CB office as soon as possible so you don’t miss out on receiving the BC Organic Grower and other materials.
Organic Price List
View the Organic Price List, updated weekly, here.
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Thanks to Indigo Valley Farm, a 3-acre certified organic haskap berry farm in Vernon BC, for this month's feature photo. To learn more about them, visit their website and check them out on Facebook.
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