District of Lake Country Engagement Session
2025-01-25 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Beasley Community Centre, 3450 Woodsdale Road, Lake Country, BC, V4V 1Y5, Canada
The District of Lake Country invites the Lake Country Farmers’ Institute to connect with them for project updates, milestones, and discussions on:

Beaver Lake Chain and Vernon Creek Water Management Plan.

Focused on managing water resources in beaver lake and Vernon creek to balance existing and future agricultural demands with environmental flows.

Liquid Waste Management Plan & Reclaimed Water Use.

A regulatory document required by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

Agritourism
Watershed Initiatives (Local and Basin Wide)

The LCFI’s AGM will follow the engagement session at 12:30!
Click here to register!

Lake Country Farmers' Institute AGM
2025-01-25 12:30 - 13:30 | Beasley Community Centre, 3450 Woodsdale Road, Lake Country, BC, V4V 1Y5, Canada
The meeting will consist of:

2024 LCFI annual reports
2025 election of officers

Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program Webinar
2025-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program helps B.C. tree fruit producers combat extreme weather by offering up to 80% cost-share funding (up to $100,000 per farm) for equipment, infrastructure, and innovative solutions.
Applications open January 30, 2025, and projects must be completed by March 14, 2027. A site map, budget, and quotes are required for funding over $5,000. Projects cannot start before funding approval. Please note that applications for this program will NOT be through the IAF portal. For questions or application support, contact AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca. Please see program page here: Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program – Province of British Columbia

Click here to join the webinar!

Islands Agriculture Show
2025-01-31 00:00 - 2025-02-01 23:59 | Cowichan Exhibition Park, 7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC, V9L 6B1, Canada
The conference sessions at the Islands Agriculture Show 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.
Details on how to purchase tickets, as well as an agenda overview, will be provided in the coming weeks. The conference sessions at the Islands Agriculture Show are delivered by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food in partnership with the Islands Agriculture Show Society.
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.

Seeding Success Commmunications Workshop
2025-02-04 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-02-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-02-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Seeding Success: Enhancing Farmer-Centered Science Communication
Communications training for agricultural researchers!
This three-part virtual series happening on Tuesdays, February 4, 11, and 18 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm PST, will help agricultural researchers, graduate students, agrologists, and consultants build their skills in the art and science of effective communication. Sessions will cover knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) planning, creating impactful knowledge products such as research briefs, and levelling up your field days.
Click here to register!

Time Savers for Seed Savers Webinar
2025-02-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Zoom
Whether you’re a gardening chaos goblin or a lean farming aficionado – if you’re growing for seed, then this event is for you!
Seed production is a labour of love with tight margins, where a little efficiency goes a long way. This farm club style event is a chance to see what other seed growers are doing and pick up some tips to save you time and energy, so you can keep saving your seeds.
Join us for a panel of fun, 5-minute lightning presentations from commercial seed growers sharing their favourite time-saving hacks.

Harvesting seed in the field
Wet-processing pepper seeds
Drying wet-processed seeds
Small plot threshing
Seed cleaning
And more!

Click here to register!
If you’d like to join the panel and share a time-saving tip of your own, please reach out to your local Bauta Family Initiative Regional Coordinator for more info.
Please note: this event will be recorded, and will be offered in English, with translated slides available in French.

N is for Nitrogen 2.0 - Webinar Series
2025-02-06 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-02-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join the BC Institute of Agrologists for a three-part webinar series and discover the key to successful nitrogen management. The series will be hosted by Ruth McDougall. M.Sc, P.Ag.
Session 1: Review of Nitrogen Management in Agriculture and Reclamation
Thursday, February 6, 2025, 12 PM – 1 PM
In this first webinar in the N is for Nitrogen 2.0, Ruth McDougall, M.Sc, P.Ag. will be discusing the critical importance of nitrogen in plant growth and sustainable land management in this comprehensive session. Explore how nitrogen impacts agriculture and reclamation sites, understand its transformations, and learn best practices for efficient nitrogen use to maximize crop uptake while minimizing environmental losses.
REGISTER FOR SESSION 1
Session 2: Nitrogen Management in Regenerative Agriculture
Thursday, February 13, 2025, 12 PM – 1 PM
Explore the role of nitrogen management in regenerative agriculture and its impact on sustainable farming practices. This session will delve into innovative approaches to optimize nitrogen use while enhancing soil health and supporting ecological balance.
REGISTER FOR SESSION 2
Session 3: Strategies for Efficient Nitrogen Management
Thursday, February 20, 2025, 12 PM – 1 PM
The final session in the webinar series, will focus on advanced strategies for efficient nitrogen management. This session will provide actionable insights into optimizing nitrogen use in agricultural systems, balancing productivity, and environmental stewardship.
REGISTER FOR SESSION 3
Please note, you need a BCIA account to register for these webinars.

Southern Interior Horticulture Show
2025-02-12 00:00 - 2025-02-13 23:59 | Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, 273 Power St, Penticton, BC, Canada
The Southern Interior Horticultural Show is a B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food delivered project organized in partnership with the tree fruit and grape industries. This show offers producers a unique opportunity to get the latest information on research, innovation and farming practices directly from industry experts.
This two-day event will cover a variety of important horticultural topics through extensive speaker sessions, evening networking event and an impressive tradeshow where exhibitors will showcase their products and services supporting the tree fruit and grape industries in B.C.
Click here for more information or to register!
Click here to view the full conference program!
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.

BC Cherry Association AGM and Annual Conference
2025-02-14 00:00 - 23:59 | Trinity Church, 1905 Springfield Rd, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7V7, Canada
The BCCA AGM will be held on Friday, February 14th at Trinity Church on the corner of Springfield and Spall in Kelowna. The event includes coffee and snacks, a buffet luncheon, and a pizza party at the end of the afternoon. It is free for members in good standing to attend, but you must RSVP by Friday February 7th. (Nonmember guests will be required to pay a nominal registration fee.) Click here to access the registration form!

This year’s event will include the usual business meeting first thing in the morning, followed by speakers on topics of interest to cherry industry stakeholders. Again this year we have incorporated networking time, so attendees can talk together and have one-on-one conversations with our speakers and sponsors. Click here to view the agenda!

There are a couple reminders for all voting members in good standing (these are members who have paid a minimum of $500 in membership fees for the 2024-2025 season):

You have voting privileges for the election, but you must attend in person; one vote per membership.
If you would like to run for a position on the Board of Directors, please let us know by return email so that we can add your name to the ballot.

This is a volunteer position. Directors meet approximately 6 times per year (2-3 in person, the rest virtually), or as needed if important issues arise. Please consider participating in the BCCA Board to have an active say in the direction our Association and the Canadian cherry industry is taking.

BCFGA Annual General Meeting
2025-02-20 00:00 - 23:59 | Penticton Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre, 21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC, V2A 7M5, Canada
This year’s AGM will be taking place in Penticton. To be as effective as we can for our membership, we need as many people to attend as possible. Tell your neighbours!
Day at a Glance
8am – 9am: Voter Registration, Coffee and Treats, and Social Hour
9am – 12pm: Keynote Speaker/Business Meeting
12pm – 1pm: Lunch Provided and Voting Occurs
1pm – 4pm : Keynote Speaker/ Completion of Business Meeting
4pm – 6pm: Appies, Cocktail, and Election Results

Invasives 2025 Annual Forum & AGM
2025-02-24 00:00 - 2025-02-27 23:59 | 777 Columbia St, 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC, V3M 1B6, Canada
The ISCBC is excited to be back in New Westminster this February 2025, bringing together invasive species practitioners, researchers, community leaders, Indigenous voices, ranchers, foresters and the broader public. Together, we’ll explore the connections and impacts of invasive species in your communities.
For the past 20 years, the ISCBC Forum has been leading the way in tackling the challenges of invasive species and exploring innovative solutions to manage and reduce their impact. As we celebrate this milestone year, we’re excited to reflect on the themes, sessions, and insights that have shaped our community over the years.
The “Back to the Future” theme reflects our commitment to learning from the past and celebrating achievements while envisioning a future with healthy landscapes and communities free of invasive species. Join us for an electrifying reunion featuring some memorable speakers and popular sessions past, celebrating amazing achievements and exploring thrilling new opportunities!
Reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and be a part of leading the next 20 years! See you in New Westminster!
Click here to register!

Soil Health Webinar Series
2025-02-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The Impacts of Compaction on Soil Health – Tom Pypker

Feb 24, 2025
7-8pm via Zoom

Managing Forage Stands for Soil Health and Productivity – Greg Tegart

Feb 26, 2025
7-8pm via Zoom

Managing Snow for Agriculture

Feb 28, 2025
7-8pm via Zoom

For more details and to register, please email catherine@agrowest.ca

Building Bridges Extension Conference
2025-02-27 00:00 - 2025-02-28 23:59 | Penticton Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre, 21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC, V2A 7M5, Canada
Save the date for Building Bridges 2025, also known as the Extension Practitioners Conference! Please note, this is a private event.

For more information, please reach out to Shelby Austen from the CCLSP at: sausten@oksir.org

Nutrient Management Plan Training - Vernon
2025-03-04 09:00 - 2025-03-05 16:00 | 2501 14 Ave, 2501 14th Ave, Vernon, BC, V1T 8Z1, Canada
Nutrient management plans (NMPs) are used to help farmers efficiently meet their production objectives and protect the environment. The training program will provide trainees with the expertise to use planning tools and produce NMPs as a service to farmers or for their own farm. Course content focuses on how to build a plan that meets objectives laid out in the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management. Visit the nutrient management plan training website to learn more.
Join the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for a 2-day accelerated in-person training session from March 4th and 5th to expedite your completion of the NMP course. This 2-day accelerated in-person training session is FREE. However, participants must be enrolled in the Open School BC Nutrient Management Plan course. Course enrollment is $100.
To attend this 2-day in-person training, you must have completed the self-paced online portion (Step 1) of the course.
For further inquiries, please reach out to Ahmed Lasisi at ahmed.lasisi@gov.bc.ca.
Lunch, coffee, and snacks will be provided at the training.
Click here to register!

BCFGA Town Hall - Penticton
2025-03-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Penticton Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre, 21 Lakeshore Dr W, Penticton, BC, V2A 7M5, Canada
All growers are welcome to attend as our provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture, the Honourable Lana Popham, joins three town halls organized by the BCFGA next week:

Wednesday, March 19th – 9:30 am to 11:30 am (Penticton Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre)
Thursday, March 20th – 9:30 am to 11:30 am (Kelowna Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre)
Friday, March 21st – 9:30 am to 11:30 am (Prestige Vernon Lodge & Conference Centre)

Attendance is free. Anyone is welcome to come regardless of registration, but registering will help us have an idea of how many people are coming so that we can plan ahead for seats, snacks, and coffee.

Click here to register!

Train the Trainer - Sprayer Calibration Course
2025-03-19 13:00 - 2025-03-21 17:00 | BC Ministry of Agriculture, Kelowna, #200-1690 Powick Rd, Kelowna, BC, Canada
This workshop, put on by Pearl Agricultural Consulting, is for Grape, Berry, Tree Fruit and other horticultural producers, their staff, Agronomists and Industry representatives who work with or are interested in learning about application technology. The course will be delivered over 2.5 days and includes hands-on practical and classroom-based theory for Airblast sprayers and horticultural weed sprayers.

Click here to register!

Kootenay Columbia Agri-Forum & Conference
2025-03-20 08:00 - 2025-03-21 15:00 | Creston & District Community Complex, 312 19 Ave N, Creston, BC, V0B 1G0, Canada
Join us for the first-ever agricultural forum and conference for Kootenay & Boundary farmers! The event will feature a keynote presentation by Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture.

Build knowledge: Gain strategies to withstand extreme weather in production of beef, soft fruit, and field vegetables.
Forge Connections: Network with fellow farmers, industry experts, and community leaders.
Drive change: Share your insights in panel discussions and help drive change in our region’s agricultural industry.

To view the agenda and register: click here!

BCFGA Town Hall - Kelowna
2025-03-20 09:30 - 11:30 | Ramada Hotel & Conference Centre, 2170 Harvey Ave, Kelowna, BC, Canada

BCFGA Town Hall - Vernon
2025-03-21 09:30 - 11:30 | Prestige Vernon Lodge & Conference Centre, 3941 32 St, Vernon, BC, Canada

Agriculture in Action: South Okanagan Bus Tour
2025-04-02 08:00 - 16:30
The Cross-Commodity Leadership Support Project and its partners (BCFGA, BCCA, BCGA, BCWGC, and OKSIR) will be hosting an engaging agriculture tour in the South Okanagan. Designed for elected officials and local and provincial government staff, this tour builds on the success of the 2024 Lake Country event, showcasing the real-world challenges and opportunities faced by local tree fruit and wine grape growers. Through site visits and open dialogue, participants will gain valuable insights into agriculture’s critical role and explore solutions for balanced, supportive policies.

This free, full-day event offers a valuable opportunity for elected officials, government staff, and growers to connect, share perspectives, and discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping agriculture in the South Okanagan. Tour stops will include Brar Star Orchards in Summerland and Township 7 Vineyards and Winery in Penticton. A final agenda will be distributed closer to the event.

Details:

Date & Time: April 2, 2025, from 8 am to 4:30 pm
Meeting Location: Penticton Trade & Convention Centre
Seats: Limited to 50 participants – RSVP early to secure your spot!
Registration: Registration has closed but a few seats are available! Email sausten@oksir.org for more info
Tour Resources: Click here!

In case you missed the Lake Country Agriculture in Action tour in November, you can click here to read the report.

For more details, please contact Shelby Austen at sausten@oksir.org.

CPMA Annual Convention & Trade Show
2025-04-08 00:00 - 2025-04-10 23:59 | Palais des Congres de Montreal, 201 Av. Viger O, Montreal, QC, H2Z 1L1, Canada
The 2025 Canadian Produce Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show will take place from April 8-10 at the Palais des congres de Montreal!

Click here for more info and to register!

UBCO Climate+Water Research Symposium
2025-04-09 09:00 - 12:00 | UBC Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
Join the Climate Solutions Research Collective for important conversations about the nexus of Climate+Water. All those interested in research, including faculty, students and community members, are welcome to participate in this in-person symposium.
Day One of this event (April 9, 9am – 12pm) will be hosted at UBCO in Kelowna, with the plenary presentation shared with the Vancouver campus. It is hosted in collaboration with the Watershed Ecosystem Research Excellence Cluster. Join us for an engaging morning of sessions.

Plenary Panel (broadcast to CIRS BC Hydro Theatre): lax̌lax̌tkʷ Jeannette Armstrong and John Wagner from the Watershed Ecosystem Research Excellence Cluster
Session One – Climate, Water, and Ecosystem Resilience
Session Two – Watershed Governance and Management in a Changing Climate

Day Two of this event (April 10, 9am – 12pm) will be hosted at the UBC Point Grey campus in Vancouver, with the plenary presentation shared with the Okanagan campus. It is hosted in collaboration with UBC Sustainability.

Plenary Panel (broadcast to RHS 257): Climate, Water, Power with Natasha Affolder (Law), Werner Antweiler (Sauder), and John Richardson (Forest and Conservation Science)
Exploring theatre-based approaches to work alongside community partners in water research, Presented by the Research-based Theatre Cluster and Sustainable Water Innovation and Research Laboratory (SWIRL)
Research Round Table Discussions

Register for Day One and Day Two.

Tree Fruit Production Guide Update Meeting
2025-04-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Get the latest updates to the spray guide and learn what is new in the production guide this year! 1 PAC Point in Category A will be available for attending this meeting.

What to Expect at the meeting:
Get the latest updates to the spray guide and updates from BCDAS and SIR. Presenters include:

Dr. Susanna Acheampong, Provincial Entomologist
Katie Goldenhar, Provincial Plant Pathologist
Garion Loehndorf, Provincial Herbicide and Weed Specialist
Molly Thurston, BCDAS Coordinator & Owner of Pearl Agricultural Consulting
Evan Esch, Entomologist, Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program (OKSIR)

Meeting ID: 846 3357 6822
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Meeting Link: Click here to join

Tetralone ABA: Protecting Plants from Environmental Stress
2025-04-09 13:30 - 14:30 | Microsoft Teams
The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) triggers stomatal closure and stress responses in plants. ABA is rapidly turned over in plants, limiting its effectiveness in long term applications such as protection of wine grape plants from midwinter freeze and spring frosts. This talk will focus on the development of tetralone ABA, an analog of ABA designed to be resistant to enzymes that degrade ABA in plants. A practical, scalable synthesis from natural ABA will be described as will recent results from collaborators’ lab and field studies.

Who: Dr. Sue Abrams, Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada in Saskatoon
Where: Virtually via MS Teams (click here)
When: April 9th from 1:30 – 2:30 PST

Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 266 927 489 643
Passcode: [REDACTED]
