We are excited to announce the 2023 Islands Agriculture Show will be held February 3rd & 4th, 2023 at Cowichan Exhibition in Duncan, BC. 

The IAS team is working on another great lineup of conference sessions that reflect this year's theme: "Growing Stability in Uncertain Times".

Thank you for your continued support of the Islands Agriculture Show and its promotion of agriculture on Vancouver Island and we‘ll see you there!

Farm Management Canada and MNP have joined forces to offer two Farm Financial Fluency training programs for Canadian producers.

The programs consist of three 2-hour sessions spaced out to allow time for reflection and homework, covering:
- Why financial reporting is important and to whom 
- Key differences between types of financial reporting and who uses what
- Different farm business structures and their impact on financial reporting
- How to interpret your financial statements (balance sheet, income statement)
- Financial ratios and how to use them to analyze risk
- How to spot potential financial issues and opportunities
- Tools and resources available to manage financial risk

General Training
When: February 13, 15 +17 from 10 am-12 p.m. PST
Where: Online
Cost:  $250 + HST

Dairy Training
When: February 27, March 1 + 3 from 10 am-12 p.m. PST
Where: Online
Cost: $250 + HST

For more information, please visit: https://fmc-gac.com/fff/

From the Ground Up Conference features a full day of interactive panel discussions that focus on how to successfully expand a growing B.C. food and beverage business (for Primary Producers and Processors).

From the Ground Up Trade Show is the only 100% B.C. trade show connecting our local brands to multiple market channels (for those who have food, beverage and other primary processed branded products). 

This industry-only 100% B.C. local trade show connects new and innovative B.C. food and beverage brands to buyers, distributors, brokers, chefs, media, and other food industry supporters to showcase and support the incredible processors, producers, and food landscape right here in B.C. The first 30 exhibitor registrants will have one of their products reviewed by a panel of five industry experts.

As a trade show participant, you receive one or two complimentary tickets to the From The Ground Up Conference that takes place the day prior to the trade show.

Conference Details
Date: May 17, 2023 
Location: Vancouver PNE Forum
Link: https://goodtogrowproducts.com/events-2/conference/

Tradeshow Details
Date: May 18, 2023 
Location: Vancouver PNE Forum
Link: https://goodtogrowproducts.com/tradeshow-23/

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has now released the Sector Snapshots for 2021 online. 

Sector Snapshots provide highlights of provincial economic data for the sector, separated into four documents:
• Agriculture
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Seafood
• Agriculture, Seafood and Food Processing

Sector Snapshots are developed based on data collected from various sources, including ministry annual seafood surveys. These surveys produce data unique to B.C. that is important for a wide range of stakeholders.

You will also find detailed statistics for 2021 on crops, livestock, seafood, farm finance, labour, exports, manufacturing, and other topics on the same page, in a format you can download. 

For more information, please email: AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has contracted G S Gislason & Associates Ltd (GSG) to undertake a provincial seafood processing capacity assessment. The study aims to assess the current state, competitiveness, and needs of seafood processing in B.C. The goal is to better understand the opportunities and barriers to enhancing seafood processing capacity, in order to develop an action plan for industry and government collaboration to increase processing capacity and innovation for B.C. caught and grown seafood. GSG has been interviewing key seafood industry members for input into the study.

If you wish to provide input to the study, please contact Gordon Gislason at gsg@gsg.bc.ca, (604) 685-7936.

The project ends on March 24, 2023. 

The Light Reflecting Material Program (LRM) provides 50% cost-shared funding, for producers to purchase light reflecting materials (LRMs). Materials must be purchased from approved sellers for installation and use in the 2023 growing season. Research and practical demonstrations show that light reflecting materials improve colouring and enhance product quality when apples are harvested at the proper ripeness (e.g. not overripe due to delays in harvest to attain higher colour saturation).

This program is delivered under the new Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization Plan (TFISP), with support from the Steering Committee and administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).

Applications accepted until March 15, 2023 at 4:30pm PST. Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first serve basis until funding is fully allocated.

For more details, including eligibility information, and how to apply, visit: www.iafbc.ca/tree-fruit

 Want to see webinars that could support your business?
Visit our AgriService B.C. Past Webinars library to view recorded webinars.