BC agri-food projects to get funding

May 19, 2015

About $1.5 million to be spread over 17 projects

British Columbia’s provincial government and the federal government are working together to provide funding to 17 agri-food projects across the province aimed at supplying BC with new innovations.

A total of about $1.5 million will be divided up to help 17 projects get off the ground and help with technologies, practices and other aspects of the agri-food sector.

"Through the support we provide under Growing Forward 2, the Government is helping to ensure that Canada’s agricultural industry continues to thrive and compete in the global marketplace,” said Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “These diverse projects will undoubtedly play a significant role in ensuring that innovation continues to bring immense benefits to the industry.”

Project funding

Some of the projects receiving funding include:

$30,000 to the BC Broiler Hatching Egg Commission to be used to for launching a hatch monitoring program. It will provide detailed egg and hatch information instantly and improve the supply and quality of eggs.

$140,160 for Cawston Cold Storage to test the use of earwigs as a control of insects that threaten apple orchards including the rosy apple aphid, budmoth and apple clearwig moth.

$42,315 to Net Zero Waste Abbotsford Inc. to use in a project that will capture waste heat from compost and use it to heat greenhouses.

"By supporting innovation, we are assisting the B.C. agriculture sector in maintaining their competitive edge,” said BC Minister of Agriculture Norm Letnick. “This funding directly supports projects that can result in sector-wide benefits, so together we can continue to grow our industry.”

Tell us your thoughts about the governments coming together to help support BC’s agri-food sector. Which one of these projects are you most interested in?

Video: Spring weed control in winter wheat with Broadway® Star (pyroxsulam + florasulam)

#CortevaTalks brings you a short update with Cereal Herbicides Category Manager, Alister McRobbie, on how to get the most out of Broadway® Star.

Significant populations of grassweeds, including ryegrass and brome, can threaten winter wheat yields. Spring applications of a contact graminicide, such as Broadway Star from Corteva Agriscience, can clear problem weeds, allowing crops to grow away in the spring.

Broadway Star (pyroxsulam + florasulam) controls ryegrass, sterile brome, wild oats and a range of broad-leaved weeds such as cleavers. It can be applied to winter wheat up until GS32, but the earlier the application is made, the smaller the weed, and the greater the benefit to the crop. Weeds should be actively growing. A good rule of thumb is that if your grass needs cutting, conditions are right to apply Broadway Star.