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Future of Food Webinar Series: Building Resilient Food Systems During COVID-19 and Beyond
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian Market and the Importing Process in Canada
BC ACARN: Adaptation Strategies for Soil for Dairy Producers
Tensions at the Boundary: What Defines ‘Organic’ Plant Breeding?
Genomic technologies are developing rapidly and continue to impact the food and agriculture industry. The organic sectors in both Canada and the United States (US) have long been considered strongholds of resistance to the genetic modification of organisms. The goal of this study was to examine the…
AgPal Program and Service Finder
Fraser Valley Cole Crop IPM Newsletter (early May)
Growing Organic Small Grains in South Coastal BC: Comparing Heirloom and Commercial Cultivars
Nearly 65 per cent of Canada’s 3,500 organic farms grow cereal crops, including mainly wheat and barley as well as legumes and oilseed crops. The demand for organic small grains is increasing, but one of the challenges in meeting this demand is attributed to the lower yields in organically managed…
Vancouver Island Winter Vegetable Variety Trial 2023: Chicory
Vancouver Island Winter Vegetable Variety Trial 2023: Spinach
Fighting grapevine root diseases with brassica cover crops
This study explored the potential of four brassica cover crops to control soil borne pathogens in a no-till, vineyard setting.Vineyards can suffer significant economic loss due to crop destruction from soil-borne root diseases. This includes fungal trunk diseases found commonly in the Okanagan such…
Don’t forget sunscreen: Protecting tree fruits during extreme heat events
As part of developing a “climate resilience toolbox” for Canadian tree fruit, this study evaluated the effect of a locally produced, calcium carbonate-based foliar protectant on apple sunburn and water stress.Canadian tree fruit producers need tools to help improve the resiliency of their crops to…
Preventing and detecting sunburn on ‘Ambrosia’ apples
To help producers adapt to the changing climate, this study examined the impact of rootstock size on sunburn browning and assessed the differences in fruit quality between healthy (marketable) 'Ambrosia' apples and those affected by sunburn browning. The results of this study will help with…
Large-dwarfing rootstocks can protect apples from sunburn
This study investigated if rootstock size selection can contribute to extreme heat resilience in ‘Buckeye Gala’ apple trees, measured through fruit sunburn damage.This research is a step towards developing a comprehensive apple rootstock evaluation that will help tree fruit growers adapt to climate…
Reducing post-harvest irrigation in sweet cherry production
This study investigated whether reducing post-harvest irrigation in 'Sweetheart' cherry orchards would negatively affect fruit quality, yield, the timing of flower bud development, or flower bud cold hardiness. The Okanagan Valley is one of the main production areas for sweet cherry in Canada…
Improving highbush blueberry nitrogen management with nitrification inhibitors
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of nitrification inhibitors, applied with two nitrogen fertilizer rates (60 vs. 120 kg N/ha) and two fertigation systems (suspended vs. buried), on blueberry yield and soil nitrate and ammonium levels.In British Columbia (BC), ammonium sulfate…
Moo-ve over: Reducing negative effects of livestock grazing near streams in cutblocks
This study looked at the use of logging debris as a deterrent for cattle grazing near waterways in order to reduce negative effects on plant biodiversity.Riparian zones are important ecosystems that provide multiple benefits including moderating stream temperatures, providing shade for fish and the…