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July 11, 2023 Newsletter

This is the 70th issue of our electronic news update.

PPAC and SMAC Chair Announcement

Effective July 1, 2023 the British Columbia Chicken Marketing Board appointed a new Chair of the Pricing and Production Advisory Committee (PPAC) and the Specialty Markets Advisory Committee (SMAC). We thank Jim Byrne for his service chairing the PPAC and SMAC committee since 2018.

We welcome Jason Born as the new Chair of the PPAC and SMAC. We look forward to Jason’s leadership in creating a functional and effective PPAC and SMAC, providing recommendations to the BC Chicken Marketing Board on items related to pricing and production, and the specialty industry. Jason was the former Chair of the Alberta Chicken Producers and has a thorough understanding of supply management, the chicken industry, and a solid background in governance.

BCCMB staff will begin working with Jason, and we expect to have meetings of the PPAC and SMAC in the coming months.

Chicken Farmers of Canada thank the Members of Parliament who supported Bill C-282, safeguarding the sustainability of Canadian dairy, poultry, and egg production by preventing further market access concessions in future trade agreements.

We now call on all Senators to show their support for Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers and the millions of Canadians who value fresh, local, made-in-Canada food items by ensuring Bill C-282’s passage in the Senate and into law. .

Read more here.

The BC Poultry Association (BCPA) is pleased to announce that Clayton Botkin will be the new Executive Director of the BCPA’s emergency operations centre (EOC) as of August 1, 2023.

Clayton is a former Poultry Specialist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and has also worked for the BC Investment Agriculture Foundation and the Innovation Programs Directorate of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In addition to his poultry expertise, he has taken courses in the incident command system, emergency operations and risk management.

Please join us in welcoming Clayton as the new executive director for the BCPA’s emergency operations centre.

Funding for this initiative is provided by the Farmed Animal Disease Program (FAD) funded by the Government of BC through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (AF) and delivered by IAF. FAD provides funding to the BC livestock and poultry industry to invest in planning, preparedness, prevention, and mitigation for federal or provincial regulated diseases or significant emerging farmed animal diseases.

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We know it can be challenging to acknowledge and reach out for mental health support. Now you have anonymous peer-to-peer support on the AgTalk platform. Its a safe space for you to share experiences, see guidance and receive support.

Learn More Here.

Funding Opportunities

The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food's $20 million Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program will help the agricultural sector improve water management and water supply for crops and livestock water, enhancing water security and food security. Applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funding is fully committed. The first review date for applications will be July 31, 2023 at 4:30pm.

Eligible projects include dam rehabilitation, water storage, water supply systems, and water supply assessments and plans.

For more information on this program, please click here.

Extreme Weather Preparedness Funding applications will be open until all funds are allocated. BC farmers can apply for a maximum of $35,000 (cost shared) to help prepare for wildfire, flood and extreme heat.