AgriService BC

21/09/2026

The redeveloped Viticulture Certificate program at Okanagan College provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to manage a vineyard or seek employment in viticulture and starts January 2027. Course work includes in-class learning and work experience in a vineyard.

This program is also eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant. This grant is open to British Columbians aged 19 years or older – regardless of financial need – and covers up to $3,500 per person for eligible skills training at public post-secondary institutions.

Application for the grant, and the program, is open now. And very easy!
1. Confirm your eligibility at the program page: https://www.okanagancollege.ca/programs/viticulture-certificate

2. Apply for admission to the program through EducationPlannerBC: https://apply.educationplannerbc.ca/

3. Apply for the StrongerBC future skills grant online using your BC Services Card Account

4. Once you have received an offer of admissions to your program, sign in to your myOkanagan account and accept your offer For more information, go to: https://www.okanagancollege.ca/future-skills-grant

For more information about the program, contact Okanagan College at [email protected] or 250-762-5445.

18/09/2026

Join Organic BC and Ecocert at Lakeland Farms in Salmon Arm for a hands-on day exploring cover cropping, soil health, and drought resilience.

⏰ When: Friday, October 2 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Where: 6710 50 Ave SW, Salmon Arm, B.C.

Tour Lakeland Farms and learn more about their business model, the benefits and costs of using cover crops, the equipment and tools used to manage hundreds of acres, and how they integrate cattle grazing into their operation.

You’ll also hear from agrologist Tanya Brouwers on using cover crops to build soil organic matter, retain moisture, and strengthen farm resilience, and will have the opportunity to take part in simple, practical soil assessments you can use on your own farm.

This event is free and open to anyone interested, but registration is required. Learn more and save your spot at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cover-cropping-drought-resilience-soil-assessment-lakeland-farms-tickets-1998671910487

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Organic BC Ecocert Canada Lakeland Farms

Learn cover cropping strategies, drought resilience techniques and hands-on soil assessments at Lakeland Farms.

17/09/2026

Round ‘em up. Drop ‘em off!

Collection locations across Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley are occurring October 6 -16, 2026.

Future unwanted pesticides & livestock/animal medication collections:
- 2027: Okanagan, Interior, and Kootenay
- 2028: AB/BC Peace Region

Learn more about Cleanfarms projects in B.C.: https://cleanfarms.ca/programs-at-a-glance/bc-programs-events/

16/09/2026

Indigenous Agriculture Development Network (IADN) Webinar: Seed Stewardship Session by Tiffany Traverse - 4th Sister Farm

⏰When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 10:00 - 12:00 PM (PT)
📍Where: Online

Please join our webinar with Tiffany Traverse, owner/operator of 4th Sister Farm, as she shares with us her immense knowledge on Seed Saving.

Tiffany will provide an in-depth beginner to intermediate-level session on Seed Stewardship.

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83715993093?pwd=E2nyBR9dcr0RFBUAQQpRsjUTDr9mUa.1

Funding for the Indigenous Agriculture Development Network (IADN) is provided by the governments of Canada and BC through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Join us for the Indigenous Agricultural Development Network, hosted by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Starting June 23rd, 2026, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, we will share knowledge with agricultural experts on a wide variety of topics pertaining to Indigenous Agriculture and Food...

15/09/2026

Innovative Water Storage

Join us to learn how Fresh Valley Farms installed a water catchment pond, including common pitfalls, troubleshooting, and lessons learned.

⏰When: Wednesday, September 23, 2026,
at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (PT)
📍Where: 1346 Mountain View Road, Armstrong, B.C.

Register: [email protected]

14/09/2026

Join us for a field day to learn about how a diverse cover crop improved yields and reduced weeds when compared to a traditional nurse crop of forage oats.

⏰When: Wednesday, September 23, 2026,
at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PT)
📍Where: 1346 Mountain View Rd, Armstrong, B.C.

Register: [email protected]

14/09/2026

🌱 Applications for the Enhanced Replant Program are opening soon!

The first intake, Stream 3: Berry Replant, opens October 6, 2026

📅 Application Dates
Stream 3: Berry Replant | October 6, 2026
Stream 1: Tree Fruit Replant | October 13, 2026
Stream 4: Berry Removal/Replant | October 27, 2026
Stream 2: W**e Grape Replant | November 3, 2026

Each stream will also have a dedicated webinar to walk applicants through program details, eligibility requirements, and the application process.

For funding amounts, eligibility criteria, eligible activities, and upcoming webinar information, visit: https://bciaf.ca/enhanced-replant-program/

AgriService BC

10/09/2026

This video brings you part 2 of assessing w**e grapes for harvest- Use of micro-fermentations. Anthony Coop, Senior W**emaker with Arterra W**es Canada, and their team of viticulturists and w**emakers gained valuable experience in 2021 working with grapes potentially impacted by smoke when wildfires came right up to some of their vineyards.

Some upcoming events to note for more information:
- October 15, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 PM via zoom - Wildfire recovery: Understanding the AgriStability Program for W**ery Operations.

Co-hosted by the BC W**e Grape Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food - Join us virtually to learn about important details related to the AgriStability Program (now with extended deadline of Nov. 30th, 2026) for current and future smoke exposure impacts to your w**ery and vineyard operations.

Register Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_4wd60URR9GfUgrna71MsA

- Want to participate in project to better understand the impact of smoke on grapes in B.C.?
BC's grape and w**e sector is launching a new industry-led research initiative, a partnership between the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, BC W**e Grape Council, the UBC Okanagan W**e Research Centre, Barn to Bottle Consulting and Vintality, to better understand and forecast wildfire smoke exposure risk in vineyards this year and beyond.

The project is calling on growers across the Okanagan, Similkameen, Shuswap, and Thompson Valleys to contribute grape samples at harvest, which will receive free lab analysis for smoke taint precursors, standard ripeness parameters, and phenolics, along with micro fermentation trials linking grape chemistry to eventual w**e outcomes.

There is no cost to participate. Growers only need to provide a small sample (one ziploc, frozen) and, in return, they will receive their own results at no charge for personal benchmarking, while collectively helping build a localized, early-warning smoke-risk forecasting tool intended to reduce guesswork and support more confident vineyard and w**ery decisions during future wildfire events. All data will remain anonymous and used strictly for research purposes.

Click here for more info: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vAfTdle9usGMwZnPYQL-NgtDCsIhOl29/view?usp=sharing

Use the following link to watch recent video and access resources available for B.C. producers on Smoke Exposure: https://bcwgc.org/2026/08/20/resources-for-navigating-wildfire-impacts-to-your-farm-and-w**e-production-operation/

**e

10/09/2026

Join us for a field day to learn about the results of a two year on-farm research trial examining the impact of mulching on soil health.

⏰When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026,
at 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (PT)
📍Where: 6133 VLA Rd, Chase, B.C.

Register: [email protected]

09/09/2026

PacifiCan is now accepting applications for new supports for SMEs affected by tariffs under the expanded Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).

In addition to the existing support for capital investment or business pivot projects to support productivity, drive growth and diversify markets, companies can now access additional support for liquidity.

PacifiCan is hosting information sessions on the RTRI and its new measures.

⏰ When: September 14 and September 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (PT).
📍 Where: Online

Register at one of the links below:
September 14 session: 44057625-1171-478e-bcd8-1f0acc6da954@807958b8-f64c-4304-ab43-16ddee8ba0bd" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/44057625-1171-478e-bcd8-1f0acc6da954@807958b8-f64c-4304-ab43-16ddee8ba0bd

September 21 session: c43f7b39-bdae-4bec-90a3-a68b0d40ccc7@807958b8-f64c-4304-ab43-16ddee8ba0bd" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c43f7b39-bdae-4bec-90a3-a68b0d40ccc7@807958b8-f64c-4304-ab43-16ddee8ba0bd

To learn more visit https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development/services/funding/regional-tariff-response-initiative.html

For businesses wishing to speak to a program officer:
[email protected]

For business-serving organizations (not profits): [email protected]