Ag For News is on the Move

AgForInsight.com is pleased to announce it will be hosting the Ag For News web service starting in 2010.

For agroforestry, farm forestry, and non-timber resource news, views and events listings please update your to bookmarks and RSS feeds to http:\\news.agforinsight.com starting January 2010.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year.

Reminder - Pacific Agriculture Show

12th Annual Pacific Agriculture Show
January 28 - 30, 2010
Tradex Exhibition Centre (Abbotsford Airport),
Abbotsford, BC

This year the dates have been moved forward because of the 2010 Winter Olympics, we will see you again next year in mid-February. The Pacific Agriculture Show will showcase the latest and most innovative equipment and technology for the agriculture industry. Join thousands of farmers and agri-food producers in comparing and investigating what over 200 dealers and manufacturers have to make your operation more efficient.

Early-bird registration discounts for the Horticulture Growers Short Course, which runs during the three day Ag Show, end January 11, 2010.

For more information visit the Pacific Ag Show website.

Year-over-year Christmas tree sales trending up

Sales of natural Christmas trees are reported to be strong again for 2009, continuing the upward trend from 2008. According to Statistic Canada the value of farm cash receipts for Christmas trees in Canada in 2008 was $65.0 million, up from $58.6 million in 2007.

The value of artificial Christmas trees imported to Canada in 2008 was $46.9 million. Of that amount, nearly $44.8 million came from China. Those numbers are expected to remain steady or to decline slightly, as more Canadian consumers return to the higher quality, environmentally friendly option of natural trees.

Exports of Canadian trees to the US are also expected to show modest gains on the 1.8 million units, worth an approximate $32 million posted in 2008. Exports to all other countries accounted for another $2.2 million, with the strongest demand coming from central and South America and the Caribbean islands.

New Food Safety Website

The CanadaGAP Program has launched an updated website at www.canadagap.ca

CanadaGAP is the Canadian Horticultural Council's On-Farm Food Safety Program. The program consists of national food safety standards and a certification system for the safe production, storage and packing of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Oregon Truffle Festival

January 29 - 31, 2010
Valley River Inn, 1000 Valley River Way,
Eugene, Oregon

The Oregon Truffle Festival celebrates the Oregon truffles as they reach the peak of ripeness in their native soil. It is the first festival of its kind in North America, dedicated to sharing the experience of the chefs, foragers and fans of truffles, from their hidden source in the forest to their glory on the table.

For more information:
Phone: 503-296-5929
E-mail: info@oregontrufflefestival.com

or visit www.oregontrufflefestival.com/index.html

Innovation Summit 2010

A networking event for the Agriculture, Food and Ag-bioproducts sectors
January 7-8, 2010 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

In support of furthering the commercialization of new technologies in the agriculture, food and ag-bioproducts sectors, join BC business leaders, researchers, start-up companies, innovators and entrepreneurs in this hybrid networking event, connecting science to business.

Innovation Summit 2010 HIGHLIGHTS:

AWARDS EVENING
Four emerging BC companies will be recognized and awarded prizes totalling up to $600,000.

There will be 4 winners chosen for the Proof of Concept Stage of the Commercialization of Agricultural Technology (CAT) Competition:

* 1st place: $250,000* maximum
* 2nd place: $150,000* maximum
* 3rd place: $100,000* maximum (2 available)

EXPERT PANELS
Learn the techniques and strategies from industry experts and entrepreneurial case studies that directly impact a start-up's success.

Panel Topics:
* Business Essentials - Gain fundamental knowledge on how to plan for a successful business.
* Get Fundable - Access to capital and strategies for raising investment.
* Success Stories - Case studies from established entrepreneurs in the agriculture, food and ag-bioproducts sectors.

PITCH SESSIONS
Companies will have the opportunity to develop business partnerships by making a pitch for the resources they require to commercialize their product or service. See a list of current pitch companies here.

EXHIBIT BOOTHS
Discover organizations that provide services to help develop your business

For more information visit www.bcic.ca/industry/life-sciences/agri-food/summit-2010

Wood Pellet Industry Expanding

"Expansion of wood pellet capacity drives sawdust and wood chip prices up"

"There has been a rapid expansion in wood pellet capacity in North America the past five years, from just over one million tons in 2004 to over six million tons in 2009 ... British Columbia was the first region to take advantage of inexpensive sawmill residues and to produce wood pellets for the fast growing European market."

As reported by the North American Wood Fiber Review sawdust prices in the Pacific Northwest reached a peak of US$74/odmt in late 2008 and have since fallen, averaging US$64/odmt in the 3Q/09.

Read the full story at The Working Forest Newspaper.

New tool to help with nut harvest

"The wonderfulness of sweet chestnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and (fingers crossed for climate change) pecans is somewhat compromised by the obstacle course you need to navigate to get them to the kitchen. Even if the outer husk of a sweet chestnut is split, there's still that bend every step to harvest them. It's tiring, even for a fitness fanatic..."

"Enter, the nutpickerupperer, which is available from the Agroforestry Research Trust..."

Read the full story at the Gardening Blog.

Ranching Task Force Calls for Agroforestry Tenure in BC

The Ranching Task Force was announced in May 2009 to identify key issues and opportunities facing the ranching industry in British Columbia, and to make recommendations to ensure a strong, vibrant and sustainable industry in British Columbia for this and future generations.

The Task Force's recommendations include a call for agroforestry tenures and changes to the provincial timber pricing to enable agroforestry and silvopasture projects:

"Amend legislation and policy to enable silvopasture development and other Agro-forestry initiatives on Crown land tenures, in an effort to manage land for both forestry and forage values simultaneously."

"Provide alternate timber pricing for range improvements including: fencing, fence protection, ecosystem restoration, pasture development, agro-forestry and silvopasture projects."

Read the full report at the Ranching Task Force website.

Copenhagen: Disagreement over what constitutes a forest

"Disagreement over what constitutes a forest could undermine an agreement to protect forests, which is expected to be one of the bright spots at the UN climate change meeting in Copenhagen..."

"For people who are not working at the ground level, it may seem easy to say what is and what is not a forest," says Dennis Garrity, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre ... "But there is really no single definition of forests that can apply to the continuum of landscapes with trees. More important will be to capture all the land use practices that are major contributors to global warming or could play a significant role in carbon reduction."

Read the full story at the Science Blog.

Cedar Symposium May 24-28 2010, Victoria

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: A TALE OF TWO CEDARS: WESTERN REDCEDAR AND YELLOW-CEDAR

24-28, May 2010

University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

Symposium Background

This symposium will explore our current knowledge and management experience with western redcedar and yellow-cedar: two culturally, commercially, and ecologically important tree species in Alaska, British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest.

Symposium Themes

* Cultural use and traditional knowledge

* Ecology and habitat preferences

* Physiology and adaptation to wet soils and stress

* Forest health issues

* Genetics, tree improvement and regeneration

* Management in pure and mixed-species stands

* Management strategies in a changing climate

* Wood properties and markets


http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/olympia/silv/CedarSymposium.shtml
web version

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/olympia/silv/CedarSymposium.pdf
pdf version

Prince George Agroforestry Workshop Video

News coverage from the Resources North workshop: "Agroforestry: Diversification Options for Communities Impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle" held this past Thursay and Friday (December 3 and 4) in Prince George at the University of Northern BC is available on the CKPG News website.

Soil Health Seminar - Kelowna - Dec 19

"Soil biology to improve plant health"
Saturday December 19, 2009
Okanagan Mission Hall, Kelowna
4409 Lakeshore Road
8:30 to 4:00
Cost $30 per person (includes lunch & coffee / tea)

Proper manipulation of organic matter can make plants healthier. How do we do it? Come and find out. We will discuss ideas and recipes you can implement immediately.

This intensive 1-day seminar will be of interest to organic growers, landscapers
and persons working in horticulture. Topics covered will include Preparation and testing of compost, composts suppressive of plant diseases, and use of commercial microbial inoculants and mycorrhizal fungi.

With such a strong positive response to the first session held in Armstrong,
the North Okanagan Organic Association (NOOA) is offering a second session in Kelowna.

Anyone wishing to attend must preregister with Cara Nunn of NOOA at 250-540-2557 or northorganics@gmail.com. Payment will be taken at the door and can be cash or check to NOOA. Please call early as the first session filled up quickly.

Huckleberry Cultivar Program in Jeopardy

The University of Idaho is considering cuts to it's Sandpoint Research Center, home to the huckleberry cultivar breeding program headed by Dr. Dan Barney.

"The University of Idaho, with this move, is going to give up the state of Idaho's leadership in the development of the huckleberry resource. Blueberries, in the early 1900s, are about where huckleberries are right now. And because of the technology that we are familiar with now for growing things and marketing things, it won't take that long to make huckleberries the next blueberry."

See the full story at the KUOW News website.

Fancy Food Show 2010 - California

Fancy Food Show 2010
January 17-20, 2010
San Franciso, CA


Since 1955, North America's largest specialty food and beverage marketplace

* 16,000 - 24,000 attendees
* 250,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural, organic and more
* 1,300 - 2,500 exhibitors
* 81 countries represented

For more information visit the trade show website:
www.specialtyfood.com/do/fancyFoodShow/LocationsAndDates