Throughout the year, the BCHGA holds or co-presents several events, such as info sessions, field days and short courses, to further our advocacy efforts for the BC hazelnut industry. We invite anyone interested in learning more or keeping up to date, to join us at these events. Below are event dates to keep in mind:
Upcoming Events
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Pearl Agricultural Consulting, Inc. invite you to join experts for a free 2.5 day training course on sprayer calibration. Horticultural advisors, extension specialists, farm managers and industry professionals are invited to attend and re-familiarize themselves with various spraying equipment, calibration techniques, and learn methods for training farm staff or farm clients.
This training session is organized by Pearl Agricultural Consulting Inc. and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Funding for this training session has generously been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. There will be 14 pesticide applicator credits available for those attending the 2.5 day workshop.
There will be both indoor classroom and outdoor field components—rain or shine—please dress appropriately.
Meals will not be provided. Bring snacks and lunch for each day.
Space is limited- secure your spot by registering early!
2024/25 WEBINAR SERIES AND FIELD DAY – ‘OPTIMIZING IRRIGATION
Events: Optimize irrigation to grow climate-resilient hazelnut trees
Hosts: Dr. Thorsten Knipfer (Plant-water relations laboratory, UBC-LFS), Zachary Fleming (Pacific Coast Agriculture), Karina Sakalauskas (BC Ministry of Agriculture)
Date: Saturday March 22, 2025 9AM – 12PM
Locations: Webinars (online) / Field day (in-person, Van Maren Farms)
RSVP: March 18 , 2025
Background: Climate change is causing unprecedent challenges for agricultural production and hazelnut irrigation requirements. Effective irrigation scheduling provides for water savings without affecting yield, control of vegetative growth that reduces pruning, and regulate disease pressure. Since soil moisture sensors provide no direct information on the water status of the tree, there is an urgent need to establish plant-based strategies to schedule irrigation and grow climate-resilient hazelnut trees.
Objective: This event series provides conceptual and applied knowledge that will help you to improve your irrigation scheduling and establish best management practices.
Benefits: By the end of this series, you have learned about concepts that inform irrigation management and acquired knowledge about decision-making tools to determine when and how much to irrigate.
Activities: The webinar and field day is targeted towards engagement of BC producers and knowledge transfer.
FIELD DAY – Irrigation – How to monitor your orchard
Share knowledge and obtain hands-on experience on irrigation strategies during field demonstrations.
March 22, 2025 – Van Maren Farms, 10160 Grigg Road, Chilliwack
9:00am – 9:15am Welcome and Agenda (Thorsten Knipfer, Karina Sakalauskas, Zach Fleming)
9:15am – 9:30am Round table: How do you irrigate? (Zach Fleming)
9:30am-10:00am Is your tree under soil water stress? Demonstration of SWP & pressure chambers (Bag Leaves) (Steven Bristow, Thorsten Knipfer)
10:00am – 10:30am Field monitoring of soil and atmospheric conditions: Visit of Hortau station, PeakWeather station, and ET station (Cornel Van Maren, Thorsten Knipfer)
10:30 am -11:00am Working groups: Measure SWP (Leaves now at Equilibrium) and how to use it for irrigation scheduling (Steven Bristow, Thorsten Knipfer)
11:00am – 11:15am Next Steps & Funding Programs (Zach Fleming, Karina Sakalauskas)
11:15am – 12:00 Closing discussion (Thorsten Knipfer)
Annual General Meeting: Abbotsford, BC
You’re invited to attend the 2024 Annual General Meeting.
Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
Time: : 4:30 – 6:00PM
Location: Pacific Agriculture Show, Tradex Exhibition Centre, Abbotsford, BC
This year’s AGM will be held immediately after the Hazelnut Sessions at the Lower Mainland Horticultural Conference (LMHC) which are held in conjunction with the Pacific Agriculture Show (PAS). Attendance of the LMHC is NOTrequired to attend the AGM; however, admission to the Pacific Agriculture Show IS required. Members, please contact exec.director@bchga.ca for complementary digital tickets to the PAS.
This years’ meeting will be held in a hybrid format with both an in-person and an online option for attending.
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE
For in-person attendees, please make sure to arrive early in order for us to start the meeting promptly at 4:30pm. Doors open at 4:15PM.
Location: Abbotsford Tradex, Blue Room
Address: 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC
ONLINE ATTENDANCE
For online attendees, we will be meeting via Zoom.
Email exec.director@bchga.ca to Pre-Register by January 23, 2025.
Meeting ID: 932 0092 4039
Passcode: 340399
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Hazelnut Pruning Workshop: Chilliwack, BC
Date: February 15, 2024
Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Location: Lickman Nuts, 6867 Lickman Road, Chilliwack, BC
Join Lickman Nuts and Van Maren Farms for a Hazelnut Pruning Workshop on February 15, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Hosted in Lickman Nuts hazelnut orchard, planted in 2021, this workshop will feature expert advice and live demonstrations from local pruning specialist Cornel Van Maren.
Learn about best management practices, establishing a strong canopy, maximizing tree growth, and setting long-term pruning goals. This event offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow growers, gain valuable insights, and enjoy a morning in the orchard. Plus, warm up with hot coffee and a donut while you learn!
The event is open to all new and existing hazelnut growers, and welcomes those who are interested in starting their own hazelnut orchard.
Watch this space for more events coming this year.