AgriStability

British Columbia's fruit growers co-operative that served farmers for almost a century has filed for creditor protection, citing more than $58 million in liabilities and a disastrous crop failure this year that it called "the final tipping point."

One of the first indicators of how bountiful a fruit harvest will be in British Columbia comes months before any peaches, apricots or nectarines start fattening on trees.

The federal government has a new agreement with the provinces that gives upgrades to a program that protects farmers against large declines in income.