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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • JULY 2018 Farmers still waiting on new ag waste regulation The province has yet to


release its new agricultural waste control regulation, despite plans to release them by the end May. “The proposed changes to the Agricultural Waste Control


press. The province did not give a


reason for the delay. Review of the regulation,


Ag Briefs EDITED BY PETER MITHAM


Regulation are anticipated for summer 2018,” BC Ministry of Environment told Country Life in BC last month, updating a similar statement two months earlier.


A summary report of


feedback to an intentions paper released as part of a consultation process earlier this year was expected in late June, but it was not yet available as this issue went to


originally adopted in 1992, began in October 2009. An intentions paper released earlier this year attracted approximately 75 responses. Additional consultation with industry and First Nations is planned prior to release of the


final regulation. —Peter Mitham


Drought watch Dry conditions prevailed


across much of BC in mid- June as a record-breaking heat wave kicked in across the province. Drought levels published


by the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development indicated that just eight of the province’s 29 water basins were


experiencing normal moisture conditions. These included not only Haida Gwaii and western Vancouver Island, but North and South Thompson, Okanagan and Kettle as well as the Nechako and Upper Fraser West basins. The federal Canadian


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Drought Monitor identified “moderate drought” in the Peace region south of Fort St. John and the Cariboo north from Quesnel. Lillooet and the Cowichan Valley inland across


southern Vancouver Island were at a similar drought level. Environment Canada is


forecasting a hot, dry summer for southwestern BC, however, meaning drought conditions will likely spread through July and August.


—Peter Mitham


Good to meet ewe


BC Sheep Federation


directors met with BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham, deputy minister Wes Shoemaker and assistant deputy minister James Mack in June to discuss various issues of concern to producers. Topics covered included


the growth potential of the province’s sheep industry, encouraging young people to enter the sector, the lack of slaughter capacity in the province, and conflicts between wild and domestic sheep.


The slaughter bottleneck


was a key issue, as it results in long wait times for growers, who often face lengthy travel times and long distances to abattoirs. This has negative consequences for animal welfare, product quality and the growth of the sheep industry. Regarding wild sheep,


federation directors expressed concern at proposals from wildlife advocates for a permitting system for


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that more research is needed into the conflicts between wild and domestic sheep. Options like improvements to wild sheep habitat, a double- fencing program to keep wild and domestic sheep separate and education on biosecurity and health assurance programs deserve greater attention. Together, they could promote the health of both domestic and wild sheep. Directors left the meeting with the minister and her staff feeling positive and encouraged.


—Barbara Johnstone Grimmer


Staff change at FF/CF Anita Georgy has joined


FarmFolk/CityFolk as executive director following three years with the Richmond Food Security Society. Georgy describes her passion as connecting people with food, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the 25-year-old advocacy organization. “I’m really excited about


working in the industry,” says Georgy, who grew up on a Southern Ontario vegetable farm. “I understand the challenges faced in that sector. I understand how much work it is to create good food.” Georgy has worked with


non-profit environmental and food organizations for 10 years. She looks forward to steering FarmFolk/CityFolk in new directions. “The big thing for the


organization is to really engage deeply with our collaborators and partners on determining the direction of the organization,” she says.


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“Food system work is big and messy. I want to get a feel for the needs of the community.” She aims for a collaborative


approach, an approach that worked as she reinvigorated the Richmond Food Security Society, which was near closure when she joined it. “Doing it here will be


bigger, but I’m excited about that,” she said. Georgy succeeds Nicholas Scapillati, who served as executive director for eight years before joining the Grizzly Bear Foundation in March 2018. Ian Lai replaces Georgy as


executive director of the Richmond Food Security Society.


—Ronda Payne


Market trail BC Association of Farmers’


Markets has secured funding from the Columbia Basin Trust to develop a BC Farmers’ Market Trail that will “promote and bundle the rich farmers’ market experience” at 22 markets across the Kootenay Rockies tourism region. The project will celebrate local farmers and farms, food, beverages and value-added products, and include a listing of BCAFM member markets across the province. A competitive bid process that closed April 16 selected who to oversee the project, which has a budget of $71,920. The single largest line item, at $15,000, is for social media. Work began at the end of April.


Successful completion of


the project in Kootenay Rockies will lay a foundation for the trail’s extension to nine other regions across the province. BCAFM executive director Heather O’Hara announced during the association’s annual conference in March that a partner had stepped up to fund the project. However, she declined to provide additional details at the time. —Peter Mitham


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