MAY 2018 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Change is coming, fast and furious


Ag council says ag waste, labour key issues by DAVID SCHMIDT


ABBOTSFORD – In the days when almost everything is becoming automated, “we are still unable to automate government relations,” BC Agriculture Council chair Stan Vander Waal told BCAC members during the combined BCAC/ARDCorp annual meeting in Abbotsford, April 16. That’s why, he said, BCAC’s


role as a pan-agricultural lobbyist is so critical. That lobbying was most evident during last fall’s Ag Day in Victoria. “Ag Day saw a record level


of participation from both agricultural representatives and government,” Vander Waal reported, noting even Premier John Horgan attended and spoke at the Ag Day Proclamation ceremony. Vander Waal stressed the


importance of engaging with politicians of all stripes, pointing to new BC Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham as an example. “If we had not cultivated


our relationship with Lana when she was the agriculture critic, we wouldn’t have the good relationship we have now.” Saying change is “real, fast and furious,” he stressed that agriculture that does not adapt to those changes will die. He identified government regulation, access to labour, uncontrollable climate and growing public curiosity about agriculture as major issues facing the sector. He noted the average consumer is now three generations removed from the farm and “willing to disregard the facts.” While he admitted this is “bad news” for farmers, he said farmers need to “treat this as an opportunity” to restore consumer trust by presenting the real facts of agriculture. The council is also planning


to hire another full-time person to take charge of the labour file as access to both full-time and seasonal skilled and semi-skilled labour has become a major issue. Another issue staring


agriculture in the face is the new Agricultural Waste Control Regulation. The BC Ministry of Environment released its third intentions paper last November and intends to pass the AWCR this session (scheduled to end at the end of May). “Our objective with the


new regulations is to better protect the environment in ways that enable farmers to continue growing and raising healthy, safe and affordable food,” the council stated. Whether that is also the


government’s objective is still to be determined. Although BC environment minister George Heyman has promised BCAC an “embargoed” copy of the regulation before it is introduced, BCAC executive director Reg Ens noted they had not yet received it. The council presented a


strong year-end financial statement, showing cash reserves of more than $1.3 million and an operating surplus of almost $200,000. BCAC controller Jackie Mays noted membership revenues were up due to last year’s addition of the BC Salmon Farmers Association and the Mushroom Growers Society of BC as new members, while program revenues benefitted from stronger than expected sales of the farmer ID card. At the same time, expenditures on the public trust initiative were less than expected. Given the council’s healthy financial position, several members grumbled about the special levy they have been


Yvonne Ehrenholz displayed the BC Landscape and Nursery Association’s initiative to encourage bee habitat at a showcase of Investment Agriculture Foundation projects in Abbotsford last month. RONDA PAYNE PHOTO


paying to fund the public trust initiative, suggesting council suspend the levy and draw down its reserves instead. However, that muttering fell on deaf ears, with Vander Waal only promising expenditures on the public trust initiative would increase this year.


Program delivery


BCAC’s program delivery agent, ARDCorp, held its annual meeting following the BCAC annual meeting. ARDCorp serves BC farmers and ranchers by delivering


programs, funding and expertise to enhance the competitiveness, innovation and viability of BC agriculture. ARDCorp’s three main


programs in 2017 were the Environmental Farm Plan and Beneficial Management Practices program, the BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI) and the Agri-Risk Initiative Program. ARDorp chair Allen James noted the EFP/BMP program was particularly successful. In 2017, BCAC trained and contracted seven new EFP


advisors and completed 246 new Environmental Farm Plans. Another 145 plans were renewed and 76 more were implemented. “We reached 120% of our


four-year target for new plans and 125% of our four-year target for renewed plans,” James reported, saying more than 5,000 plans have been completed since the EFP program began. The BMP program was even


more successful, with all available funding snapped up within 12 hours.


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