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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • APRIL 2019
Climate-smart growing Wet winters, dry summers force changes
by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER
SAANICH – Farmer2Farmer was almost cancelled this year, but the annual get- together for farmers returned to Saanich Fairgrounds on February 28 by popular demand and a pressing need to address climate change: what is happening now, what to expect, and how to adapt and become more resilient. A wet spring
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followed by a hot and dry summer created problems for many growers on southern Vancouver Island last year. New pests, new weeds. “Growing in a
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Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI) regional adaptation program project manager Foster Richardson gave an overview of local climate projections and impacts on agriculture. Producers are already experiencing wetter winters and drier growing seasons, and they can expect this to continue with more variability. This will increase the need for more water storage and improved irrigation efficiency. The increase in dry, hot conditions will also
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increase the risk of wildfire. Greater precipitation from fall through spring could disrupt harvest and planting. Drainage may become more of an issue. Richardson announced a Vancouver Island
regional adaptation strategy that will begin this summer. He also shared resources and tools available through CAI and the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium. Liese Coulter, a Mitacs science policy fellow
from Australia working with the BC Ministry of Agriculture’s Strengthening Farming initiative, discussed the different ways to approach adaptation. She covered how to be less vulnerable, how to minimize disruptions and determine the triggers for transition. She recommended tools to determine different scenarios so that adaptation can be planned for immediate and future situations. A farmer roundtable discussion revealed a range of impacts, ranging from water management issues, winds, smoke, increases in pests and weeds, and more extreme weather events. Livestock feed shortages were a common issue. Conversations were also positive and encouraging. Some farmers reported the
ability to grow some crops with greater success, such as watermelon, cantaloupe or berries. Some recommended diversifying as a strategy. Although producers expect some weather challenges, the lack of predictability was stressful for many in the room. “I find it more difficult to get on the land in the spring, and although it was warming up earlier, the ground was still too wet last year,”
Less predicatable weather patterns are making it more difficult to plant, grow and harvest the vegetables Heather Stretch of Saanich Organics produces to fill her farmers’ market stall. SUBMITTED PHOTO
says Heather Stretch of Saanich Organics. “By the time it was dry enough to plant, the weather quickly changed and it became too hot and dry.” Stretch found that brassicas, especially
broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, became more suited to fall planting. Good record keeping and conducting an on-farm climate audit were also recommended to help form a strategy. Some growers have ventured south of the border to learn what other growers are doing. Research skills will be an advantage. South Island regional agrologist Doug
Pepper gave an overview of emergency management planning for agriculture to help farms prepare for extreme weather, flooding and fires. BC Ministry of Agriculture water management specialist Andrew Peterson discussed efficient irrigation, covering different irrigation systems and their efficiencies, irrigation scheduling and water storage capacity requirements for irrigation. Taylor Krawczyk of Hatchet & Seed, an edible landscaping company in Victoria, gave a GIS tool demonstration for water planning with a Keyline water management perspective.
A highlight was the local lunch sourced by Elisabeth Bod and Amanda Smith of the Get Fresh Guide, a resource that promotes local food in the community.
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