46 THINNING advice nfrom page 45
delays in removing trees have created some family feuds. “Some growers are playing with tighter spacings and, historically, extra trees are removed by the tenth year,” says Wiman, “If you wait too long, canopies compete, roots compete, trees shoot straight up and you get poor light penetration. It may not pay to do double density if you push growth.” Regarding orchard design,
Wiman advises keeping enough room in the headlands for equipment to turn around. Newer
equipment with a tighter turn radius is now available, but more suited to smaller acreages. Growers in Oregon are
intercropping in the establishment years with high value annuals, crimson clover, strawberries and grass for seed. Wiman advises that new
growers consult the Oregon growing guides which detail site selection, planting, mulching, pruning and trunk protection with trunk guards or paint. In addition, new BC
growers will soon be able to consult the long-awaited BC Hazelnut Production Guide, which provincial berry and nut specialist Karina
Sakalauskas expects to appear this spring. Oregon is conducting field
research with irrigation methods, mulching, trunk protection, drainage and alley crops and updating recommendations as they are developed. “One challenge is the lack
of crop coefficients for hazelnuts and a lack of data- driven guidelines,” says Wiman. Fertilizer application is a contentious issue; Wiman advises against nitrogen fertilizer for two years yet many growers ignore this advice. “Everything a tree needs is
stored in the bark, then it goes to the leaves and the roots. If a grower feels a need to apply nitrogen, it should be with a time-release fertilizer or nothing. Urea can burn the roots and kill a tree.” Rick de Jong of Agro-K advised that nutrient applications need to be targeted to the needs of the plant, aided by detailed soil tests, leaf analysis tissue tests and a sap test. He emphasized the five Rs of nutrient management: the right nutrient at the right time, and the right mix, the right form and the right place.
MAKE A
DIFFERENCE SALE
Join the farmers of BC and experience
the rewards of working together! Proceeds will be used in part to provide emergency food for people affected by war in Syria and in South Sudan and in part to help families in East Africa affected by drought and famine grow more food. You can also support this worthwhile cause by donating animals or any other sellable merchandise. Don’t wait until the auction date to donate a beef cow. You can donate anytime in February and March.
Email
brandsma.rob@
gmail.com or
bogob@shaw.ca CONTACTS TO CONFIRM YOUR DONATION
Rob Brandsma Bob Brandsma Pete Brandsma John Bruinsma Matt Dykshoorn Gary Baars Fern McDonald Casey Pruim Amanda Krause Melanie Dykshoorn
604-834-4435 604-855-8016 604-996-3141 604-835-0297 604-768-0131 604-316-3244 604-702-3032 778-242-2620 604-217-6564 778-240-4110
SAMPLE AUCTION ITEMS TO DONATE OR PURCHASE
Donations of cash and proceeds may be eligible for a charitable donation receipt from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
Lunch provided by RBC. Coffee and donuts provided by Trouw Nutrition.
Do you want to participate but can’t attend the auction in person?
facebook.com/canadianfoodgrainsbankabbotsfordauction
www.foodgrainsbank.ca
www.reimersfarmservice.com 855.737.0110
info@reimersfarmservice.com
COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2019
Renewal comes with a new generation of farmers
Growers up to meeting new challenges Everything old is new again, so goes the
time-worn saying, but to a great extent,
Wannabe Farmer
by LINDA WEGNER
that’s no longer totally accurate. While some old ways, old age and old perspectives are invaluable, others have given way to new realities. Thinking about the commercial farmers
I’ve known over the years, I noted three factors: the majority are still farming at an age when those in many (if not most) professions have retired; there are fewer farms, but the size of those operations has increased dramatically. Before writing down my thoughts I did some online searches to determine their accuracy. It turns out that I was bang-on. Here goes: There are nearly78,000 female farm operators, up from 25.3% of farmers in 1996 to 28.7% in 2016. Many are highly educated.
March 14th, 2019 10:00am Start McClary’s Stockyard, Abbotsford
The cost of land has also increased dramatically and younger farmers have become innovative – i.e. renting land rather than purchasing it. It’s a way to cut costs without sacrificing production. Younger farmers are not so heavily dependent on farm income, choosing instead to diversify their income with off- farm sources of income. They’re also more highly educated and dedicated to continuing education. I found this stat most interesting: “The
proportion of young farmer operators residing in urban areas more than doubled over the past 20 years, rising from 7.3% in 1996 to 16.0% in 2016”. There’s lots more contained in that report
but it’s not in your interest for me to repeat something that you can go online and read; my goal is to commend those older farmers for their dedication to food production, not only for our province and our country, but for the world. I’m also sending kudos to our young men and women who are taking up the torch but with new perspectives and ways to work within the reality of our new world outlook and economic conditions. Almost everything old has to become new in order to survive. No matter your age, look after yourself
and your families. You and they deserve that. No matter how large or small your farm, you have every right to be proud of the work you do and believe me, we’re proud of you, too. Finally, whether you’re working thousands of acres or cultivating a few of them, your skills are crucial. Whether caring for thousands of animals or tending backyard chickens is your focus, there are still lots of us who enjoy meat and scrambled eggs. I can’t close without giving a big thumbs-up to the ladies who are bringing new life and new energy to the farming industry. In closing, I once again bow to the experience and expertise of each of you. It’s an honour and privilege to turn my thoughts into an article each month so I close with this wise observation from Dwight Eisenhower: “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field”.
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