22 CATTLEMEN standing firm on livestock watering


“We had agreed on historic use and we are now being told that historic use is not a term,” she says. The government is also maintaining that streams are over-allocated and over- committed, and that they may not be able to give out a licence for stock watering. Allison says staff are “stiffening our spines and pushing back.” “You know what, Mr. or


Mrs. Government? When you gave out any additional licences on any water in the province where cattle were watering, you knew the cattle were already on that land,” Allison said to a round of applause. “So we are not asking for new water, only the water we are currently using.” Allison says that


Similkameen ranchers have already received letters telling them that water-use restrictions are likely this summer due the very low snowpack and minimal rainfall in the region this year. “It becomes an animal


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • JULY 2019 nfrom page 21


seem to be the basis that acts and regulations are built on.” “Certainly the government seems to be swayed by the 100 responses they had on the livestock watering regulations intentions paper,” adds Allison. “We have asked to see what those comments are, and who they were from.”


Lack of direction Concern continues to


surround the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which the province has pledged to entrench in legislation. Different expectations exist


in different districts of the province, as evidenced by the lack of consistency in how archeological assessments are conducted, Boon says, criticizing, “the lack of direction from the government on


welfare issue,” she says. “Will we need to move our animals or will we be allowed to move water?” Allison also points to a change in the subcommittee’s approach to discussions with the province, emphasizing what current practice is rather than just stating facts. “We need to spend some time showcasing how we water livestock both on our private lands and


“Without water, that grass out there has no value,” BC Cattlemen’s Association general manager Kevin Boon told producers at their AGM in Williams Lake. Progress on livestock watering regulations is not going well and ranchers are being encouraged to reach out to their MLAs. [LIZ TWAN FILE PHOTO]


Crown range,” she says. “We need to gain a comfort level with the ministry on our activities.” Boon and Allison emphasized to members that


they relay ranchers’ concerns to government. “Don’t think that it is not worth the time to


respond to a survey or to write a letter,” says Boon. “Let me assure you, they are counted and they


implementing UNDRIP.” “This needs to be straightened out,” he says. BCCA recently met with


the archaeology branch of the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural


Development and asked for a standard checklist for site assessments. “We totally understand and support UNDRIP, but


there needs to be a clear path forward,” says Boon. “If UNDRIP is done right, it could bring unity to the province. But if it carries on the way it is, it promises to divide.”


AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CODE OF PRACTICE (AEMCoP)


NEW RULES ABOUT SOIL TESTING ARE NOW IN EFFECT!


This applies to you if... • you apply nutrients to your land, • you have a total agricultural land base of 2 hectares or more, and • you grow crops that are not intentionally flooded for harvest.


BC farmers and ranchers who fit the above description need to have soils tested for nitrates and phosphorus levels to determine what measures should be taken to minimize the risk of nutrient loss to the environment.


More details on new soil testing requirements...


• Nitrate and phosphorus tests are required to be completed every three years unless the nitrate test is high (over 100 kg N/ ha). If this is the case, you will need to test again the following year to ensure nitrogen application rates match crop needs.


• Timing and depth of soil sampling for nitrate are important. The test needs to be completed post-harvest to measure how much residual nitrate is left at the end of the growing season.


• Soil testing records must be kept for at least 5 years.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SOIL TESTS VISIT: www.gov.bc.ca/Agricultural-Environmental-Management


BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) is assisting the Province of BC with communicating the key changes related to AEMCoP. Please look for this ad in the coming issues of Country Life in BC for updates.


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