COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • FEBRUARY 2020


29


Capacity crowd at Interior soils conference Keynote speaker brings practical knowledge to producers


by ANGELA ABRAHAO WILLIAMS LAKE – Over 125 producers braved


extreme weather conditions on January 16-17 to attend the first BC Interior Soils Conference. Held at Thompson Rivers University in Williams


Lake, the event saw a capacity crowd. The theme was Building Soil Health and featured main speaker and soil microbiologist Kris Nichols. Nichols was enlisted to speak after generating much interest among producers who heard her at the BC Cattlemen’s Association annual convention last year. Based in Pennsylvania, Nichols is a leader in


regenerative agriculture and promotes building healthy soil, crops, food, people and planet. An independent consultant and popular speaker, she focuses on boosting practical knowledge as producers look to add new resources and management practices to their operations. Nichols presented on regenerating soils with soil biology; principles and production practices to regenerate soils; and linkages between soil health and human health.


Supporting her at the conference were Dieter


Geesing, provincial soil scientist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture; Deborah Henderson, director of the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University; George Powell, consulting agrologist with AgForInsight.com; Greg Tegart, range and field crop agrologist and instructor with the Applied Sustainable Ranching Program at Thompson Rivers University; Lauchlan Fraser, professor and director of the Centre for Ecosystem Reclamation at Thompson Rivers University; and Kristelle Harper, research coordinator with the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative. Harper presented on her family farm’s transition


to regenerative agricultural practices at Circle H Farms near Brandon, Manitoba. Circle H won the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award. Harper has been attending conferences with her family on regenerative agriculture since she was 11 and she has had the opportunity to see Nichols speak before. “I really enjoyed how Dr. Nichols gave a


background and understanding of soil health and principles,” Harper says. “Her enthusiasm and presenting style kept me interested. This time hearing her speak, I took away how much the nutrition value in the food we eat has decreased over time as well as how important mycorrhizal fungi is to have in our soils and practical management practices that I can use to increase my soil’s mycorrhizal fungi content.” Several local producers also participated in two panel sessions on the themes of “What We’re Trying to Do” and “What We’ve Learned.” These sessions featured Jeremy Farmer of Roddie Creek Ranch and Rainer Krumsiek of Big Bear Ranch. Both men have been implementing regenerative agriculture practices in their operations. Joining them were two First Nations speakers,


Clayton Harry of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation and Francis Johnson of the Esk’etemc First Nation, who are both launching agricultural operations. When asked what the limiting factor is in implementing regenerative practices in their operations, Farmer and Krumsiek identified money as a limiting factor. Harry and Johnson have a different set of challenges. “Capacity is our biggest challenge,” notes Johnson. “We have been trying to re-establish our agriculture and land practices in order to reach our


goals we need to build capacity. ” Harry agreed. He oversees an established market


garden that is producing potatoes and vegetables for the community and oversees operations at several ranching operations, including the recently purchased Big Bar Guest Ranch. He also manages a venture that provides targeted browsing with goats. A second panel saw experienced producers Ueli


Grob of Fox Dairy, Rob Borsato of Mackin Creek Farm and Clint Thompson of San Jose Cattle Co. discuss their ranching and farming experiences, explaining what has worked for them and what they have learned. “Know your numbers,” urges Thompson. “Even if


you see your neighbours practicing something that you think is successful, do your homework and know your own numbers for your operation.” The BC Interior Soils Conference was organized by


agricultural stakeholders in the region with initial start-up funding from the Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association, Kersley Farmers’ Institute, the Applied Sustainable Ranching program at Thompson Rivers University, the Cariboo Agricultural Research Alliance, Cariboo Regional District and the city of Williams Lake. This event was made possible with funding from


the Cattle Industry Development Council, Horn Levy Fund and through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and BC Ministry of Agriculture’s knowledge transfer program. As the two-day conference closed, master of


ceremonies David Zirnhelt of Zirnhelt Ranch surveyed the room, asking producers who would be interested in having more events like this, and if the event should be a yearly conference. Even after two full days of learning, a full house showing hands and a resounding “yes” of consensus was the response.


HAVE YOU COMPLETED AN ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN? No cost. Con昀dential. No obligation.


To book an on-farm appointment, call 1-866-522-3447 (toll free) or visit www.bcefp.ca for program information.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52