16


Islands show puts emphasis on


small-lot farming Sun, after weeks of rain, puts damper on show attendance


by TOM WALKER


DUNCAN – Attendance at the ninth annual Islands Agriculture Show, February 6- 8, suffered from the first sun in weeks after weather that had been so intense it precipitated flooding on parts of the island. “The sun actually hurt our attendance,” says Shari Paterson, executive director of the Cowichan Exhibition Society, which hosts the show. “It was probably the first sunny weekend day in the last two months and people took in the sunshine rather than the show.” Paterson says the show


attracted about 1,700 visitors, including 500 school children for the Friday education stations around farm safety. The trade show attracted more than 50 exhibitors. Friday saw a full day of


expertise for the start-up cannabis producer. “We weren’t telling people


how to grow it,” says Paterson. “But there is so much information that needs to get out on the federal, provincial and local regulations, how to work your way through


You’ve tried the rest.


Now try the


BEST.


government policies, how to insure your crop and how to build facilities.” For the conventional


farmer, there were workshops on selling to large buyers, developing a food hub, tips for new farmers, wildfire resilience, local water issues and managing nutrients. Aggregation is a key issue


for small-lot mixed vegetable farms on the island. While many young farmers use their personal relationships and media savvy to build direct sales through farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, smaller retail and restaurant sales, they lack the infrastructure to move to the next level.


The session Breaking Down the Barriers to Large Buyers addressed the gap that exists between farmers and purchasers. Representatives from retail,


processing and institutional buyers spoke of the difficulty they have in accessing local products, and farmers talked of not knowing where and how to sell. James Street from the BC


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • MARCH 2020


Cowichan 4-H Horse Club members accepted a $200 cheque from the Cowichan Valley Regional District on behalf of Vancouver Island 4-H during the opening reception at the Islands Ag Show. TOM WALKER PHOTO


Ministry of Agriculture outlined some of the opportunities for selling to government institutions under the recent Feed BC initiatives. But the piece that remains unsolved is how to aggregate production from a number of small farms into a volume sufficient to supply larger purchasers. Darren Stott, principal consultant with Greenchain Consulting of Vancouver


discussed the eight factors for successful food aggregation in Food Hubs 101. The eight factors include forming key partnerships, establishing key resources for success, attracting and maintaining customers, establishing the right mix of customers, finding a champion and strong manager, cultivating highly engaged food producers, setting a path for profitability and securing the right level of funding before you start. “There’s a lot of support for


aggregation in BC,” he notes. However, it doesn’t always


work out. Stott was one of the principals in Vancouver Farmers Markets (VFM) Direct, which shut down last fall because it lacked critical mass and failed to get the eight factors right. “It closed in some way due to all eight of these factors,” says Stott. “It was only realizing $350,000 in sales and food hubs need around twice that, $700,000, to be successful.” Cammy and James


Lockwood of Lockwood Farms and Nick Neisingh of Tatlow Road Farm shared tips for success as new farmers. The Lockwoods manage


4,250 free-range laying hens and a two-acre mixed vegetable operation. They were named BC-Yukon Outstanding Young Farmers for 2019. Neisingh and his partner, Niki Stutinski, farm vegetables on seven acres. The young farmers shared the stories of resourcefulness, hard work (including off-farm income), love of food and community connections that have kept them going. “The marketing needs as much thought as the growing,” says Neisingh. Both farms credit an involvement with the Duncan farmers market as a cornerstone of their success. Speakers were thanked for their contributions, but in lieu of speaker gifts, a donation was made on behalf of gold- level sponsor Cowichan Valley Regional District to Vancouver Island 4-H.


Willem Kersten 604.316.8891 | Plowing |


Discing | Raking |


R ROLLINS Toll Free 1-800-242-9737 www.rollinsmachinery.com


Machinery Limited


“Serving British Columbia proudly since 1946”


Chilliack 1.800.242.9737 | 44725 Yale Rd W Langley 1.800.665.9060 | 21869 - 56th Ave Chemainus 1.250-246.1203 | 3306 Smiley Rd


Chilliwack 1.800.242.9737 . 47724 Yale Rd W Langley 1.800.665.9060 . 21869 56th Ave Chemainus 1.250.246.1203 . 3306 Smiley Rd Kelowna 250.765.8266 . 201-150 Campion St


Toll Free 1-800-242-9737 www.rollinsmachinery.com info@rollinsmachinery.ca Hauling | Round Baling |


Power Harrowing Seeding | Manure Spreading |


willemcpf@gmail.com Mowing |


Corn & Grass Silage GPS Guided Tractor Operator Rental/Service


Teddering


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