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Kootenay Boundary Edition
Regional Newsletter - July 2024
Regional Drought Update
Basins in the Kootenay Boundary region remain at provincial drought level 1 as of June 25.
At this time, irrigators are encouraged to focus on scheduling and monitoring soil moisture to ensure you are using the soil water storage capacity to its full potential in advance of any worsening drought conditions.
- Know your soil characteristics and how much plant available water it can store
- Schedule your irrigation to consider current weather, crop needs, and maintaining soil water storage
To find out more information click the links below.
Agrologists Coming to a Field Near You
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC are conducting Agricultural Land Use Inventories (ALUIs) in the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District from July 2nd to July 19th in areas near Revelstoke and Golden.
ALUIs have been conducted across the province since 1996, and are used to collect consistent, credible and comprehensive data about land use and land cover on agricultural land. The ALUI’s help describe how B.C.’s agricultural land is used, and includes information on crop type, irrigation and livestock, and land use and non-farm uses in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Inventories have been completed in the Regional District of Central Kootenay (2016) and Regional District of East Kootenay (2011).
The ALUI provides baseline information that can be used to track trends in agricultural land use and to measure changes over time. It also quantifies the amount of land currently used for farming and the amount of land that may have potential for farming expansion. ALUI data can be used for many purposes including strategic planning at the local, regional, and provincial level, informing emergency response, and supporting research initiatives.
Watch for survey crews travelling along public roads and making frequent stops to observe farmland with binoculars. Vehicles will be marked with "Ministry of Agriculture and Food" or BC Government signs.
To learn more about the ALUI program visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/strengthening-farming/planning-for-agriculture/agricultural-land-use-inventories
Salmo Tour de Farm Stand – Young Agrarians
Join the Young Agrarians for a Sunday morning bike tour of the farm stands of beautiful Salmo, BC!
DATE: Sunday, July 14, 2024 • 9 am – 1:30 pm PST
LOCATION: Syilx, Sinixt, and Ktunaxa Territories. Starting and Ending at Salmo Ski Hill Parking Lot on Salmo Ski Hill Rd.
Click here for more information and to register.
The Food Hub wants your input!
The Kootenay Farms Food Hub in Creston is embarking on a business plan update. They want to hear from you! A local gift basket is available as a prize for those who take the time to fill our the survey.
The survey will gather key insights on customer needs, market trends, and competition to guide the future direction of the food hub. As an added bonus, survey participants can enter the draw to win a prize of local goodies valued over $500.
Please visit the following link to fill out the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/foodhubkootenaysurvey
Launch of the AgriService BC Crop and Livestock Reporter Program
In July 2024 the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food is launching the AgriService BC Crop and Livestock Reporter Program based on the very successful crop reporting programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This program is for any agricultural producer or allied tradesperson who enjoys monitoring agricultural production conditions in their area and would like to be part of a network of people contributing timely, local agricultural intel to raise awareness of growing conditions throughout B.C. and support agricultural information sharing.
Each week from April to November, reporters will spend about 5 minutes filling out an easy online survey that collects information on rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions, seeding progress, crop development, crop damage, harvest progress, livestock feed and water supplies, and pasture conditions. This information will be used in B.C. by producers, producer organizations, government, and others interested in keeping informed of current agricultural production findings in regions across B.C.
Please visit the program website here for more information and to register as a Crop and Livestock Reporter!
B.C. Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food Video Showcase
Last year, we had the privilege of sharing some remarkable stories that the BC Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture and Food (IACAF) requested we create. Here are 3 videos showcasing IACAF & Indigenous farming/gardening within the province. We hired a contractor, Scott Reynolds, Hole Hog Media, Inc. who has produced for us 3 videos centering on the IACAF Board, Tsawwassen First Nation, and Lytton First Nation. Sharing these firsthand accounts and personal stories is one of the most powerful ways we can highlight the vital work being done by Indigenous communities in providing food for their people.
We have received many requests to share the videos. We have proudly posted the videos on the provincial government YouTube. We are very pleased with the final products! Seeing the impactful work being done is inspiring. Please share far & wide.
1. BC Indigenous Advisory Council on Agriculture & Food (IACAF) Spotlight
IACAF & the Ministry of Agriculture & Food work together to enhance the equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples in the BC agriculture and food sector & support the realization of their food sovereignty objectives. https://youtu.be/vESo5rGol24
2. Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) Farm
C’eliselem is a community led garden located within the Treaty lands of the Tsawwassen First Nation. The farm is supporting the food sovereignty & food security goals of the community, while contributing to the cultural revitalization of the Nation.
https://youtu.be/-Y596x0aiCQ
3. Lytton First Nation (LFN)/YeKm Food Hub
YeKm Food Hub is an agricultural resource for LFN, supporting local farmers & the LFN community. The project consists of a greenhouse and garden. YeKm is expanding with construction of a storage, processing & preserving facility. The building will include a retail outlet and become a hub for the community.
https://youtu.be/EYUnzANG2zM
Forage Supply Decisions
As we enter July, many producers have already harvested or are gearing up to harvest their first cut. The first cutting makes up a major portion of the entire season’s forage yield and it is important to consider both the yield and the quality. Early data on yield and quality can help inform management decisions throughout the remainder of the season and factors into overall crop profitability. As feed is the largest annual expense of any livestock operation, meeting the nutritional requirements of your herd/flock as cost-effectively as possible is imperative every year. In a dry year, it is even more important.
Three facts to remember when matching forage volume and quality to livestock requirements:
1. Perennial forage stands have a yield/quality trade-off as maturity and yield increases, the overall quality decreases. While many producers can approximate quality from stage of growth, the only way to know if you have hit your quality targets is to feed test.
2. Quality requirements vary depending on the type/class of animal and the timing within their production cycle they are fed. It is generally more economical to try to match harvest timing to their needs.
3. Forage testing on dry hay can be done as soon as harvest is completed. With haylage and silage, it is best to wait until it has reached its stable phase and is cured (minimum three to six weeks).
If the weather affects your first cut harvest timing and the forage is over or under mature, then the quality and volume of what you have harvested can guide your future harvest timing and the quality and volume of your forage/ supplement purchases. It is strongly suggested that you take forage quality tests immediately after harvesting in addition to tracking the volume harvested.
In addition, consider:
- Does this volume meet your livestock’s projected needs?
- Does the quality meet or exceed their needs?
- Will your next cutting(s) fill any gaps from the first cut?
If you have identified gaps, it can be an opportunity to look at purchasing forage to fill the gaps early as there is more time to coordinate transportation. For producers with expectation of additional harvests (irrigation), this can be an opportunity to review management decisions to optimize yield. Decisions could include nutrient applications, irrigation, and harvest timing management, as well as consideration towards seeding of an annual crop as emergency forage for harvest or grazing later.
Depending on the gaps identified this may also be the time to have a discussion with an Agrologist with expertise in forage production or livestock nutrition.
Taking a forage sample:
1. Identify a lot of hay: (same type of forage and harvest timing)
2. Take a representative sample: (use a bale core tool and sample 15+ bales)
3. Proper Handling: (label properly, seal within a bag and ship quickly)
4. Ask for the correct analysis: (depending on livestock type and goals
Further information on determining a uniform “lot” of feed, collecting a proper sample and guidance for testing parameters and labs can be found below:
Written by: Mike Witt, Greg Tegart, Jim Forbes
Access to Feed Program
Available to all livestock producers.
A program provided by the BC Cattlemen's Association created to connect feed suppliers to livestock producers that are in need of feed due to drought.
Submit applications if you have feed available for sale including: type of hay/ quality, bale type & size, equipment to unload, ability to handle a b-train or step-deck delivery, your contact info & location.
Contact hay@cattlemen.bc.ca or 250-306-6277
Haying Season is here!
Should you bale or silage? The Peace River Forage Association has a factsheet of considerations (Learn More). The Beef Cattle Research Council looked at Cost of Production between bales and silage (Learn More).
Spring is a great time to increase wildfire resiliency. Take action to reduce the impacts of wildfire on your agriculture business!
The updated Farm & Ranch FireSmart website includes:
- Farm & Ranch Wildfire Plan: Guide & Workbook
- Open Burning Practices for Farmers and Ranchers: Factsheet
- Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessment: Information & Example Assessment
What’s your Wildfire Plan? Check out the updated website and get prepared.
Emergency Supports Needed
The Emergency Management Branch of the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food creates an annual emergency resources list which is used during emergencies that impact the agriculture sector. The list includes hay & feed suppliers, livestock haulers, and water haulers whose assistance may be needed during emergency events.
If you fit in one or more of these categories, we are encouraging you to contact the Emergency Management Branch at AF.Emergency.Management@gov.bc.ca so that we can have a discussion with you, and add you to our resource list.
We are looking for hay suppliers, livestock haulers, and water haulers throughout the province.
CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and Extended Producer Responsibility Five-Year Action Plan
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is leading a public engagement process to identify policy approaches for improved management of non-residential packaging, plastic, and paper waste. This work is part of the CleanBC Plastics Action Plan and Extended Producer Responsibility Five-Year Action Plan. Agricultural producers and industry associations are encouraged to review the discussion paper and provide feedback through the engagement website. An info session for the agricultural industry is scheduled for July 16; 11a.m.-12p.m.
Participants can register through: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrfu-srzIqGNFh3r5b_chRrRKLsT5TF6hr
B.C. Tree Fruit Acreage and Maturity Report
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has released a new report: 2021 B.C. Tree Fruit Acreage and Maturity Report, as part of its ongoing commitment to B.C.’s tree fruit industry. The report provides data and analysis on the acreage and age of apple and cherry orchards in B.C.’s primary tree fruit growing regions, and how these changed between 2011 and 2021.
Apple acreage declined from a high point in 2015. In 2021, there were over 6,300 acres of land dedicated to apple production across the province. Apple acreage decreased in most regions over the period, and increased only in North Okanagan, one of B.C.’s largest apple-producing regions.
Cherry acreage rose continually over the decade, growing from 2,500 acres in 2011 to over 5,100 acres in 2021. The North and Central Okanagan regions have the youngest cherry orchards in the province, suggesting that their yield per acre will increase over the next 1 to 8 years.
Organic BC Podcast - New Episodes Added!
Have you caught the latest episodes of the Organic BC Podcast? Created for the organic food and farming community in British Columbia and beyond, the podcast features conversations with farmers, eaters, academics, scientists and authors about the philosophy, practice, and politics of organic food.
Early list of Livestock Tax Deferral Regions for 2024
This year, the Government of Canada has streamlined the process to identify regions earlier in the growing season, and also instituted a buffer zone to adjacent regions to capture impacted producers on the edges of affected regions.
Also new for 2024 and moving forward, regions that are adjacent to regions that qualify based on weather, climate and production data will also be prescribed. This will ensure that farms within those adjacent regions that may also be experiencing drought or excess moisture conditions can benefit from the Livestock Tax Deferral provision.
Livestock Tax Deferral regions
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
A reminder that Stream 3 of the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program opened for applications on June 20, 2024.
Stream 1 - Producer Projects opened for application drafts on June 27, 2024, and applications may be submitted from July 25, 2024 to August 8, 2024.
Stream 2 - Community Projects Expressions of interest open July 3, 2024 and close on July 24, 2024.
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There are five eligible activities for the Producer Projects (Stream 1):
- Rehabilitation and upgrades of (regulated and unregulated) agricultural dams and reservoirs to meet regulatory requirements.
- Improvement, expansion or new construction of dugouts and related storage infrastructure for irrigation water and livestock watering including rangeland.
- New construction of other water storage infrastructure.
- Improvement, expansion or new construction of off-farm conversion of conveyance ditches to pipelines where savings of 30 to 50% can be achieved.
- Improvement, expansion or new construction of water delivery systems to the farm gate from off-farm storage infrastructure and licensed intakes on streams.
If you are not shovel ready with a project for Stream 1, the program is accepting applications for Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans in Stream 3 now.
The AWP is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) of B.C. Please refer to the program website for details: iafbc.ca/agriculture-water-infrastructure-program/
IAF will be hosting a webinar about Community Projects (Stream 2) on July 10th, 2024, at 12PM PT. Register today to learn about eligible participants, activities, funding amounts and more. Register Here
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