Farming is a big part of the Township of 91原创鈥檚 economy and it could become even bigger if council adopts a plan that would encourage more local processing of produce, council was told on March 11.
The 10-member Agricultural Viability Strategy Task Force was presenting its 101-page draft plan, which proposes spending $2.7 million over the next 20 years on programs to boost agricultural activity and reduce conflict between urban neighbourhoods and nearby farms.
A staff report to council calls the sum a 鈥渞elatively small investment for an industry that currently produces more than $277 million annually [in 91原创].鈥�
Farming occupies more than three-quarters of the Township鈥檚 316 square kilometres and 91原创 has one-half of all the farms operating in Metro Vancouver, the strategy document observed.
鈥淎griculture is big in 91原创,鈥� said Dave Melnychuk, the chair of the task force.
And it could become even more significant, said lead consultant Don Cameron of Don Cameron Associates.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not going to happen instantly, but we believe over a period of time, the agriculture industry will be further developed
[in 91原创],鈥� Cameron told council.
The proposed strategy would speed things up by adopting a four-part plan to provide a 鈥渨elcoming business environment for farming,鈥� services to encourage 鈥渁gri-industrial hubs鈥� that would process locally grown food within 91原创, a secure agricultural land base, and rules to ensure 鈥渂est farm management practices鈥� are used by local farmers.
The last part would involve a 鈥済ood neighbour policy鈥� that requires farmers to operate 鈥渋n a manner that is sensitive to the needs of other citizens.鈥�
It鈥檚 as close as the strategy document comes to discussing the controversial propane cannons used to scare birds off berry crops and the political battle that has pitted blueberry farmers against horse farms and residential neighbourhoods.
It makes no direct reference to the cannon controversy, but does talk about farmers reducing 鈥渄ust, noise and odour where reasonable.鈥�
In return, non-farm residents would be 鈥渆ncouraged to 鈥� support farmers鈥� need to operate their farms in an economically sustainable manner,鈥� the strategy suggests.
The 34 initiatives, 86 policies and 85 actions in the document also include possible creation of a farmers鈥� institute to represent agricultural interests modelled on similar groups in Delta and Richmond, regulations that would require notifying home buyers when 鈥渢he use of their properties may be impacted by normal farm practices鈥� and offering incentives to encourage food processors to build plants in 91原创 to process locally grown food.
The strategy also flags water conservation as an issue, noting that 80 per cent of the Township water supply comes from wells, and tests show groundwater levels are dropping.
Some fish-bearing streams have lost as much as 30 per cent of their 鈥渂ase flows鈥� the document notes.
It calls for water conservation programs over the short term and looking for 鈥渙ther appropriate water sources鈥� over the long term.
Council reaction to the proposed strategy was uniformly positive, though Councillor Kim Richter expressed some concern that the 鈥済ood neighbour policy鈥� doesn鈥檛 specifically address the question of blueberry cannons.
Councillor David Davis, a fourth-generation 91原创 dairy farmer, gave the strategy an enthusiastic endorsement, saying he 鈥渟trongly鈥� supports it.
Mayor Jack Froese, who owns and operates a turkey farm and turkey wholesale business, liked the notion of locating food processing facilities where local farms are growing.
鈥淎griculture is more than primary production,鈥� Froese said.
Council voted unanimously to order a public open house on the strategy at a yet-to-be-determined date.
Following that, the proposed strategy would come back to council for a vote on approval and implementation.
