g R o W i n g t o m o R R o W

Combatting Invasive Plants

The latest from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia | volume 11 issue 3

inside pages

2 Bees / Farmer 2 Farmer / Slaughter Waste

3 Hawthorn / Wildlife Control

4 Emergency Livestock Planning

Fall 2011

Using a collaborative approach, British Columbia is a Canadian leader in dealing with the complex issue of invasive plants.

It all started in 2004, when representatives from agriculture, forestry, mining, environment, fisheries, tourism, recreation, transportation, horticulture and conservation groups in BC joined forces and reached consensus. BC’s first Invasive Plant Strategy led to new initiatives, including the formation of the Invasive Plant Council of BC.

As one of the most serious ecological issues in the world today, invasive species cost BC agriculture an estimated $65 million every year. “I know for certain, in places where the grass was doing well, we may be able to run 100 cows for one month,” observes Arne Raven, manager of Wolf Ranch near Kamloops. “But when an invasive plant like knapweed or sulphur cinquefoil comes in, we can only run about 30 cows on that same piece.”

Beginning in 2010, the council undertook a series of new projects, including supporting the expansion of regional weed committees, updating educational resources, holding training workshops, establishing an emergency response fund, and developing an updated invasive strategy for BC. Funding for these projects was provided through various programs IAF delivers on behalf of the federal and provincial governments.

“Thanks to the collaboration with the provincial government, we are pleased to report that the entire province of BC is now covered by a regional weed committee,” says Kristy Palmantier, chair of the council. “We are the only province in Canada to have such a broad range of local and province-wide coordination that links governments, businesses, aboriginals and non-government organizations together to address invasive species.”

Through mapping, inventory, treatment and monitoring activities, developing Invasive Plant Management Areas is a key activity of many of the 15 regional weed committees in BC. The information is used to not only effectively allocate resources but also to measure success. As Arne Raven notes, “We have been successful in almost eradicating knapweed and hound’s tongue in the Pritchard area in just a few years.”

Outreach activities to inform and update land owners about detection and treatment are important roles of both the regional and

provincial organizations. With a new spotters program, farmers and ranchers will be able to report invasive plants using a web-based tool, allowing for more effective monitoring and treatment. “Invasive plants are like a silent forest fire,” explains Palmantier. “If we can respond quickly, we can greatly reduce its spread and impacts. The BC Early-Detection and Rapid Response Fund will be crucial in preventing the spread of new, high-risk invasive plants in BC.”

And some of the biggest endeavours in the crusade against invasive plants are emerging in the strategic planning process. The council’s research has identified the two human behaviours that, if modified, can have the most impact in reducing the spread of invasive plants in BC. According to Palmantier, “Most invasive plants are often introduced in gardens through horticulture and frequently spread by vehicles. At this time, the updated strategy will consider actions addressing these two activities.”

The council’s collaboration and pooling of resources across government, industry, non-profit organizations and private donors is a unique model that is being studied by invasive species groups across Canada and internationally. Each regional committee in BC, as well as the provincial council, operate as separate non-profit societies, accessing knowledge, funding and other support from many different stakeholders.

“Our program brings together dozens of agencies representing at least 150 different interests,” concludes Palmantier. “Invasive plants do not respect administrative boundaries. By working together, we can greatly reduce the economic, social and environmental impact caused by unwanted invasive plants in BC.”

Funding for these projects was provided through various programs IAF delivers on behalf of the federal and provincial governments. (SI003, A0644 and AF018-AEWF-09-014) For more information, visit: www.invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca

Through

Collaboration

2 growing tomorrow Fall 2011

Clean isin the GeneUBC proteomics research helps bee breeders select for disease resistance.

Since 2006, bee populations have been in crisis around the world. In North America, where bee-keepers typically lose up to 15 per cent of their bees over the winter, bee mortality rates have climbed to 36 per cent. BC has not escaped, and the decline raises the alarm for hundreds of farmers who produce crops that depend on bees for pollination.

The decline is largely attributed to increases in parasites and diseases including Varroa mite and American Foul Brood. As these diseases develop resistance to chemical treatments used to control them, bee breeders are working to develop naturally resistant bee populations.

For the past three years, the Apis mellifera Proteomics of Innate reSistance (APIS) project at the University of British Columbia has been working to improve the effectiveness of bee breeding practices by providing a better understanding of the molecular biology of bees. Using molecular research techniques to analyze proteins in the genome, researchers have identified 15 molecular markers to identify bees with resistance to disease.

The project tested samples of bees from breeders in the United States and Canada who have successfully developed colonies resistant to Varroa mite and other diseases, and BC beekeepers whose bees demonstrated resilience over the past few years. They then compared the bees that were likely to have some resistance to non-resistant bees.

Initial research found that parasite and disease resistance in bees is closely linked to hive hygiene. Bees that are more effective at detecting and removing impurities from the hive have a lower incidence of infection and lower mortality rates. Comparing the two groups through proteomic analysis found that the molecular fingerprint of hygienic bees is distinctly different from their non-hygienic counterparts. In short, clean is in the gene, or more precisely, the protein.

“The next step will be to take the fingerprints and see if we can apply them in a commercial setting,” says Leonard Foster, the lead researcher on the project. “Our aim is to develop tools that can be used by bee breeders around the world to select for resistance traits and improve their breeding programs.”

Funding: $96,682 through former federal adaptation programming provided by IAF and councils in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. (W0125)

Farmer2FarmerLearning from Each Other

What happens when you put a group of passionate farmers together in a car? The hatching of an idea to host the first Farmer2Farmer Exchange.

“We were coming home from Nanaimo and talking about how you get so busy farming, that it can be pretty easy to feel isolated and discouraged,” says Barb Brennan who grows nuts and kiwis and sits on the North Saanich agricultural advisory committee. “We decided to do something.”

So they did. Representatives from North Saanich, the Capital Region Food and Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable (CR-FAIR) and other local agricultural groups jointly organized an event to bring farmers together to share information and raise hope.

They weren’t sure what to expect with just 25 people pre-registered. But, they needn’t have worried. Nearly 100 farmers and suppliers from

as far afield as Qualicum and many of the Gulf Islands arrived at the fairgrounds in Central Saanich one blustery March day.

Pat Reichert from Salt Spring’s Island Natural Growers kicked off the event by sharing how her community turned its vision of a stronger agriculture and food economy into concrete on-the-ground infrastructure. Her message was simple. Stop talking about what you want and start making it happen. The rest of the morning featured break-out sessions on a range of production practices and business opportunities. Following lunch, a number of roundtable discussions gave participants a chance to share what they can do to address several farming topics identified as needing action in the region.

“When you’re a small farmer, you need to be pretty adaptable and always on the lookout for new ideas, but as a group we also have to work together to make things happen,” adds Brennan. “It’s a boost...great to get away from the farm for a day and hear from others in similar situations.”

Everyone agreed that they would like to do it again next year, making it a good model for farmers’ institutes and other agricultural organizations to try in their own communities. Brennan credits CR-FAIR’s Linda Geggie for the event’s success, stating: “Without her, it would not have happened.”

Funding: up to $5,000 provided through the Agri-Food Futures Fund, Islands Agri-Food Initiative. (AF002-I0499)*

* The Islands Agri-Food Initiative is accepting applications for funding through the end of 2011.

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Abattoirs in the north Thompson region were facing steep costs and inconvenient disposal options for their slaughter waste before a local solution was developed.

Using innovative composting technology – an effective method for converting waste material into a useful soil conditioner and fertilizer – Spa Hills Farm near Salmon Arm offers the ability to dispose of slaughter waste locally, instead of shipping it as far away as Alberta.

Owner and operator Jake Mitchell received funding from IAF to construct this affordable and environmentally-sustainable option for local slaughterhouses.

“It’s important to find a local solution and deal with our waste sustainably,” says Mitchell. “Trucking slaughter waste to Calgary never did make sense.”

The facility at Spa Hills only accepts non-specified risk material. The specified risk material –

waste tissue that would contain infectious prions if the cattle were infected with BSE – is separated into a different waste stream at the abattoir. Spa Hills is designed to process about 900 tonnes of non-SRM waste each year from three local abattoirs and is compliant with the Ministry of Environment’s Organic Matter Recycling Regulation.

The facility opened in early 2011 and recent early tests of the waste material in the facility indicate a pathogen count well within the acceptable range to produce Class A compost. The slaughterhouses are also reporting that this local option has positively influenced their businesses.

For his part, Mitchell is pleased to be able to provide a cost-effective option. “Without the funding, this facility wouldn’t have been economically feasible for the slaughterhouses,” he adds.

Funding: $206,602.67 through the Livestock Waste Tissue Initiative. (LWTI 046)

A Local Solutionfor Slaughter Waste

Establishing Hawthornin the Kootenays

There is great potential in the Kootenay region for growing and processing native BC hawthorn for the natural health products market.

Botanicals used in natural health products are usually sourced from Asia and Europe. For local growers to compete, they need to provide raw material comparable to the imported varieties in both volume and quality.

Since 2004, the Naturally Grown Herb and Spice Producers’ Co-operative, or HerbPro, conducted growing trials to determine optimal agroforestry management practices for hawthorn. Leaves, flowers and berries from the trial trees (along with native hawthorn samples) underwent chemical analysis at the BC Institute of Technology and several food prototypes have been created, including juice, syrup and teas.

The trial results show that hawthorn seems to thrive in the heavier soil types and moisture that is typical of BC, says Jeanette Lee, president of HerbPro. “Berry production normally takes eight years. The growing trials found that in BC, the plants start producing after about five or six years. This means the growing environment is well-suited to hawthorn.”

Although market-ready products are many years off, HerbPro is preparing to carry out a full-scale market analysis, launch a campaign to attract more hawthorn growers and establish processing facilities in the region.

Lee says that without the funding, this project would have remained a mere idea. “The support was tremendous. It really helped us think more strategically and feel more confident going forward with the next steps.”

Funding: provided through the Agri-Food Futures Fund, Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative and Agri-Food Futures Fund, Health Products and Functional Foods Initiative. (AF013 04-07 and AF004-057)

A new education program for hunters aims to address land-owner concerns and reduce wildlife pressures for producers.

The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) has developed a new program to address landowner concerns when hunters and anglers request access to private land. The Outdoor Passport program provides certifications to hunters and anglers who demonstrate that they understand the rights of landowners, as well as concerns about liability and risks to the land, livestock and people on the property.

The Outdoor Passport program is only available to BCWF members

who successfully complete an orientation program on the BCWF

website (www.bcwf.bc.ca). The passport includes an identity

card to introduce members to landowners as well as an access pass that records conditions to

access property. A copy of the access pass with

contact information is left with the landowner

for ease of follow-up. Also included in the

program is an additional $1 million in liability insurance free of charge to participating landowners.

“The passport does not guarantee hunters access,” says Mel Arnold, past president of the BCWF. “Landowners still have the right to refuse or restrict access to their land; we are just offering an information and educational tool to help build a good working relationship for wildlife management.”

Wildlife control is a sensitive issue for many agricultural landowners. In some parts of BC, crop loss due to migratory birds, elk, deer and other ungulates is as high as 30 per cent. The Outdoor Passport initiative is one product along with others aimed at reducing wildlife impacts. Other key components include linking landowners with hunters, enhancing hunting regulations and seasons, and taking measures to prevent negative impacts from wildlife.

The BCWF worked closely with the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) and producer groups, as well as government and other wildlife and conservation groups to develop the program. There is already significant interest from producers in areas including the Peace region, south Kootenays and Cariboo.

“Wildlife damage is one of those issues where we are trying to build partnerships with other groups to help solve farmers’ problems,” says Brian Baehr, manager of agriculture environment initiatives for BCAC. “We want to make sure that landowners are aware of the Outdoor Passport and what it means.”

Funding: $44,093 provided through the Agri-Food Futures Fund, Agriculture Environment and Wildlife Fund. (AEWF 09-017)

A New Approach to Wildlife Control

All in a Day’s Work

July 12 was a busy day for Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. He was in Delta, along with provincial minister Don McRae, to announce two AgriRecovery Initiatives totalling up to $5 million: the 2011 Canada-BC Excess Moisture Initiative and the 2011 Canada-BC Feed Assistance and Pasture Restoration Initiative. Minister Ritz also swung by the 25th Annual Convention of the Canadian Special Crops Association in downtown Vancouver and announced $196,000 in AgriMarketing funding for them.

The latest from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia 3

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iaF diRectoRs

Stuart Wilson Chair, Lower Mainland

Debbie Aarts Fraser Valley

John BerryAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Paula BrownLower Mainland

Chris ByraFraser Valley

Irmi Critcher Peace

Rob DawsonSimilkameen

Gay Hahn Secretary, Lower Mainland

Bar HayreFraser Valley

Derek JanzenFraser Valley

Grant ParnellBC Ministry of Agriculture

Jens LarsenTreasurer, Central Interior

Peter Levelton Vice Chair, Lower Mainland

Jim Tingle Central Interior

Ernie Willis Similkameen

iaF oFFice

Peter DonkersExecutive Director

T 250.356.1662E info@iafbc.cawww.iafbc.ca

Editor Sandra Tretick

Contributing Writers

Cheryl DavieTamara LeighAndrea McGavinSandra Tretick

Design Maslany Creative Printing Metropolitan Fine Printers

Publication Number 40675600

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Funding provided by

Food Safety for Organic Tree FruitsNearly 50 per cent of the orchards around Cawston are certified organic. The local organic fruit packer, Cawston Cold Storage, must meet international food safety standards to continue selling to large buyers in the US and expand marketing opportunities abroad. With IAF funding, the company was able to establish a food safety program for the organic tree fruits packed on site and conduct an internal audit. The audit exercise, which involved a mock recall, identified some gaps in the company’s procedures that could then be rectified. As a result, the company’s 25-plus workers now have a better understanding of food safety requirements and procedures, and the organic fruit growers that ship to the facility better appreciate the traceability protocols they need to follow if they want to keep their existing US customers and renew exports to the European Union.

Funding: $5,000 provided through the former federal-provincial Safety Nets framework. (SP091)

New Product Line from Haida GwaiiThe Haida Gwaii Culinary Cooperative has been busy developing a new line of specialty high end dried foods made from local wild and farmed ingredients such as chanterelle mushrooms,

berries, herbs, rose hips, garlic scapes, potatoes and onions. With funding from IAF, a number of different recipes for signature teas, gravy mixes, herbed salts and meat rubs were created and tested to pinpoint the optimum processing time, measure food safety and conduct market research. As a result of this process, two products were prioritized for commercial development. Production of the Haida Gwaii brand of Forest Spice Mix/Rub and Mushroom Flavoured Sea Salt is scheduled to commence on a small scale to coincide with the 2011 growing season. The co-op’s product line, which is available at weekly farmers’ markets, is popular with islanders who like to send them as gifts to friends and family further afield. The dried recipe blends are produced using vacuum microwave dehydration technology and builds on work previously funded by IAF to research and fine-tune this equipment for use on wild chanterelle mushrooms. For more information, visit the co-op’s website: www.hgccfoods.ca

Funding: up to $20,600 provided through the federal Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. (A0623) *

* An Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Program. Pour la version française veuillez consulter: www.iafbc.ca/français.htm

It Pays to Plan

“Until we did the exercise, we didn’t realize the complexity involved in dealing with livestock waste tissue in an emergency situation,” says Alanna Garrett of Creston.

As the emergency program coordinator for the Regional District of Central Kootenay, Garrett is referring to IAF’s support for local governments to plan for the disposal of livestock in a crisis.

Delivered in three phases, the initial part of this program involved the preparation of a detailed disposal plan. The Union of BC Municipalities coordinated this phase through its Farmed Animal Mass Carcass Disposal Emergency Planning Program.

In the second phase, the stakeholders test their plans in table top exercises that deal with different scenarios such as a disease, floods, transport accidents, earthquakes and fires. In the central Kootenays, livestock leaders, together with representatives from federal, provincial and local authorities, dealt with a hypothetical dairy barn collapse. Together, they carefully went through the steps of dealing with the disposal of livestock waste tissue while minimizing the threats to human health, animal health and the environment.

All participants came away with the recognition that, by improving liaisons with other organizations, local governments could do much more to support the agriculture industry in emergencies than they have historically.

“Having gone through this exercise, I am confident that we can help the process run smoother, allowing the sector to recover sooner,” observes Garrett. “Agriculture is a big industry here. When a livestock disaster occurs, the whole community is affected.”

In total, 24 municipalities have completed plans representing

33 local governments, and nine have moved on to the table top exercises. With their plans tested, communities can then move on to identifying the areas in their plan that are most vulnerable. One community, the Peace River Regional District, has already begun filling the gaps, and that’s where the final phase of this funding program comes into play.

“While I am pleased with the level of progress so far, I would like to see more communities participate and move to the next phase,” advises Rick van Kleek, who manages the Livestock Waste Tissue Initiative for IAF. “When it comes to emergency planning, we can never think big enough.”

Funding for these projects is provided through the Livestock Waste Tissue Initiative. (LWTI 029 and LWTI 040)

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