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The agricultural news source in British Columbia since 1915 DECEMBER 2018 | Vol. 104 No. 12

Beekeepers Sweet times for BC honey producers 7

Dairy US milk offered for sale in Canada 15

Foodies Tour builds trust between foodies, farmers 21

by DAVID SCHMIDT

ABBOTSFORD – The BCMinistry of Environment plansto implement the newagricultural waste controlregulation over several years,the ministry’s cleantechnologies director ChrisJenkins and hazardous wastesenior policy specialist MikeSchwalb told the MainlandMilk Producers Association atits fall meeting in Abbotsford,October 24.

Review of the regulation,originally adopted in 1992and last amended in 2008,

began in October 2009.Jenkins told producers thenew regulation aim for betterclarity and enforceability,protect high-risk areas andbetter fit modern agriculturalpractices. She said theamendments are “nearlyfinished” and she expectsthem to come into force inFebruary.

Nutrient managementplans (NMPs) are a keycomponent of the newregulation but they will bephased in over time.

“Farmers in the HullcarValley will need to create and

implement them right away;other livestock and poultryproducers will need themstarting in 2021 and all otherfarmers will have to havethem in 2024,” Schwalb said.

Initially, the NMPs will onlycover nitrates butphosphorus will be addedstarting in 2025.

Farmers located aboveaquifers will have to do bothpost-harvest nitrate andphosphorus soil testing everyone to three years, Schwalbsaid. Those requirements will

See WASTE on next page o

by PETER MITHAM

VICTORIA – BC agriculture ministerLana Popham has taken aim at land usein the first of a series of amendments tothe Agricultural Land Commission Act.

Popham introduced legislationNovember 5 that places theAgricultural Land Reserve under asingle zone, eliminating the two zonesestablished in 2014. It also enshrines inlegislation guidelines for residentialconstruction in the ALR, limiting newhomes to 5,400 square feet (save wherethe ALC believes there’s a net benefit tofarming).

A third element addresses illegal fillactivities within the ALR, which theprovince says has increased

Provincetightensrules inALRSecond round oflegislation expectedin the new year

Farming isn’t what it used to be. A residential development turned what was once productive hayland into a drainagenightmare for Maple Ridge farmers Steve, left, and John Wynnyk. The land commission says it’s viable once the city makesgood on promises to fix the drainage. But the brothers have had enough. Their story is on page 16. RONDA PAYNE PHOTO

See ALR on next page o

Ag waste reg “nearly” done

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