SALMON ARM, B.C. – Pat Bell, who has been British Columbia’s agriculture minister for less than a year, has identified four main priorities that he says are crucial for the province’s farmers.
The first is access to land, he told the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting in Salmon Arm May 26.
His department is working on proposals to ensure long-term access to land, including a lease-to-purchase program to help farmers buy lease land at affordable prices. A pilot project in the Vanderhoof area is expected to be offered this fall.
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Ranchers and farmers need security of tenure on crown grazing lands to do business and develop financial plans, he added. Other resource based industries, such as logging and mining, are not put in a situation where they don’t know from year to year if they will have access to land, he said, so agriculture should not be treated differently.
“We consistently ask the agriculture community to go out and make substantial investments without giving you the security of tenure that you need.”
Another priority is to develop legislation making access to capital easier, especially for young farmers. As well, government needs to get back into extension work, offering more help for forage nutrient analysis, direct marketing programs, building on 4-H programs, helping fairs and providing other expert advice.
Marketing the industry to the urban public is another priority.
Bell said this will be achieved partly by promoting fairs and exhibitions and strengthening the Buy B.C. program to encourage people to buy locally produced foods.
Fairs will receive grants for improving their agriculture component.
B.C. has 48 fairs and each year starting in 2007, three will be designated as provincial fairs, based on the strength of their agriculture component.
“If you get awarded the fair for your size category for 2007, you get a cheque for $10,000,” he said.
About three million people visit fairs each year, but many have turned into midway events with almost no agricultural focus.
His department also wants to encourage more support for the 4-H program and its 3,100 members.
The government has budgeted $90,000 for 4-H and this year is adding another $75,000 to give the program a boost in communities, build membership and create future farmers.
