APRIL 2015
AGRICULTURE & AQUACULTURE
Creative Salmon is the first salmon farming company in BC to achieve organic certification T he latest repor t from the International Salmon Farmers’ Association (IFSA) shows that salmon farmers are producing 14.8-billion meals each year and creating 121,000 jobs around the world. According to the report, the global salmon farming industry produces $10 billion (USD) worth of salmon each year and stimulates economic growth in a wide variety of other sectors. Gail Shea, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said the ISFA report marks a significant milestone in the development of the salmon farming industry. “This report confirms Canada’s aquaculture industry has come of age. It illustrates the critical importance of salmon farming globally and how Canada’s coastal communities are uniquely positioned to benefit. Our government is proud of our commitment to grow the aquaculture industry sustainably and create much needed jobs in rural, coastal and Aboriginal communities.” said Shea.
It’s not just the demand for salmon that is growing – there is also a growing demand for beef. BC may not be the largest cattle growing province in the country – in fact, it accounts only about five per cent of the the national herd – it is an industry that is on the move and one that plays a big role in the BC economy. Kevin Boon, general manger of the BC Cattlemen’s Association, said that most of the herd is located north of Kamloops and is divided between more than 11,000 producers. Due to BSE (mad cow disease) the herd diminished considerably starting in 2003 but has been growing again and thriving. An economic impact analysis done in 2010 estimated the direct and indirect economic impact of cattle ranching in BC at $660 million. However, Boon pointed out that in the last few years prices have almost doubled. “As an estimate – and this is nothing more than an estimate – I would say that we contribute
more than a billion dollars into the economy,” he said. “And the other really important part is that we utilize a lot of crown land for our grazing purposes. Of the agricultural land available for production, we use about 85 per cent.” He added that that land is shared with forestry and mining companies as well as with guide outfitters. It is estimated that a growing world population means food producers will have to double their output by 2050. Boon said that BC cattle ranchers are well positioned to make an enormous contribution. The land that is used for cattle ranching, particularly on the sides of mountains, can’t really be used for anything else. Boon also noted that the cattlemen are working with the forest industry to avoid clear cutting. Selective logging is far more conducive to foraging for cattle. In 2005 the breeding cattle herd in BC numbered 320,000. Today that nu mber is dow n to 200,000,meaning there is
Salmon Farming is the second highest valued agricultural product in BC
significant room for growth. Three other things point to a growing future for BC cattleman. “Our cold climate really helps in livestock production because it kills a lot of the bacteria so we can raise very healthy cattle at a lower cost with less medications. We have the availability of water and that is probably our most valuable resource. And one thing that is important to British Columbians: ranching is the one stable in rural BC. It keeps our towns and small cities going. Mining and lumber will come and go. Ranching and food production has been there for 150 years and will remain there and that’s what adds the stability to
21 rural BC. Farther south in the province, rural BC is doing very well in the tree fruit business. The re-plant program was announced this past fall by the BC Fruit Growers Association and the provincial government. The program supplies $8.4 million over seven years to re-plant old orchards to high density high value crops. In an area that might have yielded 35 bins an acre, 50 bins will now be harvested. Association president Fred Steele said that the tree fruit industry is worth $550 million to the economy in direct and indirect business – and that number is set to increase. Cherries are becoming a huge export to China and other countries in Asia. Steele noted that the association owns a company called Summerland Varieties that partners with government, private i ndustries a nd the resea rch stations to handle propagating and intellectual property rights around the world. “Most people don’t realize that 80 per cent of all the new commercial varieties of cherries being grown around the world come out of Summerland,” Steele said, adding that the association is not resting on its successes. It is now working on finding programs that will help farmers plant new trees on bare ground. He also pointed out that another reason Okanagan fruits are in such high demand is the low use of pesticides and its integrated pest management programs. “Optimism is infectious,” he said. “The industry has come together. We’re working together with the cherry growers and the co-op packing houses. We’re working for the good of the industry – there are a lot of things that we can do.”