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Transcript of Andrea and moss agric presentation
A CVFRT Research Project
Transition Town Presentation
March 26, 2014
Opportunities to Increase Farming
Production Capacity in the Comox Valley
Agenda:
•Introductions
•Initial Findings from Interviews
•Opportunities
•Recommendations
•Closing and Next Steps
Introduction • Andrea Lawseth, AEL Agroecological Consulting
• Moss Dance, Ripple Farm/Merville Organics & Rainbow Raven Web Design
Specific related project experience:
• Regional District of North Okanagan AAP
• Lillooet and Area B AAP, SLRD
• Regional District of Nanaimo AAP
• Denman Island Farm Plan, Islands Trust
• Colony Farm Plan, Metro Vancouver
• Agricultural Land Use Inventories (various)
• Certified Organic expertise (various avenues)
Research Project Methodology
Project Start‐Up
(Nov)
Interviews (Dec-Feb)
Focus Group Session
(Feb 13)
Analysis and Final Report (Mar - Apr)
Methodology • Interviewed in person:
• 14 Landowners
• 11 Potential farmers
• Online survey:
• 18 Landowners
• 13 Potential farmers
• Total:
• 32 Landowners
• 24 Potential farmers
Initial Results
LANDOWNERS
Would you consider sharing land with other farmers to increase food production on your farm?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 66.7% 18
No 14.8% 4
Not sure 18.5% 5
Total Responses 27
What farm products do you produce?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Livestock/meat 50.0% 7
Dairy (cattle/sheep/goat) 7.1% 1
Poultry/eggs 57.1% 8
Greenhouse vegetable/fruit production
7.1% 1
Field vegetable production 42.9% 6
Berries 50.0% 7
Tree fruit/nuts 21.4% 3
Staple crops (grains, pulses, edible seeds)
14.3% 2
Value-added 7.1% 1
Specialty crops 42.9% 6
Mushroom production 7.1% 1
Seeds 14.3% 2
Other, please specify... 64.3% 9
Total Responses 14
Where do you sell your farm products?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Comox Valley Farmers' Market
45.5% 5
Pier Street Market 0.0% 0
Other farmers market: 9.1% 1
Restaurants 45.5% 5
Retail 27.3% 3
CSA 9.1% 1
Farm stand or farm gate sales
45.5% 5
Other, please specify... 54.5% 6
Total Responses 11
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Honey
• Berries (Cranberries, strawberries, blueberries)
• Apples
• Pickling cucumbers
• Some vegetables (patty pan squash, beans, peas)
• Yes, for more of the same
• Yes, for other meat products (turkey, beef)
• Yes, eggs
• Organic milk
What is easiest to sell? Is there a demand you can’t meet?
Do you use organic methods?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes - certified 21.4% 3
Yes - but not certified
71.4% 10
No 7.1% 1
Other practices (i.e. biodynamic). Please specify:
14.3% 2
Total Responses 14
Do you have an off-farm job?
If yes, what is your primary motivation for maintaining a second job?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 57.1% 8
No 42.9% 6
Total Responses 14
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financial necessity 88.9% 8
Personal satisfaction 22.2% 2
Other, please specify... 11.1% 1
Total Responses 9
Would you like to produce more food on your farm?
What is your vision for the farm?
• Destination farm – agritourism
• Selling the farm to another farmer – would like to see it remain a farm
• Would like to bring on business partners to share the workload
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 78.6% 11
No 21.4% 3
Total Responses 14
What are the barriers to growing more food? Response Chart Percentage Count
Need equipment/machinery 20.0% 2
Not enough land 0.0% 0
Capital costs 40.0% 4
Challenges in accessing more labour (employees or volunteers)
0.0% 0
Access to customer base 0.0% 0
Inadequate storage options 0.0% 0
Lack of distribution channels
0.0% 0
Lack of access to processing equipment/facility
20.0% 2
Other, please specify... 60.0% 6
Total Responses 10
What is your succession plan?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Passing it on to children 37.5% 3
Establishing a farm cooperative
25.0% 2
Selling it to another farmer
25.0% 2
Attempting to have the farm subdivided and/or rezoned
0.0% 0
Other, please specify... 37.5% 3
Total Responses 8
What are the top three things preventing you from leasing or offering land to other farmers:
Response Chart Percentage Count
Don't know where to look for people
57.1% 8
Fencing 28.6% 4
Lack of available water 28.6% 4
Potential costs 0.0% 0
Lack of knowledge about lease agreements
14.3% 2
Privacy concerns 21.4% 3
Concerned about land use conflicts
21.4% 3
Other, please specify... 35.7% 5
Total Responses 14
What are the challenges? • Shared goals and values of land – respect (7)
• Lack of adequate water/irrigation (3)
• No housing on site (3)
• Liability issues (3)
• Fencing needs to be repaired (2)
• Managing risk for both sides – who invests in infrastructure? (2)
• Privacy concerns (2)
• Dogs on site (1)
• Making access to property easily (1)
• Traffic concerns and nuisance complaints from neighbours (1)
• Safety concerns – equipment operation (1)
What are the benefits?
• Financial benefits – leasing income
• Shared workload
• Shared knowledge
• Allowing people to use the land – seeing the land being used
• Land is getting taken care of – resale value/aesthetics
• Someone sharing the dream and the experience
• Unintended consequences of trying something new
Initial Results
POTENTIAL FARMERS
What are the three main reasons you are interested in farming?
Other:
• Interested in producing food for the community • Self-sufficiency • Activism
• Passionate about food
• Want to be own boss
Response Chart Percentage Count
Food security 56.2% 9
Sustainability 62.5% 10
Health 25.0% 4
Lifestyle 68.8% 11
Other, please specify... 62.5% 10
Total Responses 16
Do you have any of the following training or experience in agriculture?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Grew up on a farm 33.3% 5
College certificate 6.7% 1
University degree 13.3% 2
Some college or university courses
6.7% 1
Permaculture Design Course 13.3% 2
SOIL apprenticeship 20.0% 3
WWOOF volunteer (Willing Workers on Organic Farms)
33.3% 5
Informal on-farm learning/volunteering
26.7% 4
4H Programs 6.7% 1
Other, please specify... 60.0% 9
Total Responses 15
Are you looking to farm in the Comox Valley over the long term?
Why the Valley?
• Live here already – it’s home
• Feel supported and welcomed here
• Quality of farmland is good
• Good off-farm activities
• Growing demand for local food here
• Distribution of land is good for small scale growers
• Good climate
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 78.6% 11
No 21.4% 3
Total Responses 14
Are you currently farming or planning to farm:
Response Chart Percentage Count
Solo 13.3% 2
With family members 13.3% 2
With a business partner 13.3% 2
With a life partner or spouse
46.7% 7
Other, please specify... 53.3% 8
Total Responses 15
What type of farming are you doing/hoping to do? Response Chart Percentage Count
Livestock/meat 40.0% 6
Dairy (cattle/sheep/goat) 13.3% 2
Poultry/eggs 73.3% 11
Greenhouse vegetable/fruit production
80.0% 12
Field vegetable production 86.7% 13
Berries 60.0% 9
Tree fruit/nuts 60.0% 9
Staple crops (grains, pulses, edible seeds)
46.7% 7
Value-added 46.7% 7
Specialty crops 46.7% 7
Nursery 40.0% 6
Mushroom production 40.0% 6
Seeds 66.7% 10
Other, please specify... 20.0% 3
Total Responses 15
How will you finance your farm as you get started?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financing from a credit union of bank
28.6% 4
Government programs 21.4% 3
Farm Credit Canada 14.3% 2
Family 7.1% 1
Off-farm work 71.4% 10
Grants 28.6% 4
Crowd-sourcing funds and equipment
7.1% 1
Other, please specify... 42.9% 6
Total Responses 14
If you are currently farming, do you have an off-farm job?
What is your primary motivation for maintaining a second job?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 63.6% 7
No 36.4% 4
Total Responses 11
Response Chart Percentage Count
Financial necessity 75.0% 9
Personal satisfaction 41.7% 5
Other, please specify... 25.0% 3
Total Responses 12
Are you leasing land? Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 37.5% 3
No 62.5% 5
Total Responses 8
Are you currently looking for land to purchase?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 50.0% 3
No 50.0% 3
Total Responses 6
Is it important to you to live on the land you are farming?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Yes 92.3% 12
No 0.0% 0
Somewhat 15.4% 2
Total Responses 13
What are the three biggest challenges you face as a new farmer?
Response Chart Percentage Count
Lack of capital 71.4% 10
Need more access to credit or financing
14.3% 2
Inability to lease land 35.7% 5
Lack of arable or appropriate farm land
7.1% 1
Cost of land (for purchase) 64.3% 9
Inability to access capital (loans or grants)
7.1% 1
Difficulty negotiating agreements (i.e. leases)
21.4% 3
Agriculture is not profitable enough to meet income needs
28.6% 4
Other, please specify... 64.3% 9
Total Responses 14
Other challenges? • Marketing skills – gaining confidence to sell products (2)
• Work-Life balance – being organized (2)
• Business skills (1)
• Accessing affordable AND arable land (1)
• Land use conflicts with multiple owners (1)
• Finding good people to work with (1)
• Local zoning and agricultural production
• Possibilities for multiple ownership of the land
• Cooperative structures
• Multiple farm dwellings on one farm site
• ALR restrictions and regulations
What are the challenges to leasing? • Maintaining a respectful relationship (3)
• Transportation – when not living on site (2)
• Caring for tools and land to the degree that is required (2)
• Getting a concrete long-term agreement (1)
• Investment in infrastructure (1)
What are the benefits to leasing? • Financial reasons (4)
• Infrastructure is usually already in place (3)
• Soil has already been worked (2)
• Can access great land (2)
• Can be great to work with others and gain knowledge (1)
Opportunities Already Present • Tremendous agricultural potential in the Valley:
• Access to water
• Food prices increasing due to drought elsewhere
• Growing local market opportunity
• Desire to support one another and work cooperatively:
• Pooling resources to get better quality and prices on inputs
• Developing a buying club - purchasing inputs
• Creating opportunities for work bees - share the workload
• Developing a web-based tool share database
Recommendations •Education: • Landowners:
• WCB, liability, insurance 101 for landowners
• Farm succession planning
• New farmers:
• Business planning and financial management for small farms
• Marketing
• “Farming 101 series”: basic info on seed-starting, value-added processing, animal husbandry
• Choosing the best crops to grow on your land
• Collective marketing models (from informal arrangements to co-operatives)
• Both landowners and new farmers:
• Forming effective lease agreements
• Alternative land ownership models
Recommendations • Support for Farmer Collaboration:
• Offer Land-Linking events
• Form a Tool Lending Library (medium-small scale)
• Develop an Agricultural Asset Map (in process)
• Create, or centralize listing of resource directories available to farmers
• Create a resource library
• Create opportunities for farmers to gather and network informally
Recommendations • Increase New Farmer Participation in Existing Ag
Organizations:
• Farmers’ Institute:
• Introduce 2 young farmer representatives at the board of directors
• Explore expanding the FI tool library to include small scale machinery and hand tools
Potential Ag Sites in the City Boundaries
Next Steps: • Complete final report by
April 15th
• Distribute report
• Share report with policy makers
• Secure further funding
• Implementation of recommendations
Thank-you! Andrea Lawseth 250-205-0279 [email protected] Moss Dance 250-702-0980 [email protected]