2019 Orchard & Vine Fruit Survey

Features

At Orchard & Vine, we want to share not only what’s going on in fruit-growing, but also what’s going on with fruit growers. Thank you to the grower-readers who responded to this year’s survey. We know how busy you are and appreciate you taking time to share your experiences so others can learn and benefit. This more personal look at the year times perfectly with our annual fruit report, in that the human side to issues are often overlooked in a busy production-based industry yet we are able to capture a snapshot of them.

BCDAS

Do you use the BC DAS  (Decision Aid System) from OKSIR ?

The BC Decision Aid System (BC DAS) is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) decision support system for Okanagan tree fruit growers and pest managers. It provides easy-to-use pest management programs and helps to optimize management decisions for certain insects and diseases.

BC DAS collects daily weather data from the local Okanagan weather network along with forecast data to create insect and disease population charts linked with management and pesticide recommendations. https://ca.decisionaid.systems/

14% Use BCDAS

82% Don't use it or haven't heard of it.

Do you use any other industry specific software or apps for your farm management or agriculture use?

18% Use apps

How do your crop yields compare to previous years?

UP  35% • DOWN  22%  • THE SAME  39%

How do your sales compare to previous years?

UP  18% • DOWN  45% • THE SAME  32%

What has been the biggest challenge or accomplishment in 2019?

  • The big accomplishment was gaining full access to the Japanese market. 2019 was our first year of exports to Japan.

THE WEATHER

  • Climate change.
  • Weather was a huge challenge this year.
  • Getting the wine grapes to mature in a very poor September and October.
  • Rain.

PRICES

  • Low prices.
  • Over production of berries.
  • Pricing for fruit does not allow for reinvestment into property.

PESTS

  • The clear wing moth.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

  • NDP and ALR rule changes with absolute zero consultation.
  • Establishing a Cidery. Big problems with government taxation and regulation.
  • Trying to live off the farm. We need more flexibility to sell value added and agritourism.
  • Labour and government bureaucracy.
  • We would like to sell direct from our farm by having a small restaurant that would feature produce from our farm.

EDUCATION

  • Education classes to improve my agricultural knowledge and become a better farmer.

Cider?

35% said after seeing the growth in cider making that they were interested in putting in a cidery or tasting room in the future.

About those regulations…

Bill 52 - Are you in favour or against the change?

Regarding: removes the ability for an ALR owner to have a secondary, non-farm use modular dwelling for immediate family.

Bill 15 – Are you in favour or against?

Regarding: make it harder for farmers to have value-added operations and sell directly to the public as farm-to-table enterprises. Reverts to a more centralized commission as opposed to six regional panels, exclusions for ALR to be submitted to the ALC by local governments, First Nations or the province instead of by landowners.

Comments

ALR is off base. Farmers need secondary forms of income or value added to sustain the family farm.

100% against the changes. I have now for the first time made long term plans that do not include my family living on the farm as we will not all be able to be accommodated with our growing family.

We are nearing retiring age and would like to see our property to continue to be used for agriculture. We would also like to keep living on the farm we developed.

We are close to retirement and would like to live on the farm but as you age you need physical help to keep the farm up. Therefore, you need younger family members to help. It is better to have family help on the farm than to go into a home!

We are multiple families living on the farm in one house.

Typical agenda against farmers by this government, wineries are allowed to cover half the land with buildings.

We are of retirement age but there are many options available to allow us to live comfortably without further structures. After we depart what will the structures be used for, rentals? Then there is a problem.

In the act there has always been a provision for 2nd dwelling, for farm help, not for family. If a real farmer needs farm worker housing, they can still build this, however local government no longer gets to make the final decision on it if needed. The ALC did a poor job of announcing the changes and it caused farmers, ALR land owners, and local governments, and media to be unprepared, confused and poorly instructed on what the rule means.

ALR has too much say already.

It would make it harder for farmers to have value added operations and sell directly to the public as farm to table enterprises. We need more of these opportunities to keep farms financially viable.

Due to the cost of land a value added operation option is essential to keep the land in farm status and allow growth to the industry.

The ALC needs to find better ways to enforce their rules, and in doing so, allow bonafide farmers to expand their businesses, add value to their operations and grow our local economy. They are seeing too many schemes where products aren’t grown and made onsite, thereby those who have been breaking rules for years have again caused the problem for those who do honest work and follow rules.