The final industry segment of the economic meetings in Nakusp came to a close with a reflection on agriculture not only now, but the past and the possibilities for the future of this valley.
In the words of panellist Corky Evans, the former minister of agriculture for B.C., “You live in a village, maybe the only one, where the mayor, council, regional directors and people show up in January to talk about agriculture. This is not normal.”
Evans meant this as a compliment, commending the turnout of roughly 80 people at the Nakusp Legion last Monday, Jan. 24, who came to learn, support and figure out what they can do in regards to agriculture in the Nakusp area.
Farmers, residents, councillors and interested parties came to listen to each of the panellists and presentations on the variety of options available to the area.
Bob Toews, one of the main organizers of these meetings along with Laurie Page and the chamber of commerce, had people list out what is available in the area at this very moment.
“We find ourselves today asking, ‘What can we grow here?’” Toews asked.
The answer to that came in a number of items being grown today. Among them were beef, garlic, eggs, milk, lamb, chicken, hay, manure, ostrich, herbs and strawberries.
Now that people had a sense of what was available, the presentations began, beginning with Abra Brynne, a consultant with the regional district in developing an Area Agricultural Plan, to speak on ways to build on what we have.
“There is no silver bullet for farming,” Brynne stated, adding there was no model any community can replicate from other cities or villages. But there were things every farmer should work on before breaking into this business.
“A constant source of frustration is a lack of business sense among farmers,” she said. “Not knowing production costs, therefore the sale prices.”
Brynne said farmers desperately need to work on this, because this is the market they’re trying to break into.
“You really need to understand options and restrictions,” she went on to say. “If you’re planning on producing a niche product of high value, make sure the market is there.”
“This is not a get-rich-quick scheme,” she added.
Brynne also emphasized being wary of fads, because it takes years of investment for a farm to start becoming profitable, and you want to make sure people still want the product after that start-up time.
She wrapped up her presentation by saying that more than anything farmers should be networking and working together as a unit. This not only increases knowledge amongst each other and helps the branding of the area, but allows the farmers to not be victims of a price, and instead take hold of the prices themselves.
At this point in the meeting, those attending were asked to list why working on our agriculture was important, and possible ideas to help.
The importance of agriculture was listed as: Food security; food quality; food safety; self-sustainability; maintaining a legacy of knowledge; economic growth; stopping leakage; economic autonomy; and growth of community independence.
Suggestions for improvements were listed as: Keeping up with advanced farming technology; soil analysis; networking and partnerships; a year-round venue for selling local foods; web-based marketing.
Next up on the presentations was Jeremy Lack, who is not only the president of the Kootenay Local Agricultural Society (KLAS), but a long-time farmer.
He ran through the importance of networking with a group such as the KLAS, as it gives members access to resources teaching them how to grow and maintain a variety of foods in a number of ways. He listed items such as climate data, plant growing calendars and educational courses available through this organization which the aspiring farmer can turn to.
Time was running short at this point, so the economic meeting quickly turned to another presentation by Dave Bilinski and Karen Espersen of Universal Ostrich Farms based out of Edgewood.
“There is a huge demand for ostrich meat to local restaurants,” Bilinski said. He said his ostriches were worth $4 per pound of live weight, and the demand keeps on getting bigger and bigger for them.
In fact, they have so much demand they are in desperate need of producers.
“We really need producers. We will buy it, which means you’ll get paid and get paid good,” Bilinski said. For anyone interested, he said to just give them a call at Universal Ostrich Farms, and they can help anyone with the land to start developing the proper place for growing ostriches.
“For anyone ready to move forward, we can take 20 acres dedicated to ostrich production and that can yield $200,000 per year,” he said.
At this point, the presentations wrapped up and the organizers turned back to the public asking simply, “What can we do?”
Many suggestions came back including establishing a co-op, promoting agro-tourism, joining the KLAS, finding land for young owners, lobbying and engaging politicians and government at every level, and a few others.
To wind up the night, Corky Evans took the stage.
“You live in a country that has bought globalism,” he stated. “But you can make farming work within the village.”
Evans encouraged stopping leakage, such as committing to buy only local products. He also encouraged, just as many others had said, to collaborate with each other instead of competing. Finally, he said to sell this place just as it is.
“Everybody wants what you have, so just figure out how to brand that,” he said. “Create a clean-cut image of this town, because there’s a world of people who are dreaming of a place like this.”
The next economic meeting was scheduled past the Arrow Lakes News deadline, but will be available in the next issue of the paper.
If you missed a previous meeting, just visit us at www.arrowlakesnews.com and search economic meetings.