Environmental Protection Compliance
Assessment Reports
Compliance Assessment of Agricultural Practices
over Two Sensitive Drinking Water Aquifers in the Lower Fraser
Valley, British Columbia
October 2003 — February 2004
The
findings in this report come from visits to 82 farms, both
commercial and hobby.
The
report finds that, overall, the vast majority of commercial
farms (86%) are in compliance with standards for environmental
protection.
It
also showed areas where compliance rates would improve by providing
farmers, particularly hobby farmers, with the latest standards
for environmental protection. Steps have already been taken
to ensure this educational material is available.
The
study developed several recommendations which have or will
be acted upon through joint efforts of government and the agriculture
sector.
Below,
you will find the six key recommendations from the above named
report and actions taken to date, or planned. The full report
is available through the link below.
Recommendation 1:
The
agricultural sector is leading the Environmental Farm Planning
(EFP) program and producer involvement has been impressive
to date. Ministry staff continue to encourage producers to
take advantage of the program to address on-farm environmental
issues. Industry is also involved with many other initiatives
including the International Airshed Strategy.
Recommendation 2:
The Ministry, in conjunction with industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Food
and Fisheries (MAFF), continues to prepare the manure spreading advisories
and post on the Farmwest
website. Other practice information continues to be posted on the website
as well. The Lower Mainland Regional website is also being upgraded to include
postings of compliance assessments.
Recommendation 3:
Although a detailed risk assessment of environmental impacts from non-compliant
hobby versus commercial farms is not planned at this time, a follow-up compliance
assessment in the Cloverdale area is evaluating observed water quality impacts
as they relate to hobby and commercial farms. The findings from this assessment
will help to provide guidance on further work.
Recommendation
4:
With respect to working with the horse industry, Ministry staff will be contacting
representatives of the horse industry to look at options for improving compliance.
It is expected that the Ministry will prepare information that can be distributed
at the various horse industry functions. In addition, Ministry staff is exploring
opportunities to visit individual horse farms to discuss environmental issues
specific to each farm.
Recommendation 5:
The Ministry has acted on the fifth recommendation and is currently assessing
the degree of compliance of those producers found spreading agricultural by-products
in February 2005. The assessment had an aerial and ground component and is
being completed in conjunction with MAFF and industry.
Recommendation 6:
The Ministry is working to improve its relationship with the various commodity
associations as a solid relationship will result in a better understanding
of each other's issues and improved overall compliance. To date, industry has
accompanied Ministry staff on a tour of a dairy operation in Lynden WA, where
manure is used to generate electricity. The commodity associations have assumed
some responsibility with responding to complaints that the Ministry receives
and working directly with their members to resolve non-compliance issues. The
Ministry also continues to work with industry and MAFF on the Nutrient Management
Committee and the Partnership Committee on Agriculture and the Environment.
You can view the study here (PDF:
829 KB / 58 pages)
Download
Adobe Acrobat's PDF
Reader for free here.
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document format" (PDF).
Updated:
July 28, 2005
