They've seen a lot of changes and challenges, but they're also optimistic farming in Delta will make out just fine.
John Savage and Robert Butler were honoured by the Delta Farmers' Institute for their many years of service to the agricultural community last Saturday at the institute's annual dinner at the Harris Barn in Ladner. Both have been involved with the organization for many years but are calling it a career.
Savage, a former Delta councillor and Social Credit agriculture minister, was, until recently, the DFI's president. He personally got out of the farming business a few years ago.
Butler, a Delta resident since the early 1970s, served for years as the institute's executive director.
Both talked to the Optimist about how times have changed and what the farming business locally faces moving forward.
Savage said there's no doubt things are a lot different since his dad Harold served on local council decades ago, saying there are more pressures today.
"Everything has changed since the George Massey Tunnel and the Tsawwassen ferries. It became more and more challenging and continues today even," he said.
Savage was at the helm as the institute negotiated directly with the province's
Gateway Program for irrigation improvements that were part of the mitigation package for the South Fraser Perimeter Road. The DFI recently received a Premier's Award in recognition of the cooperation between the government and the institute for those works.
The DFI is also working on a proposal for an ongoing program that sets required financial compensation to mitigate any loss or impact on agricultural land, a program that would see more improvements come Delta's way should Port Metro Vancouver's Terminal 2 receive approval.
Savage said the top priority would be irrigation improvements for Westham Island as well as expanding the actual land base there.
"What we're saying is if you're going to have to pump sand out, pump it off the dikes at Westham Island. There's probably 2,000 acres that could be reclaimed for agricultural purposes there, or close to it."
Savage noted the DFI is the most active local farm organization in B.C., saying there should be more similar groups representing their communities' farming interests.
"The Delta Farmers' Institute is probably the strongest institute in the province. We're very active with dealing with governments. We've been on the Gateway thing for seven years, strictly working on behalf of the agricultural community. We can't just back off and let things happen that could affect agriculture in a negative way."
Butler agreed the industry has had to make adjustments to adapt, something that can be seen with the large greenhouses now established in Delta and consolidation of farmland by operators needing more land the keep their businesses viable.
"There's been other changes. There used to be a lot more variety of vegetables years ago, there were more dairy (farms) years ago, but the rationalization of businesses, like anything else, continues, and even into the farming. Let's not forget that while it is still a lifestyle for many people, it's also a business and they have to make money at what they're doing," he said.
Butler said the Agricultural Land Reserve undoubtedly played a big role in preventing perfectly good agricultural land from being paved over in Delta, however, high land prices pose a real challenge.
"As costs go up, and let's not kid ourselves, we've got some of the highest land costs within agriculture right here in Delta because you've got a lot of pressure on the land. Even though it's in the ALR and you pay less on your assessment, it's still an increase," he said.
"Of course, you've got your hated carbon tax, you've got your GVRD initiatives, so you've got a lot of cost pressures close to Vancouver compared to what you'd have further out."
