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Home My WebLink About2013-04-22 Minutes CLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY, APRIL 22nd, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Brenda Metcalf John Cartwright Eric Bowman Tom Barrie Don Rickard Ted Watson Councillor Partner Les Caswell Jenni Knox REGRETS: Gary Jeffery, Mary Ann Found, Mark Bragg STAFF: Faye Langmaid GUESTS: Councillor Woo, Dale Mountjoy, Sheila Hall-CBOT Ted welcomed all to the meeting, everyone introduced themselves. Purpose: � - The purpose of the meeting was to provide comments on the Durham Draft Agricultural Strategy 4W (presentation by Nancy Rutherford, Durham Region from April 11th meeting). There have been :O000 three members of the agricultural community involved in helping Durham staff to understand the industry, Tom Barrie, Dale Mountjoy and Frazer Puterbough. The Durham Draft Agriculture Strategy is divided into 4 areas for the Action Plan; Nancy had Nkr provided the comments from the consultations in Sunderland and Port Perry. The process for the review was to examine the comments from these consultation sessions, provide any, additional comments (not repeat) and then highlight the most critical ones. GENERAL COMMENTS a 7 --° - Rely on GTA-AAC to do the agri-food asset mapping, which will provide the basis for an economic development strategy (no need to duplicate), there may be a need to tease out the information specific to Durham. 0 :,10, 40; Or ,Pot h. •,� 0 02 18011 • The#1 asset is the land base and the soil, therefore Durham cannot afford to lose Prime Ag land. Unlike other Region's Durham has not pursued a full LEAR Study as outlined below. One of the goals of the Regional Official Plan is to conserve agricultural resources. Traditionally the Region has designated agricultural lands for protection in the Official Plan based on the soil capability for agriculture (Canada Land Inventory) information. Blocks of land containing soils with a high potential for agriculture were designated Prime Agriculture in the Regional Official Plan in accordance with the PPS. Lands designated included the extensive tracts of class 1 to 3 soils in the Region as well as contiguous areas of farming on class 4 soils. One of the criticisms of the approach to designate agricultural lands based only on soil capability information does not take into consideration other factors that affect the viability of the land for agricultural use. Factors such as existing land use, micro-climate, land use of surrounding parcels, land fragmentation, size of land holdings also affect the agricultural potential of an area. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 22nd, 2013 An alternative evaluation system called the Land Evaluation and Area Review for Agriculture (LEAR) to identify Prime Agricultural Areas, to be designated in the Regional Official Plan would enable the Region to consider other factors in addition to soil capability for agriculture to determine potential for agriculture. The LEAR evaluation system model was developed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). (Definition adapted from the Ottawa Carleton LEAR paper) • In Durham there is a micro-climate area south of the 401 along Lake Ontario a LEAR would help identify this area as special. Also the lands known as the "Bowmanville Plain" the Lake Iroquois Beach lands between Bowmanville and Newcastle have their own special climate and characteristics; this is why the cash crops in this area are some of the highest producing on a per acre basis in Ontario. These are whitebelt lands and should not be identified for future urban expansion. A full LEAR study would also identify some lands between Courtice and Bowmanville which are currently identified as "Major Open Space" rather than Prime Ag. ATTRACTION, RETENTION & EXPANSION • Agriculture Business Directory for the Region, it exists, it should be updated and maintained, is can be used as part of the economic development pitch for a "cluster' and to attract other agri-food processors and producers. • Pilot projects with innovation and/or technology, partnerships with Durham College and research by the local agri-sector organizations, highlighting of these projects, support from Region in the building of the relationship with the agriculture community. Agriculture producers are often left with the impression that Sr. Management and Regional Council are not supportive. • For Agri-product processing there is a need for infrastructure (access to water). Algoma was lucky in their siting and their well. OUTREACH & EDUCATION • Support grassroots initiatives such as Durham Farm Fresh, Durham Farm Connections and other sector specific organizations that are carrying out research, providing scholarships. • Durham College has land that could be used by them or in conjunction with OMAF for research, individual producers are also willing partners. The Region needs to support/facilitate long-term (more than 3-5 year) research projects for food related crops as an economic development strategy. Provide Agriculture with the same type and level of support that the auto-sector has received in the past. Could the Region provide land close to the lake for trials (e.g. in proximity to Courtice Pollution Control Plant). Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 22nd, 2013 • Is Regional Council aware/supportive of Agriculture and #1 economic driver in Region? Agriculture has been able to leverage $$ for research and economic development projects, limited funding goes a long way (typically 10:1). • To get the Agriculture message out, public relations and communications should be a priority for Region. Hire a writer to research the story from the agri-producer (e.g. interview), write it up and tailor it for different media (newspaper, magazines, facebook, etc.) This could be accomplished through a partnership with Durham College for the journalism students. SUPPORTIVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT • Impact of 407 on land values, tenure of land and destruction of business value needs to be addressed. Region supportive of the 407 as a highway and transportation corridor but also need to be cognizant of the impacts and supportive of the Agricultural sector in being fairly compensated for the loss that is occurring, to date there has been little support. • Foster understanding of agricultural knowledge/impacts in all Regional Councillors and senior staff. Agriculture is first and foremost a business; the environmental farm plan is the same as HAACP and ISO certification. • Farmers would love to hear"no you can't do that—there is a farm next door'. Secondary uses have to be agriculture related, not just because somebody has land they do not know what to do with. Apply MDS in reverse, implement buffers and setbacks. Policy planners need to understand impact on agriculture producers, policy writers tend to protect against allowing things to happen rather than allowing for innovation and flexibility. LABOUR FORCE DEVELOPMENT • Most agriculture sector organizations have scholarships, Cattlemen's, Soil and Crop, Sheep producers, Holstein Assoc., Simmental Assoc., 4-H, etc. • Farming requires education, information technology know-how is key, and on-farm training is key. This is not your grandfathers farm, they are highly technical integrated operations operated by knowledgeable individuals. Profiling of agriculture careers by Durham Region Local Training Board is good. Support for Leadership Program for Young Farmers should continue as priority for Durham Region. • Seasonality is an issue, workers from the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program are very sector specific, supportive policy for housing of seasonal workers is necessary. Preference of producers for off-shore seasonal workers is related to training for the long term, most seasonal workers come back year after year. As a business, farms have to have reliable and trained workers. Human resources management and having a knowledgeable staff are part of many farming operations. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 22nd, 2013 OTHER COMMENTS • Government Services- meaning, ministry staff, regional, local and CA's have to be able to provide excellent customer service to the agriculture sector. Farmers are often frustrated by the overlapping rules. Ombudsman/Facilitator could be provided by the Region to help work through land severance, septic/well permits, health regulations, natural heritage issues, building permits, nutrient management and source water protection. • Agricultural Best Management Practices- should have precedence over special interest groups. Before Regional Council considers endorsement of resolutions consideration should be given to impacts on the business or agriculture, refer resolutions to DAAC for input. • Supportive Infrastructure- design roads for agricultural vehicles and all season access (eliminate half load season for agriculture related works). Respect bio-security signage, including by DPRS. Eradicate invasive species, dog strangling vine, phragmites, giant hogweed, wild parsnip, etc. along roadsides; the Region needs to take responsibility on their own lands to eradicate these to help stop the spread. John Cartwright moved for Adjournment. Next Meeting May 9t", 2013, 7:30pm, MTO staff will be present to discuss 407 issues. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 22nd, 2013