2020 Conference Sessions
Islands Agriculture Show Keynote Speaker
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Keynote Speaker: Leona Watson
This Canadian award-winning Olds College student is passionate about agriculture and life. Léona has struck a perfect balance in applying the time-honoured principles she learned within her family farming roots. Her parents, the late Jean & Joanne Dargis, taught their five daughters the powerful combination of education and enthusiasm in moving not only the agricultural industry forward but in truly living life to its’ fullest. Signup for her conference session: "Movers and Shakers: How Young Farmers Persist in an Ever Challenging Environment," or learn more about the 14 upcoming sessions by seeing our schedule below. |
2019 Conference Sessions
The Islands Agriculture Show features two days of conference sessions. These workshops offer the farming community
opportunities to learn from the experts. This event features 14 educational workshops with compelling speakers.
The sessions are $18 ea or 3 for $45. There will be no refunds due to weather conditions.
opportunities to learn from the experts. This event features 14 educational workshops with compelling speakers.
The sessions are $18 ea or 3 for $45. There will be no refunds due to weather conditions.
2019 Conference Session Updates
Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC Projects: From Idea to Execution
PANEL: Coreen Rodger Berrisford, Director of Client Relations at Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and a selection of IAF clients
Learn more about the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF) and our current funding opportunities. Discover how a project evolves directly from a variety of success IAF clients. Learn how they developed their project; the process of working with a Project Manager; and the details on how they successfully executed their projects.
PANEL: Coreen Rodger Berrisford, Director of Client Relations at Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and a selection of IAF clients
Learn more about the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF) and our current funding opportunities. Discover how a project evolves directly from a variety of success IAF clients. Learn how they developed their project; the process of working with a Project Manager; and the details on how they successfully executed their projects.
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Coreen Rodger Berrisford
Coreen is the Director of Client Relations for the Investment Agriculture Foundation and a Professional Agrologist. She brought over 10 years’ experience in project management, consumer issues, market research, export marketing, sector development and strategic planning to the organization when she joined it in late 2004. She has a B.Sc. in Farm and Ranch Management from Colorado State University and an M.Sc. degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Manitoba. Her previous experience was with the Alberta Ministries of Agriculture and Environment as well as the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada in the BC office. The Investment Agriculture Foundation has been investing in projects which help the agriculture and food sector enhance their competitiveness, profitability and sustainability. |
Young Agrarians Land Leasing Workshop
Speaker: Arja Jones Martin
Got Land? Want Land? Join Young Agrarians Land Matcher Azja Jones Martin for a session exploring the nuts and bolts of leasing land. We’ll start with a mini networking session, then look at what goes into creating a solid land arrangement: key factors in assessing land, best practices for leasing, regulations to be aware of, and building strong relationships. You’ll come away with a solid understanding of the land access resources available to support both farmers and farmland owners. Everyone welcome – farmers, landowners, veggie growers, orchardists, apiarists, livestock farmers, the more the merrier! Bring your questions!
Speaker: Arja Jones Martin
Got Land? Want Land? Join Young Agrarians Land Matcher Azja Jones Martin for a session exploring the nuts and bolts of leasing land. We’ll start with a mini networking session, then look at what goes into creating a solid land arrangement: key factors in assessing land, best practices for leasing, regulations to be aware of, and building strong relationships. You’ll come away with a solid understanding of the land access resources available to support both farmers and farmland owners. Everyone welcome – farmers, landowners, veggie growers, orchardists, apiarists, livestock farmers, the more the merrier! Bring your questions!
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Azja Jones Martin
Azja is the Vancouver Island Young Agrarians Land Matcher, offering hands-on, personalized land access support to farmers who are looking for land, and landowners who would like to lease their land for farming, through the new BC Land Matching Program. Based in the Cowichan Valley, Azja is passionate about helping maximize the potential of our beautiful farmland and doing what she can to help other new and young farmers establish sustainable farm businesses. Azja is co-founder of Little Mountain Farm, a CSA business which produces naturally grown veggies for about 80 families on South Vancouver Island. |
Soil Compaction Vegetable Production
Speaker: Geoff Hughes-Games
So your carrots are bent, your field doesn’t drain and you are frustrated. Soil compaction may be one of the underlying issues. Time will be spent reviewing the underlying causes and consequences of soil compaction then move on review some practices that could be used to reduce impacts
of compaction, if not prevent it in the first place. There will also be an opportunity for a soil science 101 Q & A, so bring your questions.
Speaker: Geoff Hughes-Games
So your carrots are bent, your field doesn’t drain and you are frustrated. Soil compaction may be one of the underlying issues. Time will be spent reviewing the underlying causes and consequences of soil compaction then move on review some practices that could be used to reduce impacts
of compaction, if not prevent it in the first place. There will also be an opportunity for a soil science 101 Q & A, so bring your questions.
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Geoff Hughes-Games
Geoff is a Professional Agrologist with over 36 years’ experience in agricultural soil management. He currently works part-time as EFP Technical Specialist (BC Environmental Farm Plan Program) for BC ARDCorp and as a private agricultural and environmental consultant. Geoff began work with the BC Ministry of Agriculture in 1987 with a focus on soil and drainage related projects. He served as the Ministry’s Provincial Soil Specialist for 18 years before being appointed Manager of the Resource Management Unit in 2014. His passion is soil management, although he played an active role in emergency response and recovery efforts, particularly as it related to flooding, animal disease, spill response, and debris flow events. Over his career he co-authored several publications including Soil Management Handbooks for both the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan & Similkameen Valleys, the BC Agricultural Drainage Manual, and the Reference Guide and Planning Workbook which are the core materials for the BC Environmental Farm Plan and Beneficial Management Practices Programs. |
Waste Control, Groundwater Licensing: New Regulations
Speakers: Marg Crawley, David Robinson and Josie Beruldsen
Speakers: Marg Crawley, David Robinson and Josie Beruldsen
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David Robinson
David is a water authorizations officer from the West Coast Region of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. After a lengthy career in forestry consulting, he was hired in 2016 to work in water licensing as part of the new Water Sustainability Act. David reviews ground and surface water licence applications, and also acts as a decision maker under the title of Assistant Water Manager for the region. |
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Margaret Crowley
Margaret works in the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy on agricultural and agriculture-related environmental policy and regulations. The ministry has been reviewing the Agricultural Waste Control Regulation (AWCR) with the goals for updating the regulation and associated guidance to enhance and Improve water and air quality, ensure watercourses and groundwater are protected, and provide certainty through clear, unambiguous requirements. A summary of the changes to and new requirements will be covered. The new regulation applies to all agricultural operations and activities in the province. |
Wire Worm Control using Novel Techniques
Speaker: Todd Kabaluk
Speaker: Todd Kabaluk
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Todd Kabaluk
Todd is a Research Biologist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Agassiz, BC. His research involves developing microorganisms and other biologically-based materials for their use as pest control products. He is currently working on a comprehensive approach to wireworm control that encompasses a multitude of approaches to help farming thrive where this pest is a problem. |
New Entrants and Regulated Marketing in BC
Speaker: Tamara Leigh
Speaker: Tamara Leigh
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Tamara Leigh
Tamara is a communications consultant, writer and facilitator. She has specialized in agricultural issues and communications for the past 13 years, providing strategic communications support, stakeholder engagement and issues and media management for a variety of clients, including the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC and the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative. Tamara is a skilled facilitator and consensus-builder, having worked with organizations in agriculture and beyond to address complex issues and find a path forward. She is a long-standing member and director of the BC Farm Writers' Association and the Canadian Farm Writers Federation. |
Island Good, VI Foreign Trade Zone Status
Speaker: George Hanson
Speaker: George Hanson
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George Hanson
Well known for his achievements in community, organizational and economic development, George has a reputation for getting things done and ‘making a difference’. He has consulted for corporations, community organizations, district, municipal, provincial and federal governments on Vancouver Island and beyond. He has also served on numerous community committees charged with improving social, educational and economic conditions. George is the former Managing Director for the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership and former Development Manager for InSight Developments. He is the Managing Partner of Clayton Consulting and President of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, a collaborative partnership spearheading regional economic development for the Vancouver Island region. |
Improving Organic Vegetable Production Through Enhanced Nutrient Management
Speaker: Amy Norgaard
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Amy Norgaard
Amy is a graduate student in soils science at UBC Amy uses an ecological lens to view intensive organic vegetable cropping systems. Providing insight and better tools for small-scale farmers such as nutrient management planning which will help them fulfill their environmental goals, while balancing economic and social demands. |
Industrial Hemp: Emerging New Technologies & Implications for Island Hemp Production
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Jack Anderson
Jack Anderson is the owner of Greenplan, an island based planning and design company that promotes innovative project focused on sustainability and green technologies for the past 3 decades. His career includes multiple years working for provincial and municipal governments as well as private consulting to plan and design green residences and sustainable neighbourhoods. He is currently associated with an emerging new building technology that uses industrial hemp hurd and lime to make Just BioFiber building blocks that hold revolutionary potential for the construction industry. |
Prosperity through diversity: What do CUSMA and CPTPP mean to agriculture and agrifood?
Canada is the only G7 country with trade agreements with all other G7 members. Diversification of trading partners is a key strategy for both the Government of Canada, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture.
Farm and agri-food businesses on Vancouver Island, and all of BC, have great opportunities in these new markets as BC has a diversity of products to fill diverse market demands. This talk will provide information on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and provide a road map of services, programs and contacts to help you leverage these trade opportunities.
Farm and agri-food businesses on Vancouver Island, and all of BC, have great opportunities in these new markets as BC has a diversity of products to fill diverse market demands. This talk will provide information on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and provide a road map of services, programs and contacts to help you leverage these trade opportunities.
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Anna North
Anna wants to make connections between government services and the private sector. As the Manager, Intergovernmental Relations and Trade with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, she works with her team to identify and solve trade and market access issues, build relationships and bring the perspectives and issues of BC’s agriculture and agrifood sectors to national forums. |