Salt Spring Island Agriculture

Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance

A recent survey conducted for the Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance found that the number of livestock (animals and poultry) on Salt Spring farms has decreased by half in the last five years.  In total, there are 44% fewer cattle, sheep, pigs and goats than there were in 2004 and about 54% fewer chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. 
The full survey results are available in the report entitled Salt Spring Island Livestock Production Study,released this week.
The authors of the study, Patricia Reichert and Margaret Thomson, said they found there are 35% fewer Salt Spring farms raising animals and poultry for food now than there were when the Gulf Islands Livestock Processing Feasibility Study was conducted in 2005.  This doesn’t say that there are fewer farms overall but, rather, that many of them are going out of the livestock business.  There are only about 68 farms raising livestock now compared with just over 100 in 2005, they said.

Anne Macey, chair of the Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance, explained there are likely several factors contributing to the decrease in animal and poultry production but the most significant one is that we no longer have slaughter and butchering services here on the island.  Farmers have to take their animals and poultry to government licensed facilities off-island.  This change is associated with the preparation for and implementation of the provincial government’s slaughtering regulations that came into effect in 2007.
In the survey, the majority of farmers indicated that taking their livestock to Vancouver Island is expensive and time-consuming, and is stressful both for them and the animals.  Anne Macey said that whether farmers stay in production and pay more for processing their livestock or they get rid of their livestock all together, either option has the effect of reducing farm incomes.  And, ultimately, when this many farms go out of livestock production it changes the essential quality of mixed farming here on Salt Spring.
The study shows that Salt Spring farmers are now raising 1,040 fewer sheep and almost 2,200 fewer chickens than they were four years ago.  Patricia Reichert noted that these decreases have serious implications for food security for the whole community.  At a time when we are trying to increase the amount of local food, this significant decrease in meat production is a critical loss, she said.
“This is a wake up call for all of us,” Anne Macey said.  “We need to turn this trend around.  Clearly, addressing the need for abattoir and butchering services is a key aspect of ensuring a vibrant and viable agricultural sector on Salt Spring Island.”

Contacts:
Anne Macey, Chair                                            
Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance                 
250-537-5511        
                                             
Patricia Reichert                        
Co-author of the study               
250-537-4282                            

Margaret Thomson
Co-author of the study
250-537-4669