A former longtime agrologist for the province says some smaller farms in the Kamloops area are facing challenges that could threaten their viability.
Graham Strachan spoke to the Thompson Nicola Regional District board for more than an hour today, and says diversification is a big issue in this region.
“What’s at risk is perhaps some of the smaller farms that are surviving.”
He says diversifying for small farmers can include being able to have gravel pits, recreational activities or agri-tourism on their properties.
“Me working in the agricultural field, I’d like to see some stability in the agricultural land base. Stability in terms of the bylaws, rules and regulations that allow farming, and allow farming to have some consistent steps forward.”
Strachan says farms have been gradually consolidated to fewer and larger farms, but he says there are still a thousand farms in the TNRD.