Some additional info from Denice Berlinski

Additional Information relating to the Spicer Block.

Source: Canada Department of Agriculture. Soil Research. “Vernon Sheet (Sheet 82L)” Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability for Agriculture” Ottawa: Surveys and Mapping Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1977. AGRICULTURE CAPABILITY OF THE SPICER BLOCK

Key point:

This land has excellent soils, wide growing capabilities, and is large enough for commercial food production.

Class of Land:

According to the Canada Land Inventory (CLI) classification of agriculture soil capability, the 118 acres of the Spicer block is Class 2 land.

Explanations of classes:

Classes 1 to 3 are generally described as prime agriculture land (best crop land).

Class 2 land is described by the CLI as follows:

The soils are deep and hold moisture well. Limitations are moderate and the soils can be managed and copped with little difficulty. Under good management, they are moderately high to high in productivity for a fairly wide range of crops.

Class 1 has the broadest range with little or no limitations for the production of common agricultural crops and Class 7 has no capability for arable culture or sustained natural grazing. The classification system considers both climate and soil conditions of an area and is based on a range of crops.

Source: Canada Department of Agriculture. Soil Research. “Vernon Sheet (Sheet 82L)” Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability for Agriculture” Ottawa: Surveys and Mapping Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1977.

Climate of the land:

This land has greater than 150 frost free days which makes it an excellent area for growing a wide range of crops.

Crops which could be produced on this land:

Hay, corn silage, apples, prunes, strawberries, cane crops such as raspberries, cool season vegetables such as peas, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, etc.

As an example of its capabilities, the field can produce 5 to 6 tonnes of hay per acre, or 25 to 28 tonnes of corn silage per acre.

ALR LAND IN THE OKANAGAN

Only 5% of the land in the Okanagan is ALR land. (Agriculture Land Reserve. “Chart 1 Percentage of ALR by Region” March 31, 2007) http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/alr/stats/Perc_ALR_by_Region.htm

PRIME AGRICULTURE LAND IN BC

These statistics are taken from an ALC publication published in 1998 and therefore are on the old side. However, I thought even these older statistics were illustrative of the scarcity of prime agriculture land in this province. I believe, Mr. Christie may have more recent statistics.

“In British Columbia, all prime agriculture land within the ALR (our best crop land) accounts for only about 1% of the BC land base. “ Prime is referring to classes 1 to 3 according to the Canadian Land Inventory classification (From: Agriculture Land Reserve. “Purpose of Planning for Agriculture” Planning for Agriculture. 1998.) http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/planning/Planning_for_Agriculture/index.htm

Comparison of Agricultural Capability Indications And BC's Land Base
Capability Indicator % of BC's Land Base:

Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve* 5.00%
Land Capable of a Range of Crops (BCLI Class 1-3) 2.70%
Prime Agricultural Land (BCLI Class 1-3) 1.10%
Class 1 Agricultural Capability 0.06%
Land Suitability for Tree Fruit Production in the ALR** 0.04%

* Agricultural Land Reserve Statistics, Jan. 1, 1995, Table A-2

** Correspondence, OVTFA, Oct. 19, 1995 (Total ALR area in the Okanagan and Similkamen Valleys suitable for tree fruit production = 35,492 hectares.

From: Agriculture Land Reserve. “BC Agriculture. Finding Its Place” Planning for Agriculture. 1998.
http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/planning/Planning_for_Agriculture/index.htm

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