"Netting Pays for Itself"........Mr. Brent Warner, Ministry of Agriculture and
Lands
According to BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands employee, Mr. Brent Warner, on
smaller plantings up to 10 acres, netting pays for itself and "is the way to
go". Mr. Warner made this statement while giving testimony in the
Farm Practices Complaint Hearing between Silver Rill Berry Farm and
their neighbours the McLeods in March, 2007.
Mr. Brent Warner is an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and a
knowledgeable person under section 4 of the Act and was asked to present his
perspective on
this dispute. Mr. Warner is the Industry Specialist with the Ministry of
Agriculture and Lands and the past secretary of the North American Farmers
Direct Marketing Association. He graduated from the University of Guelph, (BSc.
Agr.) as an environmental biologist in 1977. Prior to beginning a career with
Agriculture Canada, he was the assistant production manager of one of the
largest ornamental nurseries on Ontario. His career spans over 30 years of
working with farm families across North America.
Mr. Warner stated in the preceedings that the use of propane cannons to scare
away birds is an issue and while cannons are acceptable on larger acreages,
they are a problem on smaller farms. In the short term, Mr. Warner said that
cannons can work, but the long-term solution is netting.
He stated that on
smaller plantings, up to 10 acres, netting pays for itself and "is the way to
go".
When questioned about the need to shoot birds which become trapped in the nets,
Mr. Warner stated that the nets have improved and don't catch many birds
anymore.
If you wish to read the entire FIRB complaint and decision, it can be found on
the
BC Farm Industry Review Board web site at the following link:
FIRB Complaint Decisions
The case in which Mr. Warner testified is identified as "McLeod v Silver Rill
Berry Farm - Decision (March 28, 2007)"
There is no doubt that propane cannons should be phased out. An effective
phase out method would be to make it illegal to use cannons on small acreages
under 10 acres in the first year of a phase out. In the second year increase
that size to 20 acres. And make it illegal to use cannons altogether in the
third year.
