In January, 2009, the Farm Industry Review Board (FIRB) initiated a review of the use of propane cannons in the Fraser Valley
of British Columbia. The objective of their study is to identify how the interests of farmers and neighbours can best be balanced through the MAL Guidelines on propane cannon use and other possible regulatory measures. The full "Terms of Reference" for their study is detailed below.
At Ban the Cannons we find it very difficult to accept the fact that someone can be allowed to fire an extremely loud device like a propane cannon repeatedly anywhere near a neighbour's home or farm. It is actually
quite unthinkable!
Our hope is that the FIRB study determines that extremely loud devices like propane cannons should not be used in a heavily populated area like the Fraser Valley, and that a phase out is recommended.
If a phase out is not recommended, surely the FIRB people will make sweeping changes to the current guidelines. These guidelines do little to protect neighbours from this unacceptbale farm practice. We would like to see the following changes incorporated into the guidelines if a phase out is not planned:
Cannons can operate no more than 6 hours per day, and cannot start before 6:30am and must end by 8:00pm with a 5 hour mid day break from 11:00am to 4:00pm when no firing can take place.
blueberry growers can operate a maximum of one device per 10 hectares (20 acres) of planted bushes and no devices on plantings of less than 20 acres. No other form of agriculture may use cannons.
cannons must be relocated every 4 days.
blueberry growers may only use a device when starlings are present, and cannot operate a device nonstop using an automatice timer. Automatic timers cannot be used. Devices must be set to start and stop manually by farmers who are monitoring their fields.
a local contact must be provided to the BC Blueberry Council for every cannon.
maximum firing frequency is 4 activations per hour per device.
a separation distance of 500 meters to neighbouring residences is required, and 150 meters to neighbouring property lines.
shell launchers, other types of noise pistols and AV Alarms such as the Bird Guard must follow the same rules as cannons.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
BRITISH COLUMBIA FARM INDUSTRY REVIEW BOARD STUDY OF PROPANE CANNON USE
AND OPTIONS FOR REGULATION IN SOUTH COASTAL BRITISH COLUMBIA
The Use of Propane Cannons in Agriculture
Propane cannons, a noise scare device, are commonly used in protecting fruit and other crops from bird predation. During the growing season, they scare birds away from crops by emitting frequent (many times per hour) loud explosions. Bird predation of agricultural crops is of significant economic concern to farmers in British Columbia, and propane cannons are one of a variety of crop protection measures relied upon by farmers to protect their crops from losses due to birds.
As a noise device, there are situations where the use of propane cannons is disruptive to neighbours.
Background to the Study
The British Columbia Farm Industry Review Board (BCFIRB) hears complaints from persons aggrieved by any odour, noise, dust or other disturbance resulting from a farm operation. Under section 11(2) of the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act (FPPA), BCFIRB may also study, report on and make recommendations concerning any matter related to farm practices.
Propane cannon use is the major noise-related nuisance complaint received by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL) and by certain local governments in British Columbia. MAL guidelines for the use of noise scare devices including propane cannons, contained in the South Coastal British Columbia Wildlife Damage Control Farm Practices Factsheet, were first issued in 1996 and have since undergone reviews by both MAL and BCFIRB.
In October 2008, MAL requested that BCFIRB review the current guidelines for the use of propane cannons, which MAL revised in June 2008 following facilitation with industry stakeholders, the Fraser Valley Regional District and concerned citizens. Based on a preliminary analysis, BCFIRB has opted to expand the scope of its study beyond a review of the existing guidelines to also consider additional regulatory measures for resolving the conflicts around propane cannon use.
Review Objective
To identify how the interests of farmers and neighbours related to the use of propane cannons can best be balanced through the MAL guidelines on propane cannon use and other possible regulatory measures.
Terms of Reference
The Board has assigned a Committee to this review with Terms of Reference, as follows:
1. Review the use of propane cannons as a farm practice in British Columbia. The Committee may research farm practices in other jurisdictions as part of this review.
2. Examine the benefits and detriments of the use of propane cannons from the viewpoints of farmers and agri-industry (e.g. farm suppliers), farm neighbours, local governments, and the public interest.
3. Examine the benefits and detriments of the use of propane cannons from the viewpoint of the public interest.
4. Identify, if it deems appropriate, new or alternative practices and/or initiatives that may be used to address issues related to bird predation in the longer term.
5. Review the MAL June 2008 South Coastal Wildlife Damage Control Guidelines and determine whether further adjustments could be made that would help to reduce conflicts between farmers and their neighbours around the use of propane cannons.
6. Make recommendations concerning the most appropriate practices for use of propane cannons in the South Coastal region of British Columbia.
7. Identify additional measures for regulating the use of propane cannons, including through the establishment of standards prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council or of nuisance and farm bylaws by local governments, and propose considerations for the development of such standards and bylaws.
8. Make other recommendations as its conclusions may warrant.
9. Report to the Board no later than February 19, 2009.
Review Process and Timeline
BCFIRB will be undertaking consultation with industry stakeholders as part of its review in January and February 2009. BCFIRB intends to issue a report containing its recommendations from the study by February 28, 2009.
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