5.0 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION · under nursery production growing from 79-90 ha over the same period....

Section 5.0City of Richmond

41An Agricultural Profile for the City of Richmond

5.0 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONRichmond’s farms have always produced a great variety of crops and livestock. Today, this variety includes potatoes, cranberries, blueberries, forage crops, pumpkins and squash, cabbage, various tree fruits, sweetcorn, cucumbers, green peas, and many other vegetables, hens and chickens, beef and dairy cattle, sheep and lambs, novel species like llamas and alpacas, and other agricultural products such as honey, flowers, andChristmas trees. Yet, although there are many different agricultural products under cultivation, no crop comes close to cranberries in terms of the hectares dedicated to its production (854 ha – the next-nearestcrop, “other Hay,” tops out at 429 ha). Together, these crops contribute to an agricultural sector which earned $56,338,204 in revenues in 1995 (see Section 7.0 for more discussion on the economics ofRichmond’s agricultural sector).

1 Source for data used in this section: Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 1999. City of Richmond Agricultural Overview.2 “Other” includes nursery products, Christmas trees, and sod grown for sale. Source: Statistics Canada Agricultural Census Questionnaire (1996).3 Not including Chinese cabbage.

5.1 CROPS5.1.1. Land in Crops1

The “Berries and Grapes” category dominates the land used forcrop production in Richmond, with cranberries and blueberriesleading the way.

Although the total amount of land in census farms decreasedby 11.9% (407 ha) between 1991 and 1996, the land in cropproduction decreased by less than one percent over this sameperiod.

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An agricultural land use inventory performed in August, 2000has enabled the City to map many kinds of agriculturalproduction. The four categories on Map 5.1 cover the top 10crops listed in Table 5.2, with the exception of strawberries.These categories are: blueberry production, cranberryproduction, vegetable production (including potatoes; sweetcorn; squash, pumpkins, zucchini; and cabbage, among others),and forage crop production (including hay, alfalfa, and some ofthe oats).

Harvesting potatoes - one of the mostimportant crops in the Gilmore area ofRichmond.

Crop Fast Facts

• The amount of land in cranberryproduction increased by 229 ha(37%) between 1991 and 1996.

• Richmond accounted for 64% ofall land in cranberry production inBC in 1996!

• Although the amount of land inblueberry production fell by 21 ha(6%) between 1991 and 1996,Richmond still accounted fornearly 15% of all land inblueberry production in BC in1996.

Crop Fast Facts (con’t)

• Richmond accounted for13% of all land in cabbageproduction, and 24% of allland in Chinese cabbageproduction in BC in 1996.

• In 1996, there were fourfarms growing Christmastrees, with a total of 18 haplanted.

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City of RichmondSection 5.0

An Agricultural Profile for the City of Richmond

5.2 GREENHOUSES AND NURSERIES5.2.1. Greenhouses

Due to their extended growing season and intensive inputs, asquare metre in a greenhouse can grow much more producethan a square metre of open-air agricultural land. In fact, mostgreenhouses do not even use soil anymore, opting instead forhigh-tech hydroponic systems.

Common greenhouse crops in the Lower Mainland aretomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. However, vegetable cropssuch as these are rare in Richmond’s greenhouses, whereflowers are more the norm. Table 5.3 describes the differenttypes of greenhouse production in Richmond.

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4 Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census of Agriculture.5 Source for this and the two previous bullets: Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 1999. City of Richmond Agricultural Overview.6 Source: Ibid.7 Sources: 1) Ross, 1979. Richmond. Child of the Fraser; 2) City of Richmond, 1984. Agricultural Perspective. Official Community Plan Background Report 2.

The two main variables for greenhouse location are the amountof sunlight reaching the earth, and a lack of extreme climateconditions (no excessive hot or cold periods). For thesereasons, Delta, South Surrey, and Langley are attractingincreasing numbers of greenhouses, while Richmond hasexperienced some growth as well. Following are some factsabout greenhouse production:

• The number of farms with greenhouses in Richmond grewfrom 39 to 48 between 1991 and 1996, but the totalgreenhouse area increased less than 3%.

• In the Lower Mainland as a whole, the growth ingreenhouse area between 1991 and 1996 was 47%.

• Richmond’s greenhouses make up almost 8% of theLower Mainland’s total area in greenhouses; the LowerMainland in turn accounts for 71% of the province’s totalgreenhouse space.5

• Most greenhouses use natural gas for heating. The spikein natural gas prices in late 2000 has caused seriousconcerns over the future of the industry, and will almostcertainly slow future expansion.

5.2.2. Nurseries

The number of operations with nursery production is growingrapidly, from 18 to 26 between 1991 and 1996, with the areaunder nursery production growing from 79-90 ha over thesame period.6

Many of Richmond’s nurseries use greenhouses in theirproduction system, particularly for propagation and weatherprotection. Most, if not all, of the “other greenhouseproducts” operations listed in Table 5.3 are probably nurseryoperations.

Please see Map 5.2 for the location of greenhouse and nurseryproduction in Richmond.

5.3 LIVESTOCKLivestock is not as important to Richmond’s agriculturalsector as it used to be, but it remains an important part ofmany farms’ income. Table 5.4 shows the number of farmsraising each type of livestock and the total number of headraised by the farms.

Dairy

Dairy operations used to be a veryimportant part of Richmond’sagricultural sector, particularly in the1920s and 1930s. 1954 saw theclosure of Richmond’s largest dairy,Frasea Farms, to make way for theairport.7 The importance of theindustry declined, and today it is arelatively small component ofRichmond’s agricultural sector.

Nurseries are common alongWestminster Highway in East Richmond.



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In 1996, census farms reported 83 ha in “tame or seededpasture,” and 120 ha of “natural land for pasture.”10

The numbers of most livestock have been declining steadilysince at least 1961. Two notable exceptions are hens andchickens, which spiked sometime between 1981 and 1996, andhorses and ponies, whose number increased during the 1970sand have since held relatively steady.

Figures 5.1-5.3 show the change in the number of cattle, hensand chickens, and horses and ponies between 1961 and 1996.11

Map 5.3 shows the location of parcels with dairy production,beef production, poultry production, and horse activity.

8 The sum of the beef and dairy cow operations does not add to 15 because these sub-headings describe farms which raise cows (females) for dairy or beef production. Sub-headings not represented (no data) include bulls, steers, heifers, and calves.9 An “x” indicates that data has been suppressed to maintain confidentiality.10 Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census of Agriculture.11 Sources for this series: 1) Ministry of Agriculture, 1999. City of Richmond Agricultural Overview; 2) City of Richmond, 1984. “Livestock and Certain Field Crops, 1961-1981,” (Staff report).

Employees of Frasea Farms, ca. 1940.

4356

3322

16321289

4619

0500

1000150020002500

300035004000

45005000

1961 1971 1981 1991 1996

Hea

d

Figure 5.1 Change in the Number of Cattle (Total), Richmond,1961-1996

99,400

38,187

3604

179,263

020,00040,00060,00080,000

100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000200,000

1961 1971 1981 1991 1996

Num

ber

Data unavailable due to small number

of reporting farms

Figure 5.2 Change in Number of Hens & Chickens, Richmond,1991-1996

Cattle and culture in Richmond’s farmlands.

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As the graphs show, there are more horses and ponies inRichmond between 1981 to 1996, than there were in 1961(although not as many as in 1981). Horse and stable operationsseem to have taken on an increasing percentage of the ALRlands, especially in the Gilmore area. At this point, it is notknown how much farmland is occupied by these operations.

162

400

325 306

050

100150200250300350400450500

1961 1971 1981 1991 1996

Head

No data available

Figure 5.3 Change in Number of Horses and Ponies, Richmond,1961-1996 5.4 ORGANIC PRODUCTION

Two Richmond farms, Rabbit River Farms (an organic eggproducer) and the Blueberry Butler (blueberries), are certifiedorganic by accredited organic certification agencies. Inaddition, there is at least one certified organic distributioncentre in Richmond, Wild West Organic Harvest Co-op.

On a less formal level, many “market gardeners” in Richmondengage in organic production, although they are too small toundergo certification.12

Horse stable operations are holding steady in the ALR.

Emerging Farm Opportunities

There are a number of “new”agricultural opportunities whichcould be pursued in Richmond. Theseinclude:

• Greenhouses;

• Organic and smaller farms;

• Market gardens;

• The development of new farmproducts;

• Educational and research farms(e.g. in liaison with UBC);

• Agri-tourism (e.g. farm fairs andtours, farm restaurants);

• Community gardens;

…and others that have not yet beenenvisioned.

12 Source: personal correspondence with Steve Easterbrook, Director, Wild West Organic Harvest Co-op



Map Notes:

Map 5.1 describes the location of parcels with different types ofoutside crop production in Richmond. It was created from theagricultural land use inventory conducted in August, 2000.

Note how the various production systems tend to be located inareas with similar soils (see Map 2.2 for the different “LandSystems” in Richmond). Cranberry production occurs largely inthe partially-decomposed (mesic) peat bogs in the north-east,blueberries in the undecomposed (fibric) bogs of centralRichmond, and vegetable and forage crops in the mineral soilswhich occur in Gilmore and an old river channel runningdiagonally through East Richmond. Also of importance forcranberry location is the presence of extensive irrigationinfrastructure in the north-east.

Many of the agricultural properties in Richmond have manydifferent types of production on them. Therefore, this mapshould not be read as an indication of the total area of landdevoted to different production systems. It simply shows theparcels which have, for instance, forage crop production, even ifthis were only a minor portion of the total agricultural productionon the property.

The four categories of outside crop production shown on thismap incorporate the top 10 crops listed in Table 5.2 in thischapter, with the exception of strawberries.

Source: City of Richmond Policy Planning Department, 2000, Agriculture GIS Project.

Note: Agricultural Land Reserve Boundary on Sea Island not shown.

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Map Notes:

Map 5.2 shows parcels which have commercial nursery and/orgreenhouse production. Domestic or non-commercialgreenhouses are not included.

Many of the agricultural properties in Richmond have manydifferent types of production on them. Therefore, this mapshould not be read as an indication of the total area of landdevoted to these production systems. It simply shows theparcels which have, for instance, a nursery, even if this wereonly a minor portion of the total agricultural production on theproperty.

Nurseries and greenhouses are presented together on this mapbecause of two associations between the systems: 1. they arehighly-intensive, and 2. many nurseries utilize greenhouses forpropagation and weather protection.

Although greenhouses are currently distributed evenly across theStrategy study area, future greenhouse development pressure isexpected to occur in the Gilmore area (between StevestonHighway and the South Arm of the Fraser), due to this area’shigher quantity of sunshine and its river-moderated temperatures.

Still, the recent spike in natural gas prices (used to heatgreenhouses) has cast uncertainty over the future growth of theindustry. As of December, 2000, the market price for gas hadincreased by 6 times over the December, 1999 price.13

13 Source: BC Gas website: http://www.bcgas.com/download/news_conference_speech.pdf.





Map Notes:

Map 5.3 shows those parcels which had beef production, dairyproduction, poultry production (including turkeys and ducks inaddition to chickens), and/or horse-related activity according tothe August, 2000 land use inventory.

Many of the agricultural properties in Richmond have manydifferent types of production on them. Therefore, this mapshould not be read as an indication of the total area of landdevoted to these production systems. It simply shows theparcels which contain, for instance, beef cattle grazing, even ifthis was only a minor portion of the total agricultural productionon the property.

While the beef, dairy, and poultry production areas are very likelyto be in commercial-scale production, the horse activity parcelsmay or may not. That is why that feature is called “horseactivity,” rather than “horse production.” The reason for this isthe high number of domestic horse-related uses in Richmond.Furthermore, even the commercial-scale horse facilities areusually not engaging in horse-rearing, and instead are equestriancentres offering riding instruction and/or stabling. These types offacilities are increasingly locating in the Gilmore area (betweenSteveston Highway and the South Arm).



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5.0 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION · under nursery production growing from 79-90 ha over the same period....

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