SOIL & WATER

Resource categories:​

• Soil Quality

• Water Regulations

• Irrigation

Soil Quality

Soil Survey Informaion

BC Ministry of Agriculture

• SIFT Soil surveys and other data to map soil types and agricultural capabitliy across BC. All the information is available in iMapBC layers.

Physical and Chemical Tests

BC Ministry of Agriculture

• Soil Testing & Nutrients: How to collect a soil sample, soil sample labs and soil nutrient management. 

• Interpretations for Soil Test Phosphorus and Potassium: Guidelines for Southern British Columbia to produce maximum economic yields for the crop groups tested including barley, grasses, pumpkins, carrots and many more. 

Biological Tests

Soil Foodweb Inc.

• Soil Foodweb Inc (SFI), founded by Elaine Ingham, tests soil for biological indicators of health (e.g. fungi, bacteria, protozoa, etc.) and offers recommendations to increase beneficial soil life. Ingham-trained SFI consultants Vivian Kaloxilos (Montreal) and Jo Tobias (Vancouver) are connected with KBFA.

KBFA Workshops

Past Events

• Digging Deep into Soil Knowledge: Soil scientist Wayne Blashill lead us through a soil identification exercise by looking at deep soil pits. We also discussed new land mapping tools. 

• Irrigation & Soil Management Symposium: This event offered an opportunity to learn about results from field research on irrigation and soil management relevant to Kootenay-Boundary farming conditions. 

• "What's in Your Soil's Bank Account?": Norm Dueck of Heartland Soil and Crop Solutions and A & L Canada Laboratories discussed essential nutrients for crop productivity and how to make sense of your soil tests. 

• Soil Biology Identification with Jo Tobias: Regenerative Soil Consultant, Jo Tobias, walks through soil and compost samples to identify soil organisms on farms.

• On-Farm Trials, Soil Health and Cover Crops: Participants toured silage and grazing corn fields at the Fossen Ranch along with clover cover crops that were interplanted with corn for soil protection and fall grazing. 

• Regenerating Soil Life and Health with Nicole Masters: Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils, New Zealand, gave a two-day workshop at Waikikahei Ranch on soil health and regenerative agriculture. Topics included soil management, enhancing soil biology to increase productivity, water management, grazing and compost systems. See also: Soil Health with Nicole Masters. 

• Dryland Forage: Tillage Radish & Water Infiltration: This field day demonstrated an annual dryland forage crop planted with tillage radish to improve water infiltration and soil quality. 

• Organic Soil Management Webinar: Ruth Knight, Organic Soils Consultant, discussed organic soil management including: how soil health relates to crop productivity and water infiltration as an indicator of soil health including examples from a project in Ontario. 

• Introduction to Agricultural Soils: Knowing the chemical, physical and biological components of a soil and how they interact with each other is key to creating a healthy soil environment for productive crop growth. 

• Cover Crops for Soil Health: Participants viewed over 17 cover crop mixes in small plots, planted for a variety of different purposes at Blewett Mountain Gardens and Bent Plow Farm. A demonstration on flail mowing to incorporate cover crops in the soil. 

• BC Soil Information Finder Tool: Watch the webinar to demonstrate how to use the free, online Soil Information Finder Tool (SIFT) to assess soil survey data, reports and maps. 

Water Regulations

Water Licensing

Front Counter BC

• Water license applications are submitted to FLNRORD (Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) via FrontCounter BC:

  • Surface Water​ (including streams, ponds, and diversions)

  • Existing Well (all groundwater uses)

  • New Well (all groundwater uses)

Works In and About Streams

BC Ministry of Environment

• Working Around Water: Learn about BC Regulations for working with streams, lakes, rivers or other bodies of water. 

• Change Approval for Work In and About Streams: Apply to work in relation to a body of water within the province. 

Irrigation

BC Agriculture Water Calculator

BC Ministry of Agriculture

• BC Agriculture Water Calculator can estimate your farm's annual and peak water requirements based on irrigation method, soils, crops, and climate data. Livestock watering requirements can also be estimated.

Irrigation Professionals

Irrigation Industry Association of BC (IIABC)

• The IIABC have developed best practices and guides for the irrigation industry and their membership include certified agricultural irrigation designers, schedulers, and technicians.

Water Quality Guidelines

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME)

• The CCME have developed factsheets on acceptable levels of contaminants in potable and irrigation water supplies. These have usually been adopted by provincial environmental ministries.

Water Testing

BC Ministry of Agriculture

• Water Quality: Information on water quality testing and processes.