Community Irrigation Systems in the Vanderhoof Area
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Community Irrigation Systems in the Vanderhoof Area

Community Irrigation Systems in the Vanderhoof Area

(2025)

The availability of water to meet agricultural and food security needs, both now and into the future, has become a growing concern for producers in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN). For example, during the 2023 drought there was approximately an 80% drop in hay production and around triple the typical number of cattle were sent to market early due to lack of feed. The reduction in crop yields, often leads to trickle-down effects through the agri-food system, particularly since Vanderhoof forage producers supply feedstock to producers throughout other parts of BC, including dairy producers in the Fraser Valley. For the local forage sector to thrive, a safe and reliable source of water for irrigation must be secured. Producers in the RDBN have expressed an interest in learning how community irrigation systems may be a way to access water to increase the amount of agricultural land under irrigation.

Upland was contracted by the RDBN to assess the feasibility of community irrigation systems for the Vanderhoof area. These collaborative systems are of particular interest because they can help multiple producers share the overhead and the costs incurred to design and build irrigation systems. This producer guide outlines how to collect data and make decisions about the suitability of community irrigation systems, with methods that can be applied across the region.

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Agriculture and Agri-Tech in the City of Surrey

Agriculture and Agri-Tech in the City of Surrey

(2025)

Upland was contracted by the City of Surrey, BC, to develop a comprehensive profile of Surrey’s agricultural and agri-tech landscape, identify emerging trends, and outline actionable opportunities to support the sector. This report draws on primary and secondary research, including stakeholder interviews, policy review, and datasets such as the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI) and the federal Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture, to analyze land use, production capacity, water availability, value-added capacity, agri-food processing, agri-tech adoption, and sectoral challenges. A set of actionable recommendations were included in the report to inform an Agri-Tech Strategy to guide future planning and investment.
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Nicola Valley Abattoir Business Plan

Nicola Valley Abattoir Business Plan


(2023)

As part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Specialized Business Planning Stream, Upland Agricultural Consulting was retained to provide business coaching services to the Small Scale Meat Producers Association (SSMPA). The SSMPA wishes to build an abattoir in conjunction with the Cold water Indian Band (CIB) on CIB reserve lands in the Nicola Valley.

Upland worked as a part of a team with the SSMPA to identify several priority topic areas: business governance options, assessing realistic revenue opportunities during the first 5 years, and exploring how investing in value-added product offerings could affect profitability. Several meetings occurred via phone and zoom, including one with other members of the SSMPA and members of the CIB.
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Splitrock Environmental Greenhouse Expansion Business Plan

Splitrock Environmental Greenhouse Expansion Business Plan

(2024)

Upland was contracted by Splitrock Environmental to develop a business plan to guide the organization in the expansion of their existing greenhouse operation. This business plan explores the opportunity involved in expanding current production of native plants and propagating whitebark pine for forestry restoration and planting contracts, and assesses the level of investment required and subsequent cash flow analysis and return on investment expected over a five year period. The business plan was subsequently used to successfully apply for, and receive, REDIP funding to complete the greenhouse project.
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Slaughter Scheduling App Feasibility Study

Slaughter Scheduling App Feasibility Study

(2024)

Upland was contracted by the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food to conduct a feasibility study to explore the usefulness of the development of an online platform in the form of a smart phone application (app)and/or website to improve efficiencies and connectivity between producers and processors in B.C. Presented as a scheduling service, the app would primarily provide a streamlined method for scheduling animals in for slaughter, as well as an opportunity to serve other needs, such as describing processor profiles, distributing reminders and updates, sending Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding animal drop-off, connecting to cut & wrap services, and/or improving tracking and traceability.

The scope of this report paid a particular focus on the opportunity to pilot a scheduling app in the Thompson-Nicola/North Okanagan region. The region has 13 licensed meat processing operations (10 Abattoirs, 2 Farmgate Plus, and 1 Farmgate). The research conducted for this feasibility study included the following activities:

  • Literature review
  • Stakeholder interviews
  • Scan of other scheduling apps

The final report was presented to the Ministry with a report that included a summary of findings, considerations for a BC scheduling app (geographic reach, management options, estimated costs and return on investment), and recommended next steps.
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Sea-to-Sky Food Hub Feasibility Plan

Sea-to-Sky Food Hub Feasibility Study


(2024)

Since 2020, the Squamish Food Policy Council (SFPC) and the District of Squamish have undertaken several steps to gauge the interest levels of local small-scale farmers, food and beverage producers, and processors, in establishing a food hub in the Sea-to-Sky region. Upland was contract to complete a detailed food hub assessment to craft a business model that would allow the hub initiative to expand using a phased approach, and includes recommendations regarding governance models, membership, and a business plan. Since this feasibility study was completed, the community has implemented several of the recommendations, the food hub is in the early stages of development, and funding has been secured for food storage for a new Harvest Hub.
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New Entrants Infrastructure Support Program

New Entrants Infrastructure Support Program


(2020)

Upland was contracted by the BC Ministry of Agriculture to investigate the possible components for a program that would support New Entrants in implementing infrastructure-based farm projects in order to grow their farm businesses. The report also includes templates for Applicant Eligibility, a Farm Growth Plan, and Project Eligibility.

The objective of this potential New Entrants program would be to provide new and emerging farms the support required to make significant strides in reaching or working towards commercial viability by investing in equipment and infrastructure.

 

 
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Farm-Level Business Plans

Farm-Level Business Plans (various)

Upland Agricultural Consulting has worked closely dozens of new and experienced farmers to identify opportunities to grow their farm businesses. Upland has experience in developing business plans for a diversity of farm operations, including mixed-vegetable, berry, livestock, goat dairy, hops, seafood, flowers, mushrooms, and specialty crops (e.g. wasabi) as well as value-added products.

Ione Smith, Director of Upland, is a Qualified Business Consultant as conferred by the BC Ministry of Agriculture. If you choose to work with Ione you may be eligible for funding through the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program.

Upland will work directly with you to ensure your farm business goals are met while providing a road-map on how to get you there.

Examples of business planning activities that Upland can provide are, but not limited to:
- Determining your business strategy including goals, vision and mission statements,
- Identifying consumer market trends, industry competition, and market gaps,
- Outlining the farm production plan for each farm activity and including best environmental practices of production,
- Performing a risk assessment using a strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats assessment (SWOT) and identifying a mitigation strategy for any identified risks,
- Providing financial analysis that includes assessing capital investment needs, operational expenditures, costs of production, cash flow analysis, and breakeven analysis, and,
- Forming an implementation strategy, including seeking funding opportunities, for how to set the business plan into motion.

Upland will provide you with a final report and an excel workbook which can be modified as your business changes and grows.
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Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Agriculture Sector Support Plan

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Agriculture Sector Support Plan

(2020)

The RDKS Agriculture Sector Support Plan evaluates the current regional agriculture sector and provides specific recommended actions that the RDKS Economic Development Commission can implement to support the food system. The Plan was developed by combining existing data and studies with stakeholder engagement in order to understand existing gaps in the sector. The engagement results and several research methods, including a situational analysis, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats assessment and a gap analysis, were used to inform the Plan’s recommendations. The Plan recommends actions to ensure that agricultural land is used productively and farming, foraging, and other forms of food production are valued and sustained. The Plan will assist the Economic Development Commission in understanding how it can best allocate resources to support the agricultural sector and lead to business success.

An important component of the planning process was the creation of the RDKS Agricultural Asset Map. The map is a list of up-to-date information on primary producers, direct marketing channels, community gardens, and non-governmental organizations. The map will be useful in connecting consumers with producers and highlighting local food retailers, community organizations, and their projects within the region.

Link to the Plan

Link to the Asset Map
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Lytton First Nation Agricultural Opportunities Assessment

Lytton First Nation Agricultural Opportunities Assessment


(2018)

The Lytton First Nation Agricultural Opportunities Assessment and Food Hub Feasibility Study provides recommendations regarding viable crop scenarios and includes a robust and scalable governance and financial model for the food hub framework. The primary goal of the Plan is to assist local farmers in saving time and money by selling their products collectively. Resources, including staff and equipment, would be shared to minimize overhead and operational costs.

This report provides a detailed explanation of the assumptions and recommendations that are demonstrated in the financial projections, which has been developed in a conservative manner. The financial plan includes an estimate of job opportunities, cash flow projection, promotion and branding.