Metadata
Working with two innovative
producers, a research team from the
University of British Columbia is
testing protective crop covers that may extend
the growing seasons and potentially help to avoid
some of the adverse effects of climate change.
Climate projections indicate that average
annual temperatures will increase throughout
the province, but an increase in the number of
growing degree-days does not automatically
translate into a longer growing season. More
variability and extremes in precipitation
(particularly in the spring and fall) combined
with hotter and drier summers, will increase the
complexity of crop management.
“With climate change and possible drought conditions in the
late growing season, taking advantage of the early part of the
growing season becomes even more important. Ensuring
that farmers can get on the land as early as possible can have
big benefits to agriculture,” says Dr. Andy Black, professor
of biometeorology and soil physics at UBC.
Plastic mulch and low tunnels are used widely in the United
States, Spain and China to modify microclimates. Their
ability to protect crops from frost, conserve moisture, and
warm the soil, have also made them increasingly popular
with farmers in BC, but there is very little data available
about the products and their efficacy to help farmers make
the best decision for their situation.
Last year, Black and his colleague, Dr. Hughie Jones
established research plots at the UBC Farm, and with farmer
collaborators at Mackin Creek Farm near Williams Lake,
and at Cropthorne Farm Ltd in Delta. With data gathered
from these plots, they will evaluate the effectiveness of a
range of plastic film mulches and low tunnels in modifying
soil and horticultural crop environments to support
adaptation to anticipated changes in climate in BC.
“Because we farm in a relatively arid area, dealing with
limited water supplies has always been a factor for us,”
explains Rob Borsato of Mackin Creek Farm. “Over the
30 years that we’ve been here, we have noticed an increase
in the amount and velocity of wind and less summer
precipitation, so finding tools and techniques that help
retain soil moisture are important to us.”
The project will assess the properties of different plastic
mulches and tunnel technologies for their ability to protect
against early spring and fall frosts, raise average air and
soil temperatures, maximize photosynthesis, prevent
condensation droplets (to decrease incidence of plant
disease), and produce early and/or late season produce.
“There are ways to accurately predict the changes you can
induce. The power behind our research is that it can provide
precise indications of the kinds of things growers would like
to achieve, and predict with some level of accuracy what
they can accomplish,” says Dr. Hughie Jones.
One of the priorities of this project will be to get the
information into the hands of producers through field
tours, presentations and articles in producer journals
and magazines. Project findings will also be integrated
into the curriculum for the Centre for Sustainable Food
Systems’ Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, and
shared online at: www.bcagclimateaction.ca/farm-level/
adaptation-innovator-program
Projects like this are part of the work being delivered by the
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI).
CAI develops tools and resources to assist BC farmers and
ranchers with adapting to impacts of climate change. CAI’s
Farm Adaptation Innovator Program engages directly
with producers and local partners, providing funding for
piloting, demonstration and knowledge transfer around
farm level adaptation
producers, a research team from the
University of British Columbia is
testing protective crop covers that may extend
the growing seasons and potentially help to avoid
some of the adverse effects of climate change.
Climate projections indicate that average
annual temperatures will increase throughout
the province, but an increase in the number of
growing degree-days does not automatically
translate into a longer growing season. More
variability and extremes in precipitation
(particularly in the spring and fall) combined
with hotter and drier summers, will increase the
complexity of crop management.
“With climate change and possible drought conditions in the
late growing season, taking advantage of the early part of the
growing season becomes even more important. Ensuring
that farmers can get on the land as early as possible can have
big benefits to agriculture,” says Dr. Andy Black, professor
of biometeorology and soil physics at UBC.
Plastic mulch and low tunnels are used widely in the United
States, Spain and China to modify microclimates. Their
ability to protect crops from frost, conserve moisture, and
warm the soil, have also made them increasingly popular
with farmers in BC, but there is very little data available
about the products and their efficacy to help farmers make
the best decision for their situation.
Last year, Black and his colleague, Dr. Hughie Jones
established research plots at the UBC Farm, and with farmer
collaborators at Mackin Creek Farm near Williams Lake,
and at Cropthorne Farm Ltd in Delta. With data gathered
from these plots, they will evaluate the effectiveness of a
range of plastic film mulches and low tunnels in modifying
soil and horticultural crop environments to support
adaptation to anticipated changes in climate in BC.
“Because we farm in a relatively arid area, dealing with
limited water supplies has always been a factor for us,”
explains Rob Borsato of Mackin Creek Farm. “Over the
30 years that we’ve been here, we have noticed an increase
in the amount and velocity of wind and less summer
precipitation, so finding tools and techniques that help
retain soil moisture are important to us.”
The project will assess the properties of different plastic
mulches and tunnel technologies for their ability to protect
against early spring and fall frosts, raise average air and
soil temperatures, maximize photosynthesis, prevent
condensation droplets (to decrease incidence of plant
disease), and produce early and/or late season produce.
“There are ways to accurately predict the changes you can
induce. The power behind our research is that it can provide
precise indications of the kinds of things growers would like
to achieve, and predict with some level of accuracy what
they can accomplish,” says Dr. Hughie Jones.
One of the priorities of this project will be to get the
information into the hands of producers through field
tours, presentations and articles in producer journals
and magazines. Project findings will also be integrated
into the curriculum for the Centre for Sustainable Food
Systems’ Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture, and
shared online at: www.bcagclimateaction.ca/farm-level/
adaptation-innovator-program
Projects like this are part of the work being delivered by the
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI).
CAI develops tools and resources to assist BC farmers and
ranchers with adapting to impacts of climate change. CAI’s
Farm Adaptation Innovator Program engages directly
with producers and local partners, providing funding for
piloting, demonstration and knowledge transfer around
farm level adaptation
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