| The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is hoping to use technology to connect with a new generation of producers. |
| Minister of Agriculture and Lands Pat Bell recently launched his first podcast on the BCMAL website. He uses the two-minute video clip to announce the ministry’s new online agriculture events calendar. |
| A podcast is a digital audio or video file that is distributed over the Internet for playback on portable media players (such as Apple’s iPod) and personal computers. Using software like iTunes, producers can subscribe to have the podcasts downloaded automatically as soon as they are posted to the ministry’s website. |
| The ministry has also set up its own YouTube site, through which farmers can view video clips about recent industry news and events. YouTube is a free website which lets users upload, view and share video clips. |
| Bell says both technologies are part of the province’s plan to explore innovative methods to connect with B.C. producers and provide up-to-date information and services through the Internet. |
| “It is our responsibility as a province to make every effort to engage the younger farmers who use the Internet as their tool of choice and who ultimately drive the future of the agriculture industry in B.C.,” Bell states. |
| In 2001, 53 per cent of B.C.’s farm operators were between the ages of 35 and 54. An additional eight per cent of farm operators were under 35 years of age. |
| The latest statistics show that 8,146 B.C. farms were using a computer in 2001, and 70 per cent of farms reported using the Internet. These figures are expected to increase substantially when data from the 2006 Census of Agriculture is released later this year. Reports also show that farms with higher sales were more likely to use a computer. |
| “Internet technology has altered the traditional borders of commerce and our provincial agriculture sector needs to be competitive in a mounting global marketplace,” says Bell. “Tomorrow’s farmers will rely more heavily on computer-based data to educate and inform themselves, market their products, and stay connected with their competitors.” |
| The department will monitor the use of both services. |
| For more information about BCMAL podcasts, go to http://www.gov.bc.ca/al/popt/media_room/podcast.htm. The ministry’s YouTube site is available at www.youtube.com/profile?user=AgandLands. |
