Regional Climate and Production Systems
Historical climate and production capacity
The City of Delta is located at the mouth of the Fraser River. The Fraser River delta’s climate has mild warm winters, warm summers and a narrow range of temperatures. The region has one of the longest frost free periods in Canada, and the temperature rarely drops below zero degrees Celsius. Delta has higher light levels than other agricultural areas in the Lower Mainland. This makes it especially suitable for greenhouse production. Average annual precipitation in the region is around 927 millimeters. Most of this precipitation falls as rain between October and March. Delta’s agricultural land is very productive, with much of the soil formed by sediment deposits from the Fraser River. Most of the region’s agricultural soils can be improved to Class 2 and 3. Improvements often include drainage and water table control as soils tend to hold water and are prone to ponding in the winter. However, not enough precipitation can be a problem in summer, and some soils are prone to salinity. Delta’s agricultural land base experiences significant pressure from development due to its proximity to Vancouver, Delta Port and the United States border. In 2010, about 9,400 hectares were included in the Agricultural Land Reserve, 52% of the municipal land base.
Agricultural production
In 2016, Delta had 185 farms, making up only 8% of the farms in the Metro Vancouver Regional District but earning 23% of the area’s total gross farm receipts. Agricultural production in Delta is diverse, with a range of field crop and livestock operations.
About 50% of the province’s potato acreage can be found in Delta. The region is also home to more than 40% of BC’s vegetable greenhouse production area. Agricultural production in the region also includes forage; berry crops, mostly blueberries; dairies; and small-scale poultry operations.
Top Issues in Delta
Projections provided by the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium were shared during the regional planning process where producers discussed how the anticipated changes would likely affect their operations. Then they identified four climate issues as their top concerns. Many of these projects are a direct response to the adaptation strategies and top issues outlined in the Delta Adaptation Strategies plan. The projects are developed by CCAP with oversight and input from a regional working group. Other projects deliver applied research that supports climate change adaptation at the farm level. These 2-4 year projects fall under the Farm Adaptation Innovator Program.
Learn more about climate change adaptation in each region:
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