The Agricultural Land Commission, a crown agency overseeing the ALR since 1974, regularly receives applications to exclude bits and pieces of reserve land. And the tally of farmland dwindles each year. So, it’s disconcerting to learn of a recent proposal by B.C. Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm to cabinet, arguing the land commission’s mandate should be expanded to take account of economic development priorities — such as those relating to B.C.’s oil and gas industry; and that some of the ALR’s powers should be transferred to the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. If that is Pimm’s plan, it’s a bad one. www.vancouversun.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial+need+preserve+farmland/9168040/story.html