Province funds climate readiness

The first few weeks of the growing season have seen BC farmers face unseasonal heat, wildfires and flooding.

The events have underscored the importance of the Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program, which the province piloted last summer. The pilot is continuing this spring, with an additional infusion of up to $2.5 million.

The new funding will support an expanded scope that includes provincially licensed apiculture and aquaculture producers, as well as federally licensed cannabis and hemp producers.

“Climate change and extreme weather pose an array of challenges for people throughout British Columbia, including our farmers, ranchers and food producers,” a statement from BC agriculture minister Pam Alexis says of the rationale for the new funding.

The program has four streams focused on building a more resilient and sustainable agriculture and food sector by helping producers prepare for future climate events, such as wildfires, flooding and heatwaves.

The streams address preparedness for wildfires, flooding and extreme heat.

A fourth stream invites proposals for innovative projects that address a demonstrated need related to impacts from climate change. Projects “must have a significant element of ‘public interest’ and assist in achieving the items in the Minister of Agriculture and Food’s Mandate letter,” the province says. These applications will be considered after projects in the initial three streams.

The first year saw more than $1.4 million awarded to 129 projects in the poultry, dairy, beef, tree fruit and berry sectors. Barn cooling systems, which emerged as a priority for dairy and poultry producers during the June 2021 heat dome, were among the top projects funded.

“The welfare of our animals is the No. 1 concern for BC farmers when we’re faced with extreme weather,” says Abbotsford farmer Mark Siemens, president of the BC Egg Producers Association whose members lost 150,000 birds during the heat dome. “This funding will ensure we’re able to better prepare for and mitigate future extreme weather events.”

The funding, administered directly by the province, rewards advocacy efforts by the BC Agriculture Council on behalf of producers across the province.

“BC Agriculture Council has advocated for more support for industry in this area and is pleased to see this funding is already making a difference for the agriculture sector,” says BCAC executive director Danielle Synotte.

Applicants can access up to $35,000 in cost-shared funding in the current intake, which closes June 14, 2023.

6 days ago

At the BC Hazelnut Growers Association field day in Chilliwack this past weekend, Mike Sunder, owner of Horti International, went off-script in his chat about nutrition and amendments with BCHGA executive director Sue Grubac to talk about the importance of community in agriculture. "It's not a competition. Ultimately, we want to work as a community," he says. "It's important to ask the questions of other growers. That community is what makes us better and makes us learn. It's the best way to drive this industry forward."

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1 week ago

BC's poultry sector is back to a red biosecurity level in the wake of three positive avian influenza detections in Alberta this week, with BC's chief veterinary officer issuing an order September 10 requiring all commercial flocks be kept indoors. Discussing some of the new technologies producers are adopting to protect their flocks for this month's issue of Country Life in BC, Abbotsford grower Brad Driediger said the heightened biosecurity level reflects the greater risk birds face. “I don’t think anyone, whether it’s red, yellow or green, changes their biosecurity practices," he says. “[But] there’s a heightened risk in the environment.”

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2 weeks ago

BC has implemented temporary water restrictions in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds to protect endangered chinook salmon. Effective September 8, 490 water licenses cannot be used for irrigation of forage crops including hay, alfalfa and forage corn due to severe drought conditions. During a press briefing this afternoon, Water Land and Resource Stewardship minister Randene Neill praised farmers for voluntary restrictions, and said the province had worked to communicate its intentions to farmers and ranchers more clearly. Neill also said an announcement regarding streamlining the groundwater licensing process would be coming in the weeks ahead.

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Do any golf courses have to stop watering?

So food production means nothing to this government!

BC agriculture minister Lana Popham is meeting with other federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture in Winnipeg this week to continue discussions around supporting producers in an uncertain trade environment. During a virtual meeting in July, the ministers increased AgriStability compensation rates for the 2025 program year and discussed measures to increase interprovincial trade. Ministers also highlighted "the critical importance of joint efforts across governments to maintain, expand and diversify international market access."

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Does look like pre-shaving of the lip hair.

This year's Day at the Farm, September 6 on Westham Island in Delta, included blacksmith Josh Hooge and his colleagues showcasing the ancient art. "I grew up on a farm. With blacksmithing, we can repair things other people can't," he says. "I hope some of these kids will go on to be tradespeople." The day-long annual event, hosted by Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust, has been educating the public about farming and its relationship to the environment since 2007.

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