As fires, extreme heat and drought leave producers short on feed, the Canadian and British Columbian governments offer financial assistance
British Columbia farmers and ranchers who have suffered a decrease to their available feed supply as a result of the recent wildfires, record heat and prolonged drought can be eligible for support offered through the Canadian and provincial governments.
The governments are creating a federal-provincial AgriRecovery response to help producers who are experiencing extraordinary recovery expenses due to fire and drought, according to a press release from The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada agency.
Producers experiencing a feed shortage as a result of the fires and extreme heat may also receive hay through the Emergency Feed Program established by the province, ensuring continued care for their animals.
The 2021 Wildfire Emergency Feed Program will provide emergency feed support for up to 14 days for commercial livestock businesses unable to access their normal feed supply, or if their current forage has been burned or is unsafe. The program will also support businesses forced to use forage or feed resources normally required to feed livestock through the rest of their yearly production cycle.
Agricultural producers who require emergency assistance or information, including assistance with livestock relocation, emergency feed, permission for re-entry into evacuation-order zones, or other emergency issues related to the wildfire situation, should contact their First Nation or local authority for the area where their operation is located. Local authorities and First Nations are responsible for emergency management decisions within their areas of jurisdiction and are supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Emergency Management BC Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre.
“The B.C. government has a dedicated team working closely with ranchers and farmers to respond to emergencies like wildfires and to create programs that help preserve their businesses and our local food supply,” said Lana Popham, British Columbia Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. “The losses B.C. farmers and ranchers have experienced this year have been heartbreaking, and recovering from them will take time, commitment and support, for which the B.C. government will be there for the whole way.”
