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Extreme weather preparedness funding available for B.C. farmers

B.C. will support the province’s farmers and ranchers with a new round of funding to help prepare and protect their farms and animals from extreme-weather emergencies, ensuring people will continue to have access to local food in a changing climate.

Through the Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program, $2 million is available to support producers with projects that help prepare farms for wildfires, flooding and extreme heat.

The program began in 2022 and has supported more than 150 projects on B.C. farms in the poultry, dairy, beef, tree fruit and berry sectors.

Examples include:

• improving cooling systems for barns;
• enhancing shade and heat protection for livestock and crops;
• protection and storage of feed and fuel;
• protection of wells;
• FireSmart critical infrastructure assessments; and
• retrofitting farm buildings in preparation of wildfires.

Funding for B.C. farm and ranch businesses opened on Jan. 23 and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with up to $50,000 available per applicant and per project category.

The Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture program is part of B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy and is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF), with funding from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) and CleanBC.