BC boosts agriculture spending

BC is budgeting a 10% boost to spending on agricultural programs and services in the coming fiscal year.

The provincial budget, released March 4, earmarks $143 million for BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food operations, programs and services, up from $130 million last year. The additional funding targets the disruptive effects of extreme weather and trade policies on BC farmers, ranchers and food producers.

Production Insurance, which has seen record payouts over the past two years, particularly to grape and tree fruit growers hit by extreme cold events, is receiving $55.2 million, a 32.5% boost over last year.

The ministry’s service plan also flags the expansion of programs related to local purchasing, with the Buy BC logo targeted to label 10,500 products this year, up from 9,000 last year.

Funding for the Agricultural Land Commission is unchanged at $5.5 million, despite growing demand for compliance and enforcement against unauthorized activities, including dumping, on protected farmland.

The budget also noted the new premier’s task force on agriculture and food economy is working on “short- and long-term solutions to help farmers find new markets in the face of tariff uncertainty.”

The BC Agriculture Council, whose executive director Danielle Synotte co-chairs the task force that includes council president Jennifer Woike, says it is focused on ensuring provincial supports for the sector go beyond existing budget proposals, such as $95 million for highway and bridge maintenance to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.

“With the sudden implementation of new tariffs, there is significant uncertainty about the potential impact on BC farmers and ranchers,” says Woike. “We will continue advocating for measures that directly support B.C. farmers, including access to tariff relief programs and reinvestment of counter-tariff funds into affected sectors.”

While pledging greater support for marketing, ministry estimates did not call out programs such as Buy BC for fresh investment. There were also no figures attached to initiatives such as new trade missions aimed at building international partnerships and reduced dependence on US markets.

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1 day ago

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Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

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5 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

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6 days ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

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Bessette Creek is the latest watershed hit with a temporary fish protection order this year as the province moves to protect returning Chinook salmon. A total of 131 surface and groundwater users must cease drawing water immediately, with forage producers, greenhouses and nurseries impacted. "Declining flows in Bessette Creek reached record lows in early July 2026 and have remained below the minimum level required to support fish population survival," says the province. Bessette producers have embraced voluntary cutbacks, scheduled irrigation and other measures to reduce water use, and are also waiting on funding to boost water storage infrastructure. They're the second group of producers hit with a provincial order this year. Salmon River irrigators were told to top watering earlier this month following a reprieve to address wildfire risk. Growers in both the Salmon River and Bessette watersheds are urging the province to support new water storage infrastructure in advance of next year.

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There is a problem... having lived in the salmon river ( silver creek ) area, I remember a fish biologist telling family members that salmon only "survive" in high iron content creeks, they do not "thrive".... salmon river ( silver creek ) is a very high iron content, would stain clothes brown when i would use bleach... So don't expect high salmon numbers off of that creek , even in ideal situations...

I just wish they would take an interest in CHASE CREEK....went bone dry...100% of trout abd other species died...smell was terrible from rotting fish. Understand this has happened many times in the past. Chase Irrigation District totally responsible for this disaster. Now fishermen are complaining about major drop in water levels at Pillar Lake.

They could not mismanage things worse than they have. It's impossible for them to. The fact that farmers that we need for our animals are now suffering the consequences our governments have not protected us from, is absolutely fucking wild.