The province hopes to recruit industry volunteers to report on agricultural production conditions across the province.
Based on similar programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the new initiative in BC launched this year with a handful of reporters in nine regions across the province.
Reporters complete a brief, five-minute survey each week with questions about the conditions found in the reporter’s local area. Reports document moisture and crop conditions, seeding and planting progress, crop damage, access to water, as well as forage supply and pasture conditions.
“Reports can be used by producers, producer organizations, government, and others interested in keeping informed of current agricultural production conditions in regions throughout the province,” the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food notes.
The use of volunteer reporting teams to collect information has been in place in Alberta since 1940, and Saskatchewan has more than 200 reporters contributing information on the province’s agricultural conditions.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada has also recruited volunteers for its agroclimate impact reports, which help federal staff identify climate and weather-related risks to agriculture in regions across Canada. The responses in turn supports federal planning and programs aimed at addressing weather-related risks.
Uptake from BC has not been the same as in other provinces, however.
A special call for BC reporters for the federal program in 2019 noted just two active contributors from BC versus dozens in Alberta.
To find out more about the initiative in BC, visit [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriservice-bc/crop-and-livestock-reporter-program].
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