Farmers and ranchers in British Columbia, facing challenges such as drought and wildfires, will receive support through a $4 million funding package from the governments of Canada and British Columbia. Designed to bolster climate resilience and support food security, the funds will be made available through the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) program.
"The Government of Canada is committed to helping our agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of climate change," said Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The investment aims to enable B.C. farmers to adapt to climate challenges with projects targeting waste management, air-quality control, emissions control, and more.
Pam Alexis, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, acknowledged the role of local producers: "B.C. farmers are on the front line of climate change, and we are continuing to support them."
With large parts of the province being hit by drought conditions early in the season, farmers and ranchers can apply for BMP projects that pertain to water storage, such as building dugouts and roof rainwater-harvesting systems, as well as water conservation, such as improved irrigation-system management and irrigation scheduling.
A change to the program, which has run for more than 15 years, is the elimination of a previous lifetime cap on funding. This means that all producers, including previous program participants, are eligible for funding for the upcoming year. Eligible applicants must have a complete environmental farm plan, which helps producers identify environmental strengths and potential risks on their farms and ranches.
Applications for the first round of the BMP program are now open. Eligible farmers and ranchers in B.C. can apply and find more information at Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
