No images? Click here
Okanagan
Regional Newsletter
September 2025
Feature of the month:
- Sept 15: North Okanagan Region On-Farm Composting Field Day
Upcoming events:
- September, various dates: BC Fairs 2025!
- Sept 15: "Meat" Up Monday
- Nov 25-27: Get Your Tickets for the 2025 BC Organic Conference
Drought and Wildfire Preparedness
- Is your farm wildfire-ready?
- Responding to drought on your farm
- Emergency management for agriculture - is your BCPID info up to date?
Programs and funding opportunities:
- Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
- Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program
- AgriBusiness Planning Program (ABPP) and New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program (NEFBA)
- Protein Industries Canada Launches Asia-Pacific Market Entry Program
- Now Open – Funding Support for B.C. Exporters
- Climate Agri-Solutions Fund Program
- Environmental Farm Plan
Business Risk Management Programs:
- Production Insurance
- 2025 AgriStability Enhancement
Resources:
- Success Story: TF Cattle Co Transforms Farmland
- New Market Readiness
- Benefits of Riparian Areas Factsheets
- Growing Degree Day Calculator for Fall-Planted Cover Crops
- Cover Cropping
- The 2026 Census of Agriculture
North Okanagan Region On-Farm Composting Field Day
Date: September 15, 2025
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Rosebank Farms, Armstrong, B.C.
Organized by: The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Join us for a field day covering on-farm composting practices for small-scale producers in the North Okanagan Region. This field day will cover topics such as how to construct a compost pile, the benefits of using compost for soil health and fertility, and how to determine application rates, timing, and methods of applying compost.
Lunch and snacks included. Registration is free!
Space is limited to the first 20 registrants.
For more information and to register scan the QR code above or visit the link below!
BC Fairs 2025!
The "BC Fairs & Exhibitions – 2025 Calendar of Events" is your go-to guide for all the exciting fairs and exhibitions happening across British Columbia in 2025. Whether you’re a local resident, an organizer, or just looking for something fun to do, this resource brings together a wonderful mix of cultural, agricultural, and entertainment events from all corners of the province. It’s a fantastic way to stay connected, celebrate local traditions, and enjoy unforgettable experiences with your community!
Upcoming fairs in your region:
Okanagan:
- Sept 6-7: Peachland Fall Fair www.peachlandfallfair.ca
- Sept 13: Summerland Fall Fair www.summerlandfallfair.ca
Get Your Tickets for the 2025 BC Organic Conference
Join Organic BC in Harrison Hot Springs from November 25 - 27 to farm ideas and build community!
This year’s highlights include:
- Keynotes: We're excited to welcome Jacob Beaton, Gillian Flies, Brent Preston and our virtual keynote, Paul Holmbeck
- Workshops: 20+ sessions featuring practical, hands-on learning
- Trade show: The latest products, services, equipment and more
- Organic banquet: A delicious feast featuring local, organic products
- Farm tours: A close-up look at innovative practices, techniques, and tools
- Seed swap table: Bring seeds. Take seeds. Share stories!
Discounts are available for recently purchased Organic BC memberships at the Organic Farm/Business, Sustainer and Certifying Body tiers. Haven’t joined the new Organic BC yet? Join now at organicbc.org/membership
Get your tickets for the 2025 BC Organic Conference and learn more about the event here: conference.organicbc.org
Is your farm wildfire-ready?
Find out with the BC Farm and Ranch Wildfire Preparedness Guide & Workbook.
- Stay informed and connected – Know where to get updates, and communicate clearly with farm staff and responders
- Protect buildings – Help firefighters help you by applying FireSmart principles to protect against ember showers, the top cause of wildfire structure damage
- Plan for livestock safety – Decide when to shelter in place or relocate safely
If you keep livestock, poultry, or bees, update your BC Premises ID – this helps emergency responders protect your animals.
Be wildfire-ready – not wildfire-reactive.
Responding to drought on your farm
When drought conditions impact your crops and livestock, timely decisions are critical. Focusing on key management strategies can help you navigate the challenges of a dry season. If you are experiencing the effects of hot and dry conditions, the Drought in Agriculture webpage has specific resources to help you make tough management decisions:
Review the Pasture and Hay Rejuvenation Options factsheet for guidance on options to rejuvenate overgrazed or drought-affected pastures or forage fields.
Refer to the B.C. Livestock Drought Management Guide for information on livestock feeding and strategies to address potential shortages, forage crop considerations and strategies, and analyze business and economic decisions.
The Drought Management Checklist for Livestock and Forage Producers provides key management practices to help minimize losses.
The Managing Livestock During Drought Decision Tree can help you make informed decisions during drought conditions and ensure the health of livestock.
Emergency management for agriculture - Is your BCPID info up to date?
If you keep livestock, poultry, or bees, its time to update your BC Premises ID — it could make all the difference in an emergency. Take five minutes to login to your account and confirm your details to make sure you are prepared in the event of an emergency.
Not sure if your animals require registration?
Check the BCPID brochure for a full list of species that need to be reported.
Your animals rely on you. Help us support you—keep your BCPID info current.
Register or Reconfirm your account now!
Have a Premises ID, but no online access?
Click "Get Access" under the Access Paper Account section and enter your account number and phone number.
Trouble logging in? Questions? We’re here to help: BCPID@gov.bc.ca | 1-888-221-7141 (Ask for Premises ID)
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
New Activity Added: Support for Communities!
Activity 8 provides funding for facilitation and strategic engagement for communities to support collaborative planning to address agriculture water supply challenges or user conflicts. Apply today!
Stream 3 applications are open until funding is fully committed.
Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program
Funding remains available for this year’s Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program intake. Submit your application now to receive support for your knowledge or skill-building event.
A new infographic has been published summarizing the results from the 2024–25 Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program and the impact of last year’s funding on B.C.’s agriculture and food sector. Click the button below to learn more.
AgriBusiness Planning Program (ABPP) and New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program (NEFBA)
Whether you are interested in starting a new farm, improving your existing farm, or growing your farm business, programs are available to help implement best practices for business growth and will be open for registration beginning October 2025.
Funding is available under two programs:
The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program: Provides funding support for primary agricultural producers and agriculture, food and beverage processors to support informed decision making and ensure business development.
Link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/agri-business-planning-program
New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program: supports the growth of new entrants by providing financial support for the development and implementation of farm business plans and growth strategies. The Program supports business planning and cost-shared purchasing of commercial farm infrastructure and equipment needed to accelerate the revenue growth of farm businesses.
Link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/new-entrant-farm-business-accelerator-program
Funded in part by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative
Protein Industries Canada Launches Asia-Pacific Market Entry Program
The Asia-Pacific Market Entry Program brings together Canada’s potential to be a global leader in the plant-based market and Singapore’s growing demand for a sustainable, nutritious food supply. Developed and run in partnership with Nurasa Food Tech Innovation Centre, a leading food innovation centre based in Singapore, this program is designed to help Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient companies optimize their products for launch in the Asia-Pacific market.
The Asia-Pacific Market Entry Program is currently open to applications until Oct. 15, 2025. Program participants can receive reimbursement for up to 75% of project costs.
Now Open – Funding Support for B.C. Exporters
The CUSMA Compliance Advisory Services Initiative (CCASI) is now accepting applications.
Eligible B.C. businesses could be reimbursed for up to 50% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $5,000, when they engage professional support to meet CUSMA requirements.
Businesses may qualify if they:
- Are a registered business in British Columbia
- Have exported goods to the United States within the past 12 months
- Have incurred eligible costs on or after April 1, 2025
Start your application at https://exportnavigator.ca/ccasi/
Questions? Email cusma@exportnavigator.ca.
Supported by the Government of Canada through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan). This contribution is administered by Export Navigator through Community Futures B.C.
Climate Agri-Solutions Fund Program
Are you considering investing in rotational grazing infrastructure? Looking to get soil testing done? Planning to purchase seed for cover cropping?
The Climate Agri-Solutions Fund has funding available for BC and Yukon farmers to help cover these expenses and provide you with time to implement activities.
Applications are open until funding is fully committed. Apply today!
Environmental Farm Plan
Unlock Funding to Improve Your Farm’s Environmental Practices!
The EFP Program helps you:
- Identify environmental and climate-related risks on your farm
- Learn ways to reduce those risks
- Become eligible for funding through the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program
It’s confidential and there’s no cost to participate. Request an EFP today!
Insurance and Income Protection Programs are an important part of a farmer’s overall risk management strategy. AgriStability and Production Insurance work together to provide the best coverage for producers.
Production Insurance
Production Insurance helps producers manage their risk of crop losses caused by hail, spring frost, excessive rain, drought, flooding and other extreme weather events. In British Columbia, Production Insurance is available for:
Need help with Production Insurance?
- Phone: 1-888-332-3352 toll-free
- Email: ProductionInsurance.Kelowna@gov.bc.ca
- Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/CropInsurance
Staff are available to help with the application and renewal process.
2025 AgriStability Enhancement
These changes are designed to provide stronger financial support to farmers and faster access to funds when you need them most.
- Compensation rate increased from 80% to 90%
- Maximum payment limit doubled from $3 million to $6 million
- Early (interim) payment rate increased from 50% to 75%
Success Story: TF Cattle Co Transforms Farm Land
Sean Swoboda and his team at TF Cattle Company recently experienced a remarkable transformation in their farming practices thanks to the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program.
With the guidance of their EFP Advisor, they identified key environmental risks and took proactive steps to enhance their operations. Thanks to the Beneficial Management Practices Program (BMP), they invested in a state-of-the-art no-till seed drill, transforming their farming approach. The benefits? Reduced tilling hours, significant fuel savings, and improved soil health! Sean shared, "[Funding] made it possible to buy a no-till seed drill. The time saved planting was even more than anticipated!"
Farmers who have an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) learn how to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment. Many Environmental Farm Plan participants enjoy increased efficiency, profitability, and new customers as a result of increased environmental sustainability. (Ministry of Agriculture and Food)
EFP Program Funding has been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Additional funding has been provided by CleanBC. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF).
New Market Readiness
Are you looking to up your game? There are some new resources to help you get there
- Infographic to help you visualize the process
- Guides to support you through every step of the process
Benefits of Riparian Areas Factsheets
Check out our four Benefits of Riparian Areas Factsheets to learn more about how maintaining healthy riparian areas on your farm can benefit your agricultural operation and contribute to ecosystem health.
Factsheet topics include:
- Healthy Riparian Areas and Agricultural Land
- Flood Mitigation and Water Resources
- Improved Pollination, Pest Control, and Biodiversity
- Soil Health
Read our Factsheets by following the link below.
Growing Degree Day Calculator for Fall-Planted Cover Crops
Planting fall cover crops? Check out this new tool that calculates growing degrees for fall-planted cover crops based on temperature data from weather stations linked to farmwest.com.
Use this tool for:
- Choosing the best cover crop planting date
- Picking cover crop species to suit the anticipated GDD in your area
Estimating current cover crop growth
Cover Cropping
Cover cropping is perhaps the single most important management practice to improve soil health and sustain long-term production stability. If you’re not quite sure which species are right for your operational goals, please visit the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food website to explore our cover-cropping resources. We also encourage you to share your experience with cover crops by emailing our team at agriservicBC@gov.bc.ca
The 2026 Census of Agriculture
The questionnaire for the 2026 Census of Agriculture has been published on the Statistics Canada website.
New categories have been added to the commodity questions in the 2026 Census to identify emerging agricultural products. Questions on agricultural practices have been expanded to measure the breadth of environmental practices and environmental sustainability in the agricultural sector. Questions on the adoption of on-farm technologies and renewable energy production were updated with new or modified categories to better reflect current technologies.
