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Omineca Edition
Regional Newsletter
December 2024
Please be advised, the January e-Bulletin will be circulated on Wednesday, January 15.
From our farm to yours, have a safe and happy holiday!
Dryland Forage Selection in the Bulkley-Nechako and
Fraser Fort George
With proper management, legumes can stimulate soil biological activity, improve soil structure, aeration and water-holding ability, reduce erosion and increase organic matter.
Legumes generally have higher protein levels than grasses and tend to have a less rapid decline in digestibility as they mature. Legumes typically require more management than grass stands, due to fertility and soil factors, and are often less persistent than grasses. However, they also tend to produce higher quality, higher yielding feed. (BCRC)
To learn more about the management of alfalfa, the most popular and important forage legume grown in Canada read the Alfalfa Factsheet:
Virtual Workshop
Understanding Your Soil Test Report
Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program
Considering applying for 2025/26 Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) funding?
Take the time to review the requirements for the activities you'd like to complete by checking out the link below. They may require you to complete a plan, assessment or engineered design. Good news: the Planning, Technical Assessment and Engineered Design BMP category is still open and accepting applications for 2025/26!
Applications for the Planning, Technical Assessment and Engineered Design category are ongoing until funding is fully allocated.
B.C. Climate Agri-Solutions Fund
The BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund (BCCAF) is accepting applications from B.C. producers!
This is your chance to apply for cost-shared funding to implement cover cropping, nitrogen management, and rotational grazing.
- Nitrogen Management up to $30,000
- Cover Cropping up to $30,000
- Rotational Grazing up to $20,000
Don’t wait to submit your application – applications are open until funding is committed.
Business Risk Management Programs
B.C.'s agricultural producers face many business risks that are beyond their control (production losses, severe market volatility, extreme weather events or disasters); the Province’s suite of agricultural insurance and income stability programs can help you manage those risks.
UPCOMING PROGRAM DEADLINE:
Late Participation for 2024 AgriStability until April 30, 2025
AgriStability Enhancement
Program 2024
The Government of British Columbia developed the 2024 BC AgriStability Enhancement Program which offers greater coverage and helps agricultural producers manage income losses due to extreme weather, marketing challenges or natural disaster in 2024.
2024 BC Enhancement Program details:
- Late Participation for AgriStability 2024 ensures you can enroll in the AgriStability program until April 30, 2025.
- The BC Government will pay a higher compensation rate to AgriStability Participants for the 2024 Program Year; BC will top up AgriStability's existing 80% compensation rate to 90% on margin declines greater than 30%; learn How AgriStability Works.
- The higher compensation rate applies to all producers in British Columbia who are enrolled in AgriStability for 2024.
- The B.C. Government will increase the existing AgriStability $3 million payment limit to $6.2 million.
Contact us, dedicated staff are available to assist you with the Enhanced AgriStability Program.
- Visit: AgriStability 2024 - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- Phone: 1-877-343-2767 toll-free. Support is available in English and Punjabi.
- Email: AgriStability@gov.bc.ca
AgriInvest
AgriInvest is a self-managed producer-government savings account designed to help you manage small income declines and make investments to manage risk and improve market income.
Each year, you can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales to your AgriInvest account and receive a matching government contribution on 1% of your Allowable Net Sales.
Advance Payments Program
The Advance Payments Program is a federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-cost cash advances.
Under the program, you can access up to $1,000,000 in total advances based on the value of the eligible agricultural products you will produce or that you have in storage. The Government of Canada pays the interest on the first $100,000 of your advance (the first $250,000 for 2024). You make repayments to the advance as you sell the agricultural products, with up to 18 months to fully repay the advance for most commodities (up to 24 months for cattle and bison).
For more information visit: Advance Payments Program
Knowledge and Technology
Transfer Program
The last day to apply for the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program is Friday December 13th at 4:00PM.
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted your applications. We had a lot of interest in the program this intake.
The program aims to support the competitiveness, resiliency, and innovation of B.C.’s agriculture and food sector through facilitated knowledge and technology transfer. Funding of up to $7,500 is available for eligible knowledge transfer events.
New for this intake: Applications will be adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage interested applicants to submit your application soon.
To apply, visit the program webpage:
Access to Feed Program
Available to all livestock producers.
A program provided by the BC Cattlemen's Association created to connect feed suppliers to livestock producers that are in need of feed due to drought.
Submit applications if you have feed available for sale including: type of hay/ quality, bale type & size, equipment to unload, ability to handle a b-train or step-deck delivery, your contact info & location.
Contact hay@cattlemen.bc.ca or 250-306-6277
Livestock Drought Management
- The Livestock Drought Management Guide is now available online, and focuses on livestock feeding, forage crop considerations and economic decisions and includes suggested strategies for producers working through drought conditions. It is applicable to all livestock.
- One-on-One support is available: If you have questions and would like to talk with one of the Livestock Drought Management Consultants, you are able to book a phone/virtual appointment. Please call 1-877-688-2333 or email drought@cattlemen.bc.ca for assistance (open to all livestock producers).
- There are new articles for the Livestock Drought Management Article Series (Drought articles - Province of British Columbia)
Article 4, “Replacement Heifer Target Weights”
Replacement heifer nutrition is tremendously important as it directly affects a heifer’s lifetime reproduction, longevity, productivity and profitability in your herd. For heifers to successfully enter the herd they need to grow enough to reach puberty and breed by 13-15 months of age to then calve at 2 years of age, and annually after that. Because puberty is related to weight and age, targeted nutrition is vital in ensuring your replacement heifers are ready to breed and conceive in time to successfully enter your herd.
Article 5, “Minerals and Livestock Nutrition”
Mineral nutrition for livestock is a critical part of their diet, affecting health, fertility, production and your bottom line. Supplementation requirements can vary greatly depending on feed types, animal requirements and your operation’s location. Mineral levels influence reproduction and performance / growth, immunity and disease resistance. This article walks you through considerations of how to choose the appropriate mineral for your situation, how to feed it appropriately and how to start to troubleshoot a suspected mineral problem.
Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza Outbreak
British Columbia is currently experiencing a serious Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak. As the virus arrives with migratory birds, poultry owners should be implementing high biosecurity measures to protect their flock.
For more information, please visit:
Current disease alerts and events
Avian influenza - Province of British Columbia
Status of ongoing avian influenza response by province
New Research Briefs
from BC Food Web!
A study conducted outside of Vernon, B.C. found that placing leftover logging debris from timber harvesting in riparian areas deterred livestock from grazing in these areas, leading to better riparian ecosystem health.
Photo: Clayton Bradley
Pasture Walks and Field Scouting
Whether you have forage fields or pastures, it is important to get out and walk the land to evaluate what is happening throughout the growing season. A quick look at soil health and moisture, along with plant vigour and productivity can help you evaluate what is going on and make decisions on next steps. This article provides information on pasture walks and field scouting, along with some guiding questions for forecasting and looking ahead.
This is the second article in the monthly Livestock Drought Management Article Series. All articles can be found here: Drought articles - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
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