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Islands
Regional Newsletter
July 2025
Feature of the month:
- Water storage event in Alberni Valley a success
News and events
- July 22nd: Irrigation field day and on-farm demonstration in the Comox Valley
- B.C. Land Matching Program
- Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI)
Drought and wildfire preparedness
- BC Premises Identification Program: Is your BCPID info up to date?
- BC AgriWeather
- Snow survey and water supply Bulletin
Emergency preparedness and temporary foreign workers
Programs and funding opportunities
- Introducing: Climate Agri-Solutions Fund
- The B.C. Crop and Livestock Reporter Program
- Buy BC Partnership Program Funding
- Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program
- Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program
Resources
- "Enhancing Soil Water Holding Capacity Through Bale Grazing" factsheet
- Updated B.C. silvopasture resources
- New local food literacy resources
Water storage event a success
Over a dozen producers from Alberni Valley and Coombs joined Andrew Bennett of the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia, alongside local government and Ministry of Agriculture and Food staff, for a fascinating day of water storage and irrigation learning on June 22nd. Dogs, sheep and chickens roamed, children played, and eagles soared overhead at Morning Star Woollen and Flora in Alberni Valley while we enjoyed conversation and shared stories of our various water challenges and solutions.
Andrew’s infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge were apparent as we discussed many topics. The conversation covered water storage, including how much water crops need (and how to figure it out), sizing a dugout for particular situation, assessing soil in relation to both crop water needs and suitability for dugout construction. Alternative ways to reduce water demand were discussed, including growing crops that finish before the dry season — such as fall-planted grains — and improving infiltration by constructing swales. We also talked about some of the challenges of constructing and lining dugouts and alternative storage options, like cisterns and bladders, for rainwater collection. Provincial supports were noted for on-farm water management, the Environmental Farm Plan and Beneficial Management Practices, the Agricultural Water Infrastructure program, and much more.
More workshops on irrigation and other water topics are coming to Vancouver Island, including July 22nd in the Comox Valley and August 7th in the Cowichan Valley. Registration links will be posted at Exploring Irrigation Efficiency in British Columbia when available.
We hope to see you at these events and… Stay Hydrated!
Save the date:
Irrigation field day and on-farm demonstration in the Comox Valley
Location: Comox Valley
Date: July 22, 2025
Registration link coming soon
The Islands have a new land matcher!
Young Agrarians is excited to announce that a new Vancouver Island-Gulf Islands Land Matcher has joined the B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) team: Ari Westhaver! Kiyomi Ito, the former Land Matcher for the region, will still be around at Young Agrarians, in her new role as B.C. Apprenticeship Program Coordinator for the YA Apprenticeship Program. From now on, Ari is the go-to person to get you connected with the BCLMP on Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands. You can reach him at ari@youngagrarians.org.
The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, with additional support from Columbia Basin Trust, Bullitt Foundation, Cowichan Valley Regional District, and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI)
The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC are completing an Agricultural Land Use Inventory (ALUI). Crews were in the Capital Regional District June 16th to June 27th and will be in Cowichan Valley Regional District July 7th to July 25th.
The ALUI program started in Pitt Meadows in 1996 to support the Ministry’s Strengthening Farming Program. Since then, ALUI's have provided insight into the current state of the farming landscape across the province, including within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).
Agricultural Land Use Inventory data has been used to:
- Model potential impacts of climate change and different adaptation strategies;
- Model agricultural water demand for current and future climates;
- Inform the development of municipal Official Community Plans and Agriculture Area Plans;
- Understand the extent of actively farmed land and other major activities on the ALR land base; and
- Understand impacts to agriculture from new developments, bylaws, or regulations.
Visual observations are conducted from public roads using vehicles marked with “Ministry of Agriculture and Food” or “Government of BC” signs. Watch for survey crews making frequent stops between the hours of 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM across these regions.
This project was funded in part by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
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)
BC AgriWeather
The BC AgriWeather website, developed and operated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, provides weather station data and hosts weather-based decision-support tools for public use, at no cost to users. Producers can access more than 230 weather stations throughout B.C. to view and download current and historical weather data, analyze crop water demand, and track thermal units via desktop and mobile devices.
BC AgriWeather helps agricultural producers make informed decisions in their daily operations as weather conditions change. Please visit our Tools Webpage to explore additional online water tools that the Ministry operates to support the agricultural sector.
Snow survey and water supply bulletin
The June 15, 2025 Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin has been released.
The full report PDF (19-pages, 2.7 MB) is available online.
An online version of the current snow basin indices map can be found here.
Information regarding temporary foreign workers on-farm
With wildfire season upon us, it's important to be prepared for evacuation alerts and orders. For producers with temporary foreign workers living on-site, it is important that you and your workers know your rights and responsibilities in the event of an emergency. An updated document providing information regarding On-Farm Temporary Foreign Workers is available on the Ministry website.
Introducing: Climate Agri-Solutions Fund
Say hello to the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund (CAF)! We are pleased to share the BC Climate Agri-Solutions Fund (BCCAF) has expanded into a new program, now known as the Climate Agri-Solutions Fund. CAF helps B.C. and Yukon farmers implement beneficial management practices in the areas of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing.
Funding is available to support farmers in:
- New adoption of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices.
- Expanding nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices on a farm area where these practices have no been previously used.
CAF also supports farmers who have previously received funding through BCCAF to continue the adoption of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices.
Maximum funding amount: $100,000
Cost-shared funding ratio: 85%
Applications will be accepted on the IAF Client Portal staring on June 25, 2025 and will remain open until funding is full allocated. Don’t delay submitting your application, we anticipate funding will be fully committed within a few weeks!
APPLICATIONS OPEN ON JUNE 25, 2025
NEW! Book a call
There are now more ways to get in touch with the IAF Team! In addition to contacting IAF by email (caf@iafbc.ca) and by phone (250-940-6150), starting on June 25 you can book a 10-minute phone consultation with an IAF staff member to discuss your CAF application.
Prior to booking a call, please start a draft application, as you must provide your application ID number (example: CAF-202526-0####) when you book the call. This gives you and the IAF staff member a specific application to reference and provide support for during the 10-minute phone call.
Become a volunteer crop and/or livestock reporter
Are you a weather-watcher who checks the rain gauge each morning? Do you enjoy discussing farming and crop conditions with your neighbours? Would you like to contribute local information that helps develop and support B.C.’s agriculture data? The data benefits all those involved in B.C.’s agriculture industry and helps the general public to understand the challenges facing our producers.
Consider becoming a Volunteer Crop and Livestock Reporter with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food today!
Contest Alert! Crop reporters that report weekly for at least 50% of the growing season will be entered into a draw to win a basket of delicious B.C. food products valued at approximately $150!
Summer Intake - Buy BC Partnership Program Funding
Cost shared funding is available for B.C. producers and processors to support local marketing activities that increase consumer awareness and sales of B.C. agriculture, food, and beverage products.
The application intake for Buy BC Partnership Program funding opened on June 27 and closes on July 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM PST for projects to be delivered between October 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
Note that to be considered eligible for cost-shared funding, all applicants must first register their food and beverage products for Buy BC logo licensing. The Buy BC logo allows eligible businesses to promote their local food and beverage products right away and without having to apply for cost-shared funding.
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.
Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program
Starting on July 18, 2025, the Stream 3: Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans, category will have eight activities available for funding:
- Water supply assessments or feasibility studies in key agricultural areas to determine available water supply.
- Engineering studies or plans for water purveyors to assess and determine opportunities for upgrades and expansion of existing purveyed water systems.
- Dam engineering assessments, including redetermination of Consequence Classification.
- Dam emergency plans.
- Dam safety reviews.
- Other professional consultative services as required under the Dam Safety Regulation (DSR).
- Drainage master plans, dike engineering studies or design plans, or any professional consultative services for water purveyors on drainage or dikes to assess and determine opportunities for upgrades or expansion of existing diking and drainage infrastructure.
- NEW! Facilitation and strategic engagement for communities to support collaborative planning to address agriculture water supply challenges or user conflicts.
This new activity field will be available on the application starting July 18th.
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.
AgriStability
AgriStability helps stabilize farm income by managing the risk of large income declines. The AgriStability program is based on the income and expenses of individual farms.
AgriStability Enrolment Deadline Extension for 2025
The 2025 AgriStability enrolment deadline has been extended to July 31, 2025. This extension provides additional time for producers to register as they manage challenges such as production loss, increased costs, and changing market conditions.
Sign up for AgriStability using our online form or by sending the completed printable/fillable PDF to BC AgriStability.
Rapid Support Available
The interim rate for the 2025 Program Year has increased from 50% up to 75%. Farmers experiencing losses can apply for interim payments under AgriStability for quicker financial assistance.
Utilize Risk Management Programs
Producers are encouraged to use the comprehensive suite of business risk management (BRM) programs, including AgriStability, to protect their operations and contribute to a resilient agriculture sector.
Have questions about AgriStability?
- Call 1-877-343-2767,
- Email: AgriStability@gov.bc.ca, or
- Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/AgriStability
We’re available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Service is available in English and Punjabi.
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.
*NEW* "Enhancing Soil Water Holding Capacity Through Bale Grazing"
Photo Credit: Josh Stobbe
A new factsheet is now available on the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food website.
The factsheet discusses how bale grazing can increase water holding capacity, potential risks, and evidence from Northern B.C. (the Peace Region).
Stay-tuned for an upcoming video on the same topic!
Updated B.C. silvopasture resources
Check out the recent additions to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Agroforestry webpage including:
Silvopasture in British Columbia Information Series
A modular series covering basic, intermediate, and advanced silvopasture planning, implementation, and management topics. Thirteen of the sixteen units have been posted as PDFs and narrated presentations.
Silvopasture Case Studies: Producer Perspectives – Silver Hills Ranch
A new AgriService BC video showcasing silvopasture use at Silver Hills Ranch, near Vernon B.C., illustrating how it’s been integrated into the ranch production cycle. Highlights include discussion of maintaining and enhancing forage values, ecosystem values, and timber values on the ranch.
Is your business market ready?
The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food market readiness webpage now features a series of how-to resources providing tips and best practices for B.C. agrifood and seafood businesses. Learn how to use market research, improve your sales pitch, sell your product, develop an e-commerce plan, and more. No matter where you are in your market readiness journey, find information and resources to help you enter or expand your market for a B.C. food product or service HERE.
New local food literacy resources
Discover free, ready-to-use local food literacy resources on the Feed BC in K-12 website—designed to connect classrooms with B.C. food, farmers, and processors!
Find posters, slideshows, and activity sheets on 10 B.C. foods, highlighting the people, places, and stories behind what we eat. Plus, explore The Great B.C. School Food Cookbook—a collection of tasty, student-friendly recipes from schools across the province, all featuring B.C.-grown ingredients.
