No images? Click here
Peace Edition
Regional Newsletter
September 2025
Feature of the month:
Costs and returns of sample ranching businesses in B.C., 2024
Upcoming Events:
- Sept 7: National Farmers Union Region 8 (BC) Annual Convention
- Sept 15: "Meat" Up Monday
- Sept 16: Peace River Forage Association (PRFA) Multi-Species Grazing Event
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)
- 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
- FCC Extends Support for Canola Producers
- New Market Readiness
- Cover Cropping Species Selection
- The 2026 Census of Agriculture
This study was undertaken during the winter of 2024, using the input from local ranchers in regions throughout B.C. It was made possible through a joint initiative between the BC Cattlemen’s Association and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food with funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a joint federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
There is a sample Dawson Creek ranch on page 41
National Farmers Union Region 8 (BC) Annual Convention
The convention will be held on zoom, you can learn more or register on the NFU website
"Meat" Up Monday
Interested in using different livestock species to manage brush, weeds and pasture health?
Learn practical tools from multi-species grazing expert Lee Sexton.
Come to Rob Larson’s on Tuesday SEPT 16th for classroom learning and in-field demos.
Targeted grazing, using livestock as tools to manage vegetation, fencing design/layout, watering systems and more.
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.
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
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, up 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.DawsonCreek@gov.bc.ca / ProductionInsurance.FtStJohn@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 Farmland
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).
FCC Extends support for Canola Producers
Farm Credit Canada has extended its Trade Disruption Customer Support program to canola producers.
The federal crown lender announced Aug. 19 that its decision comes after continued global trade disruption, including new Chinese tariffs on canola seed.
Chief executive officer Justine Hendricks said the uncertainty creates real pressure on cash flow and operations for farms, agribusinesses and food processors. “Our role is to ensure our customers, and the broader industry, have access to the capital and flexibility they need to adapt, stay competitive and keep delivering high-quality products to markets at home and abroad,” she said.
Existing customers and new clients who meet the lending criteria are eligible for the additional help. This includes access to an additional credit line of up to $500,000 and new term loans. Existing customers may defer principal payments for up to 12 months on their loans.
FCC said it will continue to work with industry partners to navigate changing market conditions.
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
Cover Cropping Species Resources
Interested in trying cover cropping? 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 AgriServiceBC@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.
