Cariboo Central Coast Edition

"The Roots"

Regional Newsletter
March

Feature of the Month:

• Weed of the Month: Teasel 

Upcoming Events:

• Mar 5: Webinar - Build a Market Entry Strategy as an Agrifood Business
• Mar 10: Webinar - Fall Rye as a Management Tool
• Mar 13: Webinar - How and Why to Grow a Grassland Set-Aside
• Mar 17: Webinar - Soil Health Assessment Protocol Workshop
• Mar 18: Online event - Day on a Farm 
• Mar 19: Webinar - Navigate Shipping and Logistics for Your Agrifood Business

Accepting Applications:

• Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
• AgriMarketing Program: Market Diversification for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
• B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program
• Beneficial Management Practices Program
• Food Safety Program
• Knowledge and Technology Transfer Programs 2026 - 2027
• Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary Program

Business Risk Management Programs:

• New allowable expense: AgriStability
• New claims deadlines: Production Insurance

Resources:

• Snow survey and water supply bulletin - February 1, 2026
• 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral
• Study on Alternative Forages for areas with limited or reduced water availability
• The 2026 Agriculture Census

Weed of the Month: Teasel

Spring is on the way, and many gardeners are beginning to plan for the growing season! Teasel is an invasive ornamental plant that is used in floral arrangements, but it poses significant risks to natural landscapes in B.C. 

Teasel is a biennial species originally from Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It grows a rosette in its first year and sends up tall flowering stems in its second year, reaching 0.5–2 metres. The plant is easy to identify by its spiny, cone-shaped flower and seed heads, pink to purple blooms, and long, narrow leaves with spines along the central vein. It thrives in sunny locations and tolerates a wide range of soil moisture conditions. 

Once introduced, Teasel spreads aggressively. It can invade meadows, roadsides, pastures, and disturbed areas, reducing biodiversity and forage quality. Dense infestations can also limit access to recreational spaces. Because Teasel reproduces only by seed, improper disposal or accidental spread can quickly lead to new infestations. 

Despite its popularity in dried and fresh flower arrangements, Teasel must be handled responsibly. If you purchase or receive an arrangement containing Teasel, dispose of it in a sealed garbage bag at your local landfill—never in compost, where seeds can survive and spread. 

To help prevent the sale and spread of invasive ornamentals, we encourage everyone to be PlantWise and to explore Spring is on the way, and many gardeners are beginning to plan for the growing season! Teasel is an invasive ornamental plant that is used in floral arrangements, but it poses significant risks to natural landscapes in B.C. 

By choosing alternatives and disposing of invasive plants properly, we can all help protect our natural landscapes’s Grow Me Instead program. This resource provides beautiful, non-invasive alternatives you can confidently plant in your garden or use in floral displays. 

By choosing alternatives and disposing of invasive plants properly, we can all help protect our natural landscapes and disposing of invasive plants properly, we can all help protect our natural landscapes.

Webinar: Build a Market Entry Strategy as an Agrifood Business

Join the Export Navigator team and guest speakers as we walk through how to assess and validate market opportunities, develop a market entry strategy, and compare common entry approaches such as working with distributors or brokers, partnering with local companies, or pursuing direct sales. You’ll learn the pros and cons of each business model and how to decide what fits your business stage and capacity. 

Webinar: Fall Rye as a Management Tool

Join us for this upcoming webinar as we discuss projects, weed management, and producers experiences!

What We'll Cover:

• Introduction to the use of Fall Rye
• Project Summary Results from Ministry of Agriculture and Food demonstration project in the B.C. Central Interior
• Weed Management Presentation with Lindsay Benbow, PAg, MAF Industry Specialist - Forage
• Producer Experiences

Webinar: How and Why to Grow a Grassland Set-Aside

Learn how grassland set-asides can be incorporated into your crop rotation to rest and rebuild fields. This farm-focused webinar will introduce the Grassland Set-aside program with support from Delta Farmland & Wildfire Trust staff and local farmers. 

Webinar: Soil Health Assessment Protocol Workshop

Join the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for a workshop focusing on how to use the Soil Health Assessment protocol to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological indicators for your soil health and strengthen soil management decisions that support productivity and environmental resilience.  

Online event: Day on a Farm

When: March 18, 2026 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (PT)
Where: Online

Join ranchers Doug and Erika Fossen for an evening photo tour of day-to-day life in a typical year on their ranch. For nine years, with the Ag in the classroom program, Doug and Erika have shared this tour to educate people about the cattle industry. The Fossens operate a 2300 acre ranch outside Rock Creek where they operate a cow/calf ranch and grow alfalfa, silage corn and mixed grass hay. They are passionate environmental stewards and are constantly working on habitat enhancement projects and innovations to improve the landscape including rotational grazing. This presentation is a snapshot to showcase their passion for farming and share with the public and other farmers their day to day activities to grow crops and raise livestock. 

Webinar: Navigate Shipping and Logistics for Your Agrifood Business

Join Export Navigator and guest experts for a 60-minute session on shipping and transportation considerations for agrifood exporters. This webinar will provide an overview of common shipping options, packaging and labeling requirements, and the documentation needed to move products across borders, including export declarations and permits. Whether you’re preparing your first shipment or preparing to scale, this session will help you understand your options and make informed shipping decisions. 

Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program

The Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program is accepting applications for Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans.  

Applications are open until funding is fully subscribed.

This stream funds assessments, engineering studies or plans that:

• Are required, often by law, before implementing on-the-ground infrastructure work
• Improve understanding of regional watershed and water supply constraints 
• Support long‑term, climate‑resilient planning

AgriMarketing Program: Market Diversification for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Applications are open for the AgriMarketing Program! 

The program aims to: 

• Open new, non-traditional markets and expand export activities to diversify and increase the volume and value of Canadian exports and interprovincial trade 

• Prioritize projects that help Canadian agricultural and agri-food sectors (including fish and seafood) diversify beyond traditional markets to support the long-term growth of the sector and to help lessen current and future trade uncertainties 

• Target new opportunities in high-growth potential and non-traditional markets to increase and diversify exports and strengthen interprovincial trade 

Apply from February 13, 2026 until September 30, 2030. The intake period may close sooner if funding has been fully committed or if otherwise announced here. 

B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program

The B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program is accepting applications for its fourth intake!

Applications are open between February 24 and April 6, 2026.

The Program provides cost-shared funding to eligible participants to adopt new technologies on-farm to enhance profitability, productivity, and/or efficiency to help alleviate the impacts of labour shortages and rising operational costs. The program is competitive, and funding is not guaranteed.

B.C.-based farmers can apply, and successful recipients will be awarded up to $100,000 to fund projects to adopt innovative technology that can improve labour efficiency.

For questions, contact Innovate BC: integratedmarkets@innovatebc.ca

Financial support is provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a federal, provincial, and territorial initiative and the program is delivered by Innovate BC.
 

Beneficial Management Practices Program

Submissions are now open for Biodiversity, Energy & Fuel Efficiency and Extreme Weather Preparedness categories!

Submissions are now open for Biodiversity, Energy & Fuel Efficiency and Extreme Weather Preparedness categories 

• Submissions open: March 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM  

Important Details: 

• Project activities should not commence prior to approval of the application; retroactive costs are not eligible.
• Applicants can only apply for each BMP activity (i.e., Practice Code) once per fiscal year. 

Applications are open for:
Biodiversity, Energy & Fuel Efficiency, Extreme Weather Preparedness (EWP), and Extreme Weather Plans and Assessments 

• Submissions open: Mar 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM 

Nutrients & Waste Management and Soil Carbon 

• Submissions open: Mar 11, 2026, at 9:00 AM 

Riparian & Grazing, Water infrastructure, and Planning Technical Assessments, or Engineered Designs (P&D) (Basic, Complex, and Biogas) categories.  

• Submissions open: Mar 18, 2026, at 9:00 AM  

All Applications are open until funding is fully committed. Closing dates will be shared on the BMP website. 

Book a Call: Starting on the application open date for each category, you can book a 10-minute phone consultation with an IAF staff member. Prior to booking an appointment, please start your draft application and provide the ID number (similar to: BMP-202425-0####). 

Learn More: https://iafbc.ca/beneficial-management-practices-program/ 

Funding for these programs have 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 Clean BC.  The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).​​​​

Food Safety Program

Applications are open for the Food Safety Program until funding is fully subscribed. 

Applications are reviewed and adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis. 

All spending for 2026/27 projects must take place on or after April 1, 2026. 

Two funding streams are available: 

Stream 1: On-Farm for growers, packers, and ranchers. 

Stream 2: Post-Farm for processing, packaging, warehousing, transporting, distributing, and importing operations. 

The application form is identical whether you are applying for On-Farm or Post-Farm funding. If you are applying for both types of funding, please complete one application for each type of funding.

The Food Safety Program promotes the adoption of food safety practices and systems by B.C. on-farm and post-farm businesses to enable the agri-food sector to meet international food safety regulatory requirements. Apply for up to $25,000 in cost-shared funding for food safety assessments, improvements, and certifications. 

• Cost-shared funding is available for eligible activities under three categories: Assessments, Improvements, and Certifications. Each eligible participant may apply for and receive up to a total funding limit of $25,000 during the program term, which began on November 28, 2023, and ends on March 31, 2028. 

Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program Launch

2026-2027 applications for the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program are open!  

The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program (KTTP) supports organizations to deliver training and learning activities for B.C. producers and processors. 

Funding is available to support knowledge transfer activities such as workshops, farm tours, field trials, etc. that build skills, support adoption of best practices, and help the agriculture and food sector respond to emerging challenges. 

For the 2026–27 program year, organizations can apply for up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $7,500 per application. Activities must occur between April 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027. 

Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis while funding remains available. 

Watch the video below for more information. 

For questions, contact: Knowledge.Transfer@gov.bc.ca. 

Funding for the Program is provided in part by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. 

Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary Program

Applications are open for the Summer Student Farm Worker Bursary Program until funding is fully subscribed.  

Notification of the closing date will be provided via the program webpage and newsletter. 

The Student Summer Farm, Food and Fisheries Bursary Program (SSB) supports summer labour needs, youth engagement and work experience in the agricultural sector in BC. Full-time students employed in BC agriculture, food, beverage or seafood processing, fishing and aquaculture sectors during the summer season are eligible to apply for a bursary of up to $3,000. 

Students can contact ssb@iafbc.ca or 250-940-6150 with any questions about the program or to receive support with their application. 

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. 

New allowable expense: 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 guidelines have now been amended to include pasture-related feed costs as an allowable expense under the program, beginning with the 2026 program year. This change will give producers who rely on rented land for grazing livestock more equitable and effective support.

AgriStability is continuing to deliver enhanced benefits for those enrolled in the 2025 program year:

• Increased compensation rate to 90% (on income declines greater than 30%)
• Provides up to 75% for early payments 
• Maximum payment limit increased to $6 million

Upcoming AgriStability Deadlines:

March 31, 2026: 2025 Advance (Interim) Payment Deadline

To apply: 
Fill out our PDF form and submit by email to AgriStability@gov.bc.ca or submit our Digital form

April 30, 2026: 2026 New Participant Deadline
If you are not an AgriStability participant, but would like to join, you must submit a new participant form to us by April 30, 2026. 

To join:
Submit your application using our Online form if you already have an AgriInvest/AgriStability PIN.

If you do not have a PIN or prefer paper copies fill out our PDF form and submit by email to AgriStability@gov.bc.ca 

Staff are available to answer questions and help with the enrollment process.

• Phone: 1-877-343-2767 toll free. Support is available in English and Punjabi.
• Email: AgriStability@gov.bc.ca
• Website: AgriStability - Province of British Columbia

New claims deadlines: 
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:

• Berries
• Flower bulbs
• Forage
• Grain
• Grapes
• Tree fruit
• Vegetables

Upcoming Production Insurance Deadlines:
March 31, 2026:

• Strawberry crop application and payment deadline
• Vegetable application and payment deadline

April 30, 2026:

• Grain application and payment deadline
• Forage (Silage Corn and Spring Plantings) application and payment deadline

Need Help? Production Insurance Representatives are available to help with the application and renewal process.

• Phone: 1-888-332-3352 toll-free
• Email: ProductionInsurance.Kelowna@gov.bc.ca
• Visit: Production Insurance - Province of British Columbia

Snow survey and water supply bulletin - February 1, 2026

2025 Livestock Tax Deferral

Due to challenging weather conditions, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reports more regions now qualify for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral. This support helps producers manage extreme weather impacts. The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows farmers that carry on a farming business in a prescribed area who sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought, excess moisture or flooding to defer a portion of sale proceeds to the following year.

2025 Livestock Tax Deferral – Prescribed Region can be accessed via Agriculture and Agri-food Canada 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral website.
 

Study on Alternative Forages for areas with limited or reduced water availability

The Alternative Forages for Dairy Production in Water Scarce and Drought Prone Regions was a study looking at potential options for dairy forage producers in regions of the province that have experienced drought conditions in recent years.  

The study completed an overview of forage species and possible alternative management strategies that could meet forage production goals in each of the targeted regions. Although this project was focused specifically on forage production for dairy, anyone interested in growing high quality forages with drought tolerance in mind may find the information valuable.  

This work has been funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. 

The 2026 Agriculture Census

The 2026 Census of Agriculture begins in early May 2026. Farm operators will receive a letter with easy-to-follow instructions on how to complete the questionnaire. 

Completing the questionnaire online is quick and easy: 

• Go to Statistics Canada’s website, www.census.gc.ca, and select the online questionnaire.
• Use the secure access code received in the mail to complete the questionnaire.

Benefits of the Census of Agriculture: 

• Census of Agriculture data can help identify trends and provide information on emerging economic and social issues, opportunities, and challenges within the agricultural community.
• The questionnaire covers a wide range of topics, such as land use, crops, livestock, agricultural labour, machinery and equipment, land management practices, and farm finances. These invaluable data help inform research and policy across the Canadian agriculture sector.
• Census data give all stakeholders in the agriculture sector an equally reliable source of information.

Missed the last e-bulletin? Catch-up on previous issues here.