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Kootenay & Boundary Edition
Regional Newsletter
March 2025
March is a great time to gear up for spring with many events to help get you started - Scroll down to see what the March edition has to offer.
Make sure to check the BMP program updates for funding application windows opening in March (including nutrient management) and updates from the Business Risk Management Programs.
In this edition you'll find:
Upcoming events
- Kootenay Columbia Agri Forum
- Silvopasture Webinars continued
- Cattle Virtual Fencing & Drone Precision Ranching Workshop
- and many more...
Programs and Funding Opportunities
- CBT Food producer wage subsidy program
- Knowledge and Technology Transfer funding
- Beneficial Management Practices Program Updates
- Biodiversity and Riparian Grazing BMPs
- Soil Carbon, Energy & Fuel Efficiency
- Nutrient & Waste Management
- Agri-Innovation funding to reduce labour costs
- AgriStability and Crop Insurance program updates
- Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program is closed
- Tree Fruit Climate Change Response Fund announced
Resources
- B.C. Indigenous Pathfinder Service
- Animal disease detection program
- Ambrosia apple pruning video in English, Spanish, and Punjabi
- Grape vine damage assessment videos
Electric Fence How-To: Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors Webinar
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm PST
Join KBFA general advisor Andrew Bennett to go over how electric fences work and the many options available, followed by a Q&A to discuss your particular needs.
Back by Popular Demand...
- Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, March 6, 2025, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Webinars will cover introductory, planning, management-practices and case-study information and materials.
Following the webinars, participants can register for one-one-ones to discuss their own ideas, operations or questions with topic experts.
All webinars will be held via Zoom. No charge for registration. To register please visit the event landing page and follow the registration link. Register for any or all of the sessions in the series.
Ask a Land Matcher with Nyree Marsh
Looking for information or advice about leasing farmland?
Come gather with your community to learn how you can access farmland or lease your farmland, with support from the B.C. Land Matching Program. Nyree Marsh, our Columbia Basin Land Matcher, will share information and answer questions about leasing and sharing land, the land matching process and farm transition. Nyree has been farming or working with farmers in the Kootenays since 2005 – she offers a wealth of local farming knowledge, so bring all your questions!
Dates: March 6, 2025, 6:00 – 8:00 pm PST
Location: Sinixt, Secwepemc, Ktunaxa & Syilx Territories. Salmo Valley Youth & Community Centre, 206 Seventh St, Salmo, BC
Registration is free. Grab your spot here:
https://youngagrarians.org/nov-16-2024-cowichan-bc-land-linking-workshop/
Cattle Virtual Fencing & Drone Precision Ranching Workshop
Dates: March 17 & 18, 2025
Location: College of the Rockies Creston Campus
Join BC Centre for Agritech Innovation, Thompson Rivers University, Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors, and the College of the Rockies at the Creston Campus for a 2 day workshop to learn how cutting-edge tools such as drone-based remote sensing, GPS livestock tracking, and wireless virtual fencing are transforming livestock management and rangeland stewardship. With these advancements, ranchers can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability while addressing critical challenges in modern agriculture. Whether you’re a student, rancher, farmer, or other interested community members, this workshop will equip you with practical skills to integrate these innovations into real-world farming and ranching practices.
Kootenay farmers can Register for free.
Kootenay Columbia Agri-forum & Conference
Dates: March 20 and 21
Location: Creston and District Community Complex
Join the Creston Valley and Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership for the first-ever agricultural forum and conference for Kootenay & Boundary farmers!
Topics Include: Emergency Preparedness for farms, Pollination Movement, Irrigation Practices, Farm Succession, Recruiting Foreign Agricultural Workers, Tech Innovation in Agriculture and more.
Webinar: Groundwater and Agriculture in the Columbia Basin
Wednesday, April 2, 9:00 - 10:30 am PST / 10:00 - 11:30 am MST
Co-hosted by Kootenay & Boundary Farm Advisors and Living Lakes Canada
In this webinar, producers will come away with an improved understanding of aquifer dynamics, the link between groundwater and agriculture, groundwater rights and policy, the available data and how to access it, and aquifers of concern or significance for agricultural use. Guest presenters include Braeden Toikka, water monitoring coordinator with Living Lakes Canada, and Mike Wei, physical hydrogeologist and groundwater policy expert. Living Lakes Canada gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Columbia Basin Trust and RBC Tech for Nature.
Kootenay School Food Gathering
Dates: April 7, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm PST
Location: Creston
We invite you to the inaugural Kootenay School Food Gathering, a dynamic event bringing together school food advocates and stakeholders from across the region. This is an opportunity to collaborate, exchange ideas, and shape the future of sustainable and impactful school food programs in the Kootenays.
Expect a full day of facilitated discussions, engaging presentations, and knowledge sharing. All fueled by refreshments and a nourishing meal—because what’s a school food gathering without great food?
Upcoming Agriwebinars:
- AgriStability - March 12 @ 8:00 am PST
AgriInvest - March 19 @ 8:00 am PST
Join Farm Management Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for two free webinars focused on the AgriStability and AgriInvest programs!
Whether you can make one or both, these sessions will provide valuable insights on the AgriStability and AgriInvest programs, important changes coming for the 2025 program year, and how you may benefit from participating.
Session 1: Overview of AgriStability and Program Changes
Wednesday, March 12 at 8:00 am PST
Session 2: Overview of AgriInvest and Program Changes
Wednesday, March 19 at 8:00 am PST
To register for one, or both webinars, visit:
https://fmc-gac.com/aafc-scap-agriwebinar
BC Poultry Health Network webinars
Ask A Poultry Vet
These sessions offer an informal opportunity to join your poultry-keeping peers to have your poultry health, biosecurity and disease related questions answered by one of BC’s very few licensed poultry veterinarians. Your questions must be submitted at registration, so please think about them ahead of signing up! If necessary, questions may be grouped or curated to align with the discussion, so if we miss your question one time, please submit it again for a future session! The sessions will be held regularly and are meant to compliment the program with an informal learning opportunity in addition to the formal webinars and education products being delivered.
Upcoming Ask a Poultry Veterinarian Sessions – Click title below to register, if available.
Information Webinars
Join for an information webinar on a poultry health, biosecurity, and disease related topic. These webinars occur monthly and explore a timely or relevant topic to keeping a healthy flock. Webinars will be recorded and available on the Resources page after delivery. If you have a suggested topic, please let us know!
Upcoming Webinars – click the date or title below to register, if available.
Farm Financial Fluency
Training Webinars
March 17, 18 and 20 for Grain/Oilseed Farmers
March 24, 25 and 27 for Beef Farmers
April 2025 – registration opening soon for Dairy Farmers
All Sessions will be hosted virtually from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Financial literacy is a fundamental starting point for effective farm business management, helping producers understand the direct impact of their business decisions, and opportunities available going forward. Through the Farm Financial Fluency training program, you will learn:
· Why financial reporting is important and to whom
· Key differences between types of financial reporting and who uses what
· Different farm business structures and their impact on financial reporting
· How to interpret your financial statements (balance sheet, income statement)
· Financial ratios and how to use them to analyze risk
· How to spot potential financial issues and opportunities
· Tools and resources available to manage financial risk
The program will be delivered virtually over the course of three 2-hour sessions coupled with an optional follow-up session with a financial advisor for those seeking additional support.
The Training Program ends with a production-specific in-depth case study to put the concepts into practice. Participants will come away with a greater knowledge of financial management, greater confidence in making financial decisions, and how to use the tools and resources available.
Virtual FCC Young Farmer Summit
Wednesday, March 26th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm PST
The FCC Young Farmer Summit is a free event bringing farmers under 40 together to explore the business side of farming – and have fun!
Learn from industry experts, connect with peers and get the knowledge you need to take your operation to the next level. Explore topics like business, financial and transition planning, economics and mental wellness to set yourself up for success.
Food Producer Wage Subsidy Program - Columbia Basin Trust
The popular wage subsidy program for farms in the Columbia Basin will be opening imminently.
- Review the Program Guide.
- Complete an online application on on the CBT program website
The Food Producer Wage Subsidy Program provides support to primary food producers in the Basin. The program will provide flexibility to farmers to hire employees as needed throughout the 2025 growing and harvesting season. This program helps increase Basin residents’ access to locally grown, healthy food.
The 2025 Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program Guide is Here!
The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Program provides funding to help organizations host activities and events that strengthen B.C.’s agriculture and food sector. The Program reimburses up to 75% of eligible costs for activities under two streams:
- Stream 1 (up to $1,500 per project) focuses on Knowledge Development activities, such as Inviting Subject Matter Experts to share their knowledge at various events.
- Stream 2 (up to $7,500 per project) emphasizes Skill Development of food producers and processors through hands-on activities.
To qualify, applications must show how the activities will transfer knowledge and/or build the skills of agriculture and seafood producers or processors with active operations in B.C.
Important Dates
The Program opens on March 19th, 2025, and stays open until funds are fully committed. Funding will be allocated on a first come, first served basis for all eligible completed applications. Activities must take place between April 16th, 2025, and March 1st, 2026.
Visit the Program’s website and read the Program Guide for more details!
Funding for this Program is provided by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program
🌱 The 25/26 BMP Program is here 🌱 Don't miss your chance to apply.
Biodiversity and Riparian Grazing BMP categories are accepting applications soon! These categories include versatile funding options - pest management, livestock watering, stream crossings and some of the most used BMPs in the program.
Note: The Water Infrastructure BMP category was closed early on February 12th due to overwhelming demand and limited program funds.
Important Dates and Details
Applicants are encouraged to begin drafting their applications as soon as the application window opens.
This preparation will ensure readiness for submission, including addressing questions, gathering details, and obtaining quotes. Submissions will be accepted between 9:00 am PST and 4:00 pm PST on the designated dates.
Intake Windows by BMP Category
- Planning, Technical Assessments, or Engineered Designs BMP
- Submissions open now (Ongoing until funding is fully committed)
- Biodiversity and Riparian & Grazing BMPs
- Applications open to edit now, submission window: March 13, 2025 – March 20, 2025
- Soil Carbon, Energy & Fuel Efficiency, and Nutrient & Waste Management BMPs
- Applications open to edit: March 4, 2025
- Submission window: March 25, 2025 – April 1, 2025
How to Apply
- Applications must be submitted through the IAF Client Portal.
The Next Application Intake for
the B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program
The B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program is accepting applications for its third intake between March 17 and April 28, 2025.
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. Financial support is provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a federal, provincial, and territorial initiative and the program is delivered by Innovate BC.
In case of questions, please contact Innovate BC: integratedmarkets@innovatebc.ca
Community Fund for Mental Health
Do More Ag has opened intake for the Community Fund for Mental Health Education from now until March 2, 5:00 pm CST. The Fund was created to provide agriculture communities across Canada with access to mental health education and literacy at NO COST.
Workshops include:
- Talk Ask Listen 4-hour interactive in person or virtual workshop, created by farmers for farmers.
- In Person Mental Health First Aid 8 hours in person workshop + 1 hour online pre-work, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and facilitated by a Certified Instructor.
- In The Know farm-focused 4-hour virtual or in person workshop, mental health awareness program developed by the University of Guelph to support others in the farm community.
LivingWorks 4-hour SafeTALK in person workshop to learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
Funded by: Farm Credit Canada and supported by Do More Agriculture Foundation and many local businesses.
To learn more Community Fund — The Do More Agriculture Foundation
Apply here https://share.hsforms.com/1rb_Y7yu_Qsytc03pDmkg5Qrgljo
For more information, contact hello@domore.ag.
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 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.
2024 AgriStability Enhancement
- increased compensation rate to 90% on income declines greater than 30%
- provides up to 75% for early payments (March 31, 2025 deadline), and
- increased compensation limit ($6.2 Million)
Through Late Participation, clients have until April 30, 2025, to enrol in AgriStability's 2024 program year.
Upcoming AgriStability deadlines
March 31:
- 2024 early payment (interim) application deadline
April 30:
- 2024 late participation deadline
- 2024 program fee deadline (with penalty)
2025 program year and fee deadline
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
Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/AgriStability
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
Upcoming Production Insurance deadlines
March 31:
- Strawberry crops application and renewal deadline
Vegetables application and renewal deadline
April 30:
- Grain application and renewal deadline
- Silage corn application and renewal deadline
- Forage spring plantings application and renewal deadline
Staff are available to help with the application and renewal process.
Phone: 1-888-332-3352 toll-free
Email: ProductionInsurance.Kelowna@gov.bc.ca
Visit: www.gov.bc.ca/CropInsurance
Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program
Stream 3: Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans
Applications for Stream 3 of the Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program are open!
Are you a Producer, Improvement District, Local Government, Non-Profit, or Community Group looking to complete an assessment, engineering study or plan before starting a water infrastructure project? You could be eligible for cost-shared funding!
Applications are open until funding is committed.
Tree Fruit Climate Change Response Fund
The B.C. government has announced a new $10-million Tree Fruit Climate Change Response Fund to support tree fruit farmers and provide direct financial assistance to those producers which will help them strengthen their operations and enhance long-term resilience and sustainability. The fund will provide one-time payments to eligible growers, distributed on a per-acre basis up to 28.3 hectares (70 acres). Tree fruit farmers can use the money for essential needs such as equipment, training, farm improvements, wages, or debt repayment. This funding is part of a broader $237-million investment in the sector since 2020.
Details on the rollout and next steps are currently development, please see our Tree Fruits webpage for more information in the coming weeks
Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program
The Tree Fruit Climate Resiliency Program is no longer accepting new applications, as funding requests have exceeded available funding. We thank all applicants for their interest in the program. Questions can be directed to TFCRProgram@gov.bc.ca.
New Ambrosia Pruning Training Videos Available in Spanish, Punjabi,
and English
This short training video was created as a tool to help teach orchard workers some simple rules to pruning high density apples for proper crop load management.
New Grape Vine Damage Assessment Videos
How to assess potential damage to grape vines when a winter freeze event has occurred along with lessons learned from the 2022 freeze event on managing damage in the vineyard.
Follow the link below, follow, like and share!
