Too little, too late.
That’s how Delta South MLA Ian Paton and the agriculture critic for BC United is reacting to a new NDP program to get hay to farmers.
This week the Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced they are funding a new Access to Feed program that will be delivered in partnership with the BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA). Through this program, the BCCA will match sellers of hay and feed domestically across Canada and internationally with farmers and producers.
“We are in daily communication with producers impacted by drought, and the main issue we are hearing right now is that some are already having to use their fall and winter feed,” said Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We are listening to what farmers and ranchers need most, and in collaboration with BC Cattlemen’s and other partners, we are taking action to help producers on the ground find all available sources of hay for their animals.”
Paton said he has been calling for support for ranchers and farmers since March.
“This drought situation has been in the radar for the past year. We know there is very little rainfall in the summer,” he said. “I can remember Delta in the 60s and 70s, there was no irrigation equipment in Delta, but now with climate change, if you don’t have irrigation equipment in Delta and elsewhere helping to grow feed, you are out of business.”
Paton said more attention needs to be paid to a growing dire situation for ranchers and farmers in this province.
“We are approaching August now. Alberta and Saskatchewan have had terrible drought conditions, so good luck getting hay from them. You will likely be turning to Washington State and Oregon, but there will be significant costs to doing that,” Paton said. “There are no long-term plans with the NDP. Every summer we are dealing with this. The NDP has been in power for six years and they need a long-term, sustainable plan for agriculture and helping farmers and ranchers in these situations of fires and floods.
“They spend $300K to add six desks on the legislature floor, but only $150K on farmers and ranchers facing severe record drought, feed shortages and loss of their herds. This money will feed about 500 cattle. There are 600,000-plus cattle in B.C. on 4,000-plus ranches.”
