Clinics that help B.C. farmers and ranchers care for their animals will have extra sets of skilled hands in their offices through a new program that covers summer placement costs for both veterinary and veterinary technologist students.

The Government of British Columbia is hosting a series of in-person workshops in more than 30 communities to help farmers around the province prepare for potential drought this summer.

Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, has released the following statement regarding recent actions by the Government of Alberta that affect B.C.’s wine producers:

B.C. farmers and ranchers are being supported with a new round of funding to help prepare and protect their farms and animals from extreme-weather emergencies, ensuring people will continue to have access to local food in a changing climate.

More people will be discovering and enjoying local food and beverages as the Buy BC Partnership Program continues to support B.C. farms and businesses to get the word out about their products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed 52 farms have been infected with the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in B.C. since Oct. 20, 2023.

B.C. food-processing companies looking to scale up and feed more people are benefiting from a program that is helping them increase their businesses’ productivity and competitiveness by improving their facilities and equipment.

B.C. farmers looking to grow their businesses in the face of rising costs are getting support for accessing new technologies from items such as robotic and automated equipment, farm-management software and digital sensors, which will help them increase production, efficiency and profitability.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that birds at eight commercial poultry farms in the Fraser Valley and two small flocks in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the Regional District of Mount Waddington have tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus bringing the total to 16 confirmed cases since Oct. 20, 2023.

New and small-scale farmers will be able to grow their businesses and help strengthen food security in their communities with the launch of the New Entrant Farm Business Accelerator Program.