Farmers in British Columbia will receive support to better protect their farms and animals from extreme weather through the Beneficial Management Practices program.

“From wildfires and extreme heat to flooding and cold weather, B.C. farmers and ranchers are constantly working in these challenging conditions,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Extreme weather calls for planned and determined preparation, and this program helps producers get ready for unexpected periods of harsh weather so they can continue providing the food that we all rely on.”

Funding for Extreme Weather Preparedness projects, including wildfires, floods and extreme heat, are now being supported through the Beneficial Management Practices program. A new category of cold preparedness has been added to help more farmers and ranchers with their resiliency to extreme weather.

Examples of projects include:

• protection against extreme heat and cold for crops and animals;
• farm building retrofits;
• FireSmart B.C. farm and ranch assessments;
• protection and storage of feed and other farm inputs; and
• creative solutions for extreme weather events.

“B.C.’s poultry farmers are focused on building resilience to protect both our animals and the food system that families depend on,” said Brad Driediger, president of the B.C. Poultry Association and B.C. Chicken Growers’ Association. “By supporting practical infrastructure improvements, this program helps ensure that producers remain ready to face the impacts from heat domes, cold snaps, floods or wildfire while continuing to supply British Columbians with safe, local food.”

Starting Oct. 8, 2025, B.C. farmers and ranchers will be able to apply for funding on a first-come, first-served basis. As much as $50,000 per applicant is available, and more than 35 projects will be supported during this round of funding. The four types of projects being accepted under the extreme weather preparedness category include wildfire preparedness, flood preparedness, extreme heat and cold preparedness, and creative solutions.

“For over 70 years, three generations of our family have been manually watering each season, in all types of weather conditions,” said Stephanie Wollen, owner, Wollen Sons Ranch. “With support from this program, we now have new automatic waterers and are able to have a fresh water supply to our cattle, even in drought conditions.”

The Extreme Weather Preparedness category under the Beneficial Management Practices program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C. (IAF), with as much as $1.25 million in funding from the Province.

“IAF is proud to continue serving as a trusted partner in delivering programs that support B.C.’s agriculture and food sector,” said Jack Dewit, chair of IAF. “Helping farms and ranches prepare for extreme weather is essential to protecting B.C.’s future food security.”

Learn More:

To find out more about the Beneficial Management Practices program and Extreme Weather Preparedness category, visit: www.iafbc.ca/bmp/