Farmers and ranchers are receiving additional assistance to prepare for, adapt to and lessen the impacts of climate change so they can better protect their farms and livestock and continue growing food for people in British Columbia.
The Regional Extension Program is supporting 16 regional projects through a second round of funding with $1.5 million from the governments of Canada and British Columbia. Farmers can improve things like soil health, water supply and management, greenhouse gas emissions and the impact from drought and wildfire. The regional projects will take place in communities throughout the province in the coming year.
Several projects from the first round of funding focused on helping regions prepare for and adapt to drought. One project focused on providing drought workshops for farmers with livestock in regions most adversely impacted by drought, so farmers are now better prepared to implement new strategies and best management practices that will help them adapt to climate change.
Another project focusing on drought preparation was launched in the Koksilah River watershed on Vancouver Island. Funding was used to support producers with an irrigation-scheduling project to help them be better prepared for drought conditions.