By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday February 8, 2022

Feb 8, 2022 | 10:46 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Farmers, ranchers, and horticulture producers in British Columbia will be able to access up $228 million in federal and provincial funding.

The money will go towards flooding losses from last November, not included under existing government programs and private insurance.

BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said the money will go towards returning flood impacted land and buildings to a safe environment for agricultural production, and the loss of perennial plants not raised for resale, like blueberry plants. She said other categories include expenses related to the repair of uninsurable farm infrastructure, and costs for animal welfare, such as replacement feed, livestock transportation, and veterinary care.

Popham said this has been a very trying time and government will be looking at the most serious cases first to make sure the cheques roll out as soon as possible.

She said every farm is going to be treated differently because every farm has its own circumstances.

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“To be able to give a number on averages per farm, we don’t have that information yet. But we also know that there are some very desperate situations right now and farmers need cash now,” she said. “We’re going to be able to give interim payments quickly and get that cash into their pockets so that they can start buying things like electrical supplies, etc.”

An estimated 35,000 acres of farmland from the Fraser Valley to the Interior were affected by the November flooding. This includes 65 dairy farms, 25,000 acres of damaged fruit crops, and 7,500 tonnes of unharvested vegetables such as cabbages, carrots, and cauliflower.

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Eligible producers will receive 100 per cent compensation for unpaid deliveries to Pipeline Foods.

Following a review, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) determined there were 49 eligible claims for unpaid deliveries to Pipeline Foods, ULC.

CGC will distribute $2.2 million from the company’s security to these producers.

CGC Chief Commissioner Doug Chorney said they are committed to ensuring producers are fairly compensated for their deliveries.

“Our Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program plays a key role in securing payments for producers, and we are very pleased to be able to fully compensate eligible producers for unpaid deliveries to Pipeline Foods,” Chorney said in a news release.

Pipeline Foods, LLC from the United States, and its subsidiaries including Pipeline Foods, ULC in Canada, filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2021 and ceased operations.

Pipeline Foods, ULC had one grain dealer licence and two primary elevator licences located at Gull Lake, Sask. and Wapella, Sask.

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Farm organizations urged all parliamentarians to support a bill which includes a carbon tax exemption for grain drying.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb introduced Bill C-234, an act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.

Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Brendan Byrne said farmers continue to bear the brunt of the carbon tax by paying the tax for on-farm fuel used for drying grains, and paying the increased costs added to necessary inputs and services.

“It’s time for all Members of Parliament, regardless of party, to champion food production, keep food costs affordable, and support rural communities and farms by swiftly passing Bill of C-234 through the House of Commons,” Byrne said.

The amendment would expand the definition of eligible farming machinery and extend the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane.

The Agriculture Carbon Alliance (ACA) commended Lobb for bringing forward the legislation on behalf of Canadian farmers and ranchers.

ACA co-chair Dave Carey said as a national coalition of industry-wide farm organizations they are focused on prioritizing practical solutions to ensure our farmers and ranchers can remain competitive.

“This bill will provide economic relief for our members freeing up the working capital they need to implement environmental innovations on farm,” Carey said.

ACA speaks on behalf of 14 farm organizations to the federal government about carbon pricing policy.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW