Deadline: 25-Oct-22
The pilot Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture Program (“the Program”) invites farm and ranch businesses to apply for a new provincial cost-share funding opportunity that aims to increase farm-level climate resilience to extreme weather events.
Climate change is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, impacting British Columbia’s food system and food security. The goal of the Extreme Weather Preparedness for Agriculture Program (“the Program”) is to increase the resilience of B.C. agriculture operations by providing cost-share reimbursements to farm and ranch businesses to address risks related to wildfire, flooding, and extreme heat.
Streams
- Funding is available under three streams for the first pilot intake:
- Wildfire Preparedness Stream: The Wildfire Preparedness Stream will be offered in partnership with BC Wildfire Services and FireSmart BC.
- Flooding Preparedness Stream: With a large portion of B.C.’s highest capability agricultural land located in floodplains, much of the province’s most productive agricultural land is increasingly vulnerable to extreme flooding. Stream 2 is intended for farms and ranch businesses that are at risk from flooding and provides cost-share payments to increase onfarm flood resiliency.
- Extreme Heat Preparedness Stream: Livestock and horticulture crop operations are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat events. Stream 3 targets farmers who are most at risk of extreme heat events and aims to support infrastructure and equipment upgrades that will reduce on-farm vulnerabilities
Funding Information
- Wildfire Preparedness Stream: Approved applicants may receive between 30-50% cost-share reimbursements for select on-farm Projects up to a maximum of $35,000.
- Flooding Preparedness Stream: Approved applicants may receive between 30-80% cost-share reimbursements for select on-farm Projects up to a maximum of $35,000.
- Extreme Heat Preparedness Stream: Approved applicants may receive between 20-80% cost-share reimbursements for select on farm Projects up to a maximum of $35,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for the Program, applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements:
- The farm or ranch operation must be a primary production agriculture business whose primary purpose is the production and sale of agricultural products and must be a B.C. registered business entity (including sole proprietor, partnership, corporations, cooperatives, Indigenous economic development corporations, and band-owned businesses);
- Is a taxable entity (e.g. individual, corporation or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative with a GST and business number, or First Nation Band;
- Has their main farmstead in British Columbia and files farm income tax (form T2042 or T1273) under the Income Tax Act in British Columbia.
For more information, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/extreme-weather-preparedness
