This week the federal government announced more than 200 million dollars will go to western provinces, including B.C.’s AgriRecovery program to help farmers and ranchers in Northwest B.C. hit hard by this years level 5 drought. But despite the provincial request for assistance months ago, the announcement is too little, too late. 

After months that response finally came. Alberta and Saskatchewan will see some of this funding as well, but $71 million will be ear marked for livestock producers affected by wildfires and drought in B.C., with about $43 million coming from the federal government.

Eligible farmers and ranchers in B.C. can also receive up to 70 per cent coverage of extraordinary expenses incurred during emergencies, including feed, transportation costs, labour for repairing fencing, as well as replacing bee populations and equipment.

In July, at the hight of the drought, many calls were made to the federal government in the hopes of acquiring the funds farmers and ranchers needed However after more than three months, those funds for some, were too late, forcing the sale of their herds, and in some cases, entire farms.

Today we’ll hear from Mark Parker with the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako