Ag council calls for wiser decisions in the future as an inter-ministerial committee is formed to discuss protection of major infrastructure
Governments must invest in infrastructure to prevent disasters such as the flooding that hit farmers in British Columbia, says an agriculture industry leader. Increasing weather extremes caused by climate change mean officials must start making wiser decisions, said Stan Vander Waal, chair of the B.C. Agriculture Council. “Yes, we need the government to put in […] Read moreTag Archives BC flood — page 2
Future protection stressed in aftermath of B.C. flooding
Governments must invest in infrastructure to prevent disasters such as the flooding that hit farmers in British Columbia, says an agriculture industry leader. Increasing weather extremes caused by climate change mean officials must start making wiser decisions, said Stan Vander Waal, chair of the B.C. Agriculture Council. “Yes, we need the government to put in […] Read more
‘We’re going to come back from it’
B.C. dairy farm family faces ‘heck of a cleanup’ after making emotional decision to relocate cattle as deluge approached
The Bouwman family is counting its blessings after a devastating flood decimated British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. “We got out. We’re safe. We didn’t lose animals,” said Grant Bouwman, who operates the Mardelen Holsteins Ltd. dairy farm with his wife, Amanda, in Yarrow, B.C., situated between Abbotsford and Chilliwack. “We’re going to have a heck of […] Read more
Flooding continues as B.C. farmers brace for more
Agriculture in the lower mainland will take time to rebuild as water continues to pour into the province
British Columbia braced itself for further rainfall as farmers dealt with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding, with the provincial government emphasizing the generosity of Canadians who have donated to the Red Cross. “This is historic weather intensified by climate change,” B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said Nov. 28. As a […] Read more
Floods shine light on atmospheric river storms
Recent (Reuters) — Atmospheric rivers of the kind that drenched California and flooded British Columbia in recent weeks will become larger, and possibly more destructive, because of climate change, scientists said. Columns in the atmosphere hundreds of kilometres long carry water vapour over oceans from the tropics to more temperate regions in amounts more than […] Read more
More rain forecast for B.C., Canadians step up to help
British Columbia braced itself for further rainfall as farmers dealt with the aftermath of unprecedented flooding, with the provincial government emphasizing the generosity of Canadians who have donated to the Red Cross. “This is historic weather intensified by climate change,” B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth said Nov. 28. As a […] Read more
Flood’s grain impact to linger
This was a fortuitous time to have the worst natural disaster-related disruption to grain movement in modern history, say industry officials. Normally, fall is the time of year that grain companies are facing backlogs, are on the cusp of paying vessel demurrage and are having to reschedule farmer deliveries coming into the elevator system. “This […] Read more
Tragedy on the Fraser hits B.C. farmers hard
Thousands of farm animals perished and many more were endangered due to unprecedented flooding and mudslides that have affected hundreds of producers in British Columbia. Farmers in sectors such as dairy, poultry and eggs were particularly hard hit because they are concentrated in the Fraser Valley, the scene of some of the heaviest flooding. The […] Read more
AgriRecovery in spotlight as floods wash out farmers
The likelihood of the AgriRecovery disaster relief program being triggered for the second time in British Columbia in only a few months is highlighting discussions to improve risk management for Canadian farmers due to climate change. Although “we’ve shown that this program can react very quickly,” officials have been eyeing ways to “improve the business […] Read more
B.C. floods show need for better infrastructure
Western Canadian infrastructure is being tested by the atmospheric river that plowed through British Columbia last week, wreaking havoc with people, animals and transportation links. More than 300 millimetres of rain fell in southern B.C. in 48 hours, the amount that on average falls over one month. Resulting damage has halted rail and commercial vehicle […] Read more
