The federal and provincial governments have announced a $228-million agricultural recovery program to support farmers and ranchers who were impacted by flooding last November.

B.C. Agriculture Minister, Lana Popham, says it is the largest recovery program of its kind in the province.

“This program wouldn’t have been made possible without the input and support of many B.C. farmers and farming organizations, she said.

“We worked with them at each step of the way to make sure this response will work for farmers in combination with our crop insurance and income protection programs. They have told us that till will help them get back on track.”

Popham says the money will pay for expenses not covered by existing government programs or private insurance. It will includes the cleanup, repair and restoration of land, as well as water and waste systems, as well as the loss of perennial plants not raised for resale like blueberries, and the disposal of thousands of animals killed in the floods

“Other categories include expenses relating to the repair of uninsurable farm infrastructure and cost for animal welfare, such as replacement feed, livestock transportation, and veterinary care,” Popham added.

“My staff are still here and they are ready to help with this next step. My ministry will be available to help applicants through this process and we will provide supports in both English and Punjabi making sure all applicants have the attention they need.”

Speaking Monday, Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says she was shocked to see the devastation in the Fraser Valley during a visit in December.

“We heard stories of frustration and anger but even more than that, we heard stories about people coming together to help one another,” she said, noting it was important for both governments to come together to help out B.C. farmers after a tough year.

“Farmers have faced not only floods but also wildfires and extreme heat, not to mention the ongoing pandemic. We will continue to be there for farmers in British Columbia. Together, we will ensure that the agriculture sector bounces back from this crisis stronger than ever.”

At the height of the floods in November, there were over 1,100 farms across Southern BC and on Vancouver Island that were either on evacuation order or alert.

“We saw the BC Agricultural community demonstrate its strength and determination in the face of these devastating floods. We know the road to recovery will not be easy but our farmers are not walking this road alone,” Bibeau added.

Delivered by the province, the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program will leverage the federal government’s AgriRecovery Framework and Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA). Farmers who have already done work on their properties are being told to keep their receipts, track the hours of work involved, and take pictures documenting the damage and repairs to support their application.

“The November flooding was the most impactful agricultural disaster ever in our province, resulting in profound losses for many B.C. farmers and food producers, and we’re responding with a program that delivers the greatest amount of support of its kind in B.C.’s history,” Popham added.

“We’ve worked closely with farmers and farming organizations to make sure we have a comprehensive response that will support their recovery, help them get their farms back in production, and continue our collective efforts to build a resilient food system and food economy in B.C.”

An application portal for the new funding is expected to be open by the end of the day Monday.