“We know there is work to be done in being better prepared for future drought and other situations that are often beyond our control,” says Pat Bell . “In partnership with the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association, the Province will look at new ideas and options that can be used to improve systems already in place so we can lessen the impact of these situations.”  

Those new ideas would include strategies for  providing water for livestock or improved fencing to mitigate damage that could be done  by wildlife,

The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association will administer the $3 million dollar fund and will  announce  how the  money will be applied  at its Annual General Meeting set  for Smithers in a couple of weeks.

Drought conditions reduced hay and forage yields by up to 50 per cent of normal in northern areas of B.C. during the summer of 2006. As a result, producers are facing extraordinary costs related to securing feed and, in some cases, watering of livestock.

The funding  is open to owners of cattle and other eligible livestock in Regional Districts of Stikine, Kitimat-Stikine, Peace River, Bulkley-Nechako, Fraser-Fort George, and Cariboo.   Payments will be made on a “per head” basis for all eligible breeding stock (breeding males and bred females) as of December 31, 2006.   

Initial payments for livestock are:

Additional payments may be made which means total payments could be up to $30 per head for cattle (and equivalent amounts for other livestock) based on available funding after the processing of all applications is complete.

Applications will be mailed directly to producers in the affected areas who are registered with the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program. Producers who do not receive an application by mail before the end of May can request an application by calling AAFC toll-free at 1-800-667-8567. 

The deadline to apply is June 29, 2007.