Gruesome task of removing dead farm animals set to begin in Abbotsford

Editor’s note: This article contains some disturbing details and may be upsetting to some readers.

As the weather in B.C. improves, the Minister of Agriculture says now is the time for farmers to take the heartbreaking next steps of removing the remains of animals left behind in the storm.

The first major rainstorm that hit the Sumas Prairie mid-November led to the evacuation of over a thousand people. Of this group, farmers were instructed to leave their animals behind because there was no way to rescue thousands of cows, horses, and chickens.

In the aftermath of the floods, there were reports of dead cows floating in the waters and many were concerned about the survival chances of the animals left behind.

Two and a half weeks later, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham now says with the weather seeming to dry over the next couple of days, it will be “critical for removal of carcasses.”

In her update Thursday, Popham said 628,000 poultry, 420 dairy cattle and about 12,000 hogs are dead.

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One hundred and ten beehives have been submerged.

Agricultural Emergency Operations are assisting with the placement and removal of live animals where needed, supporting the feeding and on-site care for livestock still in flood-affected areas, and facilitating the disposal of deceased animals, according to Popham.

This team has also been ensuring that the permit system is working well so farmers in Abbotsford and through the Nicola Valley can get in and out of the evacuation areas to attend to their livestock.

“About 60 animals have been moved and another 75 are in the process of being relocated. We’re also working with them to make sure that they’ve got enough feed to make it through the winter and that’s going to be an ongoing challenge,” she reports.

There are still 819 farms under evacuation.

Update to livestock impacted by #BCFlood:
Ag Min @lanapopham says 628,000 poultry, 420 dairy cattle and approximately 12,000 hogs have died, while 110 beehives have been submerged
"The work by farmers and volunteers and companies… continues to be extremely heartbreaking."

— Lasia Kretzel (@rhymeswpretzel) December 2, 2021

The province has not been able to finalize the quantifying losses for animal or plant crops, but Popham she hopes is to “firm up those numbers as the waters recede.”

About 700 acres of blueberries in the Sumas Prairie have been soaking in water over eight feet at one point because of the storm and some still remain under heavy amounts of water.

“And we’re not going to be able to know the full extent of the damage of those plants.”

While it’s not blueberry season, Popham is urging British Columbians to support local blueberry farmers and berry growers.

“We estimate that there are about 7-million pounds of frozen blueberries in our system here in B.C. and so if you want to do your part and support our berry growers go and get some frozen berries from your grocery stores and buy B.C. just to show how important those farmers are to all of us.”

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• ‘I built it as a dream house’: Sumas Prairie farmers still struggling to comprehend loss

• Cows swim to safety in Abbotsford floodwaters as farmers urged to leave livestock behind

• Abbotsford farmers devastated by destruction of homes, crops in flooding

• B.C. dairy farmers working to replenish milk supply after flooding

Popham says she’s met with the B.C. Agriculture Council Tuesday and will continue to work with them to ensure that farmers are supported.

“They’re going to be assisting us with dispersing important information to associations and directly to farmers.”

So far the province has reached out to hundreds of farmers in the province and is continuing those outreach efforts — likely to continue for the next number of months and most likely over the next year, according to Popham.

In the interim, the province is allowing late participation in the federal-provincial Agriculture income protection (AgriStability) program for 2021.

“This program provides funding to farmers who have experienced declines due to crop loss or livestock loss. The late participation means that B.C. farmers that are not currently enrolled for 2021 can now enroll and they can enroll up to December 1, 2022.”

If you would like to enroll, visit gov.bc.ca.

The province has promised disaster relief funds are available for farmers and anyone impacted by the floods.

While many flood evacuation orders and road closures remain in effect, on Thursday, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he’s grateful, “the worst weather now appears to be behind us.”

He echoed a report from Environment Canada that forecast more typical seasonal conditions for the next week. He says the province will still see some precipitation, “but nothing is concerning as in recent weeks.”

– With Claire Fenton