B.C. seeing worst wildfire season on record, farmers feel the effects

Wildfires have scorched almost 1.4 million hectares of land in B.C., making this year the worst wildfire season on record, and the endless hot, dry weather is making drought conditions worse. Farmers say this is creating serious problems for their animals.

As of Tuesday, there are around 390 active wildfires in B.C. The endless scorching weather has farmers in the province calling the conditions unprecedented.

Lindsay Heer is a dairy and beef farmer in Smithers B.C. — the area she lives in is currently at a level five drought — the highest level on the drought scale.

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She says many farmers are unable to feed their cows and animal feed is around double to triple the normal price.

“The grass, our hay and silage crops which we depend on, are just not growing as they usually are,” she said.

“Anecdotally, I’ve been hearing from other producers that they’re having to make decisions about whether they’ll have to reduce their herd size.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Pam Alexis says B.C. has applied for the federal government’s AgriRecovery program, which is intended to help with natural disaster-related costs.

But she says it will take time to assess the damage to farms and industry.

“We’re just not sure yet as to the impacts. That goes for the cattle as well, the ones who have been sent for early culling — we’re not sure yet about those numbers,” she said.

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Inflation and the ongoing port strike are also challenging the industry, according to the B.C. Agriculture Council.

“It sort of looks like death by a thousand cuts. A combined series of pressures that really could potentially put some producers out of business. We’re hoping that drought conditions improve, that it won’t get to that point,” said Director of Policy Paul Pryce.

Environment Canada is forecasting higher-than-average temperatures to keep coming, and not much rain in the near future.

“I think one of the scariest parts is that we’re only in mid-July. For us to be so early on in the summer season and things to be this dry … we’ve never seen this before.”