91原创 East MLA is encouraging 91原创-area farms hit by November鈥檚 heavy flooding to apply for a just-announced $228 million federal-provincial recovery fund.
鈥淲e do forget that there are other farms that were hit [outside Abbotsford and the Sumas Prairie],鈥� Dykeman told the 91原创 Advance Times, adding her office can assist with applications.
Dykeman added she was 鈥渞eally, really, really grateful,鈥� at the news.
On Monday, Feb. 7, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau, and B.C.鈥檚 Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Lana Popham, announced the Canada-B.C. Flood Recovery for Food Security Program.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: 91原创 drenched by downpour
It aims to help farmers with 鈥渆xtraordinary expenses from uninsurable damages,鈥� including cleanup, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelters, water and waste systems; repair of on-farm structures such as livestock containment fences, as well as animal welfare costs like replacement feed, livestock transportation, veterinary care and mortality disposal.
鈥淭he B.C. agricultural community has pulled together and demonstrated its strength and determination in the face of devastating floods,鈥� said Bibeau.
鈥淲e are here to help them rebuild so they can quickly get back to doing what they do best: producing high-quality food for Canadians.鈥�
READ ALSO: More Abbotsford evacuations as crews try to hold back Sumas River floodwaters
Popham called the November flooding 鈥渢he most impactful agricultural disaster ever in our province, resulting in profound losses for many B.C. farmers and food producers, and we鈥檙e responding with a program that delivers the greatest amount of support of its kind in B.C.鈥檚 history.鈥�
More than 1,100 farms, 15,000 hectares and 2.5 million livestock were affected by the flooding.鈥�
Farmers who have already done work are being advised to keep their receipts, track the hours involved, and take pictures documenting the damage and repairs to support their application.
Program criteria and application forms are available online at
One-on-one assistance in English and Punjabi is available to farmers requiring assistance completing the applications through agrirecovery@gov.bc.ca or by calling 1-888-332-3352.
Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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