Over 70 agriculture producers in the Cariboo Chilcotin braved snowy roads to get a boost with information on agricultural business supports on Nov. 16.
Community Futures Cariboo Chilcotin (CFCC) organized a one-day event at Thompson Rivers University titled Our Future in Agriculture to help agricultural producers in the area connect to programs, information and one another.
"We had a few producers mention that one of the biggest challenges they face is trying to navigate the funding that's available through the government," said Lauren Bedford, regional agriculture business liaison for CFCC. The event offered producers an opportunity to share their own knowledge, learn from experts and hear about government programs.
Bedford is a passionate advocate for the industry, having discovered her affinity for ranching after helping to calve out about 200 head of cattle in Saskatchewan when she was just 13 years old.
"Since then it's just something I really enjoy and I see the value in the industry, and I also love the people that are in it. They're a very independent and innovative group," she said.
"They're so determined because they have to be."
Presentations were given on the B.C. Land Matching Program, Family Succession, the Environmental Farm Plan, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and AgriStability/Production insurance. Attendees also heard from fellow producers Jeremy Farmer from Roddie Creek Ranch and Kayla Stump from Crystal Lake Ranch about the use of drones for locating livestock, seeding, fertilizing and mapping agricultural areas.
The event was also aimed at supporting new entrants to the industry as well as supporting in the succession of business.
"I think that's in most industries, but especially in agriculture," said Bedford, citing a study which forecasts the loss of 40 per cent of farm operators across Canada by 2033.
"It's not something we can avoid or sidestep, I think we really need to consider this," she said.
The final panel of the event explored technology innovations that producers are using to adapt to changing conditions. This included more efficient winter feeding options to help deal with drought issues and infrared drones to locate cattle in remote areas and monitor for signs of predation.
Bedford said CFCC hopes to host the event annually and build on it in order to support more small to medium-sized businesses.
"There's definitely a need and an interest to be supported in real things that are facing them today and what we can offer is opportunities for tomorrow," she said. "Whether we are talking about climate change or other topics, the reality is that we have to face what is happening in the coming years and we have to continue to adapt."
