MP Bachrach pressures feds to support northern B.C. farmers

OTTAWA — Skeena-Bulkley NDP MP Taylor Bachrach pressed the federal Minister of Agriculture to step up and provide financial support to farmers in northern B.C. affected by this year’s drought in the House of Commons Wednesday.

Bachrach notes that Northern BC has been experiencing a Class 5 drought – the most severe classification – and farmers north of Williams Lake have seen hay crops reduced to as little as 10 percent of previous years’ harvest. As a result, farmers are selling their animals in huge numbers, which has long-term impacts on the viability of the industry.

“Farmers in Northern BC have been hit hard by extreme drought — another symptom of the worsening climate crisis,” said Bachrach in his question. “Hay harvests are down as much as 90 percent, and many farmers are struggling to feed their animals. We’re seeing herds sold off and we’re seeing family farms lost.”