B.C. small farm pilot project receives funding

A new program from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is providing $800,000 in funding to help accelerate small farm operations across a variety of communities.

Supporting local food production has been increasingly important as highlighted by shortages during the pandemic and a heavy of reliance on foreign food imports.

“Farmers are vital to the local food economy throughout the province,” Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Lana Popham said. “Through this funding, these new and small farmers will be able to take their farming business to the next level while helping them on the path to economic recovery.”

This one-year pilot program is supporting 64 small and new farmers across the province, including in the Okanagan Valley.

This funding will strengthen a variety of farm growth projects to help enhance crop and livestock productivity, increase sales and diversify market channels. Buying infrastructure and equipment, like greenhouses, will support rural economic development and contribute to local food production.

Old Ochiltree Ranch in 150 Mile House is a 40.5-hectare (100-acre) property over 100 years old. The ranch has a small market garden, sheep, and an apiary for honey. The property is certified organic, with grazing, fruit and vegetable production. To help increase the ranch’s production and extend the duration of the growing season, the funding will be used to purchase and install a geothermal greenhouse.

“This is a huge opportunity to increase the profitably of our farming business, by helping to mitigate unco-operative weather, extending the season and diversifying our production,” Gord and Megan Flatt, the owners of Old Ochiltree Ranch said. “We are so grateful and excited!”

The applicants represent a diverse group of new and small farmers from 54 different communities in seven regions of the province.

These include seven Indigenous-owned and operated agricultural businesses and 19 new farmers under the age of 35 that include 13 female entrepreneurs.

Eleven applicants focus on livestock production, 47 focus on crop production and six focus on greenhouses, nursery and floriculture production.

The ministry classifies a small farm as one with a total annual gross revenue of less than $60,000 in the last two years. The program will cover 50 per cent to 75 per cent of total approved project costs to a maximum of $17,500.