Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) in B.C. Services and Program Guide

Business Risk Management

Introduction

Weather, disease, pests and sudden price declines can affect a farmer’s bottom line.  Business Risk Management (BRM) programs are in place to help producers manage these risks.

The Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program and Production Insurance are jointly funded by federal and provincial governments, and are the cornerstone programs to help producers manage risk.

CAIS provides assistance when farm income declines and Production Insurance provides assistance when production drops because of weather, disease or pests. In British Columbia, the provincial government provides additional support through ongoing programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, including the Fruit Tree Revitalization, Sterile Insect Release and Noxious Weed programs.

Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) Program

CAIS is a joint federal/provincial/territorial Business Risk Management program that protects producers against small and large declines in farm income or increases in expenses.  Producers receive a payment when their current year margin (eligible income minus eligible expenses) is less than their reference margin, which is average income from previous years.  CAIS protects the entire farm margin, and is available to all farmers. Beginning farmers can also participate in CAIS.

The coverage available to a producer is based on the reference margin, which is a measure of historical eligible income minus eligible expenses. Beginning farmers have a reference margin calculated based on industry averages, and farmers who expand or downsize have their reference margins adjusted accordingly. When the producer’s current year margin falls below the reference margin, a payment is triggered.

To enrol in CAIS, a producer selects a level of coverage and pays a small fee of $4.50 for every $1,000 of reference margin protected. After the end of the year, the producer submits information to calculate the current year’s margin.

For more information visit the federal CAIS website.

Contacts:

Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization Program
P.O. Box 3200, Station Main
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3C 5R7
Toll free: 1-866-367-8506
Fax: (204) 983-3947

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Business Risk Management Branch
#200 - 1690 Powick Rd.
Kelowna, B.C. V1X 7G5
Tel: 1-888-332-3352
Fax: (250) 861-7490

The Production Insurance Program

The Production Insurance program stabilizes producers’ incomes by ensuring that they have access to an affordable insurance program by funding a portion of producers’ premiums and provincial administrative expenses, and by offering reinsurance.

Production Insurance is offered on a crop-by-crop basis. It covers production losses caused by designated perils including drought, flood, hail, frost, excessive moisture and diseases. Premiums are cost-shared between the producer, the province and the federal government.

Who should apply for the program?

The program is currently available to virtually all producers in all provinces. Eligibility criteria for this program will continue to evolve as provinces add new commodities to their lists of insurable agricultural commodities.

Contact

Federal government
Director, PIRMD, Programs Team
Sir John Carling Building
930 Carling Avenue, Room 377
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C5
Tel: (613) 759-7518
E-mail

Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release (OKSIR)

The Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program (OK SIR) is an area-wide community initiative that applies nature-friendly technology to the control of codling moth, the BC tree fruit industry's most damaging and costly pest.

The southern Okanagan, where the service is fully implemented, has seen a significant reduction in the highly toxic organophosphates sprays that are used to control the codling moth. As a measure of the service’s effectiveness, no control interventions are required in commercial orchards and their surrounding areas in the participating fruit growing regions of the Okanagan, Similkameen, Creston and Shuswap Valleys.

OK SIR is funded by a general property tax paid by all residents of the regional districts and by an acreage tax assessed on apple and pear orchards. There is no direct funding for producers.

Okanagan Sterile Insect Release Website

Contact

Kelowna
3335 Sexsmith Rd.
Kelowna, BC V1X 7T5
Tel: (250) 491-3016

Penticton
272 Dawson Ave.
Penticton, BC V2A 3N6
Tel: (250) 490-3572

Osoyoos
11401-115th St.
Osoyoos, BC V0H 1V5
Tel: (250) 495-2555

Invasive Plant Management Program

The Invasive Plant Management Program is an ongoing service provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to monitor and seek control of invasive plants on private and Crown land.  It also provides technical support to weed management efforts, applied research, and development of invasive plant management strategies.

The Plant Health Unit in the Food Safety and Quality Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands provides financial support and works with community-based committees and local governments to provide public education, coordinate weed control at the local level, recommend integrated weed management, and develop inventories of invasive plants.  The program also works with some Regional districts to enforce weed control legislation.  The Ministry identifies invasive plants and provides technical expertise on controlling invasive plants through the Weed Technologist and diagnostic laboratory.

Contact:

David Ralph, Provincial Weed Technologist
162 Oriole Rd.,
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 4N7
Tel: (250) 371 6062

Plant Health Diagnostic Lab
1767 Angus Campbell Rd.
Abbotsford, B.C. V3G 2M3
Tel: (604) 556-3001

Invasive Plant Management Program Website