Grainswest - Fall 2023

Fall 2023 grainswest.com 33 pretty well-covered peril, which is great because it affects the financial stability and health of the farms that are affected by it,” said Cole. The effects of early season fires on hay and pastureland were major concerns in 2023. Hay is covered by a production- based insurance product and pasture is covered for drought and extreme heat. “It’s focused on a lack of moisture, and it uses weather stations to measure how much rainfall there was in that area,” said Cole. “And if you’re below the long-term average, it pays out.” AFSC also administers the AgriRecovery and AgriStability programs. If deemed necessary by the provincial and federal governments, the AgriRecovery program may cover extraordinary costs due to wildfire such as the repair of burned fencelines and the cost to transport animals and feed. A fire component had not been announced as of press time, and because fire damage has been limited, it is unlikely to be triggered. The AgriStability program assists farmers with margin declines of greater than 30 per cent. It was reopened by the Government of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada to help those affected by this year’s wildfires. The registration deadline was additionally extended until September 29. AFSC also relaxed the recommended seeding dates for those with annual crop insurance products, anticipating delayed seeding due to evacuation. Usually, farmers are expected to report a fire claim within 14 days, but AFSC doubled the window this year. The organization also removed the need to present proof of cause from a fire department as wildfires were an obvious factor this year. “Just making it easier for people to actually submit claims and go through the process was the focus,” said Cole. A WAY FORWARD Given the serious impact of wildfires on Alberta farms this year, the undeniable call to action is to find ways to reduce their negative impact. “We’ve lost even more land this year than any of the previous years,” said Kevin Boon, general manager of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association. From observing wildfires in 2017, his organization and the British Columbia Wildfire Service have learned a great deal about managing the threat of fire. The research projects the two organizations subsequently launched may prove useful models as Alberta works to reduce and manage its own wildfire risk in the future. The Wildfire Service discovered fire spreads less easily in areas where fine fuels have been reduced by cattle grazing. Historically, bison served this function. Their decline in combination with increased tree growth and fire suppression unintentionally accumulated combustible plant material on the landscape. “Just getting the cattle in there for that period takes out some of those trees, branches, shrubs,” said Boon. They also reduce this vegetation by trampling it with their feet. Grazing can also help stimulate the growth of grass, keeping it green and less susceptible to burning. This realization inspired the Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, a pilot project designed to test wildfire reduction by grazing cattle in designated areas around Kelowna, Summerland, Peachland and Cranbrook. “If this works in the big picture out on the range, why wouldn’t this work practically to graze around major infrastructure?” said Boon. With the support from the Province of British Columbia, the Cattlemen’s Association is conducting a five-year evaluation to determine the effects of grazing on the growth of grass and additional plant species. The project will also assess its effects on invasive plant species and the amount of carbon it may sequester. Researchers are creating a model to assess the degree to which grazing reduces fire risk. “It’s been really exciting and fun, but the biggest thing is it created a level where we had to bring together a community and a lot of industry,” said Boon. The 2017 wildfires also initiated the launch of B.C.’s rancher liaison program. It sees permits issued to a select number of trained ranchers that allow them to stay and help in an affected area during an evacuation order. These ranchers work with the British Columbia Wildfire Service to move cattle, maintain irrigation operations, put out fires and keep the team informed. “It’s become extremely beneficial in that those ranchers not only know the people, they know the land, and they’re able to bring information back to the incident commander on what are the conditions on the ground,” said Boon. Broadly, given the scope and seriousness of the 2023 wildfire season, greater efforts must be made to better prevent and mitigate fires. In the immediate aftermath, farmers such as Dick Hale reassess their vulnerability. “When something like this comes along, we realize how limited we are,” he said. “We protect [our farms] and try to be safe and secure as we can, but we’re pretty limited. Fires show you that in a hurry.” “We protect [our farms] and try to be safe and secure as we can, but we’re pretty limited. Fires show you that in a hurry.” — Kevin Boon