B.C.’s climate is changing. Hotter temperatures, insufficient snow accumulation, faster spring snowmelt, glacier loss, and reduced precipitation over extended periods of time can cause drought and water scarcity. As the climate continues to warm, drought and resulting water scarcity will become more common.
The Bachmanns are second-generation dairy farmers in Pitt Meadows, and in 2017, AgSafeBc announced that Bachmann Farms were the winners of the #AgSafetyChamp award. This regard for safety also crossed over to environmental concerns for the family and led them to seek out an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).
Anke Bachmann found that the EFP process is easy to follow. "The program was straightforward," she said. "The advisor went through the workbook with us, and there were only a few minor things to be changed. Very simple".
The EFP Program provides eligible agri-food sector producers with access to EFP Advisors who assist in the completion of Environmental Farm Plans. Once a producer completes an EFP, they are eligible to apply for the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program through which they can access cost-shared funding to implement BMPs on their farm.
With their EFP in place, the Bachmanns applied for water backflow prevention devices through the BMP Planning, Technical Assessments, or Engineered Designs category. They want to install backflow prevention valves to prevent the possibility of backflow from their farm into the water lines for the city of Pitt Meadows, keeping residents' drinking water safe and free from contamination.
Funding for these programs has been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. Additional funding has been provided by CleanBC. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).
