Livestock producers aren’t the only ones who have been hit hard from the Fraser Valley flooding, as new reports have been released that agriculture crops and commodities have also been struck with disaster.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Lana Popham, announced this afternoon that many crops have been completely lost.
In the Fraser Valley, approximately 57 blueberry producers have been impacted, which is close to 2,100 acres of blueberries; and another 82 acres of raspberries will all need to be ripped out and re-planted once waters recede.
Field crops in the Sumas Prairie and Fort Langley, growing vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, carrots and leeks have also been significantly impacted.
Approximately 420 acres were unharvested at the time of the loss, which is close to 4,000 tons of stored and unharvested field vegetables that are most likely damaged and lost.
“Some farms are still able to salvage some of their crops and we congratulate them for trying to get that food into the food supply right now. I know it’s a tough job,” said Popham.
There are currently two major flower growers that remain under several feet of water, which is a loss of 250,000 plants in nurseries and roughly 100% of bulb growers in the Sumas Flats have been i.
A commercial chinook hatchery on Vancouver Island has been damaged due to the flood, and two land based fish farms in the Fraser Valley have also been hit. While the losses have not been entered as of yet, the Ministry presumes that all fish have been lost.
“There’s been a lot of interest by folks- around understanding the impacts to the livestock sector. There's been a lot of interest in the numbers and totals, and I get that. But I think right now it’s important to understand that this curiosity that we have about reporting out daily numbers on the deceased animals is impacting our livestock producers negatively. Each time we update those numbers it turns out to be another traumatic moment for our livestock producers,” explained Popham.
“I won’t be updating the animal mortality totals over the next few days out of respect for the livestock producers. They are hurting very deeply and I appeal to your compassionate side as you address this issue as well.”
Increased access has been made available for farmers in the Fraser Valley looking to get back to their farms, so they can assess the damage and increase the access for feed and water for animals in need.
Livestock feed deliveries, hay deliveries, mushroom hauling, chicken hauling, egg pick up, are all being moved along these access routes and are helping secure the supply chain.
Some animals are still in the process of being moved out of the area, and the Ministry is working to support these livestock relocations.
“About 20 herds were relocated from the Sumas Prairie and many more relocations are happening around other flood affected areas,” added Popham.
“The relocation process is a difficult one, it’s very physical work and we’re also dealing with animals that are under a lot of stress.”
