Northeastern B.C. farmers need help repairing cattle fences damaged by wildfires
CBC
Wendy Bahm and her husband have owned their ranch for over 40 years. Located about 45 kilometres from Fort St. John in northeastern B.C., it sits on private land and is home to approximately 200 cattle.
In mid-May, the Peace River Regional District issued evacuation orders that have since expired for more than 1,800 properties, including the Bahms' farm, due to the Red Creek and Stoddart Creek wildfires.
Despite being advised to leave their home immediately, the couple decided to stay and fight the fire.
Wendy Bahm says they managed to protect their house and all of their cattle but lost about two kilometres of wooden fencing and 400 bales of hay.
Bahm says it will take a significant amount of time and personal expense to rebuild the fences. Until they're restored, their cattle cannot be released to pasture and will have to rely on the hay that would have been stored for winter feeding.
"We can easily run out of hay. If we don't get enough hay up this year, that makes us short going into winter because we're already feeding into our winter supply."
Considering the challenges facing Bahm and other ranchers, the Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce recently sent a letter to B.C.'s Ministry of Agriculture. In it, they ask for provincial funding to help them rebuild their fences.
"In the northeast, cattle are sent to the range on June 1 annually. Many cannot meet that deadline because the fires damaged or destroyed fences and infrastructure," wrote Chamber of Commerce CEO Kathleen Connolly.
Connolly also says the burned fences pose a threat to wildlife, as newborn ungulates can become entangled when trying to escape a fire.
"Removing burnt fences and executing new fence construction in a prompt order is absolutely critical," she wrote.
In response to the situation, the B.C. government said in an email to CBC News that most of the lost fences are on Crown land, and they are providing affected ranches with temporary plastic electric fencing.
Bahm says the plastic fencing is not strong enough to protect her livestock from predators.
Thomas Stahl, the CEO of Stoddart Creek Water Services, a company assisting the Peace River Regional District with the installation of the temporary electric fences and whose own farm escaped damage, says fences are crucial to safeguarding cattle.
"With beef prices being at an all-time high and these [ranchers and farmers] suffering from the loss of this infrastructure, it's a good recipe for more disaster," he told host Carolina de Ryk on CBC's Daybreak North.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.