New program aims to help farmers prepare for extreme weather

The province and federal government are launching a new program for Island farms and farmers to better prepare for extreme weather.

Combined, thegovernments are spending $1.3 million over five years as part of the Agriculture Resiliency Program.

The federal and provincialinitiative will fund research projects in climate change adaptation, infrastructure resiliency, and mental and physical health for farmers.

And farmers like Rusty Bittermann say that's a good thing.

Bittermann, who runs a cattle and sheep farm with his wife in Shamrock, in central P.E.I., said he's excited about the new program.

"I think it's great," he said, adding his farm was visited when the program was in its design phase.

"We think across many years actually, we think decades," he said. "When we do things, we're thinking, 'how will this play out for the next generation that's running this farm?'"

Bittermann is trying to make his farm as self-reliant as possible in case another event like post tropical storm Fiona, he said.

He's building more barns, in case one is destroyed, and adding natural ponds for farm animals to drink from in case the power goes down.

The changing climate has made farming a challenge recently, he said, and this year has been no different.

His seeding plans for the pastures on his property were disrupted this spring because of weather, he said.

"We had a long period of drought at the beginning of the season," he said. "We just didn't have the rains we needed."

"The heat and humidity seems to be going up step by step across the last three or four years. That combination of heat and humidity is really tough."

Bittermann is experimenting on the farm to better prepare for the future planting cover crops to boost soil health and use as feed, and using a portable shade to keep his cows cool.

Still, the increased risk of droughts, high winds and hurricanes make it more difficult to maintain healthy soil and livestock, he said.

Province says it wants to help

Bloyce Thompson, P.E.I's minister of agriculture, said the province wants to build back the agriculture business stronger after Fiona, especially with the continuing threat of severe weather.

"Farming is our biggest industry on this Island," he said. "It's the engine of our economy so to speak. I'm a farmer myself and I know about the struggles that are out there and anything we can do to alleviate some of that stress is important."

Thompson says the program can help farmers upgrade older buildings to withstand intense weather and hopefully take away some of the stress that comes with the job.

"You always have to be there for the farmers," said Thompson. "Farmers put a lot of weight on their shoulders. I'm a big advocate for mental health in agriculture and anything we can do to help that along the way is important."

He said if the program is successful they will continue and add on to the program, as they are always looking for ways to address farmers' needs. He said $270k of that money is available this year.