A new $5 million fund announced Thursday in Chilliwack will help B.C. farmers protect their poultry and livestock from animal diseases like avian influenza, swine fever, and foot-and-mouth disease.

B次元官网网址淚 am pleased to officially announce that the B.C. government is investing $5 million in the B.C. poultry and livestock sector with the renewed focus of reducing the spread of animal disease and improving food security for British Columbians,B次元官网网址� said Pam Alexis, minister of agriculture and food.

Details like how and when the funding will flow werenB次元官网网址檛 available, but the new program is about fostering B次元官网网址渞esilienceB次元官网网址� in the ag sector, as part of a larger $200-million investment in food security initiatives recently announced.

Langley East MLA Megan Dykeman who is also a farmer, said animal diseases when they hit can have a B次元官网网址渞ipple effectB次元官网网址� throughout the food supply chain.

B次元官网网址淭his investment will enable our farmers and ranchers to plan, prepare and prevent and mitigate for these diseases on their farms,B次元官网网址� she said.

The funding will go to a mix of B次元官网网址渆mergency planning and trainingB次元官网网址� for the livestock and poultry sector, and equipment in response to outbreaks, as well as research, and implementation of biosecurity and mitigation measures.

The ag sector will be able to respond B次元官网网址渜uicker and betterB次元官网网址� to disease outbreaks with this key support, said Alexis.

B次元官网网址淎nimal diseases, such as avian influenza, have a huge impact on farmers,B次元官网网址� said Mark Siemens, president of the BC Egg producers association.

TheyB次元官网网址檝e learned the virus is now a B次元官网网址測ear-roundB次元官网网址� concern causing farmers B次元官网网址渕ental strain and anguish,B次元官网网址� which has become B次元官网网址渧ery challenging,B次元官网网址� Siemens said.

B次元官网网址淧oultry farmers particularly appreciate the fact that this funding is available to a wide variety of applicants so we can take advantage of best practices from across the animal agriculture sector,B次元官网网址� he said.

Industry associations will receive support for business planning, research, biosecurity and equipment purchases needed to respond to an animal disease outbreak.

The ministryB次元官网网址檚 Animal Health Centre, located in Abbotsford, currently handles more than 6,000 case submissions annually while diagnosing, monitoring and assisting in controlling and preventing diseases, such as avian influenza. The province has also announced plans to invest in a new Animal Health Centre that will ensure a more robust response to disease and enhanced testing in the future.

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