Agriculture Wildlife Program

Wildlife Damage to Standing Forage

Program Details 
The agriculture wildlife program will compensate qualifying producers for unharvested forage crop intended for livestock feed that has been damaged by wildlife.  This program includes compensation for wildlife damage caused by bison, deer, elk, moose, mountain sheep, bear, and waterfowl* that have not been held in captivity. * The AWP may include wildlife or waterfowl damage for any areas outside of existing regional pilots for 2009.

Eligible Agriculture Products
AWP covers both perennial forage crops and annual forage crops used for livestock feed that is in standing crop as determined by the program.

Eligibility

• Applicant must provide proof of BC Assessment Farm Status
• Applicant must provide proof of private land ownership and/or lease confirmation
• Application to the program can be made regardless of whether or not the applicant has Production Insurance.
• Compensation will only be paid to those pariticpants who have a willingness to engage in "on-farm" mitigation and/or prevention activities.
• Compensation is available for multiple cuts, including aftermath grazing**. (** Eligibility for aftermath grazing by livestock will be regionally specific for 2009).
• Bear damage in silage corn may be eligible for compensation.  At a minimum, methodologies for determining verfiied loss caused by bears in silage corn will be explored, developed, and tested.

Crops that are not eligible:

• Crops grown on land that is uninsurable for production insurance.
• Crops used for lure or intercept feeding.
• Straw or other byproducts
• Crops on grazing land or native pasture
• Crops seeded too late to expect a normal yield.
• Volunteer crops.
• Damage caused by wildlife other than defined wildlife. 
• Where livestock have remained in the field after winter dormancy, entered the field prior to adjustment, and /or not been withdrawn for a field during the growing cycle.
• Where crops were harvested and left exposed to wildlife damage dur to management practices.
• Crops that have been mowed, swathed, in sheaves or stooks, baled, or in stacks and silage pits collected from the field or in storage.
• Crops inteded for grain, seed, pasture, or any purpose other than forage.
• Crops where losses cannot be measured.

Damage Reporting & Applications

Applications:
NEW FOR 2009, Applicants must register by telephone, fax or in person for the program no later than the following deadlines:

• Irrigated / multiple cuts -- March 15
• Single cut -- June 15

If a deadline for the program is missed, then late enrollment into the program may be reported as soon as wildlife damage is detected.  Verified loss determination and compensation payments for late enrollment will be at the discretion of the AWP.

Reporting:
Growers are encouraged to report the type and number of wildlife causing damage, and time spent on field.

Crops must not be harvested before adjustment.

Grower must be present at inspection and be able to show where damage has occurred.

Applicants must provide name, address, age of crop, type of crop, number of acres damaged, legal description, and location and size of fields. 

Applicants are required to supply a tax reporting number and signature of authority for compensation claims.

Compensation

• AWP pays a max of 80% of the verified losses to the crop.
• Losses due to insurable perils (covered by production insurance) are distinguished from damages caused by wildlife.
• Damages caused by wildlife will not indemnify losses covered by other programs such as Production Insurance.
• Less than 10% visual plant damage will not be adjusted, unless otherwise determined by AWP.
• Minimum damage for claim eligibility is $1000 or 20 tons for the Peace River region or dryland regions of the province.
• Compensation value will be determined by methodology established by the AWP
• The AWP will determine hay replacement values, according to region, in October of each calendar year.

Cage Placement

Cages are not mandatory; however, they are a useful tool in measuring the amount of wildlife damage in a field.  Cages should be placed in areas of the field where the wildlife frequent. 

Contacts

Contact your nearest Ministry of Agriculture & Lands office. 

• Abbotsford 1-888-221-7141
• Dawson Creek 1-877-772-2200
• Fort St John 1-888-822-1345
• Kamloops 1-888-823-3355
• Kelowna 1-888-332-3352
• Oliver 1-888-812-8811