The Business Risk Management Branch administers a suite of insurance and income stability programs that are designed to work together to enable B.C.'s agricultural producers to manage business risks that are beyond their control (production losses, severe market volatility, extreme weather events or disasters).
Business risk management programs are an important part of a farmer's overall risk management strategies.
AgriStability is a business risk management tool that helps stabilize farm income by managing the risk of large income declines. The AgriStability program is based on the income and expenses of individual farms.
The Government of British Columbia has established the 2024 BC AgriStability Enhancement Program which offers greater coverage and helps agricultural producers manage income losses due to extreme weather, marketing challenges or natural disaster in 2024. Late Participation also ensures that producers have until April 30, 2025 to enrol in AgriStability for the 2024 Program Year.
Production Insurance is an affordable insurance program that supports agricultural producers to manage the risk of crop losses caused by weather perils such as hail, frost, excessive rain, fire, flooding, drought and wildlife.
In B.C., Production Insurance is offered for berries, grain, forage, grapes, tree fruit, vegetables and flower bulbs.
The 2023 Canada-British Columbia Wildfire and Drought Recovery Initiative provides help in recovering from the extraordinary expenses incurred as a result of drought and wildfire in 2023.
The 2021 Canada-British Columbia Flood Recovery Program for Food Security responded to impacts on livestock and crops by providing assistance to help offset costs of returning to production.
The Agriculture Wildlife Program provides assistance to forage, grain and livestock producers experiencing crop and livestock losses due to damage caused by wildlife.
The program includes compensation for wildlife damage to standing forage and grain, separation of excreta contamination from grain, and livestock losses due to wildlife predators.
Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) offers protection against an unexpected drop in livestock prices over a defined period of time. Livestock producers can purchase price protection on cattle and hogs in the form of an insurance policy. Coverage is based on a number of market driven factors and can be managed on-line.
LPI is available in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
AgriInvest is a self-managed savings account that helps farmers manage small income declines and provides support for investments to mitigate risks or improve market income. AgriInvest is administered by the federal government.