Extreme Weather Preparedness (EWP)

Who can apply

Applicants must have:

1. A valid Environmental Farm Plan (EFP).

• If you’re applying for the Extreme Weather Preparedness category and associated plans and designs, an EFP is not required.
• EFPs are valid if they are less than 5 years old and reflect the current farm or ranch operation.
• Please renew your EFP if it is more than 5 years old, or if there have been changes made to the farm/ranch that could have impact on environmental risk.

2. Farm Status. Be a primary production agriculture business whose primary purpose is the production and sale of agricultural products and must be a BC registered business entity (including sole proprietor, partnership, corporations, cooperatives, Indigenous economic development corporations, and band-owned businesses).
3. Premises ID, if livestock and/or poultry is raised.
4. GST and CRA business number. Participants must be a taxable entity (e.g., individual, corporation, or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative with GST & business number, or First Nation Band.
5. Main farmstead located in BC and file farm income tax (form T2042 or T1273) under the Income Tax Act in BC.

• Licensed Aquaculture producers, vertical farm producers, and Federally licensed Cannabis or Hemp producers are exempt from meeting farm tax income requirements, however:
• Aquaculture operations will have to provide their valid aquaculture license number.
• Vertical farm producers must provide documentation demonstrating their farm businesses have achieved the minimum Farm Class Status Equivalent annual gross revenues for the sale of ‘agricultural products’ in the year prior to their application.
• Cannabis or Hemp producers must provide proof of either their standard-cultivators, or industrial hemp license as issued by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act or Industrial Hemp Regulations. The personal production of medicinal cannabis is not eligible for this program.

6. Complete the prerequisite activity(s), if required.

• Some BMP activities require assessments, plans, or engineered designs that must be completed prior. Proof of completion must be submitted at the time of application.
• Concurrent planning/design projects and on-farm equipment/infrastructure projects may be allowed in some cases where projects are not dependent on the final plan or design for the equipment/infrastructure activity or may be waived at the discretion of IAF on a case-by-case basis.