Access to Feed program expands across provincial borders to connect B.C. ranchers facing wildfire and feed shortages with Alberta livestock resources.
Cattle organizations in Alberta and British Columbia are joining forces to help livestock producers navigate the ongoing challenges created by wildfires, drought, and feed shortages.
The B.C. Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) have announced a collaborative effort aimed at connecting British Columbia livestock producers facing feed shortages and wildfire-related disruptions with Alberta producers who may have feed supplies, available pasture, or cattle-feeding capacity.
The initiative builds on BCCA's established Access to Feed Program, which helps match producers in need with available agricultural resources.
The expansion comes as many ranchers across parts of British Columbia continue to grapple with the effects of a difficult wildfire season. In some regions, fires, drought conditions, and reduced forage production have created significant challenges for maintaining cattle herds and securing winter feed supplies.
According to the organizations, producers are feeling the impacts in different ways, making access to additional options increasingly important.
Through the initiative, Alberta producers are being encouraged to assist in one of three key areas:
- Providing feed that can be transported to British Columbia.
- Offering pasture for cattle that can be temporarily relocated to Alberta.
- Making feedlot or drylot space available for cattle that may need to remain in Alberta through the winter.
Industry leaders say the program is designed to create practical connections between producers rather than directly manage agreements. The Access to Feed Program serves as a confidential point of contact that identifies potential matches between livestock operations seeking assistance and those able to provide resources. Individual producers are responsible for negotiating and determining the terms of any arrangement, while all details remain confidential.
The collaboration reflects the strong tradition of mutual support within Canada's cattle sector, where producers often work together during natural disasters and other emergencies. Alberta Beef Producers said the initiative represents an opportunity for ranchers with available resources to assist their counterparts during a particularly challenging season.
For producers affected by wildfire-related feed shortages, the program may provide more flexibility as they evaluate options for maintaining herd health and managing feeding costs heading into winter. Access to additional pasture, feed resources, or feeding facilities could help reduce pressure on operations that have experienced forage losses or other disruptions linked to wildfires and drought conditions.
The partnership also highlights the growing importance of coordinated regional responses to extreme weather events affecting Canadian agriculture. Wildfires have increasingly become a major concern for livestock producers, impacting grazing land, feed availability, transportation routes, and overall farm management decisions. By expanding the reach of the Access to Feed Program beyond provincial boundaries, the organizations hope to increase the number of potential matches available to affected producers.
Alberta Beef Producers and BCCA are encouraging both producers seeking assistance and those able to offer support to connect with the program. Organizers believe the expanded network can help provide practical solutions while reinforcing the cooperative spirit that has long defined the Canadian cattle industry.
Alberta producers wishing to provide help, as well as B.C. producers seeking assistance, can contact Access to Feed coordinator Greg Tegart. Phone or text: 250-306-6277. Email: hay@cattlemen.bc.ca. Visit the Alberta Beef Producers website.