Having suffered through their third year of drought, Peace River region farmers are getting a break from the province.
Some Peace River farmers have produced few crops and little revenue in three years.
As a result, they by law should have their properties converted from farm status to residential status – and have to contend with the higher taxes that come with a residential status.
But the province is invoking section 6.1 of the standards for classifying farm to allow affected farmers to retain farm status for their properties.
The section temporarily suspends production and income requirements for farm classification under “exceptional circumstances.”
Last summer’s drought in the area was reportedly among the worst in 20 years.
Farmers in the Peace River region who have lost their farm classification can contact BC Assessment’s Prince George regional office to ensure the farm status on their land is not affected.
“It’s important that government support farmers in the Peace in the midst of this drought,” said Ben Stewart, minister of agriculture, in a release.
“This temporary waiver of income requirements is the right thing to do and will give farmers the confidence that government is paying attention to how they have been impacted.”
Last October, Peace River was among the regions in B.C. and Alberta made eligible by the Government of Canada for tax deferral as a result of drought conditions.
The deferral allows eligible producers in designated areas to defer income tax on the sale of breeding livestock for one year, in order to help replenish breeding stock in the following year.
To defer income, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15% as a result of drought.