Milk production across flood-stricken British Columbia is back to 90 per cent of normal, with more Fraser Valley dairy farms starting to operate as flood water has receded, said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham.
“Yesterday (Thursday) more than 1.5 million litres were picked up in the Lower Mainland,” Popham said.
“This was due to better access to the Sumas Prairie.
"Multiple farms were being inspected and cleared for production. These volumes include the Okanagan and Kootenay farms.
"That milk is being delivered to Alberta and there is sufficient supply for all.” Popham said.
The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association held a roundtable discussion with Popham and ministry staff Thursday, and ranchers outside the flood and landslide-affected areas are arranging feed supplies for Fraser Valley farms.
With CP Rail returning to work and Highway 1 open as far north as Hope, grain is moving again, particularly red wheat to restart flour mills, Popham said.
Poultry farms lost thousands of birds, and barns are being cleaned and disinfected as flooding permits.
Popham said with Highway 1 open, more people are coming through, and she appealed for privacy as farmers deal with the destruction.
