An exercise on the steps rural farmers need to take in the event of a transportation accident is happening in the Regional District of Nanaimo board chambers Feb. 9.
All rural farmers are invited to attend the tabletop farmed animal carcass disposal exercise to help plan for the safe disposal of the livestock should an accident occur.
“During a non-disease event like a transportation accident we would need to examine disposal capacity on local farms, and assess other options such as using the landfill for non-cattle carcasses,” said Regional Emergency Management Select Committee Chair Dave Bartram in a news release.
Participants at the event will discuss the options available as well as compensation and recovery guidelines for affected farmers.
A number of stakeholder groups will also participate in the exercise, including the Justice Institute of BC, the BC Milk Producers Association, the BC Cattlemen’s Association, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Vancouver Island Health Authority, among many others.
Prior to the event input will be collected from farmers and stakeholders to set the scenario for the exercise. Local farmers wishing to participate in this stage can contact RDN Emergency Program Co-ordinator Jani Drew at 250-390-6526 or jdrew@rdn.bc.ca.