Vancouver Island farm sending hay to B.C. ranches suffering from wildfires, drought
It's been a brutal summer for B.C. farmers and ranchers due to wildfires and intense drought.
Now, a Vancouver Island farmer is trying his best to help those who are struggling to get feed for their livestock in other parts of the province.
Saanichton farmer Bryce Rashleigh is sitting on a mountain of hay, with nothing to do with it.
"I've got feed, but I don't have animals," he told CTV News on Tuesday.
On the mainland, many ranchers have the opposite problem. They have plenty of animals, but no feed.
"For many of them up there, the drought was part of the problem, then the fires," said Rashleigh. "Some of them – pastures have dried right up, then the fires came."
On Tuesday morning, Rashleigh was packing up his ninth load of hay that will be sent to the mainland, with calls for hay coming from Merritt, B.C. to Swift Current, Sask.
It's hay that one rancher, who has cattle on both Vancouver Island and in Kamloops, says is sorely needed.
"Our grass has not grown since the third week of June, so our cattle have got nothing to eat because of the drought," said rancher Brian Dorman.
Dorman says the support being sent to the region is felt and appreciated by those working in the agriculture industry.
"There's so many nice people that have done everything to help people and it's so appreciated," he said.
That help comes at a cost, however.
Island resident Leslie James has donated to help cover the freight costs of transporting hay to the mainland.
"It's scary. People are wondering how they're going to get through the winter," she said.
The cause is one that's close to James' heart. She's from the Interior, and her family had to flee their farm in the early 2000's due to a wildfire.
"I just think it's so important that we help each other, and every little bit helps," she said.
Back in Saanichton, Rashleigh continues to raise money for the costs of transporting hay to the mainland.
So far, he's raised $10,000, and he hopes to raise another $30,000 so that he can send off a total of 50 truckloads.
"I just want to thank everyone who's been a part of this," he said. "It's way bigger than anything I could do or imagine."
Rashleigh is also donating his time and labour to the project. He estimates that it'll take about 90 hours to load all of the hay he wants to transport to the mainland.
The farmer adds that he's grateful to transport company Penta Transport that's been helping him haul the hay across the country.
To donate to the hay fundraiser, visit the Saanichton Farm website here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Stormy Daniels is expected to appear at Trump's hush money trial on Tuesday
Donald Trump returns to the hush money trial Tuesday facing a threat of jail time for additional gag order violations as prosecutors gear up to summon big-name witnesses including porn actor Stormy Daniels.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.