Flooding has had minimal effect on Christmas turkey stock, says B.C.含羞草研究社檚 agriculture minister.

Recent heavy rain across the province led to flooding and loss of livestock, but at a news Friday (Dec. 3), Agricultural Minister Lana Popham said a significant amount of poultry survived. As water recedes, the province can get better grasp on loss and its effect on production.

含羞草研究社淟ast night, we heard from Harvey Sasaki, the chair of the B.C. Chicken Marketing Board. He noted that we had 61 poultry premises within the evacuation zone and amazingly, 97 per cent of they laying chickens survived 含羞草研究社� we might含羞草研究社檝e been hearing about turkey shortage possibilities, but I can assure you that only two per cent of the annual provincial production has been lost and I think this bodes well as we head towards some holiday meals together.含羞草研究社�

However, when asked about turkey prices, Popham said that was an area that could be affected by floods.

含羞草研究社淲e are going to see some prices reflected around the complications of transport and so, unfortunately, it含羞草研究社檚 taking longer to get things to where they含羞草研究社檙e needed and that含羞草研究社檚 costing the trucking industry more,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an unfortunate complication, when we see a disruption like this, but hopefully we含羞草研究社檒l see in the new year, as things get more streamlined, that those costs will adjust.含羞草研究社�

With waters receding, many of the highways have re-opened to traffic, including Highway 1, between Abbotsford and Hope, and Highway 3, east of Princeton, the province announced. The supply chain is being re-established, Rob Fleming, B.C. Transportation Minister, said.

含羞草研究社淏etween Highway 3, our lone commercial truck route to the Interior, and the detours that are available now through Washington state, we含羞草研究社檝e now seen over 10,000 trucks move products around our province,含羞草研究社� said Fleming. 含羞草研究社淐P rail has been moving freight, CN is working toward a mainline re-opening between Kamloops and Vancouver, expected this weekend. Airlines have continued to increase their cargo flights. Together this has made a tremendous difference.含羞草研究社�

Popham also said 98 per cent of cows from the Sumas Prairie survived the flood, which she credited to farmers and communities working together.

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