British Columbia
Agriculture Resources
Agricultural Irrigation Scheduling Calculator
The Agricultural Irrigation Scheduling Calculator uses evapotranspiration (ET) data from Farmwest to advise producers on irrigation scheduling. Users specify soil type, irrigation system design, location, and crop type and receive tailored irrigation advice as output. Data is presented graphically and is available for download in report form.
Organization: Government of British Columbia, Irrigation Industry Association of BCAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada Related Links Page (Drought Watch)
This webpage links to numerous sources of information on agroclimate monitoring, analysis, and forecasting.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaAgriculture Water Demand Model
The Agricultural Water Demand Model for the Okanagan Basin was developed to provide current and future agriculture water demands for the Okanagan Basin. The intent of the model is to help fulfil the province’s commitment under the Living Water Strategy to reserve water for agricultural lands. The model calculates water use on a property by property basis and sums each property to obtain a total for the entire basin or sub-basins. Crop, irrigation system type, soils and climate data are used to calculate the water demand.
Organization: Government of British Columbia – Ministry of AgricultureReports
Project reports are available for the following areas in the province of British Columbia. Reports for other areas of the province are in progress and will be posted as they are completed.
- Agriculture Water Demand Model Factsheet – revised Sept 2015 (PDF)
- Report for Salt Spring Island December 2017 (PDF, 5.5 MB)
- Report for the Regional District of Central Kootenay June 2017 (PDF, 5.9 MB)
- Report for the City of Kamloops May 2016 (PDF, 3.6 MB)
- Report for the Fraser Valley Feb 2015 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Report for the Comox Valley Regional District Dec 2014 (PDF, 1.3 MB)
- Report for the Bonaparte Watershed Oct 2013 (PDF, 5.3 MB)
- Report for the Kettle Watershed Oct 2013 (PDF, 2.7MB)
- Report for the Nicola Watershed Oct 2013 (PDF, 2.0MB)
- Report for the Similkameen Watershed Oct 2013 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Report for Metro Vancouver June 2013 (PDF, 7.9 MB)
- Report for the Cowichan Valley Regional District June 2013 (PDF, 4.4 MB)
- Report for the Regional District of Nanaimo May 2013 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
- Report for the North Thompson May 2013 (PDF, 4.0 MB)
- Report for the Okanagan Basin Feb 2010 (PDF, 9.0 MB)
Agroclimate Impact Reporter Map Selector
The Agroclimate Impact Reporter is an interactive map showing drought characteristics and the impacts of drought conditions on agriculture in the Prairie region. Variables can be visualized at a monthly time scale between 2012 and 2017 as spatial polygons. Variables include monthly changes in drought conditions, impact of drought conditions on agricultural operations, agricultural water shortages, etc.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaAgroclimate Maps
Agroclimate maps display agroclimate conditions in Canada. Available maps include both current agroclimate conditions and historic agroclimate conditions. Agroclimate variables include precipitation characteristics, temperature, and drought indices. Maps can be seen based on region and time span (from Weekly to 5 years). National, Pacific, Prairie, Central, Atlantic, and Ontario maps can be selected.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaBC Agriculture Water Calculator
The BC Agricultural Water Calculator uses 10 years of historical climate data, from 2001 to 2010, to calculate how much water farmers should need for their farm in the “new climate normal”, which farmers can reference in their water licence applications. Government of BC staff involved with water authorizations also use this calculator when reviewing applications. Data are available for individual land parcels in tabular format.
Organization: Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia, Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Investment Agriculture Foundation, Okanagan Basin Water BoardCanadian Drought Monitor
The Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM) uses a classification system that defines severity, extent, and impacts of drought to monitor and report drought. This dataset includes a variety of information regarding the monitoring and reporting of drought. This includes current drought conditions, drought analysis, historic drought maps and data, and the Canadian Drought Monitor application. Current drought severity is shown in polygon format.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaClimate Change Scenarios
The Climate Change Scenarios – Agriculture dataset consists of a series of maps depicting the impacts of climate change on agriculture across Canada and the USA. Maps show data at a spatial resolution of ~2km as well as estimates for specific locations. Monthly data are available from 1900 and daily data are available from 1950. Projected future data are available to 2100 both yearly and as 30-year averages for 2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2071-2100. Specific variables include Effective Growing Degree Day, Moisture Deficits, and Length of the Growing Season.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Farm West
Farmwest.com is a website launched in 2001 to provide weather and climate information as well as a number of decision-support tools to the agricultural sector. Farmwest is linked to 397 weather stations across Canada from federal, provincial, municipal and private weather station networks. Data includes temperature, precipitation, growing degree days, pest degree days, T-Sum calculator, and seasonal weather forecasts. Data are searchable by station and time period, and are available graphically.
Organization: Government of British Columbia, Pacific Field Corn AssociationFuture Outlook
This webpage provides an overview of how agriculture and climate interact. It also provides links to more information on the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Canada.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-food CanadaLocal Climate Change Visioning Online Training Modules
These online training modules address the development of future climate change scenarios, the identification of relevant spatial data, and the use of visualizations in landscape level planning for climate change adaptation.
Organization: University of British Columbia – Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP)Managing Agroclimate Change
This webpage links to resources for addressing the risks of drought in relation to: crops, livestock, pasture, pest management, and water management.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaRetooling for Climate Change
The ReTooling for Climate Change website of the Fraser Basin Council supports local governments and First Nations in BC in preparing for climate change adaptation. Information is available on climate change generally, impacts in BC and Canada, and community adaptation. Specific topics and sectors include water management, coastal management, hazard management, infrastructure, agriculture, environmentally sensitive areas, forests and forestry, and mining.
Organization: Fraser Basin CouncilSatellite Soil Moisture
Satellite Soil Moisture map and dataset show moisture in the top 5 cm of soil across Canada. Data are available on a Weekly, bi-Weekly, and monthly basis. Soil moisture values are available as absolute values and as difference from average soil moisture over a longer-term period.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaSeedwhere
Seedwhere is a tool which maps the similarity of climates across geographic regions. While the tool can be used for any purpose, it was originally developed to support decisions on seed movements and sustainable forest management. Seedwhere estimates similarity of climates between both locations and under varying climate scenarios, including future projected climates. Users can specify the seed source and planting area, species type, and climate variable. Data are presented as an interactive map and are available for download in tabular format.
Organization: Government of Canada: Natural Resources CanadaThe use of the Land Suitability Rating System to Assess Climate Change Impacts on Corn Production in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia
The Land Suitability Rating System (LSRS) is a spatial modeling tool that generates a class rating for individual parcels of land for specific agricultural field crops based on a soil-climate-landscape potential. Alongside the Tool are accompanying climatic temperate index maps and climate moisture maps.
Organization: Government of Canada: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Canadian Soil Information Service