CFA’s submission emphasized the need to explicitly integrate agriculture into a proposed national flood and drought forecasting strategy. Extreme weather events—such as the 2021 drought in Western Canada and flooding in British Columbia—have significantly affected farm production, infrastructure, and farmer well-being. Improved, coordinated forecasting is essential for helping producers manage risk, protect food security, and adapt to climate change.
The submission outlines the limitations of Canada’s currently fragmented, largely provincial forecasting systems and calls for a nationally coordinated approach that integrates meteorological, hydrological, soil, and agricultural data. CFA recommends meaningful engagement of agricultural stakeholders, accessible and user-friendly forecasting tools for farmers, alignment with water management and infrastructure planning, and long-term federal–provincial investment in water resilience.