Turkey prices up, Hwy 3 remains Interior lifeline

• 98 per cent of turkey supply intact
• Transport challenges mean higher prices
• Supply chain to Interior restricted to Hwy 3 and Washington routes

British Columbia’s agriculture minister said her federal counterpart will visit areas devastated by floods next week as they work to get a sense of damage caused to the farming industry.

Lana Popham told reporters 97 per cent of egg-laying chickens and 98 per cent of dairy cows on the Sumas Prairie survived the flooding.

Popham said she’s asked ranchers and livestock operators to register with the province’s premises identification program, which can help the government track properties during emergencies.

Turkey gets more expensive

Asked about price hikes at grocery stores for turkeys, Popham said that was due to the increased transport costs, given the challenges and delays on restricted access roadways, such as Highway 3.

“Ninety-eight per cent of our turkey supply is still intact,” she said. “But, we are going to see some prices reflected around the complications of transport. Unfortunately, it’s taking longer to get things to where they’re needed and that’s costing the trucking industry more.”

She hoped, as things become more streamlined with transportation in the new year, prices would adjust.

The truck journey from the Lower Mainland to Keremeos in the Interior is taking twice as long as before, with drivers enduring a 10-hour trek on Highway 3.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said the government is in the planning stages of determining temporary measures to open the other damaged major arteries between B.C.’s Lower Mainland and the Interior, including the Coquihalla, where five bridges were washed away.

Collective effort keeps trucks moving

Meanwhile, Fleming highlighted the collective effort "by thousands of people" to get essential transportation moving despite extraordinarily challenges.

“Every day sees us closer to getting through the immediate crisis so we can focus on the recovery,” Fleming said.

“Between Highway 3 – our lone commercial truck route to the Interior – and the detours that are available now through Washington state, we’ve now seen over 10,000 trucks move products around our province.”

He added Canadian Pacific Railway has been moving freight and Canadian National is working towards opening their main line into Vancouver, which is expected this weekend. Airlines also continue to increase cargo flights.

“Thank you to all those who’ve been obeying the essential travel orders and doing the right thing in their personal lives and in the way their families consume products that have been in short supply,” he said.

-With files from The Canadian Press