Farmers’ institute seeks $1m grant to support grain elevator upgrade

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The PRRD is supporting a local farmers’ institute in applying for grants to expand the last remaining grain elevator in Fort St. John.

The Peace River Regional District board of directors has voted to write a letter of support to the North Pine Farmers Institute, which is seeking funding for upgrades to a grain elevator.

A grain elevator is a storage facility designed to stockpile cereal grain, and gets its name from the elevator-like belt which transports the product to the top of the facility.

According to the institute, it owns the last remaining grain elevator in Fort St. John but it is in need of significant repairs. 

In 2024, the elevator handled approximately 100,000 tonnes of oilseeds and grain produced by farmers in the Peace River region, and as the sole facility in the area, any production not handled by the elevator has to be trucked outside the region for processing. 

Now, the institute is looking to upgrade the facility, expanding its operating capacity, adding additional storage and possibly facilitating the movement of grain by rail. 

The expansion is expected to cost approximately $3.5 million, and the institute is applying to the BC Hydro Peace Agriculture Compensation Fund for a grant of $1 million to support the project. 

“As a supporter of the North Pine Farmers Institute throughout the years of owning the elevator we would like to ask for your support once again, by way of a letter of support,” the letter stated. 

During the March 20th regional meeting, the directors unanimously voted to support the institute, and will write a letter detailing the PRRD’s support of the institute and project to assist in applying for the grant.