Peace region farmers ‘optimistic’ for 2025 yield despite early drought concerns, says association president

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Farmers in the Peace region are feeling positive about the rest of the growing season, according to the president of the BC Grain Producers Association. 

Malcolm Odermatt, who is also a farmer in Baldonnel, told Energeticcity.ca producers around Fort St. John are expecting average to above-average yields this year, thanks to well-timed rain in June and July that helped turn around a dry start to the season.

“We were very dry this spring, but those rains came at the perfect time,” he said. “Everyone’s pretty happy.”

That’s a welcome change for producers in northeastern B.C., where back-to-back dry years, low snowpack and scorching summers have made farming increasingly difficult. 

Dry conditions have also fueled some of the worst wildfire seasons on record in northeast B.C., but thanks to recent rainfall, wildfire activity in the Peace region is currently much calmer compared to other parts of the province.

While the Peace experienced some of B.C.’s driest conditions in June, with much of the region experiencing less than 40 per cent of normal rainfall, Odermatt said he hasn’t heard any major concerns from local farmers, with some even reporting flooding in wetter areas like Prespatou.

Province-wide, drought conditions remain a concern, with 74 per cent of B.C.’s Pacific region classified as ‘abnormally dry’ or worse.

The province has urged residents to conserve water and Dawson Creek has already introduced water restrictions due to local drought concerns.