Over $173k approved for nine agriculture projects in Peace region

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund board of directors approved $173,510 in grant funding for nine agricultural production and related projects in the Peace region.

The recipients of the funding are the Sunset Prairie Livestock Association, Ken Erin Price, Whiskey Creek Ranch, Cody Johnson, Kathleen Peck, Pegasus Ranch, Sunnyside Bookkeeping and Accounting, Kyle Bartels, and Dead Horse Creek Cattle Company.

The Sunset Prairie Livestock Association is receiving $50,000 for a dugout renovation to supply farmers with areas for gathering water for the livestock. The association manages the Sunset Prairie Community Pasture, a 13,500-acre grazing tenure used by 20 ranching families since the 1950s. 

“[The dugout] will help to secure quality and quantity of livestock watering for years to come. With adequate supply in dugouts, the cattle will be less likely to seek water in the riparian areas, improving the overall riparian health of the community pasture,” said the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), which administers the fund, in a release.

Ken Price is receiving $33,423 for sheep handling and sorting equipment, as well as a shed to store the items. Price also wants to utilize the money to create sorting pens for the sheep.

“This project allows for sheep to be processed quietly and with more efficiency, with less stress on the livestock and the workers. A difficult part of a sheep operation is the gathering and handling,” said NDIT.

“This project can simplify this process and encourage others to diversify their operations to include sheep, leading to more opportunity in agricultural production.”

Whiskey Creek Ranch plans on using the $27,865 received from the fund for egg production growth in the Peace region.

The ranch wants to build a new coop to accommodate a larger laying hen flock and upgrade an existing coop to increase capacity for incubating, hatching and brooding laying hens. The new coop will provide space for 399 hens, an increase to the 115 the current space can accommodate.

“The project will allow the ranch to incubate, hatch, and brood on-farm chicks in greater capacity for themselves, and other local producers. This also decreases the biosecurity risk to the region (by not bringing in as many chicks from out of the region) and reduces the risk of relying on external suppliers and distribution networks from outside of the Peace.”

 Cody Johnson is looking to upgrade a corral alley and chute at a Peace region ranch using the $22,215 received from the fund. The current lead-in alley and chute have aged out, and a new system will increase the safety of those using it and the cattle being processed through it.

The new system will also support delivering vaccinations more effectively, and cattle will be held more securely for tagging.

“This corral upgrade will really help increase the safety and decrease the stress of handling cattle during times of processing on the ranch,” said the NDIT.

Kathleen Peck is receiving $13,008 to purchase a new water pump and install an automated irrigation system for her farm’s one-acre market garden. The upgrades will support the garden’s current operation and expand the cider orchard.

“This project will enhance productivity by providing a reliable and sustainable water source for agricultural activities that will be less susceptible to climate change, especially in times of drought. An adequate water supply improves crop growth, increases agricultural yields and benefits other aspects of regenerative farming,” said the NDIT.

Pegasus Ranch will utilize $12,124 from the fund to buy an electric fencing system and supplies to support rotational grazing pastures. 

“Using the tools to implement a proper intensive grazing program can increase soil quality, land and pasture grass quality, and also reduce the amount of brush and deadfall that can create a fire hazard. This will not only benefit cattle from the additional feed, but it will improve the biodiversity of the area, as well as limiting some non-native plants,” said the NDIT release.

Sunnyside Bookkeeping and Accounting is receiving $5,603 to purchase portable chicken coops to start rotationally grazing chicken.

“The coops are designed to help lessen the stress on layers and broilers, improving their growth and egg production. The coops are movable, which allows for an increase of soil nutrients to support more organic fertilizers that will improve grain production yields,” said the NDIT.

After receiving $5,010, Kyle Bartels is looking to reduce feed waste and improve animal quality for sheep and lambs that are brought to market by purchasing two sheep grain feeders.

“The farm currently has 90 heads and plans to expand to 200. These feeders are adjustable, saliva limiting feeders that remove the risk of bloating and acidosis in the animals. This will help reduce death loss while wasting less feed and delivering the animals an optimal amount per head per day,” said the NDIT.

Dead Horse Creek Cattle Company will be using the $4,262 received to build a new fence around a section of approximately 100 acres to create a pasture for livestock grazing. 

“The new fence will run along the property line and tie into the existing fence that borders the fields and another pasture. This project will allow the area to be used for grazing and will increase the ability to rotate cattle from pasture to pasture effectively,” said the NDIT.

The recent recipients of the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund were announced on March 19th.