Drought remains challenge for Peace region ranchers despite recent rainfall

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Recent rain has given Peace region ranchers a much-needed boost, but drought remains a challenge.

A burst of July rainfall has improved conditions for some ranchers in the Peace region, but persistent drought continues to weigh on hay yields and water supplies.

That’s according to a director of the BC Cattlemen’s Association, Talon Gauthier, who also manages MT Ranch with her husband in Dawson Creek.

She says the moisture came just in time for late-seeded crops, but wasn’t enough to fully reverse the effects of last year’s extreme dryness and a low-snowpack winter.

“It brought on some clover, which made our hay crops better, but they’re still really poor,” Gauthier said. “At the end of June, we were deciding if our hay fields were even going to be worth cutting.”

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s latest drought report, which covers the month of July, parts of the Peace region near Fort St. John saw a slight improvement in drought conditions thanks to the rain. 

The precipitation prevented it from going into severe drought (D2) territory, but areas around Dawson Creek remain dry. 

Some areas around Dawson Creek are even considered to be in extreme drought (D3).

The Kiskatinaw River, Dawson Creek’s primary water source, has neared record-low levels, prompting water restrictions.

Gauthier says the recent rains mean this year will be better than last, but only slightly.

“If we hadn’t got that July moisture, it would be a whole different story.”

According to Gauthier, other ranchers in the area that she speaks to have had similar experiences.

This comes after a more optimistic outlook from the president of the BC Grain Producers Association, who told Energeticcity.ca producers around Fort St. John are expecting average to above-average yields this year, thanks to that well-timed rain in June and July.