Agriculture
Livestock, cereal, legume and oilseed crops are the dominant farm products from the BC Peace Region. Nearly 1 million hectares (2.2 million acres) of land is farmed here. Included with these dominant products, this region produces over 95% of the province’s canola crops, 96% of its forage seed, 85% of its wheat, and 80% of its bison. These farming activities require a large, open land base which the BC Peace Region, like the prairies, offers. With these low density farm activities, the Peace Region produces only 5% of BC’s gross farm receipts, though it amounts to about 30% of province’s total farmed land. Climate, soil conditions, and distance to large markets hinder the production of other farm products, like fruits and vegetables on a commercial or industrial scale.
Over the past hundred years more and more of this area has been opened for farming and has witnessed changing trends. Recently the price of cattle and some grains has fallen, while new markets in bio-fuels and organic products have opened. The climate is changing; since 1950 there has been an increase of about 3.5 frost-free days and a decline in precipitation. Oil and gas facilities are competing for land, and other uses, like wind turbines, may be coming as well. Some farms have gotten larger and easier to manage as new technologies and inexpensive inputs have become available, while other farms have been subdivided.
Organizations have formed to assist farmers, like the Peace River Forage Association, BC Grain Producers Association, and the British Columbia Cattlemen's Association. These organizations work with all levels of government to assist farmers and producers with research, planning, insurance, and development.
Role of the Peace River Regional District
The PRRD consults an Agricultural Advisory Committee, consisting of numerous people from across the Peace Region with farming backgrounds. They meet several times a year to provide advice and assistance to the Regional District on issues facing the agricultural community. The Regional District has a noxious weeds program to help keep out invasive species. The Regional District has also participated in wildlife management programs that help mitigate damage to crops from wildlife, especially ungulates. Bylaws and policies guide the Regional District when considering development in agricultural areas. Superseding legislation, specifically the Agricultural Land Commission Act, must be considered and can even be used as a tool to further enhance PRRD policies.
Role of the Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan (OCP) provides direction for the Regional Board when considering various issues. Any proposal for development must be evaluated with the OCP, including its goals and objectives. The OCP can:
- designate where agricultural uses should occur;
- indicate the intensity of agricultural development, including type and size; and
- protect agricultural uses from other encroaching development.
Visitor Comments
There are no comments yet