South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

  •  

BN08-37: Wheat Yields in the Peace Good, Protein Levels Low

Recent History – 1999

Nov. 25, 1999

By Kate O’Neil, for the Peace River Block News

Wheat yields were good in the Peace this year, but the protein levels averaged on the low side. “Typically it was 10 per cent up to 15.4 per cent,” said Kelly Kassian, Agricore manager in Fort St. John, “75 per cent of the wheat was below 12 per cent protein.” The protein level is weather related, particularly during maturation of the crop. This year it was damp when it needed to be hot and dry, and very cool in parts of July.

Appearance of the wheat is what pays dividends. Kassian said Agricore has received Canada #1, #2, and #3 Red Spring Wheat and the July frost affected them all more than expected. Of the crops grown in the Peace, wheat represents about 35 to 40 per cent. “A lot have switched to canola and also to fescue,” Kassian said, “grain prices are low. It’s all part of a cycle, the fescue crop won’t stay high forever.”

Demand for wheat should cause prices to rise eventually, especially when less of it is grown in favour of higher paying crops. Prairie farmers are lobbying the federal government to do something about prices that are today what they were 30 years ago.

For B.C. Peace farmers, 10 years of zero and medium till meant more moisture in the soil. “One difference here, we have soil conservation groups, that’s how come we had a good crop this year,” said Gord Ouellette. Many farmers in the Peace now use zero or minimum till and he said they have switched to different drills.

Another aspect of the prairie farm economy is the movement of grain. Elevator companies make sure the grain that producers deliver is transported by rail to port. Ouellette said, “The elevator is about 50 per cent full right now. Grain movement has been very good so far this year.” He added, “B.C. Rail has given us good service and lots of cars, which has been nice for both elevators and the farmers.”

During early November the Agricore elevator was receiving up to 12 grain trucks per day. At that time a B.C. Rail strike was pending, which would mean closure of the elevator.

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

« BN08-37: Awards Held for 4-H Members

BN08-40: MPs to Examine Farm Crisis Jan. 12 »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.