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Grain research helps address shifting conditions
in the Peace Secure funding needed to help producers adapt by TAMARA LEIGH DAWSON CREEK – After a
slow, wet start to the growing season in the North, grain producers in the Peace region are counting the days to harvest in the hopes of beating the frost. “The majority of people
didn’t get into the fields until May 22 or 23 – well past seeding deadlines for canola and right on the line for seeding deadlines for wheat,” says Rick Kantz, president of the BC Grain Producers Association (BCGPA). “It’s looking good right now as long as we don’t get a hard frost.” Many producers in the
region are still reeling from the early rain and snow that shut down the Peace harvest
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in September last year, stranding many crops in the field and downgrading most of what could be recovered to feed. “I’ve never seen a fall like that and have never seen a spring like this one,” says Kantz. “We ended up with 25% unplanted acres overall. That equates to about $2.1 million paid out through production insurance but at $50 an acre, it barely covers rent, let alone everything else. We still have to pay bills whether the crop’s in the ground or not.” With increasing weather
variability creating uncertainties regarding the length of each season, it’s more important than ever that Peace growers have data to help them choose the right
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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • SEPTEMBER 2017
A spectacular August sunset over a hay field in Baldonnel, east of Fort St. John. HAYDEN TAIT PHOTO
varieties for local conditions. Walter Fritsche chairs the
research committee that oversees variety trials and research plots for the BCGPA. With grain companies pushing varieties that are developed for higher yields and a longer season, he says it’s important to verify what
will work in the long days and short growing season the Peace experiences. “The variety trials take the risk out of it for the growers,” says Fritsche. “Companies have a lot of money to spend on marketing new varieties, but if it keels over because the wheat is still in the dough stage in September, it’s a problem. We’re happy to test them and publish the results.” “It's risky enough as it is with just natural stuff like drought, rain or hail and bugs. If they start tweaking the genetics and stretching our season longer, that becomes an issue, too,” he adds.
BCGPA variety trials have
taken place at research plots in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John for decades but they were scaled back in 2017 due to funding cuts and weather. A boost in funding from the Western Grains Research Foundation offset the end of funding from the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, but secure funding is still needed to keep the trials going into the future. “We're not in line for any
direct money. If some of the research clusters contract through us, we can generate some work and keep it going through that,” says Rick Kantz.
Drought support.
Extreme drought and fire conditions have made forages and feeding a challenge.
FIBROZYME
WITH ADDED
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