Nine projects received awards in December from the BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund.
UBC’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems received the largest award, $65,470, in support of research on crop disease and pathogens affecting cereal crops in the Peace region. “The project will fill gaps in existing disease surveys of cereal and forage crops in the area and initiate field research demonstration trials,” a project summary states.
Boreal Gardens, an Indgenous-owned farm at Charlie Lake, received $47,303 to install a 510-square-foot dome greenhouse that will support local food security and create two full-time jobs.
Nordic Vale Honey Farm in Dawson Creek received $19,864 to upgrade its honey and wax processing equipment, allowing for growth in their production quantity and expansion into higher quality honey and wax products at a competitive price.
Smaller projects support fencing, water enhancement and extension programs.
All told, the compensation fund has supported 24 projects with a total of nearly $600,000 since its launch in 2018. The fund is supported by an endowment of $20 million from BC Hydro to mitigate the effects of the Site C dam project on local agriculture. It is administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust and overseen by a board chaired by grain producer Rick Kantz.
Two intakes take place each year. The next deadline for applications is January 31.
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Farm property assessments increase