Peace Region Agriculture Gets $1 Million Boost from BC Hydro Fund

Funding supports expansion projects for North Pine Farmers Institute and Optimum Grain Inc., strengthening rural food production.

The BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund (Ag Fund) has approved $1 million in new funding for two projects aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector in the Peace region.

“The BC Hydro’s Ag Fund is providing essential financial support to those who are growing and producing in the Peace region,” said Rick Kantz, BC Hydro PACF Member-At-Large & Board Chair. “The two projects that received funds will be affecting multiple farm families, which uplifts the region’s agricultural industry as a whole.”

The North Pine Farmers Institute (NPFI) received $770,000, the largest single grant awarded by the fund to date, while Optimum Grain Inc. was approved for $230,000 according to the media release.

“The North Pine Farmers Institute, since its beginning in 1930, has been focused on what it takes to help agriculture continue to move forward, and we can proudly say the focus has not changed in 95 years,” said Wade Cusack, NPFI President in a media release.

“The funding support from NDIT in the past and in the present is instrumental in fulfilling the mandate of the North Pine Farmers Institute: ‘To improve conditions of rural life, so that settlement may be permanent and prosperous in the farming communities.’ The bin expansion is essential in maintaining rail head access for agriculture producers, ensuring grains, oil seeds and pulses can get to markets around the world.”

NPFI’s Terminal Bin Storage Expansion project includes the installation of a new grain bin designed to improve terminal operations, enhance delivery reliability for producers, and increase the number of railcars shipping from Fort St. John. The upgrades are expected to support long-term business growth in the region’s agricultural economy, creating 12 jobs during construction and one permanent full-time position once the project is complete.

NPFI is working to establish lasting, environmentally responsible channels for distributing locally produced grains, oilseeds, and pulses with a vision of growing the North Peace agricultural community into a more dynamic and sustainable region.

A locally owned agricultural retailer and seed cleaning plant in Buick Creek, Optimum Grain Inc., is investing their grant in upgrades and an expansion of its fertilizer facility according to the release. The improvements will streamline fertilizer loading and blending for producers in the Buick Creek, Prespatou, and Montney areas.

“Optimum Grains is grateful for the support that allows us to do an expansion that will strengthen our local agriculture sector.  By investing in northern BC, we’re helping build a resilient rural farming community and supporting long-term, sustainable farming for the region,” said Jared Loewen, Optimum Grains Inc. Owner in the release.

The project includes installing a larger, more dependable blender and an overhead bin system to increase capacity and efficiency. These upgrades will also boost the availability of granular organic and synthetic fertilizers, giving farmers better access to essential products and helping them maximize yields at a time when resources are increasingly limited.

The BC Hydro Agricultural Fund helps strengthen food production in the Peace region by offering grants to local producers and organizations involved in growing and processing. The program has been administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) since it was first established in 2018.

“NDIT has proudly served as the BC Hydro Ag Fund’s administrator for the past six years and it has been incredible to see the impact that the fund has had on the Peace region’s farming community. The funding of these two projects and others like them is strengthening the Peace region’s agricultural industry and uplifting the local economy, which is fantastic to see,” stated Ben Campbell, NDIT CEO.

Together, these projects mark another step forward for the Peace region’s producers in supporting growth, sustainability, and the shared goal of keeping local agriculture thriving for generations to come.