The BC Hydro Peace Agricultural Compensation Fund’s board of directors have approved $173,510 in grant funding to support nine agricultural production and related projects in the Peace Region.
“This is our first intake of 2024 and we are very pleased to be able to support nine important projects in the Peace. The applicants are passionate about what they do and whether it’s new fencing, rotational grazing, or increased irrigation, all these projects seek to benefit agriculture production overall in the region,” said board chair Rick Kantz in a press release.
The recipients include the following:
$50,000 to Sunset Prairie Livestock Association for a dugout renovation at their community pasture, a 13,500-acre grazing tenure used by 20 ranching families since the 1950s. The project will supply clean and adequate areas to gather water for livestock.
$33,423 to Ken Erin Price for sheep handling and sorting equipment, and a three-sided shed to house it. The project will allow sheep to be processed quietly and with more efficiency, with less stress on the livestock and the workers.
$27,865 to Whiskey Creek Ranch Ltd. for egg growth production in the Peace Region. A new coop will be built to accommodate a larger flock of hens, along with a retrofit and infrastructure upgrade to an existing coop to increase capacity. The current coop space is for 115 hens, while the new coop will provide space for up to 399 hens.
$22,215 to Cody Johnson for a corral alley and chute upgrade. Their current lead-in alley and chute used on the ranch have aged out, and the purchase of a new system will greatly increase the safety for those using the system and the cattle being processed through it.
$13,008 to Kathleen Peck for water capacity and irrigation. Their farm has a one-acre market garden and a more efficient water pump and automated irrigation is needed to support the current operation and expand the mixed species cider orchard.
$12,124 to Pegasus Ranch Ltd. for rotational grazing. The project includes the purchase of an electric fencing system and supplies to support intensive, rotational grazing pastures.
$5,603 to Sunnyside Bookkeeping and Accounting to purchase portable chicken coops to rotationally graze chicken. The coops are movable which allows for an increase of soil nutrients.
$5,010 to Kyle Bartels for two sheep grain feeders to reduce feed waste and improve animal quality for the flock and lambs that are brought to market. The farm has 90 heads and plans to expand to 200.
$4,262 to Dead Horse Creek Cattle Company Ltd. to build a new fence around a section of approximately 100 acres to create a pasture for livestock grazing.
