Mixed moisture: North Peace crops bounce back, while other pockets stay dry
Growers in the Peace are reaping the benefits of this winter’s near-record snowfall, and subsequent spring rains which have combined to improve dugout levels and soil moisture throughout the region.
Nadia Mori, coordinator for the Peace River Forage Association says that farmers in the Peace are experiencing everything from not enough moisture and poor pasture conditions to too much moisture and yellowing crops.
“It really depends on how the melt went – if it just ran off without good infiltration - which might be more of a soil issue, or if it infiltrated nicely,” she said.
Over the past couple of weeks, according to data from the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the East Peace and Fort Nelson regions have seen increased dryness, while the North Peace is generally seeing normal or wetter-than-normal levels. On the map of current conditions, the South Peace is shown as having the same drought level as the North Peace, but Mori reports that the South Peace overall seems drier.
The weather hasn’t been consistent throughout the region, with some farmland receiving a torrential downpour while another property down the road remains dry. Grasshoppers are another challenge growers are experiencing, causing concerns among some that the ravenous insects will destroy their grass reserves.
Yields vary across the region, though some local acreages are seeing a marked improvement over last season. Hay crops in the area are coming in significantly heavier than last year, while green feed stands waist-high in the fields.
“Overall, it’s definitely looking better than last year,” Mori said.