Backbone of the Peace: North Pine Farmers’ Institute elevator the last in North Peace
“It’s the farmer who puts the plow in the ground and plants the seeds, who feeds the communities and feeds the world.”
The producers of the North Peace have been feeding the world since 1930, Wade Cusack, president of the North Pine Farmer’s Institute told the Peace River Regional District’s committee of the whole meeting on April 18.
Not only has the NPFI been feeding the world since its formation in 1930, but its members are largely responsible for the communities we call home today.
The NPFI was founded upon five key goals, goals that have remained consistent throughout the development of new business plans over the years, and Cusack says he finds it reassuring that these values have endured.
“It’s kind of interesting that these goals that were set in 1930 are still relevant today,” said Cusack.
The five goals of the Institute are:
1) improve the conditions of rural life so that settlement may be permanent and prosperous;
2) to promote the theory and practices of agriculture;
3) to arrange on behalf of its members for the purchase, distribution or sale of commodities, supplies, or products;
4) to act generally on behalf of its members in all matters incidental to agricultural pursuit and rural development; and
5) to promote home economics, public health, child welfare, education, and better schools.
“The North Pine Farmers’ Institute is the only place where farmers can get their product on the rails in the North Peace.”
Over the years, members of the Institute have participated in many activities related to agriculture, including the Agricultural Advisory Board, which he described as a very good tool for rural communities in agriculture.
“In all of these activities, there’s been positive things happen over the years, and what I’ve learned being a part of the institute and our communities is that when people have a voice and can sit around a table, and bring forward concerns or possibilities that need to be looked at, and people are willing to communicate them in a way that can serve their communities, there’s always a positive outcome from that,” he said.
From 1930 to 1960 the Institute’s members were very active in supporting one another, by donating their time and skills in all aspects of agriculture, a trend that Cusack is proud to say continues today.
During that time, the Institute’s members were involved in various committees that contributed to the development of the area, both for agriculture and rural communities in general, such as road building, which in the very early days enabled farmers to pay their property taxes. A project from approximately 25 years ago, involving soil conservation and different seeding methods enabled local farmers to utilize new technologies, Cusack explained.
In 2010, the Institute purchased the only concrete grain elevator in Fort St. John. Cusack said that once there were 16 grain elevators north of the Peace River, now there is only one still operating.
“So, the North Pine Farmers’ Institute is the only place where farmers can get their product on the rails in the North Peace,” said Cusack. “It’s been a very important part of the agriculture puzzle in the North Peace.”
The landmark success of the elevator was made possible by the participation of the various agriculture community groups and the financial support of the Peace River Regional District, which helped with the initial repairs, Cusack said.
“We’re 14 years into it now, it’s paid for, and it’s been a continued success,” he said.
So successful in fact, that more land is needed for the rail cars which transport grain to market.
The Institute’s elevator committee is looking to purchase a piece of land to the west of the elevator from the BC government, to improve access to the rail siding for more rail cars. This will help improve loading time and provide more rail space for the cars.
When the elevator was purchased, there was space for 16 rail cars. Since then, capacity has been increased to 24 cars per week, and the purchase of the land to the west will allow for capacity to increase to 32 cars.
Companies that operate grain elevators measure the success of each elevator by the number of turns – times the elevator is filled with grain – each year. Cusack said that on average, a successful elevator has 12 turns a year.
The Fort St. John elevator had 20 turns last year. Within the Viterra system, Fort St. John’s elevator has the quickest turnaround to the coast. Cusack said that means approximately 2,000 tons of grain is loaded onto rail cars every week, which goes to export and to feed people. It generates about $1.4 million per week that goes back into the local economy.
“It’s been a continued positive growth from the day we took over the elevator,” he said. “One thing that has been really encouraging is the people that sit on our committees, just give their time, expertise and knowledge to make these things continue to go forward.”
The Institute is currently working on a new strategic business plan to take the elevator into the future and continue to serve the community. The continued growth of the elevator has been positive, Cusack said but when they look back at the original goals, they need to continue to find ways to serve the communities better and grow.
“Being the only elevator in town, we have a lot of work to do, there’s a lot of growth possibility, and there’s a lot of ways we can serve the community.”