| | Overview | Background | Turf and forage seed crops grown in the region | Summary
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Overview
Weather conditions in the Peace River region of Canada, primarily long summer days and cool evenings during the growing season, has made this area an ideal location for the production of cool season grass and legume seed crops. The turf and forage seed acreage in this region comprises 37% of Canada’s total forage seed acres, making the region the world’s 2nd largest turf and forage seed production region (by area) after Oregon’s Willamette Valley in the USA. Typically, 50 to 60 million lbs of grass and legume seed would be harvested out of this region.
There are 4.3 million acres of cropped land in the Peace River Region of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The 2006 census indicates there were 181,000 acres of turf and forage seed in the “Alberta Peace”, with another 66,000 acres on the BC side of the Peace Block. In total, there were 248,000 acres in the region. However, this acreage is down an astonishing 183,000 acres from the 2001 census.
| There are 4.3 million acres of cropped land in the Peace River Region of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The 2006 census indicates there were 181,000 acres of turf and forage seed in the “Alberta Peace”, with another 66,000 acres on the BC side of the Peace Block. In total, there were 248,000 acres in the region. However, this acreage is down an astonishing 183,000 acres from the 2001 census. |  | 
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| Table 1: Canadian Grass/Legume Seed - Growers/Acres |
| 2006 | 2001 |
| Farms | Acres | Farms | Acres |
| Canada | 3,069 | 661,923 | 3,808 | 799,415 |
| Saskatchewan | 775 | 194,556 | 1,015 | 166,771 |
| Manitoba | 606 | 132,322 | 681 | 115,926 |
| B.C. | 207 | 71,624 | 270 | 93,332 |
| Ontario | 312 | 12,323 | 238 | 9,088 |
| Quebec | 91 | 5,203 | 54 | 2,229 |
| N.B. | 15 | 614 | 11 | 1,011 |
| PEI | 6 | 501 | 13 | 1,164 |
| N.S. | 6 | 85 | 14 | 398 |
| NFLD Lab | 5 | 80 | 6 | 245 |
| Alberta | 1,046 | 244,615 | 1,506 | 409,251 |
| Alberta-Peace Region Only | 632 | 181,880 | 1,086 | 340,768 |
| B.C.-Peace Region Only | 131 | 65,908 | 212 | 89,447 |
| Canadian Census of Agriculture: 2001, 2006 |
Note: due to exceptionally high prices for creeping red fescue in 1999- 00, acres increased substantially and were recorded as such in the 2001 census
The Peace region continues to grow grass and legume seed in abundance, but grass and legume seed expansion in other provinces has added to the Peace regions’ lower acres in recent years, as some contract production has move to other provinces. As well, with current economic conditions in the USA (2009-2010), and higher prices for more traditionally grown crops (wheat and canola), acres have diminished even further since the official 2006 Canadian census of Agriculture was conducted.
| Table 2: Peace River Region Grass/Legume Seed Growers and Acres - 1986 to 2006 |
| 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 |
| Farms | Acres | Farms | Acres | Farms | Acres | Farms | Acres | Farms | Acres |
| Canada | | 406,350 | | 510,108 | | 454,262 | | 799,415 | 3,069 | 661,923 |
| Alberta | 1,378 | 200,013 | 1,465 | 230,609 | 1,281 | 236,974 | 1,506 | 409,251 | 1,046 | 244,615 |
| Alberta Peace | 1,014 | 157,468 | 1,087 | 186,382 | 916 | 187,135 | 1,086 | 340,768 | 632 | 181,880 |
| BC Peace | 167 | 35,882 | 227 | 52,597 | 148 | 44,945 | 212 | 89,447 | 131 | 65,908 |
| Canadian Census Data: 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 |
Background
| Grass and legume seed crops have been grown in the region beginning with the first settlers, who started arriving in abundance following the First World War. Grass seed production in the region focuses around creeping red |
| fescue, with other turf grass seed species (other fine fescue species, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass) also found, but in much lower acres. Creeping red fescue continues to be the primary grass seed grown in the region, occupying well over 70% of lands seeded for grass seed production. | | 
Creeping red fescue harvest, Beaverlodge AB,1940’s |
Forage grass species grown for seed include: smooth bromegrass, timothy, meadow bromegrass, various wheatgrass species, and other forage grasses. Primary legume species grown for seed are red clover and alsike clover. Other legume species, such as alfalfa and sweet clover, are grown for seed, but on a much smaller scale.
Production contracts for various pedigreed seed varieties are grown, primarily contracted production for local seed processors and other national and international grass seed companies. Much of this pedigreed production is grown for export, mostly to the USA.
Turf and Forage Seed Crops Grown in the Region
Turf seed crops: Creeping Red Fescue, Hard Fescue, Tall Fescue, Chewings Fescue, Sheep’s Fescue, Annual and Perennial Ryegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass,
Forage grass seed Crops: Smooth Bromegrass, Meadow Bromegrass, Hybrid Bromegrass, Tall Fescue, Meadow Fescue, Creeping Red Fescue, Orchardgrass, Timothy, Wheatgrasses (numerous species)
Legume seed crops: Red Clover, Alsike Clover, Sweet Clover, and Alfalfa
Native grasses: (numerous species).
| Table 3: Crop Production in the Peace River Region - 2006 |
| Alberta (Total) | Peace Region Alberta | Peace Region B.C. | Total Peace Region | Total Peace Region (2001) |
| Farms Reporting | 49,431 | 6,381 | 1,729 | 8,110 | 8,884 |
| Total Acres | 52,127,857 | 6,921,036 | 2,206,412 | 9,127,448 | 9,258,461 |
| Land In Crops | 23,775,509 | 3,714,715 | 632,146 | 4,346,861 | 4,639,556 |
| Summerfallow | 2,239,633 | 277,527 | 58,159 | 335,686 | 496,012 |
| Tame/Seeded Pasture | 6,137,362 | 794,306 | 278,845 | 1,073,151 | 908,915 |
| Natural Lands for Pasture | 16,135,646 | 1,174,211 | 856,055 | 2,030,266 | 1,898,557 |
| All Other Land | 3,839,707 | 960,277 | 381,207 | 1,341,484 | 1,315,421 |
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| Wheat (Total) | 6,467,628 | 741,372 | 47,127 | 788,499 | 1,039,921 |
| Canola | 4,068,511 | 962,731 | 57,594 | 1,020,325 | 737,912 |
| Barley | 4,094,689 | 281,812 | 34,017 | 315,829 | 437,918 |
| Forages for Seed | 244,615 | 181,880 | 65,908 | 247,788 | 430,227 |
| Oats | 1,269,229 | 251,712 | 59,560 | 311,272 | 282,962 |
| Field Peas | 587,263 | 82,932 | 5,633 | 88,565 | 103,407 |
| Flax | 60,372 | 10,828 | 0 | 10,828 | 11,618 |
| Mixed grains | 831,322 | 15,657 | 3,133 | 18,790 | 16,403 |
| Rye (Total) | 118,399 | 4,570 | 785 | 5,355 | 8,284 |
| Triticale | 76,299 | 1,153 | 0 | 1,153 | 1,508 |
| Other crops | | 19,478 | 1,585 | 21,063 | 12,659 |
Total Principle Crops | 17,818,327 | 2,554,125 | 275,342 | 2,829,467 | 3,070,161 |
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| Alfalfa & Alfalfa Mixes | 3,935,022 | 671,865 | 190,967 | 862,832 | 855,594 |
| Other Tame Hay | 2,060,967 | 488,725 | 165,837 | 654,562 | 701,241 |
| Summerfallow | 2,239,633 | 277,527 | 58,159 | 335,686 | 496,012 |
| Tame/Seeded Pasture | 6,137,362 | 794,306 | 278,845 | 1,073,151 | 908,915 |
| Natural Lands for Pasture | 16,135,646 | 1,174,211 | 856,055 | 2,030,266 | 1,898,557 |
| All Other Land | 3,839,707 | 960,277 | 381,207 | 1,341,484 | 1,315,421 |
| Figures in Acres except for "Farms Reporting" |
| Canadian Census of Agriculture: 2001, 2006 |
Peace Region Turf and Forage Seed Data
| The Alberta Peace has close to 75% of Alberta’s forage seed production. 632 farmers in the Alberta Peace are involved in turf and/or forage seed production (2006) but most growers in the Peace have grown some form of grass seed over their farming lifetime. Almost all of B.C.’s traditional crop production is located in the Peace Region of B.C. | | 
Creeping Red Fescue Crop, Clairmont AB |
Grass/Legume Seed Infrastructure in the Peace
| To accommodate the turf and forage seed industry, a well-established seed processing infrastructure is in place with 8 major seed processing facilities located throughout the region, with other out-of-region companies contracting, buying, and moving seed to facilities outside of the region. However, the vast majority of the seed is processed locally. Typically, raw seed is harvested, then processed (cleaned and/or mixed) and bagged. | |  |
The majority of forage seed that leaves the region is hauled out via container trucks in bags (grass seed @ 40-50,000 lb truckload). Current existing markets are the North West region of the USA (Oregon/ Washington), Eastern Canada and the Eastern Seaboard (USA), Europe, Southern and Mid-western USA, Pacific Rim and some trade with South America.
Summary
| Traditionally, the Peace Region has 220,000 to 250,000 acres of turf and forage seed production. Certified seed production is on the rise as this region has become well recognized for its ability to produce quality cool season turf and forage seed crops. The requirements and production of native grass seeds has also increased in recent years. This region will continue to have a competitive advantage over other forage seed producing areas due to a less expensive land base, good farm management, and superb climate and land for production. | | 
Certified Seed Supply - Golden Acre Seeds, Fairview AB |
Last updated September 14, 2010
David Wong
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Ag-Info Centre 310-FARM (3276)
Rm. 1201 10320 – 99 St
Provincial Building
Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 6J4
Ph: 780 538-5289 |
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