Nechako Valley Agriculture - Overview/Integrated Resources

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* indicates data compiled from Stats.Can. 1996

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Vanderhoof Forest District

Fast Fact:
Agriculture and Forestry work together!
$2,817,858 farm timber sales(1996)
61,744 acres in woodlots (1998)
2,000 loads of shavings used for cattle bedding each year

Agriculture has a long history as an integrated resource with forestry. Forestry is the largest natural resource enterprise in the Nechako region requiring a huge land base to maintain long term sustainability. As agriculture began to spread to the fringes of the river bottom and clay plateaus, it also moved to more heavily forested lands. Forestry and agriculture began to compete for the same land.

There were many policies and compromises that were required to develop compatible integration of agriculture and forestry resources. Much of the land surrounding the main agriculture basin is spotted with areas of good arability, marked with rocky pine covered ridges. For the most part these lands are well suited for forests as well as for beef production in that they provide some excellent hay and grain land and additional potential for natural and tame pasture integrated with good forest management. A recent arability study completed in the fall of 1998 more clearly established the parameters of the agricultural area and delineated the forest and agriculture boundaries. As the population increases and the demand upon the land base expands there is a need for continued commitment to integrated land management planning.

Fast Fact:
An arability study done in 1998, established 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) for future agriculture expansion around Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort Fraser areas.

As the Nechako agriculture base moves into second and third generation farm practice, it will be better able to meet the needs of agriculture in new products and value added markets. With the basic infra-structure in place, agriculture in the Nechako takes on a new shape of more refined fields, advanced technology, specialization, value added production and full time commitment. The Nechako Region boasts state of the art dairies, feedlot expansions, a bull test centre and has substantially increased production of commercial grain and forage operations. It is self sufficient in forage and has significantly increased its quality of buildings, service and equipment infrastructure.