Grain
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British Columbia's grain and seed production includes cereal crops, oilseeds, pulse crops, and forage seeds. The Peace River region is the largest agricultural area in the province and produces the majority of the province's grain.
Grain production in British Columbia, Canada is regulated by a number of acts and regulations, including the Farm Practices Protection Act, the Canada Grain Act, and the Agricultural Environmental Management Act.
Acts and regulations
Farm Practices Protection Act: Ensures that farm operations are fair and balanced, and that they meet the requirements of other acts, such as the Public Health Act and the Environmental Management Act
Canada Grain Act: Establishes the framework for the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), which regulates grain quality and handling
Agricultural Environmental Management Act: Requires agricultural operations to meet basic environmental protection standards, with additional requirements for high-risk areas and conditions
Canadian Wheat Board Act: Regulates the marketing and transport of grain
Seeds Act: Covers the testing, inspection, quality, and sale of seeds
Other Considerations
Production insurance: Grain production insurance is available in British Columbia.
Production guides: The Province of British Columbia provides production guides with recommendations for commercial growers, including pest management and varieties.
Cereal Crops
Wheat: A primary cereal crop in BC. One acre of wheat can produce enough flour for over 2,100 loaves of bread.
Barley: A primary cereal crop in BC.
Oats: A primary cereal crop in BC.
Rye: A primary cereal crop in BC.
Oilseeds
Canola: An oilseed crop in BC.
Pulse Crops
Dry field peas: A pulse crop in BC.
Forage Seeds
Forage seeds: Used for forage and turf purposes. Can also be grown as green fodder. More info here:
www.skygreenscanada.com www.cbc.ca
The Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada produces grains like barley and oats for local use, primarily as livestock feed. Other crops such as wheat, rye, and pulses such as peas can be grown. Areas of land with ancient glacial lake bottoms contain a high clay content, but with appropriate soil management, they are very good for producing forage crops, such as timothy, brome grass, alsike and red clover, as well as grain crops.
Other Crops
Flax, canary seed, mustard, sunflowers, triticale, hemp, and soybeans.
Production
Grain is usually planted in the spring and harvested in August and September.
Seedbed preparation is usually required before seeding.
Fertilizers and pesticides are usually applied before, during, or after seeding.
Corn can be considered both a grain and a vegetable, depending on when it's harvested and how it's prepared:
Grain
Corn that's harvested when it's fully mature and dry is considered a grain. You can mill it into cornmeal to use in baked goods like cornbread and corn tortillas. Popcorn is also harvested when it's mature and is considered a whole grain.
Vegetable
Fresh corn, like corn on the cob or frozen kernels, is harvested when it's soft and has liquid-filled kernels. It's considered a starchy vegetable and is often eaten as a side dish or mixed with other vegetables.
Fruit
Botanically, corn is classified as a fruit, along with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and zucchini. This is because many grains, including popcorn, come from the seed or flower part of the plant.
Alternative grain crops in British Columbia (BC) include buckwheat, legumes, and hops.
Buckwheat
A cover crop that's often used to attract pollinators, suppress weeds, and add organic matter to summer fallow ground
Prefers warm conditions but doesn't tolerate drought, excessive heat, or water-logged soils
Legumes
A cover crop with roots that contain nodules that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium
The plant supplies the nodules with carbohydrates, proteins, and oxygen
Hops
A key ingredient in beer production, hops are grown in BC's Fraser Valley, where the climate and fertile soil are ideal
Sesame
An oilseed crop with high seed oil quality. The edible seeds are well known, but the leaves can also be eaten during food scarcity
Alternative crops are non-traditional crops that can be grown in an area to increase soil fertility and productivity.
Grain and forage cultivation depends on the weather
Seed Production
