Supporting Local Producers & Sustainable Agriculture
- Admin
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
Peace Country Beef and Forage Association | Fairview, AB
The Peace Country Beef and Forage Association (PCBFA) gives Peace Region agriculture producers an edge when it comes to optimizing beef, forage and crop production and maximizing profitability.
The PCBFA was formed in 1982 by livestock producers in the Fairview and Hines Creek areas to promote better forage management in the region. Since its inception, it continues to provide an opportunity for producers to get together, build community and advocate for agriculture.
“The association has seen significant growth over the years,” said PCBFA Executive Director Liisa Jeffrey. “We now operate a 340-acre research farm and conduct on-farm and small plot research at various sites throughout the Peace each year.”
PCBFA is one of the largest beef-and-forage-focused research organizations in the province. It spans 10 municipalities in the Peace Region.
With eight dedicated team members, up to 10 summer students, interns and graduate students, PCBFA represents local innovation in agriculture and plays multiple roles in the region’s agricultural industry.
“Not only do we conduct our own local research, but we also translate and share other important information through our extension program,” said Jeffrey. “We also provide one-on-one consulting services, networking opportunities and a training ground for the future of our industry.”
PCBFA will assist any local agricultural producer with a pasture or soil assessment, a nutritional analysis of beef cattle feed and a custom seed recommendation to meet their farm’s needs—and there are other consulting opportunities as well.
Their Feed and Soil Testing Program has a database that goes back to 2007.
“We even have a podcast called Coffee, Cows and Crops and a monthly newsletter that goes out to each of our members,” said PCBFA Operations Director Alaina Archibald. “We publish our research findings each year in our annual report and share them on our website.”
Dedicated to addressing and assisting with challenges in the beef and forage industry, PCBFA provides producers with tangible ways to combat a short growing and grazing season, which allows them to improve their soil health and reduce their carbon footprint.
With over 10 years of research on cocktail cover crops suited to extend grazing, and alternative feeding methods such as bale grazing, PCBFA has helped take the guesswork out of challenges faced by local producers.
“PCBFA introduced us to cover cropping, which has been a game changer for our farm. We also take advantage of their feed testing program every year, so we know exactly what we are feeding our cows,” said Allan McLachlan, local rancher and former PCBFA director.
The organization plays a key role in Alberta’s agricultural innovation cycle. PCBFA is led by producers and governed by a board of 10 local directors who farm. As a result, PCBFA naturally adapts their research to regional conditions, so it can be used on actual farming operations.
“All of our research projects are ‘by the people, for the people,’ so to speak,” said Archibald. “The projects we carry out are driven by local producer requests.”
One of PCBFA’s main goals is to help shoulder the risk of adopting new practices. Innovation requires trial and error, which can come at a significant economic cost to producers.
“To mitigate that risk, we do something we like to call ‘apply, adapt, adopt.’ We apply new research findings here, adapt them to our regional growing conditions, and then support producers in adopting them in their own operations,” said Jeffrey.
Becoming a PCBFA member has many exclusive benefits. Most notably, members can receive two free feed samples per year or one free soil sample, which is valued at $85.
As a member, producers can also gain access to one-on-one consultations with skilled PCBFA team members and receive additional information in their monthly newsletter.
“Our membership options start as low as $50 per year, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re sending feed or soil samples out each year for your farm,” said Archibald.
Jeffrey encourages local producers who want to improve their operations to reach out to their local applied research association.
“We are fortunate enough to have several in the Peace Region,” said Jeffrey. “At PCBFA, we are always looking for producers willing to host research projects on their farms or provide input in the development of our research and extension programs.”
For Archibald, it’s all about supporting farmers.
“We’re here for them when they need us, and we gently encourage the adoption of best management practices to improve soil health and production for decades to come,” said Archibald.
By Dani Wearden | Photography submitted
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