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• To collectively develop the forage seed industry in the Peace Region.
• To exchange information and prioritize issues.
• To cooperate and have mutual respect among members and within the industry.

The Peace Region Forage Seed Association was formed in 1995. The association brought together the longer histories of several associations in the Peace River region of both Alberta and British Columbia. The Fine Seed Committee of the BC Grain Producers Association and the Alberta Alfalfa Seed Producers Association - Peace Branch and local members of the Canadian Seed Trade Association added their years of experience and expertise working for the industry, to the association. This year (2005) marks the ten year anniversary of the PRFSA. Click here to see more about their history and accomplishments.

From a handful of committed people in 1995, the membership in the Peace Region Forage Seed Association grew to 215 members in 2002. In 2005, the levy paid by forage seed growers constitutes membership in PRFSA. There are currently 750 members.

A seven member Board of Directors drawn from the PRFSA membership governs all activities of the Peace Region Forage Seed Association. The board consists of three Alberta producers, three BC producers and one seed trade member. The association also has two provincial government advisors and one research advisor. The directors volunteer their time and expertise. They are reimbursed for direct expenses only and only for those pertaining directly to PRFSA business or projects, not including board meetings. They currently have several part time contractors hired including a coordinator, a bookkeeper, and a central levy administrator.


    

Information is shared with members in several ways. PRFSA collaborates with authors across Canada to produce a quarterly high quality magazine “Forage Seed News”. They partnered with AAFRD to produce publications such as the “Tall Fescue Seed Production” Agr-Facts sheet in 2005. They organize two annual marketing and production seminars along with their AGM in Fort St. John and Fairview that attracts 150 to 180 people during the 2 days. As well, they organize tours over the summer. Once every 6 years the association hosts the Canadian Forage Seed Conference and in 2006 it will be their turn again.

The PRFSA directors respond to the concerns of producers as they arise. Endophyte surveys and an information blitz were initiated in response to reported endophyte concerns in forage seed aftermath bales (1998). They responded to the glassy cutworm outbreak with timely research and information fact sheets (2000). They also launched an initiative to keep leaf cutter bees disease free in the Peace Region (2001).

PRFSA facilitates, sponsors and/or coordinates several research projects including:
•  Herbicide Tolerance of Grasses for Minor Use Registration
•  Weed Control Trials in Grasses
•  Herbicide Tolerance Trials in Established Red & Alsike Clover
•  Control of Silvertop in Fine-leaved Fescues
•  Stem Eyespot Resistance Breeding Research with Creeping Red Fescue
•  Western Canadian Forage Seed Variety Testing Program (2 locations in the Peace)
•  Timing of Nitrogen Application on Tall Fescue

PRFSA, in conjunction with the Seed Trade Consortium, was involved on several research projects including:
•  Establishment Systems for Seed Production of Creeping Red Fescue.
•  Wild Oat Control in Established Seed Crops of Tall Fescue.
•  Silvertop Damage Control on Creeping Red Fescue
•  Stem Eyespot Control in Creeping Red Fescue
•  Arthropod Related Insect Control in Forage Seed Crops

PRFSA, also initiated a voluntary Producer Research Fund and has initiated 2 projects with those funds by partnering with PRAD including:
•  Fescue Rejuvenation Project
•  Control of Cutworms in Grass Seed Fields Project.

PRFSA has partnered with several other funding agencies in the past few years on many successful projects. Funding partners over the years have included: Western Canadian Grass Seed Testing Program, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development, BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries, Peace River Agriculture Development Fund, BC Investment Agriculture Foundation, Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association, Fine Seeds Committee of BC Grain Producers Association, Farming for the Future, AAFRD, and Lamorna Enterprises Ltd.

 
                           
 

The Peace Region Forage Seed Association's projects and activities have been compiled into a 4 page pamphlet and onto a CD of 5 PowerPoint presentations.

The Peace Region Forage Seed Association has earned the trust and respect throughout the forage seed industry and is recognized as the ideal vehicle to represent this region's industry and spearhead initiatives on its behalf.


    

• PRFSA Activities in 2002 and 2003

• Activities of PRFSA 2003 & 2004