The Mountain View County agricultural service board has approved a $5,000 grant to the Didsbury Agricultural Society (DAS). The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled board meeting in council chambers.
The funds will be used to make improvements at the Didsbury ag grounds, DAS president Craig Anderson said in a letter received by the board.
“Now that the harsh winter is hopefully behind us some of the DAS directors have noted that there are some serious and potentially dangerous issues with the roughstock pens at the grounds,” said Anderson.
“To correct this and prevent any further problems, a careful evaluation has determined that the ground must be levelled and repacked. The material required is 600 yards of pit run and 400 yards of screenings.
“The society is asking the county for a donation of the material or in lieu of that provide us with a discounted price that we might be able to consider.”
The society partners with the inmate offsite working program from the Bowden Institution, which will be able to provide labour for the project, he said.
In other news, the board was given an update on the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
The five-year, $3-billion federal-provincial investment in agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector is the successor of the 2013-2018 Growing Forward 2 partnership.
“In Alberta, the program represents an investment of $406 million in strategic program and initiatives for the agriculture sector,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
“In the province the program will deliver programs developed in consultation with stakeholders, and is organized under five themes: environmental sustainability and climate changes; products, market growth and diversification; science and research; risk management; and public trust.”
The agricultural service board is comprised of county councillors and members of the public at large.
