The Mountain View County agricultural service board (ASB) has been given an update on moisture conditions in the region.
Grant Lastiwka, with Alberta Agriculture in Olds, spoke about a number of agriculture-related topics and issues during his presentation to the board at its recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
Lastiwka regularly updates the board, which advises the county and province on agriculture matters.
According to the latest soil moisture report, levels are relatively low in the county, he said.
"When we look at Mountain View County we are looking at generally low (moisture levels)," said Lastiwka. "When we look at the northeast of the county, we are looking at moderately low, so somewhat better.
"When we go to the west (of the county) we start getting into an area that went very low and also to the south very low. There is a small pocket in those areas that is extremely low.
That is the spring wheat moisture reserves relative to a depth of 120 centimetres, estimated as of Nov. 6, he said.
"We are heading into the winter with moisture reserves that are low generally on average for the county," he said.
As far as snowpack water equivalent, he said, "We are looking at someplace in the range of one inch to the west and it moves to a little less than one inch as we get to the middle and the eastern part of the county is about 15 to 20 millimetres.
"So my comment on all that is that it is a little higher risk heading into the spring with moisture reserves," he said.
Board chairman Brian Rodger said, "The good thing about it is there is no frost in the ground so if something does melt it goes down."
Lastiwka also gave an update on the fall harvest.
"About five per cent of the Peace Country did not get combined," he said. The northwest (of the province), about three per cent did not get combined. When we look at the northeast about two per cent did not."
Agriculture groups across the province have been working hard to try to address issues around soil health.
"That is something that is so invaluable," he said. "It is very important. It is the grassroots. It is the ability to address soils. The biggest advantage we can have is to have the soil on our side when we are dealing with variable climate conditions. "That's why the importance of pulse crops too in annual rotations, including them in there, getting that longer annual rotation."
Regarding cow herd expansion issues, he said there are challenges.
"Where we have seen the cow herd grow has been largely to the south," he said. "The challenge of expansion is based on profitability. The challenge for expansion is based on a U.S. cow herd that has been expanding.
"I think one of the things is our industry was shook pretty hard from the course of that 2003 years on. Do we have another generation that wants to come back? Is there enough profit for another generation to come back and how does this all fit together?
"We need a consumer who looks at the beef animal as part of a benefactor of a carbon capture that allows the steward to stay in stewardship. The only way you are going to have that larger beef herd is if you are managing for soil health and managing for better carbon capture."
Soil preservation remains key to the long-term success of the industry, he said.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and members of the public at large.
In other board news, members were given an update on the alternative land use services (ALUS) program.
The ALUS is a community developed, farmer-delivered program that allows farmers to modify or improve marginal, unproductive, inefficient or environmentally sensitive lands and helps to conserve and restore ecosystems and biodiversity.
Since 2015, 17 landowners have been approved for ALUS projects in the county, impacting more than 800 acres of wetlands, riparian and upland areas, members heard.
"In 2017, 11 producers were approved for funding for projects totalling $65,192.96 in funding," administration said in a briefing note to the committee.
"It is estimated that county producers contributed approximately $45,900 on project establishment and an additional $2,145 was applied from the Growing Forward 2 (program)."
"We are heading into the winter with moisture reserves that are low generally on average for the county."Grant LastiwkaAlberta Agriculture Olds
