The Mountain View County agricultural service board (ASB) has reviewed the organization’s draft year-end report. The update came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
The report highlights activities of the board and its stakeholder partners over the past 12 months, and will be forwarded to county council as information under the county’s strategic plan.
“The annual report is prepared by the chairman and is a combination of previous annual reports, provincial reports and grant reports to streamline the reporting process for the year end service level report to council,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
The ASB advises the county and the province on agricultural related issues and concerns. Its membership includes county councillors and appointed public members.
The ASB held eight meetings and one field tour in 2019.
Board activities included regular reviews of the Riparian and Ecological Enhancement Program projects (REEP), the Alternative Land Use Service (ALUS) projects, agricultural related project grant funding applications, annual capital and operating budgets, nomination for Farm Family Award, and evaluation of program policies.
The ASB has four primary legislative goals, including the delivery and support of the Agricultural Pest Act, the Soil Conservation Act, the Weed Control Act, and the Animal Health Act.
Regarding the delivery and support of the Agricultural Pest Act, 65 clubroot inspections, 40 fusarium and 65 blackleg inspections were undertaken in 2019. There were also inspections for Bertha armyworm, diamondback moth, grasshopper and wheat midge.
Eleven local youths participated in the Northern Pocket Gopher Incentive Program.
Regarding the delivery and support of the Soil Conservation Act, there were seven inspections performed under the legislation, with six topsoil bylaw permits issued.
Regarding the delivery and support of the Weed Control Act, the roadside weed control program covered one-third of the county in 2019, with spot spraying occurring through the county in response to toadflax, thistles and other regulated weeds observed requiring seasonal action. In all, roughly 1,120 hectares were sprayed covering 1,200 ditch miles.
Regarding the delivery and support of the Animal Health Act, the board sponsored and had a booth at the Alberta Farm Animal Care Livestock Care Conference in Olds in March.
Eleven producers were approved for funding for projects totalling $56,476 under the ALUS program. There were 17 projects approved totalling $31,663 under the REEP program.
The ASB provided funding to the Grey Wooded Forage Association and the Foothills Forage & Grazing Association for workshops in the county.
Grant funding was provided to the Bergen Institute for Agriculture and the Arts ($1,760), Canada’s Richest Youth Committee ($750), Carstairs and District 4-H Show and Sale ($500), Cremona Community Engagement Site ($932), Didsbury Agricultural Society ($5,000), Mountain View 4-H District Heifer Committee ($250), Olds Regional Exhibition ($10,000), Southern Alberta Angus Club ($500) and Sundre 4-H Multi-Club ($250).
Proposed workshops in 2019 include Ladies Livestock Lessons, East Olds Dairy Farmers EFP/CAP, Living in the Natural Environment, Ranching Opportunities, Farm Transition, Energy Workshop/Solar, Working Well, Septic Sense, Clubroot, and Alberta Farm Animal Care Conference.
In other ASB news, members have been updated on plans to review the provincial agricultural service board program this spring.
Doug Macaulay is the provincial ASB program manager.
“The goal of the review is to verify previously identified issues, identify new issues, and identify potential solutions to improve the effectiveness and impact of the ASB grant program,” Macaulay said in a letter to the local ASB.
There will be face-to-face facilitated sessions for ASB members across all five ASB regions held in February and March.
“We are hoping each ASB for each of the five regions will be able to provide two board members to participate in their respective regional sessions,” he said.
When the review and recommendations are completed the results will be put into a report that will be sent to the deputy minister for decision, he said.
Board members also received a draft agenda for the March 2019 Livestock Care Conference in Olds.
Scheduled speakers include Annemarie Pedersen, Rebecca Gimenez, Bettina Bobsien, Becky Taylor, Sage Pullen McIntosh, Karen Schwean Lardner and Joyce Van Donkersgoed.
