MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — The county's agricultural service board (ASB) has approved funding for two conservation projects in the district under the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program.
The approvals came by way of motion at the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting, held in person and by Zoom.
One of the projects is located in the rural neighbourhood of Bergen, at SW 05-32-5-5.
The board approved funding for 75 per cent of materials to a maximum of $5,000 per project, for four riparian and upland fencing programs at the site for a total of $7,897, as well as 25 per cent of the materials for a winter solar watering system to a maximum of $2,500.
One of the fencing projects will be around a wetland, one around a dugout, and two around native upland.
The second project is located in the Bearberry rural neighbourhood, at NE 22-33-7-5. The board approved funding for 25 per cent of the materials for the solar watering project to a maximum of $627.
So far in 2021, a dozen landowners have been approved for ALUS projects in the county, impacting a total of 243 acres of wetland, riparian and upland areas.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the public. The board advises the county and the province on agriculture issues and concerns.
During the recent board meeting, members were also given an update on the agricultural twine collection in the county.
To date this year, 125 bags averaging about 20 kilograms each, have been collected for shipment to a reprocessing plant.
“(The) condition of twine from Mountain View County has been reported to be excellent, with very low contamination,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
“The twine is being recycled into pellets which are then sold to various markets to be made into new polypropylene products such as roofing materials and automobile panels.”
The county has also been involved with Terra Metals to recycle barbed, strand and page wire for recycling at no cost to Mountain View County producers. To date in 2021, more than 30,000 kilograms has been collected.
