MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The region’s agriculture industry has both challenges and opportunities going into 2025, says newly-elected chair of the county’s agricultural service board (ASB).
Tietsia Huyzer was elected to the chairmanship at a recent board meeting after serving as vice-chair for the past several years. She replaces longtime chairman Brian Rodger, who will not be seeking re-appointment to the board.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the district’s agriculture community. It advises the county and province on agricultural issues and concerns, as well as promoting the local ag industry through events and other activities, as well as through provincial agriculture organizations.
“The agriculture industry will face many challenges in 2025,” Huyzer told the Albertan. “From the government imposing regulations on the use of fertilizer, being more mindful of the use of our resources, to the weather situation.
“The drought is a concern in many parts of our county and farmers are considering different seeding strategies to make do with less rainfall and to lower expectations in areas with limited ground moisture levels.
“For some producers this will be an opportunity to adopt new practices that will be beneficial in the future and hopefully add to the bottom line.”
There was a big difference in moisture received in the western and eastern parts of the county in 2024, and that “can make it hard to get enough feed put up for livestock,” she noted.
Going into the new year, the ASB will continue to value its relations with the county, she said.
“It is a close connection with three councillors being part of our board,” she said. “The challenge occurs when the farmer members of the ASB – two youth directors and four regular directors – have a different view on matters pertaining to the ASB responsibilities than the councillors, where they represent a variety of constituents with sometimes different needs and wants.
“We have healthy discussions and, in the end, speak with one voice when it comes to advice or recommendations to the county council.
“We do need our council to speak on our behalf when we need to advocate for provincial or national issues that have an impact on our county’s rural residents.”
The ASB helps advise, organize and direct weed and pest control, water conservation and animal disease in the county.
“Besides that we advise on the direction of spending funds under the ALUS and REEP programs,” she said. “These programs offer direction and funding for farmers and ranchers in increasing the natural health of riparian and ecological sensitive areas for plan life and wildlife.
“This agriculture-based ecosystem services program keeps developing and may play a role in future carbon capturing but also in the financial compensation for farmers and ranchers.
“This is still under development but there will be opportunities for farmers and ranchers in the future to capitalize on this.”
Huyzer said as chair she will be encouraging members of the agriculture community to attend ASB meetings and related events.
“Our local ASB is here to promote, enhance and protect viable and sustainable agriculture with a view to improving the economic viability of the agricultural producer, and to promote and develop agricultural policies to meet the needs of the municipality,” she said.
“The county’s ASB acts on the concerns from our farmers and ranchers by way of submitting resolution at regional and provincial ASB meetings and we are in regular conversations with the ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.
“History has taught us that government assistance programs are not useful for all parts of the agricultural industry, so we are challenged to be better stewards of our resources.”
Huyzer commended outgoing ABS chair Brian Rodger for his long service to the district’s agriculture industry.
“Brian has dedicated twelve years to work from the ASB and many of those were as chair,” she said. “His passion for agriculture and supporting farms in Mountain View County will be missed.
“The same goes for his sense of humour and his up-to-date knowledge of agricultural practices and understanding the diversity of farming in our county.”
Having youth members on the ASB “so their voices and opinions are heard and taken into consideration,” is one of Rodger’s legacies, she said.
The chair is the official spokesperson on the ASB, with a one-year term appointment.
The next ASB meeting is February 10, 2025 in council chambers and online.
