MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s agricultural service board (ASB) has been updated on clubroot management in the district.
The review came during the recent regularly scheduled board meeting, held in council chambers.
The county’s clubroot procedure #6301-01 states that the ASB will review the procedure annually to ensure it is current and up to date.
As well, the province’s clubroot management plan and neighbouring municipalities’ policies and procedures are reviewed annually to ensure consistency with the county’s procedure.
Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that affects cruciferous crops such as canola and cabbage.
In 2019, the county’s procedure was revised to account for development on the lands where clubroot is located to minimize the spread of the plant disease.
Administration is not recommending any changes to the county’s current policy, members heard.
In a briefing note to the board, administration outlined some of the history of clubroot in the municipality and province.
“The clubroot distribution within Alberta is estimated to be increasing around 20-25 kilometres per year,” the note states. “(To date) there have been 10 fields in Mountain View County confirmed to have clubroot infestations.”
Clubroot was found in a field near Cremona in 2015, near Olds in 2016, near Carstairs in 2018, near Reed Ranch and outside Olds in 2019, and outside Didsbury in 2020.
“Two more infestations were found in 2021, both in the Eagle Hill area (east of Sundre) with one infestation being low and one being moderate. A plan was enacted with each producer and the agricultural feldman. No infestations were found in 2022 or 2023.”
The county’s governance review committee is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations for amendments or additions to county policies, procedures and bylaws.
The ASB did not forward any recommended changes to the committee following the clubroot update.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the region’s agriculture community.
