MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s agricultural service board (ASB) has approved an updated strategic plan focusing on efforts of the board in “providing an effective process to align short-term decisions with long-term goals.”
Approval of the strategic plan came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
The update comes following a review of the existing plan over several months, including discussions with board members and county staff.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the region’s agricultural community. Its role includes assessing the needs and direction of the agriculture industry in the municipality and district, as well as identifying obstacles and working to resolve problems that may arise.
The board’s general role falls into four categories that are considering in the updated strategic plan: policy and administration; program development and review; program promotion and advertising; and support of the agriculture community.
The updated strategic plan’s mission statement now reads: “ASB advises and serves all stakeholders in weed and pest control, leading edge agricultural practices, soil and water conservation and related environmental concerns to enhance the viability off the agricultural community.”
The strategic priorities outlined in the updated plan are protection of the viability of agriculture, support of sustainable agriculture, assisting to provide road networks in support of agriculture and the rural population, and promoting and supporting agriculture in the rural community.
Programs and services supporting the priority of protecting the viability of agriculture in the municipality include administering the weed inspection program under the updated Policy/Procedure #6315 Weed Inspection, free pasture sprayer rentals, bed and weed picking program, support of the Alberta Invasive Species Council, and reporting any known or suspected cases of a reportable or notifiable disease.
Programs and services supporting the priority of supporting sustainable agriculture include the riparian and ecological enhancement program user the updated Policy/Procedure #6309, taking part in the ALUS program, administering the Topsoil Bylaw 11-20, assisting and delivering environmental farm plans, and supporting local forage associations.
Programs and services supporting the priority to provide safe road networks in support of agriculture and the rural population include roadside brush control under the updated Policy/Procedure #6305 and roadside mowing under the updated Policy/Procedure #6310.
Program and services supporting the priority to promote and support agriculture in the rural community include succession planning workshops, farm family awards, mental health workshops and nominating producers for stewardship awards.
The complete updated strategic plan is available for viewing on the county’s website.
Operating budget forwarded
In other news from the recent ASB meeting, member approved the 2023 agricultural service board operating budget and forwarded it to council for consideration.
The budget calls for total revenues of $307,500, up from $306,750 in 2022, and includes grants of $183,000, ALUS funding of $70,000, and weed control and weed inspection revenue of $25,000, up from $23,500 in 2022.
It also calls for total recurring expenses of $1,296,432, up from $1,279,650 in 2022.
Expenses include right of way management costs of $501,106, including $237,462 for roadside spraying, up from $211,188 in 2022, and brush control of $109,817, up from $107,399 in 2022.
Invasive plan management expenses are set at $124,405, up from $121,950 in 2022.
