MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s agricultural service board (ASB) has been updated on 2024 agricultural recycling programs, including upcoming collections dates for twine recycling.
The review came during the board’s recent regularly scheduled meeting, held in person and online.
The ag twine recycling program allows producers to drop off clean, dry, bagged twine at the agricultural services shop free of charge.
The collection dates for 2024 are April 5 and April 19, May 3 and 17, June 7 and 21, July 5 and 19, Aug. 2 and 16, Sept. 6 and 20, Oct. 4 and 18.
Bags to collect twine are available at Mountain View County's office and the agricultural services shop.
Regarding ag wire recycling, ASB members heard that the county’s fencing wire roller will be available to producers in 2024.
TX2, in partnership with the ASB, collects barbed, strand and page wire to be recycled at no cost to county producers.
Under the program, wire must be free of debris (such as direct, sod and posts), all recyclable wire must be rolled tightly, and wire must be loaded separately from other metals.
Loads failing to meet requirements may be subject to a disposal fee, members heard.
The county’s pesticide and fertilizer container depot will be permanently closed on Jan. 1, 2025 in response to new provincial rules.
After that date producers will return their empty, triple-rinsed and bagged jugs to local ad dealers, members heard.
During the March 11 ASB meeting, members approved having the county operate an interactive booth at the May 2-3 Rate Wise: Honouring the Red Deer River Watershed Event in Sundre.
“There is no cost to have a table and an interactive display focused on nature or water is requested along with the agricultural service board’s associated programming,” administration said in a briefing note to the board.
Members approved a $250 sponsorship for the Sundre event.
Also during the March 11 meeting, ASB members approved $1,836 funding to the Heartland Training and Support Hub, formerly called the Farm Safety Centre, to cover the cost of local student farm safe classes in 2023.
The Farm Safety Centre provided the Safety Smarts and Sustainable Farm Families program at schools, including in Mountain View County starting in 2011.
In all, 408 students in Mountain View County received instruction in 2023, at a cost of $4.50 per student.
“Due to a significant reduction in government funding directed towards farm safety and a decrease in donations we are compelled to pause these (farm safety programs) vital initiatives (in 2024),” executive director of Heartland Training and Support Hub said in a letter received by the ASB.
The ASB is made up of county councillors and appointed members of the local agricultural community. It advices the province and the county on agriculture issues and concerns.
