CURRENT EVENTS  
2009 Rural Beautification Sponsor Acknowledgement

UPCOMING EVENTS


WILD BOAR INFORMATION
Wild Boar FAQ's and Policy
Declaration of the Applicant
Affidavit
Consent Form

    Agricultural Service Boards began in Alberta in 1945 and at the present time there are 70 individual Boards serving in municipalities throughout the Province. The Agricultural Service Board in Lac Ste. Anne County was formed in 1951.

The Agricultural Service Board operates according to the Agricultural Service Board Act of Alberta. The functions of an Agricultural Service Board are:

• to act as an advisory body and to assist the council and the Minister of Agriculture, in matters of mutual concern
• to advise on the organizing and directing of weed control and soil and water conservation programs
• to assist in the control of livestock disease under the Livestock Diseases Act
• to advise with respect to and assist in proper land utilization with a view to improving the economic welfare of the farmer
• to promote and develop agricultural policies to meet the needs of the County
• to act as the liaison between municipal government and Alberta Agriculture

The Agricultural Service Board structure includes all County Councillors as voting members with  Chairman (Lloyd Giebelhaus) and Vice Chairman (George Turk) chosen by the Board. Geoff Thompson, Agricultural Fieldman, is responsible for administering all A.S.B. programs.

Meetings
The A.S.B. holds six Meetings throughout the year. Meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of every second month beginning in February. During the year members attend the Provincial A.S.B. Conference, the Provincial A.S.B. Tour and the Regional A.S.B. Conference.


AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD PROGRAMS

Programs have been developed by the Agricultural Service Board to directly or indirectly assist the farmers of our County. The majority of these programs are financed 40% by the County and 60% by Alberta Agriculture. Current programs are as follows:

Weed Control (click on the link below to print the No Spray Agreement)

 NO SPRAY AGREEMENT

Roadside Weed Control
Roadside right-of-way spraying is carried out throughout the County annually. Emphasis is on the control of Scentless Chamomile, Tansy, Toadflax and Canada Thistle. A one person crew operates a two ton 4 x 4 truck equipped with a 450 gallon water tank, MIDTECH chemical injection system, GPS spray mapping system with a weather station and "a short articulating boom equipped with “Boom Buster” nozzles. Approximately 500 - 700 lineal miles of road are covered annually. Weeds are also controlled at County stockpiles, gravel pits, transfer stations and Division yards.

Weed Inspection 
        Weed Inspection
Private land is inspected for weed control problems throughout the growing season. Landowners with weed problems are contacted and Weed Notices are issued when necessary.

Weed Notices, according to Section 21(2)(c) of the Weed Control Act of Alberta , are required to be served in person or sent by double registered mail to the person whose name appears on the assessment roll of the land in question.

Private Land Weed Control
Backpack Sprayers and 2 trailer mounted Pasture Sprayers are available for use by landowners.  A Custom Spraying service is available on a limited basis to landowners having small areas of NON-CROP land infested with difficult-to-control weeds such as Scentless Chamomile, Tansy, and Toadflax. The cost of this service for County ratepayers is $45.00/hr. plus chemical cost per acre with a minimum charge of $45.00.

Brush Control
Chemical control of brush is done primarily in areas previously covered by the HYDRO-AX. Control work is done using ASB equipment on selected roadsides. Each year as many roads in each Division are covered as budget allows.

Tree Distribution
Orders for tree distribution are taken until March 15th for distribution in mid-May.  Alberta Nurseries charges a $26.75 non-refundable application fee and trees are priced according to a fee schedule.  Alberta Nurseries Trees are available for farms and acreages.  PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) has a limited variety of trees available at no cost for rural holdings of 40 acres or more.   Transportation and distribution of trees is coordinated by the ASB.

Lac Ste. Anne Bursary
A bursary in the amount of $500.00 is available to County residents who are pursuing post-secondary education.  Preference may be given to students pursuing post secondary education in the field of agriculture or who are former 4H members.

Predator Control
The use of coyote control devices is closely monitored by the Pest Control Branch of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. A permit must be obtained from the Agricultural Fieldman before materials will be issued. Actual losses of domestic food producing livestock must be incurred before materials will be issued except in unusual cases.  The Agricultural Service Board can provide or arrange assistance with difficult cases and a Provincial Predator Specialist can be contacted to assist farmers with severe predator problems.

Disease and Insect Control
          Clubroot
Crop diseases such as Fusarium Head Blight or Clubroot of canola are serious diseases which although not present in our area have the potential to become a problem.  The ASB will monitor the development of these diseases within the province and can provide advice on best management practices and control.  Incidences of outbreaks of insects such as lygus bugs, flea beetles, bertha army worm etc. will be monitored and control programs will be promoted if conditions warrant.  Equipment (Bran Baiter) to provide an environmentally save method of controlling grasshoppers is available on a rental basis.
 
Field Crops
Plots demonstrating the growth and yield of different crop and forage varieties as well as soil conservation practices are set up at various locations in the County when good locations and cooperators are available.  An ASB Supper is held to promote agriculture in the County and provide information to local producers.

Conservation and Development
The promotion of soil conservation practices are carried out primarily through the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) program.  AESA is strictly an Alberta program and provides funding to promote the adoption of farming practices that reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment.  Projects dealing with riparian habitat, shelterbelt establishment improving on-farm water quality and storage, working with problem soils as well as direct seeding, reduced tillage, and soil organic matter enhancement.  These concepts will be promoted through extension meetings, field demonstrations, tours and displays, school contests, promotional materials and newsletters.  Lac Ste. Anne County cooperates in a partnership with Woodlands County, Yellowhead County, Brazeau County and County of Barrhead in carrying out AESA programs through the West Central Conservation Group (WCCG).  The WCCG is administered by Craig Wallace, Conservation Technician.

Tree Pruning Demonstration
The proper methods of pruning various types of trees are demonstrated in a half-day session held in April at the George Pegg Botanic Garden.

Seed Cleaning Plant Licensing
Private seed cleaning plants within the County are inspected annually and licensed according to standards established by the Field Crops Branch of Alberta Agriculture.

Beaver Control
      Beaver Control Policy
Where beavers are causing flooding of agricultural land, a Flood Prevention Incentive of $10 per beaver tail is available subject to certain conditions. Copies of the policy are available from the County Office.

Removal of beaver dams on private property will be carried out by County personnel for a fee of $50 per dam.

Soil Sampling
A soil sampling service is available to farmers on an appointment basis by contacting the Agricultural Fieldman. The service charges are $10.00 for the first field and $5.00 for each additional field. Total cost depends upon the soil analysis package requested.

Gopher Control
Traps for Pocket Gophers ("moles") and gas cartridges for Richardson Ground Squirrels ("gophers") are available for sale to landowners at the County Office.  Where Pocket Gophers are causing a problem on private land, a trapping incentive of $1.00 per tail is available at the discretion of the ASB and subject to available funds.

Pest Control
Traps are available on loan through the County Office for removal of problem skunks, badgers, groundhogs, weasels, squirrels, etc.

Rental Equipment
Various types of equipment is available to ratepayers on a rental basis.  These include cattle squeeze, loading chute, livestock scale, hoof trimming table, corral panels, calf cradle, soil mover, tree planter, 2 pasture sprayers, 2 bran baiters.
 
PLEASE CONTACT GEOFF THOMPSON, AGRICULTURAL FIELDMAN OR TARA MCGINN, ASSISTANT AGRICULTURAL FIELDMAN AT 785-3411 or
1-866-880-LSAC (5722) OR EMAIL This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS.