Agricultural Services

Agricultural Service Board:

 Structure and Administration:

The County has an Agricultural Service Board (ASB) and an Agricultural Service Board Fieldman in accordance with Provincial legislation, to administer those programs of an agricultural nature within the County.  The Province provides grant assistance, which must be matched and earned by the County at various percentages, depending on the specific program.  The Board is comprised of the County council.  A representative for the Minister of Agriculture, usually the local department specialist, participates as a resource person.

The ASB Administration (Fieldman and Assoc.) plans and coordinates the programs approved by the Board and by Council, and enforces the provisions of specific agricultural legislation, regulations and County policies.

Blackleg of Canola Survey Program:

The ASB conducts a Blackleg survey annually.  The survey is conducted in early July (one per township), and the survey information is sent to Soil and Crop Management Branch, Alberta Agriculture.

Chemical Container Program:

In cooperation with the Province, the ASB provides a collection program for empty pesticide containers.  Temporary storage sites are maintained at each of the County modified sanitary landfills.  Individuals can take their empty containers to these sites, in accordance with ASB policy.  ASB personnel conduct routine pick-ups at each site throughout the season with specialized equipment, and transport the containers to the main storage facility at the Vimy Modified Landfill.

AEP arranges for the removal and disposal of all containers from the main site.

Equipment Rentals:

The ASB provides access to the following specialized agricultural equipment for the local farmers at reasonable rates, and subject to established guidelines:

Grasshopper Survey Program:

The ASB conducts a grasshopper survey annually.  The survey is conducted in early August (one per township), and the information is sent to the Lethbridge Research Station.

Local Tour Program:

To showcase farm sites, special areas, agricultural practices and diversification, ASB projects and programs, innovative inventions and local businesses throughout the County, the ASB conducts an annual tour and barbecue.  A nominal fee is charged to registrants to cover costs

The tour is moved around the County on a rotational basis.

Pest Control Program:

Beaver Control Program - Private Property:

The ASB provides a service to landowners and other affected by beavers on private property.  A fee for the service is charged to the person with the problem (may or may not be the owner of the property on which the beaver or beaver dam is located), and the ASB has a beaver trapper/dam blaster under contract to remove beaver and/or dams.

Beaver Control Program - Public Property:

The ASB will remove beaver and/or beaver dams on or affecting road allowances as required in cooperation with the Public Works Superintendent.  The ASB will utilize the beaver trapper, or, if necessary, other municipal or contract equipment to remove dams.  The cost for contract equipment will be charged to the Transportation department.

Coyote Control:

The ASB offers a coyote control program for people whose poultry or livestock are being killed or harassed by coyotes.  The following materials may be made available to those experiencing difficulty, at the Fieldman’s discretion:

1080 Baits                                        Cyanide guns                            Snares

Soil Conservation Program:

Demonstrations:

The ASB establishes on farm demonstrations, promoting reduced tillage, pasture rejuvenation, and seed drill comparisons.  In addition, public information is made available in local papers, articles, lectures, tours and meetings, etc. throughout the area.  The County also manages a tree farm site near Vimy, and promotes the growth of shelterbelt trees on farms where erosion and/or soil degradation may take place.

Shelterbelt Program:

The ASB promotes the planting of tree shelterbelts in order to prevent soil erosion.  The trees may be obtained through the County, and must be planted in accordance with the Alberta Agriculture Shelterbelt Policy, and other applicable regulations.

The ASB will make its tree planter available free of charge to participants, and will reimburse participants $100.00 per approved project.

Shelterbelt Application, Tree Pick-up & Distribution Program:

Farmers may make application for trees under the Alberta Agriculture Shelterbelt Tree Order Program.  The Fieldman coordinates and arranges for the pick-up of trees from the Provincial source, and for applicants to pick-up trees from the County on a day selected by the Fieldman.

Surface Reclamation Program:

The ASB Fieldman and Assoc. Fieldman are both appointed as Surface Reclamation Officers under the AEP Act, and provide assistance to AEP Reclamation Officers in the inspection of the following surface disturbances:

Sand and Gravel Extraction Sites                           Oilfield Sites

AEP provides compensation to the County for the participation of its personnel.

Water Management Program:

Drainage - County:

The County has established a Water Management Committee (WMC), comprised of (3) members of Council and the Fieldman, for the purpose of inspecting and reporting to Council their findings, regarding complaints received from people being affected by water drainage and/or erosion. 

The County has a responsibility to ensure that their roads do not cause an obstruction to the natural flow of water in creeks, natural watercourses and water runs, etc.  In essence, the County must ensure that the water can make its way through the road at, or as near as possible, to its natural route.

The County has no responsibility for the course that water takes on private property, or any damages, or affects that may result therefrom, unless it occurs as a result of the improper drainage accommodation through a road.

Any modification to natural drainage courses, etc. whether on private property or not, must be approved by Alberta Environmental Protection, and may be subject to their licensing or permitting requirements.

Drainage - Alberta Environmental Protection:

Alberta Environmental Protection (A.E.P.) has assistance programs available for proposed modifications and/or improvements to natural water courses.  The programs provide for the sharing of the cost of a project, providing it is consistent with their program requirements, and is sponsored by a Municipality (does not mean that the municipality must pay for the portion not funded by the Province, although the County has undertaken projects of this nature in the past and paid for the non-funded portion).

The County may sponsor a project, at the County’s discretion.  Generally, proponents of the project will be expected to pay for any non-grant-funded portion of a project, including paying up front for the cost of the engineering feasibility study.  Should a project be undertaken, the proponents must assume responsibility for any future maintenance and/or repairs.

Weed Control Program:

Roadside Spraying Program: 

The program is intended to control noxious weeds and brush under (2) meters in height in municipal roadside ditches in the County.  The ASB has divided the County into (4) quadrants for the purpose of providing this service.  One quadrant is sprayed (both sides of the road) in each year; approximately 700 ditch miles per year.  All (4) quadrants are sprayed in rotation with each other so that the County is covered each (4) year period.

Restricted Weed Control Program:

The following weeds have been declared a restricted weed:

The ASB will conduct control on the above weeds upon notification of a siting, either on road allowance or on private property (except where noted otherwise).  Property owners may or may not be required to pay for the cost depending on circumstances.  The property owner’s permission is required in order to access private property, but access can be obtained through legislation if denied.

Weed Inspection Program:

The ASB conducts an annual inspection program by driving all roads in the County looking for noxious weeds on private property.  Infestations are dealt with in accordance with the Weed Control Act, any regulations, and the County’s weed control policy.

Roadside Seeding Program: 

The ASB undertakes to seed with a grass mix all newly-constructed, or reconstructed roadsides in the year following construction.  The purpose is to control noxious weeds and prevent erosion.

Municipal Mowing Program - Roadsides: 

The ASB provides roadside mowing on all paved secondary highways and other paved roads within the County (see secondary highway inventory) on an annual basis.  Other municipal roads may be mowed with specific approval from the Council.

Municipal Mowing Program - Municipal Facilities, etc.: 

The ASB will conduct mowing of municipal properties, such as hamlet streets, parks and public reserves, etc. on an annual basis.  Sewage lagoons will be mowed at the request of the Utilities Officer, and charged to that department. 

Municipal Mowing Program - Enforcement: 

The ASB will conduct enforcement mowing of private property (primarily in hamlets, and similar developments), in accordance with the County’s Unsightly Premises Bylaw.  The cost is charged to the owner of the offending property, and subsequently, against the property’s tax account if unpaid.

Westlock County

10336 - 106 Street Westlock, AB  Canada  T7P 2G1

info@westlockcounty.com

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