Mission Statement

The Agricultural Service Board provides agricultural programs and services to rural residents to address their ever-changing needs and to enhance and protect our viable and sustainable agriculture community.

Vision

The Municipal District of Wainwright Agricultural Service Board will promote and coordinate programs and services in the areas of weeds, pests, soil and water conservation, various rural interests, and related environmental issues. Agricultural producers, rural acreage owners and industry will work together to maintain a vibrant and sustainable rural community. Strong policies, adequate funding and innovative programming will ensure the board's continued success. The Agricultural Service Board will consist of members that have strong community bonds and agricultural interests. They will provide direction for the Agricultural Service Board staff and sound recommendations to Council for input into effective policies.

Guiding Principles

2008 AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD REPORT

Board Composition:

A total of 4 Agricultural Service Board meetings were held in 2008.

Administration:

The ASB received grants from Alberta Agriculture in the amounts of $164,634.88 (Provincial ASB Grant), $57,700 (Rat Control Grant), and $45,125 (Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Grant).  Through the Provincial ASB Grant, the M.D. of Wainwright has qualified and received the full grant amount of $150,000/year plus a one time additional grant of $14,634.88 based on municipal programming. The ASB continued to support the Town of Wainwright’s noxious weed control program in the amount of $4,000.  In addition, the ASB also supported Canadian Forces Base Wainwright with their noxious and restricted weed control program in the amount of approximately $6,500. The Municipal District of Wainwright handled the Emergency Registered liquid strychnine for the producers in 2008 and will continue to handle liquid strychnine concentrate for producers in 2009.  The M.D. hosted the fourth annual Rural Routes Supper and Social, which again proved to be a very popular event with 388 ratepayers attending.  The M.D. of Wainwright continued with its photo contest and distributed 500 calendars.  Both the Rural Routes Supper and M.D. calendar projects will be continuing in 2009.  The ASB also participated in the 2008 Wainwright Trade Show with a Municipal District of Wainwright booth. 

Vegetation Management and Control:

The M.D. continued to maintain three weed inspectors and three GPS/injection equipped trucks.  These trucks were stationed in Irma, Wainwright and Edgerton respectively.  It is becoming extremely difficult to find the seasonal staff required to complete our vegetation management program.   In 2008 we continued to address toadflax, scentless chamomile, leafy spurge, tansy, white cockle and Canada thistle among the other noxious and restricted weeds found within our boundaries.  We completed the first year of our two year complete roadside spraying program and responded to all submitted weeds calls.  The first year of our complete roadside spraying program was an ambitious challenge to complete and operationally it was successful. The roadsides that were sprayed in year one will be evaluated in 2009 to determine the success of the program.  The M.D. also participated in a research project with BASF involving the herbicide Overdrive. In 2009 the M.D. will be involved with BASF and Dow AgriSciences in continued research and trial plots in an effort to find alternative control products for our noxious weeds. Canadian Forces Base Wainwright continues to improve and enhance their weed control program in an effort to meet the requirements under the Provincial Weed Control Act.  In 2008 the M.D. had a contractor complete approximately 400 miles of roadside shoulder mowing.  This new initiative resulted in many positive comments and there will be approximately 640 miles of roadside mowing completed in 2009.  The mowing program will be evaluated in the fall of 2009.   

Municipal Projects, Demonstrations and Extension Activities:

This year we received $45,125 from the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Program.  The focus for this money was to provide information and programs within three priority management areas:  Integrated Crop Management, Nutrient Management and Grazing and Riparian Management.  Weekly radio ads, called “Municipal Agri-minute” were voiced every week starting in March and ending in December.  These airings quickly promoted sustainable agriculture messages to rural farmers and ranchers and also spread word on upcoming events.  In addition, there were 5 newsletters published and mailed out to an average of 570 rural households each edition. We provided projects to producers that included a Round-up Ready canola plot trial with pancake breakfast (in partnership with the Wainwright Seed Cleaning Plant), showcasing 7 canola varieties between 4 brand names (46P50RR Viterra, 4414RR Brett Young, 4362RR Brett Young, 45H28RR Pioneer, 45H26RR Pioneer, 3465RR Dekalb, 7145RR Viterra).  Seminars held this past year included the 25th Anniversary of Spring Break Conference, held in Edgerton with 150 participants, Grazing School for Women with 33 participants and the Scott Research Field Day with 28 participants.  A Water Well Decommissioning Workshop (hosted in part with Vermilion County) with 50 participants, a Water Well Maintenance Workshop with 28 participants, Verified Beef Production and Canadian Cattle Identification Agency meetings were hosted with over 40 people in attendance.  A PFRA tree meeting was held with 30 farm and acreage owners attending.  The annual Country Garden Tour attracted 50 avid gardeners and stopped at 4 rural Wainwright gardens.  The 4th annual “Rural Routes Supper and Social” in partnership with Key 83 was held for our local agricultural families with the entertainment being Herb Dixon, Comedian and Sound Impressionist.  The event was very successful and enjoyable and will be held again on August 7, 2009 at the Wainwright Elk’s Hall.  The Municipal Photo Contest was another popular event with over 400 photograph entries.  The decision to choose the top 13 photos to showcase in the Municipal Calendar was extremely difficult as always, but the finished project turned out the best ever with updated formatting and new glossed photo styles; local ratepayers quickly picked up all 500 copies.

If you are interested in becoming involved in any of our workshops or if you have ideas for an event or newsletter article, please contact the Assistant Agricultural Fieldman, Aimee Wonsik at (780) 842-4454.

Pest Control:

In 2008 there were no rat infestations in the M.D. of Wainwright.  There continues to be an increase in rat infestations up and down the border in Saskatchewan and the Rat Control Team will have to continue to be vigilant to ensure that Alberta retains their rat free status.  The number of skunk problems within the municipality has continued to be quite high.  The coyote problems have also increased slightly and it is expected that they will continue to increase into 2009.  The increased number of beavers has resulted in an increase in plugged culverts and flooding issues.  Beaver dam and control issues will continue to be an issue in 2009.

If you have any questions or concerns about “RATS”, please feel free to contact Rod Gabrielson at (780) 842-7285 or the M.D. office at (780) 842-4454.

The above is a brief report on the activities of the Agricultural Service Board in 2008.

We extend our thanks to the Municipal Council, Administration, staff and the members of the Agricultural Service Board for their cooperation, guidance and assistance in 2008.

Respectfully Submitted,

James Schwindt
Agricultural Fieldman