MD of Wainwright | Agricultural Service Board

The Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 recognizes that Clubroot of Canola is a serious problem and supports the principle to control the spread of Clubroot which is a designated a pest under the Agricultural Pest Act.

1. Random inspections will be conducted within the M.D. of Wainwright by the Agricultural Fieldman, Assistant Agricultural Fieldman or by an inspector appointed by the Municipal District of Wainwright No. 61 Council.

2. Designated inspectors will follow procedures that are established by Agricultural Services administration on sampling techniques and protocol for entering upon private land. Inspectors entering land when testing for Clubroot will wear protective, disposable boot covers or wear footwear that can be disinfected using a bleach solution.

3. Positive identification of Clubroot shall be obtained by an approved laboratory test.

4. When land has been verified positive for Clubroot the landowner will be notified in writing with a legal notice in accordance with the Province of Alberta’s Agricultural Pest Act.

5. The notice will prohibit the growth of canola, mustard or any other susceptible crop to Clubroot on the affected land for a period of 4 years (1 in 5) and under no circumstances will susceptible crops be permitted to be grown.

6. A person who has an interest in the infected land as an owner or occupant and feels personally aggrieved by a notice issued by an inspector under section 12 of the Agricultural Pests Act, may appeal in writing to the local authority of the Municipal District of Wainwright within ten days of the Notice.

7. Any land sown to such a crop in contravention of the terms of a written notice will be destroyed as per the Agricultural Pest Act. Volunteer canola and crucifer weeds must be controlled on infested fields before three weeks of growth has occurred to prevent the production on new resting spores.

8. All adjacent landowners and/or occupants to the affected land will be notified in writing that Clubroot is present. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, AFSC, Research and parties with genuine commercial interest staff may also be given the location of affected lands. Release of information in these situations is at the discretion of the Agricultural Fieldman and Municipal Council.

9. The landowner and/or occupants of the land will have the responsibility to follow best management guidelines set out by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development to reduce the spread of the disease with the movement of soil and equipment.

10. Equipment and Sanitation - Sanitation involves cleaning and disinfecting machinery by following this sequence of three steps (3 Steps):

Step 1 – remove as much soil as possible from the machine by scraping or knocking off the larger clumps of soil and using compressed air to remove dust and plant debris.
Step 2 – remove any residual contaminated soil with a pressure washer or steaming unit.
Step 3 – to mist the cleaned surfaces with a disinfectant of 1% to 2% (active ingredient) household or commercial bleach solution.

Note: The above steps have been recommended by the Alberta Clubroot Management Committee. Private landowners and industry are responsible for negotiating their own access and sanitation agreements with each other and the municipality will not be getting involved in private negotiations unless it is an enforcement issue regarding a positive Clubroot location.

The above listed sanitation steps should be used according to the following situations:

Any equipment entering the Municipality from an area known to have Clubroot must follow steps 1, 2 & 3.
Any equipment entering the Municipality from an area not known to have Clubroot must follow steps 1 & 2.
Any equipment moving within the municipality must follow step 1.
However, if Clubroot is identified within the municipality the minimum requirements of step 1 & 2 or step 1, 2 & 3 will apply depending on how close the equipment has been to a Clubroot positive field.

The Municipal District of Wainwright shall review this policy on an annual basis.

Clubroot Sampling Protocol - 2 locations per quarter section were surveyed and sampled.
No visual signs of Clubroot on the plants or roots were found at the locations identified on this map.