2nd Section
& Salute to Farmers
2022 Mercury LEADER The Tofield
THE LAMONT
Page 2 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Alberta’s Wetland Replacement Program Moush John Tofield Mercury
The province’s Wetland Replacement Program (WRP) provides essential funds for wetland restoration projects and is designed to help lessen the ongoing patterns of wetland loss throughout Alberta. In 2019, Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) implemented this program in an attempt to prioritize restoration in municipalities and watersheds that have expe-
rienced the highest amount of lost wetland area. In 2020, the program provided an initial round of $3.7 million in funding for seven wetland restoration projects, which resulted in 390 acres (158 hectares) of new or restored wetlands. According to AEP, there are currently nine municipalities that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in the WRP. Ducks Unlimited
Monday - Friday 9AM to 5PM / Saturday 10AM to 3PM
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Canada (DUC) has been an active participant in Alberta’s WRP since its inception and has also participated in the program to complete some notable projects on the landscape. As Alberta continues to lose as much as 10,800 acres of wetland each year, the WRP is a critical initiative that will encourage greater participation. Last year, the wetland restoration and Alberta Restoring wetlands helps make landscapes more resilient to floods and droughts. SUBMITTED PHOTO/DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA
Continued on P10 Continued on Page 5
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 3
PROPERTIES LAMONT COUNTY Modern Industrial Shop
• 15,000 sq. ft. Industrial Shop built on 42.8 acres in Lamont County adjacent to town of Lamont. There is an approximately 15 acres of gravelled yard with partial chain link fencing located at 195043 HWY 29 Lamont County. Price: $3,175,000 • East ½ NW-34-53-18 W4 80 acres of pasture located 182043-TWP RD 540 Lamont County. Price: $125,000 • W4-18-53-11-NE 160 acres pasture on RR 181 between TWP RD 530 and 532 Lamont County. Price: $230,000 • W4-18-53-11-SE 159.88 acres pasture on RR 181 between TWP RD 530 and 532 Price: $230,000 • W4-18-54-18-NW 2 parcel farm 158.48 acres 130 ± acres of grain cultivation 3 bedroom house. Property has gas, power, well, septic with aerial discharge, Dug out and a shop Price: $850,000
FARM LAND IN CHIPMAN • SW ¼ 30-54-18-W4 (North ½) 78.83 acres fenced pasture land. Price: $140,000 • SW ¼, 30-54-18-W4 (South ½)- 72.12 acres Fenced pasture land. Price: $130,000 • NW ¼ 30-54-18-W4 144.67 acres fenced pasture with 50± acres was cultivated. Price: $360,000 TWO HILLS COUNTY RECREATION LAND • W4-12-55-27 NW 146 acres with 1/2-mile frontage on the North Saskatchewan River. HWY 29 and RR 123 50± acres of cultivation power at property Nicely treed lot for a building site. Price: $350,000 STRATHCONA COUNTY • SW Part of NW –23 –53 –23 –W4 40.55 acres North of Highway 16 on Range Road 232 in proposed medium industrial zoning with CP rail line at the border of the property. Price: $7,200,000
Website www.hillrealty.ca
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& Investors Lauren Hill
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Norman Hill
Page 4 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Bylaw to help combat wild boars John Mather At its March 22, regular council meeting Lamont County Council past a wild boar bylaw as presented by the Agricultural Services Board. “The Board felt that a bylaw be developed to help control the population of wild boar before it becomes a larger problem” said Agricultural Fieldman Terry Eleniak. He pointed out once the bylaw was approved it would state there would be no farming of wild boars in Lamont County. He added under the bylaw the RCMP, Peace Officer, Bylaw Enforcement Officer, or Municipal Police Services can enforce the bylaw. “Wild boars are deemed a pest under the Pest Act,” he told the ASB at their Mar. 9 meeting. “And anyone caught breaking the bylaw could be fined up to $10,000.” Under the bylaw any wild boar located within the County must be euthanized or removed from the County within seven days of receiving an order from any designated officer. The cost of removal of the animal will be the responsibility of the owner. Councillor Daniel Warawa wondered if there were any wild boar farmers in the County at the present time and Eleniak said there were none. “But if we have anyone who may want to set up an operation in the County to raise them, we want to be proactive rather than reactive, said Eleniak. “We’re fortunate we’ve only got a limited amount of sounders and I don’t want to see us get into a large problem.” Chief Administrative
Officer Peter Tarnawsky asked if council through bylaw could prohibit the farming of wild boar. “It is my understanding they can,” said Eleniak. “Because it is classified as a pest under the Pest Act.” The Agricultural Services Board then moved they pass the bylaw onto council for approval which is what happened Mar. 22. At the same ASB meeting, it was moved
Consort St. Paul Vermilion
to amend the Lamont County Pest Control Act to add wild boars. “This does go hand in hand with the wild boar bylaw,” said Eleniak. “We’re just asking to have wild boars added to the list of animals controlled under the Act.” Councillor Aaron Wick moved that the Act be amended and passed on to council for approval. That was also approved by council Mar. 22.
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 5
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Page 6 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
A large field of cows with their calves just north of Holden shows the babies sleeping and resting while their mothers stay awake watching over them.
We would like to take this time to thank all the farmers in our region, and wish them all a wonderful year.
PATRICIA HARCOURT PHOTO
Safety on the farm a strong theme for producers Patricia Harcourt Safety on the farm is a theme that is strongly emphasized in the month of March but applies the entire year round. Unfortunately, the goal is keeping everyone safe on the farm has yet to be attained. Every year 85 people die due to farmrelated deaths in this country and two-thirds of them (70 per cent) are the result of accidents with machinery. The awful truth is that 13 per cent of these deaths are children. “Entire families, friends, and communities are affected when these tragedies occur,” said Minister of Agriculture Nate Horner. “Many Al-
bertans probably know of someone that has been injured or lost their life in a farming accident. It’s not just something you read about in the paper.” It’s possible that there are people working and living their lives in agriculture who just don’t think that such a tragedy could happen to them, their loved ones or workers. But the statistics are proving otherwise. The only way to truly ensure safety on the farm is to develop a health and safety plan by identifying hazards and creating emergency procedures. Every year the virtues of farm safety are extolled for all to hear, but taking up the call to de-
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velop “best practices” while working at the job and lifestyle loved by agricultural producers, is the only way to beat the odds. Crossing one’s fingers every time you go out in the morning isn’t the way to go. “I encourage farmers, ranchers and food processors to renew their commitment to worker health and safety,” said Horner. Safety - it’s a yearround commitment to prevent someone you love becoming a tragic statistic.
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 7
Effects of last summer’s drought conditions continue to linger Patricia Harcourt Last year’s drought conditions have had some lingering effects on crop and livestock producers. Hopes are for a better 2022 as the snows of winter have accumulated in much greater amounts than they did the previous year of 2020-2021. There is hope that the fields will have the moisture needed to germinate and grow the plants. But most will have an eye to the sky wondering if the rain will come and, more importantly, at the right times. This spring there are farmers selling off cattle due to lack of feed. The pasture and hay growth was stunted last year due to the drought and that has carried over into a scarcity of bales for the winter. Then this past winter was particularly cold and what bales farmers did store were used up feeding the cattle to keep them going in the freezing temperatures. Now this spring the highways and byways are being kept busy with more trucks hauling livestock to market, another sign of this inability of some producers to feed their cattle. As of January, phase two of the 2021 CanadaAlberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery Initiative kicked in for livestock producers and beekeepers to apply for. The initiative was a response to severe drought conditions last year to help livestock producers cover their extra costs feeding livestock during last year’s drought. This second phase allows farmers to apply for additional compensation to help farmers with reduced grazing capacity causing a severe economic hit. A joint program between the federal and provincial governments, Agriculture Minister for Alberta Nate Horner said the hope was that producers would be able to keep their herds instead of having to sell them off. So far, $340 million has
been given out in the two phases of the program. Meanwhile, Agriculture Critic for the Alberta NDP asked the govern-
ment during the sitting of the Legislature on March 21: “Why is the UCP so committed to making life harder for farmers by
jacking up insurance premiums?” Horner stated that AFSC premiums were
going up 10 per cent to bring up the funding levels after high payouts to producers due to the
drought conditions last year that decimated crops, and pasture for feeding cattle.
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Saluting our farmers!
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Farmers, thank you for all that you do! ~ Irma Mayor, council, staff and residents
Page 8 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Local firefighters complete CASA BeGrainSafe training Leslie Cholowsky Flagstaff region’s firefighters completed their Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) BeGrainSafe certification with a practical demonstration on Saturday, March 26, in the Killam Fire Hall. CASA was formed in 1993 by producer groups, non-profits, government bodies, industry, and researchers, to respond to issues of health and safety in agriculture. The BeGrainSafe training component was created in response to increased grain entrapment fatalities in Canada, in 2017. Besides an online written course for grain rescue, developed for firefighters and the general public by CASA, a key component in completing firefighter grain rescue training is the BeGrainSafe trailer. The trailer has a built-in silo with the capacity to hold 7,000 lbs of grain. During the practical training part of the two-part firefighter course, firefighters experience the sensation of having the grain turn from a hard, sta-
ble surface underfoot to entrapping them. As the bin’s auger is engaged, firefighters sink into the grain like quicksand, but in a controlled exercise. During Saturday’s training and demonstration, firefighters were buried chest-high in the grain before being rescued. After the firefighter is trapped, rescuers drop rigid plastic mats onto the grain surface to stand on to spread their weight evenly over the top of the grain. Then a pointer is lowered to determine the location and clearance around of the trapped person’s body. The buried firefighters said that they could feel every movement on the grain whether it was someone standing or even the rod moving near their bodies. The trapped firefighter was then encased in a rescue tube, lowered panel by panel then locked together to create a stable enclosed area. Then a ‘pencil’ auger, operated by a drill, is lowered into the tube to remove the grain surrounding them. As grain is removed from inside, the rescue tube is pushed lower, and more
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grain removed until the firefighter is able to freely move within the tube. Handy bars situated inside the CASA tube allows the firefighter to help rescuers by climbing up the tube’s interior. CASA’s Donna Noble is a 17-year veteran firefighter and fire instructor in Alberta, who has also worked for the past three years as a Master Trainer for Grain Engulfment Rescue. She has worked on demonstrating grain rescues across Canada. As the demonstration progresses, Noble says that not all the training is about the physical rescue steps, but also includes teaching firefighters how to keep a conscious victim calm during the rescue, including getting them to help move the grain in the tube toward the auger during the rescue. The trainees said that being buried chest deep is an uncomfortable experience, to say the least, also noting that the grain is dusty. Noble says that each trainee is given a choice on how deep to be buried depending on their comfort level. The BeGrainSafe trailer also comes with a hoist and mannequin for
use in demonstrations at trade shows that don’t involve actual training. After the physical demonstration, Killam Fire Chief Joe Knievel says that a second training session outside demonstrated some key steps for rescuing a victim who has become completely buried in grain. He points out that engaging a bin’s main auger in an attempt to remove the grain will just bury the victim deeper. Instead, rescuers drill a series of holes high on the bin, to release enough of the contents to uncover the victim. Knievel says it’s not just about drilling one big hole, but instead, a series of holes in a prescribed pattern, designed to allow the bin to retain structural integrity during the rescue. More about CASA, and the BeGrainSafe program and online training, can be found on the CASA website: https://www.casa-acsa.ca/begrainsafe CASA reports, “According to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, there were 36 asphyxiation-related fatalities on farms in Canada between 2006-2015.“
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 9
Soaring input costs could hurt Alberta farmers this year John Mather It’s not looking like a pleasant year for farmers across the area as input costs begin to spike and shortages of fertilizers and herbicides loom on the horizon. “It’s a real tough question as to how tough farming might be this year,” said Mundare area farmer Rudy Warawa, who’s family corporation farms more than 3,200 acres east of the town. “It’s so fluid the costs are something that changes by the hour and by the day.” “From a fertilizer point of view some producers may have applied fertilizer last fall or purchased their fertilizer ahead of time, so some of it may already be on farms,” he added. “They probably locked in their fertilizer prices. From a herbicide point of view there are indications of shortages.” He said that wasn’t because of product shortages but rather problems with the supply chain where there are not enough truckers to deliver the product to the farms. “With this challenge it could become an issue.” He said the price of fuel is regulated by the price of oil globally which is affected by the Russia-Ukraine war. “If the price at the pump goes up then our prices are going to go up also,” he said. “And that too is controlled by the ability to get delivery, so there may be some supply chain issues there as well.” He said he hadn’t heard of any huge issues when it comes to seed because there’s such a large range for farmers. “All the prices of crops are up in price and all the options to farmers are showing some promise in price,” Warawa stated. “If there’s anything left over at the end after all the costs have been paid is another story.”
Warawa added the war in Ukraine could also change some crops planted, but it would be a small amount. Ukraine and the western Russia area are huge suppliers of wheat and oil crops to the world and these are currently cut off. Warawa said there was a small chance farmers in this area may change their planting plans, but no one could really predict the size of any potential crop shortfalls right now. “There are some farmers who will stick with their rotations and those decisions on how much wheat and canola goes in are sometimes made back in December,” he said. “Some farmers have flex acres that they might change over from something else but it won’t amount to much.” He said the prices of wheat and canola had gone up considerably and those farmers that were into a two- or three-year rotation would have already determined what their
acres would be. “When you look at some of the specialty crops like oats or peas,” he said. “There maybe a significant increase in oats because the cost of seed is cheaper and input costs are lower. But if there’s a decrease in price you’ll likely see it in oats first because of the volume produced.” Warawa added the spring thaw was looking good with the snow melting from the ground up which allows the moisture to seep into the ground to provide strong moisture retention. “There is a worry that it might be too slow at this point which could lead to a later start for seeding.” He said there had been a lot of snow this winter but winds had moved it to locations where it couldn’t be used for anything except for filling dugouts or sloughs. Meanwhile the Federal government has decided to set fertilizer
emissions reduction targets at 30 per cent of 2020 levels and that has Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs concerned. In a letter penned to Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau, Stubbs said the minister didn’t understand the impact that decision would have on Lakeland farmers. “A recent report by Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) highlights the consequences that your emissions reduction target and notes the majority of the proposed reduction would not come through more efficient use of fertilizer, but that “the majority of the reduction will have to come from Canadian farmers reducing their fertilizer usage, especially with respect to nitrogen,” Stubbs wrote. “The MNP report only
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details canola, corn, and spring wheat, but forecasts a loss of production of $48.36 billion over eight crop years leading to 2030. This loss is projected to significantly impact the availability of Canadian crops in the domestic agri-food economy, and will have a massive impact on Canada’s contributions to the global food supply.” She used Canola growth as an example. “In the early 2000s, the five-year average bushel yield per acre was 25.3. That increased up to a five-year average of 41 bushels per acre – but is anticipated to be down in 2021 to an average of 29.2 bushels per acre, a 30 per cent drop, due to the drought conditions in the prairies this year. The MNP report forecasts a yield
gap of 23.6 bushels per acre per year by 2030, dropping canola yield below even the current five-year average to fewer than 35 bushels per acre. “Canada is the world’s top canola exporter, exporting $11.9 billion in canola and canola products in the 2020 calendar year – with 28 per cent of total canola production coming from Alberta.” “After back-to-backto-back years of agriculture disasters in Lakeland,” Stubbs added. “The last thing farmers in my riding, and across the country, need is another disaster – this one imposed by government – that will massively reduce their crop yield, drive them further into debt, and limit how much they can grow.”
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Page 10 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Wetland Replacement Program Continued from P23 Continued from Page
Wetland Policy benefited a farm family in the province. For Leroy and Mary Feldberg, their wetland restoration project provided better control of spring flooding on their land, continued use of the land for grazing, increased wildlife habitat and financial compensation. “If Ryan Pocza hadn’t dropped by, my parents
would have never known that this project was a possibility,” said Lisa Ayres, Feldbergs’ daughter. “We have two quarter sections, a south pasture and a north pasture. Both pastures have natural wetland areas, which are connected by a creek. “In the spring, a lot of water comes into the south pasture in that slough area. And when ice breakup happens, we typically see flooding through the creek, over
our driveway, and into the north pasture’s slough area.” What really sparked their interest in the project was having more control of the water flow. Pocza, a conservation program specialist with DUC in Alberta, had been looking for drained wetlands in the Wetaskiwin area that could be restored, as a way to further enhance the waterfowl habitat base that DUC has protected in the area
through conservation easements, purchases, and restoration projects. Under DUC’s Wetland Restoration Lease Program, DUC works with the landowner to develop a plan for the project. If the landowner and DUC decide to proceed with a proposed project, they sign a 10-year agreement. “Under these agreements, DUC takes care of all the work and costs related to restoring the
wetland,” explained Pocza. “We also pay the landowner 100 per cent of the fair market value for the area covered by the restored wetland. Half is paid upfront, and half is paid in 10 payments over the 10 years. “We put a caveat on the title for those 10 years, which allows us to access the wetland to check that everything is functioning properly.” For these projects, the landowner retains own-
ership and management of the restored area. The only restrictions are that the landowner must not remove the control structure on the wetland or till the land within the wetland’s boundary. “This project doesn’t change how we manage the land; we can still pasture cows there,” Ayres added. “The only change is that we now have controlled water flow and a new area for wildlife and waterfowl.”
Tofield Car, RV, & Truck Wash RV Storage available 780-913-5318
Thank you to our local farmers!
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We appreciate all the hard working farmers!
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 11
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Page 12 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 LESLIE CHOLOWSKY & FRESS PHOTOS
Pictured left: Flagstaff-region firefighters going through the BeGrainSafe training on Saturday, March 26, experienced being buried chest-high in grain in a special silo enclosed within the CASA BeGrainSafe trailer. The controlled release of grain in the bin demonstrates how grain turns to quicksand when the auger is engaged. Bottom left: A view inside the rescue tube used by firefighters Saturday in Killam to demonstrate grain bin rescues. Once the victim is enclosed within the tube, grain is augered out using a drill-operated pencil auger, until the victim can be safely extricated or climb out.
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2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 13
Farmer-led research breaking new ground Moush John Tofield Mercury
Last year in fall, just two months before Minister Devin Dreeshen resigned, he put his focus on Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), which has been a huge support to the province’s farmers, and has contributed to the growth of the agricultural industry. “Alberta’s farmers know their industry best and what it needs to grow and thrive in the modern era,” he said. “So when we established RDAR, an arm’s-length, non-profit corporation,
we ensured its research funding priorities were producer-led.” According to Dreeshen, the province has got the ball rolling on millions of dollars worth of research that will directly benefit farmers and livestock producers. Alberta’s government has committed $370 million – over a third of a billion dollars – to funding agriculture research over the next decade. This year, RDAR hit the ground running. Once its new board of directors was elected and CEO hired in March 2021, it’s been busy reviewing, assessing and funding innovative re-
search that will impact farmers and ranchers for years to come. “The 2021 growing season was especially dry, and RDAR stepped up to respond quickly,” he added. “It put out a Fast Call for research proposals to help meet the short-term needs of Alberta producers. This research will support agriculture industry learnings on how to manage drought and extreme heat conditions.” Earlier this month,
RDAR has invested $432,000 in a transdisciplinary research project to study Invasive wild pigs and the potential spread of infectious diseases across Alberta. The expansive research team, led by University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine professor Dr. Matthieu Pruvot, includes researchers from Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED), the Canadian Continuedonon P144 Continued Page
Wild boars. SUBMITTED PHOTO/ALBERTA AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
It takes years of back-breaking work to develop a productive agricultural business. Knowledge gained is passed on from one generation to the next and shared in the agricultural community. The contributions of farm families add immensely to Alberta’s economic growth.
Thank you farmers! Thank you to the farming industry for all you do &
DRIVEN TRANSPORT wishes you a successful season!
20422 Twp Rd 502 Beaver County Ph: 780-800-8031
Tofield Autobody “Collision Repair Specialists” 780-662-3432
Wishing the Farmers all the best in the growing season! √ Premium Diesel Now Available For Bulk Delivery √ Fixed price contracts
We support our local farmers! Located 1 km west of Tofield on HWY 14
Call For Appointments or More Information countrylanepetboarding.com Grooming Boarding Appointments: Services:
780-243-3206
780-243-0206
√ Buy now, pay later - deferred credit √ Lube & Filter Sale – March 21 - April 29 √ Local, trusted service
For all your fuel needs, call Trevor Sharek Tofield: 780-662-3233 Camrose toll free: 1-866-222-2085
Page 14 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Farmer-led research Continuedfrom from P131 Continued Page
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and industry partners from Alberta Pork and Alberta Beef Producers. “It is vital that we mitigate the risks of the expanding population of wild pigs,” said RDAR Chair Dr. David Chalack. “From an animal health perspective, ensuring continued preparedness for pathogen introduction or emergence is essential to protect the livestock industries from biosecurity threats, to maintain disease-free status requirements for live animal and meat product exports, and thereby, to secure economic opportunities for producers.” Alberta Pork selected this project as their top research priority and will
focus on three main objectives: • Use wild pig monitoring data to understand wild pig distributions, population dynamics and spread across Alberta, and the potential of wild pigs to facilitate disease spread between previously isolated epidemiological systems. • Characterize intra and inter-species contact structure between wild pigs and livestock (beef cattle and domestic pigs) through wildlife monitoring and engagement with producers. • Increase surveillance in wild pigs to better understand pathogen transmission among wild pigs and between wild pigs and livestock. RDAR will fund $432,000 of the total project cost of $973,240.
RDAR funds will be drawn from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and AFRED. RDAR’s mandate is to target strategic investments in producer-led, results-driven agriculture research to power the competitiveness, profitability, productivity and sustainability of Agriculture in Alberta. As a notfor-profit corporation, RDAR’s funding comes from the Government of Alberta, the Government of Canada, and Alberta’s Government through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership program. “The breadth of the project and the producer, private, public partnership is impressive; the work integrates regional to international groups of scientists, federal and provincial governments,
and the Pork and Beef Producer industries,” said RDAR CEO Dr. Mark Redmond. “While disease is the key emphasis of this proposal, I believe the information gathered will help address broader natural resource issues because of the influence that invasive wild pigs have on agricultural lands and ecosystems.” The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a fiveyear, $3 billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen and grow Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors, with a commitment of $2 billion for programs cost-shared by the federal and provincial/territorial governments, with the programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
780-663-3653 ryley.ca The Village of Ryley Council & Staff would like to thank the farming communities and their families for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year!
#1 20332 Township Road 512 - Sherwood Park, Alberta T8G 1E8
780-662-2227 / www.hastingslakevet.com
Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30am-5:30pm & Sat 8:30am-1:30pm It is a pleasure to serve our farming families by taking care of your farm pets. Thank you so much for your support and referrals, we greatly appreciate it! We take great pride in ensuring veterinary visits for our patients, even those that rarely leave the farm, are as stress free as possible. Our staff are all Fear Free certified practitioners and we can help you make that trip to vet clinic much easier! We care for cats, dogs, caged pets, farm pets including poultry, goats, sheep, pot bellied pigs and alpacas.
Business: 780-668-7305 E-mail: dynamitecory@icloud.com Thank you to our hard working farming community for their dedication and perseverance.
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 15
BeDevil
Page 16 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 17
Peter Hofer 780-385-8618
Page 18 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Experienced - Innovative - Affordable
Check out our NEWEST Products & Services on our Website at :
www.holdencolony.com Portable Buildings: Storages - Offices - Cabins Delivery & Setup Always Available Peter@ @ 780-385-8798 Peter 780-385-8618
For All Your Metal Roofing & Metal Siding Needs: Commercial - Industrial -
www.holdencolony.com
- Agricultural
Darius @ 780-385-8819 We Now Specialize Liners For: Trucks - Vehicles - Trailers - Buildings
www.holdencolony.com
HOLDEN COLONY:
Tim @ 780-385-1812 We Can Now Manufacture & Install Portable Buildings & Sheds we manufacture All Colors & Custom Lengths Available - Commercial - Agricultural Joseph @ Stahl @ 780-385-2096 Peter 780-385-8618 www.holdencolony.com
50 Years of Growing !! - Year Round !! Greenhouse - Garden Produce & Meats and a whole lot more … Always Fresh.. Always Available Jonathan @ 780-385-8313
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 19
Minister’s Special Licences go for big bucks at auction Leslie Cholowsky Three new Minister’s Special Licences made available for 2022, gave hunters a unique opportunity to hunt pronghorn antelope, moose, and Merriam’s turkeys during hunting season. The licences were sold at the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Banquet in Minnetonka, Minnesota, March 25 and 26, but bidding was
also done online. Bidders could be Alberta residents or non-residents. Non-residents must use the services of a licenced Alberta outfitter and be guided by a designated guide if successful in winning a licence. Together, the three licences sold for $25,300; $3,200 for the turkey, $6,100 for the pronghorn antelope, and $16,000 for the moose. The Alberta Conserva-
tion Association, which is presently celebrating its 25th year, reports that Minister’s Special Licence auctions and raffles have raised almost $9 million for conservation efforts in Alberta since 1995. Projects funded by these types of licence sales include those that benefit sheep, elk, and mule deer, as well as education programs and habitat enhancements.
RR1 Daysland
Page 20 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Farmers Appreciation night to continue John Mather The Lamont County Agricultural Board will proceed with the Farmers Appreciation Banquet and increase ticket prices to $25 per person for this year. Agricultural Services Board administrative assistant Bonnie Chudyk told ASB all pandemic restrictions had been lifted when it comes to rental of the hall. The event could be canceled if Covid returned. The ASB decided to go ahead with the event. More than 300 tickets sold in 2019. No banquet in 2020. “We’ll make some recommendations to the council to approve the budget,” said Agricultural Fieldman Terry Eleniak. “Does the ASB want to continue with this and the yard site beautification?” he then asked. “If there are cuts which may have to be done, these might be areas to cut.”
Reeve David Diduck, asked if the catering cost was $22 and it was confirmed. He then suggested rather than charging $20 per person they increase it to $25. “Based on 350 people we could recoup another $1,500.” he said. “Quite honestly its a good event that sells out quickly. If we keep the costs down, then all County residents aren’t paying for a certain group of people to have an evening out. If we increase the ticket price then it becomes a selfsustaining event.” Eleniak agreed that was a valid point. “Where else can you go and have a good dinner and entertainment for $25?” he asked. Councillor Daniel Warawa wanted assurance that it would be a farmer appreciation event and not just another social function. Diduck said he felt it was definitely an evening for Farmer Appreciation.
“We’re giving them an evening of entertainment and a good meal,” he said. “And it allows us the opportunity to visit with some of our area farmers.” “I really have an issue with ratepayers not in attendance subsidizing the farmers who are in attendance, but otherwise I’m all for the event. “It generally draw 175 couples from within the County.” Deputy Reeve Roy Anaka said the event had evolved from a hamburger and pop when it was held outdoors. “I’d be in favour of seeing cost recovery because it has grown into a much larger event.” Chudyk said the banquet had maxed out fire Continued on P29
N OW H I R I N G TRAILER ASSEMBLERS Full time positions available in our new Cargo Trailer division. This position includes manual labor, handling mostly light weight and materials.
Skills & Experience ~ Ability to work in a fast-paced environment ~ Basic knowledge of hand tools and power tools ~ Be able to handle items weighing up to 50 lbs ~ Able to work effectively in a team setting
Responsibilities ~ Use power tools safely ~ Work on assembly line in a team setting ~ Install decals, silicone and adhesives ~ Install trailer wiring and decking ~ Mount and fasten aluminum sheets and trim
Please send resumes to info@conqur.ca or drop off in person at 4802 57 Ave., Two Hills, AB
SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE : YOUR HARD WORK IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY ! 780.702.9880
Recyc
185053 18553 Township Road 562
www.stmichaellandfill.ca
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 21
Viking Auction Market Ltd. Corner of Hwy 26 & 36 780-336-2209
LES A S E L T T A REGULAR C day at 9am every Tues Cliff Grinde 780-336-6333 Darcy Sheets 780-336-6485 Robert Kunnick 780-336-6301 Mel Pydde 780-933-0048 Ed McCormack 780-787-0083
www.vikingauctionmarket.ca
ONLINE TIMED SPRING CONSIGNMENT AUCTION CAMROSE, ALBERTA
BIDDING STARTS MONDAY, APRIL 25TH AND BIDDING ENDS FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH Visit our website to register for our online timed auction
WWW.LINDSTRANDAUCTIONS.COM Accepting delivery of consignments from Wednesday April 13th to Friday April 22 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
ALREADY LISTED: 2 LARGE LATE MODEL FARM DISPERSALS! CONSIGN TODAY TO BE PART OF THIS BIG AUCTION! Public Viewing from Monday, April 25th to Thursday, April 28th from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm & Friday, April 29th from 8:00-Noon, at our yard. 2 MILES NORTH OF CAMROSE ON HIGHWAY 833. (47321 Sec, Hwy 833) We conduct Alberta’s Largest 1-day Farm Machinery Consignment Auction 4 times a year. Selling farm equipment, cars & trucks, lawn and garden, recreation vehicles and shop equipment. Whether you have 1 piece or a complete line of machinery, we have the facility & the experience to bring you top dollar for your equipment.
For full listings and pictures visit our website at: www.lindstrandauctions.com Covid-19 Regulations will be in effect. Terms & Conditions: E-Transfer, Wire Transfer,Cash, Debit, Visa, Master Cards (3.5% service charge) Company Cheques with Major I.D. G.S.T. Will Apply on Some Items. All Accounts Must Be Paid in Full before Removal. Online Bidding Fees 4% Up to A Maximum of $800 Per Item.
CONSIGN NOW!!
AT LINDSTRAND AUCTIONS SALE SITE, 2 MILES NORTH OF CAMROSE ON HIGHWAY 833. (47321 Sec, Hwy 833)
Ph: 780-672-8478 Jody Cell: 780-679-8101
LINDSTRAND AUCTIONS
LT D .
AB License #312728
W W W. L I N D S T R A N D A U C T I O N S . C O M
Page 22 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Project Dragonfly launched to conserve natural habitats Leslie Cholowsky Dragonflies have been around for 300 million years, predating dinosaurs, according to Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). During their time on Earth, dragonflies have experienced a lot of environmental changes, and have successfully adapted to them. But a new campaign from Ducks Unlimited is shining a spotlight on a worldwide decline, and raising funds for wetland conservation efforts to bolster biodiversity and conserve dragonfly breeding grounds. There are 6,016 species of dragonflies and damselflies, and 16 per cent of them have recently been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. The main reason given for drops in global dragonfly populations was a widespread loss of wetlands; marshes, bogs, and swamps. DUC says this news is sending off alarm bells. “You can think of them as the ‘canaries in the coalmine,’” says Larry Kaumeyer, CEO of DUC. “Dragonflies are extremely sensitive to changes in the environment, which makes their welfare a strong indicator of the overall welfare of our wetlands. “These amazing insects are sending us a clear
message about the fate that could potentially befall hundreds of other species that depend on wetlands during their life cycles.” DUC has launched Project Dragonfly in response to this news. It is a campaign focussed on the need to conserve and
restore wetlands across Canada to support biodiversity. DUC says up to 40 per cent of the world’s wildlife species live and breed in wetlands. “In Canada, this includes more than 500 species of wildlife - 97 of which are identified as being ‘at
risk.’” DUC says it is troublesome that Canada does not maintain a comprehensive wetland inventory and monitoring system to measure wetland loss. “Current estimates suggest that up to 70 per cent of wetlands have
been lost in southern parts of Canada, and up to 95 per cent in densely populated areas. Add the growing impacts of climate change on both
wildlife and habitat and the threats become even greater,” said DUC. But it’s not just dragonflies who are threatened Continued on P25 1 mile east of 872 or 3 miles west of Hardisty on Hwy 13.
Good selection of Ornamental and Shade Trees, Fruit Trees, Shrubs & Perennials
Expecting to be Open by mid-May You have what it takes to run a farm. We have what it takes to get you started. While other kids were riding two-wheelers, you were moving haybales with the John DeerF. You’re a farmer. You’re ready for your own operation. Ask about our no-fee, ultra-low interest Future of Farming mortgages and loans for young farmers.
Call Carol 780-888-3862 cmacrae503@gmail.com
Salute to Agriculture!
with a big
(780) 583-2476
Alliance Branch 780-879-3644 Daysland Branch 780-374-3951 Killam Branch 780-385-3731 Sedgewick Branch 780-384-3912
To those who work in hectares, not hours We thank you!
From Flagstaff County Council and Staff
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 23
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK! WE SALUTE OUR LOCAL FARMERS! BP s Glass
Tofield 780-662-0165 Mundare 780-764-2238
wishes our local farmers a bountiful season!
Thank you to our local farmers!
Kyle Pomfret • Cell: 780-884-5698
We would like to say thank you to our local farmers! 780-662-4014
Management & Staff
Salute our local Farmers!
Wishing our Farmers a successful year!
God Bless 780-662-4325 or 780-662-4116
Ryley: 780-663-2147 Camrose: 780-679-9219 Cell: 780-984-2000 • Vacuum Truck Service • Septic Tank Cleaning Thank you to our local farmers!
BEAVER COUNTY SEED CLEANING CO-OP Phone: 780-688-3917
Thank You!
5103 - 50 Street, Tofield
D&D Septic Services
Thank you farmers for all that you do. It is greatly appreciated!
Tofield Hotel
Phone: 780-662-4441
Holden, AB
Thank You Farmers!
Page 24 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Making an emergency plan for the farm is essential for peace of mind Leslie Cholowsky Whether it is neighbours or employees, it’s important for everyone working on the farm to know where safety equipment like fire extinguishers and first aid kits are stored, as well as what hazards exist on the farm, and where critical shutoffs are located. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has created a template that will allow farmers and ranchers to create a comprehensive list of not only known hazards, but also includes the location and type of safety equipment on the farm, as well as local contact numbers in the case of an emergency. CASA’s Emergency Preparedness Plan template is a 10-page document that’s well worth putting the work into. Page one contains a list of people on site who are trained in emergency response work, including spills, emergency first aid and CPS, fire suppression, back up generator, etc. Not only does it help identify who has the training, but including a list of when the current training expires can be a helpful tool in examining when recertification or brush up courses should be taken. Page one also provides basic instructions in the event an emergency situation arises, including where to go, who to call, and how to get hold of key employees and owners. This can also include instructions on how to report intruders or would-be thieves. Having a first-aid kit, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment is great, unless no one knows where to find them. Page two of the plan provides a spot to list the location of important items. It also has key information about the farm. This includes not just the farm owner’s name and the farm name, but also the legal land description and blue sign number, along with the mailing address and phone numbers of both owners and designated emergency contacts. If a visitor or casual helper needs to call emergency services like an ambulance or fire department, having this information on hand ensures that not a moment is lost in getting the right
help to the right location. It’s also a valuable tool for first responders. In the case of a large emergency, like a building fire or any situation that may require immediate evacuation, page three suggests having a list of family members and workers normally present on the farm site. It could make a difference in ensuring that everyone has a better chance of getting to safety. Including cell numbers means that person can be contacted and accounted for. Page three also includes a graph to sketch out the farmyard layout and important buildings and hazards. As technology like drones with go-pro cameras becomes more prevalent, having an aerial photo of the farm site can be helpful. Page four builds on the sketch or photo to identify specific buildings, and identify notable items within the building. That could be a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, or access to water, but can also designate where dangerous goods are stored, like fuel, propane tanks, poison, medications, and people. Including your household pets is also recommended. Here’s an example of how that might help. Say your neighbour came to help, and brought another person with them, who
might not be as familiar with your farm. We all have a bad habit of referring to buildings by different names “the shed” “the old barn” “the old chicken coop.” While those might seem quite descriptive to someone familiar with the farm and its history, a newcomer might be confused. By having a sketch or photo with buildings shown and named, along with a list of notable items or hazards in each building, anyone, including a first responder, has a better chance of avoiding injury or getting help sooner. If a fire truck pulls up to extinguish a shed fire, knowing that there are propane tanks or acetylene tanks inside is certainly going to make a big difference. One important thing every farm diagram should include, and have marked externally, is the meeting place in case of emergency, or muster point. Another convenient graph, on page five, provides an opportunity to sketch any hazards on the farmland/pasture, like bodies of water, or fences/gates that need to stay open or stay closed. It’s also a great tool for showing fields bisected by roadways, including undeveloped road allowances. When you’re planting in the spring, it’s easy to see and avoid hazards, but once the crop has grown
Iron Creek Vet Hospital is wishing everyone a safe and successful calving season!
up and around it, having a diagram of what to avoid is extremely helpful, especially for anyone unfamiliar with the lay of the land. Page six includes the legal land locations for each field identified along with any notable areas, like dugouts or buildings, along with notable hazards. With today’s larger farms, diagrams can also show the location of old homesites and unused outbuildings, along with grain storage buildings, or fertilizer and chemical storage. Page seven allows for farms with multiple specializations, like a mixed grain/livestock operation, to include details of animals, including herd counts. The last few pages allow farms to outline the basics of their custom disaster management plan for all situations, like flooding, fire, or power outages. If the planning has been done, this basic overview
allows any helping hand to understand what the known next-steps are, including arranging for trucks to transport livestock, or even grain threatened by flooding, and the location of a designated relocation site. The final stage is listing all safety and emergency equipment on site, and where it can be found. If you’ve invested in fire extinguishers, human and livestock first aid kits, respirators, dust masks, safety goggles, chemical spill kits, shovels, brooms, generators, etc., they’re no good if no one knows where they are. The last page of the plan includes emergency contact numbers, and it’s recommended that copies of this list be posted near all landline phones, and in all farm vehicles and machinery. This comprehensive list should include not just directions to the location, but should include information on hospitals, gas
company contacts, family doctor, veterinarians, and more. In short, anyone who you might need to contact should an emergency arise. During the last short weeks until spring work is in full swing, taking a moment to create your own emergency preparedness plan is a valuable undertaking. Once made, updating the plan on a regular basis is key to its usefulness. Finally, making a plan is one step - the first step to being fully prepared. The next step is to share the plan with everyone who lives on or works on the farmsite. Make multiple copies and keep them visible and portable. Creating an Emergency Preparedness plan is just one component of CASA’s farm safety plan, but it’s an important one that could not only mitigate losses, it could save a life. Find a sample plan at: https://bit.ly/3DiWoBo.
It’s Calving Time! Come in and check out our Calving Supplies! We carry an assortment of: • AllFlex & Duflex Ear Tags • RFID Tags
(780) 384-0003 • 24 Hour Emergency Service • #8 Spruce Drive P.O. Box 174
Sedgewick, AB. T0B 4C0 www.ironcreekvet.ca
Mineral & Supplements
Thank you, Farmers It can ttake k years off effort ff t and d planning l i tto b build ild a productive farm. Many exist today only because they have been passed from one caring generation to the next. It is our pleasure to pay tribute to the stability of our farming community and to those who have worked so hard to make it successful.
DAYSLAND PHARMACY Daysland, AB (780) 374-3900
Call Brent for your custom rations Calf Starter with Deccox Liquid Supplement.
Killam Feed & Farm Supply
Brent Gaume 5106 - 57 St., Killam
Ph. 780-385-3846
All Your Livestock Needs!
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 25
Project Dragonfly Continued from Page 22
by a loss of wetlands, says DUC. “These threats have serious implications for another important
species: humans. “We can’t overlook the important fact that people are also highly dependent on wetlands for drinking water, food production, recreation, and the health of local economies,” says Kaumeyer. “So, if a species like
the dragonfly, which has been around for hundreds of millions of years, is struggling to find ways to survive with fewer and fewer wetlands on the landscape, what does that mean for us?” DUC has come up with three ways to help, through Project Dragonfly. This includes a financial donation to DUC, keeping informed about conservation efforts and opportunities, and the opportunity to become a citizen scientist.
Starting this May, individuals will have an opportunity to log dragonfly sightings on iNaturalist as part of Project Dragonfly. “iNaturalist is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe.” iNaturalist is available as a download on any smartphone, through the AppStore or GooglePlay.
LEFSRUD SEEDS HAS CERTIFIED SEED FOR SALE
Overbo Contracting Ltd. Kelly, Fay and staff
780-336-2282
Thanks to our farmers!
CANOLA: UA CountyGold (O.P. conventional & Argentine Variety) UA AlfaGold (O.P. conventional & Argentine Variety) FLAX: CDC Plava BARLEY: AAC Connect PEAS yellows: CDC Saffron 90’ Truck Scale, Custom Cleaning & Treating
Guenter’s Mechanical 13024 Hwy 14 Viking, AB T0B 4N0
Lefsrud Seed & Processors Ltd. Kevin & Ed Lefsrud
780-336-1330
Kevin: 780-336-5700 or 780-336-2500 Ed: 780-336-6700 or 780-336-2588
RR #1, Viking, AB
Email: lefsrud@telusplanet.net
Thank you to all the farmers
Located: Hwy #36, 12 mi. N of Viking or 11 mi. S of Hwy #16, 3/4 mi. W Member of Canterra & SeCan and Farm Pure Seeds
Viking Veterinary Clinic Call 24/7 780-336-4048 Follow us on Facebook. www.vikingvetclinic.com
Spring to do list: Cattle: Vaccinate cattle herd pre-breeding Semen test bulls & treat with Footrot Vaccine Vaccinate calves at branding or earlier
We salute farmers of today and tomorrow because they keep us fed. Without farmers and farming industries we would not be provided with the great variety of food we enjoy today.
THANK YOU! Staff, Management, & Board of the Irma Co-operative Association 780-754-3654
IRMA INSURANCE SERVICES FARM - AUTO - HOME - COMMERCIAL
Ph: 780-754-2121 Fax: 780-754-2239 Email: irmainsurance@baughan.ca
Thanks to all our Farmers!
CERTIFIED SEED FOR SALE Wheat: CWRS - AAC Brandon - Improved FHB resistance - Most widely grown CWRS variety in Western Canada for 5 years CWRS - AAC Wheatland VB -Wheat Midge tolerant - Very good lodging resistance CWSWS - AC Andrew - Great silage option -In demand by milling and ethanol industries Yellow Peas: CDC Canary - Improved standability -Early maturity -Higher Yielding Faba Beans: CDC 219-16 - Zero Tannin - Seed is smaller than Snowbird, larger than CDC Snowdrop 6-Row Feed Barley: AB Advantage - Improved plump and bushel weight - Smooth awned -High grain and forage yield 2-Row Malt Barley: CDC Copeland - Strong demand by malting companies.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Canola Dealer! CALL TODAY FOR PRICES!
Horses: Deworm (fecal exams done in clinic) Vaccinate before going to shows, rodeos, and gymkhanas Dental checkups
Cats/Dogs: Deworm Make sure vaccinations are up to date Flea & tick prevention
Shop Local!
Phone: 780-336-2583 Cell: 780-385-4900 Box 296, Viking, AB T0B 4N0 Dealer for Brett Young Forage Seed
ARD
SKET
SKET
ARD
Page 26 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Purple Scissor
MAXIM KILLAM AUTOMOTIVE LTD.
d
780-582-3539 5009 - 49 Ave. Forestburg
780-385-3791
Make Daysland Your Home!
Killam, Alberta
Killam, Alberta
PLUMBING & HEATING
Vaughn Prichard
780-385-3644 780-385-3562
Along Hwy 13, 4951 51 Ave.
VILLAGE OF FORESTBURG
SEDGEWICK
GROW WITH US SINCE 1906
Murray Prichard 708-384-3504 www.Daysland.com
www.sedgewick.ca
Village of Alliance
Mayor, Councillors, and Staff
780-582-2220 780-582-3668
Village of 780-385-3771 780-385-3976 780-385-3 Heisler Village of Lougheed Commercial, Residential, Renovations Drywall Taping & Texturing “No Job Is Too Small”
www.villageoflougheed.com
780-385-3977 780-879-3911 78780-385-2106 0-889-3774 780-386-3970
Budding Ideas
FORESTBURG VET CLINIC We salute our Agricultural Producers!
“For all your floral needs.”
Mark Hay Big Knife Providence Place FlooringAging in Place 780-582-3560
Owner/Operator
Daysland, AB Main Street Thanks to all those whose work brings food to our table Killam, AB We salute you, farmers! Shop & Portable, Machining, B Pressure & CWB,
Dr. Jeff Serfas
Main Street, Killam 780-384-4100
780flagstaff.ab.ca -385-3014 Community 7Flagstaff 80-582Family -397&0 78 780-374-252ext.71001 mark.hay@hbrw.ca 780-385-5827 Services 587-745-0395
Stainless & Aluminum, Custom Fabrication & Maintenance
T h a n k you yo u FFarmers a r m e r s fofor r G RGROWING OW I N G o u r lour o c a780-385-3598 lCommunities! communities! Thank 780-374-3939 780-385-3771 780-385-3976 780-385-2 780-385-3 $75 GIFT CERTIFICATE
WILD ROSE
CUPCAKES
Flagstaff Family & Community Services
CHRIS’S WATER WELL SERVICING LTD. CHRIS CULSHAW
KILLAM
Killam
“We appreciate our farmers!”
FAX: 385-3166
Feeder TowForster n of H ardisty Manufacturing Ltd. & Forster Hydrovac Service
D
iscover HARDISTY
MORE THAN Killam YOU CAN IMAGINE Box 724,
LIQUOR KILLAM 780--G385-3771 78 80-$25 385 -3976 780-888-2349 780-385-3165 780-83885-3262283 780-385-3 780-582-3560 GIFT CERTIFICATE IFT CARD 7780-385-3050
Killam K
Dine-In Restaurant Killam, AB
General Insurance Alberta Agent Insurance Registries & Registries Agent Box 369, Forestburg
780-385-3050
780-582-3560
Check out our staurant www.briltd.com delicious menu! Killam 780-374-3939
Forestburg, AB
$40 GIFT CARD
Liquor Daysland, Alberta
$25 GIFT CERTIFICATE An Independent Business Serving Independent Agri-Business STORE HOURS:
9-6 Mon - Fri, Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 6 pm 9-4 Sat. 9Saturday am - 4 pm Closed Sunday Sun. Noon - 4 pm
780-385-3598 780-385-3949 780-385-2
Shelcraft Dagwood’s Woodwork Auto & Diesel (1997) Ltd. Repair
Town of Hardisty
Killam, Alberta Hardisty, Alberta
Killam, Alberta 780-385-3652 780-888-3623
780-374-3939 780-385-3598 780-83885-23494 GIFT BASKET
Killam, Alberta
Town of Hardisty GIFT CERTIFICATE
780-888-2349 780-888-3623 780-385-3642 780-374-2107
780-385-3
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 27
Calving Season
Rusty Wheel Shop Licenced repair & inspection facility
Peter Biladian
(780) 499-2843
Email: rustywheelshop@gmail.com 11 51127 Rge Rd 200, Beaver County (Behind Stargazer Campground)
www.rustywheel.ca
Agricultural, Automotive & Industrial Great sale on till June 30th The right time for calving varies from one farm to the next. While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way. A lot of farmers opt to calve in late winter/early spring which is now. MOUSH JOHN PHOTO
Save from 10%-50% on advertised specials in store Thank you to our local farming community!
Tofield • 780-662-3212
Our community is enhanced by the many family operated farms in the district. They have demonstrated their ability to cope with both prosperity and adversity to achieve economic stability. We salute all those families now and all year round. Mayor Dueck and Council
Page 28 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
Waterfowls Seen here is a Canada Goose resting in the cold waters early morning. In the initial stages, ducks and geese are similar in appearance, and many people mistake one for the other. While there are a few key similarities, there are also distinct differences between them. Ducks and geese are both waterfowl and both a part of the family Anatidae. MOUSH JOHN PHOTOS
A Mallard duck; this is a breeding male distinguished by its glossy green head, white ring on neck, brown chest, and yellow bill. They live in almost any wetland habitat, natural or artificial. They can be spotted on lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastal habitats, as well as city and suburban parks and residential backyards.
Ryley AB. 780-663-3583 We would like to thank our farmers for their business, support and all the hard work they do!
Thank you from, Richard, Christine, Tyrell, Kaj, Dave, John, Kelly & Kyle
Wishing all the farmers the best!
Ryley Sausage
Thank you farmers for all your hard work!
John Daoust Shingle Co. 780-662-4901
Wishing the farmers a successful growing season!
Phone 780-663-3990 Wishing the farmers a great growing season!
Greg Litwin, REALTOR®
780-918-9300
OK Tire Tofield 5031-53 Ave, Tofield 780-662-3003
Economy Concrete
Thank You for your Patronage & Have a Happy New Year
Thank you to the hard Jerry Coombes working RR #2 Kingman, AB farmers! T0B 2M0
Licensed Heavy Duty Mechanic Mobile & Shop Services
780-662-2600 662-2600
The Tofield Ag Society would like to wish the farmers the best in their upcoming growing season!
Thank you to our local farmers for everything you do and for gracing our tables with food year round!
BLR Services Inc.
Agriculture – Construction – Tractor/Trailer
I am available to help you keep all of your machinery running smoothly.
Call Bryan @ 780-686-6344
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 29
Appreciation Night Continued from Page 20
capacity at St. Micheal Hall in 2019 and that why it was being moved to Lamont. “This year, if it goes will be somewhat of a guessing game for attendance.” But all councillors agreed the event was generally sold out. In 2019 they charged $10 and the cost worked out to $20, so the ASB subsidized the event 50 per cent. This year by raising the price to $25, the board is hoping to recover all costs. Yard site beautification was discussed also at the Mar. 9 agricultural services board meeting. There was concern with some divisions in the County getting representation for the event. Chief Administration Officer Peter Tarnawsky reported when council had discussed the event earlier in the year during service level discussions, this was an area when they thought it might be possible to decrease the number of yard sites taking part. “If I recall the conversation correctly,” he said. “It was discussed rather than having a yard site from each division we choose possibly the three best. There was the indication it was becoming challenging finding multiple beautified yards in each division.” Councillor Roy Anaka said he found it to always be a struggle finding yards to participate in his division. “It’s been a struggle,” he said. “Do we want to do this annually or maybe instead every couple of years.” Councillor Daniel Warawa said he hadn’t had any problems in his division, but “when you start just picking three out of the entire County that can create a problem too.” Reeve Diduck was told the budget for the yard beautification was $8,000. That included a bus tour, plaques, luncheons, and staff time in the event. He was told with in-
creased fuel costs that budget amount could go up. “You know there was a day and time for this to occur and I think it was appreciated, but if we struggle now to find yards should we continue? Eight thousand dollars is a fair chunk of coin.” Chudyk said some people had an issue with people coming to their properties as well. Eleniak said Sturgeon County incorporated their yard beautification in with their fall harvest event. Warawa said it could be incorporated into the farmer’s appreciation event. “That’s a great option,” agreed Chudyk. Eleniak said he needed to know if they wanted to keep it in the budget or not. “That’s what we want to know right now,” he said. “We know some cuts have to be made in the budget. This might be one we need to revisit.” “This is a program we could easily cut,” said Diduck. “Because it’s a very low key program. Cutting it wouldn’t be that upsetting. But then adding it to the farmers appreciation wouldn’t be a bad idea either.” Warawa suggested postponing the event for another year, to wait to see what happens with Covid and then maybe plan to tie it in with Farmers Appreciation. A motion was made to that effect and it was carried by the board.
AGRICULTURE WORKERS WE ARE PROUD OF YOU
&
YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY
Mayor, Council & Staff
Thank You, all Ag Industry Workers
Mayor, Council & Staff
T HANK
YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK & D EDICATION
M AYOR ,
COUNCIL
&
STAFF 5046 50th Ave
780-632-7474
Thank You! For your dedicated, hard work in the Agriculture Industry!
Agriculture Industry Workers
780-992-1449 11213-88 Ave Fort. Saskatchewan
~
THANK YOU
~
for all of your hard work!
Agriculture Workers Your year round dedication to the care of animals and crops is admirable: thank you!
5030 50 Ave, Lamont (780) 895-2411
Fill g A Ba
$15
780-895-2800 5118 50 Av, Lamont, AB
March 28 ~ April 1
5012 - 47th Ave Lamont
780.895.7620 Agriculture Industry Workers,
Thank You for all you do!
Page 30 - 2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022
2022 Agriculture Section (The Community Press, Weekly Review, Tofield Mercury, Lamont Leader) - March 30, 2022 - Page 31
Ag for Life teaching youth about all facets of agriculture Leslie Cholowsky Ag for Life is celebrating its 11th year of delivering educational programming designed to improve rural and farm safety while also building public understanding around the agricultural industry. Ag for Life also develops and offers a wide variety of educational programming for all ages. The organization says, “We believe everyone should understand and
appreciate where their food comes from and that those farm families working hard to produce our food stay safe and injury free.” March is Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) and this year, teachers and students had an opportunity to go on an 11-day virtual farm tour. Ag for Life also runs a Virtual Farm School program showcasing Alberta farmers and ranchers. Targetting KGrade 3 teachers and
their classes, students sign up for a monthly farm or ranch tour, held virtually. This program not only provides students with an opportunity to learn about agriculture, it also offers a look at the diversity in Alberta farming and ranching. Ag for Life also offers activities and crafts for children, including the charming bee pencil holder pictured here. V i s i t agricultureforlife.ca for more info.
Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society (FRESS) firefighters had an opportunity on Saturday, March 26, to participate in training with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Associationʼs (CASA) BeGrainSafe trailer at the Killam Fire Hall.
We’d like to thank all of our customers! double bumps seed
Sales, Service, and Parts in 4 locations to serve you!
Camrose, Killam, Provost, Wainwright.
1 877-913-3373 Find us on social media
IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO SERVE ALL AREA FARM FAMILIES.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND WISH YOU A SUCCESSFUL GROWING SEASON!
Viking, AB 780-336-4944
Page 32 - 2022 Agriculture Section
Lougheed Co-op Seed Cleaning Plant P.O. Box 123, Lougheed, AB T0B 2V0 Manager: Jeremy Simpson Phone: 780-386-3771 Email: lscp@xplornet.com Website: lougheedprocessing.ca
Tired calves enjoy the warm spread of the spring sun, while a horse takes a munch in a stubble field waiting for the first signs of new life.
RETAILERS FOR:
PATRICIA HARCOURT PHOTOS
PEDIGREED SEED FOR SALE
403-443-2577 Wheat: 780-777-5885 780-385-5330
- AAC Brandon - AAC Redberry - AAC Viewfield - AAC Wheatland - AAC Starbuck - AAC Goodwin
Barley: - AB Cattlelac - AB Tofield - CDC Copper Peas: - CDC Forest - CDC Greenwater
Seed Treating Available
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Merlin Bady, Pres., PHONE: 780-582-3581 Box 667, Forestburg, AB 780-582-2478 Toll Free:FAX: 1-877-582-3637 4107 - 53 STREET 780-582-3637 Fax: 780-582-3732 FORESTBURG, AB.
• Propane Bottle Refills up to 100 lbs • Custom Made Battery Cables for All Equipment • Custom Made Air Hoses