ASB Blog

🌿No Spray Agreement - 2026 Season🌿

Landowners who prefer not to have the ditches adjacent to their property sprayed may sign an annual “No Spray Agreement”, by April 30th, 2026.
By doing so, you agree to take full responsibility for controlling Prohibited Noxious and Noxious weeds in the ditch along your property and to ensure that “No Spray” signs are properly posted and clearly visible throughout the entire County spraying season.
If weeds are not adequately controlled, the County reserves the right to manage them by any method deemed appropriate.

Please note: spraying does not occur directly in front of residential yards.

On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) — RDAR

🌱On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF)🚜
📅Applications Opened April 10, 2026

🌾Nitrogen Management
🌿Cover Cropping
🐄Rotational Grazing
📊Supporting soil health & sustainability

For more information, visit www.rdar.ca/funding-opportunities/ofcaf

AFSC Deadline🚨⏰

AgriStability enrolment (2026 program year):

You must register, pay your fee, and submit your enrolment form for AgriStability by April 30, 2026. 

2% Strychnine Update

Training Requirements

Access to Strychnine will require both the Agricultural Fieldman and landowners to complete a mandatory one-hour online training course prior to distribution and use.

• The farmer training will be online through a Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) starting May 4, 2026. www.sarm.ca
• Certification will take approximately two days to process and must be presented at the time of purchase. *Product will not be available for pickup on the same day training is completed.

Supply and Availability

• An initial shipment of product is expected to arrive late May to early June. Two more shipments are expected over the summer.
• One kg of grain treated with a 250 mL bottle treats approx. one acre.
• Available till November 1, 2027.

Purchase Requirements

To obtain product, producers will be required to:

• Provide proof of training completion
• Legal land location
• Sign a declaration form that confirms label compliance and Integrated Pest Management & Monitoring Plans.
• Applicants are limited to a maximum purchase of two cases, at one time. **However, initial supply will be limited, and exact quantities are not yet determined.**

Producer Application Requirements

• Renters may apply strychnine if they have a valid written agreement & have completed the required training.
• Producers must identify one municipality (typically your home quarter) from which they will purchase. You may apply product on eligible land in other approved areas.
• Post signs on LLD where strychnine will be used.
• Random or target audits may be conducted by the Government of Alberta officials or directed representatives.

AFSC Deadlines

AgriStability enrolment (2026 program year):

You must register, pay your fee, and submit your enrolment form for AgriStability by April 30, 2026. *March is a good time to prepare your application and tax information.

2025 AgriStability Interim Payment: due by March 31, 2026.

Farmers Pesticide Certification Course

• The Farmer Pesticide Certification course is designed to support producers in minimizing the risks associated with pesticide use. While it is recommended through the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan, it is also required for producers who intend to purchase and apply restricted pesticides that mandate certification.
• In the past, some producers were able to obtain Compound 1080 for coyote control without formal training or certification. However, regulations regarding Sodium Monofluoroacetate (Compound 1080) are changing. As of March 7, 2026, producers will be required to hold a valid Farmer Pesticide Certificate to purchase and use this product.
• Producers will also be required to do additional Compound 1080 training through Lakeland College for a fee.

 📜Interested in obtaining your Farmer Pesticide Certificate? The ASB Department is now able to offer the Farmer Pesticide Course in-house, with a certified instructor on staff. The certificate is valid for three years.

On-Farm Climate Action Fund — RDAR

Apllications for the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) open April 10, 2026. For more information, please visit: https://rdar.ca/funding-opportunities

Events & Workshops

🌾🚜 Fun Fact: 🌾🚜

Agricultural Service Boards in Alberta are legally required in every rural municipality under the Agricultural Service Board Act. They have been around since the 1940s, originally created to help farmers fight soil erosion after the Dust Bowl era.

Today, they still play a big role, but now handle things like weed control, pest management, environmental programs, and education workshops for producers!

What is the Agricultural Service Board?

• An Agricultural Service Board (ASB) is a local government committee that deals with agricultural and rural issues within a municipality. In Alberta, ASBs are created under provincial legislation- most commonly the Agricultural Service Board Act.
• Agricultural Fieldmen are employed to administer and support these programs.
• ASBs main role is to support farmers, landowners, and rural communities by managing programs related to:
• 🌾 Weed control
  Enforcing the Weed Control Act, managing noxious/prohibited weeds, and overseeing things like spray programs and “Do Not Spray Zone” agreements.
• 🐺 Pest control
  Managing agricultural pests (such as rodents or problem wildlife) and sometimes overseeing bounty or control programs.
• 🌱 Soil and land conservation
  Promoting sustainable farming practices, erosion control, and environmental stewardship.
• 🚜 Agricultural programs & education
  Providing workshops, resources, and information to producers.
• 🌾 Roadside vegetation management
  Overseeing herbicide application along municipal roadsides.
• An ASB is usually made up of members of municipal council and local agricultural representatives. They act as a link between provincial agriculture policies and local producers.

Follow the ASB website for more information: www.agriculturalserviceboards.com

ASB Provincial Conference January 20-22, 2026

Around 450 delegates representing 66 of Alberta’s 68 rural municipalities gathered in Edmonton for the 80^th Provincial ASB Conference, hosted by the Northeast Region with the theme “Cultivating Resilience”. This conference focused on how Alberta’s agricultural communities can adapt to change, thrive in the face of adversity, and overcome challenges in an ever-changing landscape.

8 resolutions passed during the Provincial ASB Conference resolution session:

• Emergency registration of 2% liquid strychnine- Sponsored by Foothills County
• Exemption of agriculture equipment from Canadian Environmental Protect Act, 1999 emission limits- Sponsored by Foothills County
• Rural water distribution and connectivity funding- Sponsored by County of Stettler
• Modernizing Alberta’s Rat Control Program- Sponsored by the Agricultural Service Board Provincial Committee (ASBPC)
• On-farm meat processing- Sponsored by ASBPC
• Urgent reforms to CFIA and PMRA- Sponsored by ASBPC
• Vacant biological control scientist position- Sponsored by MD of Ranchland
• Livestock traceability regulations- Sponsored by County of Stettler

Can be viewed here: https://agriculturalserviceboards.com/2026-resolutions/

Northern Alberta Farm Family Award

The Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS) is proud to announce the return of the Northern Alberta Farm Family Awards, a program dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the outstanding farm families who form the backbone of Northern Alberta’s agricultural communities. This initiative honours families who demonstrate excellence in agricultural production, community leadership, and innovation. Many of these families have stewarded their land and contributed to their communities for generations, with some farms boasting histories of 75 to 100 years or more. Congratulations to Taschuk Farms on receiving the 2025 Northern Alberta Farm Family Award!

 

Producer Workshops