The following resolutions were debated at the January 21-22, 2025 Provincial ASB Conference.
RESOLUTION 1-25: DROUGHT AND LIVESTOCK AGRI-STABILITY
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST AAFC re-evaluate the current weather mapping program and the Drought Monitoring System to include and more heavily weigh data from weather stations and available soil moisture mapping within agricultural lands, better acknowledging municipalities straddling the transition from agricultural white zone into forested Crown green zone, coupled with making efforts to capture in these maps the extreme weather events that are now a reality.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST AAFC report back to the Agricultural Service Board Provincial Committee that the recommended improvements to AgriStability as identified and released October 22, 2022, by the Office of Audit and Evaluation of AAFC were put in place, by April of 2024:
- Identify ways to simplify AgriStability to reduce producer administrative burden;
- Find ways to make interim and final payments more predictable and to improve the timeliness of final payments; and
- Develop and implement a means to increase access to AgriStability by underrepresented populations.
PASSED
RESPONSE AAFC – March 11, 2025
FURTHER RESPONSE AAFC – June 10, 2025
RESOLUTION 2-25: LANDOWNERS’ RIGHTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
DEFEATED
RESOLUTION 3-25: PROTECTION OF CLASS 3 SOILS IN ALBERTA FROM RENEWABLE DEVELOPMENT
withdrawn
RESOLUTION 4-24(5): WEED CONTROL IN DRAINAGE CANALS (REGISTERED DRAINAGE DITCHES)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BOARDS REQUEST the Government of Alberta – Environment and Protected Areas remove “drainage canal” from the definition of “open body of water” under the Pesticide Sales, Handling, Use and Application Regulation.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST to allow municipalities that have control over maintenance of drainage canals to treat invasive species listed in the Weed Control Act or those species elevated in the respective municipality, as they would control the same species in roadside ditches or under Notice to Remedy Weed Problem.
PASSED
RESPONSE – Environment and Protected areas – April 1, 2025
RESOLUTION 5-25: CENTRAL CONTACT FOR THE WEED CONTROL AND AGRICULTURAL PEST ACTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BOARDS REQUEST That the Ministers of Energy, Environment and Ag work collaboratively to establish a central point of contact for identifying landholder to send communication to industry and government agencies for matters related to agriculture legislation. This would involve municipalities sending notices and other communications regarding the Acts to a central government contact, who would then distribute the information to the respective landholders
PASSED
RESPONSE Agriculture and Irrigation – March 25, 2025
RESPONSE – Environment and Protected areas – April 1, 2025
FURTHER RESPONSE – Agriculture and Irrigation – May 15, 2025
RESPONSE – Triage resource for determining land ownership AGI May 5
RESPONSE -Triage resource for determining land ownership AGI May 23 **UPDATED
RESPONSE – Transportation and Economic Corridors June 6 **FURTHER RESPONSE
RESOLUTION 6-25: RURAL VETERINARY STUDENT SUPPORT
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICES BOARDS REQUEST that the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, and Trade and Ministry of Advanced Education create a complimentary program to the Northern Alberta Development Program Veterinary Student Bursary, to make bursary funds accessible to veterinary students working in mixed and large animal veterinary clinics throughout rural Alberta.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade institute a veterinarian student temporary employment program for rural mixed and large animal veterinary clinics to support the attraction and retention of veterinary students throughout rural Alberta.
PASSED
RESPONSE Agriculture and Irrigation – March 25, 2025
RESPONSE Advanced Education – April 17, 2025
RESOLUTION 7-25: ROADKILL CARCASS DISPOSAL
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and Alberta Forestry and Parks to develop formal guidance on the disposal of wildlife carcasses hit by vehicles to minimize disease transmission vectors that may pose a serious economic threat to the livestock industry, such as foot-and-mouth disease.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that Alberta Transportation amend the Standard Specification for Highway Maintenance to require contractors to maintain controlled access to carcass disposal sites, the composting of roadkill carcasses.
PASSED
RESPONSE Transportation and Ec. Corridors March 31, 2025
RESPONSE Agriculture and Irrigation – March 25, 2025
RESPONSE Environment and Protected areas – April 1, 2025
FURTHER RESPONSE TEC May 13, 2025
REPONSE Forestry and Parks – May 15, 2025
RESOLUTION 8-25: COYOTES ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION
defeated
RESOLUTION 9-25: NON-MATCHING FUNDING FOR AGKNOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation waive the matching funding requirement through Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support AgKnow, Alberta Farm Mental Health Network to ensure that the Farm-Informed Therapy Program for agricultural producers continues to grow and is free of charge in Alberta.
PASSED
RESPONSE Agriculture and Irrigation – March 25, 2025
RESOLUTION 10-25: FARM FAMILY AWARDS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and/or the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies work to ensure an annual Farm Family Awards Program is available for all communities in Alberta with an established Agricultural Service Board.
defeated
RESOLUTION 11-25: AGRICULTURE EDUCATION FUNDING
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Ministry of Education work collaboratively with the Agricultural Services Boards, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to establish a dedicated funding stream aimed for agriculture education.
PASSED
RESPONSE Agriculture and Irrigation – March 25, 2025
RESPONSE Education – April 11, 2025
RESPONSE Rural Municipalities of Alberta – April 14, 2025
RESOLUTION 12-25: CHARITABLE GAMING POLICIES HANDBOOK
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission to amend the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook so rural non profit organizations are allowed to build reserves and generate revenues once again without affecting the ability to use the gaming proceeds.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission suspend any audits until stakeholder engagements are completed and the amendments to the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook are adopted.
PASSED
RESPONSE Government press release March 10, 2025
RESOLUTION 13-25: RESOLUTION LOBBYING INCLUSION
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST when specific resolutions secure lobbying opportunities for the Agricultural Service Board Provincial Committee, they in turn invite or consult with the sponsoring municipality to verify the resolution is communicated accurately and effectively.
Defeated
RESOLUTION PC01-25: INFLATIONARY INCREASE FOR ASB GRANTS
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT ALBERTA’S AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARDS REQUEST that the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation approve a 3%/year inflationary increase for the ASBs grant program.
