Alberta ASB Conference 2026: Key Resolutions and Insights

More than 500 delegates representing 66 of Alberta’s 68 rural municipalities gathered in Edmonton from January 20–22, 2026 for the 80th Provincial Agricultural Service Board (ASB) Conference, hosted by the Northeast Region of the Association of Alberta Agricultural Fieldmen. With the theme “Cultivating Resilience,” the conference focused on how Alberta’s agricultural communities can adapt, collaborate, and thrive in an increasingly complex and changing landscape . 

A cornerstone of the annual conference is the resolution process, where locally driven issues are brought forward, debated, and prioritized by municipalities to guide advice and action at the provincial and federal levels. The 2026 resolution sessions reflected both immediate operational pressures and long-term system challenges facing Alberta agriculture. 

Resolutions Passed in 2026 

Delegates passed a series of resolutions addressing urgent and emerging concerns, including: 

• Emergency registration of 2% liquid strychnine to support effective control of Richardson’s ground squirrels, recognizing ongoing pest pressures and limited control tools. 
• Exemption of agricultural equipment from 1999 emissions limits, acknowledging the cost of DEF maintenance for farm equipment. 
• Investment in rural water distribution and connectivity, reinforcing the importance of reliable water systems and infrastructure for farms.
• Modernization of Alberta’s Rat Control Program, ensuring provincial pest management programs remain effective, coordinated, and responsive. 
• A review of on-farm meat processing, aimed at improving local processing capacity, regulatory clarity, and food system resilience. 
• Urgent reforms to CFIA and PMRA processes, reflecting widespread concern with regulatory delays, transparency, and impacts on producers. 
• Filling a vacant biological control scientist position, recognizing the importance of science-based pest management and applied research. 
• Pausing the implementation of additional livestock traceability regulations, allowing time to assess impacts on producers and supply chains. 

One proposed resolution related to establishing a legal entity aligned with ASBs was debated but defeated, underscoring delegates’ careful consideration of governance, accountability, and mandate clarity. 

Moving Beyond Resolutions 

Throughout the conference, sessions reinforced that resolutions are not standalone actions but part of a broader system of collaboration between municipalities, producers, government, and partners. Presentations on climate resilience, invasive species, AI in agriculture, veterinary workforce challenges, and land-use pressures all informed the discussions that shaped this year’s outcomes. 

As ASBs enter their ninth decade, the 2026 resolutions reflect a shared commitment to practical solutions, strong local voices, and resilient agricultural communities—rooted in Alberta’s municipalities and focused firmly on the future.