75+ years of promoting sustainable agriculture in Alberta
On February 2, 2026, the PMRA denied the emergency registration of 2% liquid strychnine for controlling Richardson’s ground squirrels in Alberta and Saskatchewan, citing risks to non-target species. This disappointed agricultural leaders, who argue that strychnine is safe and effective, and they urge the government to reconsider the decision to alleviate economic burdens.
Over 500 delegates from Alberta's rural municipalities convened in Edmonton for the 80th ASB Conference, themed "Cultivating Resilience." The event emphasized adapting agriculture to modern challenges, culminating in the passage of resolutions addressing pest control, infrastructure, and regulatory reforms. Sessions highlighted collaboration for sustainable agricultural futures in Alberta.
Resolution 5-24 December 1, 2025 the ASBPC and ASBs with Wild Boar Farms met virtually with ADM John Conrad and staff to discuss the changes to regulations impacting Wild Boar Farms in Alberta. Resolution 5-24 requests that "the Government of Alberta amend the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act to require Minimum Containment Standards for Alberta Wild …
In March 2025, Alberta announced changes to the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook to reduce restrictions on charities, allowing increased retention of proceeds and flexibility in spending. This aims to support rural non-profits, addressing concerns over limitations imposed by the 2022 handbook, which restricted revenue generation and reserve building.
In 2025, the ASBs passed resolution 1-25, advocating for reforms in the Livestock Deferral Program and Agri-Recovery initiatives. This response addressed limitations in drought assessments due to data scarcity, particularly in northern regions. Enhanced data collection and improved assessments aim to better reflect drought impacts on livestock operations across municipal boundaries.
The 2025 ASB Gopher Impact Survey, responding to Federal MP John Barlow, aims to compile evidence on the pest damage caused by Richardson's Ground Squirrels to inform agricultural policy. Farmers are encouraged to submit damage photos, with a target of 200 responses, to prompt timely government action for affected Prairie producers.
Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) has officially launched the Regulatory Dialogue Portal, a new online tool designed to improve communication and responsiveness around regulatory approvals under the Water Act and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA). This initiative responds in part to Resolution 6-23, passed by Alberta’s Agricultural Service Boards (ASBs), which called …
Continue reading "Alberta Launches Regulatory Dialogue Portal for Water Management"
AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network, emerged from agricultural resolutions to support mental health in rural communities. In 2023, it initiated community engagement, offering free therapy sessions. Despite funding challenges in 2024, the community raised over $180,000 for services. AgKnow aims for operational stability and diverse funding to thrive.
**Updates** ASBPC meets with SARM on April 22, 2025 Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) SARM has been actively advocating for the reinstatement of strychnine for gopher control through multiple channels, including meeting with Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) in Ottawa multiple times before strychnine was deregistered in 2023. They found PMRA to be unresponsive …
Meeting Highlights: On March 17, 2025 the ASBPC hosted CAO Mark Redmond and Vice Chair Josie Van Lent. This is the first time since 2022 that the ASBPC has hosted RDAR. Organizational Overview RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research) was established in 2019 with four research pillars: profitability, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability Has invested $110 million …
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