2026 ASBPC Strategic Plan

Step 1: ASBPC Worksheet – Who we are, what we do, what we don’t do, stakeholders

Step 2: 2026 ASBPC Survey: June 1-July 15, 2026 and analysis

Step 3: In-Person Strategic Planning Session – August 18, 2026, Leduc RMA office.

The Agricultural Service Board Provincial Committee (ASBPC) is undertaking strategic planning to clarify its role, strengthen communication, and improve alignment across Alberta’s ASB system.

Input is being sought from:

• ASB members
• AAAF
• Municipal Councils
• RMA and
• GOA ASB Program Staff.

The survey will gather stakeholder input to inform the Committee’s August 2026 in-person planning session and help clarify its role, structure, communication, priorities, and value to ASBs across Alberta’s ASB system. The Committee is looking to:

• Clarify the Committee’s purpose, role, limits, and value to ASBs. 
• Strengthen the Committee’s ability to represent the diversity of ASBs. 
• Develop a practical strategic plan that aligns with member needs. 

ASBs operate differently across Alberta, including council-only boards, boards with public members, and varied local practices for priorities, council communication, and resolution processes. The goal is not uniformity, but to understand how the Committee can best support the ASB system.

The survey closes July 15, 2026. 

The survey is not a vote and does not establish formal positions for any municipality, ASB, RMA, AAAF, or Government of Alberta program area. Respondents should answer from their own perspective. 

This is not an anonymous survey, as there are a number of places for participants to provide long answers that the Committee may wish to follow up on for clarity.

Survey results will be summarized after the July 15 deadline and used to inform ASBPC’s in-person planning session in August 2026. 

Background and Context

In 1967 what is now RMA and the ASB split to run parallel resolution processes. This occurred because the relationship with the province is so different.

RMA operates as an independent society that represents the interest of its members in an advocacy role.

ASBs have legislated responsibilities and so operate in a collaborative and advisory role. ASBs tend to be very deeply entrenched in the nuances of the legislation and programs they deliver in collaboration with the province.

A 2003 ASB Program review led to the recommendation to create the Committee. The review was the result of resolutions from the ASB and what is now RMA concerned about the change in roles following the closure of the provincial rural agriculture offices and elimination of the District Agriculturist and Home Economist positions.

In 2007, the Province invested in the ASB Program by hiring two dedicated staff to provide admin support to grow the Committee to two year terms, created the annual Report Card on Resolutions, and coordinate the Regional and Provincial Resolution processes.

In 2015-17 the ASB Program was again reviewed prior to the reorganization of the provincial agriculture ministry that resulted in restructuring extension and research activities out of the agriculture ministry. The dedicated ASB Program Staff were reassigned and the province moved to providing a grant to the Alberta Association of Agricultural Fieldman to pay for a part-time administrative position for the Committee. This is when the ASB Website was created, and the responsibilities of the administration of the resolution sessions fell to ASBs.

In 2020 the Committee create their first Strategic Plan using the feedback provided by the AAAF and ASB members in the 2017 program review report. The plan highlighted the need for increasing the significance and awareness of the role of the ASBs with strategic partners including the Minister’s office. Since then the ASB Provincial Committee has become a routine engagement for the Minister and senior staff, established timely communications about resolution responses and activities through the website, reviewed and updated the resolution process, terms of reference, and created orientation materials to support a smooth and effective resolution process. As awareness has increased, and the demands and expectations for the volunteer Committee members and part time staff.

The 2026 ASBPC Strategic plan is the first session led by the Committee, and so is the first to include direct consultation with the municipal councils that empower the ASBs, the Provincial ASB Program staff who support the ASB grant program and legislative activities, and the Alberta Association of Agriculture Fieldman which acts as the legal entity for the Committee, and who’s members are employees of ASBs. 

Questions can be directed to asbpc_ea@agriculturalserviceboards.com