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Agricultural Services Contact information
Main Office: 403-934-3321
Fax: 403-934-4889
Russel Muenchrath - Agricultural Fieldman
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403-934-3321
Sarah Schumacher - Rural Extension Specialist
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403-361-2027
Ag. Shop: 403-934-4949
Jason Regehr - Assistant Agricultural Feildman
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Ron Bartholow - Weed Inspector
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David Pinder - Equipment Operator
Calvin Klemmensen - Equipment Operator
Sheldon Roes - Equipment Operator
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Agricultural Service Board (ASB)
ASB Board Contact Information
Glenn Koester - Chair (Division 6)
Cell: 403-333-7511, Other: 403- 533-2228
Don Vander Velde - Vice Chair (Division 3)
Cell: 403-325-0730, Other: 403-936-5578
Ben Armstrong - Division 7
Cell: 403-3337514, Other: 403-787-2118
Berniece Bland - Division 4
Cell: 403-333-7515, Other: 403-934-9498
Alice Booth - Division 1
Cell: 403-333-7523, Other: 503-644-2969
Shirley Reinhardt - Division 5
Cell: 403-934-0265, Other: 403-533-2124
Ken Sauve - Division 2
Cell: 403-369-6526, Other: 403-734-2165
ASB Minutes (please see the documents tab)
ASB Bursary Program Application Form
The Wheatland County Agricultural Service Board invites students past and present who are planning on furthering their studies in the field of agriculture to apply for local assistance.
TWO $500.00 Bursaries are available to two Students who are residents within the boundaries of Wheatland County. Recent graduates (within 3 years) are also invited to apply. Previous Bursary recipients are not eligible.
The application package is available online in the above link, the deadline is June 30th of each year.
Contact: Russel Muenchrath 403-361-2006 or
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Events, Information and Funding
Workshops & Events
* Train Your Cattle to Graze Canada Thistle, Brush & Other Weeds!
Wheatland County - Tuesday August 10th
Topics include: Nutritional Value of Weeds, Training Cattle to Graze Canada Thistles, Cattle Behaviour
Guest Speaker: Kathy Voth, with Livestock for Landscapes
Enjoy a BBQ lunch, presentations and an onsite tour of cattle eating weeds
Contact Laura LaBrash at the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association
403.652.4900 or
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to register or for more information.
* 2010 Cattleman's Summer Workshop - July 21st 3:00 -7:00, Irricana
* Ranching Opportunities Conference - February 2011 Olds College
* Ladies Livestock Lessons - Annual Summer Event
2010 Ladies Livestock Lessons Poster - June 15-16, 2010 Pine Lake
2010 Ladies Livestock Lessons Brochure
The Red-Bow Regional Watershed Alliance invites all lady ranchers to attend the grazing school for women.
The Ladies Livestock Lessons is two full days of learning (specific to ranching operations) with an evening to socialize and connect with other ranching women. Each day consists of both indoor seminars and outdoor hands-on learning and lots of time for networking!
The registration fee for this two day workshop, meals, educational materials, and accommodation is $105.00 (GST is included). Accommodations are usually your choice of RV camping or dormitory accommodation (bring you own bedding and towels).
For more information contact Sarah Schumacher at Wheatland County at 403-934-3321 or
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We look forward to seeing you next summer!
ASB Landowner Link Newsletter
June 2010 - Grazing Management for Healthy Rangelands
March 2010 - The New Weed Act is here!
September 2009 - Rural Living
June 2009 - The good bugs
March 2009 - Western Sky Land Trust
Agricultural Funding
Growing Forward Alberta (home)
Growing Forward Water Management Program
Growing Forward Integrated Crop Management Program
* The Integrated Crop Management Program is now fully allocated
Growing Forward Grazing and Winter Feeding Program
Growing Forward Manure Management Program
Contact Sarah Schumacher for more information regarding these programs.
Useful Links
Cows and Fish Alberta Habitat Management Society
Foothills Forage and Grazing Association
Alberta Agriculture
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Conservation
Thurn - Riparian Grazing Demonstration Site
Pictures - Thurn Bioengineering Project 2009
Pictures - Thurn Bioengineering Project Summer 2010
Shelterbelt Programs
PFRA Shelterbelt Program (free trees for landowners with more than 5 Acres)
PFRA Shelterbelt Application Form
Alberta Nursuries Shelterbelt Program (trees avaliable to all landowners)
Wheatland Watershed
* Waters of Wheatland Committee - Contact Sarah Schumacher for more information.
Waters of Wheatland 2008/09 Survey Results
* Red Deer River Watershed Alliance (WPAC)
The RDRWA has just finnished the State of the Basin report (found on their website) and are now working on the Red Deer River Watershed Management Plan.
* Bow River Basin Council (WPAC)
The BRBC is currently working on phase 2 of the Bow River Basin Watershed Management Plan. For more information visit thier website.
Alberta Water Well Information Database: Groundwater Information Centre
Environmental Farm Plan(EFP)
The Environmental Farm Plan Program is still being offered to interested landowners in Wheatland County.
Visit the EFP website or contact Sarah Schumacher for more information
Soil Conservation
Alberta Soil Conservation Act
Alberta Soil Information Viewer
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Vegetation Management and Weeds
Wheatland County Vegetation Management
2010 Roadside Grass Mowing and Weed Spraying Schedule
Weeds
2010 AB Weed Identification Guide
The 2010 season brings Alberta a new Weed Act, there are new lists of species and regulations. But as always we will be on the lookout for invasive plants in Wheatland County and will be available to work with landowners to mitigate weed problems. In the past there was 3 weed categories, restricted weeds, noxious weeds and nuisance weeds, we now have a new category and a range of new weeds to watch out for.
Noxious Weeds have to be controlled by the landowner or by the person who occupies the land. Some new weeds on this list to watch for are Dames Rocket, Baby’ Breath and Yellow Clematis.
Prohibited Noxious Weeds have to be destroyed by the landowner or by the person who occupies the land. Some new weeds on this list to watch for are Himalayan Balsam, St John’s Wort, and Purple Loosestrife.
The full act is available on line on the Alberta Queens Printer website. For more information or assistance regarding weeds in Wheatland County contact: Ron Bartholow at 403-934-4949 or
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* The use of a certificate of seed analysis can help prevent weed problems from occurring
Alberta Invasive Plant Council
Weeds of Wheatland County
Scentless Chamomile (Noxious): Perennial, white flowers, fern-like scentless leaf, may be large or small, handpick before seed set or use chemical control
Purple Loosestrife (Prohibited): Perennial, found in wet areas, tall spike, 4-sided stem, purple flowers, hand pick before seed set or use chemical control
Common Tansy (Noxious): Creeping perennial, Woody, aromatic scent when leaves are crushed, fern-like leaves, yellow button flowers, no petals, large plant, chemical control
Downy Brome/Cheat Grass (Noxious): Winter annual, fibrous leaves, covered in soft hairs, nodding flower, reddish purpel with long awns.
Black Henbane (Noxious): Biennial, tall, hairy leaves slightly, bell shaped, purple-veined flowers, toxic, hand pick(use gloves) or chemical control before seed set.
Spotted Knapweed (Prohibited): Perennial, deeply loped leaves, silvery, pink-purple flowers, hand pick before seed set or chemical control
Yellow Toadflax (Noxious): Creeping perennial, narrow leaves, yellow snap dragon-like flowers, chemical control
White Cockle (Noxious): Biennial, opposite leaves, slightly sticky, hairy, white flowers with black veins, bale or hand pick before seed set.
Hoary Cress (Noxious): Creeping perennial, looks similar to stinkweed, small white flowers with 4 petals, chemical control
Leafy Spurge (Noxious): Creeping perennial, narrow leaves, flowers are yellowish-green, milky latex, chemical or grazing control
Native Plants of Wheatland County
Gaillardia/Blanket Flower: Grows in dry open areas, leaves and stem are hairy, yellow petals, red-orange-brown centre, commonly avaliable in garden stores.
Blue Gramma Grass: Perennial, found in dry open prairie, bunch grass form, leaf blades curl when dry, ligule is a short ring of hairs, seed head looks like an eyelash
Needle and Thread/ Spear Grass:
Prairie Coneflower: Perennial, found in grassland and roadside ditches, stems are covered in coarse hairs, leaves are alternate and deeply divided, flowers resemble a badminton birdie, yellow petals.
Rocky Mountain Bee Flower: disturbed areas, three leafltes, 4 purple petals, very long pistils, many flowers make up a ball-shaped inflorescence, peppery odour.
Dotted Blazing Star: Perennial, grows in dry open prairie, stems are woody, leaves are linear, purple-pink flowers are clustered in a spike-like arrangement.
Common Yarrow: Widespread across Alberta, covered in fine hairs, aromatic leaves when crushed, basal, finely divided (fern-like), small white flowers, avaliable in colorful ornamental colors.
Three Flowered Avens/Prairie Smoke/ Old Mans Whiskers: Widespread, usually 3 nodding flowers per stem, not very showy reddish flowers, basal leaves are green and more prominent, upper leaves are reddish, seed head is very showy, entire plant is covered in hairs.
Rough Fescue: Provincial grass of Alberta, stems are red at the base
Prairie Crocus: Widespread across Alberta, pale purple petals, turning whiter as they fade, blooms early in the growing season, leaves are not prominent until after blooming, plants are very hairy.
Wild Bergamot/Horsemint: Widspread across Southern Alberta, oppostie leaves, square stems, pleasant smell, one flower head per plant, pink-purple,
Haying Permits
Requirements of Haying of Municipal Road Right of Ways
Applications for haying of municipal right of ways will be accepted up to May 31 with priority given to adjacent landowners. In order to receive a permit an Access and Work Agreement must be signed and all conditions met.
You must have Comprehensive or Commercial General Liability Insurance in an amount not less than Two Million ($2,000,000) Dollars per occurrence against bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, and completed operations liability. All areas listed for haying on the access and work agreement must be cut by the applicant in a manner that creates no hazard to traffic. Bales must not be left on the edge of the road or left in an area that will block drainage.Any cost incurred by Wheatland County to enforce these conditions may be charged back to the applicant.
Contact Russ Muenchrath at Wheatland County at 403-934-3321 at
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Agricultural Pests
Wheatland County ASB staff conduct annual field inspections and surveys of Fusarium, Grasshoppers, Weeds, Clubroot and Berta Army Worms.
Alberta Agricultural Pest Act
2010 Wheatland County Strychnine Program
ASB will once again have 2% liquid strychnine available for purchase. It will be made available only to pest control operators and farmers for the control of Richardson’s Ground Squirrels. The guidelines for acquiring this product are stringent therefore purchases can be made by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Mapping of the treated areas is required, if available please bring farm maps with you.
Spring is the optimum time for control of Richardson Ground Squirrels. Males emerge from the end of February to mid March depending on the year and location, females follow approximately 2 weeks later. While establishing their territory they continue to survive on body fat until the last 2 weeks of March to the middle of April, this is generally best time to start the use of strychnine. Before vegetation greens up and there are no other food sources available.
Appropriate use: Baiting should be done before the birth of the young and before green vegetation is available. Do not spread bait on the surface, when using strychnine place the bait deep inside the burrow. Remove dead carcases as secondary poisoning is a concern.
Richardsons Ground Squirrel Fact Sheet
To make an appointment please call the Agricultural Fieldman, Russ Muenchrath at the Wheatland County office 403-361-2006
The 2010 Strychnine Registration ends July 30th, 2010. Please return all empty bottles, un-used product (refundable) and evaluation froms to Wheatland County.
Clubroot
Clubroot or Plasmodiophora brassicae is a serious disease of cruciferous crops including mustard, broccoli, cabbage and most importantly canola and is found throughout the world, including Alberta. Clubroot is a declared pest under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act.
What is Clubroot? It is a protist (an organism with plant, animal and fungal characteristics).
It is a serious problem because it spreads though soil and is long lived (up to 20 years) the warm, moist, acidic soils common in Alberta favor development . The disease causes the root cells to swell creating galls which tie up nutrients and moisture. Infested soil on farm/ industrial equipment, and by soil eroded by wind and water are methods by which Clubroot spreads. 100% infection will reduce crop yields to 50%.
Early signs of infestation in the seedling stage are wilting, stunting and yellowing, in later stages plants may ripen
prematurely. By using long crop rotations (4 year cycle), practicing sanitation methods on equipment, reduced tillage and direct seeding, field scouting, and avoiding the use of straw and manure from unknown sources, and untreated seed can help prevent the occurrence of Clubroot.
Currently there are no registered fungicides or crop resistant varieties available in Canada for the management of
this pest. Using long crop rotations with cruciferous crops is the only strategy for producers to manage
Clubroot at this time.
Alberta Agriculture Clubroot Management Plan
Alberta Agriculture
2010 Grasshopper Forcast
For more information contact Russel Muenchrath at 934-3321
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Rental Equipment:
Contact: Wheatland County ASB 934-3321 or ASB Shop 934-4949
* The renter of all Wheatland County ASB rental equipment is responsible for cleaning and damage incurred during rental period.
Tree Sprayer
Rental Rate: $100/Day
Conditions: Only registered insecticides are to be used.
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Tree Planter
Rental Rate: $50/Day
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Pasture Sprayer
Rental Rate: $100/Day
Info: The Boomless Pasture Sprayer can be utilized to control unwanted plant species on rangeand pastures that are too rough for conventional spray equipment.
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Weed Wiper
Rental Rate: $100/day
Info: The 30 foot Weed Wiper can be utilized to selectively control unwanted weed species in brush, pasture and rangeland. Producers wiping Canada Thistle and Western Snowberry from mid-August to the end of September have experienced positive results.
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Skunk Traps
Rental Rate: No Charge
$60 Deposit - 2 week Rental Period
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Magpie Trap
Rental Rate: No Charge
$25 Deposit - 2 Week Rental Period
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Forage Sampler
Rental Rate:No Charge
Conditions: $100 Deposit - 1 Week Rental Period
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Tag Reader
Rental Rate: No Charge
Conditions: $100 Deposit - 1 Week Rental Period
Weigh Scale
Rental Rate:$50/Day Charge
Conditions: No Charge for 4H Clubs within the Wheatland County Boundary
Rubber Mats
Rental Rate:No Charge/Deposit
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