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As
farming operations expanded in Alberta during the period from the 1920's
to the 1940's, two significant production problems emerged. One
was the introduction and spread of new weeds, and the other, wind drifting
and water erosion of good agriculture land. There was no legislation
regarding soil conservation and where some control measures were undertaken,
they were only taken compared to the total problem and there were very
few preventative measures instituted.
Federal experimental farms were finding ways of coping with these problems
through preventative measures and other means. Together with District
Agriculturists, they endeavored to demonstrate to farmers what could be
done but the field staff was too limited to do effective work. The
problems continued to get worse. Finally municipal governments became
concerned. Heavily infested or eroded land was unproductive and being
abandoned, the taxes unpaid.
In 1942 the municipalities met with the government and both agreed that
effective weed control and soil conservation measures could best be carried
out by local governments because they were the closest to the problem. In
1943 the M.D.'s of Red Deer and Conrich set up special agricultural committees
in an effort to find more effective ways of coping with the weed and soil
problems. The committee was comprised of two councillors, two good
farmers in the area and the District Agriculturist. The Department
of Agriculture provided the money and each municipality appointed a full-time
weed inspector.
February 1945, the Agricultural Service Board Act was formulated and passed. This
legislation is unique in Canada in that it provides for supervision and
reclamation of debilitated land due to weed infestations, soil erosion
(water and wind) or other causes. This act was designed to be enabling
legislation. The municipal district or county council "may establish
an Agricultural Service Board" and "shall appoint a qualified
person as Agricultural Fieldman" in the municipality. Once formed
the Board or Committee then becomes advisory to the council and to the
Minister of Agriculture. Where an Improvement District or Special
Areas exists, the Minister for Municipal Affairs may issue a Ministerial
Order creating an Agricultural Service Board which will then fulfill the
same obligations as those in the M.D.'s and Counties. In 1945, 48
Boards were set up and that number grew to 67 by 1958.
Projects undertaken by early Boards varied considerably, but included demonstrations
of weed control methods, the care of weeds on municipal lands and road
allowances, and general farm management projects on neglected lands taken
under their control. Amendments were made to the Agricultural Service
Board Act that gave the Fieldmen the responsibility of carrying out other
programs in 1949. Such programs were roadside seeding, tree planting,
seed handling (policies), encouragement of seed cleaning plants, assistance
in livestock improvement projects and disease control, supply septic tank
forms, supply portable scales and chutes, purchase and use of three planters,
grass seeders, involvement in the operation of herbicide and pesticide
sprayers, providing soil test probes, building and distribution of predatory
bird traps, purchase of burrow builders (picket gopher), dehorning devices
made available, handling and sale of herbicides, assistance provided to
4-H clubs, and drainage projects. They have also undertaken the promotion
of secondary industries such as alfalfa processing plants, feed mills and
egg processing plants to handle local farm produce, enhance the stability
of local producers and decentralize industry in the province.
The Agriculture Fieldmen are appointed as inspectors or regulatory officers
administering five Acts:
• Agriculture Service Board Act
• Weed Control Act
• Soil Conservation Act
• Agricultural Pests Act
• Agricultural Chemicals Act
The first Agricultural Service Board served Special Areas 2 and 3, and
was formed September 1, 1961. Special Area No. 3 was divided
in 1969 to form Special Areas No. 3 and 4. At that time there was
only one Fieldman in charge of all three areas, Emmett Mattson. At
the 1973 Spring Advisory committee meeting a resolution was passed that
three Boards be set up for Special Areas 2, 3 and 4, each with a 7 man
board, to be effective January 1, 1974.
Some of the programs the Special Areas Service Board initiated are, testing
of magnetized grain seed in comparison to standard grain growth, a weed
plot project, zero till concept, evaluation of grasses and legume responses
in saline areas, slough consolidation and salinity control, warble inspections,
grasshopper surveys, roadside spraying for weed and brush control, private
land noxious weed spraying, tree spraying, roadside seeding and extension,
equipment rental, and range and weed tours. Several soil conservation
programs with emphasis on education and demonstration have been implemented
to promote awareness and need to address this area of concern. The
Special Areas Agriculture Service Boards feel that working with the rural
community through positive programming gives more progressive results as
opposed to monitoring and enforcement of the various Agricultural Acts. This
attitude follows through not only for soil conservation, but for weed control,
pest control and plant diseases.
Gloria Sieben was appointed as Special Areas No. 4 first Fieldman and has
the distinction of being the first female Fieldman in the Province.
In 1979 the Dryland Applied Research Association was formed. The
name was changed to Chinook Applied Research Association.
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