Agriculture Service Board
Notice: Strychnine
ATTENTION PRODUCERS: Important Update on 2% Liquid Strychnine
If you are planning to use 2% liquid strychnine for pest control this season, there are several new requirements and mandatory training steps you need to know about.
HOW TO QUALIFY: To purchase and apply this product, you must be a landowner (commercial agriculturalist) or a legally recognized operator (leaseholder/renter) and a ratepayer of the municipality. All users must complete the new online Farmer Training Program.
TRAINING INFORMATION: Mandatory Producer Training Launches May 4, 2026, through Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM). Training will be online chapter-based modules and knowledge checks. You will receive a certificate upon completion, which you must present at the time of purchase.
PURCHASINING AND LIMITS: Purchasing can only be from one municipality only (typically your home quarter). To purchase you must provide proof of training, Bonafide farmer information (Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit Number or other information to verify that purchaser is a commercial agriculturalist), legal land location, signed declaration of label compliance, and a Monitoring Plan. You must purchase the product yourself; you cannot send someone else to pick it up for you. Maximum purchase limit of two cases (48 bottles total) at one time. Limited supplies may further restrict this limit in the early release.
APPLICATION RULES: There will be two application windows for greatest efficacy of control; early spring (March 1 – June 15) and late summer (July 15 – Sept 1). Only those on the land title or lease can apply it. Hired hands or family members not on the title must be certified pesticide applicators. You must post signage at all treatment sites (available from your municipality). You are required to monitor treated areas twice daily for 7 days post-application and document all observations.
COMPLIANCE: The Government of Alberta will be conducting random audits. Misuse can lead to the loss of product access and fines up to $1M for corporations or $250k for individuals under federal law.
Stay informed and stay compliant! Contact Agricultural Services (403-783-3333 or visit the SARM website (https://sarm.ca/) starting May 4 for more details.
Provincial Updates: https://www.alberta.ca/richardsons-ground-squirrel-control
ATTENTION PRODUCERS: Important Update on 2% Liquid Strychnine
If you are planning to use 2% liquid strychnine for pest control this season, there are several new requirements and mandatory training steps you need to know about.
HOW TO QUALIFY: To purchase and apply this product, you must be a landowner (commercial agriculturalist) or a legally recognized operator (leaseholder/renter) and a ratepayer of the municipality. All users must complete the new online Farmer Training Program.
TRAINING INFORMATION: Mandatory Producer Training Launches May 4, 2026, through Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM). Training will be online chapter-based modules and knowledge checks. You will receive a certificate upon completion, which you must present at the time of purchase.
PURCHASINING AND LIMITS: Purchasing can only be from one municipality only (typically your home quarter). To purchase you must provide proof of training, Bonafide farmer information (Alberta Farm Fuel Benefit Number or other information to verify that purchaser is a commercial agriculturalist), legal land location, signed declaration of label compliance, and a Monitoring Plan. You must purchase the product yourself; you cannot send someone else to pick it up for you. Maximum purchase limit of two cases (48 bottles total) at one time. Limited supplies may further restrict this limit in the early release.
APPLICATION RULES: There will be two application windows for greatest efficacy of control; early spring (March 1 – June 15) and late summer (July 15 – Sept 1). Only those on the land title or lease can apply it. Hired hands or family members not on the title must be certified pesticide applicators. You must post signage at all treatment sites (available from your municipality). You are required to monitor treated areas twice daily for 7 days post-application and document all observations.
COMPLIANCE: The Government of Alberta will be conducting random audits. Misuse can lead to the loss of product access and fines up to $1M for corporations or $250k for individuals under federal law.
Stay informed and stay compliant! Contact Agricultural Services (403-783-3333 or visit the SARM website (https://sarm.ca/) starting May 4 for more details.
Provincial Updates: https://www.alberta.ca/richardsons-ground-squirrel-control
Pest Control
Pest control officers provide residents with identification and control strategies for agricultural pests. Field scouting is carried out for identification of pests under the agricultural pests act such as clubroot, and fusarium graminearum. Staff will assist when possible with identification and control advice for horticultural insects and disease. Inspectors participate in Provincial grasshopper survey. Any Norway rat sightings are investigated by Agricultural Fieldman and if confirmed the Problem Wildlife Division of Alberta Agriculture will be informed and rat eradication program will be implemented.
Beaver control is used to prevent or reduce the flooding of County infrastructure and to aid farmers in controlling flooding of agricultural lands. Ponoka County hires seasonal beaver trappers to control beavers that affect County infrastructure and property. The ASB coordinates with Public Works department to clean affected culverts and bridges in accordance with provincial and federal regulations and codes of practice. Beaver dams may be removed using explosives following provincial and federal regulations, and best practices. Because landowners are restricted from purchasing explosives, the ASB offers the service of beaver dam blasting by the Fieldman and Assistant Fieldman. Dams are removed at the discretion of the licensed blaster. Weed InspectionThe invasion and spread of noxious weeds is one of the most serious threats to our natural resources. Weeds are categorized as noxious when they spread aggressively and are difficult to control. The Weed Control Act was enacted in 1907 to prevent the spread of invasive plants. For more information on noxious weeds please visit the Alberta Invasive Species Council by clicking here.
Mountain Pine Beetle
Mountain Pine Beetle has been present in Alberta since early 2000 - starting in the Peace River region and spreading north, and now south into central Alberta. Farmers, ranchers and woodlot owners in central Alberta need to watch their trees for signs of attack. FACT SHEET & PHOTOS.
Further details can be found here. |
Soil & Water Conservation
The Agricultural Fieldman provides landowners with information regarding best management practices for soil and water conservation. The ASB cooperates with local groups, other municipalities, and government agencies to promote soil and water conservation practices with local or regional workshops and newsletters.
A solar watering system is available to both Ponoka and Lacombe County residents to demonstrate stock watering away from riparian areas. We currently operate three tankloader facilities at Rimbey, Crestomere, and Mecca Glen. The sites provide water free of charge to county farmers which can be used for spraying crops, and livestock watering. Water is not tested and therefore non-potable. The storage tanks also provide water for emergency fire fighting. |
Agriculture Service Board
The Agricultural Service Board provides services and programs to promote and enhance the sustainable and economical growth of the agricultural industry within Ponoka County.
The Agricultural Service Board has legislated responsibilities under the following Acts:
• Agricultural Service Board Act - The overriding Governance of the Board
• Weed Control Act - Weed Inspectors inspect lands for weeds listed in the Weed Control Act Regulation and monitor compliance or enforce control of weeds impacting lands, production or the environment within the county.
• Agricultural Pests Act - Appointed Pest Control Officers inspect lands within the county and advise or enforce control strategies for agricultural pests listed in the Agricultural Pest Act.
• Soil Conservation Act - Soil Conservation Officers are appointed under the Soil Conservation Act to protect lands from deteriorating due to soil loss by wind or water events and enforce remedial measures.
• Livestock Disease Act - Assist the Provincial or Federal Government in matters of containment during a re-portable livestock disease outbreak.
Based on these acts the ASB will promote, advise, and organize weed control, pest control, soil/water conservation programs and policies to meet the needs of local residents and landowners. Other programs include beaver management, rentals (root stock tree planter, sprayers, livestock scale), roadside mowing, vegetation management, roadside seeding, coyote management for predication on livestock, skunk control, Norway rat eradication, horticultural pest identification and agricultural bulk water facilities management.
The Agricultural Service Board consists of five County Councilors, the Agricultural Fieldsman, the County Chief Administrative Officer, and a Recording Secretary. To contact the board members please visit our contact page.
The Agricultural Service Board has legislated responsibilities under the following Acts:
• Agricultural Service Board Act - The overriding Governance of the Board
• Weed Control Act - Weed Inspectors inspect lands for weeds listed in the Weed Control Act Regulation and monitor compliance or enforce control of weeds impacting lands, production or the environment within the county.
• Agricultural Pests Act - Appointed Pest Control Officers inspect lands within the county and advise or enforce control strategies for agricultural pests listed in the Agricultural Pest Act.
• Soil Conservation Act - Soil Conservation Officers are appointed under the Soil Conservation Act to protect lands from deteriorating due to soil loss by wind or water events and enforce remedial measures.
• Livestock Disease Act - Assist the Provincial or Federal Government in matters of containment during a re-portable livestock disease outbreak.
Based on these acts the ASB will promote, advise, and organize weed control, pest control, soil/water conservation programs and policies to meet the needs of local residents and landowners. Other programs include beaver management, rentals (root stock tree planter, sprayers, livestock scale), roadside mowing, vegetation management, roadside seeding, coyote management for predication on livestock, skunk control, Norway rat eradication, horticultural pest identification and agricultural bulk water facilities management.
The Agricultural Service Board consists of five County Councilors, the Agricultural Fieldsman, the County Chief Administrative Officer, and a Recording Secretary. To contact the board members please visit our contact page.