History of ASB Programming
1945 – 1950
·
Focus on the control of new weeds such as wild mustard and Canada
thistle to prevent spread. Efforts included plowing down infested fields
and hand-pulling.
·
Increase awareness of soil conservation by dealing with erosion
problems, which occurred as a result of the dry conditions in southern
Alberta and the use of the plow.
1950 - 1960
·
Roadside seeding and weed control to prevent weed spread onto adjacent
farmland and to reduce roadside hazards.
·
Tree planting and the establishment of shelterbelts to further increase
soil conservation efforts.
·
Forage seed distribution to encourage farmers to seed grass on lands
susceptible to erosion.
·
During this time the County of Camrose became the 1st county to use a
municipal seed cleaning plant to reduce weed seed content in seed grain.
Following its success, Alberta Agriculture agreed to cost share the
construction of seed cleaning plants in other municipalities.
·
Initiation of the rat program within identified risk areas along the
Alberta-Saskatchewan and Alberta-United States border.
·
Development and implementation of livestock improvement programs
for control of livestock diseases such as tuberculosis, bangs (
Brucellosis
)
and warbles.
·
Working with livestock owners on the control of predators such as
coyotes.
·
Implementation of a rabies control program.
·
Agricultural equipment was made available to farmers on a rental basis.
·
Development and implementation of drainage projects.
1960 - 1975
·
Use of hydroseeding for seeding and reclamation of roadsides.
·
Increased role in plant disease control projects in 1966 with the bacterial
ring rot program
·
Continued involvement with the control of insect pest outbreaks, such as
the implementation of a special spray program for the Bertha armyworm
outbreak in canola crops.
·
Demonstration projects for control of dryland salinity and improvement
of solonetzic soils.
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