Kneehill County Ag Connection

Greetings!

Richardson Ground Squirrel Control

Controlling Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (RGSs), commonly known as Gophers, can be challenging in any year. Timing is the key to efficient control. April is generally the best month for controlling RGSs as they emerge earlier or later in the spring depending on the amount of snow. Control should be initiated prior to the emergence of the young when the males first emerge above ground and before the females go underground to have their litters.

Organization Highlight

Foothills Forage and Grazing Association

The Foothills Forage & Grazing Association is a non-profit, producer-driven group that addresses issues, ideas, and innovations for forage and livestock producers in south-central Alberta. They work with government and industry to keep producers up-to-date with innovations in the industry which FFGA then applies at the grassroots level in cooperation with producers.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

Click Here to Register for Part 1

Click Here to Register for Part 2

County Concerns

Road Ban Exemption Policy

Road bans are implemented in the County during spring thaw to protect the road infrastructure from being compromised or damaged when it is particularly vulnerable. The banned roads are primarily chip-seal surfaces that are not designed to withstand prolonged exposure to heavy traffic.

Recognizing that these bans affect some producers negatively, Council recently approved a “Road Ban Exemption” Policy, which allows Kneehill County’s CAO to grant Road Ban exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Through the online process, applicants can request an exemption to the seasonal road bans for a specific portion of roadway. The application includes the reasoning behind the request, expected trip counts, type of commodity being transported, and timeframe for hauling. If an investigation of road conditions determines increased weights would not compromise the integrity of the road surface, a Road Ban Exemption permit will be issued.

Apply For An Exemption

Weed Watch

White Cockle / Silene latifolia Poir. ssp. alba

Legislative Designation:

Noxious- must be controlled

Key ID Features:

Slightly sticky hairy stems and leaves, white flowers with five deeply notched petals

Frequently Found:

Hayland, Pastures, and Ditches

Control Methods:

Frequent mowing, Chemicals including Mecoprop or Tribenron-methyl

View More On White Cockle

Report Invasive Weed Sightings

Stewardship Spotlight

Habitat Steward Recognition Program

The Red Deer River Naturalists, with funding support from the Red Deer and District Community Foundation, is relaunching the Habitat Steward recognition program to recognize landowners who conserve habitat on private lands and provide them with a gate sign recognizing their environmental contribution.

See More and Apply

Funding Availability

Headlines

A Few Key Points on Producing Livestock

Invasive Wild Pigs: Protecting Alberta against threats to crops and livestock

An open road ahead? Feds offer cash for fertilizer stewardship

Have Agriculture news to share? Email or call 403-443-5541

This e-newsletter is brought to you by Kneehill County Agriculture Services.

For more on what we can do for you visit:

www.kneehillcounty.com

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