Organization Highlight

The Land Stewardship Centre is a non-profit organization that enables people and organizations to become better stewards. They create and strengthen the connections between stewards while building a dynamic, engaged stewardship community. These connections help realize the common goal of seeing individuals, organizations and communities embracing healthy, sustainable land stewardship practices. Programs organized by the Land Stewardship Center help raise awareness and encourage actions that address land stewardship issues by engaging, informing and enabling stewards. They also create and promote practical tools and resources to help people and organizations stay connected with and achieve their stewardship goals.

Green Acreages is a Land Stewardship Center program that offers publications, workshops and incentives developed especially for acreage, hobby farm and recreational property owners to help them implement stewardship practices that conserve and protect the valuable natural assets, such as air, land, water, wildlife, associated with their properties.

Weed Wise

Biocontrol for Scentless Chamomile (Tripleurospermum indornum) using Seed-Head Weevil (Omphalapion hookerorum)

Biocontrol is the use of living organisms in the suppression of pests. Proven specialist insects are carefully selected from the pests country of origin, extensively evaluated and approved for release. This weakens the competitive advantage of the invasive pest allowing for greater control as part of a integrated pest management system.

One such species is the Scentless Chamomile Seed-Head Weevil. Native to Europe, the small black weevil lays eggs in the flower buds of scentless chamomile in the spring where the larva will feed destroying the seeds as they develop. Later in the summer adults will emerge to feed on the vegetative parts of the plant. This biocontrol agent can be extremely useful in areas where other methods of control are unsuitable such as creek banks and slough margins.

Kneehill County Ag Services is available to assist in obtaining and implementing biocontrol options where feasible. Contact the Kneehill County Office for more information 403-443-5541



*Info and image credit to abinvasives.ca

UHF tags now linkable to CCIA-approved tags

How to build your resilience

Have a decade-long plan for farm succession