August 24, 2021 Country Booster

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8 Pages

August 24, 2021

From seed to soil to

Camrose County farmers Mark, left, and father Jim Hillaby take a moment to chat in between combining pea fields.

It is that time of year again, perhaps even a little earlier than usual, where the fields around Camrose County are dotted with massive pieces of farm machinery harvesting fields of peas and other crops.

This growing season has brought its own set of challenges with the current drought conditions but it hasn’t stopped local farmers from reaping what they can to ensure the world is fed. See inside story on page 2.

News Features…

Government funds assist Hardisty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Battle River Community Foundation grants funds to Flagstaff County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Camrose County farmer Mark Hillaby has his work cut out for him in the combine, monitoring computer data, listening for alarms, watching the swath cut, while carefully maneuvering the incredible piece of machinery around the field.

Safe exchange sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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Crop dust was blowing up behind the combine as it took large swaths around the pea fields.

The COUNTRY BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 2

Harvest season well under way

By Lori Larsen

Due to the dry and hot conditions, area farmers are having to get out into the fields earlier than normal and reap what they can of the harvest.

The yields are no doubt going to be impacted by the long bout of dry hot weather and lack of rain throughout the months of June, July and August.

Camrose County farmer Mark Hillaby had pea crops combined by the end of the August 7 and 8 weekend, and was preparing to move into other crop fields in the upcoming weeks.

Field peas are a pulse crop that is part of the legume family and are harvested solely for dry edible seed, which is high in protein and fibre and low in fat. They are often added to soups, stews and other dishes to add flavour and texture.

Most of what Hillaby harvests in peas will be sent overseas for human consumption.

In 2019, Alberta’s pulse growers grew 1,685,900 metric tonnes of field peas on 1,743,300 acres with farm cash receipts of $387 million.

However, this year, in many parts of Alberta, the yields for all crops are going to be heavily impacted by the weather.

For many people heading to work, the weather simply determines what they might wear, whether or not to take an umbrella or sunglasses, or leave a little extra time for bad road conditions.

For the farmer, however, the weather means everything. Too much rainfall can flood fields and wash away soil and seed. As well, it can delay getting into fields or cause damage when they do. Drought conditions can potentially lower crop yields, increase pests and cause lack of drinking water and pasture land for livestock. Early frosts can ruin crops while late frosts can delay seeding. Hail, notoriously known as the “white combine”, can tear through a field like a large combine and destroy or severely damage everything in its path. Heavy snow can break and freeze crops.

Unpredictability in farming is an understatement, but farmers still get up early, check the weather, head to the fields and go to bed late, all so the rest of the world can have food on their plates.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Above: A ride-along in the massive combine allowed for a bird’s-eye view of the cutting process.

Below: Mark Hillaby takes time out from swathing to check the mechanics of the combine to ensure all moving parts are working properly.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Local farmers Jim and Mark Hillaby spent a busy week in beginning of August getting pea crops off the fields.

Above: The dry conditions caused a lot of grain dust to sit in the air around the combine.

Below: Mark unloads the grain cart filled with peas into the waiting grain truck.

The COUNTRY BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 3

Hope for Alberta economy

By Jackie Lovely MLA Camrose Constituency

I hope everyone is having their best summer ever in the Camrose constituency! It has been a great opportunity for me to visit with many of you all over our beautiful Camrose Constituency and connect with you directly. Direct contact was the point of my Summer Community Check-in – to hear from as many of you as possible. Whether I have been knocking on doors in Forestburg, Bashaw, Viking, Hardisty, Bawlf, Tofield or anywhere in the riding, people have asked me questions about our economy, as well as support for an industry that is so critical to our livelihoods here, and that is agriculture.

When it comes to the economy, I was pleasantly surprised by July’s numbers from Statistics Canada!

Approximately 20,000 full-time jobs were created last month. Also, Alberta’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.8 to 8.5 percent compared to June. The government’s Alberta Recovery Plan is working, and we are just getting started. In fact, since the United Conservative Government launched our ambitious plan in June 2020, over 180,000 new jobs have been created in our province. Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer pointed out that the new jobs are not tied to a specific industry, but are coming from many sectors of the economy. Building on our strengths while diversifying the economy has been a long-standing goal of our government. Some of those opportunities are right here in the Camrose constituency. I encourage you to check my Facebook page regularly, as I make it a habit to post many of the latest job openings as I come across them in our community. There are some great employment opportunities right here.

To those of you who have recently moved to our Constituency, I would like to welcome you. I found a number of young families have moved back home to be closer to family. I have also found a number of seniors who have relocated to our community as they have found it to be much more affordable out here as compared to the larger cities. Thank you for choosing our community in which to live and embarking on enjoying the good life that we have available to us.

When it comes to our agriculture industry, I think we can all appreciate and empathize with the producers and ranchers in our constituency and across Alberta. As a result of this situation, our government has been working closely with industry to identify producers’ most pressing concerns and to make sure they have the supports they need to make it through this difficult time. Now, we are announcing that drought-stricken livestock producers and beekeepers will soon have access to millions in financial relief and will benefit from new rangeland initiatives that will improve access to water and grazing.

Under the AgriRecovery program – a joint program between Alberta’s government and the Federal Government – $340 million will be made available to Alberta livestock producers and beekeepers to help cover the extraordinary costs they are facing due to the dry conditions across the province.

The $340 million will be split 60-40 between the federal and provincial governments (Alberta’s contribution is $136 million). This funding will provide much needed financial support and immediate cash flow for our livestock producers and beekeepers to purchase feed, water, and fencing. In addition, Alberta Environment and Parks has approved several temporary changes to grazing and water regulations to open new sources of feed for livestock.

Our farmers and ranchers have endured an exceptionally difficult year because of drought conditions, and we are pleased to be able to provide this relief and support to help them get through this difficult time. These hard-working Albertans are always there for us. We owe it to them to be there when they need us. Our government understands that and will always stand by our producers, in good times and bad. Producers can call 310-FARM (3276) to connect immediately with supports.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office. We are always here for you!

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Government funds assist Hardisty with industrial access road project

By Lori Larsen

Alberta Government has invested over $770,000 in STIP (Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program) funding to assist in an industrial access road for the Town of Hardisty.

This investment is expected to create around 10 jobs within the riding.

“An industrial access road for the Town of Hardisty is something that will benefit business and industry in the Camrose constituency, while creating jobs,” commented Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely. “I want to thank Minister Sawhney.

Our economy depends on

safe and reliable roads to transport various goods across the riding, and Alberta.”

Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney remarked, “STIP funding will support rural and smaller urban municipalities with local transportation infrastructure.

Now, more than ever, strong infrastructure is vital to attracting investment, and this funding will help ensure they have the roads and bridges they need to grow sustainably, while also creating muchneeded jobs.”

Town of Hardisty F i n a nc i a l / L e g i s l at ive assistant Jackie Fenton

commented, “The Town of Hardisty council approved the funding agreement with Alberta Transportation at the August 10 council meeting.

“The funds are in place for the project to move forward. We are very thankful and excited to partner with Alberta Transportation on this project and creating new jobs and improving the access to the Industrial Business District for the Town of Hardisty.”

Fenton indicated the tendering of the project will occur in early 2022.

The COUNTRY BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 4

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By CAMROSE BOOSTER LTD. Blain Fowler, Publisher Circulation 11,639 copies Providing coverage to the communities of Camrose (RRs and Boxes only), Ohaton, Edberg, Meeting Creek, Donalda, Bawlf, Kelsey, Rosalind, Daysland, Heisler, Strome, Forestburg, Galahad, Castor (farms), Killam, Sedgewick, Lougheed, Coronation/Brownfield, Alliance, Hardisty, Amisk, Hughenden, Czar, Metiskow, Cadogan, Provost (farms), Armena, Hay Lakes, New Sarepta, Round Hill, Kingman, Tofield, Ryley, Holden, Bruce, Viking, Kinsella, Irma, Wainwright (farms and lock boxes), New Norway, Ferintosh, Bashaw, Bittern Lake, Gwynne, Stettler (farms).

By Lori Larsen

The quick response and collaboration between residents, multiple law enforcement agencies and other organizations resulted in the ultimate arrest of a potentially dangerous offender.

On August 16 around 10 a.m., Wainwright RCMP responded to a report of a home invasion. Attending officers searched the residence, deemed it safe and secured the scene.

Simultaneously, nearby RCMP detachments were alerted to be on the lookout for a suspect and suspect vehicle. Within 20 minutes of being alerted, a neighbouring RCMP detachment had located the suspect vehicle.

Around 10:30 a.m., a police pursuit began.

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“One of Wainwright RCMP’s goals is to ensure public safety,” said Acting Detachment Commander Corporal Kirk Smith. “By working together within our community and with our neighbours, we will achieve this goal. Seeing how Wainwright RCMP and all the surrounding RCMP detachments supported us to assist in making a safe and successful arrest solidifies my belief that the Wainwright RCMP and our neighbours are doing their absolute best for the safety of our community.”

RCMP officers were able to keep eyes on the suspect vehicle throughout the police pursuit, from the time it was located, to the time it was rendered inoperable.

The suspect was ultimately arrested and placed into police custody at approximately 11:30 a.m. the same day.

The suspect, a 37-yearold male of Red Deer, concluding an in-custody judicial hearing, is being held until his scheduled court appearance on September 3 in Wainwright. The suspect faces more than 25 criminal charges, including: • breaking and entering (x 3) • pointing a firearm (x 2) • discharge firearm with intent

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The COUNTRY BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 6

Drought relief

Thank you for the great conversations, it was good to see everyone!

By Lori Larsen

Recognizing the dire situation in parts of Alberta as a result of severe drought conditions the Government of Alberta is making $136 million available under the AgriRecovery program, a joint program between the governments of Alberta and Canada, and has asked the federal government to provide an additional $204 million for a total relief package of $340 million.

If approved this funding would provide muchneeded financial support and immediate cash flow for Alberta’s livestock producers and beekeepers to purchase feed, water and fencing, if approved.

“Alberta’s government will always stand behind our farmers and ranchers.,” commented Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. “They have endured an exceptionally difficult year because of drought conditions and I am pleased that we are able to provide this relief and support to help them get through this time.

These hard-working Albertans are always there for us. We owe it to them to be there when they need us.”

Alberta minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Devin Dreeshen added.

“We’re supporting our livestock sector during this drought. We secured a commitment from Ottawa to initiate an AgriRecovery program, and now we’re calling on them to fully cover their share of a $340-million program.

Agriculture built Alberta and we will ensure our agriculture sector has a level playing field so it can continue to feed Alberta families, and families around the world.”

In addition, Alberta Environment and Parks has approved several temporary changes to grazing and water regulations to open new sources of feed for livestock.

“Farmers and ranchers are facing a prolonged dry, hot growing season, which has impacted access to water and feed for livestock producers,” said Alberta Environment and Parks minister Jason Nixon. “Alberta’s government is committed to providing essential supports for farmers and ranchers across the province that have been affected by severe drought conditions.”

Under a new AgriRecovery program, it will provide an immediate payment of $94 per head to help cover feed and water access costs for breeding females across the province.

Taking a receipt-based approach, a second payment of $106 per head will be

- MLA Jackie Lovely

! d e t e l Comp allocated later in the year, for a total of $200. This will help level the playing field against a U.S. feed subsidy and maintain our livestock herds in Alberta.

“Alberta Beef Producers has worked closely with the Government of Alberta to deliver on the needs of farmers and ranchers through this agricultural disaster,” remarked Alberta Beef Producers chair Melanie Wowk. “We appreciate the immediate response and swift action to provide much-needed assistance to Alberta’s beef industry. We look forward to program details on accessing support for the extraordinary costs associated with purchasing feed, water and fencing.

The province is stepping in to prevent a bad situation from getting worse.”

AgriRecovery falls under the joint federalprovincial Canadian Agricultural Partnership. It is designed to cover extraordinary costs not covered by existing business risk management programs, such as those incurred due to extreme drought conditions or other natural disasters.

The program will be administered through the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.

Application details will be unveiled after the federal

government reviews the proposal.

Rangeland initiatives

Alberta Environment and Parks are now accepting applications from existing grazing disposition holders, including leases, licences and permits, with additional grazing capacity to allow livestock from other producers who are in need of additional feed.

Applications for temporary grazing or haying are also available on vacant public lands. Alberta Environment and Parks will also permit grazers in the forest reserve to extend the time for grazing where there is sufficient forage to do so.

Minister Nixon has signed off on the creation of a new temporary streamlined program to allow the quick provision of water to livestock and poultry producers in drought areas.

Environment and Parks agrologists are available to meet with producers and to help provide more region-specific information about available support and best management practices, including how they can access potential water and feed sources.

Livestock producers can call 310-FARM (3276) to be connected with a local agrologist and discuss options to support them during these tough drought conditions.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Pasture land around the province is showing signs of the hot and dry weather conditions, reducing the amount of available feed for livestock.

BRCF grants funds for Flagstaff housing Submitted

The Battle River Community Foundation awarded a $2,250 grant to the Flagstaff Regional Housing Group for the Big Knife Villa Residents Club van purchase project. The grant was funded with income from the Doreen Oberg Fund and from the Bob and Linda Coutts Family Fund. Both of these funds were started with money raised at Community Builder Dinners in Forestburg, honouring Doreen Oberg in 2010 and Bob and Linda Coutts in 2017.

The Battle River Community Foundation exists to support charitable organizations in East Central Alberta, which benefit the local communities and

have a positive impact on the future.

Grants from the Battle River Community Foundation are primarily made possible through the generosity of individual donors and organizations that have created endowment funds. The principal of these endowment funds are kept intact and the income is made available annually to support local projects and organizations.

Since it was founded in 1995, the Battle River Community Foundation has granted over $7,250,000 to support charitable activities in the Battle River Region.

Submitted photo Battle River Community Foundation Director Neil Lunty, left, presents the cheque to Carol Ross, President of the Residents Club while Marj Lunte, Club Secretary Treasurer and Shelley Rose, Activity Coordinator at Big Knife Villa, look on.

The COUNTRY BOOSTER, August 24, 2021 – Page 7

High moisture is the top canola storage risk

By Angela Brackenreed

All canola should be conditioned immediately after combining to cool it down, even out the temperature throughout the bin, and remove any moisture released through natural seed respiration that occurs in the first hours to weeks after harvest.

In some cases, canola will need some extra care to make it safe for longterm storage. A Canola Watch Twitter poll in midSeptember asked farmers, “Which risk are you most concerned about for your binned (or soon to be binned) canola?” Forty-five per cent of respondents chose, “Nothing major so far”, which is good, but 38 per cent said moisture, 10 per cent said green seed, and seven per cent said dockage. This article describes each of these risks.

The ideal moisture is eight per cent, but growers should consider moisture and temperature together. For example, eight per cent moisture is still too high if the grain temperature is 25ºC or more, and 10 per cent is probably low enough if the grain temperature is cooled to 5ºC or less.

Moisture creates a more hospitable environment for moulds that trigger heating. Clumping is a sign of mould growth. This can occur fairly quickly.

Lab-based research found that canola seeds at 25ºC and 10.6 per cent moisture clumped together after 11

days, and visible mould colonies appeared after 21 days. With variable conditions in most bins, clumping may occur more quickly in an on-farm situation.

Green canola seeds can increase the storage risk, even if canola is dry and cool. Monitor closely.

Small shriveled canola seed, which often comes with high green seed, can mean smaller air pockets between seeds in the bin. Smaller particles will increase the resistance to air flow. This makes it even more important to leave the fan on, as it will need to work longer to cool the entire bulk.

Weed seeds tend to contain more moisture than canola seeds, especially if they are green or immature. These high-moisture seeds may not be enough to elevate overall grain moisture tests, but if they congregate in pockets in the bin, they can create a localized hot spot for spoilage to begin. Bits of green plant material in the sample similarly increase the risk.

Without a spreader in the bin, chaff tends to concentrate closer to the walls of the bin and fines closer to the centre of the bin.

This distribution exaggerates airflow problems, with more air taking the path of least resistance up along the walls of the bin and less pushing through the central core. Chaff can also have higher moisture than seed, adding to the risk.

That is why concentrated areas of chaff could be a

start point for spoilage, even in a bin where the seeds test dry.

In some years, the canola harvest sample can include a lot of grasshoppers, crickets, cabbage seedpod weevils and even flea beetles. Vincent Hervet, stored product entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says insect species that come from the field are not a problem with regard to feeding on canola in the bin. However, he says that if the grain has a lot of dead insects coming from the field, the grain should be conditioned (even dried, if necessary) to prevent the development of mould.

Hervet adds that canola is not a hospitable environment for most storage insects. Often insects found in canola storage are those that were in the bin prior to loading from previous cereals or other decaying material, but they generally are unable to survive in a canola bin.

If bins are treated this fall with malathion to remove any previously-existing storage insects, note that those bins cannot be used for canola.

Hot canola may be a big concern this year. Canola binned hot, even if it has low moisture, low dockage and low green, should be put on aeration to cool it down. This will even out the temperature throughout the bin, and help remove some of the moisture from respiring seed. Even at low moisture, air movements

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within the bin could concentrate this moisture. Try to get canola down to below 15ºC at harvest time, then turn that fan on again in the early winter to bring it down even lower. Don’t be afraid to freeze a bulk during periods of cold winter weather.

Farmers can find more information in the storage chapter at

canolaencyclopedia.ca and under the harvest and storage tab at canolawatch. org. If canola needs to be dried, look for the Canola Watch article called “Tips for Drying Tough or Damp Canola”.

Angela Brackenreed is an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada.

Canadian Grain Commission Photo

Spoilage brought on by these risk factors can lead to a bin of heated canola, as shown here.

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Safe exchange sites

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By Lori Larsen

With the increase of fraud and other criminal activity surrounding online purchasing and selling, law enforcement agencies are encouraging people to use safe exchange sites to complete legal transactions, with the goal of reducing the number of people being scammed or worse.

Wetaskiwin /Camrose RCMP, Camrose Police Service (CPS) and the County of Camrose (Protective Services) have joined together to provide safer communities with the Safe Exchange Site program now located at the Camrose RCMP detachment (6410-48 Avenue) on the east side of the building.

Camrose and surrounding area residents are welcome to use the sites located directly in front of the detachment as a safer place to meet with potential buyers and sellers.

“We recently installed signs at the front of these parking spots indicating that they can be used by anyone wishing to make a legal transaction,” explained Wetaskiwin/ Camrose RCMP Community Liaison Corporal Kevin Krebs, adding that Camrose Police Service and the Camrose County Protective Services are also on board with educating residents on the use of the Safe Exchange Sites.

Showing a united front in the fight against crime, the RCMP, CPS and Camrose County support any initiative that promotes public safety.

“Camrose County (Enforcement) has come on board with this initiative.

With online buying and shopping so prevalent now, this is an opportunity to create a safe place(s) where people can feel comfortable and safely exchanging goods,” said Camrose County manager of Protective Services and director of Emergency Management Sergeant Mike Kuzio.

The Safe Exchange sites are posted as such, with signs indicating the parking areas, usually located in front of the participating agencies, can be used for people wishing to conduct legal online transactions in a neutral and safe location.

“The chances of someone defrauding you are likely to be decreased if they are asked to meet outside of a police station,” said Krebs.

However, he noted that while the Police Station provides a less than attractive backdrop to criminal activity, meeting at any

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widely public place, such as a mall parking lot or a busy public area, will also serve as a deterrent.

“Even with Safe Exchange Sites, a person can still try to defraud you,” commented Krebs.

“Your best line of defence is to always be on the defence, and if something just doesn’t seem right, go with your instincts and get away, and if you are at all suspicious, report it to the police.”

It should be noted that the participating agencies do not assume any liability for or to anyone using the Safe Exchange sites to conduct a transaction.

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Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Pictured left to right: Camrose County manager of Protective Services and director of Emergency Management Sergeant Mike Kuzio, Camrose/ Wetaskiwin RCMP Community Liaison Corporal Kevin Krebs and Camrose Police Service Crime Prevention and Police and Crisis Team (PACT) officer Constable Kelly Bauer stand near the dedicated parking spots for safe exchange of online purchasing or selling.