Cypress County Agricultural Services

Soil Conservation and Water Quality

The Alberta Environmental Farm Plan (AEFP) process helps farmers identify and address environmental risks and opportunities in their operation. This plays a key part in safeguarding the local environment. A healthy environment is essential to the success of Alberta’s agricultural producers.  The AEFP process consists of an introductory workshop (about 4 hrs long), worksheets to be completed at home, a second workshop to discuss identified risks & finalize the plan, and finally a review of the plan by a panel of leading-edge producers.  If the plan is "deemed appropriate", a Certificate of Completion will be issued.  Check out the AEFP Website for further details or contact local workshop facilitator Brenda Stryker (403-867-2103) of Foremost to attend a workshop.

Producers who want to access funds from the Canada-Alberta Farm Stewardship Program will need an approved Environmental Farm Plan.

The CAFSP is the Alberta component of the National Farm Stewardship Program, an initiative funded under the Agricultural Policy Framework.  The overall objective of the CAFSP is accelerated adoption of beneficial management practices (BMPs) on Canadian farms and agricultural landscapes.  This will be achieved through the provision of cost shared incentives and technical assistance to producers for the implementation of BMPs that address on-farm environmental risks.  Applicants must have an  approved Alberta Environmental Farm Plan and an Alberta Farm Fuel Number.  Up to $50,000 is available per farm until March 31, 2008, with four application dates each year.  Eligible projects will fall into one of 26 categories and will be funded either 30% or 50%.

More information can be obtained from PFRA at 1-800-667-8567.

In February, 2002, a new step in our environmentally sustainable agriculture program saw the County of Forty Mile ASB and the Cypress County ASB join together to contract the services of a Conservation Coordinator.  Information and assistance is provided to help producers with soil conservation and water quality issues, such as direct seeding, integrated crop rotations, and better management practices along waterways.  This includes working with the Cypress County Watershed Group to implement riparian area demonstrations along with Cows & Fish riparian health assessments.

This program is funded through the Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) program.  The second three-year phase started in 2005.  The Partnership is now concentrating  on nutrient management, sustainable grazing and riparian management, and integrated crop management, which includes responsible pesticide use and soil conservation.  

One major project undertaken each year is working on the agenda and trade show of the Reduced Tillage Conference for the Southern Alberta Conservation Association (SACA).

Our Conservation Coordinator is Bob Kaufman, P.Ag.  Bob works from his home as a contractor to the Partnership.

You can contact him by phone at (403) 878-6994, or by email.

Any producer planning to implement a pasture pipeline or other water improvement on their farm may want to apply for funding through the Canada - Alberta Farm Water Program.  The program will pay one-third of development costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per producer, for eligible water supply projects.  Larger group projects may be funded by the Canada-Alberta Water Supply Expansion Program.  Local PFRA offices have details.