Agricultural Services

Rental Equipment  |  Roadside Spraying  |  Rat Control  |  Environmental Farm Plans  |  Hamlet Parks          
                       ASB Contacts

The agricultural services department receives direction from the Agricultural Service Board (ASB). This department is responsible for administering and developing programs to compliment the Agricultural Service Board Act, the Weed Control Act, the Agricultural Pests Act and the Soil Conservation Act. (Copies of these Acts can be found on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's website.)

They are also responsible for assisting local producers with Environmental Farm Plans, and with the application process for Growing Forward grant funding.

Other areas of responsibility include hamlet park maintenance, brush control in rights-of-ways and agricultural education and awareness.

Agricultural Serivce Board contact info

Chairman

Garry Lentz (councilor): Phone: 403.527.0378 : Email

Members

Bob Olson (councilor): Phone: 403.898.2184: Email

Jerry Clark (councilor): Phone: 403.527.0179: Email

Conny Kappler (member at large): Phone: 403.580.5582: Email

Don Wong (member at large): Phone: 403.488.3676: Email

Staff

Jason Storch (Agricultural Fieldman): Phone: 403.526.2888: Email

Christina Barrieau (Assistant Agricultural Fieldman): Phone: 403.526.2888: Email

Rental Equipment
Cypress County has several pieces of rental equipment available to rate payers
This includes:

• Two 15 foot John Deere no-till drills
• Cattle scale
• Weigh wagon
• Shelterbelt mulch applicator
• Skunk and raccoon traps
• Back Pack Sprayers
• ATV Sprayer attachment 
• Tree planters
• Pasture pipeline plow
• Solar cattle waterer
• Exit applicator

To check the availability of any of the equipment or to book the equipment for use please contact the County office.

Roadside Spraying
Roadside (from the edge of the road to the fence line) spraying is done to keep weeds in the ditch from spreading into the adjacent field. The weeds that are primarily targeted are those that are listed in the regulations of the Weed Control Act. We do not blanket spray the ditches, but rather spot spray individual plants or patches of weeds.

The County’s roadsides are sprayed on a rotational basis, with 1/3 of the county’s roads being sprayed each year. Any newly constructed roads are sprayed, as needed, for at least 3 years, or until the grass is sufficiently established to out compete most weeds.

Herbicides that are used include, Milestone, Clearview, 2,4-D, Glyphosate, Garlon, and Tordon 22K.

Cypress County does not allow organic producers to use any part of the municipal right-of-way for a buffer zone. Organic producers are encouraged to contact the county to alert the Ag Services department of their organic status. Staff will do their best to ensure that they are careful in those areas, but the county reserves the right to control weeds in the right-of-way as needed.

For more information please contact the Cypress County  office.

Rat Control
The Norway Rat is designated as a pest under the Agricultural Pests Act and as such must be destroyed when found.

If you think that you have seen a rat all residents are encouraged to contact the county.

Since Cypress County borders Saskatchewan, we have a contract with the Province stating that we will inspect all possible rat habitat within 12 miles of the Saskatchewan border. These inspections take place in November and December.

For information on identifying rats and steps you can take to protect your property go to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's website on Rat Control. 

For more information please contact the Cypress County office.

Environmental Farm Plans and Growing Forward
If you are interested in doing an Environmental Farm Plan for you operation or would like to apply for Growing Forward funding, you can contact the Cypress County office and Christina Barrieau can assist you with the process.

Hamlet Parks Maintenance
Cypress County’s Ag Department is responsible for mowing the grass and basic maintenance of the parks and green spaces in Desert Blume and Irvine.  All other hamlets have community associations that are responsible for maintaining their parks.