By Nick Dunn

In last month’s column, I discussed the history, behaviours, and life cycle of the coyote, as it is crucial information for understanding how to control them. With a growing coyote population, it has raised concerns about their impact on livestock, pets, and human safety for rural, and urban residents. These canines are very adaptable to their environment and intelligent, which makes them difficult to control. There are many strategies that can be implemented to help reduce the risks of predatory attack and manage their populations.

For livestock producers, some traditional methods we have implemented are trapping, shooting, and poisoning. These methods are lethal and are not necessarily the best management practices available. Although the coyote can be controlled with lethal methods year-round on private land, they are still a valuable part of our environment, which is why we need to adopt sound husbandry practices to reduce interactions between livestock and coyotes. These practices include herd surveillance, closely monitoring your livestock until they become large enough to defend themselves. First time calvers should not be left unattended in open range situations. Corralling at night with smaller livestock is another practice, but this doesn’t pertain to cattle as they are relatively safe from coyote attacks outside of calving season. Livestock behaviour can be a telltale if they have been attacked previously. Some signs of frequent attacks would be an increase in nervousness, and being more alert and fearful than usual. For sheep, if they have been attacked or disturbed, they will tend to break into smaller groups or be more scattered. Coyote predation on livestock is a learned behaviour; introducing them to young, sick, injured livestock, and livestock carrion will promote this behaviour. Age classing should also be considered; not placing young livestock on open pasture until they can defend themselves will greatly reduce the potential for attacks. The best method for preventing livestock predation is guard animals, when they live full-time with the flock or herd. Dogs, donkeys, and llamas have all been used successfully within our County to protect our livestock and the choice depends on the livestock needing protection, predators, budget, or personal preference.

Rural and urban residents can also face coyote predation. Urban areas don’t pose as much of a risk compared to rural areas but it ultimately depends on the availability of food sources. It’s important to keep yard sites clear of garbage, pet food, and small prey like rodents. By eliminating their food sources, the likelihood of coyote interactions is significantly lowered. Coyotes will generally avoid human interaction but will occasionally target small pets if given the opportunity. If you live on the outskirts of your municipality, you would be at greater risk than those that live within. It’s important for pet owners to supervise their pets and children outdoors, especially during dusk and dawn when coyotes are most active. Most encounters happen during walks on remote pathways; be sure to stay in well-lit areas and if an encounter does occur, try to get something between you and the predator itself like a fence or walking stick. Staying calm is very important, avoid turning your back, maintain eye contact, talk with a firm voice, and back away slowly if possible. After the encounter has taken place, it is important to report this issue to local authorities so they can help ensure that this encounter doesn’t take place again.

Of these management practices mentioned, there isn’t one practice that will ultimately stop the threat of predators for livestock producers, and urban and rural residents. The best management practice is to adopt as many of these controls as possible. By employing these methods, we can coexist with coyotes while preserving the ecological balance.  

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

At our 2023 Flagstaff County Public Input Open House, we asked County residents to rank priorities for seven departments. Please go ahead and complete the brief priority-ranking surveys for each department. (You’ll see two priorities displayed at a time; simply click on which one is a priority for you. Keep making selections for a few moments until there are no more pairings displayed on the screen.)

• Communications
• Public Works
• Ag Services
• Planning and Development
• Economic Development
• Protective Services
• Regional Programs

By Nick Dunn

Coyotes are a canine species that are native to North America and can be devastating for livestock producers and rural residents. Coyotes can cause a loss of animals, typically during calving season, which can cause financial strain and impact to producers’ bottom line. The Agricultural Pests Act, and the Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation declares the coyote to be a nuisance animal, which allows municipalities to supply landowners with control devices and materials. This also enables landowners to take control measures on their own land or permit someone as long as it is on their land. Livestock producers have adopted multiple control measures to control coyotes that some rural residents have also practiced. To effectively control coyotes, we need to understand their history, behaviours, and life cycle, which we’ll discuss during this column. Next month’s column will be part two, where I will discuss control methods and Integrated Pest Management.

The coyote population has been increasing since our early settlers established our agricultural industry. They were ultimately here first and our impact on the environment has increased their food supply through livestock production and decreased their predator population. Canines are very adaptable animals and they have adapted to our evolving environments according to their food supply. Their ability to adapt has made them difficult to control. Although if coyotes breed with domestic canines, offspring are infertile. Coyotes are highly reproductive and can have between five and 17 pups on average. With an increased food chain, we have experienced larger litters from the parents, which leads to an increased predator population.

Coyotes are monogamous, which means they will only mate with one partner at a time. The life span of coyotes can reach up to 14 years but on average they survive from six to eight years. Depending on local weather, coyotes will breed in February and will give birth 63 days later. Both parents take care of the young and there is a large requirement for food to raise them. The pups are kept in maternal dens for up to two months during whelping and start venturing further each day. It is at this time predation is at its maximum, about three weeks after birth when the pups start eating solid food. With that, if your calving season is in April and May, producers need to be aware that this is when coyotes are feeding the most. The family will stick together until late fall, then the pups will take off for breeding season. The reproductive potential for coyotes is extremely high; they are sexually mature at one year old but often don’t reproduce until their second year. Coyotes are carnivorous and therefore feed on small animals, rodents and insects, which requires control and defense for livestock producers and rural residents. The home range of a coyote is quite variable and depends on the terrain and food supply but typically a three to eight square-kilometre area is the norm, with a density of approximately one coyote per square kilometre. Stay tuned for next month’s column, where I will discuss the different control methods for livestock producers and rural residents.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

By Nick Dunn

With the latest trends in the agricultural industry, awareness towards diversification has been increasing amongst producers. Diversification is a risk management tool used in many industries that involves investing in different assets to minimize the overall risk of the investment portfolio. As the saying goes, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a clear defining reason as to why diversification can help improve the economic prosperity of the operation. Having all your eggs in one basket can make your business vulnerable to risks and market disruptions that can affect a particular product or service that you may be marketing. Diversifying into many markets will help farming operations achieve long-term sustainability. One of the main reasons we see farms diversifying today in my opinion is to generate more revenue streams. Especially with the latest trends, we are starting to see fewer but much larger farms, which has led to increased competition and land prices.

For the producers, one common diversification method used is growing specialty crops within their crop rotation. Some of the specialty crops in our area have been hemp, triticale, beans, silage corn, peas, and lentils. During my time at Olds College, we went on a farm tour to a carrot farm near Bowden. They had a great succession story when they took over their family’s grain and oilseed farm and diversified it into producing carrots and other specialty crops typically not grown in Alberta on a large scale. The farm wasn’t big enough to support their families’ financial needs and they couldn’t afford to purchase more land. So, they had to better utilize their main asset. They invested in some new equipment and now have over 30 years of producing sweet carrots and other crops including cole crops, beets, dill, parsnips, peppers, eggplant, and other produce. Another common way we see diversification within farming operations is value added marketing like organic production. Value added can be anything that will add value to your product through production, processing, packaging, and even branding. It has been proven that consumers are willing to pay more for products if they know how, where, and when it was produced. Consumers are also willing to pay more if they know who has produced it, which opens doors to another diversifying opportunity and that is direct marketing. We are very fortunate that we have many producers in Flagstaff County that have chosen to market their products directly as a way of diversifying. Many local products can be found on the Flagstaff Crafted website at www.flagstaffcrafted.ca.

In local cattle production, diversification has been very important because of a poor return on beef livestock sold at auction. Prices of inputs have risen exponentially, while the dollar-per-pound figure has stayed relatively constant. Some diversification strategies include value added and direct marketing including changing/adding different types of livestock to production, a change in production entirely (cow-calf, backgrounding stock, feedlot production, etc.), and organic or grass-fed beef.

Diversification can also open opportunities to be a service provider. There are many farming operations that offer custom services with their equipment to generate more revenue to help pay for the high costs of equipment needed to operate on their own farm. This can include anything from being an agronomist to offering transportation services once the crop is off. Of course, this needs to be balanced so it doesn’t affect your own operations. For some producers, unfortunately, our economy has led them to find a source of off-farm income, which is not diversification. There are many ways that farms can diversify, and this can help offset the trend of fewer but larger farms and competition that comes with it.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

Flagstaff County has updated our Land Use Bylaw (LUB).

A Land Use Bylaw is a planning document that all municipalities in Alberta are required to adopt. It is the primary ‘instruction manual’ for land use and development in the County. The County’s previous Land Use Bylaw was adopted in 2018 and was due for an update.

For a copy of our new Land Use Bylaw 01/23, click HERE. There is a Table of Contents at the front of the document that can assist in finding what you are looking for. If you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to call the Planning and Development Department at either 780-384-4102 or 780-384-4130.

Following is a response to questions and concerns that were expressed at the recent Public Hearing regarding Flagstaff County’s Land Use Bylaw 01/23.

Why are sea cans not allowed on agricultural parcels?

In the Agricultural District, a maximum of up to three sea cans is a permitted development, and four or more sea cans, is a discretionary use. Both can be applied for through the Development Permit process.

Please see Section 8.25 of our Land Use Bylaw for further information regarding sea cans.

Clarification on the definition for “excavation”

There is no requirement for a development permit for farming practices such as the cultivating of soil.

Enforcement and appeal processes are weak

Enforcement to remedy Land Use Bylaw contraventions, dangers and unsightly properties, are initiated when realized by Flagstaff County administration or by notification from the public.

Written submission of a concern or complaint must be received by the County to investigate the issue.

Depending on the issue, the County is empowered and directed by the Municipal Government Act to utilize the following enforcement tools:

• Flagstaff County’s Land Use Bylaw 01/23 – Section 5 Enforcement
• Flagstaff County’s Nuisance Bylaw 02/23
• Municipal Government Act – Sections 545, 546, or 645

Enforcement can be very arduous and may require legal assistance.

An Enforcement Order can be appealed to either Flagstaff County Council or the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board depending on which Section the Order was issued under.

Issues between neighbours

The County will address issues that are related to a Development Permit; however, it is not in the County’s jurisdiction to resolve other disputes between neighbours.

The Land Use Bylaw is too large of a document

There is a Table of Contents at the beginning of the document that can assist in locating a particular section of the Land Use Bylaw.  There is also a “Guide to Using the Land Use Bylaw” on page vii of the Land Use Bylaw.

Alternatively, you can discuss your proposal or concern with Planning and Development staff.  County staff are well trained and eager to assist you with your development, subdivision or general inquiry issues and to explain procedures.  They can also assist with other situations such as enforcement or a Land Use Bylaw amendment. 

What areas of the County are classed as “residential”?

Forming part of the “Interpretation” section of the Land Use Bylaw is “Districts” defined as follows:

• “Districts, residential” means the Hamlet General (HG) District for a residential use and the Multi-Lot Country Residential (MCR) District;
• “districts, agricultural” means the Agricultural (a) District and the Agricultural (AI) Small Holdings District;
• “districts, commercial” means the Highway Commercial (HC) District and sometimes the Hamlet General (HG) District (only if there is a commercial development on the parcel);
• “districts, industrial” means the Industrial (I) District, the Rural Industrial (RI District and the Hamlet Industrial (HI) District;
• “districts, institutional” means the Hamlet Public (HP) District.

Proposed height of 40 ft for a Wind Energy Conversion System, Micro

Development Permit approval is not required for a Wind Energy Conversion System, Micro.  However, the development must still meet with the setback regulations of the Land Use Bylaw.  If a tower taller than 40 ft. is proposed, development permit approval will be required.

The Development Authority has too many opportunities to apply discretion

The Municipal Government Act allows Council to delegate decision making power, and the Land Use Bylaw provides guidelines regulating how the Development Authority uses the discretion given to them by Council.  The Land Use Bylaw provides clear regulations for development in the County and the Development Authority acts in accordance with regulations in the Land Use Bylaw.  Discretion is typically exercised only when a subject site exhibits unique site characteristics.

The general rule of thumb is that every development must conform to the Land Use Bylaw, if there are going to be variances to the Land Use Bylaw, there should be some unusual circumstances to justify the variance.

By Nick Dunn

Growing up in rural Alberta, one thing kids like to do with their free time is shoot gophers. As kids, we never thought of the impact these rodents would have on our family or friends’ land. We were having fun. Little did we know, we were helping them out! Gopher populations have been an ongoing problem and one control method remaining in place is gunpowder.

An important step to controlling Richardson’s ground squirrels (RGS) is to know their life cycle and behaviour. With spring still far away but fast approaching, now is the time to start gathering rodenticide and create a plan to battle these rodents. Males will typically start to emerge in mid-February, two weeks before the adult females. Females will start feeding two weeks after their emergence, which would be the most effective time to start management practices (mid-March).

In March 2022, Health Canada ended the sales of 2% Liquid Strychnine in Alberta and following in March 2023, Strychnine possession and use will be prohibited. Depending on your situation, you may have relied on Strychnine to control gophers due to its high efficacy and because it’s user friendly. Health Canada recognized issues with Strychnine and the unfortunate fact that it impacted non-target wildlife, which is why they have taken this tool out of the toolbox. Flagstaff County stopped supplying Strychnine in March 2022.

So, what is left in the toolbox? There are still many other means to control gophers in Alberta. Some methods are more laborious than others, including traps that we sell at the County, and domestic and commercial baits and poisons such as Rozol, Ground Force, ZP Rodent Bait, and Gardex Rodent Bait Blocks. Another great but costly domestic option is the Giant Destroyer. Depending on the infestation, these methods might be impractical or not economically feasible.

For larger infestations, some common control methods are fumigants. Two types include phostoxin tablets (aluminum phosphide) and anhydrous ammonia. Phostoxin tablets require a Farmer Pesticide Certificate with a rodenticide endorsement in order to purchase and use. This method is economically feasible and is becoming more popular with the recent registration changes with Strychnine. Flagstaff County will be hosting a Farmer Pesticide Course in February and March. The February course is full but if you would like to attend in March, please contact me at 780-390-0342 and I will get you on the list for March or future courses. If you’re already certified and are trying to procure this product, Kneehill Soils in Three Hills has a good supply. Anhydrous ammonia has been used for many years and is very effective and feasible. However, it does come with some challenges, including certification of the applicator and handling equipment (gophinator). If you are interested in this form of control, you can talk to your local retailer for training and where to purchase the equipment and anhydrous.

Aside from fumigants, another option would be Rocon Mustard Seed Foam, which is an asphyxiant. This method is laborious but has the benefit of being economically feasible and effective. I would also argue that this form of control would be the safest of any rodenticide; it’s a food-grade foam with the ability to be used from playgrounds to pastures. The Flagstaff County Agricultural Service Board has agreed to supply mustard seed foam and kits to County landowners at cost recovery. Flagstaff County is committed to continuing to help producers get the required education to control pests on their own land.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

The winner of our 2023 Canada’s Agriculture Day Photo Contest is Brent Scheibner! His adorable photo garnered 188 votes (likes)!

Altogether, more than 2,500 votes were cast for the 64 photos that were submitted. Once again, thank you to everyone who submitted photos and cast votes!

Canada’s Agriculture Day is a day to recognize the work of all those who help produce the food that Canadians and people around the world eat. Today, on #CdnAgDay, let’s raise a fork to the Canadian food we love and the people who produce it! #ForksUp

All locally submitted photos can be viewed in our 2023 #CdnAgDay photo album on our Facebook page. Click HERE to see them!

Flagstaff County was founded on agriculture. With one million acres of fertile farmland and a temperate climate, the Flagstaff Region produces bountiful yields of wheat, canola, barley, peas, flax, oats and specialty crops with the potential to be processed locally in a low-cost business environment. Within the 638 farms located in the county, an estimated 70% of the region’s total cropland has been deemed to possess high-quality soils. Livestock is an important secondary activity, and the supply chain is well established. The Flagstaff Region offers opportunities in greenhouses, meat snacks, pulse foods, ready meats, agricultural services, craft value-added production, agritourism and farm succession.

An agricultural powerhouse with room to grow – spirit, family, and enterprise opportunity – affordably. Authentically solidified by our roots in the value of hand-waves and hand-shakes. Nine communities across 4,000 sq. km of prairie vista. There’s nothing….so beautiful.

A Land Use Bylaw is a planning document that all municipalities in Alberta are required to adopt. It is the primary ‘instruction manual’ for land use and development in the County. The County’s current Land Use Bylaw was adopted in 2018 and is due for an update.

For a PDF copy of the newly proposed Land Use Bylaw, please click HERE.

Background

We held a Public Open House on November 23, 2022, to discuss the proposed updates to our Land Use Bylaw.

Whether or not you made it out to the Open House, we welcome your feedback. Please read the following for all the information you will need to be involved in this process..

For a PDF of this information, please click HERE.

For a PDF containing the slides from the Open House presentation, please click HERE.

By Nick Dunn

On my travels throughout the County, I have seen an abundant number of established shelterbelts. In fact, I remember driving through the countryside with Brent Hoyland before he retired last year and him pointing out the now established shelterbelts that he planted many years ago. I was touched and I thought to myself, one day I will be in his shoes and be able to look back and have watched these trees grow along with my career.

Have you ever wondered how these got there, or why they’re there? I can assure you they didn’t spread seed and grow in a straight linear position. Previous generations were aware of the benefits that came with having shelterbelts around field boundaries and yard sites. The main reason shelterbelts were planted was to provide wind breaks. We found many additional benefits thereafter.

Although we don’t utilize shelterbelts like we once did, it’s nice to see some younger shelterbelts in place, proving landowners still see the benefits. There is also a lot of restoration happening with the older shelterbelts, as some of the tree species have reached the end of their life.

So, what are the benefits? Physically, they provide shelter from wind, pests, water and wind erosion, and spray drift. This can be the difference between a crop standing in good condition, and one that is lodged. Shelterbelts act as a border shield, which is our best defense from neighbouring pesticide and fertilizer applications, stopping the spread through drift, water, and soil erosion. In the winter, a shelterbelt will increase crop yields 10 to 20 times the height of the trees from the shelterbelt due to snow trapping and reduced evaporation by providing shade. This can be very significant, especially in a drought year, or the years following. Cereal crops benefit the most from having established shelterbelts.

In terms of livestock, there are physical similarities including protection against strong winds and providing shaded areas in extreme temperatures. Shelterbelts are known for reducing noise levels, dust, and odors which will increase animal health and reduce stress, leading to improved livestock productivity. All of these contribute to having a healthier and productive livestock herd.

On the biodiversity side, they provide a site for pollinators to live, which has been shown to increase canola oil yield per acre by 3%. Increased insect and bird life can also affect the insect pest populations and may help prevent pest outbreaks by welcoming their predators. Flagstaff County has implemented a Pollinator Habitat Establishment Program that was launched in 2022, where the County will seed small plots to contribute to pollinator conservation at no cost to the landowner.

Flagstaff County is committed to supporting the establishment of shelterbelts through our Shelterbelt Establishment Program. Available to County landowners, the application can be found on our website. To order online and for more information, go to https://www.flagstaff.ab.ca/county-services/ag-service-board/shelterbelt-establishment-program. You can also fill out an application by coming into the County office. Landowners will benefit through bulk pricing and 50% of costs on non-specialty trees are covered by Flagstaff County. Specialty tree orders will be eligible for bulk pricing but not the cost-share portion. The deadline to apply for the program is January 31, 2023. Orders will be confirmed and placed in early February and the trees will be available for pickup at the county shop in May. As well, the County also has a tree planter to rent out and a mulcher with plastic mulch available for weed control. Take advantage of this program and plant some trees!

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.

By Nick Dunn

An Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is a voluntary free self-assessment tool for producers who are committed to environmental stewardship. The program began in 2003 with a goal to help producers identify their environmental risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Provinces and territories of Canada have different methods to complete the plan. When the program launched in Alberta, there were binders that would take producers and technicians through the process of developing their own personal EFP that they would take home from their municipalities. In 2019, the Alberta EFP transitioned to an online workbook to help with the costs and efficiency of the program. Most provinces and territories are transitioning to this completion method. There will be a new version launched in early 2023 that will include a renewal process as they expire every 10 years and will need to be updated. This new version will also have a conversion feature to encourage producers to convert their binder workbooks to the online platform. The online experience will also help producers update their EFP on an ongoing basis and allow for the plans to be carried out remotely with or without their technician. If you would like help with your EFP, there are technicians throughout the province such as myself, as well as workshops you can attend for support through this assessment process. 

To date, one in four Western Canadian farmers have completed an EFP. Producers who have an EFP benefit economically, environmentally and socially. Some environmental benefits would be to help protect water, soil, air, and biodiversity. This all goes for being a steward of the land, which comes with intangible social benefits like recognition from neighbours and other agriculture operations. An EFP acts as a pre-requisite for federal (60%), provincial and territorial (40%) grant funding which will be formerly known as the Canadian Agricultural Partnership in Alberta (CAP). This funding can be fully reimbursed to be cost-shared with the producer and contains maximums depending on the program. In April 2023, the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) will be launched with $500 million in new funds, representing a 25% increase in the cost-shared portion. New focuses with SCAP will include building sector, climate and environment protection, research, science, innovation, market development, trade, resiliency and public trust.

If you have any questions or are thinking about starting or renewing your online EFP, please contact me at 780-390-0342 or Murray Warnke at 780-352-8651. You can also visit their website at www.albertaefp.com to start the application process or to find more information.

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.