Each October, “Small Business Week” celebrates the entrepreneurs that contribute so much to our communities. With the continued stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more important to highlight the resiliency, passion and hard work our local business owners have shown. They continue to persevere and keep themselves and our communities strong!

With the 2021 harvest behind us there is actually some time available to do fall work. That just might include fall application of fertilizer for next year’s crop. Often, but not always, fertilizer is cheaper in the fall than the spring. In a lot of years, fall fertilization makes economic sense and it also saves time the following spring.

Please be advised that the Council meeting on November 24, 2021 has been cancelled.

Flagstaff County is monitoring all developments related to COVID-19. 

Once again, the Flagstaff Food Bank will be coordinating the Christmas Sharing Program.

Crews are working on the following.  

Attention all rural Flagstaff County landowners: Got a service request for Public Works, such as a sewer or road issue?

Looking for an up-to-date Flagstaff County ownership map?

Safely dispose of unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides and livestock/equine medications at no charge in the Castor area on Oct. 28, 2021.

Limited spots remain in the Innovation Masterclass! Flagstaff County invites you to register for this incredible opportunity. You will experience global ideas, innovative thinking, idea development, public speaking and leadership skills.

Grow your knowledge about all things agricultural in Flagstaff County!
Watch all of the episodes of "In the field with Harry" featuring Flagstaff County Agricultural Fieldman Harry Brook.

Rural residents know all too well (pun intended) that without water, a yard site is worthless. After the dry conditions this summer, we’ve seen surface water dry up and shallow aquifers become iffy. Water is the basic necessity for life in rural Alberta. How do you ensure it is permanently available for you and future generations?

From Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and Instagram, Flagstaff County takes pride in having a strong and engaging social media presence.

While these are all open forums, they are also family-friendly and we ask that you follow our general posting guidelines.

Long Term Care is an interesting, challenging, and continually changing field, with some of the most complex patients in healthcare. Alberta Health Services has an exciting opportunity to grow your career in the hamlet of Galahad. Search and apply online at AHS.ca/jobs.

By Harry Brook

This summer has been particularly difficult for livestock producers. Hay yielded less than 50% of a normal crop and producers have been scrambling to find enough feed to feed their cattle through the winter.

It doesn’t happen every year but this year might be a good year. I’m talking about post-harvest weed control. In general, most annual weeds are best controlled in the spring, before they get too big. Perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, perennial sow thistle and quackgrass are best controlled in the fall. There are a group of weeds that are not necessarily either annual or perennial weeds. They are called winter annuals.

Early harvest can be an opportunity to try something a little different this fall. Get the jump on spring work by seeding a fall cereal. Fall cereals have numerous advantages and can really work well in disrupting weed problems as well as saving time in the busy spring period. The common winter cereals grown are winter wheat, fall rye and winter triticale.

Kochia used to be a plant associated with the southern parts of the province. However, over the years, this weed has continued to spread and is becoming a serious problem in Central Alberta. Kochia is very salt-tolerant and starts to grow in those areas where salinity prevents many other plants from growing.

Congratulations to Flagstaff County Peace Officer Rob Campbell, who has been awarded the Alberta Emergency Services Medal (12 years) from Alberta Municipal Affairs recognizing the hard work and dedication he has exhibited.

For years, the simple and effective way to dry down a crop to speed maturity and reduce moisture content in a crop, was to cut it and put it into a swath. Depending on weather conditions, the crop could be dry enough to combine or thresh in a week to 10 days. Maybe longer if it was cool.

Kristy Jackson, Flagstaff County’s Economic Development Officer, and Ava Bergseth, one of Flagstaff County’s promising young citizens, sport Flagstaff Region’s new apparel line. The apparel line supports a project the Economic Development Team is currently working on called Succeeding Together.

It has been a very challenging year for agriculture in Alberta. Extreme temperatures coupled with little rain has led to drastically reduced crop yield potential and little pasture and hay growth. Many counties and municipalities have declared their areas to be agricultural disaster areas. What does it really mean?

Everyone is aware that plants hit by frost can accumulate nitrates, but did you know that any stress can cause the same thing to happen? In fact, drought is probably the worst situation for nitrate to concentrate in forage plants.

As we get into late summer, it means the ASB staff is getting into the field. Don’t be too startled if you see someone with a safety vest wandering around your wheat or canola field. One of the many responsibilities the agricultural fieldman and staff have, over the summer, is to assist the provincial agricultural department in several disease and insect surveys.

With the high temperatures, no appreciable snow runoff this spring and little rain, you should be aware of changes to surface water quality and its effects on livestock. Cattle have been known to have died when their sole water source has very high levels of sulfates and cases of refusing to drink poor water are not unknown.

One of the main weeds we have in this county that seems to be spreading is white cockle. At this time of year, you see a lot of flowers showing up along fence lines, especially in the boundary between the field crop and the edge of the road. The field edge is a difficult zone as some over-spraying by field operators can leave patches of bare soil, the perfect place for invasive weeds to start.

Different areas of the province are either in dry conditions or in a drought. Some cereal, legume (pea and lentil) and canola crops are under stress and are not likely to make it to harvest. These crops can be used as feed for ruminant animals.

Crops are up but moisture levels are low. The crop is hurting from the heat and some retailers may suggest you use fungicide to protect yield potential. Is this a good idea? Crop diseases tend to be a problem under cool or warm, moist conditions. For most diseases, you spray to prevent the spread of the disease on the leaves or stem. Should you be concerned about this under conditions of moisture stress?

Severe heat waves, such as the one we are now experiencing, can and do have a very serious effect on growing crops, especially when they are at this crucial stage of bolting and head formation. Our common field crops do best under conditions of warm temperatures. They photosynthesize best from about 5˚ to 25˚ C.

Rolling cropland makes a lot of good sense, especially if you have pulses to seed. It pushes the rocks down and smooths the fields making harvest easier, can limit dirt tag on pulses and can benefit silage harvesting, too! It prevents costly damage to the combine, if the crop lodges. However, a few basic rules need to be followed to make sure it’s beneficial, and not causing other problems.

On behalf of the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society (FRESS), please see the following news release.

We are in the middle of spray season. Some canola producers are using insecticide on their canola and others are trying to spray the emerging crop for weeds. It is a major crop expense but how do you maximize the results from your spray dollar?

The crop is starting to emerge. What insect pests should you be on the lookout for?

Canola starts out as a tiny, fragile plant, once germinated. Insignificant flea beetles can really devastate a canola crop at the cotyledon stage. It isn’t helped when we have cool periods in spring where the canola growth stalls. This is the time to be vigilant about flea beetles.

Tax and Assessment Notices for 2021 were mailed to Flagstaff County, Strome and Galahad property owners on May 28.

If you have not received your notice by June 15, please contact our office at 780-384-4100.

Happy Day of the Honey Bee!

As the world's most important plant pollinator, the bee plays a critical role in our food system.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re making plans.” This statement also applies to agricultural production. You make plans for a successful crop with the right amount of seed, fertilizer and equipment then hope for the best. Sometimes, you find spots in the field where something is not working. Time to examine the area closer and figure out what is going on.

The Flagstaff Bike Challenge is back! This year's challenge starts June 1, 2021, and will run until August 31, 2021.

Seed treatment. Another cost and what’s the benefit? Seed treatment with a mix of fungicides and possibly insecticides, is a lot like an insurance policy. Under ideal conditions at seeding you put your seed into the ground at just the perfect depth, moisture and temperature and quickly, up it comes!. Under soil temperatures at 10˚C and adequate moisture, the crop rapidly germinates, emerges and begins the journey to a productive crop.

Pack up the RV and don’t forget the S’mores! Our campgrounds are now open for the 2021 season!

National Public Works Week is May 16-22, 2021! This week we celebrate public works professionals in our communities and nationwide for all the value and important services they bring to our residents!

Notice is given that on April 26, 2021, Flagstaff County was issued an Approval to construct and maintain a dugout located in SE 26-44-15-W4M.

Flagstaff County has a primary responsibility to provide road access and weed control along County roads. The job is not as easy as it sounds. One area of concern is the encroachment of agricultural cropping into the County road right-of way. No big deal you say?

Every spring there is a strong temptation for livestock producers: getting the cattle out onto pasture as soon as possible. However, putting cattle on grass before it is ready will limit the grazing you can get out of it for the entire season and even longer. The why of this is dependent on the way grass grows.

AltaLink, through its contractor Stantec, is doing an Amphibian Environmental Survey on one of their proposed transmission line routes. This work is starting in May and continuing through to mid-June and is done in the evening through the early morning, usually commencing after 8:00 p.m. and finishing at 2:00 a.m.

The wait is over! We are over the moon excited to present a sampling of the beautiful products crafted within the Flagstaff Region, along with a feature on a few of our talented makers. We hope this second edition of the Gift Guide will help you discover beautiful, locally crafted gifts. We take great pride in creating the Flagstaff Crafted bi-annual gift guide and hope you enjoy it as much as we do creating it!

A few years ago, the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) changed their rules for the registration of fertilizer products. Up until then, any registered product had to be shown to be both effective and safe for the environment. Well, they changed the rules so that now a fertilizer only needs to be proven to be safe. There are some “fertilizer” products out there that may not actually improve yield but they are safe!

In lieu of our annual public open house due to ongoing COVID restrictions, Council is using the Flagstaff County podcast to publicly engage with residents.

So far, I’ve mostly talked about nitrogen. Let’s not forget there are other nutrients needed by the crop. The graph below shows the amount of nutrient uptake cereal crops have taken from the soil and when. Canola and other oilseeds are much the same. The nutrients must be available early on or you risk reduced yields.

With the Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society nearing the final stages of forming a regional fire department, the hunt for a fire services manager has begun. An opportunity profile has been developed by the hiring committee in tandem with HumanEdge Executive Search, a recruitment firm tasked with helping the society find their leading man or woman.

It takes investment to build community. The citizens of Flagstaff County — the “Community of communities” — contributed nearly $6 million last year in support of a variety of activities and services.

Here is a breakdown of regional funding the County provided in 2020.

Last week I talked about nitrogen, primarily applied to annual crops, preferably banded, next to the seed row. But what about nitrogen fertilizer on perennial crops? This is another kettle of fish. It must be applied to the soil surface and risks of losses are greater, unless you have irrigation.

The Makadiff Sports RESTART Program is offering targeted financial support totalling $300,000 to eligible grassroots sport organizations to assist in their recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

Flagstaff County is now offering one-on-one business strategy sessions with business coach Amanda Wagner, to small businesses in the Flagstaff Region.

Spring is rapidly approaching and that means seeding season. A large part of seeding costs is fertilizer. The most important nutrient for plant growth (after water), is nitrogen. How much is enough and how effective is your fertilizer application? To understand how this works we need to look at the nitrogen cycle.

Municipalities have experienced significant financial impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada are providing operating funding support to municipalities through the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST). This funding is provided as part of the Safe Restart Agreement.

As spring approaches, many people have their crop varieties lined up, germination tested and cleaned. For those who are looking for the latest and greatest, it might be a good idea to review the factors that should be considered when choosing a new crop variety.

It’s a good question and should be asked occasionally, especially when thinking about transitioning out of farming. Are you farming for the next generation to take over? Is there clear understanding between dad and the children?

Do you have a problem with gophers (a.k.a. Richardson’s ground squirrels)? There is no better time than now to prepare to do battle with these destructive rodents. Every one you get now means a lot fewer progeny in the summer.

The Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada are providing operating funding support to municipalities through the Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST). This funding is provided as part of the Safe Restart Agreement. Municipal Operating Support Transfer (MOST) Funding provides support to municipalities which have experienced significant operating impacts due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It's no secret that Flagstaff County – with one million acres of fertile farmland – is steeped in a rich farming tradition. But did you know that Flagstaff County is home to the most Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award recipients?

Last week I talked about soil compaction and the effects it has on crop growth. I also mentioned gumbo soils. What is commonly called a “gumbo” soil is actually a soil type with structural problems. These soils are also known as Solonetzic soils and they have a heavy clay, impermeable or semi-impermeable layer just under the topsoil.

There is a lot of talk about soil compaction, with plenty of machinery dealers willing to sell the newest and greatest implements to deal with it. However, do we really have a soil compaction problem? That is a question worth answering!

There is a lot of talk about bees and pollination and modern agriculture. In canola production, they can work hand in hand. With hybrid canola production in Southern Alberta, producers use both honeybees and leaf cutter bees to boost canola seed yield.

The provincial agriculture department recently released their survey for wheat midge in the province. Guess where they predict a hot spot for 2021? The north part of the county!

The soil environment is a very complex place where many types of organisms live. There are protozoans, bacteria, nematode and fungi. Some are very useful to crop production. One of the most interesting ones, in my mind, is the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or AM fungi, for short.

Alberta’s government is investing $17 million to ensure the stabilization of performing arts, sports and rodeo organizations.

Flagstaff County is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast to assist in our ongoing efforts to communicate important issues and relevant information to all residents.

It’s become very trendy lately to talk about soil and in terms of “health”. This naturally leads to the question of “What’s a healthy soil?”. It’s a good question and you probably won’t get many answers the same. For sake of argument, I would suggest it is strongly related to your soil organic matter.

Condition scoring cattle is a hands-on way of measuring the fat thickness over the back, tail head, hook and pin bones, ribs and brisket in a cow. It is a fairly direct way of measuring energy reserves in a cow and is linked to reproductive performance. It directly affects how easily a cow will winter and rebreed in the spring after calving.

It might seem to be the wrong time of year to discuss this topic, but planning for extending the grazing season for 2021 starts now. The single biggest cost to raising a calf is the winter feeding cost for the cow. The longer you can keep your cattle out grazing in the field, the lower your machinery, fuel, and manure disposal costs will be.

In many parts of the prairies there is a tendency to remove existing shelterbelts to create larger fields, to improve field efficiencies, and allow the use of larger farm equipment. This is not necessarily a gain but comes at a cost.

In today’s quickly evolving digital world, broadband is critical for vibrant, sustainable communities. A global pandemic has only reaffirmed our increasing reliance on staying connected virtually.

Alberta Agriculture has changed their website and moved a lot of good information around but there are still some very useful tools available to producers. You just have to look a little harder.

Ownership of anything is really only temporary stewardship. Farm land may be owned for generations but sooner or later, someone else will eventually decide what to do on the land and with the land. Some of you might want to preserve particular areas of your land that have a greater, personal significance to you.

It’s been a tough year. Communities all over the globe are struggling to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and we will continue to see negative impacts into the future. If you are like us, you may be tired of reading the doom and gloom and feeling powerless to do anything about helping our communities in this new reality.

Plastic grain bags and silage bags are great ways to provide temporary storage for agricultural crops at a reasonable price. With larger farms, and land being dispersed over a wider area, they are a practical way to store the crop. If the land is rented with no bins on site, a grain bag can solve short-term storage issues.

Flagstaff County's Economic Development department won two awards at the recent Economic Developers Alberta 2020 Annual (virtual) Conference.

The EcDev team was recognized twice for Flagstaff Crafted, a program and platform that enhances the exposure of local makers, artisans and retailers of local products.

There is now proof that leaving sloughs and poor areas in grass and trees benefits the bottom line for farmers. A landscape ecologist has proof that leaving the wet, poor areas in perennial vegetation can boost yields in the rest of the field.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to support local.

The Daysland Business Association is proud to announce a fun way to do just that this holiday season with the Whobilation Staycation promotion on now until December 18!

Previously, I broadly talked about nutrient requirements for livestock in terms of energy and protein and macrominerals. This column looks at the no-less-important microminerals.

Join Toso Bozic, founder of Yard Whispers, and horticulture expert Rob Spencer as they dig into a weekly video series titled: What's Wrong with My Trees?

Everyone has seen those white crusts around sloughs and in low areas. They are costly, non-productive parts of the field and they seem to spread each year. All that will grow in them is kochia and foxtail barley.

Soil testing is done one of two ways. There is the old-fashioned way of wet chemistry. That is where chemicals are used to extract the nutrients in question. A newer, quicker, way is using near infrared reflective spectroscopy to get a reading.

Flagstaff County is participating in the “Red Silhouette Campaign” during Family Violence Awareness Month in November.

This is an educational and awareness campaign aimed at educating residents of Flagstaff about family violence, its reach, its aftermath and how to decrease it.

Fall is an excellent time to be testing your soil and planning for the 2021 growing season. It saves valuable time in the spring, can allow you to purchase fertilizer for 2021 when nitrogen costs tend to be lower, and, when done when soil temperatures are 5˚ to 7˚ C or lower, can be as accurate as spring sampling.

Do you feed the same minerals to cattle, year after year? As feed quality and feed supplies vary from year to year, so too the mineral package needs to be adjusted. Using green feed, swath grazing or silage as the primary winter feed requires different mineral packages than a hay, grain and straw winter ration. Also, stage of pregnancy, age, condition and class of cattle will require different minerals. It all starts with testing your feed supply.

We’ve had one of the best falls in recent memory and most of the crop is harvested. There’s even time to get ahead of next spring’s work. Fertilizing in the fall can help cut down on spring work. So, what are the benefits of fall fertilizing?

Today, everything and everyone requires certification for tasks that were previously considered an exercise in common sense. Since there is precious little of that left there has be a move to regulate a lot of activities. One that has been around for about 30 years is the Farmer Pesticide Certificate program.

A nice fall for harvesting must come once in a while and this year has worked out. Crops are coming off dry and hay and greenfeed can finally be taken off at the right moisture levels.

It doesn’t happen often but fall control of winter annual weeds and problem perennial weeds can be an effective and cost-effective way to clean up fields prior to next spring.

Harvest is well under way and we finally have some decent harvest weather. Now is not the time to let down your guard. Be careful of that hard-won crop in the bin. You can’t relax just because it is in the bin.

With Harvest 2020 underway, Regional Emergency Services Coordinator Kim Cannady offers the following fire prevention tips.

While conducting crop surveys lately, I've noticed a few thieves lurking in the fields in the area. These are thieves, robbing crop yield yet not obvious to the casual observer. The results of their work usually show up when you get less yield than the straw or crop volume would indicate.

Our assessors are conducting property inspections in the following areas:

The Government of Alberta is proposing changes to the assessment model for regulated properties such as oil wells and pipelines, which will significantly reduce Flagstaff County’s tax revenue.

This time of year you may often find county staff wandering around your fields. They are identifiable by their safety vests and county trucks parked at the side of the road. They aren’t doing this to irritate you or for the exercise, they are conducting surveys.

After an improved hay season from 2019 (the harvest from hell), some may be thinking there is a good second cut of hay out there. Most of our hay crops are a mix of grass and alfalfa.

Last week I talked about the appropriate use of glyphosate in the fall for perennial weed control. Now we’ll discuss what is the right timing to apply the glyphosate and actual desiccants.

People often get confused about what a pre-harvest application of glyphosate should do. You often hear people referring to glyphosate application as “desiccation”. Glyphosate is not registered for desiccation. It is a herbicide meant to kill plants and it does a good job at that.

A lot of people are noticing the gophers running around now. Is this the right time to be trying to control the gophers? Not really. They are not even really gophers. They are Richardson ground squirrels and they have been a pest in our fields for a very long time.

Fusarium graminearum is a disease of cereals. It most often affects wheat but can affect barley, and to a lesser extent, oats. It primarily infects the seed in the head as it starts to develop and the spores set up shop in the kernels just as the head is emerging from the stem until the head flowers.

Once again, hay season is turning out to be a very wet time of year. High humidity and frequent showers are making it difficult to bale hay in good condition. There is a number of alternatives to harvesting hay in wet weather.

Due to very wet conditions this year, there is a lot of fungicide being applied to crops right across the board. You see tracks in the field of almost all crops, from cereal to canola to peas. Is this a good idea?

Get your boots out and get into the field and scout your fields on a regular basis. You can do it yourself or hire out agronomists to do it for you.

Driving around the county, there is a disturbing amount of encroachment into the county road allowance. This can be the case where the ditch is being farmed to within a couple of feet of the actual road, or spray booms having over-sprayed the crop and killed out the grass in the ditch. It also includes the farming of undeveloped road allowances.

The Flagstaff County office and shop reopened to the public on Monday, July 6.

Residents are encouraged to continue to use our online reporting system (lf.flagstaff.ab.ca/Forms/Public-Report-Form) and to make appointments if they need to meet with staff in the office.

In 2018, Flagstaff County Land Use Bylaw 09-18 was passed. It states: “No trees, brush or native wetland vegetation shall be cleared from any land within 30.0 m (98.4 ft) of any spring, creek, wetland, river or lake.” Exceptions are given to construct a road, trail or fence or if clearing is in conjunction with a recreational development where a development permit has been issued.

Don't worry if you missed any of the LIVE Facebook broadcasts in our #FlagstaffOnline Showcase. Links to the videos from each of the four day-long events can be found below.

Discover local entrepreneurs, creators, and experiences in the Flagstaff Region with virtual tours, how-to's, opportunities to #ShopLocal and much more.

Dutch Elm Disease Awareness Week is recognized annually throughout the province of Alberta from June 22-28. The intent is to raise awareness on how destructive Dutch elm disease (DED) can be, the importance of elm trees to our communities and landscapes, and that DED can be prevented. The Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED) is asking for your assistance to save our beautiful elm trees from this deadly disease and help protect this valuable resource.

Non-medical face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 are available for pickup at the entrance to the Flagstaff County office daily (Monday to Friday) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., as well as the Strome and Galahad post offices during regular business hours.

During this time of unprecedented global anxiety, let us shift our mindset and enjoy a sampling of random acts of kindness and uplifting stories.

It’s time to show frontline employees in the Flagstaff Region some love! Nominate a frontline worker who you think deserves a shoutout during this unprecedented time.

Flagstaff County recognizes that small businesses are the lifeblood of a community, and right now, in these uncertain times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses are struggling.

The good folks at Flagstaff Waste have asked us to remind residents to please use the community compost and recycling bins as they are intended. As evidenced in these recent photos, a small minority of residents have not been doing so, resulting in entire bins having to be disposed of in the landfill – which defeats the purpose of the composting and recycling programs.

Spring is finally here and it’s already dry, so fire conditions are becoming hazardous. Temperatures are reaching the 20s with the humidity below 30% – meaning grass is easily ignited.

Under the Water Act, landowners are NOT permitted to drain any wetland without first obtaining provincial authorization.

This spring, we have received complaints about landowners draining water from fields to adjacent land. This practice is becoming all too common.

If you are hauling more than 10 loads of 11,797 kg or greater in a 24-hour period to or from the same location within Flagstaff County, then you are required to enter into a Multiple Load Road Use Agreement (MLRUA) with Flagstaff County.

TC Energy has announced that they will proceed with construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, a 1,210-mile (1,947-km) pipeline capable of safely delivering 830,000 barrels per day (Bbl/day) of crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska, where it will connect with TC Energy’s existing facilities to reach U.S. Gulf Coast refiners to meet critical needs for transportation fuel and useful manufactured products. The pipeline project will invest US$8.0 billion into the North American

Effective immediately, the Ag-Info Centre will focus on providing information about Agriculture and Forestry programs and services and connecting producers with the many non-government resources available to them. The centre will no longer offer crop, livestock or other one-to-one specialist services.

Congratulations to Flagstaff County Peace Officer Skyler Zelinski on receiving his 12-year Alberta Emergency Services medal.

Looking for budget highlights? Watch as Flagstaff County Reeve Don Kroetch summarizes the 2020-22 Business Plan and 2020 Budget.

The Flagstaff Inter-Municipal Assessment Review Board is seeking new board members.

Still using Google Maps to view your property in Flagstaff County? That's so 2016. Been there, done that.

FIP (the Flagstaff Intermunicipal Partnership) was established in 2003 to explore and identify areas and opportunities for increased intermunicipal collaboration, all aimed at one overriding goal:

Providing effective and efficient delivery of the highest-quality municipal services and infrastructure across the region and delivering this standard of service at fair, reasonable and affordable levels of taxation.

From Africa to Australia, Flagstaff County has received some positive interest from around the world in recent months.

Tanzania’s ambassador to Canada paid the County a visit over the summer to see first-hand the use of Gravelock, a soil stabilization product used to strengthen road subgrade.

Looking for office space for business meetings? High-speed WiFi and other technology? Check out this free offer from the Battle River Innovation Centres in Forestburg and Castor.

Small business is a big part of the success and sustainability of the Flagstaff Region and this week (October 20^th through to October 26^th) it is being celebrated across the country in the form of Small Business Week. This is an annual event that is intended to shine a spotlight on small business as a significant contributor to our local, provincial, and even national economies.

Discover a valuable piece of the Flagstaff Region's rich agricultural heritage with Heritage Barns of Flagstaff: Volume II!

Read about October's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Safety First Muirhead's Ltd. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Congratulations to Flagstaff County Clr. Jeff Eckstrand and his family on their recent Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award.

Read about September's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: The James Insurance Group. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

The Flagstaff County Economic Development department has formed a Steering Committee and is working with Lochaven Consulting and Urban Systems to collaboratively seek the County’s engagement towards creating their new “5-year Economic and Community Development Strategic Plan”.

Read about August's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Iron Creek Veterinary Hospital. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Look to the skies over Flagstaff this summer for an exhilarating appearance by Canada’s iconic Air Demonstration Team – the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Enjoy the dazzling performance of one of Canada’s national treasures from Flagstaff Regional Airport – the smallest, most rural airfield on the Snowbirds’ 60 stop annual tour. Due to the available runway length and services, the Snowbirds CT-114 Tutor aircraft will base from Camrose Airport.

Read about July's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Greasy D's Rod & Kustom. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Canadian pride was on full display throughout the Flagstaff Region during the Canada Day Long Weekend! Here's a 90-second highlight reel we compiled from the action-packed 2019 Sedgewick Ag Society Alberta Pony Chuckwagon and Chariot Races!

Looking for something to do this Canada Day? Check out Cars in the Park hosted by Greasy D's Rod & Kustom in Daysland.

For other Canada Day festivities, visit our events page at: bit.ly/FlagstaffEvents.

MetroCount, an Australian-based company specializing in traffic data, has featured Flagstaff County in an online article.

Read about June's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Griffy's Antiques. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Businesses, as part of our Flagstaff Crafted launch. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

From the outset of their mandate in October 2017, Flagstaff County Council has focused on a number of priorities for landowners. Among those priorities, Council identified the need to conduct a review of the Arterial Road Network and road surface type.

Read about May's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: MANTL. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Flagstaff County Council would like to find out which programs and services are most important to you.

In preparation for the development of the Business Plan and Budget for each of the next three years, you are invited to provide your feedback on the following survey.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Forster's Greenhouses. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Eight months after their fire hall caught fire in a freak Friday-the-13th lightning strike, the Strome Fire Department is back in service.

You're home here. Experience the salt-of-the-earth way of life. The Flagstaff Region is home to an abundance of family farms and strong-willed entrepreneurs. Together, we're a community committed to building a welcoming destination renowned for its hospitality and recreation.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Benchmark Hearing Centre. And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Watch as Reeve Don Kroetch presents the highlights of Flagstaff County's 2019 Business Plan and Budget.

Flagstaff County hosted councils and staff from municipalities around the area on March 11 for the 2019 R.H. Hume Curling Bonspiel at the Sedgewick Curling Club.

The annual event, in its 58th year, is named after former Camrose Mayor R.H. Hume. This year's event included teams from Beaver County, Camrose County, Lacombe County, Leduc County, the County of Stettler and the County of Wetaskiwin, as well as host Flagstaff County.

The latest aerial photos of Flagstaff County are now available through Web Map, our interactive, online mapping application.

Web Map, which offers access to a wide range of useful municipal land information, including detailed aerial photography, can be accessed by logging in as a guest HERE.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Tee & Co. Salon.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

The Government of Alberta has published a handbook that introduces the fundamental rights and responsibilities employers and workers have when it comes to occupational health and safety on Alberta farms and ranches.

Missed our Shelterbelt Workshop? Luke Wonneck, Agroforestry Specialist with the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society, discusses the highlights of his information-packed presentation in the following video.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Budding Ideas and Paw Prints.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Daysland and Forestburg Dental Clinics.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

As part of the application process for the 2018 Flagstaff County Educational Scholarship Program, student applicants had the option of either submitting a video promoting the Flagstaff Region or providing a written response to an essay question and completing a S.W.O.T. analysis of the region.

In 2017 and 2018, infrastructure upgrades totaling approximately $2.4 million were completed in both hamlets. These upgrades were in response to the infrastructure assessment reports completed during the viability review prior to the dissolution of the two villages.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Dallas Oberg Auto.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

In response to the changes in the region’s economic makeup, local governments have created the Battle River Economic Opportunities Committee (BREOC).

BREOC is a collaborative partnership representing the County of Paintearth No. 18 as the managing partner, Flagstaff County, the Towns of Castor and Coronation, the Villages of Forestburg, Halkirk, and Heisler, and the greater region.

Flagstaff County’s Economic Development department has won four national marketing awards from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), including the coveted EDAC Cup, the national organization’s top honour.

The awards were announced Sept. 11, 2018 at EDAC’s 50th annual conference in Fredericton, N.B.

The Alberta RCMP supports community engagement by providing the public with the tools, resources and information they need to uphold public safety – for themselves and for their communities.

This summer Flagstaff County sponsored 12 students to attend a seven-day ACCA youth camp at Goldeye Centre as part of the 2018 ACCA Co-operative Youth Program. During a recent Council meeting, five of those students presented to councillors their camp experiences, relating how much they learned and how much fun they had, and expressing thanks for the County sponsorship.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: BeDevil.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Watch video highlights from our 2018 Country Roots Tour!

The fourth annual event featured tours of the Jackson barn, Ray Jackson’s farm and the Diplomat Mine, as well as a locally sourced long-table supper and a presentation on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur by Graham Sherman, co-owner of Calgary-based Tool Shed Brewing Company.

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Main Street Medley.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

With harvest just around the corner, Flagstaff County Regional Fire Chief Kim Cannady has a fire safety reminder for farmers.

Congratulations to the following Flagstaff farm families recently honoured in Camrose with Century Farm and Ranch awards!

In case you missed it, read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Williams Custom Bikes.

And be sure to watch the following video, too!

Take notice that, the Council of Flagstaff County, under the authority of Section 22 of the Municipal Government Act, Chapter M-26, Revised Statutes 2000 (MGA), and amendments thereto, intends to consider Bylaw 06/18 to close a road in accordance with Section 24 of the MGA, and intends to consider Bylaw 07/18 to remove the Municipal Reserve (MR) Dedication in accordance with Section 674 and 675 of the MGA, as indicated on the sketch below.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gerald Kuefler, former Reeve of Flagstaff County.

Gerald served on Flagstaff County Council for 13 years, from 2004 until 2017.

Move over, Connor! The Edmonton Oilers' No. 97 isn’t the only star attraction gracing billboards in the Alberta capital.

Take a moment for yourself and read about this month's Flagstaff Region Featured Business: Tamina Miller Meditation. And be sure to watch the accompanying video, too!

Tamina is hosting an amazing lineup of presenters as part of A Weekend with Sarah McLean and Friends on June 8 to 10 at the Battle River Crossing Resort near Alliance.

Just three days after their new wildland fire gear arrived, Galahad firefighters had the opportunity to put it into action.

The new gear was made possible through a $7,200 grant from Enbridge to Flagstaff County Regional Emergency Services.

Reeve Don Kroetch joined more than 50 medical, nursing, physiotherapy, respiratory, and paramedic students from the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, and SAIT for a Medical Skills Weekend sponsored by Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP), Covenant Health and Flagstaff County.

Did you miss our Build-a-bee-box Workshop? We can only imagine how much that must've stung! That's why we've put together the following video demonstrating how to build your own bumble bee house at home.

Since 2015, Flagstaff County has been providing $750,000 annually in recreation grant funding to the Agricultural Societies throughout our municipality. We are appreciative of the Ag Societies for their efforts in distributing this funding within our region.

Connie Prendergast, Flagstaff County's Records Management Clerk, has been recognized with an AIIM 2018 Leadership Award in the Social Buzz category!

Connie received her award last week (Friday, April 13, 2018) at an awards banquet in San Antonio.

Routine maintenance on the bridge on Twp Rd 440, between Rge Rd 105 and 110 (east of Lougheed), has recently been completed.

The completion date for this project was delayed from mid-December due to issues with the girder manufacturing process.

Agriculture Canada has released the Cereal Aphid Manager, an easy-to-use mobile app that helps farmers and crop advisors control aphid populations in wheat, barley, oat or rye. The app predicts what the aphid population will be in seven days and the best time to apply insecticide.

Thank you to the Etty, Leslie-VanDewark, Marcinkoski, Martin, Pfeffer, Prichard, Roth, Ruzicka and Zimmer families for attending Flagstaff County's Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Awards last night in Killam! The awards dinner was an opportunity for Flagstaff County to honour these local families – each of whom has been recognized by the province for continuously owning and actively operating the same land for a minimum of 100 years.

We have partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

The feature continues this month with a Flagstaff County-produced video and story on the Wooden Spoon in Sedgewick.

Daysland-area resident Brian Spiller is the winner of our 2018 Public Input Session draw. Reeve Don Kroetch presented him with a Flagstaff County swag bag at our Administration Building in Sedgewick.

Congratulations, Brian!

Effective April 1, 2018, producers will need to have an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) completion letter dated within the last 10 years to be considered current and eligible for cost-share funding with the Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change programs of the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP).

The Battle River Economic Opportunities Committee (a unique collaborative partnership consisting of Flagstaff County, the County of Paintearth, the Towns of Castor and Coronation, and the Villages of Forestburg, Halkirk and Heisler) will receive $1.75 million from the the Coal Community Transition Fund (CCTF) stream of the Alberta Government's Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) Program.

Kim Cannady, Flagstaff County Regional Emergency Services Coordinator, hosted the 2018 East Central Chief Officer Meeting on Saturday, March 17, 2018.

We have partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

At the root of the Flagstaff Region's rich farming heritage lies one million acres of fertile farmland. This arable land forms the bedrock of our very existence. Our purpose-driven forefathers toiled this same soil for decades, plowing a path to prosperity through sheer resilience and resourcefulness for generations of farming families.

There are literally hordes of unpaid workers in your field. They are the quiet, unheralded beneficial insects that work tirelessly to control crop insect pests for you. If it wasn’t for them, we would have poorer crops to harvest in the fall. There are legions of them out there and they are the unsung heroes that keep insects and other pests under control.

Flagstaff County landowners should be aware of several important factors when it comes to drainage and brush removal.

Did you know that provincial legislation is in place to deal with unauthorized drainage on private property? Did you also know that municipal bylaws and policies exist to address brush removal on right-of-ways?

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our promotional booth during the Edmonton RV Show!

The four-day expo presented an amazing opportunity to meet countless camping enthusiasts from throughout the Edmonton area and extol the virtues of venturing off the beaten path and visiting the Flagstaff Region!

Flagstaff County has partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

Flagstaff County is confident Phoenix Gas will meet the needs for natural gas services to Galahad residents. 

Small business is the economic lifeblood of virtually every community in Canada – and the Flagstaff Region is no exception.

Flagstaff County has partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

Christmas has come early for pilots at Flagstaff Regional Airport.

A new energy-efficient runway lighting system is now in place and fully operational at the Flagstaff County-owned airport.

Just in time for Christmas, the Battle River Watershed Alliance is launching a new hardcover coffee table book in which the Flagstaff Region is featured prominently.

Titled the Traversing Terrain & Experience Atlas, this publication is composed of a compilation of stories, art, photography, geography, and interesting facts.

The former Flagstaff County Council was recently recognized for their years of service to county ratepayers.

Flagstaff County has partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

Darrell Szott, Flagstaff County Public Works Superintendent, won the 2017 Peer Recognition Award at the recent Alberta Municipal Supervisors Association's fall convention in Edmonton.

The Alberta Municipal Supervisors Association recognizes one member for their long-standing commitment not only to AMSA, but to the enhancement of the field of municipal public works.

Don’t let the disarming charm of its pink, funnel-shaped flower fool you.

Himalayan Balsam is an aggressive invader of wetlands, streams and moist woodlands, where it chokes out native vegetation, damaging riparian biodiversity.

It was an especially productive season for Flagstaff County’s favourite bearded weedeaters.

Between May 20 and the end of July, as many as 180 goats grazed a quarter-section of Flagstaff County-owned land near the Town of Hardisty in a cost-effective bid to purge the area of an infestation of leafy spurge.

Flagstaff County uses two logos: the Flagstaff County Corporate logo and the Flagstaff Region Brand logo.

Every time STARS air ambulance lands in our region, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to have this vital service.

The Strome and Galahad Fire Departments will be receiving some new equipment thanks to Enbridge.

Peter Hansen, Community Engagement Strategist with Enbridge, stopped by our Administration Building on Thursday, November 16 and presented Flagstaff County Emergency Services Coordinator and Regional Fire Chief Kim Cannady with a $7,200 donation to go towards firefighting equipment for our hamlet departments.

Connie Prendergast, Records Management Clerk for Flagstaff County, took part in AIIM International's free Virtual Event on World Paper Free Day (Thursday, November 9, 2017).

She was one of 12 presenters who talked about “Developing the Digital Office.”

Attention all residential and commercial fire alarm system users: Strathcona County Emergency Communications Centre is transitioning to a new phone number that alarm monitoring companies must use when reporting fire alarm notifications.

Flagstaff County has partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

Here are the Official Election Results for Flagstaff County.

Fifty-five seniors from the Flagstaff Region enjoyed a day of learning and laughing at the 2017 Flagstaff Active Living Conference For Seniors.

The annual conference is designed to encourage seniors to be actively engaged in the community and to recognize the importance of active living to the well-being, independence and quality of life.

Flagstaff County has partnered with The Community Press to present a monthly business profile in print and online called "Flagstaff Region Featured Business."

Here's the official list of Flagstaff County candidates who have filed their nomination papers to run in the October 16 election.

Congratulations to the Wolbecks!

The Heisler-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Leslie-VanDewarks!

The Hardisty-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Zimmers!

The Heisler-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Zimmers!

The Daysland-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Stenson family!

The Forestburg-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Simpson family!

The Sedgewick-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Marcinkoski family!

The Strome-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Hastings family!

The Heisler-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Hampshires!

The Sedgewick-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

Congratulations to the Pfeffers!

The Strome-area family was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event July 27, 2017 in Camrose.

The “TEXT with 9-1-1” service is now available to Flagstaff County residents.

This service allows people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired to communicate with 911 operators by text.

The Zimmer family of Flagstaff County was honoured at a Century Farm and Ranch Award summer recognition event in Camrose.

There’s a beetle invasion taking place on two Hardisty-area farms.

But not to worry. It’s all part of an innovative weed control program that Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Services department is spearheading in partnership with the Alberta Invasive Species Council.

It’s been a bane to producers in the eastern Prairies for many years.

But now Fusarium head blight (FHB), a serious fungal disease that affects kernel development in cereal crops, is increasingly posing a threat to producers throughout Alberta, including Flagstaff County.

Notice to motorists in the Hardisty area: Alberta Transportation has permanently closed Rge Rd 100A immediately north of Highway 13.

Flagstaff Regional Airport will soon be getting a new energy-efficient runway lighting system to replace the current runway lights that were installed in 1982.

The Hamlet of Strome has been awarded a $2,500 community grant through FortisAlberta’s annual Tree Planting Project.

The grant is earmarked for the Trees for Strome project, an initiative that aims to replace up to 47 "decaying or defective" trees in Strome as identified in a tree risk assessment conducted last fall.

Alberta's new helmet law is now in effect.

As of today, helmets are mandatory for those riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on public land. OHVs include any motorized vehicle built for cross-country travel on land, ice, and snow.

Even before the most recent spate of late-April flurries and noticeable lack of sunshine, this spring was already poised to be one of the wettest in recent memory. Buoyed by persistent snowfall on the heels of a rapid spring thaw — in addition to heavy precipitation last fall — the excessive moisture has admittedly wreaked havoc on County roads.

Absinthe wormwood, a weed known for its strong unpleasant odor and silvery-grey foliage, has been designated a “noxious weed” in Flagstaff County.

The Hamlet of Strome cracked the Top 5 in Fortis Alberta’s 2017 Earth Hour Challenge, finishing fourth with a 9% reduction in power consumption.

It’s a strong showing for the community of just over 200 residents. Unfortunately, only the Top 3 receive grants.

Earlier this month, Peter Hansen, Community Engagement Strategist with Enbridge, stopped by our Administration Building and presented Flagstaff County Emergency Services Coordinator and Regional Fire Chief Kim Cannady with a $3,000 donation to go towards our Community Resource Officer program. Enbridge is a huge supporter of all emergency services, with many of our local departments benefiting over the years. Thank you, Enbridge!

Fire Prevention Tips

Brush piles burned in the winter months appear to be out, but it is very common to have smoldering embers left in the bottom of these piles. Dry spring winds cause these embers in the pile to blow around causing stubble or grass fires.  

Ag Plastic Facts

There are two main types of agricultural plastics commonly used in agriculture, not including pesticide and other rigid plastic containers. First is Polyethylene (PE) resins which are found in greenhouse film, silage covers, mulch film, bale bags, bale wrap, grain bags and silage bags.

We've Unleashed a new Bylaw 

Flagstaff County has developed its first-ever Dog Control Bylaw for the regulation of dogs within the Hamlets of Strome and Galahad, and throughout rural Flagstaff. County Council approved Bylaw 01/17 during a regular Council meeting Feb. 8. This bylaw takes effect immediately. Here are the highlights: 

We're growing! Flagstaff County's rural population has risen to 3,738, according to the 2016 census data released February 8 by Statistics Canada.

That's an increase of 494 residents since 2011.

Congratulations to the Martin family on their Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award! Ken Martin stopped by the County office this week to accept a commemorative plaque on behalf of his family.

Alberta families who have farmed or ranched the same land for 100 years or more are recognized through the Government of Alberta’s Century Farm and Ranch Awards.

Cotton swabs. Facial tissue. Paper towel. Kitty litter. Diapers. Wet wipes — even the ones labelled “flushable.” Personal hygiene products. Dental floss.

These are just some of the culprits that can clog the system of underground sewer lines that transports sewage from household and business plumbing to municipal lift stations.

A heartfelt thank-you goes out to eight-year-old artist Alex and the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation for the cool artwork!

In recognition of Flagstaff County's recent $100,000 donation to the Stollery Children's Hospital, we have been gifted with this framed masterpiece.

Flagstaff County and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) are proud to announce a partnership dedicated towards conserving the Meyers property, an ecologically significant piece of land along the Battle River.

This project is of particular importance as it represents the first time NCC and Flagstaff County have partnered to conserve a property owned by the municipality.

Archaeologists have unearthed what is believed to be an ancient bison bone from a historically significant area of Flagstaff County.

The discovery was made in a three-metre-deep trench dug up with an excavator Aug. 27 during excavation efforts near one of the County’s gravel pits.

If you’re a landowner and you’re interested in reaping the countless benefits of a stewardship project on your property, there’s plenty of funding and experts available to help you.

Leafy spurge has been “bugging” Wyatt and Theresa Bitzer for years.

This summer, the Hardisty-area farmers are finally turning the proverbial tables on the persistent perennial weed – by unleashing 4,000 flea beetles on a patch of their infested land.

The tiny black beetles, referred to scientifically as aphthona lacertosa, are known to have a voracious appetite for leafy spurge.

Flagstaff County is donating $100,000 to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Unanimously approved at last week’s regularly scheduled Council meeting, the donation is earmarked for the Foundation’s Battle River Community Initiative to help fund a new pediatric operating room at the hospital.

Flagstaff County has taken inventory of a valuable part of the region’s rich heritage: its barns.

Over the summers of 2016, 2017 and 2018, university student Sydney Hampshire spearheaded this important project to help bolster the understanding and appreciation of rural agricultural history right here in Flagstaff County.