The Central Albert Forage and Livestock Association (CAFLA) is among 12 Alberta-based agricultural associations receiving part of a $3.2 million grant from the provincial government.
Of that, CAFLA will receive $195,000 to buy new equipment. That includes a new truck to haul equipment to demonstration sites, as well as a side-by-side and trailer, and a hydraulic soil sampler, and possibly a drone to help with pasture assessments.
“This gear makes a huge difference,” says Tatyana Pavlovets, executive director of CAFLA. “It helps us collect better data, do more useful trials, and give farmers more practical info they can use right away.”
She agrees those initiatives are right in line with the grant money’s aim province-wide.
Announced on June 25, the government says the funding will help improve agricultural research and Alberta producers’ competitiveness. Provincial officials say applied research associations bring information from scientists and experts to farmers and ranchers to improve farming techniques.
“Our government is committed to free and unbiased research,” says RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. “Applied research associations play a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers with top-notch research that helps improve and advance agriculture. This funding helps ensure associations can concentrate on providing research and extension to help our producers adopt new technologies and practices and improve their competitiveness.”
According to the government, applied research associations will be able to extend the life of facilities, infrastructure and equipment, address health and safety issues, improve the quality of applied research and extension activities and reduce operating costs as a result.
All hands on deck building a Johnson-Su bioreactor for soil health improvement in the West Country. (Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association)
The $195,000 is not an evenly-divided sum between the 12 organizations, but is based on an agreed-upon formula based on things like annual budgets and annual expenses. Nevertheless, Pavlovets says it’ll make a huge difference.
“Most of the associations have been operating on a shoe-string budget,” she says. “We’ve been making due with donated equipment, or equipment from government surplus programs.”
Notably, she says the hydraulic soil sampler will be a huge improvement over the hand operated one they have been using, while the new truck will allow team members to get around without having to use their personal vehicles.
In the West Country, CAFLA hosts events that promote sustainable forage, soil and livestock practices.
Two upcoming events are coming to Arbutus Hall August 11 and 26 with more information to come.
- Alberta has 12 Applied Research Associations spread across the province:
- Battle River Research Group Society
- Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association
- Chinook Applied Research Association
- Farming Smarter Association
- Foothills Forage and Grazing Association
- Gateway Research Organization
- Lakeland Agricultural Research Association
- Mackenzie Applied Research Association
- North Peace Applied Research Association
- Peace Country Beef and Forage Association
- SARDA Ag Research Association
- Farming Forward (West-Central Forage Association)
- Alberta’s applied research associations have been supporting the adoption of farm research since the 1970s
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RELATED
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Field Day at Kettle Ridge Organics showcased cover crop termination methods with 10 trial plots. (Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association)
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