Lacombe County Council unanimously approved an amended Clubroot of Canola Policy AG(11) on Jan. 31.
The move came as the result of two meetings held by an ad hoc committee, which met on Nov. 16 and 29 to discuss the policy and provide input.
“It simply adds some things that the committee wanted to see in the policy,” said Keith Boras, manager of environmental and protective services, adding that the policy is similar to one that was proposed in August of last year.
“The only difference really would be the revisal about planting grass on the areas where you find the clubroot infestation.
Other than that, it addresses the size, and it addresses the clubroot-resistant varieties.”
Based on the meetings of the committee, which consisted of 14 agricultural producers and seven councillors, it was recommended to council that clubroot-infested areas refrain from canola production for four years with clubroot-resistant canola being seeded on the fifth year, and that infected areas three acres or less in size be seeded to grass with a buffer area created around the infestation.
Field inspections will be carried out either by the county or by inspectors hired by the county, with inspection notifications to be posted in advance.
“What the committee felt was appropriate is, in August, we will run ads in the County News, just reminding producers and notifying them that we’re going to start our clubroot inspections,” said agricultural fieldman Dion Burlock. “The committee was comfortable with that and they thought it was fair.”
In January 2008, Lacombe County Council approved the Clubroot of Canola Police AG(11) following increased outbreaks around the Edmonton area. Since then, the policy has been reviewed and updated several times, in keeping with the county’s efforts to minimize the impact of clubroot.
Coun. Brenda Knight said she was pleased with the outcome of the process, and feels the hard work put in by everyone involved was well worth it.
“I know this was a long and onerous process, but I think at the end of the day it’s good.
“It addresses concerns, it dispels rumours, and I know sometimes that maybe it seemed a bit frustrating to some, but I think it was something that needed to happen and it happened.”
Knight also voiced her appreciation of the ad hoc committee’s participation in the process.
“There was good involvement and good input, and we have a number of producers now out there with correct information.
“When you ask people to participate in an ad hoc committee, and they do, you have to respect what they have said, and I think we have.”
Coun. Rod McDermand was equally pleased with the manner in which the situation was handled by those involved.
“I think we’ve covered it all,” he said. “It was a good process.”
The ad hoc committee also discussed the possibility of organizing clubroot information and education sessions for local producers. Burlock said such sessions would be possible, and would be looked at by the county in the future.