WESTLOCK — As the province prepares for widespread drought in the coming weeks, and dry conditions continue across the region, area crop and livestock producers are invited to learn how to deal with drought on the farm this summer.
"Working with drought" is a day-long workshop being presented in collaboration between Westlock County, Thorhild County, Athabasca County and County of Barrhead on April 16, and runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hazel Bluff Hall. Registration is required and is $10 per person, and children under 12 can enter for free. A lunch is included and the registration deadline is April 12.
Chelsea Jaeger, agriculture extension coordinator with the County of Barrhead and organizer for the event, said attendees will have an opportunity to learn from experts in the field about a number of topics and hear information they can use in dealing with drought conditions, including nutrient and disease management under drought stress, strategic pasture management in drought and recovery, and the state of drought in the Athabasca Watershed, among others.
“It’s open for all producers. We’re in the Athabasca Watershed, so I’ve tried to focus it on producers in our watershed area. And it’s for people who have crops, it’s for people with livestock and also for people who may have areas of water, like riparian areas on their land and understanding the importance of how everything is during drought and also the different (ways of) management,” said Jaeger. “Cows and Fish and ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) are doing a talk on riparian areas — these are the areas along creeks through your property and around water bodies and things like that.”
Producers attending the workshop will hear from representatives with various organizations including Lisa Card from ALUS, Krista Boehler from Cows and Fish, the Athabasca Watershed Council, Sheri Stryndhorst from Sheri’s Ag Consulting Inc. and Grant Lastiwka from Union Forage.
“People will come and learn about how our watershed is doing in terms of drought,” said Jaeger, noting the region is currently in a multi-year drought. “So where we are in a drought cycle so that people can compare it … how is our watershed doing and how much water do we have compared to an average year.”
Jaeger, who has been with the county for just over a year, said she believes this is the first drought workshop for producers in the region and encourages area producers to come out and learn about preparing for drought conditions in northwestern, rural Alberta.
“We’re trying to get the information out and let people know where we’re at, and help people with strategies to deal with (drought),” said Jaeger. “I think it’s just important to give people the opportunity to come and hear from experts about things that could help them on their farming operations.”
To register for the event, visit www.countybarrhead.ab.ca/p/drought, or call 780-674-3331.
