Agricultural Service Board

Every rural municipality in Alberta has an appointed Agricultural Service Board (ASB); the primary function of ASB's is to assist producers to achieve sustainable agricultural production as well as considering environmental and social issues as they relate to agriculture. Red Deer County has a long history with the Alberta Agriculture & Forestry Agricultural Service Board Program, stretching over 60 years. In fact, Red Deer County became the second ASB in the province on January 1, 1945.

AGRICULTURAL SERVICE BOARD DUTIES:

• act as an advisory body primarily to Council;
• advise and help organize and direct weed and pest control and soil and water conservation programs;
• assist in the control of livestock disease under the Livestock Diseases Act;
• promote, enhance and protect viable and sustainable agriculture with a view to improving the economic viability of the          agricultural producer;
• promote and develop agricultural policies to meet the needs of the municipality;
• undertake projects/initiatives as referred by Council; and
• assist with preparation of the Agricultural Services budget to be approved by Council.

Some of the Acts that Red Deer Agricultural Services and the ASB are responsible for include:

Weed Control Act
Soil Conservation Act
Agricultural Pests Act
Animal Health Act

The ASB is bound by the terms of the Agricultural Service Board Act.