Rural Extension

Everyone lives in a watershed. Watersheds influence the landscape and in turn are impacted by human activities. 

The Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance has produced a State of the Watershed Report. It is meant to document and identify significant stewardship challenges and options. 

We are excited to share some projects that have already made a positive impact in our watershed!

• Improved Livestock Crossings  
• Red Willow Watershed Restoration
• Streambank Stabilization and Extension 
• Connecting Land and Water: Stories from the Eastern Slopes
  • Eastern Slopes Stewardship Stories: Working Together on the Beaverlodge River

Alberta Environmental Farm Plan

The Alberta Environmental Farm Plan is a voluntary self assessment tool that helps producers identify environmental risks on their farm.

• Register online to start your EFP workbook or update an EFP more than 10 years old.
• Have questions? Our Rural Extension staff are also Certified EFP Technicians and will help you get started and guide you through the process.

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Funding

Are you a farmer or rancher looking to access funding from the various Canadian Agricultural Partnership – Alberta (CAP) programs?

Your farm or ranch is eligible for grant funding depending on your operation.

Funding opportunities on popular programs such as solar watering systems, fencing, shelterbelts, dugouts, wells and more are available. Apply now!

For help with developing an application, contact the Rural Extension Officer.

Workshops

Check out our recent webinar recordings here!

Whether you are an acreage owner or a producer, the County hosts a variety of workshops that cover a range of relevant topics:

• Dugouts
• Well Maintenance  
• Shelterbelts and EcoBuffers
• Grant Opportunities for Producers  
• Environmental Farm Plans
• Beavers in our Landscape
• Native Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
• Livestock Crossings
• Watersheds
• Riparian Health 
• Regenerative Agriculture Topics 

Check the Events Calendar for upcoming workshops.

Workshops for agriculture producers and other popular stewardship topics are offered throughout the year. 

Tours

Virtual Farm Tours

Grab a coffee and join us for a virtual tour of local farms! Meet the producers in the County of Grande Prairie and learn where your food comes from!

• Broken Tine Orchard

• The Homestead 

• 3x Bar Land & Cattle Co.
• Farm2Table on 51
• Redwood Acres

High School Riparian Tour - Moved to a new virtual app for 2022!

Full-day field trip for high school students that takes place in the springtime.

Students rotate through learning stations along the Beaverlodge River to hear speakers discuss various environmental topics, including:

• Soils
• Watersheds
• Revegetation
• Wildlife habitat

The tour also includes a sponsored BBQ and various in-class sessions.

Any high school teacher is eligible to enroll their students in the tour by contacting the Rural Extension Officer.

Open Farm Days

Farms across Alberta are opening their gates!

Check out Open Farm Days for a province-wide open house weekend where you can meet your rural neighbours. You'll have the chance to share stories and learn about how farmers grow food and how that food gets to your table.

Plan My Trip

Alberta Envirothon

2022 Theme: Waste to Resources

Alberta Envirothon helps high school students develop the knowledge, skills and experience they need to actively participate as stewards of natural resources.

The Alberta Envirothon is an annual environmentally-themed education competition aimed at students in grades 9-12. The winning team has the chance to represent Alberta at the National Conservation Foundation NCF-Envirothon International competition in addition to receiving cash awards.

This academic-level competition tests students on:

• Forestry
• Soils
• Aquatic Ecology
• Wildlife
• A current environmental issue and its solutions
  • 2022 Theme: Waste to Resources

Weed Warriors

Calling all nonprofit groups! This is a win/win fundraising program to help combat scentless chamomile and other noxious weeds in the County of Grande Prairie.

• Your group will start the day with an educational session and orientation before heading out to the site with the County's own Agriculture Assistants.
• Once the weeds on site are picked, receive a $500.00 donation.
  • An extra $100.00 incentive is available for the team with the most spirit and the team that picked the most weeds!

Requirements

• Participants must be a minimum of 9 years of age.
• Participants must wear a team Weed Warriors shirt, gloves and sturdy footwear.
  • A high-visibility t-shirt and gloves will be provided

Register Your Group

Classroom Agriculture Program

Please note this program is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Help students learn where food comes and why agriculture is so important.

Register for a Classroom Agriculture Presentation for your Grade 4 classroom and you'll receive a one-hour, in-class presentation from a local producer or agriculture professional.

Classrooms that have taken part in the Classroom Agriculture Program are eligible to take part in the Youth Agricultural Tour, a hands-on experience with local farmers in the County of Grande Prairie.

West County Watershed Society

The West County Watershed Society is proud to be in partnership with the County of Grande Prairie and other agencies such as:

• Alberta Conservation Association  Riparian Conservation Program
• Cows and Fish
• Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
• Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society  

"Working together to create awareness and takes action to improve water quality and riparian health in the Beaverlodge River watershed."

This community-based organization consists of local producers, recreational users and community members.

The group works to:

• Increase the adoption of better management practices
• Increase awareness of water conservation and local water quality issues
• Take community-based action
• Monitor watershed health
• Support educational programs for watershed users 

Clairmont Lake Bioswale Project 

Did you know that the health of Clairmont Lake is protected by Bioswales? 

Bioswales are landscape elements designed to concentrate or remove debris and pollution from surface runoff water. They are a natural filtration system that consists of a drainage swale with gently sloped sides, filled with vegetation, compost and/or riprap.

Here is an overview of the Bioswales in Clairmont:

With urban areas generating as much as 20 times more runoff than natural landscapes, these bioswales minimize erosion, filter and cleanse runoff from roads in a small footprint using carefully placed vegetation, plants and soils.

Bioswales have tremendous environmental benefits, including:

• Treating stormwater and reducing polluted stormwater runoff
• Minimizing erosion
• Helping to maintain the health of the Clairmont Lake

Resources

Looking for more information about conservation, land stewardship, watersheds or agriculture? Check out the following organizations for more information:

• Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society
• Alberta Conservation Association
• Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance
• Cows and Fish
• Peace Country Beef and Forage Association
• SARDA Ag Research
• Alberta Native Plant Council
• Alberta Native Bee Council
• Young Agrarians
• Groundwater Information System
• Water Wells that Last for Generations
• Farm Water Information
• Respect our Lakes
• Shelterbelts
• The Water Channel
• Working Well Program
• Alberta Water Well Information Database
• Alberta Soil Information Viewer