Rocky View County (RVC) agricultural services are underway with its spring/summer weed spraying program, which will affect residents in divisions 5 (Conrich area) and 7 (Airdrie area). According to agricultural services team lead Jeff Fleischer, the program, which began on the May-long weekend, will run until the end of the season.
“We do use a gamut of methods to control the weeds in our ditches, and one of these methods is the use of herbicides,” Fleischer said. “However, we give residents the option to opt out if they are either organic producers or if they just don’t want the use of herbicides adjacent to their properties.”
Residents who do choose to opt out of the County’s weed control program will take on the responsibility of controlling the weeds in their ditches themselves, Fleischer said. For organic producers, it’s imperative to have their properties herbicide-free.
“We will still mow their ditches, but they do enter into an agreement with us stating that they will take control of the weeds in that area,” he said. “We just skip their property and pass that responsibility on to them. It’s our way of helping the people who maybe don’t want the use of herbicides nearby.”
RVC agricultural services only sprays one third of the county each season, which Fleischer said helps to reduce the amount of herbicide used. According to Fleischer, RVC keeps environmental stewardship a top priority.
“It’s important for us to be environmentally conscious and do our part to put less product out there,” Fleischer said. “We have been changing over to some new herbicides that are safer for both the operator and for the environment, and we’ve seen great results from that.”
The new herbicide is touted as ‘reduced risk,’ according to Fleischer, and can provide the same level of weed control with less product. Fleischer said he has only been tracking data since 2008, but has seen a dramatic reduction in herbicide use since then.
“We’ve had an 84 per cent reduction in active ingredient per hectare, going out, and an 87 per cent reduction in total litres, as well,” he said. “We are still controlling the same amount of land and doing just as much weed control as before, but the products have gotten better.”
The change in product has also provided a bit more incentive for residents who aren’t organic producers to participate in the weed control program, Fleischer said, with the reassurance that the products being sprayed in their ditches will be safe.
“We are ultimately looking out for the best for everyone,” Fleischer said. “We are doing this for a purpose – it’s targeted weed control using the safest and best products available. It has made a difference.”
For more information on the program or to opt out, contact RVC agricultural services at 403-230-1401.
