Help for elk damage
Elk damage in the Swan River Valley area of northwestern Manitoba has generated more claims through the provincial crop insurance office and spurred action from the government.
Albert Driedger, minister of natural resources, said in a news release that over 100 insurance claims for elk damage have been received from farmers in the region. Insurance staff have been increased to handle the workload and more people will also be hired to assist with an intercept feeding program designed to divert elk from farmers fields, said Driedger.
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Shooting permits for some landowners will be issued in cases of extreme damage. Natural resources officers will investigate each case and decide how many elk will be included in control permits.
Driedger promised an increase in the number of licence tags issued in the 1996 fall hunting season, as a further measure to control elk.
Feb. 15 deadline
Applications for funding of programs through the Canadian Agriculture Safety Program must be received by Feb. 15.
CASP’s objective is to decrease farm injuries and fatalities across Canada by providing project funding for farm safety and rural health, says an Alberta government news release.
Eligible projects include promotional materials and activities, ways to monitor agriculture-related deaths and health issues, farm health and safety prevention programs and methods of exchanging information about farm safety.
Application forms are available from the Alberta Agriculture farm safety program office in Edmonton by calling 403-427-2171.
Forage contest deadline
Producers interested in entering the Alberta Dairy Congress forage competition have until Feb. 29 to submit entries.
Samples can be dropped off at the nearest Alberta Agriculture district office, and will be judged for the dairy congress June 6-8 in Leduc. The six competition classes include: legume hay, grass-legume hay, grass hay, haylage, cereal silage and export hay. There is no entry fee.
