By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
Flagstaff County Council held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11.
The first order of business was a delegation from Daysland-area farmer Ken Eshpeter, who talked to council about his concerns about the threatened closure of the Lacombe federal research station.
Eshpeter cited a 140 year history of research facilities, and gave council a history of some of the research that has come out of the facility and ones like it that have benefited Alberta farmers like himself.
“Reasons for closure are easy to find on the surface,” he told Council, “but getting rid of federal public research and leaving it to industry is not necessarily good for farmers.”
He added, “Agriculture is not a statis process. Farmers need more pre-seeding weed control; we need the help of qualified researchers to find new and affordable ways to control weeds,” he said, adding that glysophate is coming up against weed resistance.”The research need is higher now than ever before.”
Councillor Lori Lindseth (Div. 4) said that the Battle River Research Group, where she sits on committee, is also following the closure announcement closely, saying that the manager of that facility, “expects the burden to fall on facilities such as this, and moreover, on counties like ours to fund it.”
Eshpeter said, “I think we need to push back hard before this happens. We need to recognize and preserve these research facilities.”
Reeve Murray Hampshire (Div. 3) asked if the federal government funded other research, through colleges or universities.
Eshpeter said he was unsure.
Councillor Amy Jackson (Div. 1) asked, “Is there an advocacy group started? What can we do?”
Eshpeter said, “My part now is trying to educate the public and spread awareness.”
Lindseth advised him, “This issue is also on our agenda today, with an expectation that we will be writing a letter advocating against this. What else would you like council to do?”
Eshpeter responded, “Anything you do makes it more well known. We need to bombard the powers that be that this is not acceptable. Use your channels to educate people about the issue.”
Councillor Leslie Heck (Div. 5) asked, “How would you like to see this in the end?”
Eshpeter said, “In Alberta, I don’t want to lose Lacombe, Lethbridge, or Indianhead.
There are unique characteristics in each zone. I would even like to see the Beaverlodge station come back.
“Research isn’t ‘one and done,’ it needs to be tended.”
Councillor Alexis Ponto (Div. 2) said, “We have an opportunity to added the provincial Agriculture minister at the upcoming Rural Municipalities Association (RMA) conference.”
Hampshire added, “It’s also a topic on the Reeves and Mayors menu.”
He said to Eshpeter, “We are taking this seriously, and appreciate you coming in to represent the silent majority.”
Eshpeter joked, “I think I was born to be a farmer; I have soil in my veins. But if we can maintain good research, I see a good future ahead.”
Council did address the issue later in the meeting, as follows: “Council approved that as the Lacombe Research and Development Centre provides essential scientific research that supports farmers, producers, and the regional agricultural economy; and its closure would result in the loss of local jobs, the disruption of long-term research programs, and reduced agricultural research capacity in Alberta; a letter be sent to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food expressing Council’s opposition to the federal government’s decision to close the Lacombe Research and Development Centre and urge Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to reconsider.”
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