The Alfalfa Seed Commission is the newest producer organization to be formed in Alberta under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act. The commission will provide information, research and communication for the 80-plus growers of alfalfa seed in the province. It will be funded by a 1.25 per cent sales checkoff which will be collected by seed companies at the time of sale.
The Irrigated Alfalfa Seed Producers Association initiated the process, but the new commission includes non-irrigated growers outside of the Peace River region. Alfalfa seed produced in the Peace River region falls under the Peace Forage Seed Commission.
Read Also
Low yield allowance adjusted to support farmers in Alberta
Alberta farmers can move more quickly to salvage poor crops for feed, after the federal and provincial governments announced increases to AFSC’s low yield allowances for the 2025 crop year.
Karl Slomp has been elected president. Michelle Gietz has been hired as general manager and will work on a part-time basis in Brooks.
The commission already has a research project in progress. Plots with herbicides and fungicides recently registered or having potential for registration have been established in two locations. Data from these trials is expected to be used to register Quadris as a fungicide on alfalfa seed. In addition, there is a Production and Marketing Manual available for sale as reference material for new and experienced producers.
A general meeting for the commission will be held at the Heritage Inn in Brooks on November 24.
For more information contact Michelle Gietz at 403-501-3820 or [email protected].
