Current Events!

Need or want an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)?

An Environmental Farm Plan has become a requirement for many of the current funding options available for producers. Come join us for an workshop to get you started on your EFP!

Click here to register!

Our New Board Director

Leslie McEachern

I grew up on a mixed hog/cattle/grain farm in the ‘sticks’ of Moose Wallow, where my parents still farm today (45 minutes from Barrhead and 5 miles from the closest neighbor). My childhood was filled with County ball at MTM, Curling in Fort Assiniboine, and 4-H events throughout the Barrhead district. In 2006, I graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management from Lakeland College and began my career as an Environmental Advisor for a midstream gas company based out of Whitecourt & Edson. That job took me all over the backroads of central & northwestern Alberta managing remediation projects and HSE compliance.

In 2010, my husband, Curtis, and I welcomed our first born, and I was fortunate to stay home and raise her, as well as the 2 that followed for the next 10 years. Curtis and I didn’t stray far from our roots as we have been farming in Meadowview for the past 17 years together. We run a herd of commercial Simmental cattle as well as raise forages and cereals for feed and market. In early 2020 I got the itch to get back into the workforce and AFSC was hiring. I took on the role of Relationship Manager of Insurance in the Barrhead branch for a term of 3 years before being promoted to Product Coordinator at our head office in Lacombe.

My job allows me opportunities to engage with industry stakeholders on the needs of producers and build AFSC's insurance products to help meet those needs. I'm excited for the opportunity to learn and explore regenerative ag alongside progressive farmers within our community and I look forward to serving on the Farming Forward board for the coming term.

2024 Hemp Intercropping Trial

Hemp is a versatile crop with numerous applications and agronomic benefits, demonstrating its adaptability to the growing conditions of west-central Alberta. Various cultivars are bred for specific end uses; in this study, we focused on the FINOLA variety, showcasing its ability to produce a viable yield while contributing to soil health improvement. Additionally, our findings indicate that hemp can be effectively harvested through straight combining with minimal wrapping issues. Selecting a variety suited to both agronomic objectives and available harvesting equipment is essential for optimizing production efficiency.

Farming Forward Values

On-Farm Efficiency Program (OFEP)

Now closed

Applicants who submitted an application before April 15, 2025, will receive a communication from the Program to confirm the current status of their application.

If an applicant does not receive this communication by April 30, 2025, they can send an inquiry to OFEP@gov.ab.ca.

Opening April 9, 2025

RDAR is now entering its fourth year of delivering OFCAF to producers across Alberta, and the program has become incredibly popular with operations looking to adopt the latest BMPs and improve productivity and sustainability.

Since 2022 RDAR has distributed over $43M in OFCAF funds to more than 1,700 producers, covering in excess of 2.1M acres of land in Alberta, creating the largest OFCAF deliver initiative in Canada.

The 2025 program will be very familiar to those who have previously applied for funds, however, there are two changes

1. Soil sampling and Mapping maximum $20,000 (over all program years 2022-2028).

2. Rotational Grazing, water distribution component cap of $37,500 (2025-2028).

You can read all about the program on RDAR's website:

RDAR OFCAF Program

Are You Prepared For Wildfire Season?

Alberta FireSmart has new resources to help you prepare your family, home, and property for the risk of wildfires. Now is the time to plan before you need to act. Follow the links below to a few of the resources available:

Farm and Acreage Magazine

FireSmart App

Farm Animals and Livestock Preparedness Tools and Resources