Photo: Brandie Majeau
By Haylee Winger
Farmers and ranchers in Sturgeon County are being encouraged to look into funding
opportunities through the county’s Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program as they plan
future improvements to their agricultural operations.
The program helps agricultural producers establish nature-based projects that benefit the
environment while supporting the long-term sustainability of their land.
Projects supported through ALUS include livestock watering systems, shelterbelt planting,
fencing around waterbodies, reforestation, pollinator habitats, wetland creation and restoration,
erosion control and wildlife habitats. Other nature-based projects may also be considered.
Through ALUS, Sturgeon County provides annual payments to help farmers and ranchers
manage and maintain projects that generate environmental benefits.
The program aims to protect both agriculture and the region’s natural environment by
encouraging the restoration and creation of wetlands, grasslands, riparian areas and treed areas.
To qualify, projects must be located on land owned and farmed in Sturgeon County. Land that is
rented may also qualify with the landowner’s consent. Applicants are generally expected to earn
at least $10,000 annually from farm commodities, although some exceptions apply. Proposed
projects must benefit the environment and focus on marginal or ecologically sensitive land, or
involve changes to how that land is managed for agriculture.
The county’s qualification checklist also asks applicants to consider project size, their willingness
to contribute to establishing and maintaining the project, and whether they are prepared to cover
50 per cent of project costs. For most project types, ALUS covers up to 50 per cent of approved
costs.
Producers interested in the program can contact Sturgeon County’s Open Space and Agriculture
Services department at 780-939-8349 or email agricultureservices@sturgeoncounty.ca. An
expression of interest form is available through the county’s website.
More information about the program and application process is available at
https://www.sturgeoncounty.ca/agriculture-environment/environmental-initiatives/alus/.