Survey Collection: Farm Rental Rates in Clearwater County
Data is being collected from Sept 26, 2022 to May 31, 2023.
Since 2018, the Government of Alberta no longer consistently tracks farmland rental rates. With changes in crops that are grown, increases in both yields and commodity prices, the available figures are no longer current or relevant.
Clearwater County’s Agriculture and Community Services Department receives a high number of inquiries about local rental rates, this data is being collected to assist in information distribution to County residents.
Once completed, this data will be available to the public to allow for a better understanding on the overall situation for producers and landlords in Clearwater County. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and the results will be available here, on our website, and distributed to our agricultural community.
The complete online survey is available below, paper copies are available at County Administrative buildings (or you can click here to download a paper copy!).
If you have any questions or issues with the survey please contact Agriculture & Community Services at 403-845-4444 or reception@clearwatercounty.ca.
Weed Control & Eradicable Weeds
Eradicable Weeds Program
- The Board will establish a list of species for the Eradicable Weeds Program each spring.
- Staff will record weed site information data in the Weed Data Base with particular attention to size, age and growth stage of infestation.
- Staff will inspect all sites on record annually and design an effective eradication program.
- Staff will present an Annual Report on this program which will guide the Board in establishing the list of species included in the program.
- Clearwater County will absorb all costs associated with the eradication.

- Autumn olive — Elaeagnus umbellata Thunberg
- Balsam, Himalayan — Impatiens glandulifera Royle
- Barberry, common — Berberis vulgaris L.
- Bartsia, red — Odontites vernus (Bellardi) Dumortier ssp. serotinus (Dumortier) Corbière
- Buckthorn, common — Rhamnus cathartica L.
- Cinquefoil, sulphur — Potentilla recta L.
- Crupina, common — Crupina vulgaris Persoon ex Cassini
- Dyer’s woad — Isatis tinctoria L.
- Eurasian water milfoil — Myriophyllum spicatum L.
- Flowering rush — Butomus umbellatus L.
- Garlic mustard — Alliaria petiolata (M. Bieberstein) Cavara & Grande
- Goatgrass, jointed — Aegilops cylindrica Host
- Hawkweed, meadow — Hieracium caespitosum Dumortier
- Hawkweed, mouse‑ear — Hieracium pilosella L.
- Hawkweed, orange — Hieracium aurantiacum L.
- Hoary alyssum — Berteroa incana (L.) DC.
- Hogweed, giant — Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier
- Iris, pale yellow — Iris pseudacorus L.
- Knapweed, bighead — Centaurea macrocephala Puschkarew ex Willdenow
- Knapweed, black — Centaurea nigra L.
- Knapweed, brown — Centaurea jacea L.
- Knapweed, diffuse — Centaurea diffusa Lamarck
- Knapweed, hybrid — Centaurea × psammogena Gáyer
- Knapweed, meadow — Centaurea × moncktonii C. E. Britton
- Knapweed, Russian — Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.
- Knapweed, spotted — Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek
- Knapweed, squarrose — Centaurea virgata Lam. ssp. squarrosa (Boissier) Gugler
- Knapweed, Tyrol — Centaurea nigrescens Willdenow
- Knotweed, giant — Fallopia sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Ronse Decraene
- Knotweed, hybrid Japanese — Fallopia × bohemica (Chrtek & Chrtková) J. P. Bailey
- Knotweed, Japanese — Fallopia japonica (Houttuyn) Ronse Decraene
- Loosestrife, purple — Lythrum salicaria L.
- Medusahead — Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski
- Nutsedge, yellow — Cyperus esculentus L.
- Puncturevine — Tribulus terrestris L.
- Ragwort, tansy — Senecio jacobaea L.
- Rush skeletonweed — Chondrilla juncea L.
- Saltcedar — Tamarix ramosissima Ledebour
- Saltlover — Halogeton glomeratus (M. Bieberstein) C.A. Mey.
- St John's wort, common — Hypericum perforatum L.
- Starthistle, yellow — Centaurea solstitialis L.
- Tamarisk, Chinese — Tamarix chinensis de Loureiro
- Tamarisk, smallflower — Tamarix parviflora DC.
- Thistle, marsh — Cirsium palustre (L.) Scopoli
- Thistle, nodding — Carduus nutans L.
- Thistle, plumeless — Carduus acanthoides L.
- Bladder Campion (Silene cucubalus) (Not designated)
- Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
- Common/(Yellow) Toad Flax (Linaria vulgaris)
- Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
- Leafy Spurge (Eeuphorbia esula
Community Weed Control
Objectives of Community Weed Control Areas
- Marked increase of cooperation with neighbors
- More landowners are working towards eradication
- Increased ownership of weeds
- Community to work closely with Ag Services staff
Vegetation Management
Roadside Spraying Program 2023
Clearwater County’s Agricultural Services department will begin roadside spraying of prohibited noxious, noxious weeds, woody vegetation (brush), and other nuisance vegetation throughout the County from late May to September.
For public safety, a buffer zone will be maintained between these roadside spray areas and county residences/yard sites.
As per the County's Vegetation Management program, spraying on roadsides is done under the authority of Alberta’s Weed Control Act. Clearwater County is required to control the weeds in the roadside just like any other landowner is on privately owned land. As well, in the public interest of safety, brush control is performed to increase the sightlines on roadways and intersections as per the authority of the Alberta Highway Act. As a result, costs of maintaining these open roadways are reduced where brush and trees are managed properly as it makes snow removal easier and allows roads to dry out quicker after precipitation falls.
Clearwater County works hard to maintain all of the gravel and paved roads within its jurisdiction. Whether its weed spraying, grass mowing or roadside brushing, vegetation management staff endeavor to control all vegetation within the right of way to protect the agricultural integrity, road safety, and infrastructure.
Weed infestations are spot sprayed with a boom-less sprayer or handgun. Herbicide injection pumps allow for on the go selection so that the appropriate herbicide can be used with different weed species without the need to change tank mixes. Typical target species include but are not limited to Tall Buttercup, Wild Caraway, Ox Eye Daisy, Scentless Chamomile, Sweet Clover, and Canada Thistle.
Public and worker safety is always the priority. Specialized registered herbicides applied by Certified and Authorized trained applicators can be used safely around humans and animals with no side effects or grazing restrictions according to PMRA Canada.
To learn more about Vegetation Management, contact the Agriculture & Community Services department at 403-846-4040 or reception@clearwatercounty.ca.
Custom Spraying
Livestock Traceability
On Farm Demonstration & Research
Trial Plots
2012-2013 Swath Grazing Trial Plot Report
2013-2014 Triticale Swath Grazing Report
2018 Cover Crop Trial Plot Report
Feed Testing & Ration Balancing
Feed Sampling Guideline
- Package and ship according to laboratory instructions.
Pest Control
The main pests that require outside assistance are beavers and coyotes. The approach taken is to offer assistance via workshops and hands-on training in addition to providing awareness and educational materials in management and prevention.
Grasshoppers: Extension staff conduct annual grasshopper surveys with 84 fields surveyed in 2018. The information is provided to the province to help with predicting grasshopper issues in the future.
Club Root: Clubroot surveillance and inspection has been elevated for the past four years even though annual crops in Clearwater County are a small portion of the agricultural use of all deeded land. All canola fields known to Agriculture and Community Services are inspected. 72 fields were inspected in 2013, 81 in 2014, 119 in 2015, 102 in 2016, 44 in 2017 and 115 in 2018.
The first confirmation of clubroot in Clearwater County was discovered in 2014. Two fields were identified as clubroot positive. They were not in close proximity to each other nor was there any sharing of equipment or resources.
In 2015 10 new fields were identified and links were established in many of the fields between landowners and equipment. In 2016 only 2 new fields were found and testing indicated a very low infestation rate.
Due to a delayed harvest and some unharvested crops in the fall of 2016, coupled with a wet spring in 2017, there was a 50 percent reduction in fields planted to canola. Consequently, there were just 44 fields examined with 2 positive results from the samples sent away. Of 115 fields sampled in 2018, 3 tested positive for clubroot.
Click Here for more information on control methods for gophers.
Herbicide Discount
Corteva Agriscience Range and Pasture Rebate Program
- In 2021, Corteva has made some adjustments to their rebate program. This allows more convenience for the buyer.
- Customers no longer need to register their intent to purchase the products. Instead, customers who purchase a minimum of $1400.00 of qualifying products are eligible to receive an 8% rebate in the Fall of 2021.
- Customers who match or exceed their 2020 purchases are eligible to receive a total 10% rebate back from Corteva in the Fall of 2021.
- Qualifying products include Restore ll herbicide, Reclaim ll herbicide, & Grazon XC herbicide.
- This program runs from December 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021.