EAST CENTRAL
ALBERTA FORAGE
ASSOCIATION
VISION
The
East Central Alberta Forage Association (ECAFA) is a non-profit agricultural
association located in East Central Alberta.
It provides a forum for the exchange of positive ideas, basic research,
and demonstration projects. Local and
other surrounding area producers benefit from these on-site projects. The Association integrates their projects –
forages, water, and cattle. The projects
provide increased economic return and sustainability. Producers can use and duplicate the
results. The ECAFA is seen as a leader
in new, innovative ideas and leads/ influences government and industry. The East Central Alberta Forage Association
is financially self-sufficient and provides employment by hiring a summer technician
and a part-time secretary.
Mission: To test, apply and
disseminate innovative, sustainable agricultural ideas for producers in East
Central Alberta.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the East Central Alberta Forage Association
is the exchange of information. We do
this by demonstrating forage crops, varieties, and management practices under
local conditions.
GOALS &
STRATEGIES
Our areas of emphasis are:
Resource Management, People Resources, Influencing Policy, and Quality
Projects. We offer members an
opportunity to give input into project ideas either at the annual meeting or by
approaching the directors. Over the next
few years our goals will be in the areas of farm management and value added
opportunities for producers.
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
The East Central Alberta Forage Association has had a very
busy year. Our cow supplementation
project took at lot of time, but yielded some interesting results. Also, we are very pleased to have completed
six livestock watering projects (both winter and summer systems were
installed).
The weather this year was extremely dry. Yields were poor for both
forages and cereals/ oilseeds. We
are hopeful that 2003 will be a much better year for producers in our area.
Our 2002 Annual Report includes information on all our
projects. We hope the information will
be of use to you on your operation. If
you have any questions, comments or ideas for new projects, please call any of
the ECAFA directors.
Our association is being asked by government to take the
initiative in determining needs of farmers in the area and then sending in a
3-year plan for funding. We have finished
the needs assessment work and want to thank all those producers who helped us
develop our new plan. Our new focus will
be in 3 areas (drought, water and value added).
We will know by spring if the government will be providing funding for
these new initiatives. We will keep you
posted. Sincerely, Wyett Swanson
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