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ALP has recently applied to access the Canada Summer Jobs Grant to be able to employ 1-2 summer students/interns in 2022. While we await our response from the government, we would like to start actively recruiting for the position(s), should funding be approved. Please feel free to circulate this opportunity with your network. 

To be eligible, youth must:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period^Footnote1 ;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment ^Footnote2; and,
• have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

Research Project Assistant Job Description - One to two applicants to be selected.

For further information, please contact Ashley Scott, Executive Director of Alberta Lamb Producers at 403-948-8533 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

If you are interested in applying for the position, please email your cover letter and resume to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line of “ALP CSJ – Research Project Assistant Application.”

A serious animal disease outbreak can occur at any time; taking steps to improve your awareness of emergency management, including understanding where you fit in a response, can better position your operation to react effectively to an emergency as it unfolds.

AHEM is pleased to offer a new three-part series of engaging virtual webinars geared for livestock producers. In each 60-minute interactive webinar they share vital information, tips, and tools for understanding how to prepare and respond during a serious animal disease emergency.

Webinar 1: Navigating the Unexpected – Emergency Management 101

A general overview of emergency management along with producer roles and responsibilities. The information is designed to boost preparedness with proactive steps and to provide insight into the knowledge and skills required during a serious animal disease outbreak.

Webinar 2: Resourced and Ready – Exploring Proactive Disease Management Tactics and Tools

Explore the concepts and support tools found in the AHEM resources and ask questions about animal health emergency management.

Webinar 3: Testing, Testing, 1-2-3 – Scenarios for producer Handbook application

Participants will be introduced to AHEM’s producer-oriented simulation workshops, which give a practical understanding of how AHEM resources are used as guidance before, during and/or after a serious animal disease outbreak.

Visit www.animalhealth.ca/workshops for more information including webinar dates and registration. The workshops begin February 1. 

Young Agrarians 2022 Apprenticeship Program is OPEN! Apply soon, the deadline is January 31st. 

Young Agrarians and their network of exceptional mentor farmers are offering advanced, hands-on apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. 

There are a variety of farming opportunities is:

• market gardening
• beekeeping
• livestock
• grain
• microgreens
• florals
• and more! 

The program is fully immersive and each farm is guided by a holistic framework that recognizes the connectedness of the land and people. Although farm activities will be different on each farm, the core activities will involve care of soil, pasture and livestock, farm direct marketing, and using sustainable practices for cereal, grain, and vegetable production. 

Find out more and apply at https://youngagrarians.org/apprenticeship-program/

Water is critical for successful farming and ranching, but too much or too little can create problems as is well known in the water scarce region of Southern Alberta. With climate projections predicting more severe drought and flood events in the future, it is clear that both water and agricultural policy and management may need to change to support a thriving farm and ranch community.

 A research team from the University of Calgary wants to understand what farm and ranch practices or policy changes may provide more stable and effective agricultural futures. By taking the time to complete a short survey (15-20 minutes), you will not only help this study, but will raise awareness about the needs and opportunities for long term agricultural success in Southern Alberta. Please click the following link to complete the survey: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_6SDz5OuT5cZkkhE

The Alberta Meat Inspection Regulation has been updated to enable the Video Ante-mortem Inspection Program (VAMI) which allows for a humane death and ante-mortem inspection for animals that cannot be transported to an abattoir. Effective January 4, 2022, Alberta livestock producers and abattoir operators can make the business decision whether or not to participate in VAMI.

On the VAMI program webpage provided, you will find:

• A summary of the program provisions,
• A link to a guidance document for producers and abattoir operators,
• A link to a document outlining abattoir operator responsibilities, and
• A link to an instruction sheet on how to access and use the VAMI online tool.

If you have questions or require additional information please contact me at 780-641-8991 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Ron Pate at 403-381-5179 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Applications for phase two of the 2021 Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance AgriRecovery initiative are scheduled to open January 5, 2022.

In phase two, producers can apply for additional compensation (a secondary payment) to help cover extraordinary costs over and above the phase one initial payment. Beekeepers are also eligible for phase two.

Producers are encouraged to apply online.

The application deadline is January 31, 2022.

Learn more

Effective December 8, 2021 the Alberta Meat Inspection Regulation was amended.

There are two key changes that we wish to share with you:

1. The co-ownership of an animal for slaughter by up to 4 co-owners is permitted for large species (>227 kg/500 lbs live weight) slaughtered under an On-Farm Slaughter Operation licence. Meat from a co-owned large animal can be shared amongst the households of the co-owners.
2.  Uninspected slaughter waste from an On-Farm Slaughter Operation may be sold or gifted, for use as bait in hunting or trapping.

For additional details and updated information, please refer to our webpage (https://www.alberta.ca/on-farm-slaughter-operation-licence.aspx).

If you have questions or would like additional information, contact us via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dear industry stakeholders,

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a rule on the Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants on December 3, 2021. The Rule becomes effective on January 3, 2022.

This Rule revises conditions for the imports of live sheep, goats and certain other non-bovine ruminants, and products derived from sheep and goats, with regard to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie. BSE-related import restrictions on sheep and goats and most of their products are being removed, while import restrictions related to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies for certain wild, zoological, or other non-bovine ruminant species are being
added.

As many of you know, Canada has been advocating for these regulations to be updated for a number of years in order to enable export of small ruminants not destined for slaughter, small ruminant genetics, and movement of live animals through the U.S. We have worked diligently with the U.S. on this issue for many years, including providing input into the proposed regulatory changes. Our hope is that these updated regulations reflect this work. CFIA is currently reviewing the new regulations in detail and will engage with U.S. counterparts to seek to negotiate export certificates, as applicable. We will keep you informed of our progress.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Regards,

Market Access Secretariat

Sheep supply for the month of August 2021

7th Annual Sheep Shearing Course 

May 6 & 7, 2022 ~ 8 AM – 5 PM each day

Contact us if you are interested in learning how to properly shear sheep from an expert teacher, Shaun Fajnor.

Jim & Margaret Oosterhof

Leduc County, AB
Contact us by phone (403.795.5755), or email:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This 2 day course will take you on a journey learning how to shear your own sheep or shear for others.

The cost is $350 + gst and you can register by contacting us and sending in your non-refundable deposit to save your place.

**Only 14 students max. will be accepted.

Snacks and lunch will be provided for the 2 days.