3
RU R A L ROO T S N E WS LET T ER . WI N T ER 2 018 . BROUGH
VETERINARY SERVICES
INCORPORATED PROGRAM
ASSISTS MD LIVESTOCK
PRODUCERS
FALL 2018 CLUBROOT OF
CANOLA UPDATE
Where are we at with existing inspections?
Although the fall was challenging due to weather, harvest
and inspection capabilities, Rural Services staff did complete
a preliminary Clubroot inspection program. As well, a final
formal inspection program was completed by a Provincial
Inspector working with the University of Alberta.
Here are some interesting statistics that were gathered
during these inspections: 47 parcels of Canola were grown
in the MD in 2018, of this total, 20 pre-inspections were
conducted, plus 22 formal inspections by the Provincial
Inspector. The Good news: NO SYMPTOMS OF CLUBROOT
WERE FOUND.
For many years the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River
has partnered with a non-profit corporation, Veterinary
Services Incorporation Ltd., to provide cost effective/
subsidized veterinary services for Municipal District livestock
producers. The program is designed for MD residents who
own livestock including: domestic cattle, pigs, sheep, goats,
elk and bison. To be eligible to receive VSI benefits the
livestock operation and the livestock must be located within
the municipality. The process to become a VSI members
is simple – fill out a free, onetime registration with the
Municipal District by contacting the Flatbush sub-office at
(780) 681-3929 or Toll Free at 866 681-3929.
Once registered, you will be issued a producer VSI
number that is used to access services from participating
veterinarians in the surrounding areas. In addition, you
will be provided with the existing policy and a schedule
of benefit coverage, that is updated annually. If you are
already a member and wish to seek just the updated benefit
coverage this may be obtained by viewing the MDs website
and clicking on Agricultural Programs, or by contacting the
Flatbush office.
NOTE: If your contact information has changed in the last
year, or you no longer have livestock and wish to retire your
VSI membership, please call the Flatbush sub-office.
New for 2019 -- the Veterinary Client Patient Relationship
(VCPR) charge will be included at 60%MD/40% resident for
up to a half hour per meeting. This change is in correlation
with the Health Canada requirement to purchase Medically
Important Antibiotics (MIA) s, from a licensed veterinarian.
The other good news
is that parcels of
land that had prior
Clubroot infestations
were growing cereal
crops and/or summer
fallowed; therefore,
good management
practices are being followed by the landowners/producers.
However, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.
Planning for 2019 should begin as early as possible. Below
are some tips to consider in managing Clubroot. Remember,
Clubroot is a soil-borne disease and spores are the primary
mode of contamination.
1. Be adamant about cleanliness!
• Knock dirt off/ wash equipment when moving
from a contaminated field to a different field
• Keep tools, boots and tires clean
• If you buy used equipment, ensure it is clean
before it hits your yard
2. Inspect field entry and exit points several times during
the season, and if symptoms are found, eradicate the patch
immediately. Leaving a grassed patch of land on these
entries and exit points may also help reduce host plants, and
prevent any contaminated soil that may have fallen off the
equipment, from spreading to the field.
3. Rotate your crops - one in three minimum. Studies
have shown that this results in a major reduction, but not
complete eradication, of Clubroot spores.
4. Select and only grow Clubroot resistant varieties within the
area. This will ensure the Clubroot spore count will be kept
to a low count. This is especially important in fields that were
shown to have Clubroot infestations in previous years.
More information and resources on managing Clubroot can
be found at clubroot.ca.