In 2008, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was formed to help identify and prioritize issues where technical guidelines are needed to help agricultural producers understand and meet the requirements of the Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA).
TAG is accountable to senior management within Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) and the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB). John Conrad, assistant deputy minister with AGI, serves as TAG’s ex-officio chair. “By identifying areas where such technical support is needed, TAG plays a crucial role in ensuring that the regulatory framework is both effective and practical for stakeholders involved in agricultural operations,” notes Conrad.
Technical guidelines are vital in helping NRCB staff and agricultural operators manage risks and comply with AOPA. Since its establishment, TAG and its technical teams have developed 14 technical guidelines on topics such as groundwater monitoring, manure application, manure storages and livestock capacity at confined feeding operations.
TAG is co-chaired by AGI and NRCB staff, who oversee the development and maintenance of guidelines on technical topics requiring specialized knowledge. To ensure TAG’s work is grounded in industry needs, it includes agricultural representatives, including Melissa Downing from the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association and Stan Vanessen from Alberta Pork. Two additional members, one from AGI and one from NRCB, provide regulatory and technical expertise.
Together, these TAG members and the technical teams play an essential role in ensuring that AOPA is implemented effectively and consistently by developing technical guidelines that are strong, current and relevant to the confined feeding industry. TAG is mandated to review, and update as needed, each guideline every 5 years. This past year, several guidelines were reviewed and updated, including:
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