Lake Melville Agricultural Association

During the 1980's several individuals operated part time farm operations in the Upper Lake Melville area, and formed a loosely knit Lake Melville Agricultural Society. By late 1990 several New Entrants had begun farm operations, and the society was seen as an instrument for advancing the development of agriculture in the region. With the support of the Central Labrador Economic Development Board the Society was incorporated on May 28, 1999 as the Lake Melville Agricultural Association.

In January 2001 the Association, assisted by the Development Board, conducted a Planning Seminar. From the findings and discussions of the seminar the Association composed a Long range Plan for Food and Feed Self-sufficiency in Central Labrador, containing 12 recommendations. This document was forwarded to the Departments of Natural Resources and Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. These departments established a Steering Committee which composed, and released in 2004, the Northern Agrifoods Development Strategy.

One of the immediate concerns of the Association at the Planning Seminar was to seek means of developing agricultural land in the extremely sand based soil base in the area. Funding was requested and received from the Agri-Adapt Council to purchase a Meri-crusher, as equipment to clear land while retaining the surface organic matter. Initial trials of the equipment failed because a suitable tractor was not available. During the visit of the Minister of Natural Resources in 2004 to release the NAD Strategy the situation and need for an appropriate tractor was presented to Mr. Byrne, who supported its funding through the Provincial Agricultural Assistance Program. The tractor and Meri-Crusher have been utilized with extreme success to clear land for farm operations, with farmers hiring the equipment and operator from the Association. The Association is currently seeking funding to purchase additional equipment for soil conditioning and bulk limestone spreading.

A second concern of the Association was the identification of new agricultural land in the area. Its request in 2001 to the Agrifoods Division resulted in the investigation, and mapping of the 800 acre Mud Lake Road ADA, which was opened for use with a Call for Proposals in 2005.

The Association sought and obtained Commodity Group status in the Federation of Agriculture on January 1, 2002, and has participated in the activities of the Federation through its elected Director since then. It has been especially vocal in the Federation's efforts to obtain changes in the Province's Agricultural Leased Lands Policy.

The Association has sponsored and supported a wide variety of training events within the area, and several visits of members to events outside the region. Most recently it has arranged, through funding from the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Water Supply Expansion Program, for the identification of water sources for five farms in the area, the verification of the purity of the water sources, and the design of the most appropriate method of delivering the water for the farm's use. It has arranged for the Province's first training program in the use of the farm oriented AgExpert Computor Accounting Program, with 8 farmers participating in the training.

The Lake Melville Agricultural Association's growing membership looks forward to increasing advocacy and farmer service activities in the developing and expanding agricultural scene in Central Labrador.

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