Farmers and ranchers in Lacombe County are about to get some help producing cleaner air, water and other ecosystem services.

A partnership was launched earlier today between Lacombe County and Alternative Land Use Services, a national program dedicated to sustaining agriculture, wildlife and natural spaces for all Canadians.

Dion Burlock, Agricultural Fieldman for Lacombe County, said they are in the process of identifying the area's greatest needs.

"Right now we're taking the time and we're establishing priority areas. We are going to focus on what we can work on in the future. We are hoping to have that process done by early spring," said Burlock. "Once we get through that process, we are going to be out there looking for cooperators and projects."

ALUS has over 15,000 projects taking place across the country including, off site watering systems, modified grazing, pollinator habitat and shelter belts.

Christine Campbell, Alberta HUB Manager for ALUS, said their program will be specific to the needs of the farmers and ranchers in this area.

They will get to make decisions to tailor the program to meet their needs, their priority areas, meet their goals and to adjust to their social drivers as well,” said Campbell.

Lacombe County is the 11th community in Alberta who has signed up for ALUS's services and Burlock said partnering up the organization will be highly beneficial to everyone in the community involved in agriculture.

"Lacombe County sees this as being important for the agriculture producers. Food safety, food quality issues are coming more and more to the forefront, so we see this as a vehicle to spread that message and to provide our producers the opportunity to take part in that,” said Burlock.

The Lacombe County ALUS program is voluntary for local agricultural producers and landowners and will be overseen by a committee of local agriculture producers.