SARM Is Pleased With the Plan for the Federal Community Pastures
On Friday, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced the first 10 federal community pastures to be transferred to the province and to patron-controlled operation in 2014. The pastures to be initially transferred include: Estevan-Cambria; Excel; Fairview; Ituna-Bon Accord; Keywest; Lone Tree; McCraney; Newcombe; Park and Wolverine.
In Saskatchewan currently 2,500 patrons bring 220,000 head of livestock to these pastures annually. SARM President David Marit says, “We are pleased with the plan that was announced today because it will ensure the lands remain in place to continue to service the needs of Saskatchewan’s livestock sector.”
Marit says, “Rural Saskatchewan also recognizes the many secondary benefits of these pastures, including recreation and employment opportunities, housing species at risk and conserving land, water and biological resources on prairie landscapes. We are happy they are being maintained so they can continue to benefit rural Saskatchewan.”
SARM passed a resolution in March 2012 asking that the patrons who use the pastures have first right of refusal to either lease or purchase the land, as to not affect their operations or create a body separate from government to manage the pastures; thereby continuing to provide pasture to those cattle producers who depend on them to maintain their herds or, for those lands deemed as environmental reserve, to benefit all Canadians. The plan announced today meets these priorities.
SARM will continue to work with the province on the transfer of the remaining pastures and will offer its assistance in administering the pastures if it is needed.
For more information contact:
David Marit Dale Harvey
President Executive Director
(306) 476-7754 (306) 535-7343
“SARM, the Voice of Rural Saskatchewan”
