Grazing Dispositions and Livestock Ownership
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Lands Division is often asked questions about the livestock ownership requirements and grazing dispositions. The regulations require that livestock on a lease, permit or licence must be owned by the disposition holder. Sometimes, when private agreements are made between the disposition holder and another party, ownership isn't clear.
Acceptable livestock ownership arrangements must:
- Give the risk for financial profit or loss in the livestock operation solely to the disposition holder.
- Include a provision that the disposition holder has ownership or will receive ownership at some reasonable time in the future, when the agreement is fulfilled.
- Not require the disposition holder to relinquish control of the livestock to a specified party at the end of the agreement.
Subleasing (subletting) is unacceptable and not allowed except in
extraordinary situations. Subleasing occurs when a disposition holder
makes an agreement with another party to graze the other party's stock
on the grazing disposition.
Arrangements considered subleasing and unacceptable include:
- The grazing of livestock owned by someone other than the disposition holder in exchange for cash or other payment.
- Livestock leased for a share of the offspring crop or for payment. (Leased livestock are only acceptable if the lease forms part of the conditional sale agreement.)
- Livestock purchased under an arrangement requiring the livestock to be sold to a specific party.
- Livestock in which the disposition holder only owns a share. The shares not held by the disposition holder are in violation of the subleasing policy. Assignment of the disposition to the parties who own the livestock, would clear up this violation.
Approval for subleasing on grazing dispositions can be granted in extraordinary situations. Medical problems and estate cases are examples of situations where subleasing is considered.
Applications for grazing leases/permits must be made in writing before subleasing occurs, and need to include the following information:
- Reasons for the request
- The subletting period (usually one season), livestock entry and exit dates, and consideration to be received from subletting.
- Acknowledgement of continued responsibilities for range health.
- Name of sublessee who will be using the lease, and the brand(s) on their livestock.
- The number and type of livestock and number of Animal Units to be grazed.
- How the disposition holder will address the distribution and management of the two herds and/or reduction in his/her livestock numbers if needed.
- Why assignment is not being pursued.
Subleasing may only be approved for a limited period of time and approval must be received in writing from the Land Dispositions Branch of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. Subleasing is considered a last resort over the short term where no other alternatives, such as joint tenancy or assignment, exist.
Approval for Subleasing
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Lands Division
Rangeland Management Branch
South Tower, Petroleum Plaza
9920 - 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 427 3595
Land Dispositions Branch
South Tower, Petroleum Plaza
9915 - 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8
Telephone: (780) 427 3570
Forestry Division
Forest Management Branch
9920 - 108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 422 4590
Or for more information please contact your closest Lands Division office.
To avoid long distance charges within Alberta, you may either call your local long distance operator and ask for a RITE operator, or call 310 0000, a local toll-free number.
