Grazing Management Agreements
- Grazing Management Agreements
- Forage/Asset Fee Rental
- Operating and Maintenance Plans
- Grazing Allotments
Download this Information Sheet 227 KB 47 KB
Provincial Grazing Reserve Program
Historically, public lands contained within the 32 provincial grazing reserves were managed by the provincial government. In September 1995, a decision was made to transfer responsibility for the livestock management component to the patron associations. By 1999, all associations were responsible for all livestock management on the reserves.
Grazing Management Agreements
A grazing management agreement forms the basis for each association to graze its members’ livestock on the reserve. The agreement requires the association to manage the livestock and maintain any government assets on the reserve. The assets include fences, dugouts, buildings, corrals, irrigation infrastructure, plus native and developed pastures needed for the grazing operation.
Department staff continues to manage all other uses of the public
land within grazing reserves, including industrial and recreational
use and access by the general public. Public access is allowed in areas
not used by livestock during the grazing season, and to the entire
reserve once the livestock have been removed.
Forage/Asset Fee Rental
The patron association pays a forage fee based on the carrying capacity of the reserve. The forage fee is equivalent to the annual grazing rental rate on other grazing dispositions on public land.
The asset rental fee is based on two per cent of the estimated original cost to government for irrigation equipment, buildings, water wells, fences, corrals, spring developments and dugouts. Once the assets are replaced or renovated by the association, they are removed from the asset rental list however the government retains ownership of them.
Operating and Maintenance Plans
Many of the associations file an annual operating plan for government approval, stating how the livestock will be managed on the reserve and which pastures will be used during the grazing season. This plan provides information on which livestock enter and exit the reserve, as well as how long the herds are expected to graze each pasture. This information allows the government to monitor the actual grazing use of the reserve.
The association is also required to file an annual maintenance plan outlining the proposed maintenance activities for the current year. Government must approve the plan before any work can be undertaken. This annual maintenance plan is a reflection of a long-term maintenance plan in which the association must outline long-term priorities for maintenance of assets and pastures. Any cost sharing by government on multiple-use projects (i.e.. projects that benefit both the association as well as other users, or projects that are mitigation of multiple use impacts), are contingent upon long-term plans that are approved by department staff.
Grazing Allotments
The government provides allotment criteria to the associations, which they then use to select new applicants. Although the associations are responsible for selecting the applicants, the government must be in agreement with protocols behind the selection.
In issuing allotments to new members, the associations must maintain the minimum number of patrons stipulated in the agreement. When patrons leave the reserve, their allotment becomes available to new and existing patrons on a 50–50 percentage split provided a minimum of 200 AUM becomes available.
For updated information
Contact any of the offices below:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Lands Division
Rangeland Management Branch
4th Floor Great West Life Bldg.
9920-108 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 427 3595
