An invitation to pasture patrons: come speak at a Public Forum on the Pastures

Tree Swallow perched on our Prairie Stewardship sign

In Regina on Friday, November 23rd, there will be a facilitated open forum on the disposal of the PFRA pasture lands in Saskatchewan. The night before, Nov. 22nd, author Candace Savage (freshly returned from her well-deserved award of the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust prize for non-fiction) will present her thoughts on the legacy of the PFRA pastures at a public slide-talk at the Education Auditorium, beginning at 7pm. The evening is free. Copies of Candace's brilliant and powerful new book, A Geography of Blood: Unearthing Memory from a Prairie Landscape will be on sale.


We are holding the public forum on the 23rd at the Orr Centre which is a short drive north of the Exhibition Grounds in Regina (see map here). We especially would like to hear from PFRA pasture patrons and other livestock people who will voice their opinions on the pastures issue, as well as people from the conservation community, rural municipalities and farm organizations. Any interested government staff from the Provincial and Federal levels are also very welcome to join us for the day if they can come. Our hope is that by bringing together the various interest groups and stakeholders--especially pasture patrons--we will find some common ground on the matter of how these critically important landscapes should be managed in the years to come.

For now, the Province of Saskatchewan says that they plan to sell or lease all 61 of the pastures in stages, and they have announced the first ten to be disposed of. Yesterday, with the Federal Government they released some information on how they will give money to any pasture patron groups who want to buy a pasture. There was an article in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix covering the story and they interviewed the Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Lyle Stewart, as well as a cattleman from Dundurn area who has used the local community pasture. The cattleman, Verner Falk, says in the article that ranchers will not be able to afford to buy the pastures and that the new funding promises won't make a difference.

Verner Falk, who is part of a group of ranchers whose cattle graze on a community pasture near Dundurn.
Falk said the estimated value of the pasture land — which is likely in the millions of dollars — is more than most ranchers can afford. Falk said there are fewer than half as many ranchers using the land than a decade ago. He believes the money Stewart is offering won’t come close to making it an attractive deal for ranchers.


Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Province+offers+incentives+ranchers+take+over+community+pastures/7555911/story.html#ixzz2CM3vQd3t

Verner Falk, who is part of a group of ranchers whose cattle graze on a community pasture near Dundurn.
Falk said the estimated value of the pasture land — which is likely in the millions of dollars — is more than most ranchers can afford. Falk said there are fewer than half as many ranchers using the land than a decade ago. He believes the money Stewart is offering won’t come close to making it an attractive deal for ranchers.


Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Province+offers+incentives+ranchers+take+over+community+pastures/7555911/story.html#ixzz2CM3vQd3t

Verner Falk, who is part of a group of ranchers whose cattle graze on a community pasture near Dundurn.
Falk said the estimated value of the pasture land — which is likely in the millions of dollars — is more than most ranchers can afford. Falk said there are fewer than half as many ranchers using the land than a decade ago. He believes the money Stewart is offering won’t come close to making it an attractive deal for ranchers.


Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Province+offers+incentives+ranchers+take+over+community+pastures/7555911/story.html#ixzz2CM3vQd3t

Verner Falk, who is part of a group of ranchers whose cattle graze on a community pasture near Dundurn.
Falk said the estimated value of the pasture land — which is likely in the millions of dollars — is more than most ranchers can afford. Falk said there are fewer than half as many ranchers using the land than a decade ago. He believes the money Stewart is offering won’t come close to making it an attractive deal for ranchers.


Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Province+offers+incentives+ranchers+take+over+community+pastures/7555911/story.html#ixzz2CM3vQd3t

That is what it is; however, at the same time this was happening, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities--which was officially on record as supporting the Province's plan--entertained a resolution that insisted that the Province "retain ownership of the federally transitioned pastures and assist with the development of a pasture lands management structure to ensure the pastures continue to serve local producers and communities."

I came home to find a voice-mail from a friend who was on the floor at the convention, telling me that the resolution, sponsored by a group of four rural municipalities, was passed by more than two-thirds majority! An email from Joanne Brochu (who drafted the resolution and who I wrote about in this space a couple weeks ago) confirmed it. That was such exciting news. SARM is a key stakeholder in this matter and the voice of its membership from rural areas around this province simply cannot be ignored.

Again, pasture patrons--if you are out there, please please come to Regina and take part in the forum next Friday. If you want to talk about it or are nervous and need to be convinced please email me at trevorherriot@gmail.com or phone me at 306-585-1674. I would love to talk to you.

Meanwhile, here are some more details on the forum:

a Peregrine Falcon I found this spring migrating through pasture land

The morning information session topics include the history and context of the pastures, ecological values and species at risk in the pastures, and First Nations interests in the land. There will be two open mic sessions, time to say your peace or ask questions.

The noon panel discussion features key stakeholders - pasture employees and patrons, First Nations, and conservation and recreational interests.

The afternoon session will be a facilitated discussion on the role of the pastures within public policy, working towards resolutions.

The day's proceedings are open to all! And free of charge. A catered lunch will be available for $10.