The announcement by the Government of Canada and Manitoba outlined the first five community pastures in Manitoba which will be transitioned away from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) administration. The five pastures are Westbourne, Lakeview, Gardenton, Pansy and Sylvan Dale.
“MBP appreciates the clarification that the current administration will remain in place through the 2013 grazing season,” said Ray Armbruster, MBP president. “Beginning the transition after the 2013 grazing season was a specific request of producers and this will give adequate time to develop and implement an alternative administrative structure.”
In recent months, MBP called together the chairs of the Patron Advisory Committees (PAC) from each pasture. A steering committee of PAC chairs and MBP directors has been nominated by this group to lead the development of an alternative producer led structure to administer community pastures in Manitoba.
“We are confident the new administrative structure, led by producers, will be in place to facilitate an orderly transfer of these first five pastures to transition away from federal administration,” said Barry Lowes, chair of the Steering Committee and chair of the Producer Advisory Committee for Ellice-Archie.
“The model being developed by the Steering Committee will be used to administer all of the pastures as they transfer from AAFC administration,” noted Armbruster. “MBP emphasizes that as governments make changes to the community pasture program measures must be taken to ensure that current agricultural land use does not change and that these pastures remain available to beef producers in Manitoba.”
MBP will continue to work with the Governments of Manitoba, Canada and municipalities in order to ensure a sustainable community pasture program in Manitoba.
Community pastures are a 75-year conservation legacy demonstrating practical resource management while providing and conserving natural habitat for wildlife. The use of this land by beef producers provides economic returns to Manitoba’s economy while providing environmental benefits to all citizens—as do all well managed grazing lands.
