Saskatchewan cattle producers have formed a working group to stay informed about the disposition of the federal community pastures.
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association directors who have used the pastures will be members of the group, as will representatives from the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.
The group will gather information about the divestitures, evaluate options and keep the SCA board and membership informed.
All cattle producers in the province who pay check-off levies are SCA members.
The SCA position on the pastures mirrors that of the provincial agriculture ministry: the land will remain in complete blocks, native prairie will be subject to no-break and no-drain easements, sales will be at market value and patron groups will own or control the pasture whether deeded or leased.
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The SCA also wants the government to help patron groups set up shareholder or co-operative systems with in-and-out policies for the land.
It says a transfer process that ensures each pasture group has the necessary information to negotiate its own specific agreement is critical.
The association will meet soon with representatives from the first 10 pastures set to be turned over to patrons in 2014.
