MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The Sask-atchewan Stock Growers Association says prescribed burning in a protected area that hasn’t been grazed for 50 years should not be allowed.
The province’s parks ministry wants to burn about 320 acres of native grass in the Matador Prairie Protected Area before applying chemical to control weeds.
The ministry had hoped to conduct the burn in April, but ranchers and others in the area say it’s a bad idea and would prefer grazing be used instead.
Ed Bothner, who runs cattle next to the Matador, said the area is about eight kilometres from Sask-atchewan Landing cottage sites and too close to the river breaks and coulees.
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“A large part of the opposition came from the cottage owners as well as from the community pasture patrons and myself, who border the prescribed burn area,” he said.
“Our opposition to this goes deeper than just burning. They’re also using glyphosate on native prairie.”
Bothner said the total protected area is three sections. The parks department wants to use fire to control exotic invasive Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome.
The cost of the burn was estimated earlier this year at $35,400.
Rob Wright, a former parks service employee who represented Public Pastures Public Interest at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association annual meeting, said the proposed burn area within the Matador protected zone has provided a tremendous body of research.
“It’s been rested for a long, long time and it’s an ideal place for research on a combination of grazing, fire, resting, control of exotics, and species at risk,” he said.
Wright suggested the resolution opposing the burn be changed to include an offer demonstrating the benefits of grazing.
But Reg Schellenberg, who grazes cattle near Matador, said he and others are totally opposed to fire.
“The reason we’re concerned is in our municipality in 1986 there was 16 sections that burned up. Absolutely do not proceed with fire.”
Wright said he understood that concern but added Saskatchewan Parks’ active burn program has been “100 percent successful,” and staff have 40 years of experience with prescribed burning.
“The burn can be carried out safely and it is a park protected area and it’s a place where really good progress can be made … on managing grasslands,” he said.
SSGA second vice-president Kelcy Elford pointed out that fire doesn’t always co-operate. In 2013, a fire jumped highways and roads and entered Grasslands National Park.
“Every fire management practice is successful until it isn’t,” he said.
The resolution was passed.
- to ask the environment ministry to randomly test elk and deer for tuberculosis
- to have the agricultural labour shortage addressed
- to have funding in the next agricultural policy framework for agricultural workplace safety education and training
- for programs to assist with control of noxious weeds
