Native prairie | Conservation project, which began in 2012, develops site specific management plans for farmers
Hairy prairie clover is listed as a threatened plant species, but it still appears regularly in sandy parts of Saskatchewan.
It grows in native prairie and is foraged by cattle.
“The ranchers like it. We like it. We want to see it around and so do the ranchers,” said Chet Neufeld, executive director of the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan.
Last year, the agrologist assessed land owned by two producers near Mortlach, Sask., where the undesirable leafy spurge is out-competing hairy prairie clover.
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The sites were two of five he’s visited as part of the society’s Rare Plants and Ranchers program.
The program was piloted in 2012 and is expanding this year and next.
“You shouldn’t think that you’re cursed because you’ve got this rare species that you’re responsible for,” Neufeld said.
“You should kind of take it as a pat on the back that you’re doing a good job.”
Neufeld interviewed the landowners about their land and management practices before conducting his own assessment.
He then assembled the information and developed a site-specific management plan and set of best practices for each landowner.
The reports identify what the landowners are doing right and areas for improvement, such as where and how sheep could be used to control leafy spurge.
The project is modelled after similar efforts in Alberta and Manitoba.
Neufeld has also secured funding that will allow the society to cost-share the expense of implementing some of the changes, such as electric net fencing.
“The ranchers have no obligation to adopt any of our recommendations, although it’s likely in their best interest,” said Neufeld.
“None of the recommendations that we will include in any of the customized management plans will ever negatively impact the operation.”
The society has partnered with Nature Saskatchewan, which is helping Neufeld identify potential participants.
Dozens of private landowners are already participating as volunteer stewards in Nature Saskatchewan’s Rare Plant Rescue program, which is conserving more than 70,000 acres.
It will monitor sites in subsequent years.
“This is the first time where we’re going to get to see a before and after effect on the populations based on the management that (Neufeld) suggests,” said Laurie Johnson, co-ordinator of the Rare Plant Rescue program.
“That’s where we both really benefit from this. We’re creating hopefully a very useful data set for us and the landowner.”
Ranchers don’t have to be Nature Saskatchewan members to participate but must have a federally listed endangered plant species on their land.
Eight species are endangered both provincially and federally.
Neufeld is hoping to attract as many as 10 participants to the project this year.
