Patrons of community pastures in Saskatchewan will be able to use fixed assets on the land at no cost when the provincial government takes control of the pastures.
“It was something that myself, I hadn’t thought would happen, and it’s a great thing for the patrons,” said Larry Grant of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.
“It gives them a lot of options going forward.”
Patrons will be responsible for maintaining the assets, which include fences, dugouts and cattle handling facilities.
“A lot of people didn’t think that they would lease the assets out because it’s very tough to determine the condition of the asset at this point and what is the condition of the asset in 10 years or 15 years,” said Grant.
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“Now the ball is in the patrons’ court. The offer has been made and now they have to step up to the plate and say, ‘yes, we’ll take it and we’ll go forward with it and we will keep things in as good a condition as they are today.’ “
The provincial government, which is set to assume control of 10 federal community pastures in 2014, made the announcement March 28. The assets will be transferred to the province at no cost.
“I think that it gives the patrons some flexibility. Going forward, they don’t necessarily have to come up with all of the cash right up front,” said Grant.
Harold Martens, president of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, also applauded the announcement.
“The start up costs, (patron groups) have to carry that, and they’re going to have to get used to a lot of different things,” he said.
“It’s going to take one problem out of their basket of issues that they have to deal with. I think it’s going to be a good thing and they can focus their attention on organizing themselves and making the pasture operate the way it can and should.”
Newly formed patron groups will be able to lease or buy their pasture. Groups buying the land will be able to buy the land improvements at zero percent interest. Leases will be offered on a 15-year term.
