Community Pastures

Key Contact Information

Community pastures provide a reliable allotment to help establish and stabilize farm and ranch units within the Special Areas. This supports our agricultural community—a vital component of the Special Areas.

There are five community pastures operating in the Special Areas that cover approximately 177,00 acres, and provide annual grazing allotments to approximately 180 patrons each year. Community pastures include:

• Buffalo-Atlee
• Bullpound
• Remount
• Richdale
• Sounding Creek

KEY CONTACT

Nolan Ball, Rangeland Agrologist
403-854-5647
nolan.ball@specialareas.ab.ca

Public Consultation

The Special Areas Advisory Council requested feedback related to community pastures in the Special Areas throughout the summer and fall in 2024.

The purpose of this engagement was to provide Advisory Council members with feedback from a broad range of stakeholders to better understand the different issues and perspectives related to community pastures in Special Areas, including the potential for alternative management approaches. The survey was open from July 15 until September 30, 2024.

Feedback was collected through the online survey was reported to Advisory Council in December 2024 as part of Advisory Council’s regular fall meeting.

We have summarized the feedback received through this engagement and shared it in a What We Heard report (Special Areas Community Pastures).

Roles & Responsibilities

Community Pasture Patrons

Community pasture patrons are producers who have been granted a permit to graze cattle in one of the five Special Areas Board community pastures. They pay allotment fees to the Special Areas Board.

Administration

Administration of the community pastures is provided by Special Areas personnel, including the Director of Property Administration. Administration personnel provide operational oversight, administrative supervision, manage pasture permit applications and annual allotments.

The Special Area No. 2 District Office provides administrative support to this process and is the primary point of contact for any allotment or application questions.

Allotment Committees

Each pasture association has an allotment committee that includes membership from pasture associations. Allotment committee members are selected from current pasture association members and Special Areas administration.

These groups meet annually to develop allotment recommendations for the upcoming grazing season. Specific responsibilities of the allotment committee are addressed in Section 11 of the Community Pasture Policy.

Pasture Supervisors & Range Riders

Each community pasture has an assigned pasture supervisor and range rider. Pasture supervisors and range riders are responsible for day-to-day operations at each community pasture.

Pasture Applications, Allotments, Appeals, & Rates

How does the application process work?

Applications can be picked up at any Special Areas district office, and must be received by any district office by December 31 for a patron to be eligible to receive allotments in the upcoming season. Community pasture allotments are determined based on applications submitted each year. Applications are reviewed for compliance with the Community Pasture Policy and for completeness.

For example, allotments for the 2021 grazing season were determined based on applications submitted by December 31, 2020.

How does the allotment process work?

Allotments are determined on an annual basis by the Special Areas Board, based on the recommendations of the local allotment committee. Allotments are issued based on the application information provided, recommendations of the pasture’s allotment committee, and the application of the current community pasture policy. Allotment permit letters are issued in the spring of each year to approved patrons.

Patrons are required to pay grazing season fees for their cattle prior to entering pasture.

Can allotment decisions be appealed?

Allotments may be appealed in writing to the Special Areas Board within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the allotment permit letter. Appeals shall be heard by the Special Areas Board with representation supplied from the allotment committee.

How are community pasture rates set?

Community pasture rates are set annually by Ministerial Order based on the recommendation of the Advisory Council and Special Areas Board. These rates are proposed each fall and are historically approved in the spring ahead of the grazing season.