Ministry of Agriculture Lands Branch. Federal Pasture Transition and the Southern Conservation Land Management Strategy

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1 Ministry of Agriculture Lands Branch Federal Pasture Transition and the Southern Conservation Land Management Strategy

2 Federal Pasture Transition Highlights Leases have been signed with all of the First 10 Pastures ; All pastures are operational for 2014 and have staff in place and are being actively grazed; 8 of 10 pastures purchased existing bulls; 12 pastures have been approved for GF2 funding; Field inspections and meetings are occurring on the 2014 pastures. 2015, 2016, 2017 pastures are already working on transition committees and plans.

3 Federal Pasture Transition Schedule After 2013 Season Estevan-Cambria Excel Fairview Ituna-Bon Accord Key West Lone Tree McCraney Newcombe Park Wolverine

4 Federal Pasture Transition Schedule After 2013 Season Estevan-Cambria Excel Fairview Ituna-Bon Accord Key West Lone Tree McCraney Newcombe Park Wolverine After 2014 Season Brokenshell #1 & #2 Coalfields Foam Lake Gull Lake Hearts Hill Hillsburgh Kelvinton The Gap Royal Usborne

5 Growing Forward 2 Changes Invoice Payment Triggers The minimum invoice total that can be submitted for payment has been reduced to $1000 from $5000.

6 Growing Forward 2 Changes Invasive Plant Control Program 100 per cent of eligible weed control measures including herbicide, mechanical and biological controls and application costs related to the one-time divestiture of federal pastures. An Invasive Plant Management Plan approved by a Regional Forage Specialists is required. Prohibited Weeds in Saskatchewan as described in The Weed Control Act, plus: Leafy Spurge, Russian Knapweed, Common Tansy, Yellow Toadflax, Downy and Japanese Brome. Elbow Community Pasture will be treated as a unique situation.

7 Growing Forward 2 Changes Transition Committee Support Committee members will be eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $100 per member per meeting to a maximum of $600 per meeting. Reimbursement of 100 per cent will be granted for transition committee patron costs associated with meetings and activities over the first year of transition up to a maximum of $7,500 per pasture group entity. Eligibilty begins at the first meeting to set up a transition committee ends after the first year of operation. Retroactively available for Committees that have already formed.

8 Transition Highlights Patron s first; 15 year leases; Modernized allocations; Preferential improvement use and purchase; $120K transition funding under GF2; Preferential yardsite purchase for mangers; Preferential bull battery purchases. Enhanced Invasive Weed Control program; Transition Committee support;

9 Transition Highlights Patron s first; 15 year leases; Modernized allocations; Preferential improvement use and purchase; $120K transition funding under GF2; Preferential yardsite purchase for mangers; Preferential bull battery purchases; Enhanced Invasive Weed Control program; Transition Committee support.

10 Southern Conservation Land Management Strategy... balanced approach to land management, supporting agricultural businesses while continuing to protect important ecological values. The strategy gives agricultural lessees the opportunity to buy eligible lands currently designated under The Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (WHPA), and provides new legal tools to ensure that ecological values are protected.

11 Categories High Ecological Value Land Land is designated into one of three categories: Land with high ecological value, is ineligible for sale, and will be retained under Crown ownership and WHPA protection; o 1,675,202 acres or 48%

12 Moderate Ecological Value Lands Land with moderate ecological value, which may be eligible for sale with the protection of a new Crown Conservation Easement (CCE); o 1,302,935 acres or 37%; o Requires additional review to make sure there are no other provincial interests that would require the land to remain under Crown control. o Does not qualify under the Agricultural Crown Land Sale Program.

13 Low Ecological Value Lands Land with low ecological value, which may be eligible for sale without restrictions; o 525, 377 acres; o Requires additional review to make sure there are no other provincial interests that would require the land to remain under Crown control; o Qualifies under the Agricultural Crown Land Sale Program.

14 Information Sources Letters to all lessees with WHPA lands. Call Center established. o Toll free information line o Dedicated address moalandsbranch@gov.sk.ca Online. o o

15 Purchase Process (All Crown Land) Complete application; o RM approval needed. Application received and reviewed; Lessee notified of land s eligibility; Lessee required to decided on valuation type ie Private or Ministry; Ministry valuations will cost $300 for first quarter plus $100 for each additional quarter to a maximum of $1000;

16 Purchase Process (All Crown Land) Valuation costs deducted from purchase price on any land that is bought; Lessee makes purchase decision; Crown Conservation Easement is registered on appropriate land and then land is removed from regulations; Land Sale Agreement Provided.

17 Crown Conservation Easements Amendments were made to The Conservation Easements Act; o New and expanded compliance options o Stop-work orders o Equipment seizures o Injunctions and fines, to ensure the obligations contained in the easement are followed. Crown Conservation Easement, will be applied to appropriate Crown lands prior to sale;

18 Crown Conservation Easement New class of easements that the Crown may grant to itself before sale; Held by the Ministry of Environment; Draft available for stakeholder review within one to two weeks; RFP in progress to determine CCE affect on fair market value of land.

19 Purchase Interest Number of inquiries: 616 Number of parcels: 1,799 Number of applications sent: 415 Number of applications received: 46

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