GOAL I: TO SUSTAIN A HEALTHY NATIVE PRAIRIE GRAZING RESOURCE

Progress Summary - submitted by Chris Nykoluk (AAFC-PFRA)

GOAL GROUP I MEMBERS: Michael Champion (DUC), Jessica Clay (FNACS), Michel Tremblay (SAF), Michael Burgess (SSGA), Michel Tremblay (SAF), Chris Nykoluk (AAFC-PFRA)

Objective 1: Promote grazing management programs that are based on economically and scientifically sound principles

There was good progress in many objectives contained in Goal One over the last year including increased activities in extension programming with landowners as well as professional workshops to technical and extension staff. A notable addition since the last Update is the formation of FNACS – this organization will focus on tech transfer of rangeland, pasture and riparian information with First Nations. A considerable amount of ongoing and new tech transfer activities continue to be delivered by Partners, many of them funded by the Greencover Canada Tech Technical Assistance component. This programming will be available until March 2007, so this activity is expected to be maintained until then at least. Of note is the number of Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) workshops that have occurred in Saskatchewan since the last Update (over 500); General awareness of the value of native prairie should be increased as a result.

Many older extension materials will be updated through this fund, including the Range Plan Development Guide (1991) and Managing Saskatchewan Rangeland (1994), the two cornerstone publications for range and pasture management in Saskatchewan. By spring 2007 these documents (or one similar to these) will be available. Many other new materials will be made available to technical and extension staff and producers as a result of Greencover Canada funding.

Objective 2: Explore the economics of maintaining a healthy range resource for grazing

There have been more than 1.5 M acres of cropland seeded to forages as a result of the SAF (2001-2004), Greencover Canada (2003-2006), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (since 1998) seeding programs alone. There are now approximately 7.5 M acres of tame forage in the province; thus, about 20% of the tame grass acres have been supported by some type of cropland conversion program. Tame forages help to reduce grazing pressure on native prairie.

Over 9,000 acres of native forages were seeded by producers under the Greencover Canada Conversion Component. This is more than double the original program estimates originally forecasted for the program (Rating stays at “Progress on Target” for the actions stated above).

No progress has been made on developing an incentive based lease structure program to encourage enhanced management on Crown leases as the infrastructure to support such a program is not in place.

Objective 3: Recognize and support the efforts of private and public land managers who conserve native prairie

The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for livestock producers has been awarded annually in Saskatchewan since 1995. Saskatchewan recipients went on to win at the National level in both 2005 and 2006. This attests to the Partner’s efforts at promoting Saskatchewan livestock producers who are doing a great job of stewardship of native prairie.

The Society for Range Management Outstanding Achievement Award continues to be awarded, and efforts and publicizing the recipient’s accomplishments have increased during the last year. Recipients of several other relevant awards are also included in the Update.

Objective 4: Increase the inventory of range resources on public and private lands to promote guidance on grazing management plans

Good progress has been made in completing range assessments and management plans for both AAFC-PFRA and SAF Community Pastures, with new additions made annually.  There was increased reporting of activities by conservation groups that are monitoring and implementing grazing management strategies on their lands.

There will be increased focus on working with livestock producers on range health assessment techniques that producers can use to monitor the health of their own grazing resources.

No progress has been made on compiling a “state of the resource” report, compiling all available public and private industry inventory data and analysis. This is chiefly because of the enormity of the task (especially on private lands), and lack of a specific partner with a mandate to accomplish this. Problematic issues include ensuring accurate assessments over a whole set of data, the many players that would need to contribute, and the temporal issues that would exist with the data. For these reasons, the Goal One Group unanimously recommends that this Action not be carried forward into future Action Plans.