In Red Deer County, a program that allows cattle to graze in ditches for extra feed during dry periods has seen minimal participation from local ranchers. Despite the county council’s approval of roadside grazing as a drought mitigation measure, few farmers have taken advantage of the initiative in recent years.
Jordon Smith, the assistant agricultural services manager of Red Deer County, highlighted that the program was reintroduced due to exceptionally dry conditions following winter. The initiative aims to provide producers with additional feed from underutilized areas like ditch grass.
However, gaining approval to graze cattle in the county’s ditches involves stringent requirements. Farmers must maintain $5 million in liability insurance, set up temporary fencing, and limit grazing to daylight hours, necessitating the animals to be relocated every night.
The program, in existence for over a decade, undergoes annual review by the council based on weather conditions. Smith noted that the renewal of the program has been influenced by dry spells in four of the last five years in central Alberta.
Despite the ongoing dry conditions, the uptake of the program remains low. Only a few producers have applied in recent years, with just two participants in the current year. Feedback from ranchers like John Fuchs and Kevin Ziola indicates that the additional effort and costs associated with the program may outweigh the benefits for some operations.
Neighboring municipalities with similar roadside grazing programs have also experienced low participation rates. Suggestions have been made for the county to provide practical incentives to encourage more producers to utilize the program effectively, such as offering portable fencing units for rent.
While roadside haying, where farmers cut ditch grass for feeding cattle, remains more popular due to lower liability concerns, the county continues to monitor the grazing program. Possible revisions to the regulations could be considered by the council in the future, depending on prevailing conditions.
Until the permits expire on October 15, local producers have the option to utilize the roadside ditches for additional grazing if needed, serving as backup pasture during times of feed scarcity.
