The RM of Woodlands is enjoying the federal government's previous decision to remove the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration's jurisdiction over pasture lands. Reeve Trevor King says now that the RM's involved with the lands it's become a profitable venture. He says council gave first reading Tuesday to a related by-law .

"That's a bylaw we have to pass in order to loan money to the community Pastures for their operations. I believe it's $125,000 if I'm not mistaken. They're in their next year of operation since we've taken over the Community Pasture. Their first year had a very good year, and it appears it's going to be a successful venture for the RM."

King explains the transfer of jurisdiction from the federal government.

"It was operated under the PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) before, and it was all taken away by the federal government. A majority of the pasture lands were in the hands of the RM. There still is some Crown land and some provincial and federal lands that we're still using and entering into an agreement with the MCP (Manitoba Community Pastures) as far as leasing those lands as part of the Community Pasture."

He adds he's glad the RM's involved in the lands issue now.

"It was an investment into the community to make sure that we kept those pasture lands useable in the way they have been in the past. And that's council's intent to to see it's carried out in the future to be used the way it always has been. It's not going to cost us any money. We're finding it's profitable. And, with a successful year they had in the starting year, we're quite confident and quite comfortable it'll continue to be a viable operation for the RM to oversee."