The RM of Woodlands has taken over ownership of their community pasture. The RM council has been discussing the matter since the federal government decided to get out of pasture management, with the discontinuation of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA). Deputy Reeve Ila Buchanan notes the management of pastures was forwarded to the provincial government, with communities given the option to join the provincial body, Association of Manitoba Community Pastures (AMCP).

Buchanan says because the municipality was the majority landowner of the community pasture property, they opted to run it as a corporation under the RM. She says while uncertainty regarding how the province would be managing pastures was one of the reasons for the decision, but they also wanted to ensure any revenue generated could be filtered back into the local community pasture.

"Our concern was that Woodlands is a very prosperous pasture, and we weren't sure if our patrons weren't financing the smaller provincial pasture that aren't bringing in the money."

She says those who access the pasture likely won't notice any major changes to the operation. As part of that, they've hired Curtis Hayes to manage the pasture, as he's been responsible for it since it still fell under the federal government. She notes this is the first year they'll be running the pasture on their own, and hope to run the operation as it has in the past.

"This will certainly be a trial year, but we certainly want to keep the rates the same as they were with PFRA. There may be an increase, everything has an increase. We want to run it pretty much status quo to what it was and offer that service to our patrons and farmers. If we're going to be an agriculturally based municipality, we have to learn to take care of ourselves."

Taking over the operation won't be without its challenges, as AMCP will be selling off their equipment. Buchanan says they'll be looking at their options when it comes to purchasing stock trailers and tractors, to ensure the transition can take place without any major issues.