Respect the Crop
Parkland County is proud of our agricultural past, and is committed to sustainable environmental and agricultural practices. Through our Agricultural Land Licensing Program we work to support our local agricultural community by providing lands and opportunity for additional hay production. We ask the public to assist us in this by respecting the lands and the crops that grow on it. If there is a licensed agricultural parcel in your area, please note the following public use limitations:
| Permitted Uses | Not Permitted |
|---|---|
|
Foot traffic, year-round, limited to outer perimeter when crops present |
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) operation May 31 – crop removed. No Highway vehicles at any time unless in conjunction with County-approved activities |
| License-holder to seed and harvest hay | Removal or damage of vegetation from the land without County approval |
| Littering, storing equipment on land |
Agricultural Land License
Formerly known as hay permits, an agricultural land license allows residents the opportunity to use public lands for the purpose of haying. Parkland County may consider the conversion of the hay land into pasture land upon written request and internal evaluation.
Minimum bids
Minimum bids are as follows:
- Licenses are awarded on a tender basis for reserves parcels within subdivision at a minimum of $10.00 per acre plus GST. Hay Only
- Licenses are awarded on a tender basis for reserves and county freehold land out of subdivision at a minimum of $12.00 per acre plus GST. Hay and occasionally Grazing with county authorization.
License term
Agricultural Tender:
The license term begins June 1 of each year and automatically renews annually for the term of the license. The annual license fee will be invoiced on or before the anniversary date for each year of the term. Should the County or license holder wish to cancel the agreement, notice must be given 30 days before the effective date.
THE 2023 AGRICULTURE LICENSE TENDER CLOSED ON MAY 26, 2023. Lands are currently still available for an annual license.
Annual License:
Should a parcel of land not be successfully tendered, they may be licensed for a one year term. See below for available parcels.
Further inquiries, contact landmanagement@parklandcounty.com
Currently Available: Agriculture Land Licensing for Hay 2023 |
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Lands not listed may be requested for a further review to determine the viability of them to be included as available for license. |
Submission details
All completed packages must include a completed copy of the Agricultural Land License from the Tender package along with a deposit equal to the total sum of the first years fees including GST. If your tender is successful, the deposit will be processed and the license fully executed with a copy being returned for the licensees records; if your tender is not successful, the deposit will be returned.
Ensure to put into the license, the property information as shown in the above table. Should you wish to bid for more than one parcel, a license agreement must be submitted separately for each. Return in sealed envelope your completed tender no later than 4:30 PM on date of closing to:
Parkland County
Subject: Agricultural Land License Tender
53109A Hwy 779
Parkland County, AB T7Z 1R1
Parkland County reserves the right to accept or reject bids at its discretion as well as to accept a bid other than the highest bid without stating reasons. Other factors used in determining a successful bid include but are not limited to past management of a licensed area, improper use and past payment of fees.
For more information on the Agricultural Land Licensing program, contact Parkland County's Municipal Land Management Department at 780-968-8888 ext. 8634 or via email at landmanagement@parklandcounty.com
Baled forage
When purchasing forages it is important to keep quality in mind. There are risks when buying forages and bedding from unknown sources, including:
- poor nutritional quality;
- different species mixtures;
- excessive dust or mold; a high proportion of weeds; or
- invasive pests like rats.
There is a higher risk of bringing in invasive species including rats with forages bought from other provinces. Keep in mind that older forage runs an increased risk of having rats that may have made a home inside the bales. Greenfeed and straw from out of province have the highest risk of containing rats. Monitor bedding and feeding areas for weeds and any evidence of rats.
Some states and provinces have Certified Weed Free Hay programs, where hay fields are inspected for invasive species, as named in their jurisdiction. Purchasing Certified Weed Free hay will minimize the risk of importing alien invasive species.
Consult the Government of Alberta Weed Prevention page for more information.
| Questions to consider before purchasing forages |
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Alberta Agriculture & Forestry resources
If you suspect you have purchased hay that may have inadequate nutrition, have it tested. Take a core sample to a feed and water test lab for analysis. Hay probes that obtain proper core samples are available at agricultural supply centres.
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