Hay and grazing

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Hay Permits

Municipal reserves

Parkland County offers haying permits on undeveloped municipal reserves that are accessible and suitable for haying purposes. Permits are issued to remove forage growth as hay or silage.

Permits for 10 acres or less are $10.00 per acre plus GST, Where more than one applicant applies, the applicant will be selected by a name draw.
Permits are awarded on a tender basis for reserves over 10 acres and are a minimum of $12.00 per acre plus GST. Permits are awarded for five years to a maximum of ten years, contingent on how the land was managed. Permit holders have the option annually to renew or cancel the permit.

Permit Available

Permit Unavailable

Available hay permits for 2019

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

How long has the forage been stored? Forage quality decreases with time.
Was the forage in a covered shed or outside? More storage losses will occur when forages are stored outside for long periods of time.
Where was the hay cut? Ditch hay tends to contain more invasive weed species and garbage.
Was the forage rained on? Forages that are not dried properly before bailing will likely be very moldy.
Was the hay field fertilized and/or sprayed for weeds? If yes, this indicates good management.
Are there weeds in the forages? How many and what type?
How mature was the forage when harvested? The older the hay, usually the lower the protein content. Greenfeed increases in energy and decreases in protein content as it matures to the point where the grain starts to drop when harvested.
What species are present in the hay? Legume or legume/grass mixtures will have different nutritional quality than pure grass hay.
What is the average weight of the bales? Forages are often purchased by the bale for simplicity, but if bales are lighter the price per pound of forage increases.

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 smaples are available at agricultural supply centres.

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