Quads wreak havoc in community pastures

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2014 (4101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Cattle are out to pasture and some producers are concerned about vandalism to fences. There seems to be quite a bit of destruction to gates for the community pastures in the Gardenton and Pansy area. Tracks indicate quads have gone into the pastures and ripping the gates apart, sometimes pulling posts out of the ground.

It is important for more attention and conversation among the public to help spread the word that these pastures are still in use, operated by the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures. The fences are being locked during the summer and signs are posted at the gates to indicate that written permission is necessary to gain access to the land.

“The community pasture is full this year,” said Barry Ross, general manager of the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures. “It holds 1,500 head of cattle; it’s well used by the community.”

Ross reports the recent trespassing and vandalism as being rare, adding that people have been respectful of the community pastures in the past.

“We just want people to know that the area farmers are still using it as a community pasture. The gates are locked when cattle are in there. They are unlocked in the fall so hunters and nature lovers can access the land.”

The land is part of Tall Grass Prairies with unique grasses and rare song birds. It would be a shame to have the land and environment damaged by machines and uninformed riders.

“The land is and environmentally sensitive area. Quads would chew up a lot of the grass. Tall grass prairie is unique and not a lot left, we don’t want to see it torn up either.”