MD of Taber Grazing Lands at a Crossroads  

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Taber Times

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the vast scope of Alberta’s prairies lies a small swath of land, which finds itself at the heart of controversy based on history, conservation, and development. Despite several opposing sides, one thing is clear – everyone involved has best interests at heart. What’s at stake? For each interested party, the answer differs.

The Controversy 

The Municipal District of Taber (MD of Taber) is pursuing, alongside the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID), an initiative to convert approximately 12 square kilometers of native grasslands into irrigated cropland. At present, these lands are used for cattle grazing.

The MD of Taber 

“This initiative reflects our Council’s commitment to responsible growth, land ownership, and long-term municipal viability for service delivery. By investing in this land, we’re investing in the future of MD of Taber residents,” says Tamara Miyanaga, Reeve of the Municipal District of Taber.

The MD of Tabers’ official statement outlines its desire to convert the land as a move that, “reflects the municipality’s commitment to responsible land ownership, economic growth, and long-term infrastructure investment.” The resulting approximately 3,100 acres of irrigated cropland would “enhance agricultural productivity and generate sustainable revenue for municipal service delivery for the benefit of all residents.”

Cognizant of the fact that this land currently serves grazing cattle, the MD of Taber points to more than 39,280 acres of municipally owned land and 160,800 acres of Crown owned land that can still be used for grazing.

Many MD of Taber council members are also farmers and ranchers, and those in support of the initiative are, “deeply attuned to the importance of responsible land use and ownership.”

For the MD of Taber, it comes down to this: “The anticipated rental revenue from this project will be invested directly into critical municipal infrastructure improvements, including transportation, drainage, and water management systems. These enhancements will strengthen municipal service delivery that residents rely on, support economic resilience, and improve quality of life across the MD of Taber. Importantly, this initiative complements—not replaces—existing grazing operations. The MD of Taber continues to support a robust network of grazing leases, with tens of thousands of acres currently being leased for livestock production.”

The Ranchers 

Representing the Vauxhall Stock Grazing Association, Daryl Johnson speaks to an agreement that extends back to 1944.

“We have been leasing the lands for quite some time,” Johnson points out. “The province owned the lands before the MD of Taber was formed. In the early 1990s, the MD of Taber requested the tax recovery lands be issued back to them, and during those talks, it was agreed that the grasslands would remain as such – grass. Along the line, they made a bylaw that favoured conservation. So, we were very surprised when they notified us that they were looking into an irrigation project that would break up the grasslands and impact local ranchers.”

The conversion, Johnson says, sits in the middle of the leased lands used for grazing.

“We have waterlines that run through there, and other parts of our pasture for the cattle. As a longtime leaseholder we have always kept the grass healthy and kept our fences fixed properly and invested in the land with proper and responsible management, as did those before us who managed the Association. If one piece of the grasslands gets broken up, it can happen in any place in the MD; we have no security. Farmers and ranchers worked these lands for decades and now told they have no equity. We are very concerned.”

As of the time of his interview, Johnson says the MD of Taber has not reached out directly to discuss mutual concerns.

“We would love to have an opportunity to discuss this and what would be beneficial for the community as a whole,” he says. “We realize the MD is looking to generate more revenue, but we believe there are better or equal opportunities elsewhere. There are ways instead of going against the current bylaws.”

The Conservationists 

“We are hoping the MD of Taber conserves the native grassland instead of partnering with Bow River Irrigation District,” says Cheryl Bradley, Southern Alberta Group for the Environment (SAGE).

Bradley represents one of several groups that put out a joint press release on August 26 in a combined effort to raise awareness of the conservation aspect of the proposed project. In addition to SAGE, the release was supported by the Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta Chapter, Nature Alberta, and the Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

“If the project goes ahead, there will be a loss of native mixed grass prairie land. These are called temperate grasslands,” Bradley says. “They are areas between the poles and the equator that are ideal conditions for growing grass. The lands are also ideal for livestock grazing and have an abundance of biodiversity. The grasslands store carbon, as much as the rainforest, and they also capture and store water. These are very productive soils.”

She points out that the MD of Taber Bylaw 1845, aka the Prairie Conservation Bylaw, applies to, “prairie grasslands owned by the Municipal District of Taber [that] provide both economic and environmental benefits to the residents of the Municipal District of Taber,” and that the bylaw “applies to all grasslands which are owned, controlled or managed by the MD and which are subject to a Grazing Lease Agreement.”

“The province managed those grasslands from the 1930s into the 2000s,” Bradley points out. “The Alberta Government’s transfer of tax recovery land back to municipalities was controversial even back then. There were conservation interests opposed to the province divesting itself of the grasslands.”

The MD of Taber received one of the largest land transfers.

“The MD of Taber agreed, at that time, that they would keep grazing leases, manage the grasslands for grazing, and would derive income from leasing them for grazing. Up until the present day, the lands are grazed,” Bradley explains, “but the leases are due to expire next spring.”

Like Johnson, Bradley wishes there were more discussions with all involved.

“I think the MD needs to collaborate with the current leaseholders to understand their concerns and what it means to their livelihood. As far as conversation goes, there could be tools to help conserve these lands; but those kinds of negotiations take a long time. For example, a solution could be putting some kind of requirement against the legal title saying the land will always remain in native grasslands, like a conversation easement, and if they choose to sell with a conservation easement, the land would still be conserved in perpetuity. Those are the kinds of options that could be explored. Alternatively, the MD could continue to manage them as they have and receive revenue from the ranchers.”

BRID 

Richard Phillips, General Manager, Bow River Irrigation District, understands the concerns of all interested parties while pointing out how the proposal could be seen as an opportunity instead of a liability.

“BRID has excess water with no place to put it. We would really like to have a place to put it on the land, to create economic benefit and to increase food production. The conversion would mean using currently underutilized water and underutilized land to create something good.”

He says spilling excess water the way they are doing it now does not benefit anyone, especially since water is an increasing commodity in an area known for drought and in a region known for progressive irrigation. Using the water to irrigate land, he says, creates greater value now, and far into the future.

“Adding water to add to dry land will increase that land value tremendously and increase revenue. Turning dry grazing land into cultivated lands means more revenue.”

For Phillips, it’s not just the dollars and cents. It’s the sense – and the value for all.

He points out plainly, “I understand that there are many opinions, and everyone is entitled to theirs. However, the number of interested parties that currently benefit from that section of land are small. The land supports some cattle each year – and it’s good cattle! But dry grass in Southern Alberta takes a lot to support a single cow calf pair. On the other hand, cultivated, irrigated land goes up by an unbelievable increase in land productivity.”

Phillips points to hard data, saying that BRID owns lands they have converted from grazing to cultivated, so they understand the impact from all sides.

“Yes, low cost grazing leases have value for cow and calf producers. That is a fundamental of ranching. However, farmers are willing to pay more for irrigated cultivation leases. The MD of Taber could use this to benefit all of the municipality and the MD has already pointed out that there are still tens of thousands of dry grass areas in the MD that can be used for grazing.”

 He continues, “The excess water we spill could benefit everyone. At one point, every bit of farmland in Southern Alberta was dry grass. As a society, we saw the value in developing part of it for irrigated crops and higher economic use. We do need both. I am not arguing that we should turn all our grassland into irrigated lands – I am noting that most irrigation expansion has been on former dry land.”

Supporting this is a study released by the Alberta Irrigation Districts Association, titled Economic Value of Alberta’s Irrigation Districts (accessible at www.albertairrigation.ca), that reviewed economic data from of Alberta’s 13 irrigation districts from 2011 to 2018. Despite representing only 4.4 per cent of Alberta’s cultivated land, these districts contribute an impressive $5.4 billion annually to the province’s GDP, $3.2 billion in labour income, and support approximately 46,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

The study also revealed that irrigation-related activities generate 27 per cent of Alberta’s primary agricultural sales and 28 per cent of its agri-food GDP, and that irrigated crop and livestock production generates eight times more revenue per hectare than dryland farming, with specialty crop sales alone contributing $500 million annually.

Phillips understands the frustration of interested parties, while stressing that the big picture should be considered overall.

“BIRD does set aside land for natural use and values it just as much as conservationists. However, we don’t always see eye to eye on which land sometimes. We are not heartless. We are not just set on dollars. This land represents a unique opportunity for all.”

 The Future? 

There are many interested parties standing for and against the conversion of these acres of land. The future comes down to many factors, many voices, and many discussions. The final outcome? That is yet to come.

Stay tuned.