By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Monday, December 11, 2023

Dec 11, 2023 | 12:31 PM

Grasslands are one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. Canadian ranchers say they want government funding to help them preserve it.

More than 75 per cent of grasslands that once covered the Canadian Prairies have been plowed under for crop farming or urban development. Most of the grasslands that still exist in Canada are used by ranchers to graze cattle.

But many ranchers are facing financial pressure to downsize their herds or exit the industry entirely.

The beef industry is lobbying the federal government to fund a program that would offer a financial incentive for ranchers who agree to conserve their native grasslands for a period of several years.

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There’s a new herd of bison on historic Métis lands near Batoche.

Last year, Parks Canada and the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan struck a deal to relocate 25 bison from a herd on Grasslands National Park.

The government announced Friday morning that the transfer was successfully undertaken last week.

In a Facebook post, the Métis Nation said that visiting the herd is not allowed at this moment as the bison need a comfortable settling process.

The bison will eventually reside on 690 hectares of land with the hopes the herd will grow over time.

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Farmers Edge has received a non-binding proposal from its majority shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings which would see Fairfax acquire all of the common shares of the company for 25 cents per share.

Fairfax’s proposal is subject to, among other things, negotiation and finalization of definitive documentation in respect of such proposal.

There is no set timetable with respect to the Independent Committee’s review, and there will be no further public comment until the Independent Committee approves a specific action or otherwise concludes its review.

Fairfax currently owns approximately 61.4 per cent of Farmers Edge shares and any offer from Fairfax will be subject to the minority approval.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW