Alberta offers emergency grazing support to livestock producers amid 2025 drought

In response to severe drought conditions affecting parts of Alberta, the provincial government is rolling out emergency support measures to help livestock producers manage feed shortages and grazing challenges.

The Department of Forestry and Parks announced that grazing disposition holders with available capacity can now host cattle from other producers for the remainder of the 2025 grazing season — no formal application required. However, these holders must report with any additional livestock to their local agrologist within seven days.

Temporary use of public lands

Producers seeking to graze or hay on vacant public lands can apply for:

• Haying Authorization
  • Submit the Haying Authorization Application to the agrologist
  • Fees are outlined in Ministerial Order 10/2025
• Head Tax Permit Grazing
  • Contact an agrologist to discuss the proposal and complete the required application
  • Fees also follow Ministerial Order 10/25

Guidelines for disposition holders

• Grazing capacity
  • Additional cattle must stay within the rated capacity of the land
• Reporting
  • Notifying the agrologist within seven days of accepting new livestock
• Compliance
  • Ensure rangeland health and stewardship of Crown Land are maintained
• Documentation
  • Include all livestock on 2025 stock return forms