Ducks Unlimited Manitoba is extending support to farmers struggling to feed their livestock this season. 

In response to the feed shortage brought on by persistant drought conditions, the organization has opened up 15,000 acres of forage and grazing land to area producers.

"On any of the lands that we own we manage them generally every three years, but this year we decided to let a little bit more of that land available to area producers," said Ken Gross, conservation programs specialist with Ducks Unlimited.

"Anything we can do to help out a little bit we thought we would do as a good partner on the land."

This includes opening up 6,000 acres for haying, 4,000 acres for grazing and increasing the Forage Incentive Program acreage to over 4,000 acres. Most of this land is located around Killarney, Minnedosa and Shoal Lake. 

Meantime, Gross says Ducks Unlimited is doing new work at the industry level in order to further the province's cattle sector. That includes having a seat with the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative where partners work together to generate innovative ideas for landowners to embrace. 

There is also the Grazing Club initiative which has been around for 20 years.

"That really helps producers with some of the more long range planning to help them deal with some of these periodic droughts that occur on the land," explained Gross.

For questions about our hay tender, forage, and Grazing Club programs, please call DUC's Brandon office at (204) 729-3526.