Stock return forms

Important dates

Overview

Alberta has over 8 million acres (3.3 million hectares) of forest, shrublands, grasslands and associated riparian areas on Crown land that are grazed by livestock. Under the Public Lands Administration Regulation, grazing disposition holders must complete and submit a stock return form annually to report livestock use of the grazing disposition. Holders must submit the stock return form regardless of whether the disposition was grazed.

Stock return forms are due annually by January 31 for the previous year. Failure to submit a stock return form may result in compliance action, such as a monetary penalty or non-renewal of the grazing disposition.

The information collected on a stock return form is used to monitor and manage Crown lands under a grazing disposition. We rely on the disposition holder to be a good steward and manager of the grazing land. Filing an annual stock return form with us is part of that responsibility and commitment.

Program update

The Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program is changing how users access the system by moving to Alberta.ca accounts. From October 2025 to January 2026, all current registered users of the program must migrate their current external username to an Alberta.ca Account.

Detailed steps on how to transfer your external username to your Alberta.ca account, how to set up an Alberta.ca account, or how to register for the Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program as a new user can be found here: 

• Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program migration for users without an existing Alberta.ca account
• Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program migration for users with an existing Alberta.ca account
• How to register for the Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program as a new user

Completing a form

The Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program was implemented in 2018, allowing grazing disposition holders to complete and submit annual stock return forms online. Paper forms can still be requested from the local Rangeland Agrologist and completed.

The Rangeland Stewardship Audit Program system will accept stock return form submission for the current grazing year from January 1 of that year to January 31 of the following year (a 13-month period).

Registered service owners can log in at any time to start or complete a stock return form. The form may be saved in draft mode and data may be entered or edited as often as needed during the grazing season until the form is submitted. Once submitted, the form cannot be recalled or edited.

For assistance on how to complete an online stock return form, review the following user manuals:

• Stock Return Form User Guide for Individuals/Corporations
• Stock Return Form User Guide for Grazing Associations

Contact

Connect with a Rangeland Agrologist: Land Management – Contacts

Phone: 310-LAND (5263)