Prime grazing land owned by province sitting unused, East Kootenay cattle ranchers say

The wind blows on a warm, sunny day as Morgan Dilts watches his cattle graze in a pasture near Elko, in southeastern B.C.

The land on which they're standing is Crown land leased out to ranchers for exactly this purpose — for livestock to graze.

"Our ranch does not exist without it," Dilts said. "And many, many ranches in B.C. are in the same boat."

Ranchers in B.C.'s East Kootenay are concerned that provincially-owned grazing land is shrinking, making it difficult for new ranchers to get started and for long-term veterans to stay afloat.

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According to the province, grazing leases last 20 years . Rent va