Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson recently announced that the Manitoba government’s agricultural Crown land lease and permit auctions will be held online Feb. 6 to 10.
“Manitoba’s agricultural Crown lands play a vital role in supporting a vibrant and sustainable agricultural sector. The online approach ensures Manitoba producers have equal opportunity to rent lands that will support their farming operations,” said Johnson. “In addition to ensuring equal access to rental opportunities, a temporary rent reduction for forage leases on agricultural Crown lands has been implemented as part of our government’s commitment to supporting producers after a difficult season last year.”
Leases and permits are available to farmers and ranchers to provide additional land base for agricultural activities. The Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program supports the sustainable expansion of livestock in Manitoba, contributes to ecological goods and services, and supports mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
A number of agricultural Crown land parcels will be available to rent for haying, grazing or cropping. The official listing of agricultural Crown lands available for rent can be found at resd.ca.
The online auctions will be hosted by Garton’s Auction Service with further information to follow at gartonsauction.com.
Last fall, the Manitoba government introduced a temporary rent reduction for forage leases on agricultural Crown lands. The reductions will be in place for the next three years with a 50 per cent reduction in 2023, a 33 per cent reduction in 2024, and a 15 per cent reduction in 2025. The temporary rent reduction will allow land productivity to recover from multiple years of extreme moisture. The Manitoba government continues to explore policy, program and service improvements to enhance sustainability and productivity of agricultural Crown lands, the minister noted.
