On Wednesday, the Manitoba government put out a news release detailing some upcoming changes to the Agricultural Crown Land Lease system, designed to greatly benefit the Province's livestock producers, and help make the system more fair for younger producers.
One of the big announcements was that the freeze on Agricultural Crown Lands forage-leases rental rates at $3.66 per animal unit months will be extended into the 2027 season. According to Ron Kostyshyn, Dauphin MLA and Manitoba's Agriculture Minister, that announcement gives livestock producers another way to keep up with all the pressures they're currently facing.
"So what we're really trying to do, and we have since we formed government, is trying to create some incentive for producers, young producers, experienced producers so they can increase their livestock numbers, because definitely we know based on commodity prices there's a demand for the product...we've reduced the crown land rates from what they were historically by the previous government, and that to me is really an indication how serious we are as government we want to work with producers," said Kostyshyn.
The Province also announced changes aimed at making the Agricultural Crown Lands bidding process more fair to younger producers, to make sure they can't get bought out by external producers, or producers who already benefit from the system. The Province proposed a cap on the amount of Agricultural Crown Land that one producer or related entities could lease, and they're also making a pathway for producers to renew leases after long-term operations. Previously, lots would go back to auction after 15 years, but now if a producer sinks time and money into the land, they'll be able to renew their lease easier and continue their operation.
Also announced is a fundamental change to the entire bidding process: now it'll work on a points system, with producers getting points from a variety of sources, to determine what producers would best make use of Agricultural Crown Lands. In Kostyshyn's words, this change means the process focuses less on the size of your cheque.
"[Previously] people making applications for crown land leases, it was bid on the size of your cheque. And that was really challenging for young producers to try and compete with large operations that maybe come from outside the province, and the size of the cheque, we really feel that wasn't appropriate incentive," said Kostyshyn.
Kostyshyn said a lot of these changes were made by listening to feedback from Manitoba's livestock producers, and working with several organizations that Kostyshyn and the Provincial government sees a vital partners. He said the best way to make sure your voice is heard when it comes to agricultural change is to speak to one of Manitoba's many agricultural organizations.
"So between the Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Hog Producers, to the Keystone Agriculture Producers, the National Farmer's Union, these are all organizations that we need to work together, stand united, and actually as we use them as a resource as much as they use us," said Kostyshyn.
Before the proposed changes are implemented, the Province is looking for feedback from producers through government consultations. Click here to visit EngageMB, where you can view the proposed changes.
