Manitoba Government Extends Rent Freeze for Agricultural Crown Lands

October 8, 2025

The Manitoba government is extending the rent freeze for Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) forage leases into the 2026 growing season, continuing its commitment to making life more affordable for producers, Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.

“Manitoba producers are the backbone of the provincial economy and our government is committed to keeping life affordable for the hard-working Manitobans who put food on our tables,” said Kostyshyn. “Continuing this rent freeze provides financial stability for producers and reflects our commitment to affordability.”

The current rate of $3.66 per animal unit months remains the lowest ACL rental rate in Western Canada.

“This announcement is a relief for Crown land users and gives us some certainty after a year of severe challenges,” said Brent Benson, cattle producer. “From extreme weather to the uncertainty of trade markets and feed supplies, some producers struggled to keep their family ranches operational without having to make decisions that could affect their sustainability or viability. We look forward to working with the Manitoba government as we move toward a system of fair and predictable rental rates as well as policies that encourage young producers to enter the industry, an important component to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the family ranch.”

The ACL program supports approximately 1,750 leaseholders across Manitoba who rely on Crown lands for grazing, haying and cropping activities. These lands are a vital public asset, supporting the livestock sector, advancing sustainable land use, and respecting treaty and Indigenous rights, the minister noted.

Alongside the rate freeze, the Manitoba government has launched the first phase of a public engagement process to help shape the future of the ACL program. Through an online survey on EngageMB, Manitobans can provide feedback on three areas: lease allocation methods, limits on the total amount of land a single leaseholder can hold, and renewal options for modern leases.

“Manitoba Beef Producers appreciates the consultations about various aspects of the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program to ensure it is responsive to the needs of the cattle sector,” said Matthew Atkinson, president, Manitoba Beef Producers. “We strongly encourage beef producers to make their views known during this important engagement process as it will help shape the future of the program.”

This survey represents the first phase of public engagement in the ACL program review. Feedback gathered will help inform proposed regulatory updates and program improvements. Further consultation with stakeholders, including leaseholders and Indigenous communities, will follow before final decisions are made, the minister said.

Feedback collected through the survey and consultations will inform final program adjustments and regulatory updates, anticipated for implementation in 2027, the minister added.

Manitobans interested in sharing their views are encouraged to visit https://engagemb.ca/ag-crown-lands to complete the survey by Nov. 24.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom@manitoba.ca.

NT5