Agricultural Crown Land
Agricultural Crown Lands in Manitoba are public lands managed for agricultural purposes like grazing, haying, and cropping. These lands are leased through public auctions and casual permits, with forage leases lasting up to 15 years and cropping leases typically five years. The program balances agricultural use with environmental stewardship, supporting sustainable livestock expansion and climate change adaptation.
The management of these lands is governed by The Crown Lands Act, which outlines the regulations and processes for leasing and using Crown lands. Land coding for agriculture involves evaluating soil productivity, water availability, and ecological impact. Specialists use tools like soil surveys and land capability maps to classify land into categories that reflect its best use. This careful planning process helps determine the intensity of use and development potential for different parcels of Crown land.
Agricultural Crown Lands are Crown lands coded for agricuture use and are administered under the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation. Agricultural Crown Lands may be leased for grazing, haying or annual cropping, depending on the authorized use and capability of the land.
Mandate: The Agricultural Crown Land Program supports the sustainable expansion of the livestock herd in Manitoba, contributes to ecological goods and services, and provides mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
UPDATE: ACL Invoices for 2025 - Canada Post Strike Impacts
Due to the ongoing postal distruption with Canada Post, 2025 ACL invoices will be delayed. Manitoba Agriculture is closely monitoring the situation and exploring alternative options for delivery. The department recognizes the impact the strike has in ensuring payments will be received by annual due dates of December 31, and will address concerns and adjust payment deadlines accordingly. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this period.
Manitoba Agriculture invites clients to proactively sign up for electronic accounts to ensure they receive information about their invoices and other important communications. Contact your local Farm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) or the Real Estate Services Branch (RESB) for information about signing up and options for paying outstanding bills in the event mail-in payments are not possible.
As a reminder, if you no longer require the lands you lease, you must submit a surrender form to Real Estate Services Branch (RESB). The form must be received by January 1, 2025. Contact your localFarm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) to obtain a surrender form.
If your surrender form is received by January 1, 2025, you will not be responsible for the 2025 invoice amount. If your surrender form is not received by January 1, 2025, you will be responsible for the 2025 invoice amount. Partial surrenders of your lease and/or permit may not be approved.
2025 Rental Rate Freeze
Agriculture drives our economy and supports many Manitobans with essential resources and livelihoods. Manitoba is freezing the rental rate for ACL forage leases and permits for 2025. The rental portion of your forage leases and permits will be set at $3.66 per animal unit month (AUM) in 2025, similar to the rates in 2023 and 2024. This freeze in rates does not include the tax portion of lease and permit fees. This rental rate freeze supports Manitoba's commitment to affordability by helping producers manage their operational costs, ensuring that agricultural activities remain financially sustainable.
ACL Cropping Lease and Permit Auction Planned for 2025
In 2024, Manitoba Agriculture paused the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Auction. In 2025, the ACL Leases and Permits Auction will be limited to cropping leases only. There will be no forage leases and permits auction taking place for 2025. With significant program changes to the ACL forage lease program over the past five years, Manitoba is taking time to review the effectiveness of the changes and determine future program priorities. Casual permits will continue to be available for vacant properties (forage and cropping) through the regular application process for 2025. For more information about the Agricultural Crown Land Leasing Program, visit manitoba.ca/agriculture/land-management/crown-land/leasing-program.html.
ACL Permits
Agricultural Crown lands that are not currently under lease or permit are available to be used on a temporary (1-year) basis.
Interested producers are required to contact a Farm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) to fill out an application. Where multiple applications are received prior to April 1st, the parcels are allocated by draw. Remaining parcels are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Producers are encouraged to be familiar with the parcel prior to filling out an application. Once submitted, the application is considered a binding commitment to accept the permit upon award.
To determine if parcels of land in your area are available for use, or for any other inquiries, contact your local Farm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL).
Support and Guidance for ACL Lease and Permit Holders
Manitoba has updated its operational policies to better support the ACL program. For more information, visit manitoba.ca/agriculture/land-management/crown-land/leasing-program.html. Manitoba Agriculture's Farm Production Extension Specialists - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) are ready to help ACL lease and permit holders with programs.
If you need specific lease or permit info, or want to learn about funding incentives, contact your local Farm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) today.
ACL Regulation Amendment
On January 1, 2024, an amendment to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation, announced on July 31, 2023, came into force. The amended regulation:
- Determine forage capacity at the outset of a forage lease or renewable permit (evaluating AUMs)
- Expand eligibility to hold an agricultural Crown lands lease or permit to include Indigenous organizations
- Extend terms of new leases (post October 2019) by five years to a maximum of 20 years where a forage management plan has been implemented and good land management has been demonstrated
- Allow new leaseholders (post October 2019) to transfer the remainder of the lease term to another eligible party
- Allow leaseholders of leases issued before October 2019 to nominate the next leaseholder, provided the lease is not selected through Treaty Land Entitlement
- Value improvements at the end of a lease through a third-party appraiser
Applications to nominate a legacy lease, extend terms and transfer new leases are now available. Interested lease holders should contact their Farm Production Extension Specialist - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) to obtain an application and to ask questions about the process. More information about new processes can be found in the Agricultural Crown Land Leases and Permits Regulation, in the ACL policies and the FAQ page.
Press Release January 2, 2024 - Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation Amendments come into force January 1, 2024
Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program: Carbon Sequestration & Grasslands Resilience
The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program: Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience is offered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) and provides funding to support sustainable farming in Manitoba.
Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program: Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience (RALP) supports on-farm beneficial management practices and projects that enhance the provision of ecological goods and services, through two BMPs: Agroforestry and Grasslands & Grazing Management. The eligibility has been expanded, and eligible applicants now include primary producers across Manitoba, Association of Manitoba Community Pastures, Agricultural Crown Land forage lease holders, and Indigenous primary producers and communities, including First Nation and Mètis.
For more information about this program, including intake dates, please follow the link below. For the most up-to-date information on upcoming programming, subscribe to the Growing Manitoba Ag newsletter (click here) and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) (@MBGovAg).
Services
The Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program administers leases and permits and promotes improvement of agricultural Crown lands.
Manitoba Agriculture provides oversight of the provincial community pastures program, administered by the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures.
Manitoba Agriculture Farm Production Extension Specialists - Crown Lands (FPES-CL) provide advice on farm production using agricultural Crown lands.
Temporary Suspension of Crown Land and Property Sales
The Manitoba Government has recently conducted an internal review of the Crown land and property sales process as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure value for money for all Manitobans.
As a result of this review, the Manitoba Government has temporarily suspended the acceptance of all applications for the purchase of Crown land or property.
Efforts are currently underway to modernize and improve the process to identify Crown land and property available for sale and to develop a fair and transparent way of communicating this information.
Applications previously received at the Real Estate Services Branch (formerly Crown Lands Property Agency) will continue to be processed.
Related Links:
Contact
For further information, please contact us at:
Manitoba Agriculture
Agricultural Crown Lands
PO Box 1286
Minnedosa, MB R0J 1E0
Office: 204-867-6550
Fax: 204-867-6578
Email: agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca
or
Manitoba Agriculture, Farm Production Extension Specialists - Crown Lands (FPES-CL), Crown Lands District Offices
