Extension provides stability as province launches program review
The Manitoba government has extended its rent freeze on Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) forage leases through the 2026 growing season. The move gives producers another year of cost stability as they face high input prices and variable weather.
At $3.66 per animal unit month, Manitoba continues to offer the lowest ACL rental rate in Western Canada. The freeze supports cattle and mixed producers who depend on Crown land for grazing and haying. It’s part of the province’s effort to keep agricultural production affordable while balancing long-term sustainability.
Program Overview
About 1,750 producers hold ACL leases across Manitoba. These public lands support grazing, haying, and limited cropping. They are managed to balance agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and respect for treaty and Indigenous rights.
The rent freeze is designed to help producers manage costs after years of market swings, drought recovery, and feed shortages. It also provides breathing room as the province begins a full review of how Crown land leases are allocated and renewed.
Public Engagement Underway
Manitoba Agriculture has opened the first phase of public engagement to guide updates to the ACL program. Through an EngageMB online survey, Manitobans can share their views on:
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How leases should be allocated
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Limits on how much land a single leaseholder can hold
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Renewal options for modern leases
The survey runs until November 24, 2025. Additional discussions with leaseholders and Indigenous communities will follow before new regulations are finalized.
Feedback from this process will shape policy and regulatory changes expected in 2027, setting future rules for how Crown land is managed and accessed.
Impact on Manitoba Producers
The rent freeze gives producers short-term certainty to plan grazing, manage feed, and stabilize herd numbers. Predictable lease costs help with budgeting and investment decisions, especially after several difficult production years.
Longer term, the review aims to create a fair, transparent system for lease rates and renewals. It may also explore ways to help young and new producers access Crown land—an ongoing challenge for succession planning in Manitoba’s beef sector.
The Path Forward
By extending the rent freeze while consulting on policy reform, Manitoba is taking a two-track approach: immediate relief today and modernization for tomorrow. The review will update ACL regulations to better reflect current production realities, climate pressures, and evolving land use priorities.
Producers and other Manitobans can share their feedback at engagemb.ca/ag-crown-lands before November 24.
