Several bright spots for agriculture in 2024 provincial budget

Several bright spots for agriculture in 2024 provincial budget

School tax rebate stays in place, several initiatives announced for livestock producers

The province aims to reopen two MASC service centres in rural Manitoba this year. That was one of several bright spots for agriculture in the province’s 2024 budget released on Tuesday. Another was the announcement that the 50 per cent school tax rebate would remain in place. “While changes were made to the School Tax

Livestock producers share their outrage at a last-minute meeting in St. Rose du Lac in October 2019 after the province released incoming changes to Agricultural Crown Lands regulations.

Crown land auctions cancelled

Province hits the brakes as system goes under review

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says there will be no Crown land auctions this month. The province has paused lease allocations while it takes another look at the agricultural Crown land program, he announced Jan. 29. “We’ve paused it for a number of reasons. Actually, we feel that we need to maybe do some consultation


Ranchers reliant on Crown land know exactly what leaseholders were promised and when they were promised it.

Editorial: Much ado about nothing

The Co-operator’s late 2023 interview with Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn included a carrot for forage Crown land leaseholders. He said there would be new announcements in the New Year. On Jan. 2, a press release arrived in media inboxes. Crown land changes were now in effect, it said, including that: Producers “felt abandoned by

It’s basically the exact same changes that the previous government made last year. We’re pleased that they didn’t cancel the previous changes, because they may allow some people to retire and achieve the value that they deserved for their improvements.” – Brent Benson, Manitoba Crown Land Leaseholders Association.

New Crown lands regulations take effect

Announcement moves ahead promises made to producers in summer 2023

The Manitoba Crown Land Leaseholders Association says the province’s new regulations are a welcome step and more is needed. “We’re still holding out for the promises that were made by the premier and [agriculture] minister during the election,” said president Brent Benson. Why it matters: Agricultural Crown lands have been an ongoing source of controversy

The Crown lands file has gone through two elections, three premiers, four agriculture ministers, and a flood of criticism from opposition parties and farmers.

Agricultural Crown lands: The chronicles continue

Unpacking 2023’s ACL rollercoaster ride

The last time I interviewed Carson Callum, general manager of the Manitoba Beef Producers, it was late November. I signed off with something like, “Thanks, Carson. I’m sure we’ll talk again soon.” It’s a bit of a throwaway line, one I might say to any spokesperson after an interview, but his response made me chuckle.


Crown lands have been a contentious issue since 2019, when the province announced changes, and producer meetings that fall like this one in Ste. Rose du Lac tapped into a groundswell of discontent.

Province extends Crown lands rent reduction to 2024

Announcement extends temporary decreases introduced by the previous government

The province is extending the temporary rent reduction on agricultural Crown lands announced last year by the previous government. The announcement was Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn’s first attempt to tackle the contentious issue of agricultural Crown lands (ACL). “[This] announcement is part of our promise to ensure affordability with ACL lease rates and begins to

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (left) and Premier Wab Kinew (center) at the Nov. 24 announcement regarding financial assistance on Crown land lease payments.

Rent cuts announced on Crown lands

Announcement expands rent reduction plan introduced by the previous government

The new NDP government has announced its first official policy change on the Agricultural Crown Lands program since taking the reins this fall. On Nov. 24, the province said it was immediately shifting plans for next year’s rent levels. The new plan will “essentially freeze rates to the same as 2023 and will provide producers

Editorial: Crown lands on uncertain ground

Editorial: Crown lands on uncertain ground

Agriculture didn’t get a lot of airtime during the recent election, except at events hosted by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities or the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association. However, one burning issue got a surprising lack of play, given its heat over the course of the outgoing government’s last term. There were very few


Comment: The rules keep changing on Crown land

Changes from the old community-based allocation system equate to flexible red tape

CROWN LAND Changes from the old community-based allocation system equate to flexible red tape

In 2018, the provincial Progressive Conservatives began instituting new regulations under the Crown Lands Amendment Act, in response to a request from the Manitoba Beef Producers who, in 2017, asked for the agricultural Crown land lease allocation system to be changed from its long-standing community and Manitoba farmer-centred points-based system to a pure auction system.

Leaseholders pack into a fall 2019 meeting in Ste. Rose du Lac soon after the release of new Crown land regulations.

PCs promise to lower Crown land rents

Announcement commits to make rent reductions permanent

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives say they will make a 50 per cent rent reduction on forage Crown land leases permanent if they are re-elected. The provincial government announced the reductions as a temporary measure this summer, before dropping the writ for the 2023 election. At the time, the province linked the move to production challenges faced