Agricultural Crown Land
Agricultural Crown lands (ACL) 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 agriculture use and are administered under the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation. Agricultural Crown Land 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.
Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation Engagement
Manitoba Agriculture is asking for feedback on proposed changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands Program. These changes would update the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation under The Crown Lands Act.
In fall 2025, Manitoba Agriculture asked producers, Indigenous governments and organizations, industry partners, and the public for input through the ACL Program Review. This feedback helped shape the proposed changes. The changes focus on how leases are awarded, how much land one leaseholder can hold, and how modern leases can be renewed.
Based on what we heard, the proposed changes would strengthen the Agricultural Crown Lands Program by:
Improving How Leases Are Awarded: Moving from an auction-based process to an application-based process. This would give new and emerging producers a better chance to access land.
Limiting Total Leaseholder Holdings: Bringing back an Animal Unit Month limit so agricultural Crown lands are available to more producers and are not held by only a few large leaseholders.
Allowing Modern Leases to Be Renewed: Allowing modern leases to be renewed for additional 15-year terms, where requirements such as Treaty Land Entitlement and Duty to Consult are met. This would give producers more certainty for long-term planning.
More information about these proposed changes can be found in the Manitoba Agriculture Crown Lands Lease and Permits Regulation Proposed Changes.
How to Participate
All Manitobans are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Comments can be submitted through the Manitoba Regulatory Consultation Portal at http://reg.gov.mb.ca/home until October 2, 2026. Your feedback will help shape future updates to the regulation and improve the program.
For more information, please contact Manitoba Agriculture at agcrownlands@gov.mb.ca.
ACL Cropping Lease and Permit Auction February 23 - 27, 2026
Manitoba Agriculture hosted an online ACL Cropping Lease and Permit Auction February 23 - 27, 2026 with Garton's Auction Service. The auction was limited to cropping leases only. A complete list of cropping units that were available is on the Real Estate Services Branch webpage or by contacting your local Farm Production Extension Specialist - ACL.
ACL Cropping Lease and Permit Auction Advertising List for February 23 - 27, 2026
No forage leases and permits were included in the auction for 2026. With significant program changes to the ACL forage lease program over the past five years, Manitoba is reviewing the effectiveness of the program and determining future priorities. Casual permits will continue to be available for vacant properties (forage and cropping) through the regular application process for 2026. For more information about the Agricultural Crown Land Leasing Program, visit manitoba.ca/agriculture/land-management/crown-land/leasing-program.html.
Rental Rate Freeze
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Manitoba's economy, providing essential resources and livelihoods for communities across the province. In support of producers and the agricultural sector, Manitoba is extending the rental rate freeze for forage leases and permits through 2026.
For both 2025 and 2026, the rental portion of forage leases and permits will remain at $3.66 per Animal Unit Month (AUM). This freeze applies only to the rental portion and does not include the property tax component of lease and permit fees.
This continued rate freeze reflects Manitoba's commitment to affordability and sustainability, helping producers manage operational costs and maintain viability through changing climate and market volatility.
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.
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, ACL 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 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