Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program Policies

Length and Tenure of Forage Leases and Permits
 

Farm and ranch enterprises are highly dependent on their land base. When Crown land forms part of the enterprise, the length of the lease will be until normal retirement age (65), recognizing that farmers and ranchers will require the Crown land until the end of their farming career.

Forage Leases

• Issued for a term equal to the difference in the lessee's age and 65. For example, a lessee who is 40 years old would be issued a lease for a 25-year term.
• Applicants over the age of 60 will be issued a five year renewable forage lease.
• Existing lessees will be issued a five-year renewable lease upon expiry of their current lease agreement.
• When Crown land is leased under a partnership agreement, the oldest partner's age is used in calculating the tenure of the lease.
• In the case of cooperatives, associations, corporations and Hutterite colonies, five year renewable leases are issued.
• When forage leases are issued based on a performance requirement by the lessee, a conditional lease may be issued for varying lengths of time.

Permits

All permits are issued for a one-year term and unless specified as renewable, it will not automatically be renewed.

For more detailed information on this or other policies, contact your local Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Growing Opportunities, Farm Production Advisors, Crown Lands Offices.