Rent reductions will be in place for three years
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Manitoba government is providing relief to Crown land lessees through rent rate reductions.
On Sept. 28, Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced rent rates would be lowered for the next three years.
The reductions start at 50 per cent in 2023, then move to 33 per cent in 2024 and finally a 15 per cent reduction in 2025.
This will provide Manitoba farmers with millions of dollars in savings.
"Stakeholders have told us that rental rates on forage lands are challenging with the hardships they are experiencing following the past two years of extreme weather conditions,” Minister Johnson said in a statement. “We are responding to their concerns by implementing this rent reduction program over the next three years, which will provide ranchers with up to $4 million in relief."
Ag groups are pleased with the government’s decision to reduce rental rates.
Adverse weather conditions have proved challenging for ranchers. This relief shows the government is there to provide support, said Bill Campbell, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers.
“KAP is pleased to see the Manitoba government’s willingness to listen to producers and take concrete actions to help support them as they face rising costs and impacts from weather on the past two growing seasons,” he said in a statement. “With a drought in 2021 followed by extreme moisture and flooding in 2022, many farmers have had acres of forage land unusable for their livestock. This has caused immense adverse impacts on the operations of Manitoba livestock producers.”
Leaseholders don’t have to apply for the reduction. It will be automatically applied to the bills for the following years.
In addition to the rent reduction program, Manitoba Agriculture is looking for feedback on other potential program updates.
Anyone who wishes to provide his or her opinion can do so online.