How to lease agricultural Crown land
The Ministry of Agriculture allocates agricultural Crown leases through an online auction platform. Interested, eligible bidders bid on the opportunity to be allocated a lease up to 33 years in length. The highest eligible bidder will be awarded the lease.
Online auctions simplify the process for bidders, improve processing time and increase the transparency of lease allocations.
Lease Allocation Process:
Status as of March 9, 2023:
Online Auction
- Agricultural Crown land that is eligible for lease is available for allocation on the McDougall Auctioneer Ltd. website.
- The next online auction is planned to open February 2024.
Lease Allocation Auction Information
Who can bid
Bidders must:
- Be at least 18 years of age;
- Actively manage the leased lands for agricultural purposes;
- Meet all requirements set out under The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act;
- Have legal access to the leased land or written agreements for crossing any adjacent lands;
- Have any existing accounts with the Ministry of Agriculture in an acceptable status;
- Complete the required application form and submit any supporting documentation that the Ministry of Agriculture requests; and
- In the case of a grazing or hay lease, have or will obtain a Premises Identification Number.
When to bid
Eligible bidders can bid on any agricultural Crown land offered for lease by auction once the auction has opened and before it closes. Auction dates will be advertised on this site, at Ministry of Agriculture Regional Offices and on McDougall’s website.
How to bid
Agricultural Crown land lease auctions will be accessible online with services provided by McDougall Auctioneers Ltd. Each bidder will need to register on the auction site in accordance with its requirements.
Rental Rates
The 2023 Crown land grazing rates are $8.18 per animal unit month. This rate is set by formula in section 3-5 of The Provincial Land (Agriculture) Regulations using the preceding October and November cattle prices and billed yearly.
Cultivation rates are communicated to lessees in the spring of each year. Rental rates on sellable cultivated and previously cultivated lands increased by 45 per cent over the formula rate on January 1, 2018. The rate increase does not apply to co-op, former federal (PFRA) or transitioned Saskatchewan Pastures Program pastures.
Lease Auction Results
After the Ministry of Agriculture allocates agricultural Crown leases through the McDougall Auctioneer Ltd. website and the eligible bidder is awarded the lease, auction results are posted online. See the Related Items section to download the latest lease auction results.