AGRICULTURAL CROWN LAND SALE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

The Government of Saskatchewan unveiled a new five-year program today that will help put agricultural Crown land back in the hands of producers.

The Agricultural Crown Land Sale Program will offer Crown land lessees an incentive to purchase their leased agricultural Crown land.

"Many agricultural Crown land lessees have been asking for this type of program for a very long time," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "While agricultural Crown land has been sold to producers since 1947, this type of incentive program has never before been offered in Saskatchewan."

This voluntary program fulfils a commitment made in the 2007 Throne Speech.

"We are keeping our promise to create a plan for lasting and permanent economic growth," Bjornerud said. "We will return the direction of the economy to the hands of the people."

The new program offers lessees a sliding scale incentive for purchase, beginning with a 10 per cent discount on the sale price of the land in the first year, an eight per cent discount in the second, a six per cent discount in the third year of the program, a four per cent discount in the fourth year and a two per cent discount in the fifth.

The provincial government currently owns approximately 7.2 million acres of agricultural Crown land. Under this program, 1.6 million acres will be eligible for sale, which is nearly the size of Prince Edward Island.

"The Province will retain several million acres of agricultural Crown land," Bjornerud said. "This includes land with conservation attributes, important subsurface minerals, located in proximity to major water bodies or having other public or economic values beyond agriculture."

The Agricultural Crown Land Sale Program begins November 15, 2008. Details of the program will be sent to all agricultural Crown land lessees, and are also available on the Ministry's website at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca.

Lessees interested in purchasing their leased Crown land should contact Saskatchewan Agriculture's Regional Offices in Swift Current, North Battleford and Tisdale, to determine if their leased land is eligible for this sale program.

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For more information, contact:

Scott Brown
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031
Email: scott.brown@gov.sk.ca