By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture spending increases in Saskatchewan budget

Mar 19, 2025 | 5:13 PM

The 2025-25 Saskatchewan budget does not contain a contingency plan to deal with tariffs threatened by China and the United States.

Finance Minister Jim Reiter said the government will focus on creating conditions to be in a strong financial position to be able to withstand tariffs.

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) highlighted both the positive aspects and concerns regarding rural communities across the province in this year’s provincial budget.

SARM President Bill Huber said today’s budget includes several priorities that its members have been advocating for.

“Although there is still room for improvement, we believe that these initiatives will significantly support our RMs and the people living in rural Saskatchewan,” Huber said.

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Huber was pleased to see an increase in Municipal Revenue Sharing.

“The increase of 6.3 per cent from last year is always welcome; RMs have a major responsibility to provide the infrastructure that drives the major sectors of Saskatchewan’s economy,” he said.

The municipal revenue sharing model is unique to Saskatchewan. The model provides a more consistent flow of dollars to rural municipalities. Recognizing that RMs are a key component in driving the economy will be imperative as the province works towards achieving its 2030 growth plan goals. RMs will need continued and increased support going forward.

Agriculture spending across all ministries is estimated at $1.6 billion, up $66 million from last year, mainly due to higher projected crop insurance and AgriStability payments. AgriInvest spending is $6 million lower, based on federal forecasts.

The agriculture ministry is allocated $625.3 million, up from $570.6 million in the 2024-25 estimate.

Huber said the changes to the grazing formula will provide relief for producers renting crown land. The calculation will be more straightforward, and there will be a 20 per cent cap on rental fees. There will also be a $37 million investment in agricultural research to help producers stay competitive in other markets.

Huber said while SARM appreciates the increase in Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) funding, the rising costs and challenges of maintaining rural infrastructure remain a pressing concern. He said SARM will continue to push for additional funding to ensure that RMs can adequately maintain and upgrade rural roads and bridges.

Huber added the virtual ER physician program and increases to EMS will improve response times and stabilize services across the province. The announcement of 65 new and enhanced permanent full-time nursing positions in 30 rural and northern locations is also a welcomed opportunity for rural healthcare providers.

The bylaw court hub model announcement is a positive step towards our members being able to enforce local bylaws. Huber said SARM has been asking the province for increased measures to aid in bylaw enforcement, and the increase in courts will go a long way to providing that.

Increases to the Sask. Marshals program and the RCMP were welcome, and the organization will advocate for larger investment in rural policing and safety and support all policing options available to rural Saskatchewan.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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