The president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has declared that foreign ownership of provincial farmland is a major and growing concern for its members, leading to a formal request for government intervention.
Local Farmers Priced Out
Bill Prybylski, the president of APAS, expressed deep worry that current regulations are failing to protect local agricultural producers. He fears that the ability of foreign investors to purchase land is directly driving up prices, making it impossible for the next generation of farmers to compete and expand their operations.
"That's our biggest concern," Prybylski stated in an interview on Friday, November 15, 2025. "We're having to compete against that to buy land. So we have a young producer that's wanting to expand his operation who just can't, because every time a piece of land comes up for sale, it's being bought up by who knows?"
Formal Letter Demands Action
On November 12, 2025, APAS escalated its concerns by sending a formal letter to Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture, Daryl Harrison. The document outlines what the association identifies as systemic challenges to farmland ownership in the province.
The letter specifically points to speculative investors, both domestic and foreign, as the primary force inflating land prices beyond their production value. This effectively prices local farmers out of the market they depend on for their livelihoods. Furthermore, APAS raised alarms about indirect forms of foreign ownership, suggesting that complex corporate structures and financial instruments are distorting market dynamics and circumventing existing rules.
Political Debate and Calls for Stronger Oversight
This action from APAS follows recent criticism in the provincial legislature. Saskatchewan NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon has publicly accused the government of failing to provide the Farm Land Security Board (FLSB) with sufficient power and resources to properly regulate farmland sales.
During question period on November 12, Wotherspoon claimed the lack of "teeth" for the FLSB leaves the door open for problematic ownership, even mentioning organized crime and state-owned entities. In response, Minister Harrison challenged Wotherspoon to provide evidence for these claims, while also revealing that he has struck a committee with APAS to address the farmland issue.
Harrison also noted a recent strengthening of the FLSB's process, which now requires statutory declarations, including proof of residency, for all purchases of Saskatchewan farmland. Despite this, Wotherspoon and APAS maintain that more robust action is urgently needed to close loopholes and ensure farmland remains accessible to Saskatchewan producers.
