Conservation Incentive Finder
Land • Legacy • Partners • Programs • Find support for your land stewardship
Marginal Areas Program - Saskatchewan
Ducks Unlimited (DUC) - Saskatchewan
Photo: Ducks Unlimited Canada
Program Summary
Ducks Unlimited Canada's Marginal Areas Program in Saskatchewan offers landowners with marginal areas in their cultivated fields (hard to access or poorly producing areas) payments to seed these areas to perennial forages in exchange for a 10-year agreement to maintain them. Producers receive a pollinator-friendly seed pack, and - once establishment has been confirmed - a per-acre payment.
Program characteristics
Province
Saskatchewan
Natural Features
Wildlife Habitat, Native Grasses
Agriculture Type
Cropland
Program Scope
Provincial
Conservation Approach
Restoration, Beneficial Practices
Incentive Type
Payment for Practices / Conservation / Credits, Cost-sharing / Discounts
Delivery Agent Type
NGO
Commitment Type
Land Conservation / Protection, Management Agreement
Commitment Term
Short Term (1 to 10 years)
Program web site
Conservation Goals
DUC is delivering this program to increase perennial cover on the landscape that benefits biodiversity, particularly beneficial insects and wildlife, including waterfowl. Environmental benefits also include carbon sequestration and improving soil and water quality.
Eligible Lands
This program focuses on cultivated lands where the producer:
Is realizing a negative ROI,
Has access limits due to equipment size,
Wants to establish clubroot management areas, and/or
Wants to establish habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and/or sequester carbon.
Eligible fields must fall with DUC's provincial Target Areas (see links below)
Additional Details
There are no restrictions on use. Program participants can graze, hay, mow, or leave idle Capped at a maximum of 40 acres per quarter section.
Producers retain management decisions for and outside of identified program parcels
Commitment
The producer is responsible for buying the forage seed mixture, and establishing and maintaining the forage stand.
Producers sign a ten-year agreement, with a pro-rated buyout option.
Incentive
DUC Saskatchewan provides an incentive of $135/acre on eligible land. The per-acre incentive will be paid after establishment is confirmed.
Contact Information
Saskatchewan landowners wanting more information can fill in the 'contact us' form at https://ag.ducks.ca/program/ marginal-areas-sk or contact du_regina@ducks.ca
Important to Know
Field(s) must fall within DUC Target Areas to qualify (Target Area map is available at the link below)
• Grazing, haying and mowing are permitted.
Additional information is available in DUC Saskatchewan's fact sheet https://ag.ducks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MARGINAL-AREAS-PROGRAM-FLYER.pdf
For a full list of DUC's programs in Saskatchewan, see https://www.ducks.ca/places/saskatchewan, or download their program guide at https://ag.ducks.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SK-programs-290124.pdf