The Saskatchewan government will be offering Crown pastureland up for long-term leases instead of selling it as originally planned.

In March, the government announced the Saskatchewan Pastures Program would be phased out over the next three years.

The program provides ranchers with access to Crown land for grazing and livestock. It includes 51 pastures across the province, covering 780,000 acres.

The government had considered selling off the land, but opted for leases after extensive consultation, according to Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart.

Stewart said more than 70 per cent of the people who provided feedback were in support of leasing the lands. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, for instance, expressed its support of the decision in a news release.

FSIN says leases too costly

The province says the leases will allow for hunting and the continued exercise of rights by First Nations and Métis communities.

However, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says the price of leasing Crown land under the new plan will be too costly for many ranchers.

The organization now hopes it will be able to secure an agreement to purchase and maintain the pastures.

"The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has made it clear that it will not financially support the cattle producers of Saskatchewan by contributing financially to the costs of managing the Saskatchewan pastures," said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron in a news release.

Stewart told reporters that he spoke with Cameron and plans to chat with Metis Nation-Saskatchewan early next week.