In addition, prospective buyers must demonstrate proof of $20 million in funds or provide a list of existing farmland or other assets. The high financial threshold and bundled nature of the sale have triggered strong reactions from producers online.
A Western Canadian Mega-Farm
Based in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Monette Farms is owned by Darrel Monette and has long been recognized as one of Canada’s largest farming operations. As of 2020, the company operated between 55,000 and 63,000 seeded acres, with holdings spread across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, and even into Montana and Arizona.
The company grows grains and pulses and also runs a cattle operation. According to its website, Monette Farms not only owns farmland but also rents land across multiple regions.
This latest sale comes just weeks after the company reportedly marketed approximately 45,000 acres in British Columbia in December.
Within Saskatchewan, Monette Farms operates near Swift Current, Outlook, Raymore, Hafford, Prince Albert, and Kamsack, representing a significant footprint across diverse growing regions.
Producers React: Concerns About Affordability and Consolidation
The news has ignited considerable dialogue on Agriville.com and other ag discussion forums, where users are voicing concerns about the impact on land pricing and market access.
“This will shake things up a bit in the land market if it’s true,” wrote user Durum Dumber.
Others questioned the packaging of the farms into such large units. “Who can afford to buy parcels (bundles) of land worth $20M?” asked farmaholic. “Wouldn't auctioning every quarter by itself yield better sale results? … They are severely limiting their list of potential buyers by how they package it.”
Some farmers pointed to historical precedent, noting that large-scale farms have not always survived long-term on the Prairies. “Historically the mega farm in Western Canada has not lasted,” wrote user AJL. “This is due to the extreme weather we normally get… What goes up must come down.”
AJL referenced the example of Charles Noble, who farmed 30,000 acres in Alberta in the 1920s. Little remains of that operation today. “Historically the mega farm in western canada has not lasted, says AJL on Agriville.com. “This is due to the extreme weather we normally get. This last go round of farm consolidation has been the strongest because of the unprecedented amount of money printing that has happened since 2008 recession. I have read a book on Charles Noble who farmed 30000 acres by 1928. Town of Nobleford, Alberta named after him. Not much exists of this operation today. However, what goes up must come down.”
Click here to join the Monette Farms conversation on Agriville.com.
What Comes Next?
With bidding closing Sunday, Feb. 1, the Prairie ag community is watching closely to see who steps forward—and whether this sale marks a shift for Monette Farms or a broader signal about the future of large-scale operations.
For now, the offering underscores ongoing conversations about farmland values, consolidation, and the role of mega farms in Western Canada’s agricultural landscape.