A water development program implemented in southwestern Saskatchewan last year proved so popular that its funding has been nearly doubled.
The federal and provincial governments have kicked in an additional $8.8 million and $5.2 million, respectively, to add $14 million to the Farm and Ranch Infrastructure Water Program. The original funding was $15 million.
Saskatchewan agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said nearly 3,400 applications convinced governments that the program was needed and successful.
The applications numbered about 1,700 for on-farm wells and pipelines, 1,500 for dugouts and more than 80 for community wells.
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Bjornerud said these numbers are well above what had been anticipated but highlight the need for long-term water development.
“This isn’t just a Band-Aid,” he said. “We’re hoping (the projects) are still in the works 30 years from now.”
The program applies in 65 drought-designated rural municipalities in the southwest. The minister has said he would like to make the program a permanent line item in the provincial budget and expand it to other regions.
The 2009-10 budget is to be announced March 18. Asked if farmers could expect to see the program in that budget, Bjornerud would only say, “I sure hope you are.”
The enhanced provincial funding announced March 6 is coming out of the general revenue fund in the current fiscal year.
Agriculture spending is up about $101 million, according to the supplementary estimates released during the third-quarter financial results. This is due to the recently announced cattle and hog support program, the water program and nearly $22 million more for farm stability and adaptation.
Bjornerud said extra money is needed for AgriStability and AgriInvest because grain prices are up and payments are higher. The budgeted amounts are based on federal forecasts, which change as applications are made.
“We have no choice,” Bjornerud said.
