SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – Irrigation is not on the radar screen of Saskat-chewan Agriculture, producers were told at the sixth annual irrigation conference here Dec. 2 and 3.
Irrigation, once the domain of the agriculture portfolio, currently sits under the jurisdiction of Sask Water.
“Clearly that’s a challenge if you don’t have irrigation within the framework of the policy-making department responsible for its development,” said Gord Nystuen, deputy minister of Saskatchewan Agriculture.
“You have to make sure policy makers understand your issues,” he said.
“When designing safety nets, it’s a big disadvantage not to be engaged.”
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Some conference speakers felt there are too many groups speaking for agriculture, including the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association, the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation and Sask Water.
Nystuen encouraged SIPA, which hosted the conference, to represent irrigators on as many organizations, boards and committees as possible to increase its profile.
Citing a high amount of arable land and the potential to double production values in Saskatchewan, Nystuen noted: “We’re punching way below our weight.”
Saskatchewan needs to start looking at land as an opportunity and look at investment to extract the value in the land. He said irrigation has a role to play within rural revitalization strategies.
“Irrigation is one of those tools to extract that value,” he said. “Agriculture is pivotal, irrigation is central within that.”
Nystuen agreed with other speakers who encouraged offering packaged proposals to government that tie together various sectors like feeders and slaughter houses that can create jobs and bring producers closer to end-use customers.
James Harvey, SIPA chair, blamed the lack of commitment to irrigation in the province on fighting between departments, a lack of consistent policy and too many regulations and bureaucracies. He noted it took 20 years and involved several different departments for him to get permission to pump water onto his land this year.
SIPA needs to show irrigation’s potential and educate the public on its value, he said.
“There’s a lot more to pumping water than putting it on the grass,” he said.
He said irrigation has a role to play in sustaining the livestock sector through dry years and maintaining and expanding a feeder industry.
Rick Swenson, a former Saskatchewan cabinet minister and long-time irrigator, seed grower and cow-calf producer in the Baildon district, said irrigation development in the province has traditionally gone in spurts.
He admitted it’s hard to finance expensive projects with Saskatchewan’s small tax base, but the main impediment has been people’s attitudes. “We have a grain mentality in this province,” he said.
He thought a new approach was needed, with realistic, sustainable projects that offer a good return.
Gerry Gross, of Pak-Wel Produce at Lucky Lake, noted the amount of development around Outlook since Gardiner dam was created. He pointed to success stories in timothy hay, potatoes, forage plants, fish farms, hogs and cattle.
Policy makers need to understand how they did it and learn of impediments to success, he said.
Clare Kirkland, president of Sask Water, said there has been a renaissance in agriculture in recent times and irrigation can be part of a plan toward value-added products.
He preferred a project-based approach to investment over creating province-wide programs.
“It’s not a field of dreams – if you build it they will come,” he said.
“Public investment must have a payback.”
