Increased efficiencies meant districts didn’t draw their full licensed allocation despite the need for extra water due to heat and dry weather
It’s been a tough year for farmers but leaders in two of Alberta’s largest irrigation districts say they were able to meet demand and continue to do more with less water. “I think the kind of heat we had for the last two weeks of June is something that — speaking with a lot of […] Read moreTag Archives irrigation
Diefenbaker project not worth the cost
No one can dispute the many contributions that Ralph Goodale has made to public life, as an MP and federal cabinet minister. His support for a project aimed at re-plumbing southern Saskatchewan at a cost of $3 billion or more, however, is a dubious proposition at best. The South Saskatchewan River Project was conceived at […] Read more
Drier conditions prompt new look at irrigation
Different crops have different peak water needs so supplying available water at the most vital time can conserve water
Several southern Alberta irrigation districts put restrictions on water use last spring when dry conditions raised the spectre of insufficient supply to meet crop needs. Those restrictions were lifted when precipitation improved but they highlighted the wisdom of planning for similar limits should they occur in the future. “As we get potential climate change, perhaps […] Read more
Spite leads to international water agreement
Southern Alberta canal was accused at the time of ‘lacking in friendlyness,’ but a friendlier mood eventually prevailed
MILK RIVER, Alta. — The southern Alberta prairie is gradually reclaiming a humble-looking trench built more than 100 years ago to ensure farmers in the Milk River region were able to draw water and irrigate their land. At the time, its construction created an international incident but it ultimately led to a long-standing historical agreement […] Read more
Irrigation asset transfer completed in Sask.
The contentious initiative moves about 90 percent of irrigation assets previously owned by the province into the hands of district irrigators
The Saskatchewan government and four irrigation districts have completed asset transfers and agreed to infrastructure funding arrangements. The deal moves about 90 percent of provincial irrigation assets into the hands of the district irrigators, said deputy agriculture minister Rick Burton. The transfer has been contentious at times because irrigators said they didn’t want assets that […] Read more
Irrigation transfer completed in Sask.
The Saskatchewan government and four irrigation districts have completed asset transfers and agreed to infrastructure funding arrangements. The deal moves about 90 percent of provincial irrigation assets into the hands of the district irrigators, said deputy agriculture minister Rick Burton. The transfer has been contentious at times because irrigators said they didn’t want assets that […] Read more
Irrigation efficiency pays in Alta.
Irrigation specialists say new pipes and pivots through efficiency programs are helping southern Alberta producers lower costs and conserve more water. One of the newer initiatives, called the Irrigation Efficiency Program, has already been showing results, said Brad Calder, a soil and water technologist with Alberta Agriculture’s irrigation section. “We’ve had a fair number of […] Read more
Irrigation transfer still alarming producers
Legislation has been introduced to allow the Saskatchewan government to hand over assets to to irrigation districts
The pending transfer of irrigation assets from the Saskatchewan government to districts continues to concern farmers who say they face huge costs because the infrastructure is in poor repair. One estimate has pegged rehabilitation costs at $350 million. The province has wanted to transfer equipment such as pumps, lifts and smaller canals to the districts […] Read more
Irrigation infrastructure expansion urged
Saskatchewan is encouraged to use money available through the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation fund
An advocate of developing Saskatchewan’s water resources says the province would do well to access a federal fund and start building water infrastructure. Wayne Clifton, senior principal at Clifton Associates, said money available through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation fund could be used to further develop infrastructure around Lake Diefenbaker. As a civil engineer for […] Read more
Alberta Farmer’s irrigation dreams come true
For almost all the 38 years Peter Fehr has farmed, he’s dreamed of having an irrigation system. He has been dealing with dry conditions up in the northern Peace area of La Crete, Alta., and would love to see a boost in yield. “I’ve always had irrigation in the back of my mind,” said Fehr, […] Read more
