Premier Scott Moe says construction costs are rising and the provincial government will allocate funding as the project proceeds in phases
REGINA — Saskatchewan will begin constructing the first phase of its Lake Diefenbaker irrigation project on its own after it was unable to secure Ottawa as a financial partner. Premier Scott Moe announced last week that the $1.15 billion Westside Irrigation Project would be cost-shared with producers at a ratio that hasn’t yet been determined. […] Read moreTag Archives irrigation — page 4
Alta. irrigation expansion questioned
A recent article in the Lethbridge Herald (Feb. 14) regarding designation of an Agri-food Processing Zone contains assertions by UCP MLA Grant Hunter to Lethbridge County council that irrigation districts are making decisions about expanding by 300,000 acres and that more water storage is being built, paid for by government and ratepayers, to support that […] Read more
Repairs underway at irrigation canal
MEDICINE HAT — Repairs continue on the canal leading from the Oldman Dam reservoir headworks to the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District canal, with expectations the system will be operational by spring. The section of canal has been plagued with problems. In 2022, access to the headworks was restricted due to a dispute between the reservoir’s […] Read more
Low water levels affect southern Alta. power generation
Irrigation canals were shut down several weeks early in September last year, limiting ability to produce electricity
MEDICINE HAT — Hydropower in Alberta makes up a small portion of electricity production in the province but it’s still an important source of energy. Recent low levels on southern Alberta rivers have affected the amount of electricity generated by Irrican Power, owned by the St. Mary River and Raymond irrigation districts, and by TransAlta. […] Read more
Sask. irrigators keep their eyes on water supply
Levels at Lake Diefenbaker were lower than usual going into winter but still significant; province’s snow cover also low
MEDICINE HAT — River flow, low mountain snowpack and reservoirs struggling to fill in southern Alberta haven’t escaped the attention of irrigators in Saskatchewan as the traditional wet spring becomes critical. Mountain snowpack levels across Alberta’s Eastern Slopes as well as those in Montana that feed into the St. Mary and Milk rivers are well […] Read more
Subsurface irrigation called way of the future
Early adopters in southern Alberta are pioneering the practice of delivering water directly to crop roots using drip lines
MEDICINE HAT — Subsurface drip irrigation is a relatively new system to the Prairies, but one of southern Alberta’s early adopters is confident it’s an effective way to grow crops with water efficiency rates second to none. Subsurface irrigation systems deliver water directly to roots using drip lines and is commonly designed to be spaced […] Read more
New Sask. university program to offer irrigation training
MEDICINE HAT — As plans for irrigation expansion continue in Saskatchewan and Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan is offering a new program to help agricultural professionals enhance their training in the burgeoning field. Joel Ens, the university’s Sustainable Irrigation program lead, said the courses are best suited for those in the agricultural industry looking to […] Read more
Alberta farmers plan for dry conditions
The quick melt of the mountain snowpack during the spring of 2023 in Alberta combined with hot and dry temperatures throughout the growing season and dry early winter have left irrigators with little more than hope for improved conditions by spring 2024. Irrigation districts, the Alberta government and farmers along with other water stakeholders including […] Read more
Irrigation sector ratifies amalgamation in Sask.
The Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association and Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp. formally agree to join forces
Irrigation Saskatchewan is now the lead irrigation organization in the province following the successful amalgamation of two provincial organizations. Talks to join Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association (SIPA) and Irrigation Crop Diversification Corp. (ICDC) into one entity have been ongoing for years. A joint executive working committee was formed in March 2022 and both organizations voted […] Read more
Irrigators warned to watch for bacterial leaf streak
Management practices that prevent the disease are not available, nor is resistance in Canadian cereal crops
Gursahib Singh of the Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation issued a warning to Saskatchewan irrigators: look out for bacterial leaf streak. The research director of ICDC presented to 200 members of the irrigation industry at the Irrigation Saskatchewan conference held Dec. 5 in Saskatoon. Bacterial Leaf Streak is so far not a problem in Saskatchewan, but […] Read more
