Reading Time: 9 minutes Sub-surface drip irrigation is starting to be used on the Canadian Prairies and promises higher returns with less water use.
The future of crop irrigation
Irrigation networks have long been an integral part of Canada’s agricultural landscape. But things have dramatically shifted over the past 130 years
Alberta municipalities, farmers agree to cut water use as drought persists
Reading Time: 2 minutes Municipalities and irrigation districts in Alberta have agreed to use less water this summer to combat a severe ongoing drought, the provincial government said on Friday.
Farmers, oil drillers in parched Alberta brace for water shortage
Drought could cause double-digit declines in Alberta's wheat yields, data suggests
Reading Time: 3 minutes Drought in Alberta is stretching into its fourth year and farmers and oil companies are planning for water restrictions that threaten production of wheat, beef and crude.
Canadian potato output rises in 2023
Alberta vaults to first place in provincial potato production
Reading Time: 2 minutes At 32.063 million hundredweight of potatoes this year, Alberta vaulted from third to first place as it improved on the previous year’s crop of 26.813 million. Manitoba moved into second spot from third with its harvest of 29.760 million cwt. following last year’s 26.139 million. Prince Edward Island saw its output reduced in 2023 to 25.813 million cwt. from 27.789 million. In 2023, the trio combined for 68 per cent of Canada’s total potato harvest of 128,801 million cwt.
Alberta potatoes chip in $2.9 billion for Canadian economy
New report verifies what many in industry suspected
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s potato industry is making a big impact — not just on that province but the entire country. A new report — dubbed a “landmark study” by the Potato Growers of Alberta — revealed the sector drove a total contribution of $2.87 billion to Canada’s economy in 2022. It also notes the nationwide creation of […] Read more
Calgary-area MLA named Alberta’s new ag minister
RJ Sigurdson to handle ag file, Horner moves to finance
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta government’s caucus lead on emergency medical services (EMS) reform has been promoted to handle the agriculture file in a post-election cabinet shuffle. RJ Sigurdson, MLA for the constituency of Highwood, just south of Calgary, was sworn in Friday by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani as Alberta’s new minister of agriculture and irrigation, replacing Nate Horner. […] Read more
Are the reservoir dog days ending?
If the new canola processors announced for Regina become fully functioning facilities, they could process an additional 4.5 million tonnes of canola per year. Could Lake Diefenbaker water help?
Reading Time: 9 minutes The quickest path from Regina, Sask., to Steve Nelson’s farm at Birsay is to cross Lake Diefenbaker on the Riverhurst Ferry. The flat-deck ferry travels on the hour, carrying vehicles across the two-kilometre expanse of water, cutting highway travel time by at least an hour, maybe two. As a bonus, the experience gets travellers up […] Read more
McCain to double Alberta french fry plant capacity
Lethbridge-area plant to more than double staff count
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s plans to boost its irrigated acres are being met near the starting line with a major french fry producer’s plans to double the capacity of its plant there. McCain Foods announced Monday it will put up $600 million to build two new production lines for frozen french fries and potato specialty goods at its […] Read more
California picks up debris from latest storm, braces for next
Also: Why all this rain won't end California's drought
Reading Time: 4 minutes Sacramento | Reuters — Rain-soaked Californians took advantage of a break in a weeks-long deluge to haul away dead trees, restore downed power lines and prepare new stacks of sandbags before another series of storms hits the state beginning Friday. In Monterey County along the state’s central coast, communities near the still-rising Salinas River were […] Read more
Helping irrigation finding its value
High commodity prices and dry weather prompt some growers to have a look
Reading Time: 4 minutes Whether it’s in a wagon full of corn, a load of fertilizer, a jug of fungicide, a robotic milker or a new tractor, farmers always look at whether it will provide a return on investment. For those with the option, irrigation is another item to add to the ROI list. Until recently, irrigation was more […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
