Farmers in Alberta will be getting a big boost to help provide their farmland with a vital resource and help make their operations more efficient, thanks to a grant from the federal and provincial governments.
The two levels of government are contributing $1M to be used to improve water management, environmental sustainability and agricultural production.
“Modern and reliable irrigation is critical to the success of Alberta farmers. This funding will support Alberta farm families with the freshwater resources they need to improve the efficiency, sustainability and productivity of their operations across southern Alberta,” said Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, in a release.
The grants will help develop tools that will increase innovation and efficiency of the province’s irrigation systems.
Alberta’s current system includes approximately 8,000 km of canals and pipelines worth an estimated $3.5B.
Through the system, water is provided for 1.4M acres of land, 50 towns and villages, multiple industries and processors.
