Irrigating Alberta Fall 2014

Alberta Land Values The Alberta FarmSafe Plan Improving Feed Storage Volume 18 Number 2

FALL

2014

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IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 1

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volume 18 • number 2 FALL 2014 03 ....................................

Table Of Contents

04 ............................................. Ric’s Corner 06 - 07 ..............

08 ................

The Alberta FarmSafe Plan

2014 North American Seed Fair

10 ............................ Improving Feed Storage 11 .............................................. Land Values 12 ............................................

14 ...............................

Ask The Pro

Aggie Days Irrigation

15 ............................. New Irrigation Council 18 ..............................................Jim Csabay

PUBLISHER Jeff Sarich DESIGN & PRODUCTION Taryn Tamayose EDITOR Ric Swihart ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Al Such & Mel McDonald ADVERTISING CO-ORDINATOR Sarah Still

19 ....................

Forage Pollinator Agreement

20 ................................ Net Wrap Bale Issues 22 ...............................Potato Booth Ag Expo 23 ............................................ Spud Update 24 ...................................... Alfalfa Water Use 25 ........................... AIPA - Edith Vanderpuye 26 ....................................... Test Hay Quality 27............................................... Jamie Wuite 28 - 29 .......... Montana Law: Court Irrigation 30 ........................................ Pulse Advances 31 ............................ Drury on Water Storage

view online at www.farmpressltd.com IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 3

RIC’S corner R

ural Canada may have seen better days, according to a major study by former Lethbridge Liberal Sen. Joyce Fairbairn who chaired a major Senate committee which traveled across this land to investigate the future of the land outside the concrete jungles. But, at least Alberta, may have turned the corner to become a major plank in the provincial and national economy. That comes from a major update of the Conference Board of Canada’s landmark study on the economic contribution of rural Alberta, recently completed with some input with investment of the rural development division of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

“The report continues to make the case for the importance of rural Alberta,” says Colin Gosselin, a senior project coordinator with the Rural Development Division. “Based on Statistics Canada data for 2009, rural Alberta contributed to $77.4 billion worth of economic activity in Alberta and Canada.

More good news is that the economy and population of rural Alberta continues to grow overall.”

In terms of future opportunity, the board’s latest long-term forecast for Alberta predicts that two key sectors for rural Alberta – mining and oil and gas extraction, and agriculture – will post solid growth over the next 23 years. This bodes well for rural Alberta’s economic outlook.

On the other hand, rural Alberta’s economy faces a major challenge – an aging population which will lead to weaker overall population growth going forward. “The report concludes that any plans to ensure prosperity for rural Alberta must include the attraction and retention of people as a top priority,” said Gosselin. “According to Conference Board research, this will take more than jobs, as those communities that also offer a high quality of life will be the most successful.”

Key Points Include: • This report examines demographic and economic conditions in Alberta’s rural communities over three censuses: 2001, 2006, and 2011. It also measures the economic contribution of rural Alberta to urban Alberta and the other Canadian provinces; • Rural Alberta’s population continues to grow, with 706,292 people living in rural areas in 2011. However, the population did not grow in all communities and regions, and it did not grow as fast as in urban Alberta. As a result, the rural population’s share of the provincial population continues to trend downward. Rural Alberta is also proportionately older than urban Alberta, and is struggling to attract international immigrants; • Economic growth in rural Alberta was strong between 2001 and 2006, but decelerated noticeably between 2006 and 2011. All together, rural Alberta’s economy grew at half the pace of the province as a whole between 2001 and 2011; • Services sector activity significantly outpaced goods sector activity in rural Alberta; • One striking difference between rural Alberta and the province as a whole is the importance of the goods sector. Goods sector output accounted for 54 per cent of total output in rural areas in 2011, much higher than the

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 4

provincial average of 40 per cent. Much of this difference was attributable to the agriculture and forestry sector, which accounted for nearly 15 per cent of output in rural areas compared with just three per cent at the provincial level.

• The provincial and federal governments earned $4.2 billion in tax dollars in 2011 from rural Alberta; • The economic footprint of rural Alberta in the province as a whole in 2009 was estimated to be $65.5 billion – a direct contribution of $36.9 billion in rural GDP, plus an indirect and induced impact on urban Alberta of $28.5 billion. Economic activity in rural Alberta also contributed to almost $12 billion in activity elsewhere in Canada, bringing rural Alberta’s total contribution to Canadian economic activity to $77.4 billion.

• The footprint analysis also reveals that rural Alberta contributed to a total of 144,000 jobs elsewhere in Canada, with the bulk of these jobs in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

• Any plans to ensure prosperity for rural Alberta must include the attraction and retention of people as a top priority. It will take more than jobs to succeed at attracting people; communities that also offer a high quality of life will be the most successful. Now one might get a little inflated, but don’t worry. Rural Alberta is vibrant, and with more global focus on rural Alberta’s magnetic irrigation sector, this could be the tip of the berg.

Irrigated land will be stressed as the global population heads for 9.5 billion by 2050. Equipment, technology and science will play a vibrant role, but nothing will work without people; the men, women and children on farms across Alberta. Irrigated farms will play an increasingly important role in that battle.

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The Alberta FARMSAFE Plan The Alberta FarmSafe Plan is coming.

M

embers of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s farm safety team have been working with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) to develop the Alberta FarmSafe Plan.

The plan is a resource to help farmers develop health and safety systems specific to their individual operations.

“Our goal is to provide farmers with a step-by-step process to develop a plan that aligns with standard health and safety systems found in Alberta,” says Laurel Aitken, farm safety coordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development in Edmonton. “The key for this tool, and what makes it different from other health and safety planning tools, is that it will be adaptable and easily applied to all sectors of the agriculture industry.

Earlier this year, a group of nine volunteer farmers participated in a pilot program to test the Alberta FarmSafe Plan. The farmers, representing a diverse set of farm types and sizes, took part in two training workshops to develop a plan tailored to their operation. In the workshops they learned how to identify and assess hazards specific to their farm and how to take steps to eliminate or control those hazards.

The participants are now working on-farm with their families and employees to apply the knowledge and put the newly-created safety plans into action.

“The farmers have agreed to provide feedback on the entire process of developing and implementing the plan,” says Aitken. “To get a thorough evaluation of how the plan works for them, we will follow their progress over a two-year period. Their feedback will help us make further improvements to the resource.”

In addition to creating a safer work environment, the Alberta FarmSafe Plan complies with criteria for the Alberta Partnerships in Injury Prevention Certificate of Recognition (COR).

A completed FarmSafe Plan will provide farmers with all the necessary criteria to obtain their COR if they so choose. With their COR, farmers are eligible for rebates through the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 6

Aitken indicates feedback from pilot participants has been diverse so far, but notes every farmer agrees that safety is important in their operation.

“Most participants thought FarmSafe was a helpful resource and they could see the value it would provide to their business,” says Aitken. “Valuable feedback from a few participants outlined the need to make implementation of the plan easier, given the demands and time commitment of running a farm. We can now take that information forward in the revisions to make a more useable tool for farmers.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development will take all feedback into account as they move forward with the second phase of the pilot. The Alberta FarmSafe Plan manual is currently being updated based on initial feedback, and supporting resources, such as hazard checklists and electronic templates, are being developed to simplify the process and reduce planning time.

Another pilot will run this summer with a new group of interested farm owners and managers. The plan is expected to be available for Alberta farmers in the fall of 2014.

Farmers interested in participating in the second phase Alberta FarmSafe Pilot should send an email indicating your interest in the project, type of farm, number of employees (if any), and location of your farm to Laurel Aitken, Farm Safety Coordinator at laurel.aitken@gov.ab.ca.

For more information, call Laurel at 780-980-4230 or visit www.agriculture.alberta.ca/farmsafety

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 7

2014 North American SEED FAIR

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he North American Seed Fair, promoted as the premier showcase in western Canada since 1897, had plenty of quality this year, but entry numbers dipped to about 90.

Rob Wauters of Lethbridge, operations supervisor for DeKalb Seeds’ foundation canola seed program, says entries are far from the glory years of more than 400 entries. That is doubly troubling because the North American Seed Fair is the only event left in Western Canada, he said.

Border difficulties are blamed for no American seed entries the last few years. And in some classes there were no entries or very few.

But industry recognizes the value of the show, he said. Sponsorship of classes remains strong. “We hope to build back the show for 2015,” he said. All samples must be mechanically cleaned for uniformity for judges, and as the show edges earlier the last few years as part of Ag Expo, it puts more pressure on seed cleaning plants.

Pedigreed seed classes – hard red spring wheat – Witdouck Farms, Witdouck Farms and Albion Ridge; winter wheat – Tim Willms; durum wheat – Kevin Willms, Kevin Willms, Schlaht Farms of Lomond; soft white wheat hard white spring, extra strong and Prairie spring wheat – Tim Willms, Tony Crooymans of Bow Island; two-row barley – Albion Ridge, Schlaht Farms, Witdouck Farms; six-row barley – Phoenix Farms; forage legume seed – Don Petersen all three places; dry peas – Tim Willms, and pulse crops – Tim Willms.

Open seed classes – hard red spring wheat – Adrian Hofer, Luke Wipf, Brummelhuis & Sons Seeds of Vauxhall; winter wheat – Brummelhuis & Sons Seeds; durum wheat – Luke Hofer, Eli Hofer of Barons; soft white wheat, hard white wheat, extra strong and Prairie spring – Brummelhuis & Sons; barley – Eli Hofer, Luke Hofer; oats – Eli Hofer; rye and triticale – Phoenix Farms; flax – Phoenix Farms; dry peas – Albion Ridge, Eli Hofer, Luke Wipf; dry beans, lentils and chickpeas – Albion Ridge, Albion Ridge and Luke Wipf; Wauters was happy with an grass and legume seed – Colli increase in entries from British Petersen, Don Petersen and Brian Columbia.

Petersen; alfalfa hay – S-5 Farms of Lomond, Dekok Forage Ltd. of Fort He ponders the downward trend Macleod, Dekok Forage; grass and in pedigreed seed entries, likely Above: Rob Wauters at the 2014 North American Seed Fair grass legume hay – Wayne Bevins a factor in the increasing size of farms in southern Alberta. There are half a dozen corporations of Cardston, Pat Harvie of Priddis and Pelleboer Farms of Picture Butte; timothy hay first cut – Medema Farms S-5 dealing with canola, and generally, they do not enter samples.

Farms, Dekok Forage; feed wheat – Eli Hofer, Luke Wipf; and “We are open to all ideas from community,” said Wauters. feed barley – Luke Wipf, Eli Hofer.

A bright spot for the show is the tremendous contribution from agricultural specialists, which provide an abundance of Junior seed classes – combined wheat – Adrian Hofer, Jarome judges for the show, he said. Those come from industry, and Hofer of Nobleford, Tymon Hofer of Barons Matthew Willms especially strong support from people from the Lethbridge of Grassy Lake and Jarome Hofer; oats and barley – Adrian Hofer, Tymon Hofer, Ryan Smyth of Cowley, Matthew Willms, Research Center, Lethbridge College and University of Adrian Hofer; oilseed and pulse crops – Tymon Hofer, Jarome Lethbridge.

Hofer, Adrian Hofer, Matthew Willms, Troy Wipf of Cranford.

The annual 4-H seed art competition remains strong. Wauters said various seeds are provided to 4-H clubs and many create pieces of art, which are displayed at the seed tray venue during Ag Expo.

Winners Include: Pedigreed grand aggregate – Tim Willms of Grassy Lake; open grand aggregate – Luke Wipf of Cranford.

Champion pedigreed cereal – Witdouck Farms of Iron Springs; champion pedigree forage and grasses – Don Petersen of Tilley; champion open coarse grain -- Adrian Hofer of Farmington, B.C.; champion open oilseed – Phoenix Farms Ltd. of Nobleford; champion open forage and grasses – Colli Peterson of Tilley; champion open special crops – Albion Ridge; champion open hay – Medema Farms of Fort Macleod; and junior aggregate -- Adrian Hofer.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 8

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Improving FEED STORAGE

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rowers are putting more emphasis on feed value and the importance of inoculants to help preserve the amount and quality of stored forages.

“Dry-matter recovery is important because feed is still relatively expensive,” says Martina Pfister, DuPont Pioneer dairy specialist. “To maximize the value of their forage investment, many producers are also working with nutritionists and agronomic consultants on plans to prevent dry-matter loss in stored forages.”

Managing pH immediately after harvest is the key to forage preservation, she says. “Dry-matter loss begins with plant-cell respiration and aerobic bacteria utilizing plant sugars, water and carbs as an energy source, literally consuming nutrients and feed,” Pfister says. “A quick drop in pH and a fast start to fermentation preserves silage, maintains a high level of silage quality and results in decreased fermentation losses.”

To accurately estimate the overall value of inoculants on feed, producers can use the Pioneer Inoculant Value Calculator to gain a “hands on” look at how inoculants can make an

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 10

economic difference on their operations through improved feed bunk life and increased feed cost savings. Utilizing 27 years of research data to quantify the value of inoculants to preserve dry matter, the easy-to-use online tool enables growers to evaluate 10 variables, including the crop, storage system, feeding rates and market prices. Growers can access the calculator on the Pioneer.com website or from the Apple® iTunes® store.

Inoculants have two primary functions in preserving forages, says Pfister. The first priority is to spark a fast and efficient pH drop of the silage as soon as it is stored. The second is to help suppress spoilage yeast, mould and bacillus for improved aerobic stability.

The company also has silage inoculants with a third mode of action that improves fibre digestibility and increases fermentation and aerobic stability.

For more information about the product, contact an authorized sales representative.

LAND Values A

verage farmland values continued to rise nationally in 2013, according to the most recent Farmland Values Report released by Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

The average value of farmland in Alberta increased by 12.9 per cent in 2013. The latest increase is part of a trend that shows farmland values rising in that province since 1993.

Alberta farmland values increased by 13.3 per cent in 2012 and 8.7 per cent in 2011.

Low interest rates, growing world food demand and the resulting strong commodity prices in the first half of the year supported the increase.

The annual FCC report provides important information about changes in farmland values across Canada. The average value of Canadian farmland increased by 22.1 per cent in 2013, with the majority of this increase occurring in the first half of the year. This annual change represents the largest increase since FCC began reporting in 1985.

The second highest increase was 19.5 per cent in 2012.

Farmland values last decreased in 1992, when they dropped by 2.1 per cent.

Average farmland values remained unchanged in Newfoundland and Labrador and increased in all other provinces. Saskatchewan experienced the highest average increase at 28.5 per cent, yet the average land price in Saskatchewan is still less expensive than in the neighbouring provinces.

“The positive overall health of the agriculture industry during 2013 is reflected in recent land value trends,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC Chief Risk Officer. “It’s an indicator of the

industry’s strength, and it’s good news for producers who hold land as an asset.”

“At the same time, it can be a challenge for those who want to buy farmland to expand their operations. There’s often a limited supply of land available for sale and land that’s offered for sale is strongly pursued.”

The two most important drivers of farmland values are crop receipts and interest rates, according to J.P. Gervais, FCC Chief Agricultural Economist. However, he cautions producers not to use the past few profitable years – when crop prices were abnormally high due to the 2012 U.S. drought – as the basis for purchasing more land.

“Recent long-term outlooks for crops suggest world stocks of grains and oilseeds will rebuild, bringing prices closer to their long-term average,” he said. “Margins will be tighter and eventually interest rates will increase.”

“Producers need to look at their operations and ensure they can manage through a number of scenarios when it comes to revenues and expenses.”

Tighter crop margins may also affect the land rental market.

Rental rates usually take a little time to adjust downward following lower grain and oilseed prices. Multi-year leases are also gaining in popularity. Yet, Gervais expects rental agreements to move over time in the same direction as crop receipts.

“For the next several years, we expect the demand for farmland to slow down, which supports a so-called soft landing scenario,” Gervais said. “We don’t anticipate farmland values to collapse, but we do expect slower increases due to potentially lower crop receipts.”

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 11

Ask The PRO QUESTION: Should producers consider using compost on irrigated land?

Frank Larney Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge

D

ue to the high water content of feedlot manure (up to 70 per cent wet weight) its long-range haulage is often uneconomical. Therefore, most fresh manure is land-applied close to source rather than moved out to land which could potentially benefit from carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus inputs.

Composting has gained increased acceptance as a means of reducing the environmental impact of livestock manure.

Composting benefits the environment because manure nutrients are converted to more stable forms and are less likely to reach groundwater or move in surface runoff. Compost can be stored until land application conditions are suitable or, compared with fresh manure, can be more economically transported longer distances than fresh manure due to its lower water content (30-40 per cent wet wt.).

Composting is not a new idea. It is an aerobic biological process where microorganisms convert organic materials (e.g. manure), into a humus-like material. The microorganisms consume oxygen while feeding on the organic matter and in the process generate carbon dioxide, heat and water vapour.

Composting is essentially the application of controlled conditions (e.g. optimum combination of organic feedstocks, aeration, turning frequency and time) to enhance a natural decomposition process. However, losses of carbon and nitrogen occur during composting. The aim should be to minimize these losses so as to retain carbon for soil quality improvement and nitrogen for crop nutrient supply.

Compost is a good fit on irrigated land where it can be used to replenish soil organic matter (carbon) levels. Row crops grown under irrigation in southern Alberta, like potatoes, sugar beets, dry beans, return little crop residue to the soil compared to cereals or forages. This means that soil organic matter levels can decline over time especially in tight rotations of these row crops on lighter soils. Maintaining soil organic matter using compost, also enhances a whole range of soil properties related to soil health, including improved infiltration, reduced erosion risk, and more active and diverse microbial communities.

What’s in one tonne of feedlot manure compost on an “as is” basis like wet weight?

Let’s say typical feedlot manure compost in southern Alberta has 35 per cent water content. Then one tonne (1000 kg) comprises 350 kg of water and 650 kg dry matter. About 15 per cent of the dry matter is carbon, 1.5 per cent is nitrogen and 0.5 per cent is phosphorus. So, 15 per cent of 650 kg = 100 kg of carbon; 1.5 per cent of 650 = 10 kg of N and 0.5 per cent = 3 kg of P (values are rounded). However these amounts are not all available for plant uptake.

Compost can be looked upon as a slow-release nutrient source. The 100 kg of carbon will be quite stable in the soil (especially if it contains wood chips instead of straw bedding)

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 12

but will slowly decompose to improve soil organic matter and consequently soil health. The 10 kg of nitrogen will release about one kg of nitrate-N for plant uptake, while about one kg of the P is plant-available in the first growing season. So obviously, when we talk compost we really see how much carbon we are adding to soil and this is the biggest single advantage over commercial fertilizer, which contains zero carbon. The N and P in compost are added bonuses as we need to “top-up” with commercial N and P fertilizers to meet crop demand.

However, we should always remember to take credit of the nitrogen and phosphorus in the compost and decrease inputs of commercial fertilizer accordingly where compost is used.

As we do for commercial fertilizer, we still need to be aware of basic nutrient management principles when using compost, like matching application rates of nutrients to existing soil nutrient levels (based on a soil test) and projected nutrient use of the particular crop being grown. The aim should be to produce optimum crop yield while minimizing potential losses of nutrients from the root zone, such as leaching.

Additional benefits of compost compared to fresh manure include reduced odour emissions at land application, reduced numbers of viable weed seeds, lower pathogen loads such as E. coli, and lower veterinary antibiotic levels.

Instead of looking at manure as being a problem that must be disposed of, we should view it as a source of nutrients, which can be turned into compost and used as a very good soil amendment in irrigated cropping systems.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 13

AGGIE DAYS Irrigation S

ome think more voters should realize the vast economic importance of irrigation. Others, like Lawrence Schinkel, senior monitoring technologist with the provincial water resources branch, know the sure way to an informed public is getting solid information to young people.

Aggie Days, the youth version on a much smaller scale compared with Ag-Expo in Lethbridge, has become Schinkel’s venue to explain Alberta’s water resource and how water moves from the western mountains to irrigated farms.

Armed with an interactive water management demonstration stand, Schinkel has even added a small model of a drop-head, low-pressure centre pivot – the latest technology to water hungry crops.

He says the interaction of students with the water stand peaks the most interest. “We often get students back a second time while at Aggie Days, and many proclaim our booth the best and most informative at Aggie Days,” he said. “They can even change two gates (water control structures), and they simply appreciate the hands-on approach.”

Schinkel said most are surprised at the stages of management needed to get water to southern Alberta farms, and the tremendous amount of water measurement done along the way. “We get a lot of parents (with the kids) who also don’t know much about water and irrigation.”

Schinkel has been participating at Aggie Days since 2009.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 14

New Irrigation COUNCIL

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management, and not just for farming. It is also important to the many towns and villages which rely on irrigation for their water supplies.”

Council, the link between industry and the provincial government, relies on producer input. Producers are named to three-year terms, with up to four terms. “I’ve been an irrigation farmer all my life,” said Wall. “I started on my own in 1973, in the days of open ditches, and have seen the industry progress through pipelines. I have seen the benefits of irrigation advances.” Wall thinks nomination of irrigation producers on council gives that body more credence. “People know what I think about agriculture and are familiar with tight budgets like council faces.”

“On our own farm, we started flood irrigating,” he said. “We moved to modern irrigation systems, including high pressure systems to the more modern low-pressure, drop nozzle pivots.” He said the province continues to spend on irrigation modernization, but irrigation farmers have also dipped heavily into investment spending to upgrade technology and water application efficiency. He said early pumps with early pivots needed to produce 80 pounds of water pressure. Modern pivots can operate with pumps producing 20 pounds of pressure, a major energy savings. Technology advances are not slowing, said Brewin. Those changes come year to year, and farmers are among the quickest adopters of those technologies.

wo men with long ties to southern Alberta’s irrigation industry are the newest members of Alberta Irrigation Council. Herb Wall of Coaldale and Brian Brewin of Grassy Lake bring generational experience to the council table. Herb follows by several years his father George Wall who sat on council, while Brian’s uncle Jack Brewin served as chairman of St. Mary River Irrigation District for years.

He appreciates the dispute solving mechanism of council, although most issues are settled before an official council panel intervenes. While he sits on that panel, he can’t get involved in a crisis, remaining objective because the panel’s decision is final. “All farmers really want is a just court.”

Being a good listener is vital, he said. Irrigation runs the gamut of the most modern districts in the world to more primitive irrigation areas like the small districts in the deep southwest corner of Alberta. Respect for all irrigators and irrigation districts are vital, said Wall. “We have to remember where much of irrigation’s water starts, and to irrigators in those areas, that water is also important.

Many great-grandfathers of producers in those small districts dug the first ditches with a spade.”

Brewin, also reeve of the Municipal District of Taber, farms only irrigated land with his brother, and hopes the next generation of Brewins is on the way. Brewin said his first impression when he joined council was the opportunity to have input for good work for irrigation districts and producers. “When I got on council was the first time I really recognized the economic importance water has,” he said. His improved overview also raised the potential effects of water rationing and what many perhaps hold of a perception of an unlimited water supply. “I know now the importance of water

Brewin has seen the evolution of technology, both at the district and on-farm levels.

He feels the partnership in spending with the province and producers on the drive to continued efficiency gains holds the key to helping feed the growing world population.

“I think the future of farming and irrigation is in good shape for generations to come,” said Brewin.

Herb Wall - Coaldale

Brian Brewin - Grassy Lake

Irrigation COUNCIL Function What is the Alberta Irrigation Council: To support the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development by providing relevant advice and regulatory administration for irrigation sustainability.

What are Council’s functions: • Making recommendations to the Minister respecting any matter under the Irrigation Districts Act, • Monitoring the operation and financial performance of the thirteen irrigation districts, • Granting Approval for irrigation districts to spend money under a cost-sharing agreement between the district and the Government of Alberta, • Acting as an appeal body for matters specified in the Act.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 15

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 16

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 17

Jim CSABAY A

working life in southern Alberta’s irrigated agriculture has given way to family, volunteer service in foreign lands and application of years of knowledge on the land where needed.

Jim Csabay sold his irrigated land in the Readymade area and is in the process of narrowing down his homestead he plans to call home until called to a higher place.

Csabay can’t remember a time he didn’t have dirt in his fingernails. Born close to Temple Hill district in the Raymond area where his grandfather brought his Hungarian heritage to Canada in 1926, he benefited partly because his family operated a small-irrigated farm in Hungary, and sugar beets were a staple crop.

The family moved to Readymade in 1948, and one of the big advantages was being the first producer on the local ditch, and there was no need for water rotation. The Raymond sugar beet contract followed the family, and Csabay got his first taste of moving canvasses for flood irrigation at nine years.

He started farming on his own in 1960.

He ended up farming seven quarters.

His rotation was sugar beets, alfalfa, soft wheat, malt barley and durum wheat. He attended meetings with his father, starting with beet growers. His ability to speak his mind caught the attention of famous sugar beet leader Lalovee Jensen who suggested he seek nomination for the sugar beet board where he represented the Tempest district for many years.

He followed all the ups and downs of the industry through his central board activities, but in 1987 three neighbours signed nomination papers for him to seek a board position with the St. Mary River Irrigation District. He succeeded Norm Ober on that board. He served nine three-year terms, all but the last won by acclamation. He moved to chairman in 1997, following Peter Langemann.

Memories flood over Csabay from those years, but the highlight the severe drought of 2001, a year when the traditional water allocation of first in time, first in right, was set aside to give all producers equal access to limited water. That limitedtime policy astounded foreign interests partly because there was no court action against the water-sharing deal.

Csabay also served on the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association, the umbrella organization for all 13 irrigation districts, for 27 years. He also sat on the Canadian Water Resources Association, Alberta division, for 12 years, and

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 18

represented Canada at a number of international conferences.

Csabay congratulates southern Alberta’s major irrigation districts for policies of spending to modernize water distribution systems and matching spending and support from producers. The result has been expanded irrigated acreage while districts have been able to reduce water use to benefit society. “The technical management of water has never been better,” he said. “In fact, a lot of technical development has been in southern Alberta, and much of it has been exported.”

Csabay plans to help a granddaughter in her service work in foreign lands for a few years. He will apply his irrigated agriculture expertise to help farmers boost food production.

He also wants to launch work in public relations, mostly to help the water sector spread the good story far and wide.

Forage Pollinator Agreement T

he Canadian Forage and Grassland has reached a cooperative agreement with Pollinator Partners Canada to achieve mutual goals in pollinator conservation on the Canadian agricultural landscape.

“Promoting biodiversity conservation and collaborative stewardship practices is good for pollinators and recognizes the value agriculture producers make to providing healthy landscapes,” said Chad Anderson, CFGA Environment Committee Co-chair. “It fits well with the CFGA’s role in advocating for sustainable management practices and promotes awareness of the significant role grasslands and forages play in shaping a diverse and sustainable landscape.”

“We are at risk of losing the species that bring us one of every three bites of food we eat and that pollinate over 70 per cent of the plants in our landscapes,” said Vicki Wojcik, Research Director at Pollinator Partnership Canada. “The agricultural

community is our strongest partner in helping to maintain pollinator populations where we need them most.”

“About 70 million acres of Canada’s agricultural land is grassland used for livestock grazing and forage production.

These acres including natural grassland, support biodiversity and provide pollinator-beneficial habitat,” said Peg Strankman, CFGA Environment Committee.

The Pollinator Partnership Canada is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to protect and restore populations of pollinator species. As the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to the preservation of the birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, and bats, it plays a key role in preserving terrestrial ecosystems, promoting agricultural productivity, and enhancing local communities through pollinator-centered work.

“The agricultural community is our strongest partner in helping to maintain pollinator populations where we need them most.”

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 19

Net Wrap Bale Issues While there are advantages to using net wrap versus twine when making bales, net wrap can potentially be a hazard.

“B

ales made with net wrap tend to shed rain better than those made with twine,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist, Alberta Ag-Info Centre, Stettler. “It’s been reported that bales stored outdoors unprotected from the weather can have eight per cent less shrink or dry matter loss over the first year of storage when they are made with net wrap compared to twine,” Yaremcio says in an Alberta Agriculture Agrinews release. “The time required to ‘tie’ 2,500 bales with twine could be more than 35 hours longer as compared to net wrap, but the cost of the net wrap could be $1,500 more than the twine.”

This situation was the most severe case reported as it involved dead animals. Less severe cases can also occur where the twine or net wrap trapped in the rumen can potentially reduce voluntary feed intake without the person doing the feeding noticing any problems. “With the cold hard winter last year, body condition of many cows was less than ideal,” says Yaremcio. “Was the drop in condition due to the weather or was it partly due to the cows not able to eat as much feed as normal because of plastic taking up space in the rumen?”

There are also potential downsides to using net wrap when feeding or bedding cattle.

“Does one make the hay as quickly as possible using net wrap and then worry about feeding later?” asks Yaremcio. “If a bale shredder is used and the concern of net wrap staying in the rumen is bothersome, what is an efficient way to remove plastic twine or net wrap from the bales prior to feeding?”

“In the June 5 edition of the Western Producer, an article written

by Dr. John Campbell from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon discusses potential problems and hazard of cows consuming net wrap and twine,” says Yaremcio. “The article looks at cow deaths that occurred on a Saskatchewan farm but this situation could easily occur on any farm that uses net wrap or plastic twine.”

In the article, Dr. Campbell indicates that the deaths occurred on a wellmanaged farm. The cows that died were in good condition and close to the start of the calving season. No symptoms of ill health were noted prior to the sudden deaths.

The article says that when the dead cows were evaluated visually, the rumen appeared to be very large. After the post-mortem was done, the rumen was found to be full of feed and a “large mass of bale net wrap that appeared to have obstructed the outflow of the rumen.” Dr. Campbell surmises that the pressure from a full rumen and the cow being near calving resulted in severe pressure being put on the lungs, restricting the ability to breathe.

As a result, the animals suffocated to death.

“In this case, the bales were delivered to the feeding area by bale processor,” says Yaremcio. “The processor did not tear apart the net wrap adequately to allow the plastic to flow through the cows’ digestive system without problems.”

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 20

The question is whether or not to use net wrap this year.

Oliver Irrigation Taber • (403) 223-1170 Lethbridge • (403) 328-9999

Academy Services Brooks • (403) 362-5133

C & H Irrigation Medicine Hat • (403) 526-3294

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 21

Potato Booth Ag Expo Ag Expo provides a forum for agriculture, and this year, Rence Rozendaal of Hays took his turn at the Potato Growers of Alberta booth.

The booth featured some of the potato variety standards and some many had never seen.

Awareness of the scope of the industry for farmers and the general public was the goal of the booth.

Photo by Ric Swihart

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 22

Spud Update

A

multi-stakeholder approach to advancing the potato industry in Alberta enables growers to have disease free seed varieties available to deal with potential virulent diseases, a changing climate, greater processor demands and varied consumer needs.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Agriculture & AgriFood Canada, Potato Growers of Alberta and private seed companies work together to ensure Alberta potato growers have the best seed varieties at their disposal to maximize their chances of success.

“The Alberta Seed Potato Repository has a collection of 300 unique potato varieties/lines maintained in tissue culture,” Tina Lewis, research technologist at ARD, says in a news story. The mini plants, or “plantlets” stored in the repository (the only provincially run repository west of Ontario) are disease free because ARD closely adheres to the regulations set out by the CFIA.

of the private varieties have improved disease resistance, processing qualities or unique culinary characteristics.

Permission must be received from the agent, prior to the release of these varieties to any private potato labs.

There are seven main private companies and another eight growers, companies or breeders that are agents of the private varieties that are maintained at the Crop Diversification Centre North (CDC North). The public varieties are older varieties such as Russet Burbank, Norland and include garden varieties that never had protection or are no longer protected and can therefore be requested and propagated by any nuclear seed grower. Russet Burbank is still the No.1 processing variety and other older public varieties continue to be important especially for seed purchased by home gardeners.

Currently, the repository is run on a partial cost recovery basis.

Growers or agents are charged a fee for the tissue culture plantlets they request which covers the cost of disease testing, supplies and some labour costs.

These regulations include best lab management practices and annual lab testing of distributed varieties. The testing is for a number of viruses, viroids and bacterial ring rot. Any new varieties received by the laboratory must also go through a testing procedure before they can become part of the bank.

“ARD provides service to industry agents and growers ensuring varieties are readily available on a first-come, first served basis. Due to our proximity to several lab operators, ARD can more safely supply the stock material especially in winter,” Lewis said.

Of the 300 unique lines in the provincial bank, 75 per cent are private with the rest being public. The private varieties are newer imported varieties or recently developed ones through breeding in Canada, which have an owner or agent. Many

ARD also advises lab operators on concerns with regard to tissue culture production. In addition, all distributed varieties are checked annually for trueness-to-type through a greenhouse grow-out in the summer.

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Alfalfa Water Use Water Use Efficiency of Irrigated and Dryland Type Alfalfa Cultivars Under Southern Alberta Conditions Jeremiah Attram and Jim Thomas1, Surya Acharya2, and Shelley Woods3 1University of Lethbridge; 2AAFC, Lethbridge; 3ARD, Lethbridge

I

n semiarid Southern Alberta, irrigation water is at a premium and so is the water use efficiency of crops.

To determine the effect of irrigation treatments on the yield and water use efficiency of alfalfa cultivars developed for irrigated and dryland areas of western Canada, a field study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 at Lethbridge and Picture Butte.

The irrigated cultivars (Longview and BlueJ) and dryland cultivars (Rangelander and Rambler) were arranged in plots as in a randomized complete blocked design with five

replications. The four irrigation treatments were field capacity (W1), 75 per cent (W2), 50 per cent (W3) and 25 per cent (W4) of the volume of water applied to plots at field capacity.

Mean forage yields were higher at Lethbridge – 10.149 kilogram per hectare1 in both years compared to 6,214 kgha1 for Butte in 2012. Irrigated alfalfa cultivars out-yielded dryland types in both locations, although among irrigated types the performance was not consistent.

The low water treatment (W4) resulted in low yield at both locations. Mean water use efficiency calculated using total forage yield ranged between 7.44 and 20.25 kgha-1mm-1 for years and locations. The area use efficiency was higher for W4 compared to other treatments in 2013 but, in 2012 W3 and W4 were similar and they were different from W1. The efficiency for W1 and W2 were similar for all cultivars in 2012 at Lethbridge, although the means were higher for irrigated cultivars. In 2013, the water use efficiencies for W2 were higher than W1 although in all cases the differences were not significant.

For Picture Butte, no clear trend was noticed. Considering the forage yield and water use efficiency it was concluded that alfalfa cultivars developed for irrigated areas could be irrigated at 75 per cent of the amount required at field capacity, with 50 per cent depletion of available water at the root zone without incurring yield loss.

Acharya said a goal is to develop a new alfalfa variety research program that will result in varieties with higher water use efficiency. That would allow producers to grow higher volumes of alfalfa with the same volume of water used in a season.

The research project also pointed out the value of a four-year alfalfa rotation – after the reduced first-year crop establishment production, higher production the following three years would be the goal. That would allow the deep-rooted alfalfa crops to use the soil nutrients and soil moisture deeper in the soils usual. Returning to cereal production on the same land for the next few years would allow producers to take advantage of soil nitrogen fixed by alfalfa while allowing a build-up of deeper soil nutrients and moisture levels before a return to alfalfa production.

Acharya said that would allow optimum production with less irrigation water – freeing up water for other industries or for producers to expand irrigation on their own farms without demanding addition water supplies.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 24

AIPA Edith Vanderpuye The Alberta government wanted to know what Albertans think about water so it asked...

E

Edith Vanderpuye of Edmonton, a section head for Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said the province presented Albertans with four major topics in a series of 20 public meetings that drew 1,000 people – healthy lakes, hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas discovery relating to water, drinking water and wastewater systems and water management. It also held stakeholder discussions that attracted 250 more.

Vanderpuye said a longer-term vision reaching out more than five years was developed.

It included: • Healthy lakes – a provincial policy that supports an integrated approach to healthy lakes in support of economic, environmental and social interests.

• Drinking water and wastewater – develop options for watershed and regional focused approaches to support sustainable management.

• Hydraulic fracturing – advance an integrated, sub-regional approach providing assurance that water supply and quality are safe and secure.

• Water management—optimize water management systems by taking actions on both water demand and supply sides, and enhancing overall system clarity.

She said the province plans to take quick action where feasible, but also to continue dialogue with the public. It promises to seek government approval when policy options are ready.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 25

Test Hay Quality

T

est hay and win is a message from John McGregor, Extension Support, Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association.

Pointing to the Hay and Forage Grower, McGregor said there is at least three good reasons producers should analyze forages.

“Test results provide quick feedback as to how successful you were in making quality hay,” he said. Even with the Green Gold Program providing information on when to cut your alfalfa, many times the weather and other uncontrollable factors like equipment breakdowns, can spoil the best intentions.

Forage testing indicates how far from the goal the hay quality is and provides some perspective on how much rain or maturity impacted forage quality. Many times the results exceed expectations.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 26

He said identifying high-quality hay early could help make storage decisions. If limited shelter is available, the best hay needs to be in the driest spot.

And correctly matching hay and cow needs is the most efficient and least costly method of feeding cows through the winter.

“Without forage analysis, additional feed can be provided needlessly,” he said.

Jamie WUITE Jamie Wuite loves water.

W

hile it might not be flowing through his veins, the new executive director of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s irrigation and farm water division has simply expanded his perspectives on the resource.

Prior to succeeding Brent Paterson late in 2013, Wuite was head of one of the division’s four branches.

A University of Calgary grad in aquatic studies, Wuite worked in the private sector in the Fort McMurray oil sands industry. He studied natural water flows before drilling exploration and after oil reclamation. He worked for a small company, WER Engineering and later, Agra Earth and Environmental, which became part of AMEC. In 1997, Alberta Agriculture called for his expertise in a new research project to study ways to remove wastes from water before it is released into streams and rivers. Swift Current is using such a system today.

In his new position, Wuite will continue with a strong support for irrigation, but plans to take a closer look at farm water concerns right across the province.

For instance, farmers in the Peace River area depend on dugouts for livestock. Snowmelt runoff is the major source of water since good ground water supplies are limited in most of that region.

He plans to implement improved management plans to help producers safeguard the quality of surface water to limit water treatment demands later.

He also wants to help irrigation farmers navigate through land use planning rules and any new regulations that may be developed.

“If irrigation farmers don’t know, we will help answer their questions,” he said. “Water quality will always be key for irrigation. Farmers must have security about water quality to grow their crops.”

While water quality is also important for Alberta’s greenhouse industry, the volume used in that sector pales beside fieldscale irrigated agriculture.

That is why Wuite looks for his water quality branch, headed

by Andrea Kalischuk, to continue its research priorities. Some of that works includes looking for microbiology traces in water, determining where they come from and how to safeguard the water.

Roger Holm is in charge of the basin water management issues in another branch, and Rod Bennett heads up the irrigation management branch. Wuite is still seeking his successor for the farm water branch.

Wuite and his wife Susan have two daughters, Lauren, 8, and Claire, 6. His passion aside from family and work is his motorcycle, which he rides around Canada, making reservoirs and dams a major stop on many trips.

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IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 27

Montana Law Court Irrigation T

he following information about a water law situation in Montana is a summary of an article “Water Wars” printed in the Sunday, April 21, 2013 copy of the Tribune out of Great Falls, Montana, authored by David Murray, Tribune Staff Writer.

By the 1880s persons could obtain rights to divert water to irrigate land in Montana. A number of irrigation projects sprang up in the Conrad area to water pasture and hay land and some crops. One such project was constructed and operated by Henry Ryan and Jacob Lauffer in 1887. Ryan and Lauffer diverted water from Birch Creek into a ditch they had constructed, which took the water to their fields. The passage of the Carry Act of 1894, also called the Federal Dessert Land Act, allowed companies to develop irrigation systems and then sell water rights to settlers. The availability of water was a key factor in attracting settlers to an area. The usefulness of a reservoir to supply water later into the season was well known, so Lake Frances was constructed in 1902 and Swift Dam in 1912. In 1953, ownership of several hundred miles of ditches and these two reservoirs came to reside with the Pondera County Canal and Reservoir Co. (hereafter for brevity given as Pondera or Pondera Company) Persons joining the Pondera company would pay for shares, each share being enough water for one acre. An annual maintenance and delivery fee was also paid to keep the irrigation system operating. In time, the land belonging to Ryan and Lauffer was purchased by Gene and Cheryl Curry. Gene did not turn his water rights over to the Pondera company but did continue to receive some water through Pondera’s works for the land he had acquired. The headgate that controlled the flow of water to Gene Curry’s land was owned and operated

by Pondera. Curry did not think he got the full amount of water that he was entitled to. Both he and the company tried to assert their rights, Curry going so far as to use a backhoe

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 28

to dam off a stream, and Pondera going so far as to padlock the turnout to Curry’s property. The Curry’s took Pondera to court. The judge determined that each had the right to the same amount of water, i.e., equal water volumes. In his study of the situation, the Judge also found that the Pondera Co. had not filed papers as required by the Montana Water Use Act, which was passed in 1973, requiring the recording and filing of all changes of delivery points and parcels irrigated with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Changes to the water deliveries were thereby registered and made official. The judge found that Pondera had not filed anything since the 1973 law was passed, so any Pondera shares sold or changes made to shares after 1973 were of no effect. The judge also questioned Pondera’s right to store water in the reservoirs, Lake Frances and behind Swift Dam. These rulings impacted many irrigators who had acquired shares in the company after 1973, and impacted many farm families.

Seventy percent of water rights in Montana do not have a piece of paper, i.e., official documentation. These water rights are what is referred to as historical water rights. In 1979 the State of Montana created a Water Court system to sort out the almost 219,000 water right claims in Montana, a long and tedious process.

Water law in Alberta has some complexity, but the rules of water allocation and the documentation of who has rights to allocated water is much more clear in Alberta than in much of the western United States.

[Here is a bit of the history of the evolution of the Water Act --The Federal Northwest Irrigation Act of 1894 established a prior allocation system of water allocation, or the First in Time, First in Right system used in Alberta to determine priority of licences. In 1914, the Provincial Irrigation Districts Act was passed. This Act provided the framework for the formation of quasi-municipal organizations, namely irrigation districts, like farmer cooperatives that could enter in agreements and borrow funds to develop irrigation projects. In 1930 administration of natural resources was transferred from federal control to the Province of Alberta. The following year, the Water Resources Act was passed by the Provincial legislature establishing much of the water regulations in effect today. An upgraded version of the Act, allowing the transfer of water licences, amongst other changes, was passed in 1999 and governs the allocation of water in Alberta today.]

In Alberta, the government owns all the water. The question of ownership is simple and that is settled. The allocation of the right to use that water is up to government as guided by legislation and policy. The right to use water is obtained by an individual, community, corporation, or other entity from the Government of Alberta through an application process. A priority number is given to all applications received based on the date and time the application was received in the licence issuing office.

An earlier priority number in Alberta’s prior allocation system gives prior rights to the licensee with the earliest priority number – hence the term “First In Time, First in Right.” This priority system encouraged land and business development because those who had prior rights had more security and less risk than those who acquired water rights at some later time. In order for a licence to be granted, the applicant had to show that they had the means (necessary infrastructure or equipment) to use the water for some beneficial purpose, as designated in the licence application. Water had to be used within a specific timeframe and continue to be used for the specified purpose or the licence could be cancelled by the government. This prevented speculative acquisition of water rights.

A water licence does not guarantee water to anyone, but gives them the right to divert water if the amount of water is adequate and the conditions of the licence are met. The license states the purpose of use of the water, the point (land

location) of diversion, the rate of delivery, restrictions on timing and amount of the diversion, and any other conditions seen fit by the government at the time of the granting of the licence. Newer licences, for example, have an expiry date, and some require a specific amount of return flow coming back to the water body once the water is used for its purpose.

When a piece of land is sold, the licence remains with the land unless the licence is officially transferred, or the licence is cancelled due to lack of use or some other infringement of licence conditions.

If inadequate water is available to a licensee to meet the licenced amount because others are diverting water upstream of the licensee’s diversion point, a licensee can call priority on a junior licence holder who is diverting the water upstream.

Any action pursued as a result of priority being called is administered by staff of AESRD, the licence grantor on behalf of the Province of Alberta.

AESRD has a database of all water licences, which is also publically available. All licences are registered with the Government of Alberta.

So, in Alberta, the ownership of the water is known, and the person or entity with the first rights to the water is known. The conditions of the licence are also known. It is worthy of note, that there are very few water lawyers in Alberta because the rules are quite clear and the records documenting licenses are well kept and readily available.

So in the case of Curry and Pondera, one would look up the water licences and see who has the earliest priority number, i.e, first right to the water. At a time when there is inadequate water to meet both parties’ needs, the licensee holding the earliest (senior) priority could contact Alberta Environment & SRD to call priority on the junior priority licence holder.

After Investigating the situation AESRD staff might rule that the senior licensee was not getting adequate water and the junior priority licensee would be required to stop diversion of water. Whenever water was in excess of the amount needed by the senior priority licence holder, the junior licence holder could be given permission to again divert water, assuming the conditions of the junior licence could be met. This process of taking water first and second would be overseen and directed by staff of AESRD, the Department that administers water licences in Alberta, not the affected parties.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 29

Pulse Advances Pulse Advances -484

A

griculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Market Access report highlights significant achievements on a number of issues that are critical to Canada’s pulse industry. “It is not surprising that pulses are featured prominently in the report”, says David Nobbs, chair of Pulse Canada. “The pulse industry has faced significant market access problems in the past year and we have made significant progress. We now have to turn our attention to the problems that continue to reduce returns to Canadian farmers.”

Achievements like the removal of the maximum limit for selenium in foods imported by China, the establishment of a tentative protocol to deal with phytosanitary requirements for pea exports to India, and the implementation of the CanadaColombia FTA are all important milestones for Canada’s pulse industry. “The challenges that lay ahead will require concerted government action to see progress,” he says. “Tariff and quota restrictions continue to hamper exports from Canada’s pulse industry, while transportation challenges and nontariff barriers at home and abroad are adding costs that are being borne by Canadian farmers.” Tariff parity and access to import quotas to match those of Canada’s export competitors remain at the top of the pulse industry priority list. For example, the Canada-Morocco free trade agreement needs to be negotiated and implemented as quickly as possible.

Under current conditions, the US has enjoyed a 30 per cent tariff advantage on peas and a 2.8 per cent advantage on lentils since 2012. With no agreement in place, this tariff disadvantage quickly grows to 50 per cent. Non-tariff barriers are just as disruptive.

Governments around the world handle plant quarantine restrictions and maximum residue limits for pesticides differently. The Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency has shown leadership in joint reviews. “Canada must work with global regulators to harmonize approaches to health and environmental protection while ensuring that processes are science-based and recognize the impact on risk to trade”, he says. More specifically, Codex does not have tolerances in place for many products, yet many importing nations rely on Codex to set maximum levels for pesticide residues on products they import. The resulting lack of clarity could impact Canada’s trade.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 30

Pulse Canada is asking the Government of Canada to ensure that PMRA has adequate resources and a leadership commitment to improve the efficiency and global coordination of new registrations and establishment of maximum pesticide levels. “A reliable transportation supply chain is a third critical element for market access success,” Nobbs says.

The government must move quickly to implement all of the components of the announcement made on March 18 regarding the Rail Freight Service Review. “A competitive export sector is built around market access.” Addressing tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers and transportation challenges is a way to maximize value while reducing the costs that are borne by farmers.

Pulse Canada is the national association representing growers, traders and processors of Canadian pulse crops (peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas).

Drury on Water Storage

This puts floods in a different perspective, Ric.

I

rrigation needs a certain amount of water every year.

Some years, like 2013, produce so much water floods become a major financial crisis, and even irrigation farmers were impacted.

Nobody has found a way to control Mother Nature, but at least one plan for one river basin has been proposed.

Roger Drury of Calgary, a water management official for TransAlta Utilities, has seen floods close up for years.

TransAlta operates several reservoirs upstream from Calgary to assure continued electricity production from mountain runoff, the same source vital to irrigation water supplies in southern Alberta.

Drury told the 2013 Alberta Irrigation Projects Association increased water storage in the reaches of the Bow River is

the answer to prevent the massive flood damage in Calgary.

Effective storage alternatives must focus on downstream reaches.

But to be effective, any water storage capacity through new or expanded reservoirs must be left empty in order to capture flood water before it can do damage. He pointed to the Ghost Reservoir on the Bow River which has a storage capacity of 50,000 acre feet. That reservoir could be expanded and still two more reservoirs with similar capacity would be needed.

He calculates flood prevention reservoirs for the Bow River must be able to store up to 135,000 acre feet of water. That compares to the Oldman River Dam which has a storage capacity of 400,000 acre feet.

IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 31

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IRRIGATING ALBERTA - Fall 2014 • 32