Droughtproofing the Economy - AGRIVISION

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GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT TO HELP CREATE AND MAINTAIN JOBS IN IRRIGATION INDUSTRY

http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=628a65 ... 2546a193bc

News Release - January 18, 2010

Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, and Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister and MLA for Rosetown-Elrose Jim Reiter, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud, announced additional federal and provincial support to strengthen economic opportunities in the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District (SSRID), Riverhurst Irrigation District and Luck Lake Irrigation District.

"We know that these irrigation districts have been attempting to expand for several years," said Yelich. "That's why our government made the initial investment in these three projects. With today's increased funding, we can further assist our producers by creating jobs and maintaining employment both on and off the farm."

These projects are expanding irrigation capacity by 15,000 acres in the SSRID, Riverhurst and Luck Lake Irrigation Districts.

"The Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the value of these irrigation projects to our agriculture industry, and to Saskatchewan's overall economy," Reiter said. "We are pleased to work together with our partners and provide the necessary funding to make these projects a success."

The additional funding for these projects will go toward hiring of engineering consultants to design the irrigation distribution works and contractors to install the pumps, pipelines and power lines. The individual irrigation districts will oversee the purchase and installation of the works to service their respective projects.

Additional federal funding of $810,000, for a total of $5.58 million, is being provided under the Community Adjustment Fund. This includes $1.71 million each toward the SSRID and Riverhurst Irrigation District projects and $2.16 million for the Luck Lake Irrigation District. The Government of Saskatchewan is contributing an additional $90,000 to these projects, resulting in a total provincial contribution of $190,000 each to the Riverhurst and SSRID Districts and $240,000 to the Luck Lake Irrigation District.

"Irrigation, water management, sustainability, rural development all comes hand in hand in our district," SSRID Vice-Chair Greg Sommerfeld said. "Challenge this with the cost of infrastructure and economic feasibility of expansion projects and you have what South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District #1 has been faced with since receiving initial funding from Western Diversification. This additional funding will assist us in adding new irrigation acres to our district, as well it has reinforced the demand for continual expansion of irrigation acres."

"We all know that if farmers are given one dollar they will spend two," Riverhurst Irrigation District Chair Lorne Jackson said. "We are thankful the Community Adjustment Fund has provided more funding, as our plans exceeded the first allotment. We are pleased to have received both federal and provincial funding for use in our area. The money spent on job creation helps infill our irrigation district."

"Luck Lake Irrigation District appreciates the continued support of the federal and provincial governments for a vital industry in the Lake Diefenbaker area," Luck Lake Irrigation District Vice-Chair Randy Bergstrom said. "The increased funding will enable the District to complete construction of our infill initiative which will be completed by March, 2011. Construction of the project creates short term jobs, and intensified irrigation creates long term employment in the Lake Diefenbaker area."

The fund will provide $306 million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

Visit the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) in the West or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information.

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Mysak
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-975-5942

Jenna Webb
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-2359
Email: jenna.webb@gov.sk.ca

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Harper and Wall Governments Make Investment to Create and Maintain Jobs in Saskatchewan Irrigation Districts

http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_11395.asp

News Releases June 25, 2009 Outlook, Saskatchewan
Corresponding Document: Speech

The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification and the Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister, announced joint federal – provincial funding to help expand and strengthen economic opportunities in the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District (SSRID), Riverhurst Irrigation District and Luck Lake Irrigation District.

These projects will expand irrigation capacity by 15,000 acres in the SSRID, Riverhurst and Luck Lake Irrigation Districts. The resulting expansions will create 60 long-term jobs and 20 to 22 short-term jobs, while also sustaining 223 jobs across the three districts.

“Today’s expansion will create more opportunities for our producers and our processors,” said Minister of State Yelich. “Our Government wants to help create and maintain jobs on and off the farm and this investment will do just that so our region can emerge from this challenging time prosperous and stronger than ever.”

“Irrigation is key to the success and growth of our agriculture industry in Saskatchewan,” Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. “We are pleased to provide this funding, as well as technical assistance from our Ministry, to help develop these projects, expand our irrigation industry and create employment opportunities in our province.”

“This is absolutely great news. Our irrigation district has been attempting to expand for several years, and were almost ready to show significant growth until the financial crisis hit,” said Grant Pederson, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for SSRID. “This grant will provide the needed capital to assist us to boost our irrigated acres and provide long-term sustainable growth in our community.”

“This funding will help our district further irrigation plans and provide irrigation to younger farmers to develop their land,” said Dale Ewan Vice Chair of Riverhurst District. “In the future, the community hopes to attract agricultural industries.”

“The community sees a great benefit from irrigation,” said Roy King Chairman for the Luck Lake Irrigation District. “Increasing the acreage of irrigated farmland gives more people an opportunity to see these benefits.”

Funding for these projects will go towards hiring contractors to design and construct the distribution works and install pipelines and associated materials for water delivery. The individual Irrigation Districts will oversee the purchase and installation of power grids and pumps to service their respective project areas.

Total federal funding of $4.77 million is being provided under the Community Adjustment Fund. This includes $1.44 million for both the SSRID and Riverhurst Irrigation District project and $1.89 million for the Luck Lake Irrigation District. The Government of Saskatchewan is contributing $210,000 to the Luck Lake project and $160,000 each to the Riverhurst and SSRID projects.

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) is a two-year, $1-billion national program that will provide an economic stimulus by supporting projects that create jobs and maintain employment in rural communities.

The fund will provide $306-million over two years to support the most affected western Canadian communities, such as those that are heavily reliant on resource-based industries, for instance forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, and communities that depend on the manufacturing industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is delivering the fund in the four western provinces.

For more information on the Community Adjustment Fund, please visit: http://www.actionplan.gc.ca/.

For additional information, contact:

Joanne Mysak
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Telephone: (306) 975-5942

Jenna Webb
Media Relations Consultant
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Telephone: (306) 787-2359
jenna.webb@gov.sk.ca
www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/
WD Toll-Free Number:1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1 877 303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and keep up-to-date on the latest from WD.

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Backgrounder - Community Adjustment Fund – Irrigation Project Announcements

South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District

Federal - $1,440,000
Provincial - $160,000

The SSRID, Town of Outlook and affected Rural Municipalities of Rudy, Loreburn, Fertile Valley and Rosedale will expand their irrigation capacity by 7,000 acres resulting in 28 long-term jobs and sustaining 105 jobs in the irrigation industry.

Riverhurst Irrigation District

Federal - $1,440,000
Provincial - $160,000

The Riverhurst Irrigation District which includes the Towns of Riverhurst and Central Butte, the RMs of Enfield and Maple Bush, south of Lake Diefenbaker will increase its access to irrigation by 4,000 acres. This project will create 10 to 11 short-term jobs,16 long-term jobs and sustain 59 jobs in an area of the province impacted by Canada’s economic downturn.

Luck Lake Irrigation District

Federal - $1,890,000
Provincial - $210,000

The Luck Lake Irrigation District and affected Towns of Lucky Lake, Birsay and the RMs of Coteau and Canaan will increase its access to irrigation by 4,000 acres. This project will create 10 to 11 short-term jobs, 16 long-term jobs and sustain 59 jobs in an area of the province affected by the loss of over 60 jobs attributed to business closures in the pork industry.


TOTAL PROJECTS: 3
TOTAL FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION: $4,770,000
TOTAL PROVINCIAL CONTRIBUTION: $530,000

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Irrigation Expansion – South Saskatchewan Irrigation District, Riverhurst Irrigation District and Luck Lake Irrigation District Funding Announcement

http://www.wd.gc.ca/eng/82_11408.asp

June 25, 2009 Outlook, Saskatchewan

Check Against Delivery

Notes for an address by The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Funding Announcement

Corresponding Document: News Release (2009-06-25)

Thank you

Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here today on behalf of the Government of Canada.

To begin, I would also like to acknowledge today’s other participants;

Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture
Grant Pederson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for SSRID
To help ensure that Canada emerges from the current recession stronger than ever, our Government has been taking concrete, effective and targeted steps to stimulate and sustain our economy through Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

By June 11… Just 10 weeks into this fiscal year, 80% of our Plan’s funding has been committed and is being implemented across the country.

Today, our absolute priority remains the same: to continue doing everything we can to deliver timely, targeted and affordable support to the Canadian workers, families and businesses who need it most.

The plan includes one initiative in particular, the Community Adjustment Fund – or CAF as it is known. CAF is a $1 billion Canada-wide two-year economic stimulus designed to create jobs and maintain employment in communities hardest hit by the global recession.

The fund supports affected communities right here in Western Canada, such as those that rely on resource-based industries – like forestry, mining, agriculture and fisheries, as well as communities that depend on the manufacturing sector.

It provides a short-term response that will help ensure Canada’s economic strength by creating and maintaining jobs right now, and in the places they’re needed most.

Today, I am pleased to announce, our Government is taking another step towards economic recovery by announcing that three Irrigation Districts in Saskatchewan will receive a total of $4.77 million in Government of Canada funding under CAF.

With this investment, the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District will receive $1.44 million and the Town of Outlook, the Rural Municipalities of Rudy, Loreburn, Fertile Valley and Rosedale on the eastern side of Lake Diefenbaker will expand their irrigation capacity by 7,000 acres.

The Riverhurst Irrigation District will receive $1.44 million and the Towns of Riverhurst and Central Butte, the RMs of Enfield and Maple Bush, south of Lake Diefenbaker will increase its access to irrigation by 4,000 acres.

And finally, the Luck Lake Irrigation District will receive $1.89 million and the Towns of Lucky Lake, Birsay and the RMs of Couteau and Caanan will also be increasing their access to irrigation by 4,000 acres.

This means that we will be creating 60 long-term jobs and sustaining a total of 223 jobs!

It’s a well-known fact that expansions in irrigation in most rural areas attracts investments, increases employment, and creates wealth.

It’s always a challenge to ensure that crops receive the necessary water for healthy growth, but this year reminds us of how difficult it can be when farmers rely entirely on the weather.

Record low rain levels in Saskatchewan and Alberta have many people talking about what could become a devastating drought for the agriculture industry this year. It is hoped that today’s investment will assist communities as they weather the current economic crisis and future drought conditions.

I am proud our Government can help deliver opportunities like this to impacted communities like yours. Investing in projects such as these will help our region withstand the current economic climate.

These projects are just one of many western Canadian initiatives receiving support under CAF. In total, the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, will invest $306 million across the West.

CAF is a key initiative that emphasizes our Government’s commitment to ensuring Canada’s continued economic success at this time of global economic instability.

We will continue to work with the West to strengthen all communities, and help them to remain strong, healthy and resilient for generations to come.

Today’s announcement is about addressing our present challenges and building a better future. And, I am confident that investments such as these will help ensure the West remains strong, because a stronger West means a stronger Canada.

Thank you.

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SIPA: TIME TO IRRIGATE!

Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association - July 2008

http://www.irrigationsaskatchewan.com/S ... gional.pdf

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Lake Diefenbaker Development Area (2008?)

http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Defaul ... 0ba5b479ad

Water

With a large supply of high quality water, soils suitable for irrigation, and favourable growing conditions for many crops, Lake Diefenbaker Development Area (LDDA) has great potential for irrigation expansion and development. Irrigation is an essential component in developing and intensifying crop and animal agriculture on the prairies, with a related benefit to agricultural manufacturing and processing. Lake Diefenbaker Development Area is an administrative boundary encompassing a number of irrigation districts.

MORE: http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Defaul ... 0ba5b479ad