Who is paying Ralph Goodale?????

[bucket]

Bucket your rants on irrigation’s shows your ignorance . Just because lentils are grown in your area? You mean you couldn’t grow something else? Have you Driven from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat and see the gigantic operations going on there. Maybe it’s you that’s doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. If you want to bring back Industry and people them irrigation is one answer. Can support and family no problem with 640 acres

A billion dollars over 100000 additional irrigation acres is 10000 dollars an acre....

If it so lucrative let those that want to develop it write the cheques. ..and if you are going to support irrigation to that effect....maybe it's time to look at the value dryland farming brings to the table. ..


I won't argue the fact there could be benefits to irrigation and in Alberta it's working.

My complaint is with who gets the bill in Saskatchewan. ...

BTW ...these so called capitalist irrigation wannabe farmers want a government grant to sled their land to find out if it's irrigatable in the first place...
If they can't afford that....pretty good chance they can't afford the 10000 dollar an acre it would cost to develop.

[macdon02]

Apparently CBD oil dropped from $40k/ unit to $800. I don't know if that a gallon or pound or what but that market is totally screwed. I believe Canopy growth has reduced acres down to 300 from 4000~ locally. Don't quote me on the acres last year but it was significantly higher. Lethbridge is not Sask as far as irrigation, much different growing season. I soil sampled around a bunch of frozen shit canola swaths in spring of 05 that were under pivots. Not an every year occurrence I'm sure but there's a difference in growing season, carrots maybe? Idk.

[Oliver88]

How is the Alberta irrigation infrastructure, maintenance and operating costs financed?

Bucket, is there an unfair subsidy in southern Alberta or is this a good model to copy?

[bucket]

How is the Alberta irrigation infrastructure, maintenance and operating costs financed?

Bucket, is there an unfair subsidy in southern Alberta or is this a good model to copy?

Southern Alberta irrigation has had plenty of government money thrown at it....it's the capitalist way

[Hamloc]

Bucket your rants on irrigation’s shows your ignorance . Just because lentils are grown in your area? You mean you couldn’t grow something else? Have you Driven from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat and see the gigantic operations going on there. Maybe it’s you that’s doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. If you want to bring back Industry and people them irrigation is one answer. Can support and family no problem with 640 acres

One thought I have Vvalk is there the capacity to export the additional crops that would be produced? Increasing the amount produced imo is not the problem, getting better value for what is produced is. I still grow yellow peas as an example, but a very limited amount as it is very hard on equipment. Really needs to be over $10 a bushel to be worth the wear and tear, just my opinion. I realize irrigation is a benefit where available but to have Ralph Goodale promoting it makes me want to laugh and puke at the same time, sorry not a fan.

[bucket]

The funny thing about Ralph is that he was in government and was pretty quiet about even starting these projects....now he is an expert? ?????

[bucket]

Bucket your rants on irrigation’s shows your ignorance . Just because lentils are grown in your area? You mean you couldn’t grow something else? Have you Driven from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat and see the gigantic operations going on there. Maybe it’s you that’s doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. If you want to bring back Industry and people them irrigation is one answer. Can support and family no problem with 640 acres

I highlight your comment about gigantic operations because more than likely there is government money in it....

And if there is always government money in it......it doesnt pass the litmus test for being self sustaining....


25 years ago I was at a SIPA meeting and was told if you are growing wheat or canola under a pivot its not a money maker...

Sure 60 BPA canola looks good under a pivot....guys up at Kamsack do that on dryland. And I don't think they are getting 40 dollars an acre plus their infrastructure built for them...

If people want to do irrigation ....great....just get out your cheque book....not mine through taxes.....

The other reason I complain is that there are plenty of private irrigators that have spent their own money...look at those guys along the Milk River that have been told no water this year....they are getting no instant infrastructure money to rebuild a structure that should only take a week to rebuild...


Or guys that have invested to irrigate out of named lakes that are essentially sloughs refilled by spring runoffs or rains....there is no equal 40 dollars an acre for 5 years for them to maintain or improve their systems that were not built by the government...

You see my point...

As for being ignorant....Really.... I don't think so....you would be surprised with what I might be able to tell you about operating pivots....I don't speak with no experience on the subject.....unlike Ralph.

[furrowtickler]

Ralph needs to go away already lol
But reality is there is virtually no one in the liberal party with much real experience, that Ralph does have . But everyone has their day , his time has come and gone but keeps coming back like a wood tick to suck free blood from the taxpayer .
I agree Bucket , he had his chance , for many years to get involved but hated farmers . Now he is an expert behind this irrigation project ... lol
Like bo bo the Ag minister , has a garden and is the federal Ag minster ... what a circus we have .
And yes Ritz was no better , an Ostrich hobby farmer that made some very poor decisions

[bucket]

What is really funny and odd is that Ralph got his opinion in the Western Producer....wasn't he an AG minister at one time?????

While some may think Ralph has some experience....his only credentials are living off the taxpayers for some 40 years....

As far as this file on irrigation goes....he knows nothing....just repeating what he is told....he has no critical thinking skills.

[Rareearth]

Saskatchewan is one of the driest grains producing areas in the world, less annual rain fall than Arizona- a desert.

You certainly bring forward interesting perspectives and points Bucket, but it does raise other questions:
- assuming the irrigators are neighbours of yours?
- you don’t have any irrigation opportunities (or owned land)in the irrigation project area ?
- your feuding with neighbours for some reason over the past years ?

It’s difficult to believe that so many ag regions around the world rely on irrigation and related infrastructure / industry and that its bad, costly, not necessary, etc., has to be hundreds of millions of acres around the world.
The doom and gloom Saskatchewan perspective is persistent. It seems the younger generation has discovered Lake Diefenbaker after 50 years of socialism.

Looking forward 50 years, with such infrastructure is wow! I guess I’m a dreamer, but I think a realest as well.

Perhaps turning highways to gravel roads, makes a lot of sense as well. Centralization of schools and hospitals, etc

Not a Ralph fan at all, but it doesn’t mean that he isn’t right on this.