Who is paying Ralph Goodale?????

[jazz]

Irrigation around the world is typically for high value crops, not field crops.

Look at some of the driest areas who brought in irrigation. They aint growing canola. Almonds, g****s, vegetables, etc.

If thats the vision for Canadian ag, then we need a real paradigm shift.

I dont like Ralph but sparking a change in thinking can be useful. Because field crop ag has gone about as far as its going to in the west.

I have to agree his diversion idea from Diefenbaker to increase flow to the chain lakes is a good one.

[Zephyr]

Irrigation around the world is typically for high value crops, not field crops.

Look at some of the driest areas who brought in irrigation. They aint growing canola. Almonds, g****s, vegetables, etc.

If thats the vision for Canadian ag, then we need a real paradigm shift.

I dont like Ralph but sparking a change in thinking can be useful. Because field crop ag has gone about as far as its going to in the west.

I have to agree his diversion idea from Diefenbaker to increase flow to the chain lakes is a good one.

Untrue.

Corn, wheat, brassica all grown under irrigation in the US, Southern Hemisphere, and parts of Europe



The reason usually high value crops are grown under irrigation here is because it's rare to have the infrastructure.


Belittling and discounting irrigation is absolutely foolish.

Irrigation, along with tile, creates massive yield gains and evens production from year to year.

Greater revenue and production benefits the entire food chain and the country as a hole through more Fx.


Unfamiliar with water requirements of lentils... But most crops like wheat canola oats and corn you can almost bank on double the yield of dryland... Not to mention being able to fertigate.


Hay production is another one.... Massive amounts of alfalfa and Timothy is grown under pivot, it's the only way to produce steady, even, high yield crops.

[furrowtickler]

Where irrigation becomes tricky is GDD and crop maturities the farther north you go .
Yes hay crops are a great fit , but earlier season crops with ideal moisture can be tricky when frost free days are very limited, especially now .
Maybe in a few years thing will change as sun spot activity picks back up
Outlook area is generally very good for frost free days and is a fit but I know last year this area had less than 45 frost free days . That’s why irrigation on regular field crops would be very risky for the massive amount of financial investment. Hay , Timothy and certain early season high value crop probably worth the risk

[furrowtickler]

Not saying it won’t work but crop options become much more limited say north of Hwy 16 tgan southern Alberta

[bucket]

Untrue.

Corn, wheat, brassica all grown under irrigation in the US, Southern Hemisphere, and parts of Europe



The reason usually high value crops are grown under irrigation here is because it's rare to have the infrastructure.


Belittling and discounting irrigation is absolutely foolish.

Irrigation, along with tile, creates massive yield gains and evens production from year to year.

Greater revenue and production benefits the entire food chain and the country as a hole through more Fx.


Unfamiliar with water requirements of lentils... But most crops like wheat canola oats and corn you can almost bank on double the yield of dryland... Not to mention being able to fertigate.


Hay production is another one.... Massive amounts of alfalfa and Timothy is grown under pivot, it's the only way to produce steady, even, high yield crops.

If there is massive yield gains then the guys with those massive gains can write the cheques....

If you look at the increase in production over the past 40 years on dryland with better agronomics. .. .. shouldn't dryland farmers be subsidized the same way?


Do the math on putting a pivot to gain an extra 40 bpa ....might as well buy another dryland quarter or two....rather than create more work and ask the taxpayer to subsidize the operation.

[Zephyr]

If there is massive yield gains then the guys with those massive gains can write the cheques....

If you look at the increase in production over the past 40 years on dryland with better agronomics. .. .. shouldn't dryland farmers be subsidized the same way?


Do the math on putting a pivot to gain an extra 40 bpa ....might as well buy another dryland quarter or two....rather than create more work and ask the taxpayer to subsidize the operation.

1.

Highways and rail lines created massive wealth. I guess grain companies should have paid for that infrastructure as opposed to the government building it? Same argument. Irrigation and drainage canals are national infrastructure. It is for the betterment of society and I have no problem with it being paid for with public funds.

2. And production on irrigation has had likewise increases. You doubled dryland they doubled on irrigation, guess what you're producing 40-50 bpa canola and irrigated is running 80-100.


3. That is the most stupid backward hillbilly Saskatchewan logic I've ever heard. While everyone else is advocating producing more from the same or less acres you'd advocating producing less on more acres. Our drill and combine cost per acre is the same wether we do 80 bpa or 40. But the difference between 2000 acres and 4000 is massive.


And yes, we have some irrigated land... And some dry.

Furro, those are good points. We are blessed with 2400-2600 chu here

[bucket]

This idea of feeding the world when the industry euthanizes animals and feed potatoes to cows while funding food banks is flawed....no?

[bucket]

1.

Highways and rail lines created massive wealth. I guess grain companies should have paid for that infrastructure as opposed to the government building it? Same argument. Irrigation and drainage canals are national infrastructure. It is for the betterment of society and I have no problem with it being paid for with public funds.

2. And production on irrigation has had likewise increases. You doubled dryland they doubled on irrigation, guess what you're producing 40-50 bpa canola and irrigated is running 80-100.


3. That is the most stupid backward hillbilly Saskatchewan logic I've ever heard. While everyone else is advocating producing more from the same or less acres you'd advocating producing less on more acres. Our drill and combine cost per acre is the same wether we do 80 bpa or 40. But the difference between 2000 acres and 4000 is massive.


And yes, we have some irrigated land... And some dry.

Furro, those are good points. We are blessed with 2400-2600 chu here

When you write the cheques for the infrastructure cost of putting in a billion dollar project to gain a little .....ROI from the government investment should be what exactly...

They handed a 75 million dollar project over to 20 people and they are still receiving taxpayer funding.

SSRID is getting the 40 dollars for 5 years plus the recently announced 2.8 million for canal rehab. ..

As a private irrigator do you receive that level of support. ..

My bitching is more about the funding than the irrigation itself...

I should have been more clear...

But I also think if they are developing these projects the high value crops should be a prerequisite to funding...that insures the industry finds its way here...

If people just want to grow 100bpa canola and live off taxpayer funding .....it's not sustainable on its own

[furrowtickler]

There are several farms here north that got caught up in the big push to max out fert / herb / fungicide..... going all in . Well the past two years have bankrupted a few and left others teetering bad financially . Meanwhile the input dealers have had a hay day convincing guys to go all in .
These shorter growing seasons , frost in August and snow in September that has decimated yields and crop quality has left many farms in a financial mess .
So to expect others to pay tax dollars to this is wrong when they are financially strapped for zero benefit for their situations.
Tax payers everywhere are being asked or told to pay way more than need be in this country already for others to benefit

[Rareearth]

Funding for tax payer and social benefits

Many, many choices with no ROI that’s measurable
NATO
Who
BL matter
Arts in general
Tar sands
Indigionus issues
Etc

Water is the very foundation of every economy on the globe. Take it away and what’s left?