The Globe and Mail - Thin snowpack in mountains of Alberta, B.C. forcing farmers to manage operations carefully this year
“The district, which stretches from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat, said last month that it expects its preliminary 2024 water allocation will equate to 203.2 mm, or 8 inches. By way of comparison, SMRID last April earmarked 381 mm for irrigated land in the 2023 season. The district cut the allocation to 355.6 mm a month later.”
Frozen water on the Oldman Reservoir, which according to local news media is at its lowest point in 30 years, near Pincher Creek, Alta., on March 15. Todd Korol/Reuters
Published by The Globe and Mail, this article from Carrie Tait highlights the meticulous challenges confronting farmers in Alberta and British Columbia as these regions grapple with thin snowpack in the mountains- leading to diminished water availability for irrigation. With potato crops in Southern Alberta typically requiring 400 to 500 millimeters of water during the growing season, farmers in the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) are confronted with a significant water shortage this year. The district, spanning from Lethbridge to Medicine Hat, has forecasted a preliminary 2024 water allocation of only 203.2 mm, a substantial reduction from previous years. Despite this shortfall, farmers are strategizing to mitigate the impact on their harvests, opting to cut back on irrigation for less lucrative crops like wheat in favor of sustaining high-value crops such as potatoes and sugar beets.
Situations like these continue to highlight the urgency of effective water management strategies in the face of changing climate conditions. It also highlights the need for collaborative efforts to address water scarcity issues and adapt agricultural practices to ensure long-term sustainability. As farmers navigate these challenges, initiatives like the Canada1Water project play a crucial role in analyzing the effects of climate change on water resources. By providing decision-makers, policymakers and community planners with valuable insights and tools, projects like C1W contribute to the development of sustainable solutions to safeguard water availability for agricultural and societal needs in the future. With the Canada1Water project about to launch its open access portal, it continues to stand as a crucial national initiative aimed at analyzing the effects of climate change on water resources.
Click here to read the article at The Globe and Mail
“Farmers in Alberta’s irrigated areas are unlikely to give up on these crops. Instead, they will cut back on irrigating other fields, such as those sown with wheat or other cereals, in favour of directing that moisture to land containing more lucrative products.”