irrigation Archives - Page 4 of 7

For most farmers, the simplest, easiest and cheapest way to measure soil moisture is using the hand-feel method.

How to understand and measure soil water

It’s important to estimate stored soil moisture at planting to adjust crop inputs

By Ross H. McKenzie April 5, 2023

Water is often the most crucial factor in controlling crop yields. The amount of water used by crops can be affected by several factors including the availability of stored soil water, amount of precipitation during the growing season, crop rooting depth and various environmental aspects such as day length, amount of solar radiation, humidity, temperature […] Read more

McCain Foods’ french fry processing plant near Coaldale, Alta. (University of Lethbridge video screengrab via YouTube)

Crops, Potatoes

McCain to double Alberta french fry plant capacity

Lethbridge-area plant to more than double staff count

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News March 14, 2023

Alberta’s plans to boost its irrigated acres are being met near the starting line with a major french fry producer’s plans to double the capacity of its plant there. McCain Foods announced Monday it will put up $600 million to build two new production lines for frozen french fries and potato specialty goods at its […] Read more

Columns, Crops

The benefits of irrigation in Alberta

Irrigation plays a significant role in increasing crop and livestock production

By Ross H. McKenzie March 2, 2023

Irrigation is often referred to as the “lifeblood” of southern Alberta. Irrigation water was first diverted from the St. Mary River in 1900 and arrived by canal system to Magrath, Raymond and Lethbridge. Now, 122 years later, just over 1.8 million acres are irrigated in Alberta. Irrigated agriculture contributes about $6.5 billion to Alberta’s GDP […] Read more

Flooding from the Salinas River forces the closure of a road at Salinas, California on Jan. 12, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Nathan Frandino)

Crops, Reuters, Weather

California picks up debris from latest storm, braces for next

Also: Why all this rain won't end California's drought

By GFM Network News January 13, 2023

Sacramento | Reuters — Rain-soaked Californians took advantage of a break in a weeks-long deluge to haul away dead trees, restore downed power lines and prepare new stacks of sandbags before another series of storms hits the state beginning Friday. In Monterey County along the state’s central coast, communities near the still-rising Salinas River were […] Read more

Nate Horner, shown here speaking Oct. 4, 2022 at Southland Trailers at Lethbridge, was named Oct. 21 as Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation. (Alberta government video screengrab via YouTube)

General

Alberta reorganizes ag portfolio for returning minister

Horner to handle agriculture and irrigation file

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News October 22, 2022

Both Alberta and Quebec have re-upped with their incumbent agriculture ministers in cabinet shuffles this week — but incoming Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s shuffle will also streamline that province’s ag portfolio. Chosen by Alberta’s governing United Conservatives (UCP) on Oct. 6 to replace outgoing premier Jason Kenney, Smith on Friday announced Kenney’s incumbent minister of […] Read more

In August 2021, the Classen family used the water in their reservoir to backflood the tile drainage system to save some of their soybean crop, which was wilting and under extreme stress. They saw big results within 24 hours.

Crops

Take a ‘deliberate’ approach to water management

Backflood irrigation combined with tile drainage supported some of Joel Classen’s soybean yields through one of the driest summers on record

By Treena Hein October 6, 2022

To prepare for future drought, Prairie farmers could consider using large ponds with controlled drainage structures and tile drainage for a “much more deliberate water management approach,” says David Lobb, a professor of soil science at the University of Manitoba. “It’s possible to hold water back and use it when we need it in a […] Read more

An aerial view of parched terrace fields at Chongqing’s Fuyuan village in east-central China on Aug. 19, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Thomas Peter)

Crops, Reuters, Weather

China’s farmers struggle to save crops as heatwave, drought drag on

By GFM Network News August 19, 2022

Chongqing | Reuters — As the tinder-dry countryside along China’s Yangtze river basin withers under a heatwave that has lasted more than two months, veteran farmer Chen Xiaohua recalled the last severe drought to hit his crops more than 60 years ago. “This year is drier than 1960,” said Chen, 68, from his plot of […] Read more

So far this season there have been no sick calves partly because conditions were dry. The scour “bugs” always seem to thrive in muddy conditions. The calves are old enough now to not be so vulnerable to the serious effects of scours, however; they don’t get as dehydrated as younger calves, and are more able to handle it.

Cattleman’s Corner

Finally some rain to get irrigation started

By Heather Smith Thomas June 17, 2022

April 26 This past week has been cold and windy. The creek is still very low. None of the high snow is melting yet and it may be days before we get more flow in the creek for irrigating. On Thursday, Jim drove to Missoula to pick up his twin sister, Melanie, who flew from […] Read more

Kees Van Beek, SDI director at Southern Irrigation, examines some winter wheat plants grown with subsurface drip irrigation at Lawrence Vandervalk’s farm in Nobleford, Alta., in 2021.

Crops, Features

A new way to water crops

Some Prairie farmers are opting for subsurface drip irrigation to boost crop production and increase water use efficiency

By Mark Halsall May 4, 2022

They’re a rarity in Western Canada right now, but that didn’t stop Lawrence Vandervalk from installing a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system on his farm in Alberta. “Technology doesn’t stand still. Technology keeps moving forward. This is just another step in the progression of irrigation, and I think it’s a big step,” says Vandervalk, who […] Read more

Hunter Goliath turnips can be an excellent forage cover crop, although as the White Lake Colony learned one concern with turnips, especially if there is a high percentage in the forage mix is that the high protein crop “runs through the cattle too fast; the cows get very loose manure”.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Experimenting with irrigated cover crops

Program helps to extend the grazing season while also helping to benefit the soil

By Heather Smith Thomas April 6, 2022

The White Lake Hutterite Colony near Nobleford, about half an hour northwest of Lethbridge, Alberta produces both beef cattle along with annual crops, and in recent years they’ve started looking at growing cover crops under irrigation. Cattle manager Jerry Hofer has been trying several different species to be seeded after taking off soft white wheat […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: CME cattle tick lower in thin pre-holiday trade

U.S. grains: Wheat extends gains on short covering, war risk

Prairie forecast: Plenty more chances for snow over Holidays

Tag Archives irrigation