Fifteen Years and Counting: Sustainable Water Infrastructure Remains a Priority

By Karen Smith, PAg, Agricultural Programs Specialist, Tisdale

Sustainable and secure water sources are a critical component to agricultural operations. Not only do producers need safe and clean water for their livestock, but also grain producers require water sources to grow healthy crops each year.

To help mitigate the risks within the industry, the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) was introduced in 2008 when dry conditions threatened the well-being of many operations. The program was well received by producers and the following year it became a part of the Growing Forward suite of programming. Today, it’s one of the main programs offered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a $485-million investment by federal and provincial governments over five years in strategic initiatives for Saskatchewan agriculture.

Marc Kernaleguen, a livestock producer in the St. Brieux area, appreciates the assistance FRWIP provided for establishing the watering system in his pasture.

“This program helped make it financially viable,” he says, noting that it offset the significant cost involved in setting up the solar power and the well included in the watering system for his operation’s intensive grazing management approach. “This definitely helped make it affordable for us at the end of the day.”

The system is essentially based on a 50-psi pipeline fed by a reservoir tank and driven by solar generation that has the capability of putting 25 gallons of water per minute through the pipe to a range of up to a mile. It supports the intensive grazing strategy Kernaleguen employs, in which he divides a quarter section into areas roughly an acre in size using temporary poly wire fencing materials; cattle are regularly shifted from one area to another, affording resting periods for grass to regrow and avoiding damage to root structure throughout the pasture. FRWIP, he says, “made it a lot easier because it was a lot of up-front cost to undertake.”

FRWIP has evolved from an entirely pre-approval program to mainly a rebate program, allowing a streamlined process for clients. Due to the complexity and to alleviate any environmental concerns, small dams and community water development projects remain as pre-approvals.

Michelle Panko, Senior Program Analyst with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Programs Branch, sees the benefit of a rebate program that allows producers to complete projects without the associated wait times of a formal pre-approval process. “With high interest rates and cash flow concerns,” she says, “timely receipt of funds is always appreciated.”

The program continues to be one of the most popular programs and application numbers remain high: since 2008, over 22,000 applications have been received under FRWIP.

Panko suggests that the program has remained successful due to its long-lasting benefits to both current and future landowners. Having access to secure and sustainable water sources further advances producer operations and provides producers peace of mind from knowing they don’t need to worry about their water.

Currently, producers can receive 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 for newly developed dugouts and pipelines, as well as infrastructure like pumps, water storage, watering appliances and power. Water projects must be for agricultural use, including watering livestock, crop spraying, irrigation or intensive horticulture production. The pre-approval portion of this program also provides funding to decommission abandoned wells, develop small dams (with a height of embankment of 2.5 metres or less) and create community water projects such as tank load facilities.

For 15 years, FRWIP has assisted Saskatchewan producers in improving water quality and ensuring long term water sources on their operations. Efforts to improve water sustainability remain a priority, and the continued interest in the program shows there’s still an opportunity to develop sustainable water sources even further.

Kernaleguen is glad he did.

“I’d recommend the program to others … it’s pretty simple process. You can work with your ministry representative and they’ll take you through it step by step to make it happen if it’s a possibility.”

If you’re interested in learning more about this program or applying for funding, please call your local agriculture programs specialist or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.