Water is crucial to everyone in the South Saskatchewan River Basin.

Project to help water users improve watershed planning

Irrigation projects will be among the proposals evaluated using the new model

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – The organization that represents Alberta’s irrigation districts is spearheading a project that will better allow stakeholders in the South Saskatchewan River Basin to improved watershed planning. The project will use the South Saskatchewan River Operational Model (SSROM) to determine how to best develop infrastructure to benefit Albertans, said Margo Jarvis Redelback, executive […] Read more


According to the Government of Alberta website, the province has the largest irrigated area in Canada with nearly 680,000 hectares of irrigated land.

Alberta forms drought advisory committee

Reading Time: < 1 minute Glacier FarmMedia – Alberta has struck a new drought advisory committee as some provincial rivers reach record low levels, reservoirs remain below capacity and mountain snowpacks continue to be under historical averages. The province says at least parts of the province are facing risks of severe drought conditions in part due to warm and dry […] Read more

Record pasture insurance paid out in 2023

Record pasture insurance paid out in 2023

Agriculture Financial Services Corp. paid out more than $325 million through the Moisture Deficiency Insurance program

Reading Time: 2 minutes [UPDATED: Feb. 12, 2024] Glacier FarmMedia – Last year had the highest ever payout for pasture insurance in Alberta, surpassing that of 2021, according to data from Agriculture Financial Services Corp. More than $325 million was paid through AFSC’s Moisture Deficiency Insurance program, nearly three times the amount provided two years ago. “We went through […] Read more



  Photo: Thinkstock

Sask. livestock drought program extended

Ten RMs added to area eligible for per-head payment, application deadline lengthened

Governments have expanded and extended the Canada-Saskatchewan Feed Program available to the province's livestock producers. Ten rural municipalities have been added to the area eligible for the initial $150 per head payment, and the application deadline has been extended to March 15.



In early December, the Saskatchewan River was at its second lowest level in the past 23 years.   Photo: Alex McCuaig

Alberta expands livestock drought recovery supports

Only a narrow band of the province remains exempt from the aid program

The 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance initiative, funded through the AgriRecovery framework by the federal and provincial governments, offers payments of up to $150 per head to livestock producers who have 15 or more animals per type of livestock, and have altered usual grazing practices for more than 21 days due to drought.



Agrirecovery deadline approaches

Agrirecovery deadline approaches

Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications for the 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance initiative close at midnight Jan. 15. Benefits will be based on a feed-need calculation for feed costs incurred due to lost grazing days for eligible breeding animals on hand as of Dec. 31, 2023.  Eligible producers must: be located (livestock or residence) in specified municipalities; have altered […] Read more