Investing in irrigation? What to consider to make the best choice for your farm

Feb 02, 2022

Irrigation is an important agriculture practice in Canada where precipitation levels are low during the growing season, or the type of crop being grown may require higher irrigation needs. Irrigation can improve crop yields, crop diversification, productivity and profits. Irrigation technology has evolved to become more efficient, from delivery to application. Over the last decade, Canada has seen a 14.6% increase in the total irrigated acres of farmland, illustrating a strong demand by farmers to increase their irrigable acres.

Evolution of irrigation

In 2020, most of the irrigated land in Canada was in Alberta, making up about 71%, followed by Saskatchewan at 8.9% and British Columbia at 8.7%, respectively.

Irrigation expansion is still on the horizon for Western Canada. Alberta has recently announced a $117.7 million investment to modernize irrigation infrastructure and increase water storage. The province plans to add over 200,000 irrigated acres and grow value-added agricultural exports by 37% with this investment. Saskatchewan also announced in 2020 a 10-year $4 billion initiative to increase irrigated acres by up to 500,000 acres, and B.C. introduced a $5 million investment in April of 2021 to support orchards, farms and wineries.

Types of irrigation

Canadian irrigation is primarily made up of three methods: sprinkle, micro and surface.

Sprinkler method is where water is delivered above the crop canopy which a pivot walks around the field distributing water. These are typically used on larger operations growing potatoes, grain, or forage commodities.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.