Saskatchewan Irrigation Development Program closing

May 02, 2025

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture will be closing application intake under the Irrigation Development Program as of April 30, 2025. Applications may still be submitted under the program from April 30 to May 30, but those projects must be completed, with claims submitted, by December 31, 2025.

The program supports infrastructure development to increase irrigation capacity by creating a secure water supply to land parcels suitable for irrigation. Introduced in April 2023, the successful program has seen high uptake from producers and is now fully subscribed. From the program’s launch on April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025, 202 applications were received, and over 41,000 acres of irrigated acres were developed.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture is committed to funding all projects pre-approved through to May 30, 2025, and completed by the claim deadline. The claim deadlines for those projects pre-approved before April 30 are indicated in the Ministry’s letter of pre-approval to each applicant.

The Irrigation Development Program is one of many ways in which the Government of Saskatchewan provides support for irrigation expansion in the province. Irrigation allows more diverse crops to be grown and increases the number of livestock that can be supported. It is also important for strengthening rural economies and stabilizing crop production with a consistent source of moisture.

Click here to see more...

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.