Some of those attending the Ag-Advocacy Forum in Medicine Hat hear from a series of speakers. (CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill, Eli J. Ridder

ENVIRONMENT

Drought and supporting ‘agri-food corridor’ dominates Medicine Hat agriculture conference

Feb 21, 2024 | 5:17 PM

Potential water-supply issues due to unprecedented drought this summer made up a key part of discussions at the Ag-Advocacy Forum in Medicine Hat on Wednesday.

R.J. Sigurdson, Alberta’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, said that, after drinking water, the supply to the agriculture remains as the second priority.

“It’s very important that we push as much water as possible to livestock,” he told farmers, ranchers and others gathered at the Stampede Grounds.

“Second of all, having a conversation about pushing as much water as possible to production of crops and supporting our irrigation districts understanding that every bit of water they use goes to feed our families.”

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Water priority has become a major point of discussion recently as river basins across Alberta face extreme dry conditions due to a lack of the precipitation the province relies on for its water supply.

Medicine Hat’s director of environmental utilities Jamie Garland recently told CHAT News the city would not rule out mandatory water restrictions in 2024.

Sigurdson pointed out at the advocacy conference there are municipalities where water usage almost doubles in the summer months.

“And what does that mean, why should we be having that discussion?” he asked.

“The more we decrease non-essential water usage, it pushes more downstream that we can use to support our farmers and ranchers at a time they’re going to need it most,” Sigurdson said.

R.J. Sigurdson speaks to CHAT News. (CHAT News)

The so-called agri-food corridor, which stretches from Medicine Hat to Lethbridge, has a number of Agri-food processors who will benefit from the continued twinning of the number three highway.

Grant Hunter, parliamentary secretary for agrifood development, said he was excited about the opportunity this presents for the south, with hope the moisture will be there in the future to support it.

“We’ve got some of the best water in the world coming out of the eastern slopes and hardly anybody in between,” the Taber-Warner MLA told CHAT News.

Construction on the stretch of Highway 3 between Taber and Burdett will be underway this spring and is still anticipated to be completed over a two-year period.

Hunter said the goal is still to have the twinning to Medicine Hat completed within 10 years.

Sigurdson said it was important he was in Medicine Hat to hear directly from those in the agriculture industry.

“There’s always going to be challenges in agriculture and we want to make sure that we are here one on one connecting with our producers, our farmers and ranchers and having the conversations that are necessary to make sure they’re getting the support they need when they need it,” he said.

Sigurdson would also like to see the federal government give a carbon tax exemption for food production.

The minister said it would be one of the biggest financial reliefs that could be provided in combating inflation with the agricultural sector.

Among the about 80 attendees was MLA Justin Wright, who was recently appointed to a drought advisory committee.