Farmscape for April 19, 2005  (Episode 1782)

The University of Manitoba says the ability to juggle the competing demands for water is emerging as one of the big challenges facing Western Canada in the first decade of the 21st century.

With the diversification of agriculture, the prairies have seen increased livestock production, particularly hog production, expanded vegetable and special crop production and increased processing, all of which require large volumes of water.

Asper School of Business Associate Dean Dr. Ed Tyrchniewicz suggests we need to look at the institutions we have in place and we need to look at the practices and policies we use for dealing with water.

Clip-Dr. Ed Tyrchniewicz-University of Manitoba 

We're wanting more and more water however, the question is, "do we have the quantity of water, do we have the quality of water to do this and do we have it in the right amount and in the right place and at the right time?"

I think basically, in very simple terms, we need a better handle on what is the availability of water on a water shed basis and, not just on an annual basis, but on a seasonal or monthly basis.

We also need to know what is the demand for that water for these competing uses and we need a mechanism for allocating that water.

If we had unlimited water, then we could just allocate it as is.

We have a current licensing system which is fine to a point but, if we have shortages, we need a mechanism to better allocate that scarce water.

Dr. Tyrchniewicz points out increased climatic variability with more intense weather systems and extended dry periods will also impact the use of water.

He says the issue of water allocation is already becoming a challenge and the sooner it can be addressed the better.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council