Let’s Take a Moment to Look at Drainage Management in a Different Way
Farmers understand. We have a 90-day growing season and when opportunity presents itself, we take time to enjoy the summer and head to the lake with friends and family. Water quality is important. So is soil health, resilient food production, supporting our local communities and doing our job better, every single day.
Let’s dig into some of the misconceptions that have repeatedly presented themselves in various opinion articles as of late. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but it is also important to remain fact based.
1. Drainage is a BAD word… BUT REALLY IT IS NOT:
- Every person that owns a home is responsible for drainage management. Our eavestroughs are surface drainage channels, collecting rain from the roof and directing it away from the home’s foundation. Our weeping tile is sub-surface (or tile) drainage, keeping our basements from transitioning into private swimming pools. Our streets channel the rainwater into storm sewers and direct it to appropriate outlets to prevent our communities from overland flooding. How important is it to you to manage this water?
- Drainage management is a critical business risk tool for SK producers. There are only two ways that a farmer can mitigate weather; 1- water management (proactive) and 2- crop insurance (reactive).
- There are many efficiencies to be gained from proper drainage management – economic, agronomic and environmental. If you would like to know more, we can take you for a field tour, anytime.
2. CLARIFICATION – There is a difference between “wet land” and “wetlands”.
- “Wet lands” – The SK landscape is defined as the prairie pothole region. Potholes are not favorable on roadways, nor are they favorable within gardens or fields. These potholes or depressions are often farmed through as the water is temporary and only lasts for 1 day to 3 weeks. When potholes are unmanaged in an area that is used to grow food – they will collect water after two days the water will stress or kill plants, create salinity issues, and not support proper uptake of plant nutrients or best management practices. This excess water can now also fill and spill, which will cause overland flooding issues during extreme events. These “wet lands” are best when they are managed via controlled surface or tile drainage.
- “Wetlands” – these are the semi permanent and permanent water bodies within the field boundaries that function as stable ecosystems. These areas provide habitat, storage capacity and water retention benefits such as nutrient filtration. These areas are also best when they are managed. Think of it as a bathtub with an overflow valve. If they fill and spill it creates nutrient washouts and overland flooding. During a wet cycle, there comes a point in time when full wetlands do not provide any flood control.
3. Farmers want to drain all the water and we are losing all of our wetlands – THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS:
- 86% of wetlands remain intact in this province (by volume, including farmed through potholes) – TRUE. If you have better science that the Water Security Agency has provided, please be transparent and let’s see your numbers.
- 72% of wetlands remain intact (by volume, not including farmed through potholes) – TRUE.
- The new wetland policy will promote drainage of 79% of wetlands (up to 2 million acres of wetlands) – FALSE. Not sure where this number comes from. We have been closely involved in these policy consultations from the start. If you know, let’s discuss and we can provide you with real life examples that this is not the case.
- Wet land and wetlands will always be a part of the SK landscape, it is not flat. Even on a fully managed (drained) field, in years like 2024, we will have wet land. Years like 2023, we will have very little wet land. Mother nature decides.
4. Agriculture is responsible for water quality issues in our lakes (that we all like to swim in) – LET’S DISCUSS AND LEARN MORE.
- 4R Nutrient Stewardship is important for plant growth and keeping nutrients where they belong (in the field where the crop can use them, not in the lakes). 4R means the 4 rights – applying plant nutrients in the right form, at the right amount, in the right place, and at the right time.
- SWAT mapping and VR technology – SWAT means soil, water and topography. This technology is used to map a field to identify yield or production potential within different zones of the field. VR means variable rate. The SWAT map develops a field prescription which is uploaded into the equipment to apply fertilizer & seed applications by VR. This is precision agriculture – applying seed and nutrients by prescription (to avoid over application). This is beneficial to the crops, the business (crop inputs are expensive) and the environment.
- Soil is a farm’s greatest asset. Without soil you grow nothing. Preventing erosion is an important part of a drainage management plan.
- Can farmers do better – YES. And that is something we pride ourselves on and strive to do every day. If you have any suggestions – let us know how we can work together.
5. We have identified the water quality “hot spots”, point source and non-point sources for water quality issues in the province – RESEARCH CONTINUES:
- We all use water; hence we all contribute to water quality – whether we have a home, a cottage, drive a motorized vehicle, own a business or own a farm.
- We do not know this yet. More research is required so we are better able to implement conservation practices to protect or improve water quality.
- Farmers are interested to know more, and we are working with water quality experts to develop SK based research. Collaboration is essential.
6. The new AG Water Stewardship (Wetland) Policy consultations were not inclusive – THIS IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE:
- 70+ Associations, Conservation Groups, First Nations and individuals were invited to attend the public engagement sessions. Private consultations were also held – read here to know more about the AG Water Stewardship Policy Process and Participant List.
7. It’s all about business – farmers have little regard for the environment. NOT AT ALL:
- Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) and Farmer Led Stewardship – many BMPs are already in place on farm and more continue to be researched and developed every single day.
- 97% of Canadian farms are still family owned. SK hosts 44% of Canadian farmland. SK farms are getting bigger (due to a variety of reasons) but a corporate farm is still most often a family farm.
- Land and water resources are the most valuable assets on the farm. It is critical to pass on a healthy and sustainable farm. Talk to us or visit Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan to learn more about farming practices in SK.
Drainage management is a complex issue, but it does not have to be so complicated and divisive. Be curious to learn more about the other side of the story. We have invited many officials, conservation groups, researchers and individuals to join us in the field for water management tours. Some have accepted, some have declined.
Collaboration is required to reduce complexity, find common ground and implement practical and sustainable solutions.
We can all do better. Innovative and responsible water management will support soil health, resilient crop production, healthy working landscapes… and family time at the lake.