Alberta
The St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) is notifying irrigators that they are now accepting water orders.
For the 2025 irrigation season, water allocation will remain at 12 inches at the farm gate based on the recent Irrigation Water Supply Forecast from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.
Crews have started flushing lines and are charging the system for water startup, expected to be available across the entire district by May 5th to 9th.
They caution that ordering water now does not guarantee immediate availability, but it helps to prepare for the demand.
Producers interested in ordering water should contact their water coordinator via text message.
The SMRID publishes monthly water supply updates to keep irrigators informed as the irrigation season progresses.
Saskatchewan
Producers may still apply under Saskatchewan's Irrigation Development Program until May 30th.
The program supports infrastructure development by creating a secure water supply to land parcels suitable for irrigation.
The SID programs' official intake deadline has closed, but applications may still be submitted until May 30th; those projects must be completed, with claims submitted, by December 31, 2025.
The claim deadlines for projects pre-approved before April 30th are indicated in the Ministry of Agriculture's letter of pre-approval to each applicant.
Since the program began in April of 2023, over 202 applications have been received, with over 41,000 irrigated acres being developed.
With the continued interest, the province expects to hit its 2030 Saskatchewan Growth Plan goal of hitting 85,000 irrigated acres before the end of this year.
Manitoba
Irrigation hasn't developed in the province to the same extent it has in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
According to the province's website, Manitoba water rights licensing ensures the sustainable allocation of the province's water resources under the Water Rights Act and regulation.
The intent of water rights licensing is to protect the interests of licensees, existing domestic users, the general public, and the environment with respect to the use or diversion of water.
In Manitoba, water withdrawals (surface and groundwater) for domestic, agricultural, or irrigation use of less than 25,000 litres (5,500 imperial gallons) per day do not require licensing.
Licenses are issued for municipal, agricultural, industrial, irrigation, and "other" purposes.
Projects that fall into the "other" category include non-domestic low temperature geothermal projects; fire protection; dust suppression on road construction projects; large scale hydrostatic testing; recreation, etc.