The Minister for the Water Security Agency (WSA) Jeremy Cockrill says they recognize the need throughout the province and are looking to help where they can.
He says the WSA is looking to make water available to producers in areas experiencing drought conditions or allow ranchers to utilize vacant WSA-owned lands for feed supplies.
"We own and manage a bunch of agricultural land across Saskatchewan. Specifically around our dams and reservoirs, so obviously, we want to make that land available for feed to our livestock producers. And then also again a number of farmers and ranchers pull water from WSA reservoirs or other provincial water supplies. That does require a temporary water rights license, and so we're going to be prioritizing those applications and issuing them as fast as we can."
Farmers and ranchers near WSA lands are encouraged to contact the agency to see if there are any underutilized or vacant lands that could be made available.
According to the WSA farmers and ranchers are not required to obtain a water rights license when hauling water from a municipal supply like an RM tankload facility. For producers that own or occupy land near water like deep or shallow wells, springs, lakes, sloughs, streams, creeks, and rivers and want to use it for watering stock or spraying crops, no permit is needed.
Agriculture Minister David Marit says they recognize the serious challenges Saskatchewan producers are currently facing due to ongoing dry conditions in many areas
"We’re moving quickly at every level to investigate additional relief options such as this one by WSA, while our existing business risk management programs such as AgriInvest, AgriStability, and AgriInsurance continue to be a primary line of defense for producers."
SCA Board Chair Keith Day says with the prolonged drought feed availability is a top priority for producers looking to maintain their herds.
"Any solutions that bring more feed online for livestock to access is welcome, and this is another option for those in need."
Cockrill drove south from North Battleford to Swift Current this week, noting the impact of the drought is pretty striking the further south you go.