The Irrigation Development Program supports infrastructure development to increase irrigation capacity by creating a secure water supply to the edge of irrigable land parcels.
Funding
Each eligible applicant can receive the lesser of 67 per cent of eligible costs or $1,320 per irrigable acre developed, to a maximum program payment of $300,000.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for the rebate if:
- You are a Saskatchewan agricultural producer (individual, partnership or corporation) or First Nations Band.
- You are at least 18 years of age.
- You file income tax demonstrating a minimum $50,000 of gross farm income in Saskatchewan in the year of application or the year prior to the application.
Producers who own, lease or rent property where livestock and poultry are grown, bred, kept, raised, displayed, assembled or disposed of require a Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) number.
The maximum amount that may be paid to an eligible applicant and to persons related to an eligible applicant will be subject to the program’s maximum funding cap. Related applicants include spouses, partners, relatives in the same residence or individuals/entities which have controlling interests in more than one operation.
Before You Apply
Applications must obtain the following applicable pre-approval inspections and/or documents:
- Irrigation development locations must obtain an Irrigation Certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture Crops and Irrigation Branch for the project location;
- Eligible projects must increase irrigation capacity by a minimum of 10 acres of land for agricultural purposes;
- Irrigation development locations that have been granted a Term Irrigation Certificate are not eligible for funding due to concerns about the sustainability of these projects.
- Eligible applicants must obtain an Approval to Construct permit from the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency and a Water Rights file number with the Water Security Agency;
- Individual applicants with projects within irrigation districts must be approved by the respective irrigation district board; and
- The proposed water source for the project must have an electrical conductivity of less than 1500 uS/cm and a sodium absorption ratio of less than five.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses include the creation of secure water supply points through the purchase and installation of:
- Pumps;
- Pump stations;
- Turnouts;
- Pipelines;
- Power installation* and hook‐up; and
- Consulting services and fees for environmental assessments and project design.
* Prior to reimbursement for power installation, the applicant must have installed all other irrigation infrastructure including on-farm infrastructure.
Ineligible Expenses
Ineligible expenses and activities include:
- Projects commencing prior to October 1, 2017.
- Invoices not issued in the applicant's name.
- On-farm land parcel irrigation systems, including:
- Any pump, pipe, drain, trench, ditch, sprinkler or power source dedicated to irrigating a land parcel.
- Irrigation certification fees.
- Purchase of land/property or payment of easements.
- Taxes, financing fees, interest or legal fees.
- Applicant/employee labour and administration costs.
- Used or leased items or equipment. To be eligible, new items or equipment must be purchased from a recognized dealer.
- In‐kind freight/mileage.
- In‐kind materials such as rocks, sand, gravel or clay.
- In-kind payment (e.g. trading) for third party services/supplies.
- Materials from inventory.
- Any submissions for rebate utilizing a third-party contractor must be from a contractor who is third-party arm’s length, or the submission will be considered to be utilizing in kind labour and original invoices for all materials will be required.
Apply
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Pre-approval applications for Irrigation Development projects must be received on or before January 15, 2022.
Projects must have started on or after Oct, 1, 2017, and claim forms must be received the earlier of 18 months from written project approval or before November 30, 2022.
Applicants will be notified if their project is approved. Costs should only be incurred by the applicant once final approval is received. Interim payments will not be issued.
Note: it is recommended that this application form is saved to your computer before entering in your information.
Download application form
Completed application packages can be submitted by email or mail to:
agprograms@gov.sk.ca
or
Ministry of Agriculture, Programs Branch
329 – 3085 Albert Street
Regina SK S4S 0B1