Small farmers in Canada often share concerns about water security and water bills. Water saving methods can be a helpful tool in small farming.
Alberta’s new irrigation systems being put in place over the coming years will reduce the province’s water waste by a large margin, allowing small and large farms in the province to irrigate their farms with better water security.
One of the simplest and most effective techniques for lowering water waste is to create a storage and collection reservoir. A reservoir can allow farms to collect a large capacity of rainwater or snow to store until it is needed and can be made any size to accommodate all farms.
Another water saving measure is to engage in drip irrigation, these systems help water deep into the roots requiring less water, these systems can be expensive but home-made alternatives can reduce the price point.
Planting crops with complimentary partners and forage can help soil from drying out and reduce the amount of runoff that doesn’t reach plant roots. These techniques take more know how, but can be another effective way to reduce water input, reducing demands on the water supply and reducing the amount of water waste that needs to be processed.