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VISION 2005

VISION 2005. IRRIGATION AKA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. What Was the Goal of the Vision 2005 Task Force?. Double the value of agriculture by 2005. Add 500,000 acres of irrigation. Assist local producer in efforts to increase and sustain their individual agricultural enterprises.

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VISION 2005

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  1. VISION 2005 IRRIGATION AKA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  2. What Was the Goal of the Vision 2005 Task Force? • Double the value of agriculture by 2005. • Add 500,000 acres of irrigation. • Assist local producer in efforts to increase and sustain their individual agricultural enterprises. • Attempt to stop the out migration of rural populations throughout Eastern and Northern Montana. 1 to 2 % per year.

  3. Program’s Initial Set-up • 3 full time positions • Irrigation Development Officer • Irrigation Engineer • Administrative Support position • $150,000 grant fund per year • Technical assistance

  4. Evolution of Program • Montana Bureau of Mines Technical Assistance Contract • Actual review of requests by producers to determine groundwater potential. • Assistance in ranking of test well applications. • Onsite/oversight and review of drilling efforts.

  5. Test Well Program • MBMG Review and Recommendations • Ranking of Applications • Offering $5,000 grants to drill well and test for quantity and quality. • Pit falls and problems

  6. Assistance to Individual Irrigation Districts • Technical assistance efforts • Support for Lower Yellowstone Irrigation District’s efforts to obtain title transfer • Efforts to increase acres • Other Irrigation District efforts

  7. Why did we not add 500,000 acres? • Energy cost were 4 to 6 times higher than was planned. ( Don’t Steal from REA’s!) • Average age of Farmers 50+. Risks much less likely. (Federal Farm Policy) • Upper Basin areas water rights junior to all other uses. ( Storage only option areas) • Tribes unable to get funding.

  8. Priorities For Irrigation • Rural water demand versus irrigation • Federal priorities. • State Priorities • Food Security ( Not even thought about yet)

  9. How we have evolved. • Realization that fixes and management on irrigation projects actually helped increase production and water conservation. • Managers and Boards that can function in the new world of agriculture are better for irrigation. • Realization that many fixes to infrastructure are going to have to be done internally even if there is a public benefit.

  10. Things that we have changed Attempted to find funding sources for irrigation projects to assist in infrastructure repairs and maintenance. ( hydro/wind/ cooperative efforts) Empowering Irrigation Managers/Boards to be able to manage their resources better. Assisting in efforts to by small irrigation projects to wrestle back control of their projects.

  11. Continual Education • Attempt to keep abreast of national and state issues and inform water managers. (MWRA, Family Farm Alliance, Upper Missouri Water Association, etc.)

  12. What could the future be? • Training & Education • Engineering assistance • Infrastructure assistance • Innovation • Technology (Hydro Assessments) • Policy • More grant funds $150,000 goes about ½ as far

  13. Questions??? Pat Riley Irrigation Development & Sustainment Officer 1371 Rimtop Drive Billings MT 59105 406-247-4413 or 247-4411 priley@mt.gov

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