b'Over the decades the lake produced electricity through the Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station. It also provided water to several potash mines, a canola processing mill, an alfalfa processing plant and an ammonium nitrate produc-er. The lake also supplied irrigation for about 110,000 acres of land along its east side. While growers along the east side of Lake Diefenbaker were able to make use of the lake with irrigation equipment, their counterparts on the west side were left without the option. Farmers on the east side were able to grow potatoes and other horticultural crops, alongside wheat and other traditional field crops.With only one side of Lake Diefenbaker being used for irrigation, farmers there have worked hard to keep a potato industry going in the province. In 1994, seed growers across the province joined together to create the SSPGA, with growers from other parts of the province also being members.The province has become known for its seed potatoes which have increased plant vigour and can produce higher yields than seed from regions further south, the province of Saskatchewan says on its website. Saskatchewan hasTheperfect addition to your unique growing conditions with its long, sunny days and cool nights. \x1f eet. All aluminum trailer inserts Over the past decade, potato production in the province has fallen slightlywill transform your dry vans into from around 7,000 to 6,000 acres. This year there was 6,000 acres planted,self-unloading bulk trailers. Built according to Statistics Canada. lightweight without troughs for maximum product capacity.Diefenbaker was designed for aCall today to see how we can help you maximize your million acres (of irrigation). It will beproduct payload and reduce your transportation cost.far short on that once this is done, but we will have a million acres of irrigation around the province. LYLE STEWARTA DREAM REALIZEDPotato production could be on the rise in the future though. On July 2, the Sas-katchewan government announced a $4 billion-decade long project to expand the provinces irrigation by 500,000 acres in three stages.We think the opportunity is now and we think the weve squandered oppor-tunities in the past, Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan legislative secretary to the minister responsible for the Water Security Agency, says in a phone interview. Diefenbaker was designed for a million acres (of irrigation). It will be far short on that once this is done, but we will have a million acres of irrigation around the province.The first stage of the project was set to begin immediately after the an-nouncement and will see construction completed on the abandoned west side irrigation system. There will be $22.5 million put into the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing west side irrigation system.Phase two will see further expansion of the west side project by adding an additional 260,000 acres of irrigable land. This will provide irrigation near the communities of Macrorie, Milden, Zealandia, Delisle and Asquith.The final phase will see the buildout of the QuAppelle South Irrigation Project, adding an estimated 120,000 acres of irrigation. The irrigation system will start at Lake Diefenbaker and run south through the areas near Tugaske, Eyebrow, Marquis and into Buffalo Pound Lake.FALL 2020 SPUDSMART.COM 11'