b'ANYSASKATCHEWANS POTATO INDUSTRY has 500,000 reasons to celebrate, and they probably wont mind the wait given the history. A $4 billion, three-phase irrigation expansion near Lake Diefenbaker was announced in summer 2020 and continues to DAYinch closer to seeing shovels in the ground. Pre-construction work including consultations, surveying and engineering work is nearing completion on the first of the three expansion projects. As the single biggest infrastructure development in Saskatchewan history, the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Projects expansion will create half-a-NOW million irrigable acres and, most assuredly, boost potato productionand no, we wont talk about SPUDCO. Saskatchewan is a quality environment to grow seed potatoes due to long sunny days coupled with short cool nights, a largely disease-free environment and notable northern vigour. This is good news for Saskatchewan nearsthe 16 commercial seed and fresh market potato growers looking to expand their business. Its similarly good news for soon-to-be potato construction stage asgrowers, as well.One seed potato grower who is massively excited about this irrigation expansion setexpansion is Matthew Lawless, partner and operations manager at Barrich Farms and True North Seed Potato Co. at Outlook, Sask. to begin.BY: TREVOR BACQUE Hes also the current president of the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association.Where he works east of Outlook, his irrigation water comes directly from Lake Diefenbaker via the South Saskatchewan River Irrigation District No. 1 (SSRID). As the largest and one of the oldest irrigation districts in the province, SSRID is comprised of 485 kilometres of canals, laterals and drains along with another 60, split between gravity and pressurized pipelines. Although the initial Lake Diefenbaker will provide the water for the irrigation project. PHOTO: WATER SECURITY AGENCY22SPUDSMART.COMWinter 2024'