PFRA Melville District Office

Assistance available

PFRA staff facilitate rural development and resource management within the district by providing technical and financial assistance to local clients. Projects under the Rural Water Development Program (RWDP) include water source developments such as dugouts, wells, group pipelines, tank loading stations, ground water investigations, other water-related works and remote watering.

The Prairie Grain Roads Program, through federal, provincial and municipal government contributions generate approximately $334 million in road construction in western Canada.

District Description

Located in East-Central Saskatchewan, Canada, the Melville district covers over 2.75 million hectares (7 million acres) of highly productive agricultural lands and forests fringing on and within the Aspen Parkland region of Western Canada. This geographically diverse area borders the Porcupine Provincial Forest to the north, the Qu'Appelle River Valley to the south, the fertile rolling farmlands to the west of Ituna-Foam-Lake and east to the moisture-rich pot-holed terrain along the Saskatchewan-Manitoba provincial boundary. The Melville district encompasses 30 Rural Municipalities and 40 Urban Municipalities, the largest urban centres being the cities of Yorkton (pop. 17,000) and Melville (pop. 5,000). Ten Indian Reserves lie within the Melville district as well as several provincial and regional parks, such as Duck Mountain, Good Spirit Lake, Katepwa Lake and Crooked Lake.

Three major river systems are present; the Qu'Appelle River flows along the southern extreme of the district, and the Assiniboine River dissects the eastern portion of the district, originating in the Sturgis area and flowing southeasterly through Kamsack and into Manitoba. The Swan River flows along the northern extreme of the district.

Climate and Production

Annual precipitation averages from a high of 550 mm in the Kamsack-Canora-Preeceville areas to an average of 350mm in the drier westerly areas near Kelliher-Ituna. Soils in the district range from thin grey in the north, to moist black and black-dark brown in the south. Due to the normally adequate annual precipitation and fertile soils, crop production is diverse and highly productive.

In addition to conventional cereal and oilseed crops (wheat, barley, oats, rye, canola, flax), a wide variety of special crops (peas, beans, canary seed, potatoes, lentils, sunflowers, quinoa, herbs & spices) and horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits & berries, flowers) are produced. Market gardens and greenhouse operations service a growing demand both within and outside of the district.

The district's climate highly favours forage production (legumes and grasses) as hay, silage or pasture. An alfalfa dehy plant near Norquay offers an assured market for local alfalfa producers. A flax fibre processing plant near Canora produces specialized fibre for various textile, geo-textile and automotive industries.

Livestock

ivestock production in the district is diverse as well. Adequate feed supplies encourage numerous intensive livestock operations (ILO's) involving beef, hogs and poultry. Purebred and commercial livestock operations are numerous throughout the district. Other types of traditional livestock include, dairy cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Several PMU (pregnant mare urine) operations exist near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border. Exotic livestock operations or game farms have also been established in the district involving the production and marketing of wild boars, bison, elk, llamas, fallow deer, ostriches and emus. Four PFRA community pastures are located within the district and provide cattlemen with grazing and breeding services.

Industry

Other major industries in the area include potash mining in and around the Esterhazy area and agricultural implement manufacturing at Yorkton and Melville. Commercial processing of primary agricultural products is expanding rapidly in the district due to changing market demands, transportation issues, and freight rates. Tourism is a rapidly growing industry, with vacation farms, outfitters, and recreational opportunities abounding throughout the district. Hunting and fishing is a major year-round activity for most in the area. In winter, both cross country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing are popular. Ski hills at Duck Mountain, Fort Qu'Appelle and Thunder Hill beckon down-hill ski enthusiasts from both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Rich in history and historical sites and provincial/regional parks, numerous communities within the district are working cooperatively to enhance and capitalize on the district's tourism potential.

The construction and expansion of rural waterlines in the district has enhanced the community infrastructure and awarded numerous opportunities for economic development in and around the communities of Fort Qu'Appelle, Melville, Yorkton, Canora, Rama, Mikado, Veregin and Kamsack.

Resource management and conservation practises are important issues within the district. Current trends of rural depopulation and declining community infrastructure also heightens the focus on rural development activities.