Brandon District Office

Assistance available

PFRA staff can provide engineering technical assistance to communities, groups and individuals for water development projects such as: small and large scale irrigation, water pipeline design, water sourcing, dams, dugout design and construction, and miscellaneous other projects.

Staff can provide technical assistance in conservation seeding techniques, waterway erosion control, shelterbelt establishment, rotational grazing and riparian managment.

Programs delivered:

• PFRA Community Pastures Program
• Rural Water Development Program (RWDP)

District description

The Brandon District is located in the most southwest corner of Manitoba and includes 39 Municipalities (RM's) and 26 incorporated villages, towns and cities:
Albert (#100), Archie (#101), Arthur (#103), Birtle (#106), Blanshard (#107), Brenda (#109), Cameron (#111), Clanwilliam (#114), Cornwallis (#116), Daly (#117), Edward (#122), Ellice (#123), Elton (#124), Glenwood (#131), Hamiota (#134), Harrison (#136), Langford (#141), Lansdowne (#142), Miniota (#148), Minto (#150), Morton (#153), North Cypress (#155), Oakland (#157), Odanah (#159), Pipestone (#162), Riverside (#166), Rosedale (#170), Saskatchewan (#180), Shoal Lake (#183), Sifton (#184), South Cypress (#187), Strathclair (#191), Strathcona (#192), Turtle Mountain (#196), Wallace (#199), Whitehead (#202), Whitewater (#204), Winchester (#205), and Woodworth (#207).

Approximately 39,000 people reside in the municipalities, and 65,000 in the incorporated villages, towns, and cities with Brandon's population making up almost two-thirds of the latter figure. Other centres having populations of 1,000 or more include: Virden, Killarney, Boissevain, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Carberry, Deloraine, Melita, Rivers, and Souris.

The district boundaries extends north from the USA border 175 km (108 miles)and east from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border for approximately 165 km (102 miles).

The area is predominantly covered with grassland with the exception of the Turtle Mountain and Spruce Woods Park areas where broad leaf forests are present.

The most southwest corner of the district is considered to be one of the driest areas in Manitoba having an average annual precipitation of 457 - 483 mm. Some of the municipalities are considered to have chronic water deficient areas (Edward and part of Glenwood).

Groundwater potential varies widely in quality and quantity throughout the region. There are excellent sources of water (aquifer and surficial) around Oak Lake. As well, there are excellent sources of groundwater in the Assiniboine Delta Aquifer area. Major rivers are Assiniboine and Souris rivers. Major lakes are Whitewater Lake and Oak Lake.

Approximately 50% of the farm units are in grain production with the remaining being beef cattle, dairy, hogs or mixed. The number of units containing livestock is on the rise as farmers diversify their operations to ensure economic stability. Agricultural production include cereals, oilseeds, some forages, other specialty crops and beef cattle, dairy and hogs. Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre (MCDC - Carberry), Souris Valley Irrigators Association Inc. (Melita), and Manitoba Zero Till Farmers Association demonstration farms are located in this district.