2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006

Premier's Award Winner

Leamington Area Drip Irrigation Incorporated (LADII)

+ High resolution

From left to right: Carol Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Wayne and Christine Palichuk; Paul Tiessen; Susan Neufeld Dick; Greg Dick; Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

Ontario tomatoes are getting pumped over this innovation. The Leamington Area Drip Irrigation is a group of 13 farmers who wanted to improve water efficiency for their operations.

They spent years consulting with agencies and specialists across Canada, using that expertise to design and construct a new communal irrigation system that increases the reliability of supply and quality of water to local producers.

The 36 km pipeline, pump house and filter system can precisely monitor the amount of water being delivered from Lake Erie to 2,500 acres of tomatoes in the Leamington area. It is capable of irrigating 6,000 acres on rotation. Participating growers have seen an increase in the quality and yield of their crops, and a reduction in costs for energy and inputs, disease control, as well as harvest and labour costs.

The fixed structure eliminates the need for much of the annual set-up associated with traditional drip irrigation and has reduced water costs in the growing season by 66 percent. This project also holds the potential to expand into agreements for recreational uses (e.g., soccer fields, golf courses).