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Lethbridge College receiving $2 million irrigation research investment from province

The Alberta government is increasing research capacity by supporting the transition of the Alberta Irrigation Technology Centre and the Brooks Greenhouse to Lethbridge College.

Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshan made the announcement during a stop at the College Thursday (Oct. 15).

This $2 million agreement will see Lethbridge College manage 200 acres and 3 pivots at the irrigation tech centre.

Dreeshan says the college will also hire five staff to manage these two facilities. “Lethbridge College already does a tremendous amount of work already when it comes to irrigation research and agricultural research in general. So this was a natural partnership. With the kind of innovation resulting from this research, Alberta will continue to attract food processing investment that will help lead our economic recovery.”

Lethbridge College will operate the facilities as workspace for agriculture researchers from across the industry – post-secondary institutions, private industry and more.

The UCP government says under this new model, agricultural research in Alberta will lead to tangible benefits for farmers, including higher profits, a more abundant food supply at lower cost for consumers and ultimately a higher quality of life in rural communities.

“We thank the Government of Alberta for its commitment to applied agriculture research in southern Alberta and its confidence in Lethbridge College’s ability to lead these operations,” stated College President Dr. Paula Burns. “This agreement will allow our Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship to build on its strengths and expand its work and relationships with the local agriculture industry to create new and innovative solutions that drive the industry forward and contribute to Alberta’s economic growth.”

Patrick Siedlecki
Patrick Siedlecki
Pat has been a mainstay in the CJOC News department from the time the station launched in 2007. He's been in the position of News Director since then and has been anchoring daily news casts as well as reporting and working behind the scenes. Community is important to him and keeping CJOC listeners and readers informed about what's happening across southern Alberta and beyond. Pat has been in radio broadcasting for the past 24 years, starting in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in 1997 and then moving up island to Nanaimo for another few years before heading to Lethbridge in 2007. Pat grew up in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Foam Lake. After high school, he went to Western Academy Broadcasting College (WABC) in Saskatoon prior to moving to the island. Pat also spent several years broadcasting hockey in the BCHL as well as seven years as the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. Pat has been working at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge as a Certified Life Celebrant and Funeral Assistant since 2016. News and sports have always been Pat's passion from the time he was a teenager and he's always been grateful to have had the opportunity to make that part of what's been a fun and long radio career!
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