APAS president Todd Lewis says agriculture would see some of the biggest benefits from a proposed billion dollar water project from Lake Diefenbaker to the Qu’Appelle valley.

Public Safety minister Ralph Goodale brought renewed interest in the project at a Water Management Conference in Regina this week.

Lewis says crop yields could rise significantly with expanded irrigation.

He says the project could mean irrigation on over 100 thousand acres of farmland.

Lewis also sees development of a greenhouse industry and increased food processing with the huge water development project.

He adds flood control and urban water needs would also be improved as part of the project.