Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to close 2 research sites in Sask.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is closing seven research operations across the country, including two satellite research farms in Saskatchewan.

These farms are in the town of Scott, southwest of North Battleford, and near Indian Head, east of Regina. Satellite farm staff research how to improve crop production in grasslands.

Indian Head Mayor Steven Cole said he and staff at the community’s research farm learned Thursday that their operations will be closing in the near future.

“As a community leader here in our town, (I’m) amazed. That farm has been there for 140 years this summer.”

Cole told CBC that as far as he knows, operations at Indian Head may only continue for the next four to six months.

He said about 30 full-time employees will either be out of a job or need to transfer to another rural municipality.

federal department is said across the country about 665 department positions have been reduced and about 1,050 employees received notices Thursday.

Cole said the research farm at Indian Head has held a special place not only in the community, but also in his family for generations.

“My father worked there, my grandfather worked there, my uncles worked there,” Cole said. “So, we have a long history with this farm and (I) will be sad to see it end.”

The cuts are part of the federal government’s move to tighten the public service budget.

“Like other federal departments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has identified savings over three years by focusing on its core mandate,” the AAFC said in a statement.

“AAFC will remain Canada’s largest agricultural research organization, with 17 research centers across the country and research farmland in every province.”

losing valuable agricultural research

Satellite farms in Sask. The focus has been on producing better crop yields.

Richard Gray, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan, said strengthening what we can produce in the province is an important task.

“Our farms are competitive with anyone in the world,” Gray said. “They are profitable and they are sustainable, so I think it’s very important that research – which generates knowledge that ultimately results in new varieties or new agronomy or new machines – is supported over the long term.”

Gray said other resources may need to be diverted to ensure that the research being facilitated by these research sites can continue in some way.

Across the country, satellite farms are closing in Nappanee, Nova Scotia and Portage la Prairie.

Research and Development Center in Guelph, Ont.; Quebec City, Que. and Lacambe, Alta. will also be closed.