Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is set to shut down seven research facilities nationwide, including two satellite research farms in Saskatchewan. The affected farms are located in Scott, southwest of North Battleford, and near Indian Head, east of Regina, where workers focus on enhancing crop production on the prairies.
Steven Cole, the mayor of Indian Head, expressed shock upon learning that the community’s research farm, operational for 140 years, would cease operations soon. According to Cole, the Indian Head farm is expected to remain operational for another four to six months before closure, impacting around 30 full-time employees who may face job loss or relocation to other rural areas.
The federal department disclosed that a total of 665 department positions have been cut, with nearly 1,050 employees receiving notices of termination. The decision is part of the government’s initiative to streamline the public service budget. Cole emphasized the sentimental value of the Indian Head farm to his family, spanning multiple generations of employment.
The closure of these research sites in Saskatchewan, along with others in Nova Scotia and Manitoba, is part of a broader effort to reduce spending. Despite the cuts, AAFC assured that it will maintain its status as Canada’s largest agricultural research organization, operating 17 research centers nationwide and research farmland in every province.
The satellite farms in Saskatchewan play a crucial role in enhancing crop yields, as highlighted by Richard Gray, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan. Gray emphasized the importance of supporting research that drives innovation in agriculture and ensures the province’s competitiveness on a global scale. Additionally, he mentioned the need to reallocate resources to sustain the research activities previously conducted at the closed facilities.
Other affected areas include research and development centers in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta. The closures are part of AAFC’s strategy to achieve cost savings while maintaining focus on its core mandate of agricultural research and innovation.