Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced the closure of seven research operations 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.
Upon learning about the impending shutdown of the research farm in Indian Head, Mayor Steven Cole expressed shock, emphasizing the farm’s 140-year history within the community. Cole revealed that operations in Indian Head are expected to cease within the next four to six months, impacting approximately 30 full-time employees who may face job loss or the need to relocate to another rural area.
The federal department disclosed that a total of 665 department positions have been cut across the country, with nearly 1,050 employees receiving notices. Cole highlighted the sentimental value of the research farm in Indian Head, noting its longstanding connection to his family across generations.
The closures are part of the federal government’s efforts to streamline the public service budget. AAFC clarified that despite the cuts, it remains the largest agricultural research organization in Canada, operating 17 research centers nationwide and maintaining research farmland in every province.
The satellite farms in Saskatchewan play a critical role in enhancing crop yields, according to Richard Gray, a professor of agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan. Gray emphasized the importance of supporting research that contributes to the competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability of farms in the province.
In addition to the Saskatchewan closures, satellite farms in Nappan, Nova Scotia, and Portage la Prairie are shutting down. Research and development centers in Guelph, Ontario; Quebec City, Quebec; and Lacambe, Alberta, are also included in the closures, reflecting a wider trend of restructuring within AAFC to align with its core mandate.