YORKTON – The Yorkton Chamber of Commerce is asking the federal government to rethink plans to close several Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research sites, warning the move could have long-term impacts on producers and rural communities.
After learning seven research locations across Canada are slated for closure, the Chamber’s board of directors sent a letter to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Heath MacDonald, calling on him to reconsider the decision.
Chamber president Doug Forster said the research stations at Scott and Indian Head play a critical role in providing producers with agronomic data specific to their soil zones and growing conditions.
“The research conducted at the Indian Head site has proven to be invaluable to Yorkton area producers,” Forster said, adding that locally focused science helps farmers make informed decisions in an increasingly challenging production environment.
Forster also pointed to the importance of research conducted outside the province, particularly in livestock-focused regions.
He said work being done in forage and beef production at Lacombe, Alta., is especially relevant to producers in east-central Saskatchewan, where livestock production is well suited to the parkland region.
The Chamber also raised concerns about how the planned closures align with federal goals around agriculture and sustainability. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s website states that Canada has key advantages that can make it a leader in sustainable food production and processing, a claim the chamber questions, given reduced research capacity.
The organization also emphasized the close connection between agriculture and the broader business community.
“When our farmers and ranchers are successful, the entire business community is successful,” Forster said. “To terminate the scientific research that helps our farmers and ranchers overcome production obstacles efficiently and sustainably is to take away a key tool in their production toolbox.”
