SARM Sounds Off On Indian Head Closure

Municipal Affairs
9 hours ago
2 min read

A decision out of Ottawa is sending shockwaves across rural Saskatchewan. The federal government has confirmed that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will close its satellite research farms in Scott and Indian Head — part of broader budget reductions that have already seen roughly 665 positions cut nationwide and nearly 1,050 employees receive notices in January.

But for Saskatchewan, this is about more than staffing numbers.

The Indian Head Research Farm was among the first five federal research farms established in 1887 — a cornerstone of agricultural innovation for nearly 140 years. The Scott Research Farm, founded in 1906, was part of a national wave of experimental stations that helped shape modern prairie farming.

Agricultural economists warn the closures could slow the development of higher-yielding crop varieties, weaken long-standing research partnerships, and cost the province tens of millions of dollars in future agricultural gains.

And Saskatchewan isn’t alone — satellite farms in Nappan, Nova Scotia, and Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, along with major research and development centres in Guelph, Quebec City, and Lacombe, Alberta, are also slated to shut their doors.

So what does this mean for producers, municipalities, and the future of innovation in rural Saskatchewan?

We spoke with SARM President Bill Huber about the impact of these closures — and what comes next for the communities that have relied on these research hubs for generations.

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