‘A necessity’: Indian Head fights planned agriculture research station closure

The federal government is closing several agriculture research centres, including those in Indian Head and Scott. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Indian Head’s mayor said he was shocked to learn Ottawa plans to close the community’s agriculture research station.

Steven Cole said the facility, which conducts research into higher-yield crops and varieties better suited to local climates, is an important resource for farmers.

“They did research into, the way I understand it, of making better crops, more protein, higher yields, different things like that … Is it a necessity? Yes, I think it is a great thing for the farmers and they’re doing the research to help them along with their production,” Cole told CTV News.

The closure is expected to cost the community about 40 well-paying jobs. Cole noted it is the second major federal cut to Indian Head in just over a decade.

In 2012, the closure of the Indian Head tree nursery eliminated 70 local jobs in the community of nearly 2,000.

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“That was our first hit. We survived it but I mean now it’s another hit to our community. The experimental farm is now close to 140 years [old],” he said.

The federal government plans to close seven agriculture research stations across Canada in an effort to reduce the size of the civil service.

Two Saskatchewan facilities — in Indian Head and Scott — are included. Seventeen others will remain open, including Saskatoon, Regina, Swift Current and Melfort, though there could be additional job losses.

Milton Dyck, national president of the Agriculture Public Service Alliance of Canada, said workers and communities have already faced significant cuts.

“We’ve already taken a lot of cutting over the last ten years or so and yet they’re asking more,” Dyck noted.

The Town of Indian Head plans to fight the closure, and will soon convene a meeting with federal and provincial representatives to seek support and develop a strategy.