“Political Figures Urge Reversal of Agri Research Farm Closures”

Two political figures from Nova Scotia, including a member of the Liberal Party, are urging the Canadian government to reverse its decision to shut down seven federal agriculture research farms, one of which is a historic site in the Maritimes. 

In January, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced that 1,043 employees had received layoff notices as part of a plan to eliminate around 665 positions. This move would lead to the closure of a facility in Nappan, Nova Scotia, and six others nationwide. 

Milton Dyck, the president of the union representing 2,500 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada workers, expressed concerns that the cuts could jeopardize the jobs of nine individuals at the Nappan Research Farm, which has been operating since 1887 and is one of Canada’s original experimental farms. 

According to Dyck, while research activities have not ceased yet, there are plans to halt them. He emphasized the importance of the government reconsidering the decision to shut down the research centers. 

Anticipating that some staff will remain at the Nappan site temporarily to oversee the beef herd until it is sold, Dyck noted that researchers and their support staff are expected to be the first to depart. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada stated in response to inquiries about the Nappan facility that a complete closure of the sites cannot happen immediately due to the complex decision-making process involved. The department intends to engage with research partners to discuss ongoing projects, preserve research findings, and continue collaborations at other locations. 

Revenue Impact from Beef Sales

During a meeting of the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food, Kent MacDonald, the Member of Parliament for Cardigan, Prince Edward Island, revealed that the department informed him that a significant portion of the expenses at Nappan were related to maintenance. However, some argue that the revenue generated from beef sales more than compensated for these costs.

Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, the Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cumberland North, questioned the government’s financial analysis during the committee meeting, pointing out that the Nappan Research Farm generated over $400,000 in beef sales just the previous year from the research conducted there. 

Alana Hirtle, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester, requested Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to provide additional information and reconsider the closure decision for the Nappan site. Hirtle emphasized that if keeping the facility operational was not feasible, its assets should benefit the wider agricultural community rather than going to waste. 

Hirtle also urged MacDonald to engage with stakeholders, including the nearby Maritime Beef Test Station in Nappan, and collaborate with counterparts in the Maritime provinces. 

Reynold Bergen, a science director at the Beef Cattle Research Council, highlighted the interconnected nature of the Nappan site with other research facilities across the country, such as those in Quebec City and Lacombe, Alberta, which also faced closures. 

Research Impact and Concerns

Bergen stressed the importance of conducting research in various climates and soil types, noting that the decision to close the Nappan site was puzzling as the discontinued research was in areas crucial for the industry. He mentioned that two researchers previously stationed at Nappan are expected to continue working with the federal department, but access to the research fields dating back to the 19th century remains uncertain. 

Heather Bruce, the dean of Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, dismissed the possibility of post-secondary institutions taking on the research work during the standing committee meeting, citing financial constraints faced by these institutions. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada assured that forage breeding research would persist at the research farm in Kentville, Nova Scotia, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and expanding collaborations with partners in the region. 

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