Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research facilities are raising significant concerns across Western Canada regarding lost long-term research capacity and agricultural innovation. While a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Saskatchewan government and the federal government offered hope for stations in Scott and Indian Head, uncertainty remains for staff and ongoing field trials, says Milton Dyck, national president of the Agriculture Union.
Dyck represents the staff currently working at the research stations, and says that despite the temporary agreement to explore options during the winding-down process, staff terminations and facility closures are continuing as planned.
Immediately following the MOU announcement, affected workers received notification that "this changed nothing with them losing their positions or the research centres being closed down," Dyck says. Technicians and scientists were issued 120-day notifications, leading many to leave and causing long-term research plots to be halted or tilled under.
Dyck says that unlike other civil service sectors, AAFC's workforce has not grown over the past decade, making these budget cuts particularly damaging to foundational research. He warns that once these facilities close, replacing the infrastructure and expertise will be nearly impossible. As Dyck stresses, "you will never be able to rebuild a research centre from scratch again because it would be too costly."
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Cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research facilities are raising significant concerns across Western Canada regarding lost long-term research capacity and agricultural innovation. While a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Saskatchewan government and the federal government offered hope for stations in Scott and Indian Head, uncertainty remains for staff and ongoing field trials, says Milton Dyck, national president of the Agriculture Union.
Dyck represents the staff currently working at the research stations, and says that despite the temporary agreement to explore options during the winding-down process, staff terminations and facility closures are continuing as planned.
Immediately following the MOU announcement, affected workers received notification that "this changed nothing with them losing their positions or the research centres being closed down," Dyck says. Technicians and scientists were issued 120-day notifications, leading many to leave and causing long-term research plots to be halted or tilled under.
Dyck says that unlike other civil service sectors, AAFC's workforce has not grown over the past decade, making these budget cuts particularly damaging to foundational research. He warns that once these facilities close, replacing the infrastructure and expertise will be nearly impossible. As Dyck stresses, "you will never be able to rebuild a research centre from scratch again because it would be too costly."
Website: realagriculture.com
#farming #agriculture #research
Find us on our other social media platforms:
X/Twitter: twitter.com/realagriculture
Instagram: instagram.com/realagriculture
Facebook: facebook.com/realagmedia
