The federal department announced the closure of research centers in Guelph, Ont., Quebec City, and Lacombe, Alta., as well as four satellite research farms across Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In Saskatchewan, two farms located in Scott and near Indian Head will be closed.
Saskatchewan Premier Moe expressed his disappointment with the cuts, stating that agriculture research should not be a target for public service reductions. He highlighted the importance of research stations in developing innovative technologies, such as zero-till practices, which have played a key role in sustainable food production in Canada.
Moe criticized the federal government’s decision to cut funding for agriculture research, suggesting that they should instead reconsider the recent gun buy-back program. He emphasized that the majority of provinces and Canadians do not support the gun buy-back initiative, making it a better target for budget cuts.
Many farmers and agricultural organizations have expressed concerns about the impact of these research cuts on the industry.
