Two politicians from Nova Scotia, including a member of the Liberal Party, are urging the government in Ottawa to reverse its decision to shut down seven federal agricultural research farms, one of which is a historic site in the Maritimes that dates back over a century.
In January, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada announced the issuance of layoff notices to 1,043 employees as part of a plan to eliminate around 665 positions. This move includes the closure of a facility in Nappan, Nova Scotia, and six others located across the country.
Milton Dyck, the president of the union representing 2,500 workers at Agriculture Agri-Food Canada, expressed concern that the cuts jeopardize the jobs of nine individuals at the Nappan Research Farm, which was established in 1887 and is one of Canada’s original five experimental farms.
“While research activities are ongoing, there are plans to halt them. We are urging the government to reconsider the decision to shut down these research centers,” Dyck stated in an interview.
He mentioned that some staff will stay at the site temporarily to care for the beef herd until it is sold, with researchers and their support staff being the first to depart.
“The full closure of the sites will not happen immediately, as it involves a complex decision-making process that needs careful consideration,” Agriculture Agri-Food Canada responded in a statement to CBC News regarding the Nappan facility and the future of beef and forage research at the site.
“We will take the necessary time to consult with research partners about ongoing projects, preserve research findings, and strengthen collaborations through our other facilities.”
Significance of Beef Revenue
Kent MacDonald, the Member of Parliament for Cardigan, Prince Edward Island, revealed during a meeting of the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food that the department informed him that a significant portion of expenses at Nappan were related to maintenance. However, some argue that the revenue generated from beef sales more than compensates for these costs.
“I question whether the government has thoroughly reviewed the financials,” remarked Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, the Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cumberland North, during the committee meeting in Ottawa.
“Just last year, the farm generated over $400,000 from beef sales, which were part of their research activities.”
Alana Hirtle, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester, has also urged Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to provide more details and reconsider the closure of the Nappan Research Farm.
“If keeping the site operational is not feasible, the assets at the Nappan Research Farm should not be wasted and should benefit the broader agricultural community,” Hirtle stated in a letter on Tuesday.
She also called for MacDonald to engage with stakeholders, including the nearby Maritime Beef Test Station in Nappan, and to meet with counterparts in the Maritime provinces.
Reynold Bergen, a science director at the Beef Cattle Research Council, noted that the Nappan facility had close connections with research sites in other parts of the country, such as Quebec City and Lacombe, Alberta, which also faced closures.
“These sites were interconnected and collaborated extensively. There was a strong network spanning the entire country,” Bergen mentioned in an interview from Calgary.
Unexplained Decision
Bergen highlighted the importance of conducting research in various climates and soil conditions, even though the beef industry is predominantly concentrated in Western Canada. He expressed confusion over the decision, especially since the axed research areas were considered high-priority for the industry.
Bergen pointed out that two researchers previously stationed at Nappan are anticipated to continue working with the federal department, but the accessibility to the fields where research has been ongoing since the 19th century remains uncertain.
“Losing the research plots at the Nappan station means losing valuable knowledge and resources that are only in the early stages of development,” he remarked, referring to multi-year research projects such as soil carbon sequestration.
Heather Bruce, the dean of Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, was asked during the standing committee meeting if universities could take over the research work.
