SASKATOON, Sask. — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) confirmed Friday afternoon the Seed Increase Unit (SIU) will operate out of the Indian Head Research Farm and Saskatoon Research and Development Centre for the 2027 growing season.
Next year will serve as a transition year as the SIU will move to Saskatoon in 2028, following the closure of the Indian Head Research Farm, AAFC said in a news release.
AAFC states Indian Head will have "full field SIU operational capacity for all crops, including wheat and forages" for 2027 and "seed processing and storage will also remain centered at Indian Head for this transition year."
The role of the Saskatoon Research and Development Centre will be to "host field operations for all SIU crops (including oat, barley, triticale, fall rye and peas) except wheat and forages."
Saskatoon will have seed processing at its facility but the storage will be maintained at Indian Head, AAFC added.
Federal Agriculture Minister Heath McDonald said "AAFC understands the economic value of the Canadian seed sector and remains committed to ensuring the Seed Increase Unit meets the high standards of pedigree seed production."
This is the latest move to maintain agricultural research activities in Saskatchewan as Ottawa remains committed to closing the Indian Head and Scott Research Sites as part of budget cuts announced earlier this year.
The federal and provincial governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July to find possible interim arrangements while allowing the Indian Head and Scott Research Farms to continue operating.
While not directly referencing Friday's announcement, Provincial Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a statement Friday since the MOU was signed "our government has been engaged in active negotiations with AAFC. We are also working with industry to develop a made-in-Saskatchewan solution that ensures the research farms continue to support agriculture research, demonstration and extension while AAFC winds down operations.
"Indian Head and Scott Research Farms have supported practical, field-based research and crop variety testing for decades, helping producers adopt new practices, improve productivity and keep Saskatchewan competitive on the global stage."
