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Agricultural Research Stations

Article by Stephen Morgan Jones

Published Online April 18, 2013

Last Edited March 4, 2015

Research Stations, Agricultural

For more than a century, the federal government has funded agricultural research through a network of research centres strategically placed in almost every province. This research program has played a major role in developing the more than $120-billion Canadian agrifood industry.

The first record of agricultural research was one of 3 attempts to establish an experimental farm. A dairy farm was set up in the Selkirk settlement (Winnipeg) in 1821, which was followed by a facility to demonstrate new equipment in 1831 and finally a sheep production experimental farm in 1838. These initiatives were all abandoned shortly after their establishment. In 1884 a select committee chaired by G.A. Gigault was named by the House of Commons to investigate the means for supporting and improving agriculture in Canada. The committee recommended the establishment of an experimental farm, where varieties of foreign grain, trees and fertilizers could be tested. The committee also recommended that samples of seeds and plants then be distributed throughout the Dominion by this experimental farm.

Parliament appointed Professor William Saunders from the University of Western Ontario in November 1885 to conduct studies into the practicality of establishing experimental farms. His report of 29 Feb 1886 was presented to Parliament and An Act Respecting Experimental Farm Stations received royal assent on 2 June 1886. Professor Saunders was appointed director of the new Experimental Farms Service on 12 Oct 1886. The legislation authorized the establishment of 5 experimental farms, with the Ottawa location for Ontario and Québec designated as the Central Experimental Farm. The other 4 stations were in Nappan, NS (established 1887), Brandon, Man, Indian Head, NWT, and Agassiz, BC (all established 1888). The priorities for these new experimental farms were the testing of crops, livestock housing, nutrition and management of animals, and the use of manure as a fertilizer. An integral component of the demonstration work was the planting of shelter belts at all farm locations and the landscaping of the grounds with trees, shrubs, perennials and annual flower beds.

Not until the turn of the century were experimental stations established in Alberta, at Lethbridge (1906), Lacombe (1907), Fort Vermillion (1907) and Beaverlodge (1917). These were followed in 1909 by stations in Charlottetown, PEI, and Rosthern, Sask, and in 1911 by Scott, Sask. The Rosthern Station had a relatively brief longevity and was closed in 1940. In the Maritimes, experimental stations were opened in Kentville, NS (1911), Fredericton, NB (1912) and St John's, Nfld (1950); in Québec, stations were started in La Pocatière (1912), Lennoxville (1914), L'Assomption (1928) and Sainte-Foy (1954), with a Food Research Centre in St. Hyacinthe (1988). For Ontario, Harrow (1913), Kapuskasing (1916), Delhi (1933), Thunder Bay (1937), London (1951) and Smithfield (1960) were opened in addition to the Central Experimental Farm. Manitoba saw the establishment of experimental stations in Morden (1915), Winnipeg (1924) and Portage La Prairie (1944). Saskatchewan has experimental facilities at Saskatoon (1917), Swift Current (1921), Regina (1931) and Melfort (1935). Alberta saw only the addition of one experimental farm at Vegreville (1957), which was closed in 1994. BC had an experimental station opened in Summerland (1914), Vancouver (1925), Kamloops (1935), Creston (1940) and Prince George (1940). Two experimental stations were opened in YT at Mile 1019, Alaska Highway (1945) and in NWT at Fort Simpson (1947); both stations subsequently closed due the lack of agricultural potential in the regions that they served.

In 1959 all agricultural research activities conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food were merged into one branch, the Research Branch, which survives to the present day. The Research Branch is administered by an assistant deputy minister who is supported by 5 director generals. Director generals have specific national program responsibilities for 4 national research programs (environmental health, sustainable production systems, bio-products and bio-processing, and food safety and quality). They are responsible for the future strategic direction of the 4 national programs, for building collaborative relationships with universities and the private sector and for developing scientific capacity to address new and emerging issues. The director generals are supported by 10 science directors with expertise in specific areas of importance. Operational management of the research facilities is done through research managers who are responsible for ensuring that resources are available at the local level to support the approved research programs. By the end of the 1970s, the Research Branch had more than 50 research locations, which were consolidated into 19 research centres or centres of excellence by 1995. The Research Branch employs approximately 2300 full-time employees (2007), of which 600 are scientists or other professionals (chemists, biologists). The Research Branch functions on a base budget of close to $200 million (2007-8) and that includes about $17 million available for matching support to allow industry projects to be conducted at its facilities. The Research Branch base budget includes salaries and operational funds to conduct research projects. It does not include the ongoing operational costs to run and maintain the research facility network across the country, which has a budget close to $90 million.

Achievements of the Research Branch

The federal investment in agricultural research has made a major contribution to the success of Canadian agribusiness over the last century. Agriculture not only supplies Canadians with a healthy, safe, nutritious food supply at one of the lowest costs in the world (only the US is lower), but it also generates about $17 billion in agricultural and food exports. When one considers the short growing season and long, cold winter typical of most Canadian agricultural regions, modern agriculture can be regarded as one of Canada's most important success stories.

Soil Research

Farming practices can have dramatic effects on soil quality, yet soil is a resource that must be maintained for use by future generations. Probably the best example is the dust bowl of the 1930s, where millions of tonnes of topsoil were blown off the prairies ( see erosion ). Farming practices of the time contributed through the common use of extensive cultivation that increased soil moisture loss. Strong winds and low rainfall combined with the excessive cultivation resulted in the dust bowls. Wheat yields on the Prairies dropped from 1.2 tonnes per hectare to 0.68 tonnes per hectare. Research conducted at Lethbridge and Swift Current found that the blowing of topsoil in dry years could be markedly reduced by farming narrow strips of land planted in a north-south direction with small strips of summer fallow left in between. It was later found that leaving a longer stubble (crop residue after harvest) would collect snow in the winter to provide moisture and also prevent the blowing of soil during summer fallow. These advances in soil management practices for the prairies, along with other advances (eg, cover crops, use of shelter belts), stopped the dust bowls of the 1930s. Other important work conducted by the Research Branch includes the value of crop rotations, the use of fertilizers and the treatment of salinity buildup in soils.

In recent years perhaps the achievement of most importance has been the development of new cultivation practices commonly referred to as conservation tillage. European farming practices that were imported by the early settlers called for the extensive use of the plough to maintain soil fertility and control plant diseases and insects. These practices contributed to a decline in soil health through loss of organic matter and often left the fragile topsoil without the protection of crop residues, thus directly contributing to loss of soil through the action of the wind and rainfall. Conservation tillage called for the design of new equipment that could plant seed directly into the soil without the need to plough the land. The residues of the crop (roots and stems) from the previous year were left intact over the winter and the land directly planted the following spring with minimal or zero tillage. While relatively simple in concept, the conservation tillage approach required a complete cultural change on the part of farmers, the development of new equipment and the adoption of new production practices. Conservation tillage has been adopted on more than 60% of the arable land in Western Canada (more than 30 million ha) as this practice is not only more environmentally sustainable, but also reduces costs for farmers (lowered fuel and labour costs). An added benefit of conservation tillage is that it results in a modest accumulation of organic matter in the soil over time and directly offsets carbon emissions. This has been recognized by the international community and in the future, Canadian farmers will make a direct contribution to reducing carbon emissions, which is one of the commitments Canada accepted under the Kyoto agreement.

Animal Research

Canadian scientists are regarded as world leaders in developing selection procedures to identify superior breeding animals ( see animal breeding ). Because this technology has been rapidly transferred and used by industry, Canadian livestock are highly regarded in world markets and millions of dollars in sales are recorded on an annual basis. The Canadian Holstein cow (dairy breed) is considered to be the best breed in the world for producing milk. Federal scientists were the first to evaluate a number of European beef breeds that were imported to Canada 25 to 30 years ago. Their results showed that crossing these breeds with domestic breeds improved beef productivity by at least 25% and at the same time produced the much leaner red meat that was increasingly demanded by the consumer. Today almost 80% of beef cows in Canada are crossbred using these European beef breeds as a result of this research. Other notable examples of livestock research include the recent development of alfalfa (a green forage) bred to be bloat-free (bloat is an accumulation of gas in the rumen of cattle that can cause death and is common when cattle are fed legumes), the requirements of farm animals for trace minerals, the control of mycotoxins in feed, the development of the Lacombe breed of hog and the breeding of disease resistance in poultry .

Crops Research

A major achievement of the Research Branch was the release of Marquis Wheat in 1909 by Charles Saunders, the son of William Saunders. Marquis was a spring wheat that was the first early maturing variety that also had high quality for baking and milling. By 1920, Marquis wheat was grown on more than 6 million ha on the Canadian prairies, about 90% of the total wheat acreage. While Marquis has long been superseded by superior varieties, the varieties currently in use are still largely the product of federal agricultural research centres (Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Semi-Arid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre, Swift Current). Marquis established Canada as a world leader in producing high-quality wheat, a reputation that continues today along with billions of dollars in export sales. In addition to the early maturity that is so important in our short growing season, breeders have improved yield, quality and disease resistance ( see crop research ).

A second major achievement was the introduction of canola , an oilseed used to make margarine, cooking oils and salad dressings. The precursor of canola was rapeseed, which was crushed for oil since as long as 3000 to 4000 years ago. Rapeseed oil was used as a marine lubricating oil during the Second World War due to its relatively high content of erucic acid, a substance that made it unsuitable for human consumption. Much of the work to produce canola (very low in erucic acid as compared to rapeseed) was lead by Dr. Keith Downey of the Saskatoon Research Centre and the first variety was released in 1964. Since that time there have been many new and improved varieties, and by 1977 canola oil was approved as safe for human consumption. This was followed by a similar approval in the US in 1985. Today, millions of hectares of canola are grown in Canada, providing a new crop for farmers and value-added industry via processing plants.

Food Research

Canadian scientists have developed quality control or grading systems for many food products including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, vegetables and fruit. For animals, these grading systems have related market requirements back to the producer and have saved the animal industry hundreds of millions of dollars in feed costs through the identification of overfat carcasses. Other notable achievements include the improvement in flavour and storage characteristics of fruit juices, superior methods for the freezing of food and the preservation of chilled foods such as meats through innovative packaging techniques.

Future Plans of the Research Branch

While the role of the Research Branch is changing through its consolidation into 19 centres of excellence, its primary mandate is to protect the Canadian food supply from foreign pests and diseases and to ensure a safe and nutritious food supply for the country. Its role also includes a research program to ensure the resources used to grow food (soil, water, plants, animals) are maintained for following generations. Information technology, genetic engineering and biological control of pests and diseases will be key components in the research portfolio for the next century. With the expected wane of the petrochemical industry as known resources are exploited, agriculture will become an important source of renewable industrial chemicals, fuels and construction materials. Bio-fuels such as ethanol produced from grains and bio-diesel produced from oilseeds are an emerging industry in North America and Europe. The bio-economy will broaden the importance of agriculture on a worldwide basis but will also lead to conflict between the need to produce food and feed and industrial products. In the next 5 years, agricultural research centres anticipate numerous innovations, including the release of 15 to 20 new crop varieties; the impact of Canadian agriculture on greenhouse gases, water quality and soil; gene maps of cattle and poultry to identify sites that control important traits (eg, growth rate, feed consumption, taste) and disease resistance; and development of new procedures to evaluate, track and trace food products to improve food safety.

Interested in agriculture?

Further Reading

T.H. Anstey, One Hundred Harvests: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada 1886-1986 (1986).

External Links

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Online An extensive information source about Canada's thriving agricultural sector and related issues, studies, and government programs. From Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency See the latest news about food saftey issues in Canada from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Canada Agriculture and Food Museum The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum in Ottawa showcases the history of Canadian agriculture and the connection between agriculture and familiar foods.

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National Context, Local Needs

The lacombe experimental station.

Foundational Role within Lacombe

Officially founded in 1907, the Lacombe Experimental Station is still used for both research and recreation. From weddings on the picturesque grounds, to evening visitors out for a walk, to cattle sales in the Pavilion, the grounds serve the local community of Lacombe on a regular basis. In a sense, this was always the goal of the Station: to give visitors a glimpse of the possibilities of the Parkland region that surrounds Lacombe.

Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Experimental Plots and Hedges, 1917. LDHS Archives.

Solving Farming Challenges Through Science

Early attempts at farming in Canada often met with numerous obstacles, including disastrous crop failures. In 1886, the  Federal Government created the Experimental Farms Service to conduct scientific farming experiments to improve farming in Canada.

The successes of this initiative included the development of several new strains of crops, including Marquis Wheat, that could endure the Canadian climate and promote the settlement of the Prairies.

Local Ambition

Lacombe was in a promising position in 1900. With over 100 people, the town was larger than Red Deer, and citizens were eager to make the most of this opportunity. Not every town thrived in early Alberta: the success of a town was heavily influenced by the ambition of entrepreneurial citizens and by the success of agriculture in the area.    

In 1904, the newly formed Lacombe Board of Trade started attempting to establish an Experimental Station in Lacombe in order to promote the town and attract more settlers. Despite stiff  competition with other towns, a series of extensive negotiations and political deals led the creation of the Lacombe Experimental Station in 1907. Mr. W. F. Puffer, a member of the Board of Trade and an MLA in 1905 was highly involved in the bargaining process.

Plot Planter at Experimental Station, 1930. LDHS Archives.

Snow Every Month

Mr. Hutton was appointed as the first Superintendent of the Research Station, even before the purchase of the land was finalized.

Even with a small staff consisting of only 5 members, many tests  were started in 1907 and several buildings were constructed. Life was not easy, and Seymour Edmunds, one of the first employees of the Station, reported that there was least some snow every month of 1907.

Beehives at the Experimental Station, 1920. LDHS Archives.

Seymour Edmunds Farewell, 1950. LDHS Archives.

Mary & Hiram Flewelling, 1890. LDHS Archives.

Experimental Station Binder, c. 1920. LDHS Archives.

Station Cows, c. 1925. LDHS Archives.

Coffee Tent at Field Day, 1915. LDHS Archives.

From Crops to Cattle

Initially, research at the station focused on testing pre-existing crops in the region and developing effective local agricultural practices. By 1913, Mr. Hutton had begun research on dairy and beef cattle, poultry, sheep and apiculture.

Horses were initially used for work, rather than research.

Inspiring Agricultural Innovation: Making Cheese and Planting Wind Barriers

In 1913, dairy production, with a focus on cheese manufacturing, started at  the Station. The cheese products were sold in Edmonton and  Calgary as an attempt  to stimulate interest in  dairy manufacturing. This effort was successful as two large dairies took up cheese manufacturing. The sale of cheese also proved to be a popular attraction at the Station during the summer. In the early 1920s, Lacombe had the biggest dairy of all the Experimental Farms and Stations, but it was closed in 1924.

From 1909 to 1917, train tours with reduced rates were arranged to attract visitors to the Station, bringing as many as 1,200 visitors a year to Lacombe. These tours showcased the various research projects done at the Station and inspired many people to order seed samples and trees—mostly grain samples, potato seeds, Manitoba Maples, and caragana bushes—for their own homes. The Board of Trade was no doubt pleased with the results of the Station while the local  farming community reaped the benefits of  the experiments and the services provided by the Station.

Early Women on the Experimental Station

The work done by women was always vital to the success of farming,  especially during the early years of Western settlement. While sometimes overlooked, settlement and farming could not have succeeded without these women.

The first female to be employed directly  in the agricultural work of the Station was Jessie Grant from Scotland, who worked as the dairymaid from 1913-1914. Prior to 1910, other women were typists at the Station. However, perhaps credit for being the first woman working on the Station should go to Mrs. Mary Hutchinson who worked as the housekeeper starting in 1907.

Mary and her family came from Barrhead, Scotland in 1907 and both Mary and her husband Robert started work at the Station immediately. Mary had to supply the food for meals and was paid $15 per month for each of the seven men under her care. Excerpts from her journal reveal some Mary’s life in her new home.

Experimental Station Office Staff L to R: Iris Hopkins, Marjorie Calder, Jean Poutney, Charmain Allan, Beth Fredeen, 1950s. LDHS Archives.

June 27, 1907. “We rise at five (at least the men do). I get up in time to have breakfast ready at six. . . .  They have meat, eggs and potatoes to every meal, so it makes a good lot of dishes to wash. We have not much furniture, no more than we could possibly help. . . . Everything is much dearer than at home: the only things cheaper are butter, eggs and meat. It is an awful job to wash, as there is so much lime in the water. . . . It is very  quiet here: I was here six weeks before  I spoke to a woman and not many  yet.”

Showmanship Takes the Lead

Initially, the focus of work at the Station revolved around research and public education. The exception to this trend occurred when Mr. Francis Henry Reed became Superintendent in 1920. While Mr. Reed did expand much of the crop and agricultural research started during Mr. Hutton’s time, it was not his primary focus.

Mr. Reed was a strong advocate of the show ring and pushed for the showing of stock at major exhibits throughout Alberta and later shows across North America. By 1925 multiple types of purebred animals were being  exhibited every year, often with excellent  results. Cattle and horses (Clydesdale and Shire) won many top awards.

There was a cost to Mr. Reed’s emphasis on showing as it also drew on the resources and  reduced the emphasis on livestock research at the Experimental Farm. Due to this and other factors, staff numbers stayed constant and research in dairy animals and sheep stopped entirely in 1924. However, there were  stallions available for breeding to anyone who wished to send their mares to the Station, an important service for an industry still reliant on horse power.

Experimental Station, 1908. LDHS Archives.

Mr. Henry Francis Reed. LDHS Archives.

Clydesdales in Front of Barn, 1931. LDHS Archives.

The Dirty Thirties & WWII

Despite the best efforts of the scientific approach to farming at the Station, cutworms wreaked havoc on many of the test crops in 1930. Then extreme winds destroyed cereal and garden test plots in spite of protective hedges.

1930 marked the temporary end of all breeding work with cereals and garden crops. World War II then took away many of the staff for military service, severely limiting the work done by the Station during this time.

Gardens at the Experimental Station. LDHS Archives.

Ramsey and Allen in Green house, 1956. LDHS Archives.

Don Walker in Lab at Experimental Station,  c. 1980. LDHS archives.

Resuming Research:  1947 to the Present

When Mr. George DeLong  became Superintendent in  1947, he began the process  of rebuilding the research support and facilities that  had stayed relatively unadvanced during the war years and resumed the  type of work carried out by Hutton. Significant increases in technical staff and the construction of additional office and lab space would take place over the next decade.

Under the leadership of Mr. Delong and Mr. Stothart, there was a firm emphasis on listening to the concerns of producers and responding to what they saw as the real needs. The result was a great deal of industry involvement for the staff of the station.

As time passed, increasingly complex  research began to focus more on advanced experimental designs. Contributions to scientific publications became a main form of communication used by the Station.

In the second half of the century, horticultural research at the station gradually faded out of the picture. At the same time research on poultry stopped as did the use of horses for plowing or managing the cattle herd. Crop breeding research expanded for a number of years, including wheat, barley and oats.

Research Highlights: The Lacombe Hog and Meat Research

The Centre’s focus on  swine cross-breeding  in  the late 40’s ultimately resulted in the release of the “Lacombe Hog” in 1957 and this became one of the most publicly recognized outputs from the Centre in that era. This hog was found to be superior in birth weight, weaning weight and growth after weaning. In addition, crossbred pigs sired by Lacombe boars excelled in vigour, growth rate and carcass quality.

Another important development of the Stations’ was the multi-faceted meat research program that studies meat safety, quality, and production factors. In fact the grading system presently used on meat, such as for Alberta AAA Beef, resulted from the research conducted at Lacombe.

Lacombe got its own meat slaughtering facility in 1984 making it the only place in Canada where researchers can study the factors that impact meat quality throughout the animals’ lives and the meat processing.

Hogs in field at Research Station. LDHS Archives.

Howard Fredeen is perhaps one of the most well-known individuals who has worked at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Dr. Fredeen came to work at the Lacombe Research Station after earning his MSc from the University of Saskatchewan in 1947. Along with J. G. Stothart, Fredeen was responsible for the development of the Lacombe Hog. Dr. Fredeen is also known for his significant contributions to Canadian practices in livestock breeding, his many scientific and technical papers, and representing Agriculture Canada internationally. Locally, Howard has made substantial contributions to the preservation of Lacombe’s history and to the work of the Lacombe & District Historical Society.

Current Work

Now one of 20 similar research centres, the Lacombe Research and  Development Centre is still an important part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 400 head of beef cattle and 100 sows are still maintained by the Station as part of their research. Despite the fact that only 2% of  Canadians live on farms, agriculture is a vital part of Canada’s industry, making the continued work of research centres as important as ever.

“The science and innovation activities at the Lacombe Research and  Development Centre focus on the study of food safety, red meat quality, carcass grading, cereal breeding and forage/beef production.  The Centre’s  areas of core research are aligned with national priorities to help the sector adapt and remain competitive in domestic and global markets. Greater participation in research networks and industry-led partnerships expands the Centre’s innovation capacity.” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada .

Jack Stothart & Howard Fredeen at desk, Ex. station, 1970. LDHS Archives.

Delegation from U.S.S.R., 1979. LDHS Archives.

Construction of the Pavilion, 1935. LDHS Archives.

1938 Horse Sale at the Lacombe Pavilion. LDHS Archives.

Livestock Pavilion: A Focal Point for the Community

1935 saw the  building of the Livestock Pavilion as a Federal funded “make-work”  project. The Lacombe and District Agricultural Society contributed land adjacent to the Experimental Station for the building site.

Since its creation, the Livestock Pavilion has hosted countless agricultural events as well as political meetings, assemblies, talent shows, and much more. Some of these events were hosted by the staff of the Experimental Station, further connecting the Station  with the farming community.

The Pavilion has served as a bunkhouse, cafeteria and teaching auditorium for the Research Station while the Agricultural Society hosts dances and livestock sales. Ownership of the Pavilion was eventually transferred to the Lacombe and District Agricultural Society, which still owns and operates the building.

Superintendent’s Residence, 1910. LDHS Archives.

Superintendent’s Residence, c. 1950. LDHS Archives.

Superintendent’s House: a Local Landmark

Build in 1907, the  Superintendent’s house was an important architectural feature of the Station. It had electricity, a forced draft furnace, plumbing and running water powered by a windmill. This residence had multiple  purposes, serving as the  Main Residence and the Office until 1914 when a separate Office was constructed. It also housed  the guest rooms for important visitors.

In 1947, the residence was  renovated and the top floor was removed. In 2012, the building was deemed to be unsafe and demolished. The house was the last of the original buildings on the Station.

Special thanks to the following contributors

Dr. howard fredeen.

The Lacombe and District Historical Society would like to express its indebtedness and gratitude to Dr. Howard Fredeen for his extensive work in documenting the history of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Dr. Fredeen served as the head of the Animal Science Section at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre from 1955 to 1979 and earned several awards for his work. Lacombe Research Station: 1907-1982 by Dr. Fredeen was particularly influential on “National Context, Local Needs.” Dr. Fredeen recently received the 2016 Alberta Historic Resources Foundation’s Outstanding Achievement Award for his work in documenting local Alberta history.

Paige Mansell

This exhibit was created on behalf of the Lacombe and District Historical Society by Paige Mansell. Paige recently graduated from Ambrose University in Calgary with her Bachelor of Arts in History and is excited to have this wonderful opportunity to put her training to work with the Lacombe and District Historical Society.

Archives/Photos

Lacombe & District Historical Society (LDHS Archives)

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Lacombe Research Station, 1907-1982 / Howard T. Fredeen. : A54-2/18-1984E-PDF

Permanent link to this Catalogue record: publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.818378&sl=0

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AAC Barrhead

Variety description.

Varieties used for comparison: 'Reward' and 'AAC Lacombe'

Summary: The density of flecking of the stipules of 'AAC Barrhead' is medium to dense whereas the density is sparse on 'AAC Lacombe'. 'AAC Barrhead' flowers earlier than both 'Reward' and 'AAC Lacombe'. The flower standard of 'AAC Barrhead' is narrower than that of 'AAC Lacombe'. The pods of 'AAC Barrhead' are longer than those of 'Reward'. The stem of 'AAC Barrhead' is shorter than that of 'AAC Lacombe'. 'AAC Barrhead' is earlier maturing than both 'Reward' and 'AAC Lacombe'.

Description:

PLANT: field type, no anthocyanin colouration, no stem fasciation, green colour at flowering, semi-leafless, matures mid-season

STEM: medium number of nodes up to and including first fertile node (ranging from 18 to 24 nodes with an average of 21)

STIPULE: medium to dense flecking

FLOWER: blooms mid to late season, three flowers per node, moderately arched to strongly arched, acute apex of upper sepal

POD: absent or partial parchment, thickened wall absent, weak curvature, light to medium green when fully swollen, 8 ovules, suture strings absent IMMATURE SEED: medium green DRY SEED: cylindrical shape, simple starch grain, wrinkling of cotyledon absent, yellow cotyledon, hilum same colour as testa

Origin & Breeding History: 'AAC Barrhead' (experimental designation MP1900) is the result of the cross 'CDC715S-4' / 'Reward' made in 2003 in the greenhouse at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station in Morden, Manitoba. The breeding method was pedigree selection in combination with single seed descent. In 2007, one line, P0321-11, was selected for its high yield potential. In 2008, it was evaluated in a replicated yield test and selected for early maturity, lodging resistance, seed quality and high seed yield. In 2009, it was observed and purified in a seed increase strip planted in the field in Lacombe, Alberta. It was evaluated as MP1900 at various locations throughout western Canada in the 2010-2011 Western Canada Field Pea Cooperative Registration Test B.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted during the summers of 2012 and 2013 in Lacombe, Alberta. Plots were arranged in a RCB design with 4 replicates. The plot size was 5 metres by 1 metre with a 20 cm row spacing. The seeding rate was 85 germinating seeds per square metre. Measured characteristics were based on 20 measurements per plant per year.

Comparison tables for 'AAC Barrhead' with reference varieties 'Reward' and 'AAC Lacombe'

Days to flowering, maximum width of flower standard ( cm ), pod length ( cm ), stem length ( cm ), days to maturity.

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Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invest $25 million in agriculture researchers

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

Today, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture David Marit announced $25 million to support 15 strategic research chairs at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Agriculture and Bioresources through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

May 8, 2024 – Regina, Saskatchewan

Funding is provided through the Strategic Research Program and is focused on supporting crop genetic improvement, livestock development, food and bioproducts development and soils and environment.

“Investing in research is vitally important to the long-term resilience and continued growth of Canada’s agriculture sector. I have no doubt this innovative research will help ensure our farmers stay on the cutting edge.” - The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to funding evidence-based research initiatives to better serve our agriculture sector. Providing stable funding to attract and retain leading scientists in key strategic areas increases the competitiveness and resilience of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector and our provincial economy along with it.” - David Marit, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister

“This investment in USask research is an investment in the success and sustainability of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector. USask researchers are advancing innovative solutions that meet the needs of farmers, industry and consumers.” - Angela Bedard-Haughn, dean, USask College of Agriculture and Bioresources

Quick facts

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Associated links

• Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture)

Francis Chechile Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food [email protected]

Media Relations Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ottawa, Ontario 613-773-7972 1-866-345-7972 [email protected] Follow us on  Twitter ,  Facebook ,  Instagram , and  LinkedIn Web:  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Media Relations Saskatchewan Agriculture 306-787-5155 [email protected]

Page details

USask agriculture research receives $25 million boost from Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan

The federal and provincial governments have announced an investment of $25 million for continued support of 15 strategic research chairs at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Agriculture and Bioresources through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

May 8, 2024

“Investing in research is vitally important to the long-term resilience and continued growth of Canada’s agriculture sector,” said Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay. “I have no doubt this innovative research will help ensure our farmers stay on the cutting edge.”

Funding is provided through the Strategic Research Program and is focused on supporting crop genetic improvement, livestock development, food and bioproducts development and soils and environment. 

“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to funding evidence-based research initiatives to better serve our agriculture sector,” said Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture David Marit. “Providing stable funding to attract and retain leading scientists in key strategic areas increases the competitiveness and resilience of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector and our provincial economy along with it.”

“This investment in USask research is an investment in the success and sustainability of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector,” said Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn (PhD), dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. “USask researchers are advancing innovative solutions that meet the needs of farmers, industry and consumers.”

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Together, we will undertake the research the world needs. We invite you to join by  supporting critical research  at USask.

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