A Partnership in Ag Research
The partnership currently conducts field research on two parcels of land located just south (SW 26 25 4 w2) and west of Yorkton (NW 3 26 4 w2). The city of Yorkton has provided the partnership with a 3 year lease on this land.
The East Central Research Foundation has sold its facility in Canora and is developing a new site near Yorkton.
About ECRF
Established in 1996, the East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) is a non- profit organization whose mandate is to conduct crop production research and extension activities for the agricultural industry of east central Saskatchewan. It is directed by a board of local producers and advised by provincial specialists. ECRF is one of eight AgriARM sites in Saskatchewan.
In 2013 a memorandum of understanding was signed between the ECRF and Parkland College to share resources and jointly pursue agricultural research and extension. The partnership is proving to be ideal as the members have access to different funding sources and benefit from each other’s expertise and relations with industry. The partnership has enabled Parkland College to become the first regional college in Saskatchewan to undertake an applied research program which fits with one of its mandates “to serve regional economic development”. Parkland College also uses the field research site to provide agricultural training to students.
Happenings
More than 30 Research Projects per Year
Each summer we conduct upwards of 30 research projects, valued at over $300,000, involving over a thousand small plots on our farm land. The main piece of land, on York Lake Road just south of Yorkton, is leased to us by the City of Yorkton at no cost to the College.
We also use other pieces of land around the south side of Yorkton, depending on the needs for each year. We always have wheat, oats, and canola projects, but we have worked with a wide variety of crops including soybeans, lentils, fava beans, quinoa, and many more.
Funding
The research farm is funded by the provincial government, directly and through grant proposals, through agribusinesses, and through granting agencies. In 2020, the federal government awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council to hire summer students and to upgrade and repair equipment. And the Western Grains Research Foundation recently awarded $60,000 to help us purchase equipment for the farm.
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$200,000
$200,000 grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council to hire summer students and to upgrade and repair equipment
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$60,000
Western Grains Research Foundation recently awarded $60,000 to help us purchase equipment
