Liberal Agriculture Critic Calls for Provincial Government to Collaborate with Stakeholders to Stop the Closing of the Nappan Beef Research Farm

O’Leary, PE - Robert Henderson, former beef producer and Liberal MLA for O’Leary-Inverness, is calling on the provincial government to collaborate with stakeholders from across the Maritimes to work together on a solution for the future of the Nappan beef research farm.

Located just south of Amherst, Nova Scotia, the Nappan experimental farm has been eastern Canada’s leading federal facility in agriculture research for nearly 140 years. Managing approximately 200 head of cattle annually, the farm provides essential information to producers on bull and progeny testing relating to the weight gain and calving weights of sires expected to replenish cattle herds on PEI.

“This is valuable information that every calf producer requires when selecting or purchasing a bull for their herd,” noted Henderson.

With an estimated annual operating cost of $100,000, Henderson says that the Nappan research farm employs nine staff to perform research and a variety of operational and maintenance tasks related to the cattle there.

“I've seen far more public dollars spent on what would be far less value for tax payers than this,” Henderson said.

Noting that membership fees and bull testing fees with commissions are already paid by producers towards the operating expenses of the research farm, the Official Opposition’s Agriculture Critic suggested that a check-off fee at Atlantic Beef Products of a couple of dollars per head could help to keep the research farm operational. The Albany-based beef plant is the only beef plant on the east coast and slaughters 40,000 plus cattle annually.

Given the amount of under-utilized pasture on PEI that can grow forages and other grazing crops, Henderson also suggested that it could be suitable to move the research farm’s operations from Nappan to Prince Edward Island.

“A PEI-based research facility would tie in very well with the Atlantic Beef Products plant in Albany and the goals of the province’s Livestock Strategy to grow our herd while providing more soil fertility information and incorporating manures into our soils on PEI,” said Henderson.

Due to the important role that the Nappan farm plays in agriculture research across eastern Canada, Henderson said the provincial government needs to take action and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to prevent the Nappan research farm from closing.

“I’m calling on the provincial Minister of Agriculture to commence discussions on options that will see the continuation of beef research in the Maritimes and work towards the expansion of beef production on PEI before the Nappan research farm is permanently closed,” Henderson said.

“The knowledge generated at Nappan helps producers make better decisions that improve productivity and strengthen the entire beef industry. That's exactly the kind of investment the government should be protecting."