Parkland College has signed a memorandum of understanding with the East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) that will allow the partners to jointly pursue new agricultural applied research projects near Yorkton.

Several activities are already underway. The City of Yorkton is generously providing a lease on a plot of land close to the city. This site will provide ample testing space for applied research projects operated by the college and ECRF. It will also be used in hands-on instruction through the college’s 42-week Agriculture Crop Production program, which began in February.

Under the terms of the agreement, ECRF will hire a farm technician while the college will employ summer students or work experience students. College instructors Michael Hall and Sarah Lipoth will be the scientists involved in the new projects.

The ECRF is a non-profit organization established in 1996 on land just west of Canora. It undertakes applied research projects and demonstrates specialized crop protection technologies to local producers. Funding from government agencies allows the ECRF to conduct trials on everything from seed treatments and crop residues to fertilizer application rates and weed and pest control. The data are provided to the research community, agricultural industry and local producers. ECRF is one of eight producer-directed research and demonstration sites in Saskatchewan making up the Agriculture – Applied Research Management (Agri-ARM) network.