Scott Research Farm Centennial 1910-2010

Video Transcript

[Fade up from black.]

[Retro-sounding electronic background music.]

[Canada wordmark and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada signature. The title of the video appears on screen.]

Text on screen: Scott Research Farm Centennial 1910-2010

[Fade to white.]

[Fade up from white.]

[An aerial photo of the Scott Research Farm. The camera slowly zooms in to the main buildings.]

Male narrator:
The year 2010 marks a century of innovation and progress at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Scott Research Farm.

[The signage in front of the Scott Research Centre. We see a large, permanent sign indicating the name of the research centre, and its link back to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Government of Canada.]

As an important part of the Saskatoon Research Centre, the Scott Research Farm focuses on four program areas...

[A still photo of a research plot containing three distinct, but unidentified, crops. The camera tilts up slowly to show more of the plot.]

...cultivar evaluation...

[A still photo of a man holding and examining a canola plant in bloom. More blooming canola plants can be seen in the background. The camera zooms in slowly to focus on the canola flowers in his hand.]

...soil and crop management, weed management and pesticide minor use.

[A still image of the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. The map is colour-coded to show the different soil zones of the Canadian prairies. Each research centre is marked on the map. The map indicates that the Scott Research Centre is one of only a few centres located in the dark brown soil zone.]

This research farm is unique in that it is one of the few farms located in the Dark Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairies.

[A still, black and white image of the Scott Research Centre in 1910. The camera slowly zooms into one of the buildings to show the words "Dominion Experimental Station, Scott Saskatchewan" written on the roof.]

The Scott Research Farm began as part of the Dominion Experimental Farms Service.

[A still, black and white image of a very old tractor pulling farming equipment. Two people can be seen in the cab of the tractor, while another two people are standing behind the tractor, next to the additional farming equipment in the photo.]

It was established in 1910 to serve farmers in western Saskatchewan.

[A still, black and white image of research plots and a small sign. The sign indicates that these particular plots are being used for fertilizer trials.]

Text on screen: Fertilizer trials. Supervised by Dominion Experimental Farm, Scott.

Over the last century, activities at the Scott Research Farm have been intimately involved...

[A still, black and white image of several research plots at the Scott Research Centre.]

...with the growth and development of the agricultural industry in western Canada.

[A still, black and white photo of a research centre employee examining a tree. This fades to another still, black and white photo of a hedge collection.]

The first 25 years of the Scott Research Farm are highlighted by the planting of orchards...

[A still, black and white photo of a man examining wheat in a wheat field.]

...testing of cereal and horticulture crops...

[A still, black and white photo of a herd of cattle standing in a pen. The cattle are looking at the camera.]

...and the introduction of a cattle herd...

[A still, black and white photo of a flock of chickens eating grain from the ground.]

...a poultry flock, and sheep and swine.

[A still, black and white photo of the sign on one of the illustration stations.]

Text on screen: Agriculture Canada Research Branch, Experimental Project Farm, R. Kisling - Owner

Illustration stations came into effect at this time. These stations were important in demonstrating practices to reduce the severe erosion...

[A black and white image of a young boy standing on top of a pile of topsoil. The height of the pile shows how much topsoil was lost during the dustbowls of the 1930s.]

...that occurred during the dustbowls of the 1930s.

[A still, black and white photo of a Rescue crabapple tree.]

The "Rescue" crabapple, one of the most common crabapple cultivars on the Prairies, was selected at the Scott Research Farm.

[A still, black and white photo of two men crouching in a research plot. They have a wood frame on the ground in front of them. The appear to be conducting research.]

Between 1935 and 1960, weed control practices were refined...

[A still, black and white photo of a man crouching beside a small tent. The tent is being used as a control mechanism for fertilizer testing.]

...and research work on herbicides, such as 2,4-D, was initiated.

[A still, black and white photo of plots of bromegrass growing on the research farm. The camera slowly pans from left to right.]

Evaluation of perennial forages resulted in a viable bromegrass seed production industry in the area.

[A still, black and white aerial photo of the Scott Research Centre. Test plots and fields surround the Centre.]

Between 1960 and 1985...

[A still, black and white photo of a man wearing a suit and tie, crouching in a wheat field. The wheat on his left side is quite tall while the wheat on his right side is quite short. He is using his hands to illustrate the difference in growth between the two different wheat plots.]

...research on nitrogen fertilizer application and placement resulted in improved crop yields and more efficient use of nitrogen.

[A still, black and white photo of a fertilizer truck in a field. There is a man on top of the truck, driving it and controlling the long spray arm off the back of the truck. He is spraying herbicide on the field.]

Weed control research during this time resulted in farmers achieving cost-effective weed control while minimizing environmental impact.

[A still, black and white photo of two young men in a wheat field. They are cutting bushels of wheat and tying them together.]

No matter what the decade, a common site on this farm is the seed plot.

[A still, black and white photo of a farmer standing in a bare field. He is standing beside a horse-drawn seeder that he will use to plant the seeds for a new crop.]

Originally planted by horse-drawn seeders...

[Cross-fade to a colour shot of tractor pulling a custom seeder through the same seed field as the black and white photo before.]

...they now use custom-made miniature seeders.

[A young woman is crouching in a field. She is holding an electronic device. One by one she grabs the leaves of the plants surrounding her, and uses the electronic device to capture readings from the leaves.]

As a research facility, the farm at Scott does highly controlled tests on these plots by measuring everything from the number of plants per plot to the level of disease and insect damage on each plant.

[A close-up view of an unidentified bush. The camera slowly zooms out to show several of these unidentified bushes growing together.]

Cultivars of many plant types are evaluated here, as is the potential for new crops.

[A close-up view of potato plants in bloom. The camera slowly zooms out to show the surroundings. We can see a test plot of flowering canola in the background.]

Since 1986, the Scott Research Farm has played a prominent role in the development of Conservation Tillage Technology...

[A woman is crouching in a field that is overrun by weeds. She is looking at the weeds and using her hands to push them aside to examine additional weeds.]

...through research on crop rotations, fertility management and weed control.

[A man is standing in a canola field in full bloom. Using his hands, he is thoroughly examining a cluster of canola flowers. The camera slowly zooms into the canola flowers in his hands.]

Today, scientists at Scott are involved in an award-winning "Alternative Cropping Study," which studies how crops affect a broad range of agronomic...

[A young man is crouching in a test plot. There is a laptop computer sitting on a hard case beside him. In front of him there is a metal pipe protruding from the ground. He slowly lowers a black canister into this pipe. There is a wire leading from the canister back to the laptop so that the young man can record the results of his experiment.]

...soil, pest, economic, energy, environmental and biodiversity factors.

[A man and a woman are standing in a test plot. The woman is holding a clipboard and a pen. The man is bent over and is using his hands to examine the plants for pests. The woman records the results on the clipboard.]

The Scott Research Farm has become the Prairie test site for the Minor Use Pesticide Program, which aims to help farmers stay competitive by improving their access to new...

[A man is crouching in a field. He is holding an electronic testing device. As he is looking at the plants in front of him, he is recording the results in his testing device.]

...effective and safe crop protection products.

[An exterior shot of several test plots at the Scott Research Centre. Each plot holds a different crop or cultivar. The camera slowly pans right to show an increasing number of test plots.]

Since 2002, about 250 trials on over 50 different crop types have been conducted involving 67 different herbicides, fungicides or insecticides.

[Three people (two males and one female) are standing amongst test plots. Using hoes, they remove the weeds from in between the plots.]

Staff have always been important to the success of the farm.

[A man is driving a red tractor beside a group of test plots. He appears to be cutting the grass. There is a field of canola in bloom behind him.]

Today, the Scott Research Farm currently has 800 acres of cropland...

[A woman is crouching next to a test plot. She is pulling plants out of the ground and holding them in her hand.]

...and 13 full-time staff. The staff more than doubles in the growing season...

[A man and a young woman are in a field of test plots. The plots have just started to grow. They are using small, pink flags to mark each test plot.]

...with the employment of seasonal workers and summer students.

[A close-up shot of a piece of testing equipment used by the Scott Research Centre.]

Researchers at Scott benefit by working with the latest technology for data collection...

[A woman is sitting in front of a computer at a desk. On the screen we can see a graph and tables illustrating the results from field tests. A man approaches the desk. Together they review the data found in the graph.]

...analysis and interpretation. Tools like Geographic Information Systems and Variable Rate Application can result in important efficiencies and better decision-making.

[A view of numerous test plots at the Scott Research Centre. While we can see many plots, each plot contains canola being tested under different conditions.]

Today, Scott continues to be a leader in studying optimum soil, crop and nutrient management for Prairie farmers...

[A man is standing amongst the plants in a test plot. He is holding an electronic testing device. Using his hands, he pushes the plants around to examine them and record his results.]

...and is involved in such partnerships as the Pulse Research Network and the Prairie Canola Agronomic Research Program.

[A young woman is walking through a test plot holding a device that looks like a metal detector. She is holding the detection end of the device over the plants being tested. She slowly walks towards camera.]

Scott is unique for its leadership and participation in the Alternative Cropping Study.

[A male scientist is in a laboratory. He places three potted test plants into a glass cabinet and shuts the doors. Using a control panel, he engages the machine to spray the test plants with a liquid.]

The net result of large interdisciplinary research is an agricultural production system that is environmentally and economically sustainable.

[A close-up shot of a dandelion swaying in the breeze. The dandelion has already turned white and is ready to release its seeds.]

The Scott Research Farm also works in weed management. Staff are involved in studies of both chemical...

[A man driving a red sprayer tractor is amongst a group of test plots. The sprayer arms are extended and are releasing herbicide onto the test plots. The man is wearing protective clothing to protect himself from the herbicide.]

...and cultural or mechanical control.

[A close-up shot of the sprayers on the red tractor. We can see a fine white mist being released from the sprayer heads.]

Significant effort is being directed toward managing...

[A view of a couple of test plots with different cultivars in each. The camera pans up slowly to show more of the plots.]

...herbicide-resistant weeds, using strategies that integrate several modes of herbicide action...

[A man and a woman are crouching in a test plot. They are removing weeds from the ground.]

...and evaluating new biocontrols for weeds.

[A close-up view of an unidentified oilseed plant. The camera zooms out to show more of the test plot. The plants are blowing in the wind.]

The Scott Research Farm is also leading agronomic studies on the production of two new oilseed crops...

[A close-up of yellow flowers similar to those found on a canola plant. An individual holds the flowers and shows them to the camera.]

...camelina and Ethiopian mustard.

[A large group of people are walking by the test plots. These are members of the general public who are visiting the farm for a tour. The camera changes angles to show us the group of interested people from a different angle.]

The beneficiaries of this research farm's work are not only Canadian producers, but also consumers at home and abroad who gain from having...

[A large crowd of people fill an open, graveled area at the Scott Research Centre. These are members of the general public who are visiting the farm for a tour. The camera pans to the right to show just how big the crowd of people really is.]

...an innovative, competitive, profitable and environmentally responsible agricultural sector.

[An unidentified man and Gerry Ritz, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, remove a large, blue tarp from a sign.]

It's been 100 years...

[A close-up on the text on the sign that was just revealed. The camera zooms out slowly to reveal the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada standing beside the new sign.]

Text on screen: Scott Research Farm, celebrating 100 years. Founded in 1910.

...and the Scott Research Farm continues to serve Canadian farmers.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada signature]

Text on screen: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Text on screen: © Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of Canada, as represented by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2010.

[Canada wordmark]

[Fade to black.]

[Retro-sounding electronic background music fades out.]