Nova Scotia Experimental Farm Closure Sparks Political Dispute and Sector Concerns

A public dispute has emerged between federal and provincial representatives over the planned closure of the Nappan Experimental Farm in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, and the auctioning of its cattle herd, a move that has drawn criticism from the region’s farming community and raised questions about the future of scientific research in Atlantic Canada’s agriculture sector.

On June 24, Cumberland Colchester Liberal MP Alana Hirtle published an open letter accusing Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin of spreading misinformation and engaging in what Hirtle described as American-style politics. The contention centres on whether the sale of the farm’s cattle herd constitutes a “cull” or a regular dispersal process. Hirtle and the federal Department of Agriculture argue that the current actions do not amount to culling, while Smith-McCrossin and several agricultural stakeholders assert that the herd is being dismantled in a way that will irreversibly damage its unique genetic line and research value.

Hirtle’s letter, titled Addressing Misinformation, asserts, “There is no cull in the works for the cattle at Nappan Research Farm. There never was. Someone just... made it up. They told a lie on purpose. They wanted to use your emotions for their own purposes.” As supporting evidence, Hirtle shared a letter from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada deputy minister Lawrence Hanson, stating, “I wish to clarify that it has never been the intention of the department to cull the herd in Nappan.”

Despite these assurances, Hanson’s letter also confirmed that 130 head of the herd were sold at livestock auction in spring, with the remainder scheduled for sale once ongoing research concludes. All the herd’s bulls were auctioned off at the Atlantic Livestock Auction, as were steers involved in scientific trials. The dams, or breeding females, have not been bred, which industry observers say will reduce their auction value by nearly half in the upcoming fall sale.

Milton Dyck, president of the Agriculture Union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada—which represents nine Nappan farm employees—stated that the sale of all bulls and the halting of breeding indicates an intent to end the research herd, not continue it. Dyck explained that maintenance of genetic continuity through selective breeding has underpinned decades of scientific work at the farm. He described the current measures as unprecedented, noting, “By getting rid of the bulls they’re showing that there’s no intent to continue preserving the genetics of the herd.”

The Nappan Experimental Farm, established in 1883, is one of Canada’s original five experimental farms and the only federal facility in the region specializing in forages for cattle. Its mixture of dyke land and pasture has facilitated research tailored to Atlantic Canadian agricultural conditions. Typically, only a portion of the herd is sold each year, while the rest is retained for breeding and ongoing research.

The closure of the Nappan facility is part of a broader set of federal budget measures aimed at reducing the deficit. The 2024 federal budget set a target for multiple departments to cut spending by 15 percent by 2029, with the goal of shrinking the projected $78.3-billion deficit for 2025-26 to $53 billion by 2030. According to the Treasury Board, the federal civil service has grown by 110,000 employees over the past decade to 367,772. Dyck argued that research arms of the government, including Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, have not seen comparable staffing increases and are experiencing disproportionate cuts: “It’s all cuts to research... These cuts are going to the bone. When you cut research centres, you’ll never get that back because you’ll never be able to find the capital to build new ones.”

Smith-McCrossin, who was expelled from the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party and now sits as an Independent, has held public meetings with local farmers and federal Conservative representatives to rally opposition to the closure. On May 30, shortly after the auctioning of the bulls, she hosted a meeting in Amherst attended by federal Conservative agriculture critic John Barlow. A video released subsequently featured Barlow, Smith-McCrossin, and Ontario Conservative MP Dave Epp emphasizing the farm’s significance to Atlantic Canada. Epp stated, “This station has been here for 137 years for a reason, for its soil, for its climate, this cannot be duplicated anywhere else. Call your member of Parliament, make your voice known.”

Hirtle’s letter referenced this video, accusing Smith-McCrossin of “teaming up with multiple right-wing politicians, some from as far away as Alberta,” to spread what she characterized as misinformation. Hirtle further asserted, “Over the past five years (Smith-McCrossin has) made a habit of stoking rage, fear, and confusion. These actions have raised her profile – but they also got her kicked out of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.”

Smith-McCrossin responded that her primary concern is to advocate for her constituents and the regional farming sector: “The concern is not simply that animals are being sold. The concern is that federal decisions have reduced the animals’ value, halted research, weakened future breeding opportunities and increased the likelihood that a longstanding research herd will be permanently destroyed.” She declined to respond directly to Hirtle’s letter, saying, “I’m disappointed. I’m not going to respond to it. I’m going to try to keep this research farm open.”

In an interview, Hirtle stated she is still hoping to secure the farm’s future and is in discussions with Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald. She described the annual sale of cattle as routine, saying, “Every fall, like every year, the herd is auctioned off, that is my understanding. I mean, this is a regular process. There were calves conceived in the fall and born in the spring and then the cattle were auctioned off... That’s their annual process. There’s nothing unusual about that.” When asked directly if the herd is being dismantled, Hirtle responded, “A lot of farmers across the Maritimes are champing at the bit I think to get access to some of these cattle. It’ll go up for auction in the fall. But there are people who are quite anxious to breed these animals. This isn’t about necessarily slaughtering them for meat, this is about continuing the blood line.”

Doug Bacon, a cattle farmer and former president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, said the current situation is reminiscent of previous efforts to close the Nappan farm. He led a campaign two decades ago to prevent closure during prime minister Jean Chretien’s cost-cutting measures. Bacon argued that the value of local research, adapted to Atlantic Canada’s conditions, is not fully recognized by federal decision-makers: “The bureaucrats don’t realize the value of what we have here. Someone in Ottawa made a decision that they need to balance the budget without considering the value of agriculture or the research being done at that farm.”

The unfolding situation has prompted concern among farming and political communities in Atlantic Canada, with critics warning that the closure could undermine research capacity critical for the region’s cattle industry. Proponents of the closure frame it as a necessary component of broader fiscal restraint. The debate highlights tensions between federal budget objectives, regional research priorities, and the competing narratives advanced by political representatives.