86 Follow us on @PrairieFarming Better Farming | July/August 2024 In 1886, Dr. William Saunders was designated as the first director of the newly established Dominion Experimental Farm in Ottawa by the Canadian government. Tasked with overseeing the organization of Canada's experimental farms, Saunders, originally a pharmacist, had a deep interest in plant breeding. His pioneering efforts in this field were crucial for the advancement of grain science in Canada, especially in improving wheat cultivation techniques, according to From a Single Seed: Tracing the Marquis Wheat Success Story in Canada to its Roots in the Ukraine by Stephan Symko, published by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. With a will to learn directly from the heart of the breadbasket, Saunders embarked on a journey across Canada in his first year as director, carefully studying the nation's soils and climate while engaging with farmers to understand their needs. He focused his travels in Western Canada, where he encountered fields of Red Fife wheat with promising yields. Travelling through the Assiniboine and Indian Head areas, Saunders journeyed thousands of miles via horse and carriage, stopping at farms large and small to gather opinions and concerns from the agricultural community. This direct feedback proved critical, shaping his efforts to craft wheat strains that could thrive under the distinct environmental conditions of Canada. Farmers highlighted the need for wheat that could withstand drought and early frost, which spurred Saunders on his quest to address these agricultural hurdles, as detailed in Stephan Symko’s From a Single Seed. During his travels in Saskatchewan, Saunders formed an important partnership with Angus MacKay, a forward-thinking farmer who became an instrumental part of plant science research in Canada. MacKay's extensive experience and practical insight were essential to their collaborative work on enhancing wheat strains. His deep understanding of the challenges Prairie farmers faced was key to tailoring solutions that met the specific agricultural needs of Western Canada. Saunders and MacKay engaged in comprehensive field experiments, evaluating various wheat species and farming methods to determine the most suitable elements for the region’s environmental conditions. Beyond his collaborative work with Saunders, MacKay made significant individual contributions to agriculture science. Notably, around 1885, he pioneered the practice of summer fallow, a revolutionary agricultural technique at the time. This method involved tilling the land and leaving it unseeded for a season to boost soil moisture and ensure a stronger crop yield the following year. In recognition of his expertise and leadership in farming practices, MacKay was chosen in 1888 to establish the inaugural Dominion Experimental Farm in the Canadian West in Indian Head, as mentioned in The Canadian Encyclopedia. The partnership between Saunders and MacKay exemplified the spirit of innovation and cooperation that defined Canada's agricultural landscape at the time. Their shared commitment to advancing Canadian agriculture fueled their efforts to develop wheat varieties that not only addressed the immediate needs of farmers but also laid the foundation for long-term sustainability and prosperity of agriculture in the Prairies. BF RURAL ROOTS Angus MacKay William Saunders publications.gc.ca photo canada.ca photo WILLIAM SAUNDERS & ANGUS MACKAY Remembering two of Canada’s agricultural visionaries. By Eugenie Officer EUGENIE OFFICER Eugenie grew up on a farm and has a degree in history and agriculture and is working towards an MBA in sustainability.
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