A hay-drying tower, the first on the continent, was built in 1971. It had a capacity of more than 80 tonnes dry matter. The first forage systems engineer, Dr.W. Coates, was hired in 1973,

Black and white photograph of Melfort Research Station Superintendent Jack McPhail and his wife Betty (Minnie) around 1940.

Men and threshing equipment at Roy Lobb's farm near Melfort, Saskatchewan. Stook loader in the background.

Palmolive's Happy Gang. L-R: Hugh Bartlett, Toddy (spaniel), Eddie Allen, Judy (8 months), Bobby Gimby, Blain Mathe, Joe Niosi, Lou Snider, Jimmy Namaro, Cliff and Terry McKay, Kathleen Stokes, Bert Pearl "the Happy Gang's own pappy", Murn (Mrs. Eddie Allen), Grace (Mrs. Bobby) and Lyn Gimby, Hilda (Mrs. Blain) Mathe, Mary (Mrs. Joe) Niosi, Sally and Eleanor (Mrs. Lou Snider), Denise, Anne (Mrs. Jimmy Namaro) and Linda, Patricia, Vera (Mrs. Cliff) McKay, Joan and Sally McKay

Forage harvesting research was started in 1971 in co-operation with the Engineering Research Service at Ottawa. Forage produced under various systems was evaluated by feeding to beef cattle. A hay-drying tower, the first on the continent, was built in 1971. It had a capacity of more than 80 tonnes dry matter. The first forage systems engineer was hired in 1973 Dr. W. Coates. The metal roof, suspended with a winch system, is supported by 4, H beams, bolted to metal plates anchored in concrete piles.

A major cattle management project, in co-operation with the province of Saskatchewan, was initiated in 1974 with the purchase of 280 Hereford heifers and the provision by the province of 1.5 sections of land at the Pathlow Community Pasture.

Aerial view of the animal sheds and feeder at the Melfort Research Station.

View of the hay shelter or shed (stored bale system) at the Melfort Research Station.

View of the pasture at Pathlow. Clarence Baptist is seen unloading livestock from a trailer.

Anthony Ahle is seen holding a pullet; chickens were kept at the Research Farm during the 1950’s. There was also a poultry plant at the farm.

Inside the animal lab at the Melfort Research Station; from left to right: Harry Tkachuk, Morris Hiltz, the other person is unknown at this time.

Exterior view of the Soils Lab Building at the Melfort Research Station; it is white in color and has a flat roof, trees in foreground.

An aerial view of the Melfort Research Farm in the winter time.