The Experimental Farm Series contains photos, maps and textual records of the Government of Canada’s Indian Head Experimental Farm – now the Indian Head Research Farm.
Angus MacKay, who had come to Indian Head as a settler, became the first superintendent. It originally occupied Section 19, Township 18, Range 12, West of 2, which was purchased from the Bell Farm, and Section 30 (the North Farm) was added later. The main office is at coordinates 50.5328; -103.6520.
Angus MacKay’s priorities in the first years were to find and demonstrate adapted cereal crops, vegetables, fruits and shelter trees and shrubs for prairie settlers. The shelterbelt trees and shrubs were in such high demand that a separate Forest Nursery Station (Tree Nursery) was created by the federal government south of Indian Head on an unused “school quarter” in 1901.
The archival materials span the entire history of the Experimental Farm / Research Farm, including stories like the testing and introduction of Marquis wheat, long-term crop rotations, summerfallowing, direct seeding and livestock research. There is information about many past employees and there are many publications that originated from this important and historic research station.
