About the Farm

The Beaverlodge Research Farm is the most northerly of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's network of Centres or Farms (Latitude: 55.20045°, Longitude: -119.39841°).  We acknowledge the research site is located on Treaty 8 territory.  The original Dominion Research Station was established in 1917 and now the Beaverlodge Research Farm operates within the Science and Technology Branch (STB) of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).  There are 22 full-time staff members based at the Farm including research scientists, biologists, technical support, administrative, and facility people.  Each spring, ~15 post-secondary students are hired to support research.  Currently, there are five research programs based at the Beaverlodge Research Farm:

- Insect Pest Management
- Agronomy & Crop Adaptation (Oilseed & Cereal Breeding)
- Integrated Forage Crop Management
- Apiculture & Honebee Health
- Bee Omics & Pollination
- Soil Health and Fertility

Key industry stakeholders supporting research by the various programs include:
Alberta Grains
Alberta Beekeepers Commission
Alberta Canola 
Canadian Honey Council
Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance
Canola Council of Canada
Peace Region Forage Seed Association
Western Grains Research Foundation

In terms of capacity, the Farm:
•  Is the MOST NORTHERLY AAFC-STB site on the prairies so it plays an important role in testing winter hardiness and adaptability to our short-season growing environment.
•  Has a land base of 320 hectares dedicated to agricultural research.
•  Has scientific laboratories supporting entomology, apiculture, crop and soil science.
•  Operates one greenhouse comprised of three independent compartments supporting plant propagation and breeding activities.
•  Has three walk-in controlled environment cabinets supporting plant propagation and breeding activities.
•  Has two walk-in refrigerated units and one walk-in freezer.
•  Has 12 independently controlled dryer units supporting field plot research.
•  Manages 300 honeybee colonies with commercial scale honey extraction plant and indoor wintering facilities.

The Beaverlodge Research Farm also hosts the National Bee Diagnostic Centre and researchers and technical staff working out of this newly expanded facility work closely with AAFC's Apiculture program.

The town of Beaverlodge is located 49 kilometres west of the City of Grande Prairie. It's a rural town of 2365 people surrounded by farmland. The Beaverlodge Research Farm is located at 100038 Township Road 720 and can be accessed easily by turning west off of Hwy 43 at Beaverlodge.

Find our more by clicking the poster below which was prepared by 2014 Agronomy Student Assistant, Trina Drummond.

2014 Agronomy and IPM staff & students

Aerial view of Town of Beaverlodge (upper left) and
AAFC-Beaverlodge (denoted by red star).


The Admin. Building at AAFC-Beaverlodge viewed from the historical peony flower bed.