The Yukon government is increasing its purchases of locally produced food through a three-year pilot project, says a government press release issued this week.

Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker addressed the Yukon Agriculture Association at an event held Monday at the government’s agricultural research and demonstration farm along the Takhini Hot Springs Road.

Spending time with local growers and producers was a great way to cap off the summer, Striecker told some 30-plus people in attendance.

He said the agricultural industry has been remarkably resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Demand for local farm products increased considerably, and our local industry rose to the challenge,” said Streicker.

“Thank you for your commitment to local food production during difficult times.”

The minister also extended thanks to the broader Yukon community for purchasing local and supporting the territory’s agricultural industry.

He also announced a new pilot project aimed at encouraging more farmers to sign up for the Yukon Grown program and creating greater public awareness about the territory’s agricultural industry.

The Yukon is now in its fourth year of the Canadian agricultural partnership, he pointed out.

Streicker told those gathered the Yukon has funded approximately 400 agricultural-related projects since the start of the partnership in 2018. There were 109 projects approved last year and 55 so far this year, the minister said.

The research farm provides the opportunity to test how successfully different plants and varieties of those plants can grow in the northern environment.

Currently, for instance, the farm has 18 varieties of potatoes growing, along with several other products, such as oats and barley, even berries and cherries.

Agrologist Randy Lamb of the territorial agricultural branch said the research farm provides for a number of learning opportunities.

Not only can you test the success of different crops, but it also serves to provide research into things like soil conditions, carbon sequestration and optimal temperatures for growth.

It enables researchers to pass on important information to farmers, he said.

Lamb said they’ll conduct research into specific products at the request of farmers.

Information collected from the potato trails will help the big farms, he said.

Lamb said growing in the territory can be a challenge, with only two to three per cent organic material in Yukon soil compared to 10 to 20 per cent on the prairies.

As part of the government project to stimulate more use of local products, the government has retained the Takhini River Ranch to help government institutions connect with local businesses to get healthy and nutritious food grown in the Yukon.

Government departments can now more easily source and purchase locally grown food, including groceries, meats and fresh produce, says the news release.

“This initiative is one of the Government of Yukon’s commitments under Our Clean Future to support local food producers through the procurement process,” the statment says/

The release notes:

“Some of the Government of Yukon’s continuing care homes and the Whitehorse General Hospital are using the procurement tool to purchase local food products for their in-house food services. The continuing care facilities are Copper Ridge Place and Whistle Bend Place in Whitehorse and McDonald Lodge in Dawson City.”

The government spends approximately $3 million annually on groceries, food and associated food preparation and serving supplies through various services such as continuing care and correctional facilities, education and school programs, wildfire camps and more.

Last week, the agricultural association called on farmers to boycott Monday’s demonstration event because it believes its members are not being heard by the government on the issue of elk management.

“We have followed the processes, attended the meetings, written letters, and still our membership feels unheard on this issue” Cain Vangel, the association’s president, said in a press release.

“Farmers are losing their livelihood and having their fields devastated by the Takhini River valley elk herd. We need urgent action to keep the elk, introduced to the area by Yukon Government, out of our fields so we can keep our crops and livestock safe.

“The government talks a big game about supporting farmers and local agriculture, but at the end of the day, we still have fields full of elk damaged crops,” continued Vangel.

“We are urging invited farmers to boycott Yukon Government’s Agricultural Demonstration Day as a show of solidarity, and in hopes that the government will come back to the table with meaningful solutions.”