b'FIELD ACCESSThe Importance ofField AccessScientists have long relied on entering fields at random to conduct research but that is now at risk.RESEARCH SCIENTISTS WHOstudy plant weeds, pests andAcross the Prairies, rules differ for provincial employees and diseases routinely enter random farm fields to create beneficialwhat level of permission is required to enter a field. Federally, all reports. Without being able to gain access to regularly monitoremployees must have explicit permission from a landowner prior plants, this critical extension aspect of their job would be extremelyto entering a field for any reason. Agriculture and Agri-Food difficult to complete. The practice, though, is well understood byCanada (AAFC) would not answer specific questions about field Prairie farmers, who know the plant material scientists extract isaccess, and only supplied a pre-written statement which noted, in carefully removed, analyzed and later used to ultimately benefitpart, that: All AAFC research teams are required to seek written additional researchers, breeders and farmers with informedpermission before accessing private lands. To facilitate the process, management information.a land access permission system is in place for this important AAFC That said, not all access by government staff is viewed soon-farm research to continue.positively by farmers. The work of government came into aResearchers are concerned less access and ability to monitor contentious limelight in August 2022 when federal employeescould greatly impact the work they do to bring farmers quality were collecting water samples from dugouts at Pense, Sask. Theinformation in a timely manner.story made headlines, saw mudslinging happen between ReginaMike Harding works for the provincial government at Brooks, and Ottawa and even sparked a knee-jerk Order in Council byAlta., where his scientific work focuses on plant pathology. His the Saskatchewan government to amend its trespassing lawswork requires access to farmers fields and its not a responsibility he immediately after the news broke.takes lightly. Local ag fieldman and Dilini Adihetty, a PhD student at the University of Alberta, examines variation in the spot blotch pathogen of barley in eastern Alberta in 2021. PHOTO: KELLY TURKINGTON8seed.ab.ca'