The Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists Celebrates its 60th Anniversary

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

It is a professional regulatory body much like that which governs the activities of physicians and lawyers. After all, if an agrologist tells you there is a nutrient deficiency in your soil, you want to make sure that recommendation comes from someone whose practices are recognized as sound by his or her peers. That is precisely what the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists is there for, and it has been around for 60 years.

Bruce Hobin, executive director/registrar of the SIA, explains that it is his role to work with the Admissions Committee and the SIA Council to make sure that the people who become professional agrologists have the right credentials.

"We admit them initially as articling agrologists (AAg), and they move on to become professional agrologists. When members join us, there are a number of requirements they must complete before becoming professional agrologists.”

When the articling requirements are successfully completed, applicants become professional agrologists, who can use the designation PAg. To maintain their professional status, SIA agrologists are required to take part in ongoing professional development.

“When you see the designation PAg, or you hear the word agrologist, you have an assurance that the person is qualified to provide agricultural advice,” explains Hobin.

The Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (SIA) was established by The Saskatchewan Agrologists Act in 1946. The Act makes it compulsory for anyone practicing agrology in Saskatchewan to be a member of the SIA.

Agrologists have played a significant role in the development of the agricultural sector in Saskatchewan. The idea was to have a professional body with the legislated authority to protect the interests of the public in issues related to agricultural production and processing.

“When the first agrologist members were admitted, they dealt primarily with conventional production,” says Hobin. “They were involved in crop and livestock production, or helping with farm management issues. But now, it seems we have a broader spectrum of agrologists.

"We have agrologists who still work in traditional agriculture, but you now have agrologists who work with environmental issues and wildlife management, and even in the oil industry, where agrologists work in soil reclamation. We also have many more agrologists who are involved with agricultural processing and the various issues related to that. So the profession has evolved in many ways.”

The SIA has about 1,000 members who are professional or articling agrologists.

“We also have approximately another 40 agricultural technologists who have a diploma in agriculture and who are therefore recognized as having post-secondary training in applied agriculture."

The profession of agrology has become increasingly specialized over the years, and from that comes the fact that agrologists, like doctors, practise only in their area of expertise.

The word “agrologist” is derived from the Greek words “agros” meaning land, or farm, and “logist” meaning scientist. The term designates persons who have attained at least a university degree, and who are members of a professional institute of agrologists. The basic criterion for membership in SIA is a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from a recognized university. Other degrees, deemed by the council of the SIA to be equivalent to a degree in agriculture, may be accepted if an applicant indicates to the council an adequate training and knowledge of the agri-food industry. In some cases, additional training is required before the holder of an equivalent degree is deemed eligible for admission as an articling agrologist.

The largest employer of professional agrologists in Saskatchewan is Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

For more information, contact:

Bruce Hobin, PAg
Executive Director/Registrar
Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 242-2606