The Killarney Growing Project put on an impressive display as community volunteers brought out 17 combines to take part in harvest efforts for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB).
“There were 17 combine operators, a few semi trucks, a grain cart, and it took just 58 minutes to harvest 148 acres,” said Betty Turner, project volunteer and Killarney Growing Project committee member.
“As far as volunteers, we had a couple of farmers come in with 40-foot swathers, Willow Creek Colony brought pies for lunch, the local Co-op fuelled us up, and the elevators opened their doors. The list goes on and on, we certainly couldn’t have done this without all the community support.”
Local producer, Ryan Sawatsky offered up his field for the project, located a few miles south of Killarney.
“Ryan is just a young farmer and to give up that land for a season and take on the extra work of combining the headlands and testing the grain to make sure it was dry, to do all of those things at such a busy time of the year is pretty unbelievable,” said Turner.
The group chose to grow 140P Invigor canola and harvested 6,406 bushels, with a value of $69,000.
“We chose that variety because it is high yielding and also for its shatter resistance. We had the option of going with either swathing or straight cutting. So, we chose swathing because we wanted to get as many people involved as we could,” said Turner.
The committee sought sponsors for the 148 acres at $250 an acre. All of the acres were sponsored by harvest.
“Even Grandma Turner sponsored an acre. She has farmed all her life and just felt so proud that she was growing an acre of canola knowing that it was going to get sold and help feed people in the world that needed her help,” said Turner.
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Proceeds from the crop are donated to the CFB, where the government of Canada matches donations four to one.
Funds raised aid CFB’s overarching goal of fighting global hunger, reducing malnutrition and achieving sustainable food security.
“Growing projects are a wonderful way that our rural communities support the work of ending hunger in the developing world,” said Harold Penner, regional co-ordinator with the CFB. “These communities work together and raise money and awareness in their communities of the need to help those who are hungry.”
The Killarney Growing Project is among more than 30 efforts involving 5,750 acres in Manitoba this year.
