Mont St. Joseph’s reaps what Field of Future sows

A local business gathered donations, put in some field time, and now a local senior’s care home is reaping the benefits.

Last year Moker and Thompson Implements decided to plant wheat on extra land not needed for its crop testing and donate the proceeds to Prince Albert foundations.

They decided to repeat the venture this year, but with a few tweaks. Mont St. Joseph Foundation was decided as the recipient earlier this year. Last year the proceeds were split between the Red River Roping and Riding Club and the Victoria Hospital Foundation.

Also, Moker and Thompson rotated the crop from wheat to canola. This was motivated partially to practice “good agronomic rotation” and partially for financial reasons, said Arron McLean, operations manager with Moker and Thompson Implements.

“Traditionally canola is a good financial crop. This year the growing conditions weren’t as good as last year. The pricing and commodities isn’t as good as it was.”

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As many area farmers noticed this year, the crop went in late and at an average of 36 bushels an acre the crop didn’t have as high of a yield as expected.

The crop certainly didn’t produce anything to turn your nose up at though, McLean handed a cheque worth $32,436.36 to representatives with the Mont St. Joseph Foundation.

Staff and residents at the facility showed up in the foundation’s bus to accept the donation. It will fund equipment and furniture upgrades, which one person pointed out come entirely from donations rather than any government funds.

McLean was quick to point out other companies were quick to offer time and equipment since Moker and Thompson doesn’t have bins, augers, and hauling equipment for the project.

“Everybody we’ve ever asked to have help has been phenomenal in the support they give and never had someone say ‘no I can’t help you,’” he said.

When asked if there were any changes in support between this year and last, he laughed and said “maybe we don’t feel as bad asking now, I don’t know. But yes, anything we needed we seem to find.”

Contributing companies this year was SeedHawk, Prince Albert Co-op and Production Services, Fremont Trucking, Case IH, MacDon, Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, BASF, FCC
and Markit Signs.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk