Volunteers with Ponoka’s Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) finished planting barley in preparation for this season’s harvest.
Members got together with two seeders Thursday, May 21 at their 170-acre field south of Ponoka to finish seeding the land with barley, said farmer and volunteer Johan Feitsma. He says their goal is to eradicate hunger around the world.
The hope is that the crop will bring in a large amount of money that will benefit the CFB’s goals. For more than a decade, the Ponoka branch has been farming on the same 170-acres, added Feitsma.
Spring seeding has been going well as Feitsma believes the field has the right conditions for barley they planted. “It is good actually. It is good for germination. We still need spring rains of course,” he said.
Feitsma hopes they will be able to sell the barley in the $4 per bushel range once harvest is complete and if the season goes well, they will have quite a bit to sell. Donations from local agricultural product dealers is helping ensure the Ponoka branch will be able to keep its costs down, said Feitsma of the joint effort between the many farmers in the community.
Alberta has several projects for the FCB this year, added Terence Barg, a regional co-ordinator for (CFB). Ponoka’s is one of 36, Barg said excitedly.
“It’s just encouraging when you see businesses, farmers and community members come together,” said Brag. “Working together for one cause of ending hunger.”
“That’s really what CFB is about. Getting Canadians involved,” he added.
Brag says matching contributions from the federal government gives the CFB an opportunity to raise more money to reach their goals.
“We’re very appreciative of these groups that do this,” said Brag.