The Health Foundation kicked off another season of Farming for Health May 8 as volunteers started seeding 250 acres of City land on Grain Millers Road.
With another 310-acre parcel also donated by the City, the canola crop should raise approximately $200,000 toward a new hospital for Yorkton and area, explained Ross Fisher, executive director of the foundation.
“This farming project is a crucial part of our campaign raising awareness of the need for a new hospital,” Fisher said. “The great support of the agricultural community shows the government there is a willingness to raise the community share of the funds for a new hospital.”
Almost all of the costs associated with the project are covered by in-kind donations. In addition to the City’s land contribution, Maple Farm equipment is providing the tractor and labour for this year’s seeding.
A new partner in the project this year is SeedMaster, an independent, Saskatchewan-based manufacturer of large, no-till precision seeding equipment.
The company brought one of its new systems up from Regina for the kick-off Friday.
“This is the kind of project that SeedMaster likes to participate in, helping a community initiative to raise funds for something that will benefit a lot of people,” said Cory Beaujot, SeedMaster marketing director.
It was a bit of a sneak preview of the new equipment, which Seedmaster plans to unveil along with new company branding at the Regina Farm Progress Show in June.
The remainder of the inputs, seed, fertilizer, fuel etc., are purchased from local providers at discounted prices.
