Crop project for hospital

The Health Foundation has a new crop project under way to help raise funds for a new hospital in the city.

The City of Yorkton has 750 acres of farmland bordering the city that it donated to our Farming for Health project. Funds raised from this project will go into a fund for the new regional hospital.

Foundation Executive Director Ross Fisher said there is a conceptual plan in place for the facility and when talking to the province

The idea of planting and harvesting a crop as a fundraiser is one which brings people involved in that industry into the folds in terms of supporting a new hospital, said Fisher. He said in planning the project they were able "to talk to people in the farm industry about giving us a hand providing some time, products and services."

Fisher said in terms of support "we've had huge buy-in with this project."

Darryl Flunder with Louis Dreyfus in Yorkton, and a member of the project committee said "everybody jumped on board," in terms of providing what was needed.

The list included Dow Agro Sciences providing Nexara canola seed at no cost, a near $60,000 donation.

Yorkton Distributors and Monsanto provided the chemical for spraying, White's Ag and Maple Farm Equipment did the seeding, Rocky Mountain Equipment and Yorkton New Holland did the spraying, Parrish and Heimbecker have donated fertilizer, Scott Park and Agri-Trend provided the soil testing and management, and Yorkton Co-op has donated the fuel for seeding, spraying and for harvest. In addition, Canamerra has agreed to do the trucking we will need at no-charge.

In all, we have 20 businesses that are working on and making contributions to this project. This project is a very strong indication of the strong support we have in the farm community for building a new regional hospital.

"It's been a good effort," said Flunder, who added the only costs the project has had to incur is some fertilizer and hail insurance costs.

Rick Lee said Yorkton Co-op has been involved in similar projects in the past, adding this one has great visibility, which is something sponsors obviously look for.

Flunder agreed, noting the new hospital really matches the area Louis Dreyfus services in purchasing canola from producers within a 200-kilometre of the canola plant.

"It's probably one of the best projects affecting the most people in our area," he said.

The current hospital provides service to a population of approximately 120,000 people.

In having the extended farm community involved in the project, Fisher said it goes to show the province there is indeed regional interest in a new hospital and a regional opportunity to raise part of the 20 per cent which must be generated locally.

"It demonstrates the community is behind it. It demonstrates that there is support in the farming community," he said.