Swathing operations could begin as early as this week on a special half-section of land in southeast Saskatchewan.
The proceeds from about 285 acres of a promising canola crop will be donated to the Hearthstone Committee, the group charged with the task of raising $8 million for a new regional nursing home in Estevan.
"If everything works as planned and prices stay strong, it could mean anywhere from a $60,000 to $100,000 donation," said local entrepreneur, farmer and oilpatch supplier, Ray Frehlick, who donated the land and some of the labour toward the community cause.
The idea to take this route was hatched around an evening discussion that involved several other individuals representing local and regional business enterprises.
Mike Marr, sales manager for Red Head Equipment of Estevan, got his company on board, then did the seeding, and they will assist with the swathing and combining as the group will focus on getting the crop into the bin.
But there may not even have to be bin-time for this special crop because Randy Riege, director of operations for Richardson Pioneer Ltd., the southeast Saskatchewan sector, has stated the company he represents has agreed to buy the crop straight from the combine at the going price.
The Hearthstone Harvest, the committee noted, has also attracted the attention of farm input suppliers Bayer CropScience and Monsanto, who have added to the donation pile by providing their farm chemicals for weed and insect control, gratis.
"It's a good way to raise a little awareness. When we're done, we expect to hand a nice little cheque over to these people," Frehlick said, nodding toward Hearthstone representatives Vern Buck, Tania Andrist and Rick Seipp, who were in the field on Aug. 5, checking on the crop along with Marr.
"With weed, spray and fertilizer costs gone away, it should be a great way to make more money for a new nursing home, which we need badly in this area," said Frehlick. "What better way is there to get the new facility off the ground."
Frehlick Farms donated not only their leased land but also some spraying time.
"We could be combining by the end of August," said Marr, taking a closer look at the canola that was no longer blooming and had advanced to the maturing stage of development. "So far it looks pretty good. We won't need any more rain or anything like that, just some sunshine and a little farming luck. Now we want other people in the area to get involved, too."
Buck, spokesman for Hearthstone, said the committee was able to confirm that they had reached the $7.5 million mark in the fundraising and this effort would help bring the campaign into the homestretch.
