Now in its fifth year, the Coaldale-Lethbridge Foodgrains Growing Project has seeded its 2011 crop.
Last Tuesday the barley seed went into the ground on land a mile south of Readymade. John Kartsen, with the local foodgrains project, said Elke Wiersma has rented the land to the project this year which allowed the group to seed a full 160 acres.
Karsten said the wet spring weather has delayed seeding not just for the foodgrains crop but for all farmers in the region.
“The farmers on the committee have been very antsy.”
He said most of them were also in their own fields last week putting in their own crops.
The local growing project had a bigger challenge securing land for the crop this year.
The demand for farm land is high in the region which delayed the local group from being able to find land earlier in the spring.
“It’s getting tougher every year. There is such demand.”
Committee member Bob Wallace said there is always a need for the funds generated by the local foodgrains crops around the world.
He is impressed with the support the local project continues to receive each year.
“It always seems to come together,” said Karsten.
This year support has increased for the fertilizer and Viterra has donated the seed for the crop.
“It’s off to a great start.”
In order to cover the cost of growing the crop and increasing the amount of funds that can be donated to help battle Third World hunger, acre sponsorships are needed.
This year, due in part to the increase in land rental, the sponsorship per acre has been set at $210.
Anyone can sponsor an acre for this growing season and can donate through their local church congregation or send their support via committee member Herb Wall.