CANADIAN FOODGRAINS BANK
Support for Foodgrains
Bank strong in Manitoba
BY PAT KEENA
The Pembina growing project near Manitou harvested over 90 acres of wheat
for the Foodgrains Bank this year. They dedicated the year to Ivan Bird, who
was an active member of the project until his passing earlier this year.
Ben Martens believes
in helping people
around the world who
are hungry.
“We have a responsibility
to look out for the
needy and oppressed,” he said. “And it
reflects my personal faith.”
Martens is a KAP member and
a director of the Manitoba Pulse and
Soybean Growers. He is also a longtime
participant of and one of hundreds
of farmers across Manitoba that
supports the work of the Canadian
Foodgrains Bank.
Started by Canadian farmers
35 years ago and nurtured over the
years by 15 member churches, church-
affiliated agencies, and the support of the
Canadian government, the Foodgrains
Bank provides emergency food in times
of crisis, long-term agricultural support
to people experiencing hunger, and
nutritional education and support, particularly
for children and pregnant and
nursing women.
This amounts to about $40 million a
year in assistance for people around the
world as the organization has grown to
be one of Canada’s largest humanitarian
assistance agencies.
This year, the Foodgrains Bank has
been declared an Impact Charity by
Charity Intelligence Canada, an independent
research agency.
“It is good community involvement,”
said Martens of his connection with the
Boissevain, Morden, Whitewater growing
project near Fairfax, Manitoba.
The BMW project rents a half-
section of land from “a very supportive
owner,” according to Martens, and has
a rotation of canola, wheat, and soybeans
that members of the project seed,
apply inputs, harvest, and deliver to the
account of the Foodgrains Bank.
“Harvest of the canola crop on that
land was a little delayed this year,” said
Martens. “It was amazing how that canola
came back from some hail that came
through the area, but it really seemed to
benefit from that moisture. We got close
to 55 bushels an acre.”
He adds that during harvest, the
spirit of giving and the feeling of community
was enhanced by a chicken dinner
for the participants.
In its early years of operation, the
Foodgrains Bank took delivery of bulk
grains and oilseeds directly from farmers
and shipped them around the world
to where they were needed. ❯❯
Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Winter 2019 § 25