Local Moose Jaw farmer goes above and beyond to help plant and harvest the Ag and Food Production program crop

October 2024

Another successful harvest helped close out the season at the Moose Jaw Agriculture & Food Production diploma program’s 20-acre farm site. Ken McDougall of McDougall Acres harvested chickpeas in the first week of September.

McDougall Acres donated seed, time and equipment to plant their signature variety of pearl kabuli chickpeas on the program’s farmland in the spring. The seed variety was developed by McDougall together with the Crop Development Centre.

Bryan Sarauer, program head and instructor says, “The program faculty maintained the crop throughout the growing season by spraying for weeds and diseases. McDougall harvested the crop with his equipment.”

The estimated value of this year’s harvest is between $10-15K. The proceeds of the sale will be finalized once the chickpeas are sold to market. The proceeds from the sale of the seed will then be donated back to the program.

Sarauer says, “We are two for two of having incredible help the past couple years from great farmer neighbours. Another local farmer volunteered to harvest the crop last year at no cost to the program. He also donated the proceeds of the sale of the grain to the program.”

Deanna Herman, associate dean, Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades says, “We are very fortunate to have the tremendous support of the local farmers who are working closely with our program in Moose Jaw. This solidifies the value and importance of having a program like this available, especially the support that is shown for our students who want to get into farming and food production.”

The three-year Agriculture and Food Production diploma program takes on 30 students each year and includes three paid co-operative education work terms. The program covers all aspects of farm management including crop and beef cattle production, soil and crop nutrition, yield, water and rangeland management, Indigenous resource rights, financials, commodity marketing and more.

Learn more about Sask Polytech’s Agriculture and Food Production diploma program.