We are seeking a permanent, full-time Field Research Specialist to join our dynamic team and serve our farmer members who grow wheat, winter wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax in Manitoba.
The Field Research Specialist is responsible for the execution and management of MCA’s sunflower variety performance trials and the Manitoba Corn Committee trials. This individual will also collaborate with MCA’s sunflower breeder to manage Manitoba-based activities of MCA’s confection sunflower breeding program and will work alongside the research and extension team to support MCA’s Research on the Farm program. This position will report to the Research Program Manager – Special Crops.
This role requires an enthusiastic and motivated individual with a passion for agriculture, strong communication skills and a positive, team-oriented attitude. For the right individual, this position will provide unique opportunities to further develop MCA’s field research initiatives.
Click here to view the full job posting, including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.
To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to katherine@mbcropalliance.ca. Application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CST on Feb. 14, 2025.
We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are seeking a full-time, permanent Administrative Assistant to join our dynamic team to execute MCA’s levy administration and the delivery of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Advance Payments Program (APP).
The individual who joins the MCA team must have a passion to deliver high-level administrative support to MCA, the senior leadership team and the APP. This position is instrumental in enhancing the organization’s effectiveness and ensuring smooth operations across multiple functions.
Click here to view the full job posting – including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.
To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to darcelle@mbcropalliance.ca. Application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CST on Jan. 24, 2025.
We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
The 2024 nomination period for delegates positions on our four crop committees took place from July 2 – Oct. 1, 2024.
In total, 16 farmer members were nominated for 17 available delegate positions across the four crop committees and were thereby elected by acclamation. Among those 16 delegates, eight are new to their respective committees.
Read on to learn more about the newest additions to our crop committees:
Corn
Craig Riese (St. Andrews, MB)
Craig Riese farms in the St. Andrews and Selkirk area with his wife Crystal and two sons. Together they operate Westphalia Farms Ltd., where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and canola. They added corn to the rotation in 2016 and currently grow about 800 acres.
Riese’s past and current industry involvement has included serving as a delegate and director with Keystone Agricultural Producers, as well as a delegate with Manitoba Pork. He has found corn to be a great addition to his farm and continues to learn and adapt to the challenges that come with its nature as a late-season crop.
Patrick Gamache (Laurier, MB)
Patrick Gamache is a sixth-generation farmer who farms in Laurier with the help of his parents, grandfather and employees. Currently, their main crops are wheat, canola, soybeans, edible beans and corn, but they have also grown rye, barley, oats and meadow fescue. Apart from grain farming, Gamache was also a seed grower and co-owner in an ag retail business for several years, in addition to working with cattle. He is passionate about agriculture and aims for perfection on his farm.
Gamache attended the University of Manitoba, where he received is agriculture diploma. He has volunteered with Agriculture in the Classroom – Manitoba, does community work in his hometown and has been a volunteer firefighter for 11-plus years. He is looking forward to being more involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance.
Flax
Myles Kubinec (Holland, MB)
Myles Kubinec farms with his wife Anastasia and his father-in-law in Holland, growing both commercial and pedigreed seed. He is originally from a mixed operation in Alberta and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alberta. Kubinec and his wife have three sons that are also involved in the operation, when they’re not keeping their parents running to sports.
Amanda Ellis (Wawanesa, MB)
Amanda Ellis is co-owner/operator with her husband Simon of Black Creek Farm Ltd. and Ellis Seeds, a third-generation, 1,500-acre seed farm and retail. They grow flax, wheat, oats, peas, soybeans and canola, as well as the occasional “project” crop, such as hemp or millet.
Ellis has a diploma in business-finance from Assiniboine College and previously worked in finance at a Credit Union. She is interested in being involved in the agriculture industry, often volunteering for pilot projects and research studies. These have included participating as a panellist for University of Manitoba agriculture presentations and co-hosting farm tours for students and the public.
Ellis believes there is great market potential for flax, with growing demand in health food and pet food, as well as opportunity for research and the development of new, higher-yielding varieties. She is enthusiastic and curious to see what she can learn from and share with the flax crop committee.
Sunflower
Andrew Saramaga (Hazelridge, MB)
Andrew Saramaga is a fourth-generation farmer who works with his dad and a few employees in the Hazelridge area. Together they grow a variety of crop types, including corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat, canola, sunflowers and various forage seeds.
Saramaga received his degree from the University of Manitoba. From there, he got involved in the early days of soybean production and marketing. This led to an opportunity to get involved with the former Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (now Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers), where he chaired the association for two years.
Saramaga’s farm has been growing sunflowers for about 15 years, starting with confection types and moving to black oil types in the last few years. He is excited to bring his experience to the sunflower crop committee and help further the sunflower industry in Manitoba.
Wheat and Barley
Carly Chatham (Killarney, MB)
Carly Chatham farms with her husband Cody at his family farm, Chatham Seeds, in Killarney. The Chathams are seed growers and continue to produce top-of-the-market wheat varieties. Chatham was born and raised in Carman and has been involved in the agriculture industry since she was a student.
Chatham obtained her agriculture diploma and bachelor of science in agriculture at the University of Manitoba. She has had job roles in research as a technician in small-plot work and breeding, worked at Paterson Grain as a sales agronomist and spent the last seven years as an independent agronomist at Field 2 Field Agronomy. She also holds a designation in the Prairies as a Certified Crop Advisor.
When she’s not working, Chatham enjoys golfing and a little bit of curling in the winter. She believes Canada is a top wheat-producing nation and would like to see us continue to grow the best wheat in the world.
Marcus Loeppky (Niverville, MB)
Marcus Loeppky farms in the Niverville area, where he grows wheat, oats, canola, soybeans and corn on approximately 4,800 acres with his cousin Paul. He has been married for 20 years to his wife Candice and they have two girls, Taylor (14) and Morgan (11).
Ty Ballard (Bield, MB)
Ty Ballard has been a dedicated grain farmer growing wheat, peas and canola for many years on his family farm, Rockin’ Cattle Company Inc., in Bield. He believes the increasing global demand for wheat and barley is a good opportunity for Manitoba farmers to heavily contribute to the industry and grow the market for the crop. He also believes wheat and barley are excellent choices to have in any crop rotation for a high-yielding crop.
When you’ve been farming your whole life, it’s easy to think you’ve seen and done it all – that there’s nothing else for you to learn about the job or the industry. Thanks to my decision six years ago to put my name forward to become a director for the Manitoba Corn Growers Association, I’m happy to report that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Like many farmers, my introduction to agriculture happened when I was young, growing up on the family farm. I spent some time away to go to university, and then to live and work in New Zealand for a growing season to learn about agriculture there, before returning to the family farm, where I’ve been for the last three plus decades. Through it all, I was extremely curious about the industry and thought about getting more involved, but it still took a bit of a coincidence for me to take the leap.
Six years ago, I was at the CropConnect Conference when I heard that the Manitoba Corn Growers Association was looking for new farmers to join its ranks. I said I might be interested, one thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was in. When Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) was formed in 2020 from the amalgamation of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association and four other crop commodity organizations, I stayed on to become a delegate of MCA’s corn crop committee, and then had the privilege to be nominated to serve as one of the inaugural directors for the organization.
I understand there are a lot of reasons people are reluctant to put their name forward. You might be nervous you’re not going to be able to offer much or feel like your opinion might not be needed, but that isn’t at all the case. In fact, it was completely the opposite. The committee and the organization were very welcoming from day one and showed me there was nothing to worry about. My input and perspectives were valued, and it quickly became clear each member of the organization had something unique to offer.
MCA staff are there to support you every step of the way and answer any questions you might have. They are passionate about finding innovative ways to help producers in the province now and into the future, and it feels meaningful to be a part of that important work.
One reason I encourage all farmers to get involved is to help determine where your check-off dollars are invested. Ensuring those investments align with the priorities of farmer members across the province is a major responsibility and one I don’t take lightly. The second reason is just as valuable: becoming a delegate is an incredible opportunity for personal growth.
My time as an MCA delegate has been an amazing learning experience. Manitoba is a diverse province, with many different climates, soils and types of crops being grown. As a result, I leave every crop committee and board meeting having learned something I didn’t know before from one of my fellow delegates or directors. Since 2018, my personal development has been dramatic, taking me from a delegate on the corn crop committee to an MCA director and now to an additional role as a director with the Grain Growers of Canada. During that time, everything I learned about agriculture in Manitoba and across Canada has made me a better farmer and a better advocate for our industry.
None of this would have been possible without taking the first step. As my dad always said, “You can’t finish until you start.” Looking back with those wise words in mind, my only regret is that I didn’t get involved sooner.
So, don’t make the same mistake I did – regardless of where in the province you call home, how long you’ve been farming or how much you think you know, the time to “start” is now.
Jonothan Hodson is a director and corn crop committee delegate with Manitoba Crop Alliance, as well as a director with the Grain Growers of Canada. He and his family farm near Lenore, MB.
Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is proud to support agriculture’s next generation. MCA’s bursary program is designed to assist with the financial needs of students pursuing education in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector.
Six graduating high school students from Manitoba have been awarded with bursaries valued at $1,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Alara Krahn from Mather, Laura Delichte from St. Alphonse, Riley Jorgensen from Cromer, Madisyn Robertson from Neepawa, Zenith Vanstone from Miami, and Evan Whetter from Alexander.
“I’d like to offer my sincere congratulations to our inaugural high school bursary recipients and wish them well in their continued studies,” says MCA Chair Robert Misko. “MCA is committed to supporting agriculture’s next generation and expanding our bursary program is one way we have demonstrated that commitment.”
To qualify for these bursaries, applicants did not need to be continuing into an agriculture-specific program. However, they did need to clearly articulate how their continued studies would help them benefit the agriculture industry.
An independent selection committee was contracted to evaluate the applicants based on their connection to or interest in agriculture, how they hope to use their education to benefit the agriculture industry, and their academics and writing skills.
This year, the selection committee included Adelle Gervin, program manager with Agriculture in the Classroom – Manitoba; Sonia Wilson, oilseeds specialist with Manitoba Agriculture; and Santosh Kumar, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Brandon Research and Development Centre.
Gervin graduated with a bachelor of science in agriculture (animal systems) from the University of Manitoba in 2019. She strives to educate today’s youth on our agricultural story and show them her perspective as a cattle rancher and “agvocate.”
Wilson recently started her role with Manitoba Agriculture, which includes focusing on special crops such as flax and sunflower. She has a background in agriculture focused on plant genetics and research.
Kumar completed his master’s degree at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, India, before moving to Canada for his PhD. As a PhD student at the University of Manitoba, he worked on barley physiology and genetics. His current area of research includes wheat variety development, climate resilience and clean environment trait introgression, and targeted trait manipulation.
Thank you to the selection committee for evaluating the bursary applications and congratulations to the recipients!
Agricultural research is fundamental to the continued productivity and sustainability of Manitoba farmers and supporting high-quality research is foundational to the mission and vision of Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA).
The research needs of farmers are unique, accounting for diverse geographic regions and crop types, and constantly evolving in response to consumer demand, climate and other factors. As a result, Manitoba’s research community must be well positioned to meet the current needs of farmers, while also anticipating the challenges they will face in the future.
We recently engaged Backswath Management to execute a study evaluating the existing crop research capacity in Manitoba. Most public and private research institutes contacted in the Backswath survey were interested in collaborating with MCA to meet farmer research objectives, but many cited barriers to initiating or expanding collaboration.
The study identified four main challenges facing research capacity in Manitoba:
Equipment was frequently cited as a limitation to meeting the research needs of Manitoba farmers. Increased demand on existing equipment and the need for new or specialized research equipment were emphasized in several survey responses. Barriers to addressing equipment challenges were often related to funding programs and reduction in funding at research institutions.
Infrastructure and access to land has created challenges for numerous private and public researchers in Manitoba. At public institutions, existing infrastructure is aging and not keeping pace with current demand or technological advancements. Meanwhile, the creation of new infrastructure has been slow, or non-existent. Demand for currently owned land at research stations is high and renting land from farmers can be challenging.
Program funding was strongly correlated to existing limitations of equipment, infrastructure and land access. Many funding programs limit the ability to offset the cost of capital expenses and do not allow expenditures related to ongoing maintenance and repair. Current funding structures were also noted as limiting the capacity to address certain research questions. Many funding programs are limited to a three- to five-year research project. As research questions become more complex, the need to fund longer-term studies is critical to adequately address these challenges. Funding programs have also become increasingly time consuming, placing strain on researchers and their staff to undertake administrative responsibilities, which take up time that could otherwise be spent conducting research.
Human resources are a significant challenge to research capacity. Recruitment and retention, as well as identifying skilled workers, were noted as limitations for both private and public research institutions. Competition from private industry outside the research field and adequate compensation were noted as barriers to addressing human resource related challenges in research.
We will carry out additional in-depth discussions with both private and public partners to determine the next steps to increase research capacity in Manitoba. We recognize the importance of fostering strong relationships between industry and research. By pursuing direct engagement with the Manitoba research community, we hope to improve communication, provide context for Manitoba farmers’ research objectives and identify opportunities to collaborate with new and existing members of Manitoba’s research landscape.
As member of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC), Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) participated in the 2024 Canada-China Barley Seminar in Qingdao, China, from June 19-20. This CMBTC-hosted seminar aimed to strengthen relationships with a key market for Canadian barley by connecting the Canadian barley value chain with Chinese maltsters and brewers.
“The seminar provided a unique platform for the Canadian barley value chain to engage directly with Chinese maltsters and brewers to cover critical aspects of Canadian barley supply and quality, production practices and sustainability,” says CMBTC chair Jon White. “China is a key market for Canadian barley. This event was pivotal in showcasing our superior quality to our end users.”
Farmers, as well as representatives from Canada’s world class barley breeding programs and grain suppliers, represented the Canadian barley value chain at the seminar.
Meetings were held at Tsingtao Brewery and Hyaline Malting Co., with a concurrent conference. Tsingtao Brewery was founded in 1903 and is ranked in the top five global brewers. Hyaline Malting, a former naval air base turned into a malt processing plant, has supplied Tsingtao Brewery with malt since 2005.
MCA director and wheat and barley crop committee delegate Sheila Elder travelled to Qingdao to represent MCA. She joined two other farmers and a representative from Richardson on a panel discussing the sustainability of Canadian grain production.
Elder was asked about Manitoba’s “much wetter” climate compared to the other two Prairie provinces. “Although the last couple of years have not felt so wet, this year is a different story,” she says.
“This led me to talk about how yield is not our only objective when choosing a variety; we need a variety that has resistance to Fusarium and is not as prone to lodging as earlier varieties were. Fortunately, thanks to our world-class breeders, we have great options to choose from.”
On the theme of collaboration, Elder also highlighted some of the resources farmers have access to in Canada to help them make the best management decisions throughout the growing season. These include access to highly trained experts, such as crop pathologists, entomologists, weed specialists, crop specialists and agronomists, as well as commodity organizations like MCA who have agronomists on staff.
The importance of farmer participation in the seminar was evident. Farmers like Elder could address Chinese maltsters and brewers’ specific questions and concerns about barley production, fostering trust and strengthening the relationship between our two countries.
Sheila also talked about how much pride farmers take in growing the best crops possible, as well as the importance of collaboration within the industry.
At one meeting with brewers, glyphosate came up as a concern. White, who in addition to being chair of CMBTC is also a merchandiser with Viterra, addressed this by explaining how malt barley samples are probed and tested at many different stages, reinforcing how well malt barley is tested for glyphosate.
It was evident to Elder that having many parts of the barley value chain represented at the seminar was important for the Chinese maltsters and brewers. “It was quite clear they value building relationships through face-to-face meetings and would like to see those from the value chain more often.”
With China’s doors open to trade with Australia, the seminar arrived at an important moment. Canada’s barley is well known for its high quality, but that quality comes at a premium, partly due to longer shipping distances and related costs when compared with Australia, for example.
“In today’s competitive global market, seizing opportunities to foster trusted and mutually beneficial relationships at home and around the world is crucial” says CMBTC managing director Peter Watts.
“End users are keenly interested in the systems and standards that distinguish Canada’s barley supply, quality and performance. This seminar was tailored to address the evolving needs and interests of international end users, who seek products that will meet their current and future needs, as well as insights into the Canadian system.”
From left to right: Jon White (Viterra), Sheila Elder (farmer, MCA), Roy (Leroy) Newman (farmer, Alberta Grain), Peter Schutz (Richardson), Peter Watts (CMBTC), Aaron Beattie (University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre), Hayley Stacey (CMBTC), Yueshu Li (CMBTC), Cody Glenn (farmer, SaskBarley), Jackie Oakes (Cargill), Al Morris (independent grain buyer) and Matt Enns (farmer, SaskBarley).
Qingdao (home to Tsingtao Brewery) is where the sailing events were held for the 2008 Olympics. This large, red sculpture symbolizes the Olympic flame.
On June 27, a delegation from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) toured Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) director Doug Martin’s farm near East Selkirk, MB. In addition to Martin, MCA was represented during the farm tour by agronomy extension specialist for cereal crops Andrew Hector.
The tour was an excellent learning experience for the Japanese delegation and a great opportunity for MCA to interact directly with representatives from an important market for Manitoba agricultural products.
Members of the Japanese delegation typically communicate with grain buyers or suppliers, who provide them with information about grain quality and production practices, but they don’t often have the chance to interact with farmers. This led them to reach out to Cereals Canada, who then worked with MCA to help facilitate the event. The delegation had a desire to better understand the practices farmers are using firsthand, which is why they valued participating in the farm tour.
During the tour, members of the MAFF group asked specific and pointed questions regarding crop production practices used on the farm. They were also interested in how specific pieces of equipment work, what fungicides are used and at what frequency, and types and timings of fertilizer application. Additionally, there was a strong interest in on-farm grain storage and how the grain is transported to ports.
The MAFF is important in the Japanese market in that they set the contracts and associated terms for wheat importers that the importers then execute. They also control import regulatory tolerances for cereals.
Japan is a longstanding, quality-conscious purchaser of Canadian wheat. According to Cereals Canada, Japan imported an average of 1.62 million tonnes annually from 2018 to 2022, valued at $631 million. Meanwhile, Manitoba-specific data shows Japan is the province’s third-largest wheat export market, with an annual export average of 325,759 tonnes from 2018 to 2022, valued at $127 million.
Grain Growers of Canada’s (GGC) annual Grains Week is a three-day event packed with back-to-back meetings with parliamentarians and decision-makers to advocate for agriculture policy solutions. Over 20 dedicated grain farmers from across Canada converged in Ottawa for a series of strategic meetings, including MCA directors Jonothan Hodson, who also sits on the GGC board of directors, and Sally Parsonage.
The week was filled with substantial discussions with nearly 30 key decision-makers in the agricultural sphere, including MPs, senators and top government officials. Discussions were held with prominent leaders, such as Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Leader of the Official Opposition Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings.
“Events like Grains Week offer farmers a chance to speak directly with parliamentarians and decision-makers about issues we are facing on the farm,” Parsonage says. “We also highlight the continuous progress farmers have made towards a sustainable and productive agriculture sector in Canada.”
Our conversations were focused, productive and centered around advancing 10 key policy recommendations crucial for the sustainable growth of agriculture in Canada.
The week also featured a memorable parliamentary reception the following evening where nearly 50 MPs and senators participated, engaging in robust dialogue and forming grassroot connections with the grain growing community. Minister MacAulay’s opening remarks also set the stage for an engaging evening, which was supported by Beer Canada and Spirits Canada. Their partnership beautifully demonstrated the journey of our grain from the fields to the reception tables, emphasizing how our hard-working growers cultivate the quality of the Canadian products we enjoy.
“Grains Week is important to Manitoba farmers because it is an opportunity for MCA and other GGC member organizations to highlight priorities for our grain farming community,” Hodson says.
“Many face-to-face meetings take place with MPs, senators and their staff, who are important contacts that allow for further dialogue on important policy objectives. As a producer representative, we are there to try and relate what effect policies may have on the producers we represent.”
Such meetings and events remain crucial for maintaining direct engagement with policymakers, ensuring the perspectives and needs of grain farmers are heard and make an impact. The positive feedback from our stakeholders in Ottawa stresses the importance of our continued advocacy and presence on Parliament Hill.
“Maintaining a steady presence in Ottawa is key and will ensure that when new policy or ag-related issues arise, decision-makers will have a direct connection with the producers they are impacting,” Parsonage says.
While Canadian agriculture advocacy efforts gain incredible strength from events like Grains Week, it’s important to note that its success was largely due to the dedicated grain farmers who journeyed to Ottawa. We deeply appreciate their participation, which was essential for the impactful meetings held, underscoring the crucial role they play in shaping our agricultural policies.
Let’s maintain this momentum for Grains Week 2025 and ensure our community remains at the forefront of agricultural innovation and policy development!
Photo Gallery
Sally Parsonage and MP Rosemary Falk.
Sally Parsonage and MP Rosemary Falk.
Sally Parsonage and MP Rosemary Falk.
Jonothan Hodson and MPs Warren Steinley and Leanne Rood.
Jonothan Hodson and MP Heath Macdonald.
Jonothan Hodson and Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development.
Jonothan Hodson and Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development.
Jonothan Hodson and Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development.
By Jonothan Hodson
