Foodgrains Bank fundraiser delayed by weather forecast

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

UPDATE: A 10 minute world record harvest of 160 acres of soybeans will now be attempted on Wednesday, October 5 after a weather system soaked Perth County Sunday afternoon .

Organizers of an ambitious harvesting project intended to raise funds for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank are delaying the event because of a weather forecast.

Billed as an attempt to set the world record for the fastest soybean harvest, Harvest for Hunger will now take place on Wednesday because of rain in the forecast. The event will take place at noon on 160 acres near Monkton in Perth County.

“It doesn't look like there's going to be a lot of rain on Friday but if a shower happens to come through at 12 o'clock what do you do at 1:30?” says Elbert van Donkersgoed, a spokesperson for the event.

He estimates there are nearly 500 people involved in the harvest, which will feature up to 120 combines harvesting the beans. Five farmers — Richard Van Donkersgoed, Peter Rastorfer, Mike Koetsier, Randy Drenth and John Tollenaar — spearheaded the event. They have all been involved in Canadian Foodgrains Bank fundraising projects before, Van Donkersgoed says.

So far, the switch in dates hasn’t created difficulties for people to participate, he says. But the last minute change has posed some challenges to coordinate. “I’m the one who is doing a bit of work to document the event — I’m making sure that I've got two helicopters and a plane and half a dozen sky jacks,” van Donkersgoed says. “They can all be switched over.”

A similar event near Winkler, Manitoba inspired the five local farmers to organize the event. As far as they know, the Manitoba farmers hold the world record for harvesting a western section of wheat. The Manitoba farmers harvested the section in 11.8 minutes. A western section is equivalent to 160 acres, van Donkersgoed says.

The Guinness Book of World Records will not recognize speed records for the event. “They don't like the level of risk with so many combines trying to do a speed record,” van Donkersgoed explains. “Nevertheless, the guys want to do a speed record.”

Once harvested, the beans will be auctioned in centre field. Organizers hope to raise $200,000 to donate to the Bank, a partnership of Canadian churches and church-based agencies that tackle world hunger.

Van Donkersgoed says the local group is inviting the public to consider donating the value of a bushel of soybeans. Donations can be made through the Bank’s website.

In the meantime, predictions for Monday’s weather continue to be good, says van Donkersgoed. BF