Circulaire actuelle Co-op Food - Valable à partir du 18.08 au 23.11 - Page n° 15

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now program organic

The soil Grant refers to is on the Moellenbeck farm near Englefeld, SK. Gordon Moellenbeck is à Co-op farm customer and certified Grown with Purpose farmer whose malt barley is used in the recipe for Co-op Gold Lager. Moellenbeck farms with his brothers in the same area where they grew up. The brothers share one large farm in which each brother has their own operation. They collectively farm 5,000 acres, some in a grain/ hay rotation and some in pasture. They also raise purebred shorthorn cattle, holding an annual bull sale with two other breeders. Of course, Moellenbeck also grows a lot of malt barley—now being used to support the production of Co-op Gold Lager, which is a good fit for Moellenbeck's local sustainability goals “We enjoy having small towns around us with strong communities, and this is due to the support and growth of local products and businesses. It's important to me to keep a sense of community here. My goal is to focus on local now to keep our local businesses viable for the future,” Moellenbeck said Co-op Gold Lager has strong local connections not only to the Moellenbeck family, but to a local maltster and brewer as well. Prairie Malt at Biggar prepares the barley for brewing, Great Western Brewing in Saskatoon brews it, and the beer is packaged and sold in Saskatchewan. Even the profits are used locally. “Being that this beer is only sold through Co-op liquor stores in the province, all the profits stay local, helping to keep Saskatchewan farm communities alive,” said Grant Moellenbeck's farm focuses on growing top-quality products, creating a sustainable farm for the long term, and protecting soil health. “We need to focus on environmental stewardship to ensure safe practices for everyone," said Moellenbeck. Looking to the future, Moellenbeck said ensuring their farm advances using agronomically sound practices is key. “Through nutrient stewardship practices we work alongside the team at our local Co-op Agro Centre to maximize yields and profits while continuing to take care of the land," he said. “Good stewardship is important and needed to ensure sustainable practices while remaining profitable." GROWN WITH PURP Program Suppo rts Advancement Moellenbeck has been a Co-op member “forever,” he said, rattling off the first of his three different Co-op numbers. He relies on Co-op for everything from groceries to crop inputs. “We work with Co-op Agro at Humboldt, which provides competitive pricing, good service and good advice, including making recommendations about alternatives," he said. “Most importantly, Co-op Agro looks at long- term strategy, at least three to five years out, when making recommendations." The GROWN WITH PURPOSE program has supported advancement on Moellenbeck's farm, he said: ‘It helps us set goals and targets on yields over every single acre seeded, and supports land productivity through improved organic matter and achievable goal setting” Opportunities like the Co-op Gold Lager project highlight how Saskatchewan growers are contributing to making local products. “Gordon Moellenbeck is passionate about the health of the soil and local farming communities. He cares about maintaining the rural way of life and keeping small communities viable," said Grant “Like knowing we are contributing to the ingredients used to make our own beer,” Moellenbeck concluded FARM TO TABLE | 15