The MacGregor branch of Munro Farm Supplies Ltd. opened in 1997.  The MacGregor location has a full service of fertilizers with liquid tanks on site, anhydrous ammonia, and in 2011 a new volumetric dry blending system was upgraded to a capacity of 1000MT.  For the past 21 years, these services have allowed us to provide complete service to customers in the market area.  The trained staff and team atmosphere has been essential to support our farm customers.  The entire staff is always willing to jump in to lend a helping hand when anyone drives onto the yard.

Introducing:

Trails End Farms Ltd. of MacGregor, MB.  Peter and Verna Doerksen moved to MacGregor buying a local farm on April 5, 1991.  It was a homecoming for Verna who has family in the area, but Peter brought his (then 3) children to a new community, to start farming in spring.  With no seeders or tractors, extended family put a crop in and allowed Peter to get his feet under him. It was a big decision to uproot and move, but the lack of opportunity where he was living and the belief that God provided this opportunity to flourish was recognized.  Now with 3 more children, Peter, Verna and children Andrew, Steven, Rachel, Joel, Bethany and Holly are thriving. With the growing addition of grandchildren the move has proved to be prosperous for the family.

When the Munro Farm Supplies Ltd. location opened in 1997, Peter did business there because of recommendations from other farms and family.  He knew the people that operated the location and was comfortable with their knowledge. In recent years, Peter’s sons Steven and Joel have returned to the farm and are actively contributing to the farm’s success.

Peter does business with Munro Farm Supplies Ltd. because he says “the advice he receives is good for the farm” and it’s not for the benefit of just selling product.  The service is also another positive.  Even in the middle of the busy season a call from Munro staff towards the end of the day is “what’s going on tonight and what will you need?” instead of an insistence to get product before the doors close.  Peter also notes that the staff at MacGregor is really a team.  They work well together and he feels that when his farm does business there that it’s part of that team too.

Vince Munro, founder of Munro Farm Supplies said “Look after your customer and they will look after you.”  This statement holds true even 60 years after starting Munro Farm Supplies Ltd.  We are a group of people that pride ourselves on providing products and services that growers need.  Our company is led by a strong leader, Ron Helwer, and with that leadership we will continue to be available to our customers when they need us the most.

It is a blessing to be a part of Agriculture and we will continue to help our growers be prosperous and flourish for generations to come.  Thank you to all our growers for helping us reach these milestones in history.  Munro Farm Supplies Ltd – 60 years, Shur-Gro Farm Services – 50 years, and South East Seeds – 10 years!

Peter Doerksen, Steven Doerksen, Joel Doerksen

Waskada has been a growing outlet for Shur-Gro Farm Services since 1984. With a strong community of farmers backing us, our Waskada branch has expanded, moving our site a mile out of town in 1994. Our loyal customers have allowed us to grow and in our upcoming 2018 season we will expand again adding an additional 1200 tonne of fertilizer storage to our plant. With the additional storage we will be able to service our customers better and make sure we never run out of any products they might need. Waskada offers many services to our customer some of which include, our custom seed treating site, which was added in 2017.  Our trained agronomy staff is always available for any agronomic assistance our farmers may need, as well as a highly experienced operations staff always willing to lend a hand in those unfortunate seasonal breakdowns.

This year Shur-Gro will be celebrating its 50^th year in business and we would like to thank all our customers who have supported us over the years. The Waskada branch owes its success to the strong and loyal community it is surrounded by and looks forward to continuing to grow in the years to come.

Introducing:

Temple Holdings Ltd of Waskada, Mb, is a multi-generational family farm founded in the early 1900’s. It started out as a grain and cattle farm but transitioned to grain only in the late 1990’s. Don and Pat Temple and their son Todd Temple are the current owners of the farm. They have grown a wide range of crops over time including wheat, oats, canola, barley, sunflowers, flax, peas and lentils.  More recently their focus has been on producing wheat, canola, soybeans and corn.

Don and Pat have three children, Leslie (Brad) McKinney, Tami (Terry) Pavely, Todd (Stacy Artz) Temple.  Don and Pat have three grandchildren (Kadence, Payton, Bree). Don started farming in 1966 and farms with Todd  who came back to the farm in 2012.

The Temple’s have been customers of Shur-Gro since the opening of the branch in Waskada in the 1980’s. They chose to work with Shur-Gro because of the services and products that they provide.  They use the seed, fertilizer and crop protection products that Shur-Gro recommends.  They value the customer service, product quality and agronomic knowledge that Shur-Gro brings to their business.   ” Shur-Gro has always supplied all the products that we require for our crop production as well as deliver it in a timely manner.  We look forward to continuing our business with Shur-Gro and are excited for the changes to come.”

The Portage branch of Munro Farm Supplies was opened in 1972, 14 years after Vince Munro founded Munro Farm Supplies in Westbourne.  Over the years our branch has focused on agronomy and custom application.  “Leaders in Agronomic Service” has been our guide towards focusing on what your farm needs to be more profitable.  We offer scouting, custom application, fertilizer, chemical and seed.  Our full-service branch is open when our customers need us.  Our continued success comes from the relationships we have built with our customers over the years.  So, thank you and please join us in celebrating this 60-year milestone!

Jamor Farms Ltd, of Oakland, MB, started in 1945 by Jack & Verna Moorhouse, began as a grain and cattle farm. In time, Jack’s son Jim became more involved and eventually took over the farm. Seeing a new opportunity in the market, Jim worked with Alan Brown (family relative) to start up the vegetable farming in 1968. They grew carrots and parsnips to sell to the Campbell Soup plant in Portage la Prairie. When the Campbell Soup plant closed in 1985, they switched and began selling their vegetables to Peak of the Market.

Jim and his wife Brenda have two children, Scott (Rhonda) and his sister Sherri (Bill). Scott completed his Diploma in Agriculture at University of Manitoba and returned to the family farm in 1995. Scott has been active in both sides of the farm business. Jim and Alan are still actively involved in the vegetable business, leaving most of the grain acres to Scott’s care. Currently the farm grows wheat, canola, soybeans, edible beans, carrots, parsnips and red beets. Scott and Rhonda have 3 sons; Hayden (16), Carter (14) and Asher (14). All three boys help on the farm.

The Moorhouse’s chose to work with Munro Farm Supplies because of the services we provide. They have used our custom application services to help get their crops fertilized and sprayed at the right time and staging. They value our friendly customer service-oriented staff and agronomic knowledge. Munro Farm Supplies has always been able to source the products they need. From fertilizer options to horticulture pesticides. ‘I don’t remember dealing anywhere else since I started farming’, Scott says when it comes to his field’s agronomic needs.

In 2018, Shur-Gro Farm Services will celebrate its 50th year in business, Munro Farm Supplies will celebrate its 60^th year and South East Seeds will celebrate its 10^th year in business.  We wish to thank our customers for helping us reach these milestone anniversaries and invite all to help us celebrate this year!  Through the years, Ron Helwer, our company President has inspired all of us to focus on the customer with our motto “servicing your growing needs”.  Your success is our success.  Vince Munro, founder of Munro Farm Supplies stated, “Look after your customer and they will look after you”.  This great philosophy guides us in our day-to-day relationships with customers.  Agriculture is the industry that brings us together, and we are committed to working with our farm customers to help produce food for generations to come.

Once again Adama is holding their Thank-A-Retailer contest; where communities can nominate their Crop Input retailer to win their community $15,000.00. Oakville Community Club has nominated the Oakville Munro Farm Supplies branch for their long-standing commitment to the community of Oakville.

The staff at the branch have always worked hard to ensure their customer’s needs are met. Staying open long hours & working weekends to provide better service for the farmers of Oakville. They also help with the community crop fundraisers. These are acres that have all the inputs & labour donated, with the profits going towards community projects (Skating & curling rink, sports park, and the hall). Many of the staff live in the surrounding area, attend community events & call Oakville their hometown.

If Oakville wins, the money will go towards the New Hall fund. Oakville Community Club has been working on a plan to build a new hall to replace the existing one, which is 70 years old. The new hall will be located on land adjacent to the skating & curling rinks, making a central point for the community to gather. This building will be the start of the community complex which will eventually facilitate the replacement of the ice facilities as they age. It will also incorporate a daycare center. Oakville is a growing community with young families in need of a community daycare. Small towns thrive on community engagement and community buildings provide the needed venue to create a sense of community & family. The new Oakville hall will help the community continue to grow & thrive, encouraging more families to want to live there.

The contest will provide $15, 000.00 to 4 regional winning retail’s communities. Voting for the regional winners will take place between Jan. 4^th – Feb. 14^th.  The 4 regional winners will then start a second competition nationally for another $15,000.00. Voting for the national winner will be between Feb. 15^th – Mar. 8^th.

How can you help?                                                                www.thankaretailer.ca/vote

Vote for Oakville Munro Farm Supplies on Adama’s Thank-A-Retailer contest site. Click to see Oakville’s entry. You must have a Facebook account to vote – this is how Adama is confirming voters are real people. Click to login with your Facebook account information. Once logged in – click ‘Vote for this retail.’ You can also gain bonus entries. Daily you can share the contest on Facebook & Twitter for an extra vote each (bringing your total to 3 votes per day). One-time bonus of 5 votes each – you can like Adama’s Facebook page & follow them on Twitter (total 10 each votes). These options need to be completed through the Adama Thank-A-Retailer website.

On December 9, Ron Helwer hosted the annual Shur-Gro, Munro and South East Seeds Christmas Party for all the staff and family.  The outstanding employee award was received by Taralea Simpson the Assistant Manager from the Portage la Prairie location.  Some long service awards were also given to:

25 years – Fran Mitchell, Ken Pomehichuk

20 years – Frank Perrin, Barb Turner

15 years – Louis Bokor, Lori Grant, Alana Hagyard, Garry Lehmann

10 years – Darcy Bayes, Jim Cobbledick, Brian Downie, Phil Meldrum, Mark McMurachy

5 years – John Bennie, Richard Berry, Dave Giesbrecht, Dennis Rogoza, Graham Tapley, Ken Turner, Cheryl Werbowski

In some other news, the Oakville location have been working on their dry fertilizer plant.  Increasing the under-bin belt to 30” into a leg that brings it up to a 15-ton overhead blender.  They are just putting on the finishing touches and the new system will be operational in the new year.

The soybean treating sites in Dugald, Killarney, Niverville, Oakville, Waskada and Westbourne took advantage of the warmer days in the earlier part of the month to move some soybeans into their bins to be ready for the spring.  Still some options available.  Talk to your local branch to see what would be the best fit for your farm.

This year coming up, marks the 50^th anniversary of Shur-Gro, the 60^th anniversary of Munro and the 10^th anniversary of South East Seeds.  Contact your local branch to see what is in store for 2018.

October has been a busy month so far, with ammonia starting around Thanksgiving, and lots of dry fertilizer and floating at all the branches. There are still some soybeans, corn, and potatoes in the field that are being harvested as well, along with fall field work. Soil sampling is in full swing, which is keeping our agronomists busy. It is important to soil test your fields every year, to monitor nutrient levels within the soil. Soil testing also helps you pick which varieties are suited for your fields and soil types.

The trials in Portage, Macgregor, Shoal Lake, and Neepawa have been completed, except for MacGregor’s Winfield Corn trial which has yet to be combined.

The Oakville branch received Westbourne’s mobile treater and weigh scale, which is brand new for the Oakville branch and the new seed treating facility in Westbourne is starting to take shape. The bins are moved on the new concrete pad, next to the building where the treater will be housed. The treater is a KSI 4808 NGA, which can pump out 110 bushels per minute. The staff in Westbourne are looking forward to getting it up and going for next season, to serve our customers faster and better.

Please follow our twitter account @Shurgro_Munro for all our latest updates and news.

Happy Fall!

The partnership will expand the product and service offering at South East Seeds two locations.

Brandon, Manitoba and Niverville, Manitoba (September 14, 2017) – Shur-Gro Farm Services today announced they have partnered with South East Seeds Inc. in their crop inputs business. Together, the two organizations will continue to provide customers expanded product offerings, tools and technologies, improved product insights, consulting services and more.

“This partnership comes at a time when scale is increasingly important in addressing changing industry dynamics, including rapid consolidation on the supplier, retailer and grower levels, fast-paced technological innovation and the need for increasing and expanded service offerings for customers,” said Ron Helwer, President  of Shur-Gro Farm Services Ltd. “We are pleased to partner with South East Seeds and welcome Jeromy Rempel and staff to the Shur-Gro and Munro team.”

Under this agreement, Shur-Gro Farm Services has purchased controlling interest in South East Seeds Inc. the two South East Seeds locations at Niverville and Dugald MB. will become part of the Shur-Gro and Munro group and will report to the head office in Brandon MB.

“South East Seeds is excited to partner with Shur-Gro.,” said Jeromy Rempel,

Manager of South East Seeds Inc. “this partnership will allow us to provide a complete line of crop input products and services for our customers.”

Going forward, both organizations will continue to “Service the Growing Needs” of the customers in each market area. The closing date was August 1, 2017

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For more information contact:

Ron Helwer, President

3-932 Douglas Street Brandon MB.  R7A 7B2

Office: 1-204-729-3801 ronhelwer@shur-gro.com

Jeromy Rempel, Manager South East Seeds Inc. 1-204-371-2898

jeromy@southeastseeds.ca

About Shur-Gro Farm Services Ltd

Ron Helwer founded Shur-Gro in Brandon in 1968 as a fuel and fertilizer business. Shur-Gro Farm

Services acquired Munro Farm Supplies in February 1990. Munro was started in 1958 by Vince Munro in Westbourne Mb. Shur-Gro and Munro with eleven locations in Southern Manitoba have operated as one business unit since early the early 2000’s. Shur-Gro and Munro has been dedicated to providing exceptional products and service to their growers for 49 and 59 years respectively.

About South East Seeds Inc.

South East Seeds is a rapidly growing independent soybean and corn seed retailer. The company was founded in 2009 in Niverville MB based on a “farmer first” initiative. The company currently operates from two locations near Niverville and Dugald MB and services all South East Manitoba.

August has been a busy month around the Shur-Gro and Munro locations and finally harvest season here.  As the crops mature and combining progresses, we are getting excited for the fall season!

Cereal harvest is about halfway through and growers are pleased with the results.  We’re hearing excellent yields and good protein overall with minimal disease. Canola threshing has begun in some areas and it’s looking promising, with more and more canola fields standing waiting for the straight cut header.  Earlier in August, Shur-Gro and Munro locations were kept busy with scouting and spraying for aphids in soybeans and diamond backs in Canola.  Sprayers are in the fields doing pre-harvest desiccation.

Congratulations to Phil Meldrum and Cody Brown of the Oakville location. Phil Meldrum, Branch Manager accepted the Role of Regional Account Manager, working with the Portage, Oakville, and Elie branches. Cody Brown has transitioned to the role of Branch Manager in Oakville.

Those aren’t the only changes the Oakville branch has seen. The bulk fertilizer plant is getting a major upgrade as well. A wider under-bin belt conveyer is being installed to a direct overhead scale/blender system which should increase the speed and efficiency of out loading times dramatically. The bulk fertilizer plant is anticipated to be fully operational by the fall fertilizer season.

Shur-Gro Munro trucks can be seen in the fields after growers have finished threshing to do soil tests. It’s an ideal time and makes for better accuracy if the soil is tested before the field has been worked. Soil probes are mounted to the trucks and are hydraulically driven to go into the ground for smooth and accurate sampling.

Good luck and happy and safe Harvesting!

We held our customer appreciation events on July 11^th & 12^th. Our event in Portage was held at the Canad Inns again & was very well attended. We had to roll an extra table out for some of our own staff to have a seat, just before dinner started. Customers who attended this year were treated to a shaved beef dinner & a slide show presentation that our MacGregor branch put together of our custom application equipment in action in our customer’s fields. Frank Perrin, Manager of our Portage Branch, gave opening remarks before supper; thanking all our customers for their business this past year, thanking the sponsors who helped support this event once again; and spoke about our upcoming anniversaries for Shur-Gro (50 years) & Munro (60 years) in 2018. Phil Meldrum, Manager of our Oakville Branch, gave a beautiful grace before we invited our customers to begin their supper.

Once again, we had a bouncy castle for our customer’s children to enjoy. As always, it went over well with the children. Parent’s appreciate it too as they had a chance to visit with friends & neighbours while their children were entertained. Thank you to Taralea Simpson (Portage Branch) for keeping the bouncy castle running smoothly.

July 12, 2017 marked the annual Munro Farm Supplies Colony Appreciation BBQ, which was another great success! There were over 100 colony members from Oakville, Portage, MacGregor and Westbourne areas in attendance, as well as Dale McKay and Blaine Cochrane from the Shur-Gro/Munro head office in Brandon.  The Westbourne Munro crew did an expert job of preparing ribeyes with the rest of the meal being catered by Country Side Kitchens. Everyone was stuffed by all accounts!  It was a great opportunity to show our thanks and gratitude for all the business these colonies bring to Munro Farm Supplies and we look forward to doing it again next year!

Thank you to all our customers who attended our customer appreciation events this year. We appreciate you choosing Munro Farm Supplies as your crop inputs

supplier of choice!

Now that the season is starting to wind down, its time to prepare for the upcoming fall fertilizer season.  To help meet the regulatory requirements for growers, The Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers has recently updated their “Anhydrous Ammonia: Safety and the Farmer – TDG Certification” online training course.  The training is required to be completed by any retail customer before they will be allowed to pick up, transport or apply anhydrous ammonia.  The training is now available for farmers and their employees free of charge and includes all the latest changes in the TDG regulations.  The course includes seven modules and the brand new downloadable Safety and the Farmer Booklet.  Follow the following link to access the training.

http://caar.org/training/safety-the-farmer