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Sunflowers are helping Lacombe County producers diversify their farm crops

Kole Lundie says planting a variety of crops has many advantages
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Kole Lundie’s Sunflower Valley Farms grows a diverse array of crops east of Lacombe. The farm’s Sunflower Trail is opening in August for the third year. (Contributed photo).

A sunflower trail near Lacombe is set to re-open in August — a colourful example of farm diversification in Central Alberta.

Having people walking along the blooming paths at Sunflower Valley Farms, eight km east of Lacombe, is helping more members of the public reconnect with the source of their sustenance, said Kole Lundie.

The 26-year-old, who co-farms 900 acres with his parents, June and Kevin Lundie, believes so many Canadians are buying pre-packaged grocery store items that agricultural producers have been challenged to connect with these customers. A tighter relationship is needed, Kole added, so that people “can trust us to grow safe and sustainable food.”

Sunflower Valley Farms produces a cornucopia of crops. Besides the 60-acre Sunflower trail that ultimately yields black-oiled sunflower seeds, the Lundies also grow canary seed, flax, canola, green and yellow peas (mostly for an overseas market in India), and malt barley for the microbreweries that are served by the Rahr malting plant in Alix.

The farm that sells freshly cut sunflowers to customers has a special relationship with the nearby Gull Lake Honey Company. Kole said Sunflower Valley Farms provides the blooms needed for bee pollination in exchange for some honey for candle making and other specialty items that are sold out of the farm’s store.

Agricultural operations on the rural property were much different during the 1990s, when the Lundies farmed mostly wheat, oats and other cereal crops. But then Kevin Lundie was diagnosed with Celiac disease, which meant he had no gluten tolerance. For health’s sake, he quit growing wheat and oats and began exploring what other kinds of crops could be grown in rotation.

Now that Kole — an airline pilot who flies passenger planes for 18 days a month — is co-farming with his dad, he said he appreciates the many advantages of diversified agriculture.

Kole believes having a toe-hold in various markets means producers are not as impacted by the rise and fall of grain prices.

Diversified farms are also not as susceptible to developing herbicide-resistance plants, which can lead to more weed problems and headaches for producers.

Growing a variety of crops, instead of one or two, doesn’t present any more difficulty, said Kole — although he admitted that the yellow peas on the farm are more impacted by hail damage. And harvesting can also be more challenging, he admitted, although “not all of the crops are ready at the same time, so that helps…”

He said Lacombe area farmers should consider looking into different programs available, like AMP (adaptive multi paddock grazing) to have healthier herds, cleaner water, clearer air and carbon sequestration.

Kole serves as chairperson for ALUS (Alternative Land-Use Services Committee) Lacombe. The nation-wide, not-for-profit encourages farmers to enrol acres for ecosystem services. For more information visit ALUS Canada.

He encourages central Albertans to keep supporting local businesses, including farmers markets. “They should know where their food comes from.”

More information about Sunflower Valley Farms is available on its Facebook page and Instagram.



lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

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