Rick Mercer helps with Alberta Wheat Harvest

Oct 28, 2014

Farms.com

On CBC’s Rick Mercer Report, viewers can watch the Canadian comedy host help harvest wheat in Round Hill, Alberta. Mercer, who travels around the country for his television show spent a day with Humphrey and Terry Banack, and their family in the field.

Mercer and his crew spent 10 hours during the harvest season with the Banack family, learning about their family operation, the wheat harvest, as well as the large pieces of machinery used in the process. Although Mercer’s show is based around comedy, he uses his platform to educate his audience about important issues, including where food comes from.

“I’m always amazed when people don’t give much thought to where their food comes from, so I was thrilled to be able to show people this type of farming operation. Anything I can do to help there, I’m very excited about,” said Mercer about his experience on the Banack farm.

The wheat harvest in Alberta isn’t all about fun and games – flooded fields, a late spring and dry weather in some areas will most likely have a negative effect on the size of the country’s grain harvest – reducing it by 25%. Along with the unfavorable weather, farmers are being paid less for their crops, as larger harvests elsewhere in the world have performed better.

Each year, approximately 7.6 million tonnes of wheat is produced in the Alberta, with the majority of it being shipped out of the country. Close to 85% of the wheat produced in the province is Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD).

Tune in to watch the Rick Mercer Report showcase the Alberta wheat harvest tonight on CBC.

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