Ribbon Cut for Elmer’s Manufacturing Expansion

Ag Day Celebrations Highlight Canadian Agriculture

By Elmer Heinrichs

Agriculture was celebrated this year on February 15 as announced by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). It was a day to recognize the work of all those who help to produce the food that Canadians and people around the world eat.

Agriculture is an important venture and industry that holds a lot of significance everywhere in the world. It is what allows humanity to function and keep growing and to be able to focus on other aspects of life as it may be.

By Elmer

Based in Altona, MB, Elmer’s Manufacturing Ltd. designs, develops and manufactures specialized agricultural equipment.

Heinrichs crop cultivators to an extensive and diversified line-up of agricultural equipment lines for farming operations of all sizes.

From a small farm business making products for himself, Elmer Friesen’s products caught on with other farmers and today Elmer’s Manufacturing Ltd. designs, fabricate and assemble on site its latest equipment that provides farmers with products such as header and swather transports and high capacity grain carts.

Nestled in the heart of the Red River Valley, the company started as a small farm equipment manufacturer in 1978, and has grown its manufacturing from row

CEO Mike Friesen said, “We started as a small farm business in 1978, incorporated in 1986 and have grown from building row crop cultivators to an extensive and diversified group of equipment lines for any size farming operation.”

Recently Friesen, son of the founder, participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony after adding 20,000 square feet to the plant to officially open the Phase 2 expansion, of a 4 Phase expansion plan. The firm now employs 187 people.

Today, Elmer’s’ product line

“This is an ideal opportunity for everyone to learn more about where their food comes from while getting to know the people who produce it,” said John Jamieson, President and CEO, CCFI. “I encourage all Canadians to join the agri-food community online to have these important conversations about food and agriculture.”

This sector plays a crucial role in feeding our nation, people around the globe and maintaining a strong economy. Imagining a world without agriculture brings to mind a picture of disaster, famine, hunger and upheaval said Jamieson.

Canada’s Agriculture Day reminds us once again of the importance of food to man, and that there are many out there with little or nothing to eat.

Today, Canada produces a comprehensive list of products such as wheat, canola, barley, corn, soy beans, oats, beef, pork, and dairy products, and they are among the biggest producers of these products in the world.

Canada ranks as the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural produce since 2011. More than 2.3 million Canadians are employed in the agriculture sector, making it a very important industry.

The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity is a national charity with a clearly defined mandate to help Canada’s food system earn public trust by coordinating research, resources, dialogue, and communications.