Page 27 - Westman Business 2017

OCTOBER 2017 • WESTMAN BUSINESS • THE BRANDON SUN 27

Strong yields will have trickle-down impacts for Westman businesses

BY MATT GOERZEN “Or maybe you go on a winter holiday, or
a year you can put away a little more for a
With Manitoba harvest now in the kid’s university,” Krahn said. “You’re able to
rearview mirror, a bumper crop could buoy make some changes. Those are the kind of
the Westman business community. things. It very much has a trickle-down ef-
In spite of a rough spring and some hot, fect.”
overly dry weather in July, this year’s canola It’s an experience echoed by retired pro-
and grain yields are “definitely above aver- ducer Walter Finley, who still helps out the
age,” Keystone Agricultural Producers pres- individual who purchased his family farm
iden Dan Mazier told The Brandon Sun north of Souris a few years ago. Finley, who
recently. And while this is certainly good spent his entire life as a producer, says the
news for Manitoba farmers, it will also extra cash flow generated by strong growing
translate into strong sales for retail mer- years filters down throughout the entire
chants, car and implement dealers, carpen- local economy.
ters, plumbers, and pretty much every “You can pay outstanding debt or pay it
business that connects to Westman’s agri- down, or you can upgrade machinery, etc.
cultural sector. Maybe do some repairs, or put up some new
“You may not be directly dealing with a grain storage,” Finley said, adding that
farmer, but you’re dealing with business that when producers make improvements, it
deals with a farmer,” Mazier said. “And benefits so many other people, including
that’s where we talk about that multiplier “electricians. We’re talking plumbers. We’re
effect — that story doesn’t get talked about Robert Krahn of Providence Farms north of Rivers talks on the two-way radio to his brother Ron Krahn while talking everything. The whole economy.”
enough, what it really means to Manitoba harvesting soybeans. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun) Brandon-based Mazergroup owner Bob
when we grow an above-average crop. Mazer said his implements dealership has
Never mind about a bumper crop. You can it has been so dry in the region compared been put off for a few years. A good year had a quiet summer, as producers held their
put a hard number to it. An extra $100 an to growing conditions over the decade prior. might mean the purchase of a new tractor breath during the long, hot month of July.
acre — right across the province, you start “There’s a fair bit of surprise that the crop or sprayer, or catching up on the house or A grain producer himself, Mazer said farm-
doing that, it doesn’t take long to make up was as good as it was,” Krahn said. “Our garage or basement project that needs to be ers were concerned that the crop was “burn-
a billion dollars. It’s a huge impact.” wheat and canola were very good — well finished up. ing up” under the summer sun. And when
Ron Krahn, who farms with his father above average.” “For a farm family, often many wait for producers are concerned, it sends shivers
and brother under the name Providence When producers have a good year — like one of those good years, and you say, ‘Oh, through the local economy.
Farms north of Rivers, says this year’s crop this year — Krahn says it allows a farm to this is our chance to make a change, an up-
has been particularly “surprising,” given that catch up on updates or upgrades that have grade,’” Krahn said. » Continued on Page 33

Westman’s Premiere Mortgage

Brokerage Specializing In:

• Purchases • Alternating Lending

• Refinances • Switch/Transfers

• Renewals AND BEST OF ALL,

• Rental Properties OUR SERVICES ARE FREE!

Naomi Hamm
Mortgage Broker/Partner
204-724-7290
naomi_hamm@centum.ca
www.naomihamm.ca
204-727-2177
www.centummortgagechoice.com

#204, 244 - 10 Street, Brandon, MB R7A 4E8
th