The AgriPost
Record Breaker 2,004-Pound Triumph at Roland Pumpkin Fair By Harry Siemens One attraction in Manitoba is an annual anticipation - the World’s Largest Pumpkin! On Saturday, October 5, Charlie Bernstrom from Lancaster, MN, set a new record at the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-off during the Roland Pumpkin Fair. The 2014, 2017, and 2018 champion returned to claim the 2024 title with a massive pumpkin, smashing his 2018 record of 1,753.5 pounds. His giant pumpkin weighed 2,004 pounds, making it the most significant entry in the Roland Pumpkin Fair’s history. The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth’s (GPC) mission is to cultivate the hobby of growing giant pumpkins and other giant fruits worldwide by establishing standards and regulations that ensure the quality of fruit, fairness of competition, recognition of achievement, fellowship, and education for all participating growers and weighoff sites. This year marks the first time in Roland Pumpkin Fair history that an entry has surpassed the 2,000-pound mark. Bernstrom nearly achieved this feat last year, but a crack in his pumpkin,
Derek Baschuk, chair of Roland Pumpkin Fair with Charlie Bernstrom and his family who won the 2024 Roland Pumpkin Fair Giant Pumpkin WeighOff. Loreen Van Wyck presents the Trophy. Photo by Derek Baschuk
discovered the day before the weigh-off, prevented it from competing. The crack extended into the pumpkin’s cavity, which would have led to disqualification. Out of curiosity, they weighed it at home, and it tipped the scales at an impressive 2,100 pounds. Lancaster, Minnesota, is about an hour and a half from Roland, just 10 miles south of Minnesota on Highway 59. To haul a 2,000-pound pumpkin, they put it on a car trailer
securing it to a pallet before heading out. He had always wanted to bring a giant pumpkin to Roland. After winning three times before, he was excited to bring a 2,000-pound pumpkin this year. Roland was where he entered his first weigh-off in 2013. He appreciates how well the event runs, the support, and the chance to see familiar faces. The 2024 champion said growing a 2,004-pound pump-
kin takes much time, water, and fertilizer. Charlie spends about an hour and a half each day working on the pumpkins with help from his three daughters. His oldest daughter handles the morning watering during the school year since Charlie drives a school bus. The pumpkin requires about 100 gallons of water daily. The water comes from the river near their home. However, the water’s pH is too high, so he uses 98% sulphuric acid to lower it to the correct level, essentially treating the water with a form of strong battery acid. Bernstrom usually pollinates the pumpkins between June 15 and 20. At that point, the pumpkins are the size of a golf ball. By day 20, they reach around 80 pounds; by day 40, they’re close to 1,000 pounds, gaining 40 to 50 or more each day. When the Roland Pumpkin Fair approaches, timing becomes critical, as the pumpkin must be ready. He said it’s important to start early enough because of the risk of frost, which can occur late in the season. Luckily, September was nice, and they had their first frost the morning he picked the pumpkin. Continued on Page 2...
October 25, 2024
AAFC Raises 2024 Field Crop Estimates By Elmer Heinrichs Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its September report, says production of all principal field crops is estimated to have increased 1.8 per cent year over year, which would be 2.4 per cent above the previous five-year average. On the Canadian Prairies, overall production is estimated to have increased 3.0 per cent and be 2.2 per cent above the previous five-year average. For most principal field crops, better yields compared to 2023 drove these production expectations, combined with stable-tohigher areas for some crops. Wheat production is expected to increase 4.1 per cent; oilseed production remains largely unchanged, coarse grains production is estimated to decrease 4.4 per cent and pulse and special crops production is estimated to increase significantly by 29.5 per cent. Harvest is ahead of schedule for much of the Canadian Prairies, while the soybean harvest is just getting started in eastern Canada. Prices for most principal field crops are forecast to decline year-over-year, in line with lower world values. Uncertainty in the world’s grain markets remains elevated because of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and other ongoing geopolitical risks.