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François Labelle to retire from Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers

June 30, 2020  By Top Crop Manager


The Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) have announced that François Labelle will be retiring from his role as executive director as of July 15. Daryl Domitruk, MPSG’s director of research and production, has been selected by the organization’s board of directors to take on the role of executive director in addition to his current role.

Labelle’s first job in agriculture was picking raspberries when he was 11 years old. His resume took a more serious turn in 1977, when he conducted weed research at the Graysville site as a University of Manitoba summer student under Ian Morrison. Since, he has worked at Cargill, Seedex, Continental Grain, Agricore, Agricore United and Viterra. Labelle took over as executive director at MPSG in 2014.

“It’s been an honour to witness the pulse and soybean industry grow and it’s been an honour to work for such a strong board, as well as alongside top-of-class staff,” Labelle said in an official statement. “The association will need to adjust with fluctuating markets as well as fluctuating acres, but the important role pulses and soybeans play in crop rotations and sustainability needs to remain a priority, I believe.”

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Domitruk has occupied a variety of positions in agriculture and has an established network of colleagues in industry and government. From 1996 to 2018, he worked on behalf of the province’s farmers holding managerial and leadership positions at Manitoba Agriculture. While in government, Domitruk collaborated with just about every grower organization in the province. He holds agriculture degrees from the University of Manitoba and a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. Domitruk started working for MPSG in January of 2018.

Domitruk’s position will officially begin following Labelle’s retirement on July 15.

“François’s contribution to Manitoba’s pulse and soybean industry is immeasurable,” said MPSG board chair Calvin Penner in an official statement. “He was on the board that formed what is now MPSG and he has been involved with it ever since. His knowledge of the ag industry runs deep. He’s got some great stories to tell. Francois will be missed. We’re sad for the loss, but his retirement is well deserved and we wish him all the happiness as he embarks on the next stage of his life and career.”

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