The RCMP are investigating the discovery of human remains in a ditch between a dirt road and a farm field east of Winnipeg.

Officers were called to the Rural Municipality of Springfield just after 10 a.m. Thursday after a farmer checking on his canola crops noticed a partially uncovered hole that looked like it had been dug up or uncovered by an animal, a source told CBC.

The decomposed remains were found inside the shallow grave located in a ditch off Spruce Road, south of Highway 15 and have been confirmed as human by RCMP forensics investigators. Friday afternoon police were still on scene.

The serious crimes and forensics identification unit are investigating, RCMP said.

The RCMP are investigating the discovery of human remains in a ditch between a dirt road and a farm field east of Winnipeg. Officers were called to the Rural Municipality of Springfield just after 10 a.m. Thursday after a farmer checking on his canola crops noticed a partially uncovered hole that looked like it had been dug up or uncovered by an animal, a source told CBC. 1:52

Spruce Road, which according to neighbours is a dirt road only accessible in dry weather, has been blocked off and the site of the remains is surrounded with evidence markers.

James and Alma Newman live on the other side of the farmer's field. The elderly couple hadn't noticed the nearby police activity until CBC showed up at their door.

"We're shocked, when you tell us somebody found a body in your ditch, and I thought my ditch? There's nothing there," said James Newman.

The Newmans said there isn't much traffic on Spruce Road, but they have spotted teenagers and couples parking there because of its secluded location.

James and Alma Newman's property is on the other side of the farmers field where human remains were discovered in a shallow grave. (CBC) "The only time there is traffic - when you see cars parked - that some female or male come out for a ride and park in a corner. That's the only time we see people in there. Otherwise we seldom see any other cars parked there," said Alma Newman.

Alma said last last year she spotted a black car in the area she didn't recognize driving slowly so she watched it for a while.

"I wondered [what] they were doing down our road. There was different car and different people that I've never seen down our road. I got kind of scared so I kind of stayed back and watched to see how far they were going to go and there was only a couple of them and they turned down that road," said Alma

It's not yet known if the remains are those of a man or a woman.

"That's going to be scary to find out," said Alma Newman. "I hope it's none of the neighbours that we know of around here".

RCMP said it is too early to release any details on this case, but a spokesperson said officers will provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.