Ag Expo kicks off today
EVENT FEATURES MORE THAN 350 INDOOR EXHIBITORS
The latest and greatest in the agriculture sector will be on display at the annual Ag Expo at Exhibition Park this week.
The 2017 Ag Expo and North American Seed Fair Show starts this morning and runs through to Friday. More than 350 indoor exhibitors from across North America will attend this annual event.
Ag Expo averages over 20,000 consumers over the three-day show, and features more than 40 new exhibitors this year.
“It’s turned into a real seller and buyer event,” said event manager Doug Kryzanowski. “We’re one of the last shows at the end of the season.”
The event provides an opportunity for farmers to meet with their sales representatives and other business connections.
There is also a safety component added this year. Ag for Life Farm Safety sessions are daily at 10 a.m. in Heritage Hall.
“I know the provincial government has had a big push on farm safety,” Kryzanowski said. “Over that time, there’s been a few accidents. People should be more aware of how they need to be safe when handling machinery, being around dugouts, or walking on ice.”
Another big draw every year is Machinery Row, which offers a chance to see the newest farm equipment available on the market. Machinery Row can be found in the South Pavilion parking lot, where the outside display will utilize over 150,000 square feet of space.
Kryzanowski said for many growers, the event marks the start of the growing season, and is an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to farming efficiencies.
“For your crops, you need bushels, and the big thing is efficiency,” he said. “The more efficient you are, the more money you put into the bin.”
Ag Expo runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday. Admission is $7 per person, with children under 10 years free. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
The North American Seed Fair is the oldest part of the annual Ag Expo and continues to highlight quality products from the growing region since its inception in 1897.
“The seed fair was basically the first event the Exhibition did 120 years ago,” said event manager Doug Kryzanowski.
The event, which takes place in the South Pavilion at Exhibition Park as part of the Ag Expo, provides an opportunity for local farmers to check out new seed developments and will feature more than 100 samples.
An awards reception is planned for Friday afternoon.
“The seed fair has been a large component (of the Ag Expo) over the years,” Kryzanowski said. “Obviously it fits in with the farming and ranching component.”
As crop sciences advance, Kryzanowski said that information is vital for growers when it comes to make their crop decisions.
“You have to ask, where would the food come from if it wasn’t for the farmers?” he asked. “Not so much tomorrow, but certainly, 20 to 80 years from now.
“That kind of development has to be brought forward and be shared, and that’s an important component of the seed fair.”
Kryzanowski said growers take pride in the quality of their seed, and that there are a number of different traits they look for depending on the specific needs of their growing region.
“All the soils are different,” he said. “And you get many crops being rotated from year to year. So you might have flax one year and canola another year. There are lots of variances and ways to grow.”
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