By Alice McFarlane

Another farm show moves to a virtual format for 2021

Apr 21, 2021 | 3:17 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — For people looking forward to outdoor farm shows this year, it was another disappointing announcement for Ag in Motion attendees.

The three-day event in mid-July is being cancelled for the second straight year.

As was the case in 2020, COVID-19 health regulations do not allow an event the size of Ag in Motion, which attracted more than 30,000 people over three days in 2019 to the Discovery Farm near Langham, Sask.

Ag in Motion show manager Rob O’Connor said with the effects of the third wave of the pandemic and the way the vaccine rollout is going, it did not look like there was going to be enough time to have immunity build up.

He added there would not be enough time to plan a significant event that would have to follow the parameters set out by the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

Election 2024

Former corrections officer running again in Ward 1

3h ago

Court proceedings

Not guilty verdict in Byron Bear murder case

16h ago

Armed robbery

Suspected robber caught after returning to the scene

21h ago

“In light of all that information, we’ve made the decision that we won’t be able to have in person Ag in Motion this year,” O’Connor said.

Like last year, there will be an online Ag in Motion that will provide some opportunities for farmers to learn about new technologies and farming practices. The first session on seeding was held last month. There will also be a chance for companies to be involved and to get their message out.

“We’ve created six one-day digital events and those will come at different times throughout the growing season and post harvest, then wrapping up in December with an innovations event,” he said.

There is no cost to participate in the virtual event and that information is available at www.aginmotion.ca.

Even though there will be no outdoor show this year, agriculture research at the Discovery Farm continues. O’Connor said additional staff and summer students will work with companies on their research projects. There may be some small seminars later this summer as well.

“We certainly are hoping that once we get into July and August that we’ll start to have the opportunity to have some crop seminars wrapped around some tours of the different crop plots that are being grown at the site,” O’Connor said. “There’s about 15 different plots plus the Discovery Farm with a half sectional land plus some extra acres being used to get that demonstration aspect out there for the industry.”

The Ag in Motion site is located near Langham, Sask. approximately 20 minutes northwest of Saskatoon.

–

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW