By Alice McFarlane

Crop show offers more for visitors and vendors

Jan 4, 2024 | 11:04 AM

The premier grain-industry event held each year in Saskatoon, Sask. will feature a new three-day format running Jan 9 to 11 at the World Trade Center at Prairieland Park.

The change from three and half days for the Western Canadian Crop Production Show came about at the request of the exhibitors.

Prairieland Park Agriculture Manager Leigh Ann Hurlburt said dropping the half day at the start makes a big difference for the businesses involved.

“What does that mean for them? It just means that a good chunk of them will be moving in on Monday instead of on the weekend. That’s less time for staffing on the weekends and obviously, there are some cost savings as well with a shorter show for the exhibitors,” Hurlburt said.

Many exhibitors come from Saskatoon and surrounding area but for those travelling a greater distance, Hurlburt said it was easier to get flights to Saskatoon on Monday.

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Having exhibitors under one roof during their off-season is a good opportunity to network and discover the latest information in crop science, technology, and innovation. Hurlburt said vendors will have the opportunity to showcase their latest products and services that prairie farmers can use for the next growing season.

“We have 335 exhibitors, and they will be filling 1,000 exhibit spaces in the buildings which is great,” she said. “We are full with a waiting list.”

A new addition this year is the Innovation Award program designed to showcase the exhibitor’s inventions. Entries will be evaluated by a panel of farmers who will assess each submission.

“We will have the top three that have applied featured in our information theatre on Jan. 11 at 10:30 in the morning, so they’ll each make a presentation on their innovative product,” she said.

Before this, the winner will be announced at the Barley Bash Exhibitors Mixer, on the evening of Jan. 9 and will take home the 2024 Innovation Award at the end of the event.

The Nufarm Information Theatre will feature speakers discussing everything from sustainability, new crop varieties from the Crop Development Centre, 2023 grasshopper populations and 2024 prospects, and remotely sensed imagery in agriculture.

Also on Jan. 9 at 12:30 pm, the individuals who will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2024 will be announced. The formal induction ceremony will take place at Prairieland on Apr. 13.

The complete guide to the show can be found here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @farmnewsNOW