Event Calendar Heats Up as Winter Descends

By Geoff Geddes

There may be a chill in the air, but the 2018 winter event calendar for producers is hot off the presses and offers much for corn and soybean growers. The options are varied, including something to fit everyone’s needs and schedule.

Western Canadian Crop Production Show

Saskatoon is home to “Western Canada’s premier grain industry showcase” January 8-11 at Prairieland Park. It covers the latest technology, services, and products for producers such as crop inputs and application, commodity marketing, harvest technology and farm financing and real estate.

“This is our 35th year and we have sold the show out for the last seven years,” said Lori Cates, manager – agriculture. “We’re very excited about our 2018 feature event: ‘Drones in Agriculture: Present & Future.’”

The one-day seminar examines how drones are being used in agriculture today and what the future holds for this cutting-edge technology.

Manitoba Ag Days

Billed as “Canada’s Largest Indoor Farm Show,” Manitoba Ag Days – running January 16-18 in Brandon, Manitoba – is an exposition of agricultural production expertise, technology, and equipment that attracts exhibitors and visitors from across Canada and the United States.

“We will have 550 exhibitors under one roof,” said General Manager Kristen Phillips. “You won’t find pots and pans at our show; expect to learn something at every booth you visit.”

There is a particular focus on soybeans this year, with an entire morning devoted to the crop.

“Our grower panel with three growers from Manitoba will talk about their experiences and challenges, including the good, the bad and the ugly. Holly Derksen with Manitoba Agriculture will discuss soybean rotations, and Cassandra Tkachuk from Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers is presenting results from the 2017 Ultimate Soybean Challenge.”

Continuing the soybean theme, Provincial Pulse Specialist Dennis Lange has the latest on new varieties and herbicide systems and how they’ve been working for Manitoba growers.

As an added bonus, admission and parking are free.

Winter Regional Pulse Meetings

Held annually by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), these meetings occur in eight locations throughout the province from February 5-8.

While the agendas have yet to be finalized, they highlight how soybeans performed agronomically in Saskatchewan in 2017, referencing some of the results from SPG’s regional soybean variety trials. Regional crop specialists with the Ministry of Agriculture will speak in-depth about soybean weeds, pests, and diseases.

Full agenda details will be listed online for each location once they’ve been finalized.

CropConnect Conference

This two-day event is February 14 & 15 at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre in Winnipeg. It offers a wide range of speakers, access to crop-specific information, a trade show and banquet.

The event will also include the Annual General Meetings of the eight participating organizations. The 2018 conference program features powerful and influential speakers covering topics from agronomy and the environment to technology and farm management practices. Some notable presentations are “current and emerging nematode and disease issues of soybean and pulses in Canada” and “fueling corn with nitrogen through the 4R approach”.

In addition to the technical information, attendees can enjoy a range of interesting speakers including The Right Honorable Brian Mulroney and professional storm chaser Greg Johnson.

That’s a lot to take in, but with the temperature dropping, it’s good to know that the 2018 event year is just getting warmed up.