Posted on November, 10, 2022 at 08:48 am
From increasing costs, governmental regulations, and environmental changes, it’s undeniable that Canadian farmers have gone through their fair share of unique challenges over the past few years.
However, their reunion at the 38th annual Agri-Trade Equipment Expo at Red Deer’s Westerner Park this Wednesday has shown that stakeholders in the agricultural industry will just innovate and adapt to weather any storm that comes their way.
Over 500 exhibitors are present at the three day event showcasing their latest equipment, technology, innovation and services in the industry.
“Everybody is dealing with supplier issues or getting parts or getting labour, so we’ve been dealing with the same,” said Derek Molnar, Marketing and Territory Manager for Northern Saskatchewan for Degelman Industries. “But overall, it’s been a successful year for Canadian Ag and for us. So 2022 was good and 2023 looks like it could be as good, if not better.”
The Regina-based short line manufacturer builds implements for pre and post harvesting, seeding assistance and other equipment like root pickers, land rollers and bulldozer blades.
A vendor at the Expo for over the past 20 years, he says they intend to reconnect with current customers to ensure their needs are being met, and potentially meet new customers.
Also looking to build new relationships was Bryce Walker, sales representative for Earth Smart Solutions.
He says after pandemic lockdowns and the federal target of reducing fertilizer emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, farmers have been eager to find new products for their soil.
“With government regulations on fertilizer use, there’s a lot more interest in regenerative products,” he said.
READ: Canada’s proposed fertilizer emissions reduction target questioned
The company focuses on plant and soil health through the use of humates and biologically friendly products.
Organic and commercial grain farmer Stephanie Jarema from Smoky Lake, Alberta, was just one of the many attendees at the Expo looking to gather information on fertilizers and seeds.
She says while the year produced average yields for farmers in her area, the weather and costs will determine next year’s profits.
“We are, of course, expecting increased costs and that’s a struggle for a lot of farmers. That’s something that I think a lot of people around here today will be looking at; who’s going to be offering them some value-added benefits within these services that they have,” she said.
Her first time at Agri-Trade, she says she was impressed at the amount of vendors present and how friendly individuals at each booth have been.
Many of the booths are clients of attendee Ken Galloway who works for A&L Canada Laboratories. The analytics and diagnostics lab conducts soil, plant tissue and nutrient analyses and testing for diseases and pathogens.
His second time at the Expo connecting with customers, he says the technology changes yearly in the agricultural industry, “to really maximize the efficiency of our inputs and advance agricultural production. We’re in a great part of the world for it.”
The event will run until November 11 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Source: rdNews