Agri-Trade seeks to boost optimism among farmers

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According to Saskatchewan Agriculture statistics, that province’s harvest is the slowest it’s been in 40 years, sitting at 69 per cent as of Oct. 14.

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Meantime, the Oct. 15 crop report from the Government of Alberta and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) revealed major crop progress was behind the five-year average for every part of the province. In the central region, major crops were at 45.8 per cent, with the five-year average being 72.1 per cent. Canola was the lowest at just 24.6 per cent, the lowest in Alberta.

The good news is that by Oct. 29 two weeks later, the canola harvest in the central region had risen to 82.1 per cent, with other numbers for spring wheat, barley and oats higher across the board.

Fiddler points out international trade issues are also top of mind for many who’ll be in attendance at Agri-Trade.

“Canola is one issue. We are in a global market, farmers are always watching what’s happening across the world in terms of the best markets,” he continues. “On the other side of that coin, we have lots of grain marketing companies exhibiting at Agri-Trade, so they can come out and find out about various opportunities to market their grain locally and globally.”

Fiddler is confident trade professionals representing the provincial and federal governments are working hard to rectify the Canadian canola import ban enacted by China last March.

But when one door closes, another opens, he says.

“There have been new opportunities for Canadian durum throughout the world,” he notes. “The appetite and eating habits of a lot of countries are changing; a lot more are eating lentils, so there’s a growing market for those kinds of crops as well.”

At the end of the day, Fiddler says Agri-Trade has become a social event and is great for reconnecting with your neighbours and fellow farmers.

This year, Agri-Trade will hand out an Ag Innovation award worth $20,000 in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch event involving five finalists. The award will recognize a new product or service, or an improvement to existing methods in the industry. A farmer’s choice award will also grant someone $5000.

More information on Agri-Trade is at www.Agri-Trade.com.