Ag in Motion closes out three-day expo in Langham

After being away since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ag in Motion returned with its in-person show this week.

Western Canada’s largest outdoor farm expo brought out thousands of people to see the latest advancements and technology in the agriculture industry.

Hundreds of exhibitors and vendors were also on the grounds in Langham for the opportunity to meet with customers face to face, which show director Rob O’Connor said was a big advantage.

“Our exhibitors elevated their offerings this year by having more experience-based demos and a more hands-on approach,” O’Connor said. “The excitement of being back in person has been building momentum over the last year.”

The weather cooperated for the most part, though inclement weather is something farmers and producers have had to deal with every year.

After a drought last year, Troy Stack with MeridianOneCap, which finances equipment and buildings for producers, said this season presents other weather-related hurdles.

“In the eastern part of the province, there was too much moisture down in the south in some areas,” Stack said.

“Other guys in the southwest, central, some of them were complaining about lack of moisture. For the most part, everyone seems happy,” Stack said, though he noted that with a late start some are still a bit concerned for their crop.

Even though there are challenges, Stack said some producers believe they’ll have their best year ever.

“A lot of guys are able to insure their operation to a level of profitability, which they’re telling me they haven’t been able to do in the past,” he said.

The show featured many tools that producers can use to save time and money.

ATP featured its NutriScan device at Ag in Motion, which allows farmers and producers to take a soil test in the field and get results back quickly. President Jarrett Chambers said as prices continue to rise, producers need to make smart decisions.

“It’s real-time analytics. It’s a diagnostic tool that measures all elements, and you can get results back in five minutes,” Chambers said.

“Now, we can take our fertilizer budget and allocate it accordingly. And it may be more of one nutrient and maybe you’ve been over-applying something else, and we can apply less of it. So it’s not about increasing your budget, it’s about investing in the right nutrients.”

Chambers said it’s important to test soil year-round, as it can change through the year.

O’Connor said he and the entire team were glad to be back in the field after being on hiatus.

“We’re all so happy to be back, and the entire Ag in Motion team would like to thank the farmers, companies, partners and other members of the agricultural industry who have joined us again this year in person,” O’Conner said.