There’s an optimistic mood among attendees and exhibitors at this year’s Western Canadian Crop Production Show. Lori Cates, agriculture manager at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park, says the show is sold out for the third year in a row with 307 exhibitors, 1002 booths and a long waiting list to get in.
This year’s show is expected to surpass the average attendance of 16,500.
“I would anticipate that our attendance numbers are going to be high because of the weather and because of the optimism in the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan and the Prairies right now,” said Cates.
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Todd Nagy, salesman for Kramer in Regina sums up the optimism using the words of his grandfather.
“My grandpa told me something I will never forget,” said Nagy. “We’ve never lost a crop in January yet.”
Nagy says the positive mood among producers will translate into greater numbers of people and, ultimately, more equipment sales.
“For the most part the conversations we’re having with customers is very positive. There are some good crops that came off and there’s lots of planning moving forward into 2012. It’s a very good atmosphere and a very good mood amongst the customers.”
In addition, Nagy adds, warm weather has allowed farmers to accomplish more work. Trucking grain is almost completed and calving has not yet started – more producers are free to attend the show.
Robert Fagnou, marketing specialist at Bourgault Industries, feels the current weather does little to impact the buying decisions of the farmers.
“As farmer operations are getting larger they’re making more long term decisions and when it’s time to change up their equipment they’ve planned it for a number of years. It’s looking more long term at where they want to be in the next three to five years,” said Fagnou.
Ryley Anderson, a salesman for Redhead Equipment in Saskatoon, agrees that the mood going into spring is positive.
“Most everyone is coming off a high, so it looks good for next year,” said Anderson. “There’s a lot of guys looking at newer technology because the cash flow is good and things are positive. There’s a lot of upgrading going on. A lot of guys are looking at the options they maybe didn’t have last year because of cost break.”
But every prairie producer knows winters are long and much can happen before the first seed is planted.
Nagy forecasts a lot of winter remaining.
“The big month for us is March. That’s where you get the swings. It comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb and that’s where you get some pretty good snowfalls,” said Nagy.
