Highlights of Crop Production Week 2007 in Saskatoon

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Producers, suppliers, researchers and government leaders will once again assemble to assess the state of the grain industry during Crop Production Week, January 8 to 13 in Saskatoon.

The annual tradition of producers sharing knowledge and suppliers showing their wares continues as the Western Canadian Crop Production Show runs in tandem with Crop Production Week activities.

Crop Production Week activities are centred at the Saskatoon Inn and the Heritage Inn across the street. The week includes meetings organized by many crop producer groups, including pulse, canola, flax, mustard, herb and spice, canaryseed, fruit and oat producers. The Canadian Wheat Board also hosts a meeting. The meetings will feature a lengthy list of presentations on topics ranging from production issues to market projections.

Crop Production Week Communications Manager Kevin Hursh notes that this is the first year that oat producers will be represented in a special session, adding, “We’re glad to have them.” Hursh forecasts that the special session planned for Wednesday evening, entitled Producer Investment in Biofuel Production, will be a major draw this year.

“By then, we should know what the federal government’s producer ownership incentive will look like, and that will be a big topic of discussion,” said Hursh. “It is a dramatically different marketplace this year with the demand for biofuels.”

Down the road at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show, exhibitor space has once again sold out, according to Lori Cates of Prairieland Park, which hosts the show.

“We expanded the criteria this year to include forage cutting and baling equipment, and four-wheel-drive tractors,” said Cates. To accommodate demand for displays, Prairieland is expanding the show into its newest building, which will bring trade fair space up to over 240,000 square feet. However, Cates says the show maintains a very focused approach, zeroing in on the needs of grain producers.

The Western Canadian Crop Production Show includes displays and information sessions on crop production practices and products, equipment, commodity marketing, soil and seed technology, and grain handling, among other topics. Cates says the popular Seager Wheeler Pedigreed Seed Show will be the largest ever, and predicts that the Bayer Crop Science Information Theatre will be a highlight for show guests.

Detailed information on the agenda and registration for Crop Production Week is available at www.cropweek.com. A full listing of show times and exhibitors for the Western Canadian Crop Production Show can be found at www.cropproductiononline.com.

For more information, contact:

Kevin Hursh, Communications Manager
Crop Production Week
Phone: (306) 933-0138
Lori Cates, Prairieland Park
Western Canadian Crop Production Show
Phone: (306) 931-7149