Now in its thirty-second year, the annual Midwest showpiece Agrivisions opens at the Lloydminster Exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Ag manager Shelly Dodgson says the biggest topic on the minds of ag producers is supply chain security. She adds producers want to ensure they have crop inputs like fertilizer and also feed for livestock.
“Just that whole shortage and it’s the same thing that’s in our stores that we hear about about food supply. We produce the food, so we are at the front of the line with worries about the supply chain.”
Dodgson adds that featured speakers will be looking at things like drought and canola, as well as in forages and cereal crops.
“We have just come through a really bad drought in 2021. So what’s the implications of having low soil moisture going into this year? Are we going to have enough? All those types of things we have to look at.”
The breakout sessions for both days cover topics like soil health, potential pesticide shortage, feeding cattle in a feed shortage, grain market update and lots more, from an array of industry leaders like Tom Wolf, Brian Perillat, Dr. Maria Ceballos, Carol Bouck, Barry Yaremcio and others.
Dodgson shares that Agrivisions is a great opportunity to meet up with fellow producers as well as industry leaders.
“The main focus is looking at critical topics both in the grain and the cattle sector. Topics will include market access, stockmanship, environmental policies, succession and estate planning, as well as market trends and farm insurance. And then we have a huge; we have 82 vendors, with everything from combines to daytimers.”
The featured Heart of the Farm banquet is Wednesday February 9th with supper from 6 p.m.
Professor Timothy Caulfield who is a Canada Research Chair in health law and policy, and a research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta will deliver the feature presentation.
John Dunstan Kelly will also be inducted to the Ag Hall of Fame in a ceremony during the banquet.
More information is available at the Lloydminster Exhibition Association website.