One of the largest trade shows in southern Alberta is underway at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre. This year, Ag Expo has more than 310 exhibitors showcasing the latest in farming equipment, industry technology, irrigation systems, livestock supplies and seeds. “It’s a one stop shop,” said Ag Expo show manager Suzanne Bielert. “You can come in and look at the big equipment, you can talk to the reps, you can get support if you’re having issues with your equipment, your products and it’s also a connection. You get to connect with everybody else in the industry.” This year’s show features technologies from across Canada, the United States, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia. “What we are continually trying to do is just make sure we have the right exhibitors here,” said Paul Kingsmith, director of event development at Excite Lethbridge. “People that are pushing the industry forward, those who are bringing in new technologies and those who are trying to make a difference in agriculture and I think we have a tremendous line up of exhibitors here this week.” One new international technologies on display is Double C AgCo. The company is showcasing a new sense spray technology, originally from Australia, which uses an optical camera-based spot spray system. “It’s an RGB sensor that detects green plant material on a brown background so you’re essentially spot spraying a field instead of blanket spraying to cut back on chemical usage and increase your on-farm efficiency,” Double C AgCo owner Collin Collins told CTV News. About 15 per cent of Lethbridge’s urban economy comes from agriculture, with more than a $1 billion generated throughout southern Alberta. Kingsmith says Excite Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre was designed to be the hub of agriculture. “This is what this building was built for,” said Kingsmith. “Ag Expo was in mind when construction started, and being able to get these massive combines, this huge new Holland combine that’s right behind me, you see it and it just puts it into perspective what the industry is really like out there.” While the event is to showcase to farmers and producers, it’s also a chance for those in the industry to see what their peers are doing to improve agriculture. “This event, I always look at it as everybody can come and see what the competition has to offer, what other manufactures have to offer, all in one building is just a very unique opportunity,” said Michael Vas, sales manager at Vanee Farm Centre. The expo also features 20 outdoor exhibitors in the Machinery Row and the North American Seed Fair, which has over 185 entries this year. Ag Expo runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Feb. 27.
