Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Farm Show at Western Fair in London. March 7-9, Will Be The Largest Ever. Agriculture Technology, Education, Entertainment.

Farm Show Rises Above the Rest with Agricultural Technology, Education and Entertainment

By Western Fair

Spring is only a snowflake away, or is it?  With a more than mild winter, many have been thinking about getting an early start this spring on everything from the backyard to the back forty. Last year’s Farm Show at Western Fair District battled a blizzard and organizers of the 74th edition are hoping the weather gods are good to them this year with a continuation of the winter that wasn’t.

If you admire shiny new grain bins, covet massive tractors and implements, or are considering your own solar panels there’s a ton of agricultural eye-candy at the Farm Show, March 7-9, at Western Fair District. Among approximately 330 booths, you can expect to see a large number of new products. “In some cases, products are new items or equipment to our show, others are new product lines being introduced for the first time,” says Farm Show Manager, Cheron Chamberlain.

 

The three-day Farm Show, presented by Farm Credit Canada, is a showcase of agricultural exhibits, displays, seminars, and entertainment.  Over the decades this show has focused on the economic and social importance of the agricultural industry.  Farmers in the region have supported the show, due in part to its variety and diversity, its attendees reflecting the wealth of farming in the south-western Ontario region and beyond. 

 

Today the show continues to expand and emphasizes agricultural technology, education and farm improvement throughout five buildings and 250,000 square feet of show space. The event kicks off Wednesday, March 7, at 9am and runs until 6pm with a special comedy show scheduled for the first day in Western Fair District’s newest entertainment venue, Yuk Yuk’s. Special guest comedians, Chris Quigley, Ted Morris and Paul Smith are scheduled to tickle your funny bone for $22.50, March 7 at 7:30pm.  To purchase tickets online visit westernfairdistrict.com

Also among opening day festivities, the Middlesex Agricultural Hall of Fame annual induction and dinner, which takes place at 11:30am in the Carousel Room, Western Fair District. This year’s inductees include: Robert Bedggood, Sir John Carling and William Saunders. For tickets or further information please contact Hugh Fletcher at (519) 666-1572.

The show carries-on Thursday, March 8, (9am to 6pm) and, as in past years, there will be seminars held over the three days. This year, Farms.com’s, Moe Agostino will provide a presentation in the Agriplex Auditorium(1pm & 3pm daily) and (10am & 2pm daily) in the Progress Building, Meeting Room 1 on How low can grain prices go? How to avoid selling your corn for $3.80/Bu or Less!   Andrew Campbell and Fresh Air Media present The Social Farmer and The Smart Farmer, March 7 & 8, at 11am and 2:30pm, Progress Building, Meeting Room 1. 

Friday the Farm Show continues (9am to 4pm) with visitors taking advantage of the live equipment demonstrations in the Pride Seeds Arena, Agriplex, showcasing London City Chrysler Jeep Dodge at 11am.  If you are at the show earlier in the week (Wednesday or Thursday) check out Vandenburg Equipment featuring Schaffer Loaders (2pm-4pm) The best place to take a look and try it out, before you buy. 

The event features 330 exhibitors, and a ton of great prizes: $2,500 worth of Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ seed; state of the art BBQ (value $1500) compliments of Genuity, Diamond Pendant, and his and her watches from Poags Jewellers Strathroy. Plus, enter to win a Farm Show Hotel Package for two, which includes a one-night stay at London’s Hilton Hotel, two tickets to the Farm Show and two tickets to Yuk Yuk’s or the Wild West Show.  Check out these prizes and more at westernfairdistrict.com

The Farm Show is $10 in advance (online only) and $12 at the door. Children 10-and-under are free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free with show entrances at the north and south sides of the Progress Building and Agriplex.

It’s a great event and worth a day away from the farm to research, relax and amuse yourself at southwestern Ontario’s year-round entertainment destination, Western Fair District.   

Views: 630

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Cannabis stocks surge after reports of Trump planning to ease federal restrictions

Shares in Canada’s cannabis companies surged after reports U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to ease federal restrictions on the drug. The Washington Post first reported that the president is expected to direct agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. The move would make it similar to some common prescription painkillers, the newspaper says. A reclassification of the drug in the U.S. could offer an opportunity for Canadian cannabis companies to expand their businesses stateside. Shares of Tilray Brands Inc. jumped 29 per cent or $3.35 to $14.94 in mid-morning trading Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange, while Canopy Growth Corp. shares were up 32 per cent or 49 cents at $2.07. Aurora Cannabis Inc. shares were up 13 per cent and Organigram Global Inc. was up nearly 10 per cent.  While many states have passed laws legalizing cannabis for adult use in the U.S., federally it remains a Schedule I drug, the same category as heroin and LSD. This report by The Cana

USDA Raises World Rapeseed Production to New High

Thanks mainly to a record large Canadian crop, 2025-26 global rapeseed output is estimated by the USDA at a new peak as well. The USDA this week pegged world rapeseed production for the current marketing year at 95.27 million tonnes. That’s up 3 million tonnes or 3.25% from last month’s projection and now sits almost 9.3 million or 10.8% above the 2024-25 global crop of 86 million. The rebound comes after the 2024-25 crop was hit by poor weather in major producing countries. The USDA has raised its 2025-26 Canadian rapeseed (canola) production estimate to 22 million tonnes, up 2 million from its November forecast, following updated Statistics Canada data released last week. The survey-based StatsCan report pegged national canola output at 21.803 million tonnes, up about 1.7 million from the federal agency’s model-based September projection and now 13.3% above the 2024 crop of 19.239 million. If accurate, it would be the largest crop on record, surpassing the 2017 crop of 21.458 m

New CDC Oat and Barley Varieties Gain Momentum With Prairie Growers

For more than two decades, Aaron Beattie has been a driving force behind some of Western Canada’s most prominent oat and barley varieties. Based at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC), Beattie continues to shape the future of Prairie cereals — work that increasingly impacts growers in Alberta. Beattie’s latest oat material, showcased earlier this year at the meetings of the Prairie Grain Development Committee in Winnipeg, continues to deliver standout performance. “OT3125 did perform really well again this summer. So it is still up there — over 10% higher than Camden,” he says. While the variety does not yet have a commercial name, Beattie expects significant discussion around it next year as it moves further into promotion and industry awareness. Momentum in the Market Beyond pipeline material, several CDC varieties are gaining traction with Prairie growers. “CDC Anson really took a big jump this year, from no acres to about 10% of the oat acres all in

Why Midge Tolerant Wheat is Sold as a Blend — and Why it Matters for Spring 2026

Unexpected wheat midge outbreaks across Western Canada highlight why the varietal blend remains essential. As farmers look ahead to spring, it’s a good time to revisit the cornerstone of protecting the Sm1 (midge tolerant) wheat gene: understanding why Midge Tolerant Wheat is sold as a varietal blend. In these blends, a variety of Midge Tolerant Wheat is mixed in with a small amount (10%) of wheat that isn’t tolerant to the wheat midge. That is, it doesn’t contain the gene Sm1, the source of genetic resistance. These non-tolerant wheat plants serve as a “refuge” to ensure the wheat midge doesn’t develop resistance to the Sm1 gene. “You never know when the wheat midge is going to strike or where it’s going to strike,” says Tyler Wist, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). “Sometimes it’s predicted to be a low-risk year, and then the rains come at just the right time and — boom — population explosion.” Wheat Midge Can Appear When Least Expected Forecasting too

This is Agriculture: Training Coordinator

There are an abundance of different careers in agriculture, and Angela Pearen has tried several of them. Now the coordinator of the agriculture extension programs at Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment, Assiniboine College, Angela has also worked helping producers diversify their farm income, and held positions in rural leadership, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning with Manitoba Agriculture. She says her role at Assiniboine College brings her back to the work she loves the most. Describe your job or product in one sentence. I coordinate training programs for people working in the ag industry and those that support the ag industry. Where did you grow up? Was it an agriculture or urban environment? I grew up in the Roseland district, southwest of Brandon on an acreage. We crop shared with our land neighbours and my parents still crop share with the next generations of that family – it’s been over 50 years. What was your dream job when you were a kid? The

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service