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

CCGA Selected a Manitoba Top Employer

Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) has been recognized as one of Manitoba’s Top Employers, a competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top Employers, now celebrating 20 years of exceptional workplaces in the province. Earlier today, the results of the 2026 competition were announced online at Eluta.ca and in a special feature in the Winnipeg Free Press. “Being named one of Manitoba’s Top Employers for 2026 is a proud achievement for CCGA,” says Rick White, President & CEO at CCGA. “This honour reflects the dedication and passion of our amazing team and their commitment to our vision of Helping Farmers Succeed and advancing agriculture within the province and across the country.” To achieve recognition through Manitoba’s Top Employers, CCGA was assessed on eight criteria, including 1) workplace, 2) work atmosphere, 3) benefits, 4) vacation and time off, 5) employee communications, 6) performance management, 7) training and development, and 8) community involvement.

Farmers’ Markets Ontario names new executive director

Farmers’ Markets Ontario (FMO) has announced that Melanie Anderson, Ottawa, will assume the role of executive director, effective April 1, 2026. FMO is the only official provincially recognized organization representing more than180 farmers’ markets across the province.

Farmers again caught in geopolitical crossfire

A week ago, things were looking up for Prairie farmers. Canola prices were rising on news China would follow through on its promise to reduce its 75.9 per cent anti-dumping tariff on canola seed after Canada eased steep tariffs on imported EVs. Those canola tariffs have now dropped to 5.9 per cent, plus the nine per cent standard import tariff already in place. While not zero, tariffs of just under 15 per cent make it possible to restore trade flows and maintain China as Canada’s second-largest canola customer. As well, Canada’s prime minister was in India on another diplomatic defrosting mission with positive implications for agricultural exports. Any time the world’s largest exporter of pulse crops such as peas, lentils and chickpeas can make inroads into the world’s biggest market for those commodities, the sun shines a little brighter. While more sales to India weren’t on the agenda, the talks between Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi still shouted progress.

Pulse Market Insight #293

StatsCan Pulse Acreage Numbers (Mostly) Not Surprising The first official forecasts of 2026 seeded area were recently issued by StatsCan, with some “interesting” estimates for a few crops. For pulse crops though, most of the acreage numbers weren’t really out of line with expectations. It’s important to note that even though StatsCan’s estimates were issued in early March, they were based on a farmer survey that occurred between mid-December and mid-January. Since that survey, there have been sizable market developments that could influence acreage decisions. That said, crop rotations are largely fixed and a portion of the acreage was already decided back in December. But there is still room for some late tweaking around the margins. The most noteworthy event was the announcement by the Chinese government to scale back or eliminate import tariffs on canola seed, canola meal and peas, which injected more optimism into those markets. This development added some support for prices whic

Mustard Breakthrough Brings Yield Gains — But GM Concerns Echo Flax Triffid Crisis

Committee chair says a nearly 10% yield jump in mustard is encouraging for growers, but warns GM mustard contamination and federal research cuts could create long-term challenges for Prairie oilseeds. Big yield gains, high-stakes market risks and mounting concerns over federal research cuts dominated flax and mustard discussions at last week’s Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC) meetings in Banff, Alta. “We’re seeing a real leap forward in mustard,” said Ken Jackle, chair of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oilseeds (PRCO), pointing to a new condiment mustard line expected to go forward this year. “It’s quite a yield bump. It’ll have quite a yield advantage over the existing checks.” How big a jump? Almost 10%, he said. For mustard growers, that kind of jump matters. Yield improvements in recent years have been steady, and Jackle credited Dr. Bifang Cheng’s breeding program at AAFC Saskatoon for keeping progress moving. “It’s good to see these increases in their yield

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service