By Grant Ullyot
The Pacific Agriculture Show (PacAg Show) since its inception 17 years ago has always placed a strong emphasis on innovation. Equipment displays often give farmers a look into the future with recent developments that could futher enhance the leading edge BC farmers have enjoyed over the years.
■This year University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) representatives will be at the PacAg show to outline their plan for the future which incorporates agricultural education with technology training. Already a committee has formulated a plan looking ten years ahead which will create an Agricultural centre of Excellence in Chilliwack to shape future farms. Working in concert with Chilliwack’s Economic Partners Corporation and the Federal and Provincial governments, the collaborative effort together with the financial support of Envision Credit Union resulted in construction of a new demonstration barn and a ‘forward-looking’ state-of-the-art greenhouse. In these new facilities students are involved in hands-on training in variety of horticultural and livestock courses.
UFV personnel will be at their booth in this year’s Trade Show to answer any and all questions visitors may have about UFV’s future plan to become the primary training institute in BC. .
■Today’s high powered farm tractors must be equipped with the new Tier IV low emissions engine mandated by the federal government.
A major exhibitor Avenue Machinery Corp. will display their tractor models equipped with the Tier IV engine plus a full line of related equipment from Kubota, Massey Ferguson and Fendt this year. Kubota will introduce a new more powerful tractor to its lineup that will compliment Kubota’s extensive lineup and should meet farmer’s demands. Another new product to be seen for the first time will be a new skid-steer loader that should draw a lot of interest among poultry farmers. Kubota has also bought out Kverneland and will display their array of haying equipment including rakes and balers, and in the future a lineup of plows.
Sales Manager Dave Brandsma, son of former General Manager Bob Brandsma, and Andy Mitchell, Manager of Used Equipment Sales will both be on hand at the PacAg show to talk about the new additions to their display.
Rollins Machinery Ltd. will display their new New Holland T8, 410hp tractor designed to meet the demand for bigger tractors that can handle the heavy equipment hauls on today’s farms. Sales Manager Bevan Jones says there is a trend towards larger and more powerful tractors. In line with the requirement that new heavy duty tractors must meet new low emission standards, the T8 is equipped with the new T4B Tier IV engine. Also on display will be the new Tempo Corn Planter and a new disc mower which has a thirteen-foot cut. Interested visitors to the Rollins location can also check out the Boomer series of quiet and efficient smaller horsepower tractors
Matsqui Ag Repair also has a significant lineup of tractors and other farm equipment geared for today’s and tomorrow’s industry requirements. In their display the company features McCormick tractors, including the advanced GM55 adaptable in size for use by all farmers with power ranges from 55 to 165hp. Matsqui Ag Repair also sell the popular Deutz-Fahr and Kioti line of tractors with machines designed for use by berry growers. You will also find an excellent range of other equipment on display built by Kuhn and Club Cadet, as well as the popular McHale wrappers for use in storing silage. The plastic wrapped forage can be seen on many BC farms today.
Prairie Coast Equipment, a John Deere dealer, will have their Integrated Solutions Management team at the show to talk to farmers about the range of systems like GPS that are available today. As well expect to see the Midnight Black Special Edition ATV, the new 7250R model tractor equipped with a 50kph variable speed transmission. Also featured will be the narrow tractors specifically designed for berry growers’ needs, as well as the Rears Sprayer. Prairie Coast Equipment services farmers equipment needs from outlets in BC and Alberta. They sell and service their popular line of lawn and garden tractors as well as the larger horse powered tractors favored by many dairy farmers in the Fraser Valley. John Deere has remained in the forefront with their line of specialized equipment designed for today and future needs.
Caliber Equipment Ltd. Is owned and operated by Aaron and George Dick, both dairy farmers who operate a 250 cow dairy. They know and understand the needs of farmers and sell a line of Case IH, Claas, and Kioti farm equipment. They have a keen eye open to the future knowing that the capital required to get established in farming can be overwhelming. Looking to the future large farms are likely to get bigger calling for larger and more powerful equipment. This trend demands dealers market the right equipment. Caliber prides itself on not only selling quality farm equipment but having the servicing experience to help farmers maintain it.
Handler’s Equipment Ltd. is your Mahindra tractor dealer. Mahindra’s mCRD technology is the direct result of a 30 million dollar investment to redesign and engineer the new Tier IV engines. The company has created a turnkey solution without utilizing a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). The new Mahindra engines provide a simple solution and reduce gas emissions by over 360 tons per year, and still help to Push More, Pull More, and Lift More. At this year’s PacAg show Handler’s Equipment will show off three models of their lineup of tractors; the 36hp Cab Tractor; the 26hp tractor with loader and backhoe; and a 40hp tractor equipped with a loader.
■West Coast Robotics has become the number one supplier of Robotic milking equipment in the Fraser Valley.This year they are introducing Vector, their feeding robot. It is equipped with a one ton feed mixer and can handle grass, or corn, or potatoes or anything else that constitutes a meal for the cows. It is a programmable robot, very flexible and will operate 24/7. The inputs that Vector can handle include the type of feed, whether for milking cows or for heifers, and will feed the cows at whatever times of the day or night that farmers want their animals fed. Also on display at the PacAg Show will be a Lely A4 robotic milker. Brian Rodenburg invites dairy farmers who are thinking of converting their milking operations to robots to stop by their location. Rodenburg and his staff will be pleased to explain why they claim the Lely robot is the least expensive way to milk and feed your herd robotically.
■Farm Financing is much easier to obtain today primarily because of low long term interest rates and extended re-payment terms. While this augers well, financing future farm operations is a decision that requires a workable business plan and careful planning to manage the financing and to provide a return on the investment of today’s farmer. The PacAg Show has seven financial organizations all eager discuss these needs.
Farm Credit Canada is a major sponsor of the Pacific Agriculture Show. FCC is also Canada’s largest agriculture lender. FCC provides financing, insurance, software, and learning programs for producers, agri-businesses and agri-food operations. FCC’s chief agriculture economist feels Canadian agriculture is more resilient and ready to take on new future opportunities in 2015 than ever before. Stop by the FCC location at the PacAg show where staff are ready to discuss your future financial needs in a highly competitive market.
Bank of Montreal, Envision Financial, TD Canada Trust Ag Services, RBCRoyal Bank, Scotiabank, will all be staffed with knowledgeable personnel who can provide conventional farmers, organic farmers, and the many other growers and producers with up to date financing information. Because of high land costs and huge investments needed to become a successful farmer, it is critical that farm operations today have a solid and manageable financial plan in place The PacAg Show provides those in the farming business or those intending to become farmers an opportunity to explore the many financial options offered by these financial organizations.
■With over two-hundred exhibits and information booths, the PacAg show is a one-stop location for farmers and others in the agriculture and agri-food industries.
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