Watch coverage of FarmTech 2012 in this video series produced by RealAgriculture.com that includes interviews with speakers, organizers and farmers at the show.

click here to access the complete playlist on YouTube

Talking to Farmers About FarmTech

Glen Hodgson -The Global Economy’s Impact on Canadian Agriculture

John Shmorhun -Farming in Ukraine

James Peck – A Unique Farm Business Structure in the UK

Jennifer Otani – Looking Ahead to Potential Pest Problems In Alberta

Gerry Ritz – Opportunities & Challenges Ahead In New Grain Marketing Environment

Blair Roth – Will Pulses Be a Supply or Demand Story in 2012?

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada & Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board will be joining FarmTech 2012 delegates for lunch on Wednesday, January 25. Minister Ritz will be addressing the conference at 1:00pm

David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resource and to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food for the Canadian Wheat Board will be joining FarmTech 2012 delegates for lunch on Tuesday, January 24. Mr. Anderson will be addressing the conference at 1:00pm

FarmTech delegates and exhibitors  can choose to commute to the Edmonton Expo Centre each day and pay for parking or they can use the complimentary shuttle service that is available daily to the EXPO Centre from selected downtown hotels.

The FarmTech 2012 complimentary shuttle service schedule from selected downtown hotels to the Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands is now posted: click here

Parking fees and policies for FarmTech delegates and exhibitors parking at Northlands is now posted:  click here

FarmTech organizer Rick Taillieu discusses what to expect at FarmTech 2012. Rick talks about the move to the EXPO Centre, highlights the concurrent speakers coming to Edmonton, and the various annual meetings and events that the host groups hold during FarmTech. If you haven’t been to FarmTech before, this interview will give you a very good idea of what to expect.

Listen to keynote details on the Growing with Canola podcast: FarmTech 2012 audio podcast

General Rick Hillier confirmed as keynote speaker for FarmTech 2012

Rick Hillier’s passion, leadership and outspoken nature have captured the hearts and minds of Canadians across the country. A man who takes pride in his country, his team and the significance of his mission, General Hillier is one of Canada’s most celebrated leaders.

Hillier tells it like it is – with confidence and a straight-talking manner. As Chief of the Defence Staff, Canada’s highest ranking position in the Canadian Forces, he oversaw our country’s most important mission in Afghanistan. His book, A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War, is a hard-hitting, honest account of Hillier’s role, and will undoubtedly be one of the most important books published in Canada this decade.

Considered one of Canada’s most charismatic and influential soldiers, General Rick Hillier will challenge convention and inspire pride in being Canadian, all while sharing his trademark Newfoundland charm and humour.

Gerry Dee uses his life experience as a comedian, teacher, actor, and hockey coach to deliver compelling stand-up comedy presentations. He appeals to a wide range of audiences and uses humour to communicate and motivate.

In 1999, he won Toronto’s Funniest New Comic competition.  He would later tape his own half hour Comedy Now Special on CTV and The Comedy Network in 2001.  He has attended a variety of comedy festivals, namely The US HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and The Montreal Just For Laughs Festival where he made his CBC Gala appearance in July 2004 and again in 2007. He recently performed in Scotland and South Africa.

In 2002, he was the first Canadian in 27 years to win the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition.  Former comics who got their start in this competition include Robin Williams, Dana Carvey and Ellen Degeneres to name a few.

Beginning in the fall of 2011, Gerry will star in a CBC TV comedy series called Mr. D. – a show is based on Gerry Dee’s real-life experiences as a high school teacher before he switched to comedy full-time.

Western Canada’s premier crop production and farm management conference will be held at the EXPO Centre at Edmonton Northlands on January 24-26, 2012.

The FarmTech Foundation, which is comprised of the six host organizations, has reached an agreement that will see the event held at the EXPO Centre through 2016.

“The move to the EXPO centre will allow FarmTech to expand to meet the growing numbers of delegates, sponsors and exhibitors that want to be part of the event”, says Kent Erickson, chair of the FarmTech planning committee.

The Expo Centre has increased space for sessions, a larger trade show area, and an abundance of on-site parking.

“We are very excited about hosting FarmTech at the EXPO Centre”, says Erickson. “The new conference facilities at Northlands make it the ideal location to grow the event.”

The conference will now take place from Tuesday to Thursday. Northlands will provide a complimentary shuttle service to selected hotels. FarmTech has secured room blocks at several of the downtown hotels. Delegates will have the option to park their vehicles at Northlands for the duration of the conference.

For complete information on the FarmTech Conference including a list of frequently asked questions about the move to the EXPO Centre visit www.farmtechconference.com.

The FarmTech Conference is hosted by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, the Alberta Pulse Growers, the Alberta Conservation Tillage Society II, the Alberta Barley Commission, the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, and the Alberta Seed Growers Association.

Contact:

Rick Taillieu
FarmTech 2012 Conference Coordinator
ph: 780-678-6167
rick@canola.ab.ca