Written by: Cathy Dibble, Thames Valley Regional Communication Coordinator

Photo courtesy of OSCIA. 2021 OSCIA President, Chad Anderson, showing his enthusiastic approval of the MSTS trailer at Crop Stop event.

COFS, in partnership with OSCIA, was pleased to present Crop Stop at the show site in September. The two-day event gave producers the opportunity to tour demo plots and talk agronomy with various input companies; see the latest and greatest machinery on display from several equipment suppliers; visit with many exhibitors and check out OSCIA’s demonstration trailer, the Mobile Soil Technology Suite (MSTS), in action. The focus of Crop Stop was to bring industry back together for in-person networking, highlighting technology and new innovation in the cropping sector.

Eleven crop input companies were keen to establish plots at the site last spring, and eager to share their agronomic knowledge with producers in small group or one-on-one settings. Each company kicked off the morning with presentations to small groups touring the stops at the show, and then were able to engage with producers one-on-one as the day progressed. Equipment suppliers were happy to be able to bring new equipment lines and technology out to the event for growers to see and kick tires once again.

Photo courtesy of OSCIA. Left to right: Cathy Dibble, Baylee Rubinoff, Honourable Minister Lisa Thompson, Dr. Rene Van Acker, and Tracey Ryan at Crop Stop.

OSCIA was pleased to demo the MSTS equipment for the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Honorable Lisa Thompson, during the Crop Stop event. The OSCIA MSTS includes a large, weatherproof LED screen, sound system including speakers and wireless microphones, digital cameras, weigh scales, and more. The trailer will be made available to soil and crop local associations and other groups across the province on a cost recovery basis which will include technician and transportation costs.

While the weather was not overly favourable for the two days of the show, it was still a great social outing for many. Producers enjoyed the opportunity to get out, connect with each other, and chat with the exhibitors at the event. OSCIA has had, and continues to have, a long standing, strong working relationship with the Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show team and were proud partners for Crop Stop 2021.