Farming has always been big business in the Maritimes, however, these days the industry is relying more and more on technology.
Bringing industry and farmers together, is what the Atlantic Farm Mechanization Show has been doing, every other year, for about four decades.
“It began back in the early 70s, when people in the industry thought there was a need to have a show and a trade show,” says organizer Brian Beaton. “A place to bring knowledge and information and equipment together to show people.”
The trade show, which is held at the Moncton Coliseum, features technology like robotic cow milking. The concept has been around for about 15 years, but software updates continue to improve each year.
“Basically, what we are doing is maybe getting them (farmers) into the barn later in the morning, more family time, which is a big reason why a lot of the guys will go this way,” says trade show vendor Jason Cleveland.
The technology has its perks, but it doesn’t come cheap.
A basic system starts at about $200,000, however, the savings it brings in labour costs can also be big.
One of the show’s vendors is Travis Esau, a student at Dalhousie University.
He is working on a project that centres on using fertilizer more efficiently.
Esau says it's called precision agriculture and it uses research and technology, like GPS and cameras, with multiple benefits.
“Wise use of agricultural inputs to increase farm profitability, while at the same time minimizing environmental pollution,” says Esau.
Bill Leslie says his product is like a can of bug spray, but for cows and they apply it themselves.
“This is a big can of Off for the cattle and they learn to rub on it, which secretes an oil onto their hide which helps with flies and mosquitos in the summer, and lice and mange and ringworm in the winter,” says Leslie.
Organizers say the roughly 180 vendors continue to bring more farmers each year to the three day event, which wraps Saturday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
