There is a lot of optimism at this year's Red Deer Agri-Trade show.

Visitors to the show are busy checking out the 500 exhibits featuring everything from the major manufacturers, shortline dealers, data technology and more.

A key highlight on the first day of the show was SeedMaster's contest announcement for 160 Acres of Gold.

Global Sales Manager Tim Criddle says the contest will provide one lucky grower in Western Canada with everything they need to seed, grow and harvest a full quarter section of Canola including the use of a seed drill and combine.

"The winner is going to receive Invigor hybrid canola from BASF, Liberty herbicide from BASF, along with Centurion herbicide from BASF.  ESN smart nitrogen fertilizer, agronomic support from Decisive Farming, use of a crop intelligence moisture driven yield potential weather station and service from Crop Intelligence. As well, we're going to pull on to the farm with a SeedMaster ULTRA SR drill. We're going to basically provide everything that we can to grow this crop. We're going to put the seed in the ground, we're going to custom spray the crop as needed, right through to harvest."

The total approximate retail value is $94,000 CDN and includes the use of the seed drill and combine at harvest.

Farmers can now enter online or at the SeedMaster booth during Agri-Trade, Crop Production and Manitoba Ag Days.

Criddle says with the ongoing investment in domestic processing and strong export demand, the pressure on Western Canadian growers to produce nearly 30 per cent more canola in the coming five years, means they will need every productivity-enhancing tool they can get their hands on. And the 160 Acres of Gold Giveaway contest will offer a glimpse into what is possible.

The contest closes January 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm MST, with the winner being announced January 25, 2023.

The 160 Acres of Gold Giveaway contest is open to legal residents of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba who are of the age of majority in their province of residence at the time of entry and who intend to farm a minimum of 1,000 acres of canola at the time of entry.

You can hear Glenda-Lee's conversation with SeedMaster's Global Sales Manager Tim Criddle by clicking on the link below.